Disclaimer: I do claim to be Narnian Queen at heart, but unfortunately I do not own any of the characters in Chronicles of Narnia. That honor belongs to CS Lewis, Disney, Walden and 20th Century Fox.

A.N: Last Chapter! Enjoy!

Summary: The first ever Thanksgiving held in Narnia. There were will questions, conveniences, and pets in unlikely places, that maybe will be a little more than what is bargained for. And above all being thankful for what is given.


Chapter 4: Being Thankful

It was four days until the Thanksgiving dinner that is planned and the kingdom was highly active. Everyone knew about it and were excited for it. After the Kings were done with practice training for the day they were called for by the sisters. Neither knew what was to be expected so both were wary when they stepped into the room.

"What is going on here?" Peter lifted an eyebrow as he surveyed the room of young Narnians sitting at tables.

"Hello, majesties!" all the young Narnian's chorused.

Peter smiled at them, "And hello to all of you. What is going on?"

Edmund just nodded his greetings with a small smile.

Both Lucy and Susan grinned.

Lucy flew over and grasped Peter's arm pulling him further inside. Edmund who had been quiet, tried to turn and leave but Lucy caught his tunic and dragged him inside as well. Snickers were heard around the room and Edmund mocked glared at the occupants.

"We are making turkeys!" a young squirrel offered his tail twitching in excitement.

Both Kings looked confused as Lucy maneuvered them to a table off to the side in the room and sat them down.

"I'm sorry, perhaps an explanation is in order?" Edmund asked.

Susan volunteered the answer in a question, "Remember when we made cut-out turkeys as a kid?"

"We still are kids", was the smart reply Edmund couldn't help but make.

Lucy placed some colored paper in front of them. It was then they noticed that all the Narnian children had paper in front of them and the tables were littered with other items as well.

Susan clapped her hands calling attention back to her, "Now that our Kings have graciously decided to join us. Let us began!"

Lucy had taken up her seat in the front of a room next to Susan. A table were in front of them with a lot of craft stuff on it from feathers to glue and everything in between.

"This should be fun! Today we'll make cut out turkeys! We remembered this particular event that was much fun. We had to share it all with you. After we finish making them we'll decorate the dining hall with them!"

From there it was Susan who explained how to do the cut out turkeys, by using your hand and tracing around it (or a paw or whatever one had) then drawing on the face and using feathers and other miscellaneous items to decorate it. It only took a few minutes as Susan was doing it as a demonstration, but even that had the Narnian children oohing and ahhing over them.

And soon, the room was filled with chatter and excitement as everyone began to make their own turkeys, remembering the way the turkeys looked in the courtyard. Even Edmund and Peter had to admit they had fun making them. In addition to paper turkeys, long paper chains in Thanksgiving colors were being made to hang up in the dining hall.

That was how that day passed.


Over the next couple of days, was a flurry of activity, consisting of constant cooking and decorating. The closer the Thanksgiving dinner that was to be held, the more excited the kingdom of Narnia got.

Until finally the big evening arrived.

Once the Kings and Queens were announced and were situated at the heads one of many long tables. On either side on the way down were various Narnians. Closest to the Kings and Queens were Oreius, Tumnus and the Beavers. Their table was in the middle of other tables, all jammed pack with everyone.

True to the Queens words, the decorations that were made were strung up around the room. It was a very elegant yet homey affair. Exactly what the Queens were going for. Even the royal family themselves were not dressed elaborately, which King Edmund was secretly thankful for. It was nice to go casual yet stylish.

After many of the last flowing Narnians that wanted to attend the dinner were finally situated and chatter was overflowing the room, it was Queen Lucy that finally stood. Silence began to drift throughout the room.

The Valiant Queen gave a nod as she scanned the room, "Thank you all for coming to our first, and hopefully not our last, Thanksgiving dinner."

A round of applause resounded as well as a few cheers.

Lucy grinned, "There is one tradition that we wish to establish and then High King Peter will ask Aslan's blessing and then we shall eat. We, the Kings and Queens will publicly state what we are thankful for. That is what Thanksgiving is about. Being thankful, although we should have this attitude everyday. It is also a wonderful time to be with the people we love. On that note, I shall go first. I am thankful for wonderful family and the greatest of friends. I am thankful for and to Aslan himself for being me and my family here. I'm am thankful to serve all of you."

When she sat down she got some applause.

Here it was Queen Susan that stood up, "First off, I am thankful for my wonderful siblings", she looked over her family before looking around the room, "..and our wonderful people who is just as much family to me as my brothers and sisters. I am also thankful to Aslan for bring us here as well."

"At this rate we will all be thankful for the same things", Peter spoke up getting some laughs.

"We can't help we have similar things to be thankful for", Susan gave a small grin as she sat.

Peter looked at Edmund before standing up, "I too, like my sister Queens are thankful beyond measure that Aslan brought us here and for my wonderful siblings. I am thankful for all our cousin Narnians and the honor to serve you." He glanced at his sisters who had this twinkle in their eyes that Edmund missed.

Peter turned to Edmund, "I am thankful to have the cleverest brother King I could ask for. And I wish to convey this with a gift to him. Without him especially, we would not be able to rule as well as we have."

Edmund blushed, "Peter…." He had not expected this turn of events.

"Hush, brother dear. We shall present you a gift."

"Majesties, is it customary to offer gifts on Thanksgiving like Christmas?" asked Oreius. He was slightly confused as well as some of the others. They had yet to hear about gift-giving on Thanksgiving.

It was Lucy that answered, "Actually, it's not customary like on Christmas but if you wish to offer a gift to your loved one as a token of your thanks, then by all means there is not reason not to do."

The room gave pleased chatters at the very idea, that they thought was a wonderful touch.

It was then that Edmund caught the gleam of mirth in his siblings' eyes and he instantly became wary. Why did he get the feeling he was being ganged up on?

One of the side doors open and a faun guard was pulling something on a loose leash. A wobbling gobble sounded. Edmund's head snapped up and his mouth fell open for the second time in the last couple of weeks.

It was the first time ever, he lost his compose in front of his people like so.

"King Edmund the Just, we offer you the highest thanks we can by offering you that which we sacrifice in the name of such holiday." Peter was hard-pressed not to laugh. Lucy and Susan were snickering and stifling chuckles were being heard throughout the crowd.

The faun guard lead the turkey, the same one that was hiding in Edmund's room, and gave the leash to Peter. The turkey now close enough, gave a wobbling sigh and leaned his head against Edmund's leg looking up at him with the equivalent of puppy eyes.

He really thought he was done for when the guards dragged him away. He didn't want to get eaten like his kin though he knew it was an honor. But when a young girl busted into the kitchen just as a dwarf cook was about ready to turn his lights out, his hope not to have the same fate, was granted. They kept him in a nice cage and treated him nicely. He heard them tell him, what their plan was for him and whatever kept him out of the cooking pot he was gamed with.

It took a moment but Edmund finally snapped back and his eyes narrowed, "What is the meaning of this?"

Lucy voice was a octave higher. She was trying hard not to laugh too much, "We rescued him. He was the last turkey and we decided that we'd keep him as a pet so to speak. A living memorial of the holiday. Besides we had more than enough turkey for the dinner tonight."

Edmund looked back down at the turkey who look like he was trying hard to climb into Edmund's lap. He looked back at his siblings and asked really calmly, "Whose idea was this?"

Peter glanced at his sisters, "Well, Lucy was the one who came up with the initial idea, but I gave the go-ahead." He willingly deflected the heat off his sisters without lying.

The room watched in hushed laughter as Edmund stood up. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Oreius", he said finally looking at Peter unblinkingly.

"My King?" Was the centaur's voice also an octave higher?

"I must ask a question."

"Of course."

"If you had to choose, which King would you side with in the off chance that one wanted to kill the other?"

Since Orieus knew that the Just King was not serious by any means, he felt comfortable enough to say in question format, "Whichever one doesn't end in my death as well?"

Edmund gave a sardonic smile his eyes still trained on his older brother, "Beautifully said."

Peter made a face glancing at Oreius, "Thanks for selling me out General."

Orieus inclined his head, "I'm sorry, majesty but I fear I must protect my hide to live another day."

"Yes, I can feel the loyalty", Peter's voice was flat, "I really can."

It was then that Edmund lunged and tried to wrapped his hands around Peter's neck but it was his grin that let everyone know he was wasn't serious. It also made the entire place break out in hooting laughter.

"Help, Oreius! Stop this madman!" cried Peter trying to fend Edmund off.

Oreius pretended to look away ignoring this.

Edmund finally stopped and gave a small chuckle, "I'll finish killing you later. Sleep with one eye open."

"I'll do you one better. Tonight I'm tripling the guard and not falling asleep." Peter shot back.

"Alright. Now, Edmund you have yet to go. You are the last one." Lucy finally spoke over her dying chuckles a well as the room's.

Peter sat down and willing moved his chair away from Edmund with a grin making another round of spontaneous chuckles come forth.

Edmund still stood. He was silent for a moment before speaking, "I am also thankful for Aslan bringing us here, especially me. I am thankful that our land is peaceful and free from the 100 year winter and I'm thankful that our people, our cousins, all of you, are happy. It pleases me to see such joy where I have never seen before; to feel such joy I've never felt before."

He looked at his siblings, "I do not have any gifts for any of you, but my heartfelt thanks for being my siblings and thank you for caring and loving me." His gaze touched on Peter who looked like he was about to cry. Edmund sniffed once and willed his voice not to break, "I want to say I'm thankful for the best biggest, most annoying and sometimes most daft brother I've ever had in my life. I won't exchange you for anything. Though sometimes I want get my hands around your throat."

Peter laughed as there were random chuckles throughout behind the thought.

Edmund looked at his sisters, "I'm thankful for graceful and beautiful sisters. And most of all, "Edmund hated that his voice broke once, "I am thankful and grateful for Aslan himself. His grace and mercy that knows no bounds."

It was then that Peter launched himself at Edmund and wrapped him in a hug as the room broke into hearty applause and cheers. Susan and Lucy joined the hug making it a group hug. After a second they managed to break apart.

"Leave it to my brother King to reduce us to tears", Peter spoke up getting affirmations around the room.

Even the turkey gave a cry as an agreement.

Edmund looked down and him and sighed. "I can't believe you did this to me."

"Well he obviously likes you better", giggled Lucy. Edmund made a face but didn't say anything.

"High King, if you'd grace us with the blessing", Susan inclined her head to her older brother.

Lucy nodded with a grin, "Yes, and then food, dancing, fun, family and friends!"

There was a light cheer before the Kings and Queens stood shoulder to shoulder and bowed their head making everyone do the same.

"Aslan, we offer you thanks for this glorious day and ask you to bless us in our continuance service to you and each other. We ask that our friends and family are kept in your paws and that your wisdom continue to shine upon us each day. Thank you for allowing us to have this dinner, the first of hopefully many Thanksgivings in the years to come. Thank you for granting us the means to have this Thanksgiving. Don't let us forget that each day we should be thankful. In your name, Amen."

"Amen." Everyone else intoned.

"Let's eat!" cried Peter after another moment of silence as a grin broke out.

That must have been the signal because various doors opened and the cooks and servants began to serve the food. Music started shortly thereafter and the dinner party lasted long into the evening. There was much entertaining, dancing and visiting.

Edmund had seemed to make a new friend (sorta, he was still working through how he got saddled with this and that he still wanted to strangle Peter for allowing this to happen) in the turkey.

And it seemed that every year since then, the week before the designated day of Thanksgiving, a hundred or so turkeys would appear in the courtyard.

As for Edmund's turkey, he was set up with a nice little place in Cair Paravel. He seemed to be intelligent beyond what was normal and seemed to know what was going on.

Now whether he was finally gifted with the power of speech is another story for another time.

FIN.


A.N: Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed my contribution to this year's Thanksgiving. I hope that I'll be able to think of a Narnian Christmas special, so we'll see!

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I still am since I don't have to go back to college until Monday! =D

Aslan's blessing upon all of you!

For Narnia and Aslan!