By the Lion's Mane: My Heart Will Go On
Introduction: This is my final story in my BTLM series. It's probably going to be rather short, but a lot will be happening. So let's begin, shall we?
Oh, and by the way, this story is called My Heart Will Go On after the theme from Titanic by Celine Dion. I loooove that song, and the words seemed very fitting for this story, so that's my reasoning behind it.
Every night in my dreams Far across the distance Near, far, wherever you are Love can touch us one time Love was when I loved you Near, far, wherever you are You're here, there's nothing I fear
I see you, I feel you
That is how I know you go on
And spaces between us
You have come to show you go on
I believe that the heart does go on
Once more you open the door
And you're here in my heart
And my heart will go on and on
And last for a lifetime
And never let go till we're gone
One true time I hold to
In my life we'll always go on
I believe that the heart does go on
Once more you open the door
And you're here in my heart
And my heart will go on and on
And I know that my heart will go on
We'll stay forever this way
You are safe in my heart
And my heart will go on and on
Chapter One
I stood right inside the door, my heart hammering in my chest. I was dressed in a flattering lilac gown with intricate gold designs threaded in it. My hair was braided back in two thin strands to meet at the back of my head, and little purple flowers were entwined in my loose russet curls. Caspian stood beside me, also dressed in his finery, waiting to be announced.
We were about to formally announce our engagement to the Narnians. Hundreds of them were outside now, down in the courtyard, waiting for us to appear on the balcony to tell them why they had been called to the vast castle courtyard.
Finally, with a great musical fanfare, the deep-lunged presenter bellowed, "Now I present to you King Caspian the Tenth, sovereign of Narnia, and his new fiancée, Lady Rosaline of Narnia."
As the crowd below began to cheer and whistle and exclaim in surprise and delight, Caspian led me out onto the balcony. I forced a broad grin, waving and doing my best to look as if I were deep in premarital bliss, and as if there were not a huge lump in my throat, constricting my breath.
Caspian didn't have to pretend at all. He was smiling so wide I was afraid his face would split in half. One of his arms wrapped around my narrow waist, drawing me closer to his hard, warm body. I leaned into him, glad to have him to support me, because I was feeling as if I might faint.
We announced the date of our wedding, which was to be in two weeks, and then said our goodbyes. And finally I could breathe again.
I had told Caspian I wanted the wedding to be as soon as possible. He had been a bit puzzled, but was happy and didn't question why. The staff of the castle, however, were not so pleased. They would have to work extremely hard to have everything done in time, but I knew they would do it.
It wasn't that I was especially eager to marry Caspian. It wasn't that I was deeply in love with him, or that I didn't want to wait any longer than I had to become husband and wife. But I had to be married as quickly as I could, before anyone discovered my…condition. By the time of the wedding, I would be nearly a month along, and it wouldn't be long before I began to show.
After our announcement, I went to undress. The maid unbuttoned my gown, let down my hair, and unlaced my corset. I put on my favorite clothes- my breeches, boots, and loose cotton shirt. I tied my long hair back and then stole out of the kitchen door to the stables. After a brief search, I found that Andy, my faithful unicorn and companion, was not inside. I sighed, and set out on foot to my meadow.
I had discovered it a long time ago, nearly 1600 years, in fact. Although it had changed in that long time, it was still much like it was in the Golden Years of Narnia. I flopped down in the brown, frosty grass and wrapped my cloak loosely around my body as I sat cross-legged on the ground.
I stared at the sky, knowing that I should be back at the castle, being fitted for my wedding dress, helping plan wedding details. But every time I thought about it, the ache in my chest began again and my breath grew short with trepidation.
As I watched the fluffy winter clouds drift lazily across the cerulean sky, I wondered what Edmund was doing back in that other world, in Finchley. I wondered if he was thinking about me, feeling the same ache that plagued me constantly.