Lucy, rosy dawn, valiant bringer of the morn
Hold strong thy faith in Lion unseen, in face of those who scorn.
Alone in her room, Queen Lucy gazed out upon the Eastern Sea, as the rising sun chased away the lingering shadows of the night. A tap on her door, and Susan entered, already dressed for court.
"Hurry up, Lucy!" the Gentle Queen admonished. "We have to welcome the Calormene embassy this morning. You cannot meet them if you are not dressed, sister." Susan laughed as she spun about Lucy's room, gathering the things Lucy would need. The Valiant Queen, surprised and pleased by her usually composed sister's delight, could do naught but comply.
"What in Narnia has you so pleased, Su?" she inquired eagerly. Susan stopped her mad dash about the room, looking first at her sister, and then thoughtfully out the window.
"I'm not sure, Lu. Perhaps I've never noticed, since usually only the boys are up at dawn, but the sun – all golden and bright like that – reminds me of the Stone Table. Not that horrid night, but the next morning, when Aslan came back, and roared and played with us. Remember? It was joy in the midst of a war…" Susan trailed off, smiled, and recommenced helping Lucy get ready. Neither girl spoke again, and Lucy was left pondering her sister's words, and the sense of joy and absolute security they rekindled.
A few hours later, Lucy was fuming with indignation at the flippant way the Calormene ambassador had dismissed Aslan. Susan had winced, Edmund had glared, even Peter's eyebrows had shot up. But Lucy, usually so even-tempered, had spit an offended reply and dashed from the room. It was Susan who made Lucy's excuses, and then her own, and followed the young Queen to the garden. With a few soft, careful words, Susan eased Lucy's temper and commended her strength of faith. Lucy smiled at her sister, and swore she heard the roar of a lion's laugh.
Alone in her room, Lucy Pevensie gazed out at the London street, as the rising sun battled the lingering fog. A muffled bang on her door, and Susan stumbled in, still dressed from the night before.
"I'm sorry, Lu, did I wake you?" the young socialite worried. "My friend Ruth was ill, and I had to see her home. It took a bit longer than expected…" Susan sighed as she stepped out of her high heeled shoes and dropped wearily onto her bed. Lucy, not the least surprised by the gentle attention her sister paid to those she called friend, crossed the room to sit by her.
"I hope she's alright, Su. And no, you didn't wake me. Ed had a nightmare, and I spent the night with the boys, talking about the first time we met the Calormene ambassador, d'you remember?" she inquired eagerly. Susan sat up from where she had been reclining on the bed, looking first at her sister, and then thoughtfully out the window.
"Lucy, dear, I've told you that you must stop these silly games. I know Peter and Edmund encourage you, and I'll be having a talk with them, too, but really! You are nearly a grown girl. I know it can be frightening to grow up, but you must let these fantasies go, sweetie. Please, you'll be so much happier…" Susan trailed off, threw a concerned look Lucy's way, and stood to put on her nightclothes. Neither girl spoke again, and Lucy was left pondering her sister's words and wondering how a soul still so sweet and gentle could deny the home it loved.
A few hours later, Lucy was crying with indignation at the fight she could hear behind the boys' door. Susan was shouting, Edmund spoke softly, and Peter, by the sound of it, had just slammed his fist on his dresser. Lucy, knowing the cause for the argument to be her mention of Narnia earlier that morning, fled downstairs. When the argument ceased, it was Peter, walking through the house on his way outside, who found Lucy sobbing. With a few soft, careful words, Peter excused Susan and commended Lucy's strength of faith. Lucy smiled sadly at her brother.
"But Peter, what good is my strength of faith if it doesn't help Susan?" she wondered.
"It will, and it does, Lu, just be strong. For all our sakes."
AN: Ok, that was interesting. I'm not very good at dialogue, and I think the parallel is kind of weird, but I am trying it out anyway. I would love to know what you think.