Chapter Two: The Aftermath
(Corin)
She's so beautiful, even covered in the blood of our Calormene enemies, even battle worn and filthy. Her long golden curls were once woven into a braided bun for battle, but now the braid hangs loose and free. Her green eyes flash with determination. No blade touches her. We are back to back, hacking, stabbing, and slashing. Finally the enemy is subdued. Rabadash is escorted to a set of rooms by some of the loyal Narnian guards. Father announces that dinner will be served in rooms tonight due to the bloodshed.
The next morning dawns fair and clear. At breakfast I discover that I will not have to take on the kingship thanks to my long lost twin Cor. Then Rabadash is led in in chains. We all attempt to reason with him before Aslan arrives. Lucy cries out, "Aslan!" and rushes to him, hugging his neck and burying her face in his mane. He chuckles. "Hello, Dearest One." He rumbles. My mouth drops open. Dearest one? Does Lucy know who she is? Aslan does not tell falsehoods. Lucy is his Dearest one. Being Aslan's dearest one is an unthinkable honor. While I am pondering this, Rabadash is turned into a donkey. He is then led off by Mr. Tumnus and a few choice guards. Lucy once again has her arms around Aslan. He lays an enormous paw on her shoulders and rumbles out, "Now, my dearest one, you and I have much to discuss." Lucy smiles, her whole face lighting up. "Of course, Aslan." She consents happily. They begin to walk, I can see them in the gardens. Suddenly they stop and Lucy tackles Aslan to the ground. She and Aslan must be very close for him to allow her to do so. I snort—she's probably the only one to do so. So, after a while, Lucy comes in riding on Aslan's back. Everyone's jaw drops. Lucy laughs and says, "May we tell them, Aslan?" He chuckles and nods.
"As many of you may know, I led my siblings into Narnia. I have always had the strongest bond with Narnia. And now," she pauses. "Aslan has given me a great blessing." She stops again and looks at Aslan. He chuckles again and continues for her. "Lucy is my dearest one, which makes her very dear to Narnia as well. I have blessed her in my name and that of my father the emperor-over-the-sea. Lucy is forever connected to Narnia, and where she walks, Narnia shall sing and have spring again." Lucy laughs and hugs him again. "Thank you, dearest Aslan." He laughs—a sound like thunder—and says, "No, thank you, little one." Aslan rubs his nose against Lucy's cheek. The hall is speechless. Then Lucy turns and I finally get a good look at her. A sort of greatness hangs about her. I gasp. Her merry green eyes are flecked with gold. Her golden hair hangs past her waist like a mane. She appears to glow with Aslan's blessing. Aslan chuckles once more and says, "I must be off. Until next time, dearest one, Narnians, Archenlanders." Lucy hugs him once more. The rest of us bow and he lopes out of the castle.
It is King Edmund who breaks the silence. "Sister, would you be so kind as to show us the meaning of this great blessing?" he chokes out. I can tell he's in shock. I think we all are. Lucy merely laughs. "Of course, brother. Come." She beckons us outside, to the rose garden. Lucy slips off her tiny slippers and steps onto the grass. For a moment, nothing happens. Suddenly, the grass and roses begin to twine about her feet. Lucy begins to dance. Everywhere her feet touch, there is new life. Then she suddenly stops and faces us. Her eyes are bright.
"Who will help me?" she queries. The entire court is silent. I steel my resolve and step forward. "I will, Queen Lucy." She gives me such a smile I think my heart stops. "Excellent, find someplace out here to hide, and could you please hide well?" she laughs. I am not known for being inconspicuous. Lucy turns around and covers her eyes. The court is giggling. "1, 2, 3, 4, 5…." I waste no more time, darting over to a huge old elm. I shimmy up its trunk and part of the way onto a sturdy branch. "…98, 99, 100." Lucy finishes. Then her eyes still closed, she walks straight to me in my tree and climbs it. Panicked, I jump down, landing softly. She giggles "You can't get away that easily!" and lands with no more sound than Aslan on his velvet paws. I begin to run through the trees. Lucy merely laughs and dances after me, leaping over roots and pirouetting, pretty wildflowers growing in her wake. Finally, after an hour of her endless dance, I trip, and she lunges, grabbing my arm before I fall. Her eyes—still closed—slowly open. "Th-thanks." I stutter. She smiles and pulls me back to the court. Father asks "How did you do that? Your eyes were closed!" Lucy smiles and laughs as she says "Narnia aids me, and you all smell differently. Aslan says I have a lion's senses now."
"Smell…different?" Cor asks. "What do you mean?"
A beautiful smile illuminates Lucy's face as she tries to explain it. "Well, it's like your personality, in a smell. Corin smells like…horses and pine… I think." My jaw drops. How do I smell like pine and it be noticeable? As crazy as it is, we all accept it in the end. Lucy says to me, "Corin, would you like to spar with me again?" smiling innocently. My heart leaps, but I just nod and say "Of course, Queen Lucy." before walking with her to our sparring area. She retrieves her two swords—though I know she always has at least three daggers with her—and bows to me before whirling into action, slashing and stabbing. I do my best, but in five minutes her swords are at my throat. My sword clatters to the ground. Lucy lowers her swords. She isn't even panting. After she sheaths her blades I place a hand on her shoulder. She turns to face me again. "Can we take a walk?" I ask softly. "Corin…" she hesitates. "Well, alright." I put her hand on my arm and pull her to a secluded area of the gardens where no one goes. She looks at me, beautiful green-gold eyes solemn. "What's the matter, Corin?" She kills me with her pleading look. I get out a strangled "I need to tell you something over the lump in my throat. "About what?" she asks. I gulp in a breath of air and force out "My feelings for you." Her eyes widen at this. "Corin….." I blurt out "I'm in love with you, Lucy—you with your bravery, and your kindness, and the way you fight in a battle, drink tea with three lumps of sugar, and crinkle up your nose when you're happy. You're so beautiful, and I've loved you for so long, please, just tell me, do you have any such feelings for me?" Her eyes are shining, and she smiles, nods, and says "Oh, Corin, you need not have worried so, I love you as well. You always try to cheer those around you, you would fight to the death for those you love, and you always eat your bacon on top of your toast. Your blue eyes always show your feelings, and you've been so much more than a friend to me for a while now." By the end of this she's blushing and I'm beaming. I cradle her face gently with my hands and gently press my lips to hers. She is still blushing but wraps her hands around my neck, playing with the shaggy ends of my blonde hair. Eventually we break apart. Lucy is flushed and smiling. "So, does this mean we're courting?" I ask. She pales. "You have to ask Peter." She whispers. I stiffen.
"I'm dead." I say. Lucy nods.