Said Queen Lucy, "for it will not go out of my mind that if we pass this post and lantern either we shall find strange adventures or else some great change in our fortunes."
"Madam," Said King Edmund, "the like foreboding stirreth in my heart also."
"And in mine, fair brother," Said King Peter.
"And in mine too," said Queen Susan. "Wherefore by my counsel we shall lightly return to our horses and follow this White Stag no further."
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, pg. 186.
What if one thing had been different that fateful day in Narnia? The following are different scenarios of what might have been.
If Queen Lucy had not gone:
"You are sure you will not join us, dear sister?" Peter asked.
"Nay, Peter. One of us should remain here and perform our royal duties. As well it is my tea day with Tumnus, if you will recall." Queen Lucy replied. She was the youngest of the monarchs in charge of the land of Narnia.
The four were brothers and sisters and had ruled Narnia for twelve years, most of which were peaceful and the period was already gaining the name of the Golden Age of Narnia. Never before had Narnia been more peaceful or more prosperous than when the four Pevensie children were in charge.
The other day Lucy's best friend, the faun Tumnus, had reported to them that the White Stag had been spotted in the Western Woods. This was the stag that if caught, would grant wishes and so the royal siblings had decided to hunt the stag. Lucy had opted to remain behind.
After the other siblings left on the hunt, Lucy went to the Hall of Justice where she presided over a few small disputes between some of her subjects. The matter of presiding over disputes was minor compared to other requirements of her duties and she loved sharing this with her brother Edmund. But since he was not available, she had to preside alone, but her verdicts were wise and just and her subjects left happy.
Then she went and found Mr. Tumnus in the kitchen.
"Hullo, Mr. Tumnus."
"Good morning my dear Lucy. If you do not mind my asking, why did you not go with the others on the hunt for the stag?"
"I did not want to miss tea with you. I have had to postpone it often enough due to duties and I could not bear the thought of having to postpone again because of a hunt. You are more important to me than catching a stag." Lucy replied.
"You do not want your wishes granted?"
"I believe that between Aslan, my brothers, my sister, and I that any wish I have will be granted. Besides I want for nothing. I have a wonderful family and friends, I eat well, and there are no princes asking for my hand in marriage, so I can be content for a day."
The magic did not work with one sister missing. They had found the back of the wardrobe but were not able to get further than the coats. The door was jammed. With a disappointed sigh at the loss of an adventure, Peter, Susan, and Edmund turned back to their horses and began the trek back to the castle. In a few days the mysterious lantern and the coats were all but forgotten as they continued their royal duties.
Susan eventually married a duke of Galma, but after a few years, the duke found out that Susan was barren. They would not be having any children. Peter claimed he would never marry for he was married to Narnia. Edmund married a princess of Terebinthia, and it would be their children, Peter declared, who would take the throne of Narnia after the siblings were gone, if Aslan was kind enough to grant Edmund and Serena children. Serena never conceived a child. Lucy, bright and smiling, never married. She remained good friends with Tumnus and Prince Corin (whom it was widely rumored she would marry, though it never was confirmed). None of the siblings left any heirs to the throne.
The four royal monarchs died in Narnia. Their bodies were buried in each of their favorite places, respectively, each looking towards their direction as stated by Aslan at their coronation. In England, the Professor was quite at a loss to explain the loss of the children to their parents when the war was over. Soon after, his fortune vanished and he had to sell his house and burn down (to his dismay) the wardrobe.
Fifty years later the first Caspian appeared from Telmar and conquered Narnia. He drove the Talking Animals and the few remaining humans in the land into hiding and declared himself King of Narnia.