AN: Disclaimer! I don't own Narnia, just my characters! R&R :D Enjoy!
Everyone had gathered around the platform around midday. As I stood in the crowd, next to a jittery faun and a breathtaking dryad, Aslan revealed knowledge of the Telmarines' ancestry, and how they had stumbled upon Narnia, from Earth. He explained that if they were discontent under the current rulers of Narnia, then they were free to return to their original homeland. He slowly stepped away, as the gigantic tree behind him twisted to form an arch, a gateway back to Earth.
"Are there any who wish to go?" he asked, his feline eyes gentle. I looked down at my sandaled feet, my red dress partially obscuring them. It was one of Susan's old dresses that they had salvaged from their treasury after the battle. Suddenly a bearded man stepped forward, bringing me back to the present.
"I will go. I will accept the offer," his voice rang out. Ah, yes. Now I remember. His name was Glozelle, and he used to be a general in Miraz's army. I felt a surge of admiration seep in, as I mentally saluted him for going first, and seizing the opportunity. King Caspian apparently felt the same as I saw him nod to the former general, respect in his gaze.
"So will we," former Queen Prunaprismia stated, her voice strong as she ascended the platform, her arms cradling her son and an elderly gentleman (whom I presumed to be her father) trailing behind her.
"Because you have come first, your life in that world shall be good," Aslan blessed. The three resolutely gazed upon the arch before hesitantly taking steps towards it, towards the new life they had been promised. One by one, they disappeared. The crowd immediately started panicking.
"How do we know that you are not leading us to our deaths?" a Telmarine shouted, apparent distrust in his voice mixed with fear and awe at the three's disappearance.
Aslan roared. A boy appeared, and looked around dazedly.
"What is your name, my child?" Aslan spoke.
"Arian, sir," the little boy stuttered. "Are you Aslan?"
"It is one of my many names, dear one. Name your parents, child."
"I never knew my father. But my mother calls herself Mia. Her real name is... Prunapr-"
"Prunaprismia?" King Caspian asked, figuring out the identity of the poor boy. This was his cousin, whose birth had started all of this. He was the reason his own life had been threatened, and why he had been forced to flee, and go to war.
"Uh, yes."
Aslan turned towards the crowd and explained that time passed differently on Earth than it did in Narnia. He then turned to Arian, and asked him to describe his home. The little boy brightened, and started spouting off descriptions of a bountiful island which bore many fruits and of various beaches, along with an enormous forest from which they hunted game. Then his expression drooped, and he tentatively asked the noble beast if he could go back to his mother. Aslan bid for him to enter the arch, the very arch he had crossed a few moments ago as a newborn babe. And within moments, he was gone.
"Are there any who wish to go?" Aslan repeated. Those who wished to remain in Narnia, or perhaps travel to Telmar, made themselves scarce. Others formed a line and vanished as they entered the portal. When the last of the willing Telmarines disappeared, Aslan nodded towards me. I ascended the platform, and tried not to trip in my haste.
"Your Majesties," I curtsied to the five monarchs, my head bent down.
"Anya! We asked you to address us by our names!" Lucy scolded, grinning as she ran up to me and pulled me up.
"Sorry," I sheepishly replied. Susan stepped forward and introduced me to the three handsome kings, despite the fact that I already knew who they were, and vice versa.
"Lu's right, Anya. No need for titles," Peter smirked, as he shook my hand. He looked to be around twenty, with golden hair, and blue eyes. A golden crown rested upon his head. Even though Caspian was a king of Narnia, Peter was still High King, which meant he preceded Caspian in rank.
"Pleasure to meet you, milady," Edmund cheekily murmured as he bent down and kissed my proffered hand. His cheeky grin and dimples widened my smile, as I pushed my glasses up my nose. He wore a silver crown, and looked to be around seventeen. As I looked closer, I saw that out of the four Pevensies, he was the only one with brown eyes, not unlike my own. And he had a smattering of freckles, just like his adorable younger sister.
Grinning, I turned towards the last of the kings, Caspian. Smiling politely, he kissed my hand gallantly and wished me a pleasant stay. He looked older than Peter, and love struck too, if I might add. He kept sneaking glances at Narnia's Gentle Queen, who seemed to reciprocate his feelings. Yes! Matchmaking time! Lucy and I shared a teasing glance behind the oblivious lovebirds.
"I wish to speak with the six of you, tonight," Aslan rumbled. As we began the short trek back to the castle, Aslan leading us, I wondered why the Pevensies were still in Narnia, and what my purpose was here, in this 'mystical' land.
_
I had had lunch in my room with Lucy, who had told me that I was to be shifted out of the guest wing, and given my own suite in their wing. I had tried telling her that it really wasn't necessary but she wouldn't hear of it. Shrugging, I thought it a waste of time to delay the inevitable, judging from the stubborn glint in the younger girl's eye. With an affectionate chuckle, I realised that Lucy was very quickly proving to be a thoughtful and attentive friend. After lunch, I had a small nap, and woke up just in time for dinner.
Dinner proved to be entertaining. Peter had been reviewing some parchments and looking kingly, while trying to shovel food inside his mouth. He was gulping wine from a goblet, when Susan pinched him for bringing work to dinner. He jumped in surprise, and then proceeded to choke, coughing violently. Caspian jumped up, worried, and clapped him on the back, and slowly Peter's cough receded into splutter as he gave Susan the evil eye. Susan for her part sat unabashed, calmly and daintily taking miniscule bites of her food. And through all that, Lucy, Edmund and I were howling in laughter. Just as we managed to stop (and with some difficulty too, I might add), one look at Peter's pout had us laughing again. Even Caspian and Susan had smirks on their faces.
After dining with the monarchs, I accompanied them towards Caspian's study, where Aslan had requested we meet him. He was sitting in front of the huge fireplace, and nodded for us to sit down on the sofas.
"Firstly, I will address the four Pevensies. Do you wish to go back? Or do you wish to stay alongside Caspian, and rule Narnia?" he asked. But before they could reply, Aslan continued. He explained that if they chose to stay, anybody who knew them on Earth would forget them (except for those who knew of Narnia's existence) and vice versa, and the unpleasant fact that if any of the four should perish, all four would be transported back to Earth with no chance of ever returning to Narnia. But if they chose to leave, they could still return to Narnia, and help it when the need arose.
Their decision was unanimous. They didn't want to leave Narnia, and Susan didn't want to leave Caspian. They all decided to stay. Then Aslan looked towards me, his golden gaze gentle.
"Do you wish to stay, dear one?"
"I don't know yet, milord. If I had my family here, I wouldn't hesitate to do so. But...' I trailed off, as I bit my lip.
"Their memories will not be erased, should you chose to stay or not," he warned, "But you are welcome to ponder upon it, child. Remember, you have a purpose here. If you chose to stay in Narnia for the rest of your life, then you will be charged to fulfil this purpose. If you choose to leave, another will be called to take your place."
Aslan roared. When I looked at where he had been sitting, he had disappeared.
I bid the royals farewell, as I walked towards my room, thinking about what I should decide. More importantly, what exactly made me happy. Honestly? It was too early to tell.
AN: Please review! And if there are any mistakes, please inform me, I'll correct them ASAP!
