A Joyful Return
1
Annie found herself standing in what she now knew was the Throne Room of Mimasu's house. Her back was to the tapestry of the two kings. The first thing she noticed was that the stained glass windows were dark. "Time passes differently in every world." She whispered to herself.
She then noticed that the room had been lit with candles, both in wall sconces and standing on the tables. In the flickering light she realized that Mimasu was sitting asleep on the Throne. The tracks of dried tears traced down her face. In her hand she held the smallest of the crowns from the table under the sword and shield.
Annie walked over to the Throne and touched Mima...Susan on the shoulder. She stirred and began to awaken. Annie stepped down to the lower floor and knelt in front of the Throne. When Susan awakened enough to recognize her, Annie bowed deeply.
"Queen Susan the Gentle." she began the speech Aslan had had her rehearse for this moment. "Beloved friend of Narnia, I bear you greetings from Aslan. He thanks you for providing this place of memory where the joys of your childhood continue to live."
Susan's eyes flashed with the beginnings of anger, this impertinent child had discovered her secret room, disappeared to who knows where for an entire day and was now taunting her with her deepest secret. Then another voice spoke.
"Susan, how can you be angry with Magic. She is a true Pevensie, just like you and me."
Shock and confusion came over Susan's face.
"Lucy!" Annie squealed. "But... I thought you weren't allowed to come?"
"I begged and begged Aslan until he finally agreed to let me come visit this world for a time."
"L...L...Lucy?"
"Yes, Dear Sister?"
"Are you a ghost?"
"For this summer, I am as real as you and Magic here."
Susan and Lucy swept into an intense embrace. In the midst of the dancing and laughing and tears, Annie found herself somehow in the middle of the hug.
"Lucy, I distinctly remember you being much older than nine."
"Aslan's fault." Lucy grinned, one didn't get to use that term often. "Annie here got lost between worlds so he sent Edmund and I to find her. It was less intimidating for us to look for her as children. You see, he kept her identity and relationship a secret from us."
"You didn't tell me Edmund was there! I would have loved to meet him!"
"When we found you, he went to fetch Aslan. He didn't come back with him, so I didn't think about it until now."
"Lucy, I sense a story here between you two. Annie's been gone from this world for most of a day, we once spent fifteen years in Narnia during the blink of an eye. How long were you there?"
Annie looked at Lucy and thought hard. "I'm not really sure. Months?"
"At least three." Lucy added.
"Not counting time in the nothing."
"Of course there is no time in the nothing. You could have been there for the equivalent of years."
"Hold on you two. Let's start at the beginning."
"Can we do that in the Kitchen? I'm quite hungry." Annie chimed.
2
The three of them sat on stools around the same kitchen counter Annie had breakfasted at ages ago, that morning. Susan fixed sandwiches, even after 60 years, she still remembered Lucy's favorite. The two girls wolfed down the sandwiches and punch. Between bites, Annie shared her story with Susan. Lucy, wearing the crown that Susan had been holding, filled in some gaps and spoke of how she and Edmund had been tasked to find Annie.
"Wait, you sang this world into being?"
"Uh huh!" Annie replied around a mouthful of peanut butter and jam.
"Aslan said 'You have sung both love and loneliness. There are much worse traits on which to anchor a world'" Lucy added. "Only Aslan and his father have done this before. I've watched Aslan do it, and I've tried, at his urging, but only Magic here has done it."
"I didn't mean to do it. I was lonely and sad so I sang one of the songs Daddy always uses to cheer me up."
They continued the story while Susan served the girls hot chocolate and fixed herself a coffee. Susan realized it was close to dawn. They'd been talking all night and the two younger girls were still going strong. "Let's go up to the tower."
From the tower, they could see stars all around the sky. As if mirroring the stars, fireflies blinked all around. A faint lightening began to the east. As the sun came up, Annie spoke of the beauty of the first day in her new world, all the creatures and plants springing from the ground and the waters.
Annie stood and looked out over the valley. She spoke of the charge that Aslan had placed upon her and how she felt the weight of that responsibility come to rest upon her.
Susan looked at her sister. Taking the crown from Lucy's head, she turned to Annie. "Beloved granddaughter. Kneel"
Annie knelt before her great grandmother. Recognizing what Susan was about to do, Lucy stood on Annie's left with her right hand resting on Annie's shoulder. Susan stood before her with the rising sun at her back, glories rippling all around her, and for a moment, she saw not her Great-grandmother in her dressing gown and robe, but a beautiful young queen in a flowing gown of the finest silks and satins. Lucy's hand tensed on Annie's shoulder, she saw it too.
"Annette Lucille Temple, most favored child, friend of Aslan. I proclaim you honored Princess, and Friend of Narnia. Queen Lucy the Valiant has already committed herself to the service of your new land. Now I, Queen Susan the Gentle, commit the power and resources of the realm to your service. At your call, Peter, Edmund, Lucy, and myself will ride with you wherever you may lead." Susan placed the crown upon her head.
They returned to their seats. The simple ceremony had made Annie feel much better. The new world was still her responsibility, but in her heart she new she now had mentors and friends for the challenge.
3
"So what did you end up naming your new world?"
"I chose a name that to me meant honor and wisdom, peace and beauty, strength and grace, and most of all it meant love. Mimasu, I named it for you." Crying tears of love, Annie swept into Susan's open arms.
"Magic, promise me that one day I may see this wondrous land of yours."
"You have my word, Your Majesty."
"And I think its time we dropped the honorifics, I'm still your Mimasu. Though, as long as Lucy's here, if you wish to call me Susan. Oh, I haven't been called that since your father pegged me with Mimasu when he was a little boy. How I have missed it." She touched her breast. "Here, where I have remained young."
"Oh, I almost forgot, I'll be right back." Annie ran back down to the Throne Room to grab her pack. When she got back Lucy and Susan were talking about their brothers and some adventure they'd had on their first trip to Narnia.
"I brought back pictures!"
Susan oo'd and ah'd over the pictures Annie had taken. Lucy helped describe the people and places. When she got to the end, Annie noticed a new folder on the screen labeled 'Susan'. When she opened it, there was an icon of a Lion's head. "Mima... Susan, I think this one is for you."
Susan moused over to the icon and clicked it open. The screen blanked as for a movie. A soft rumbling purr came from the speakers, followed by Aslan's face on the screen. "Susan, by now you have learned the story of young Annie. I commend you on your skills, you have raised a fine, strong and loving family. Your great granddaughter is very special. I have taught her much relating to the Deep Magic in her time here with me. Share with her the wisdom you learned and exercised from the throne in Narnia that she may use her powers properly.
"While her adventures are just beginning, do not think that yours are over. You have cared well for the valley I lead you to and though the beasts of your world cannot make themselves heard by you, they tell me their thanks to pass on to you. The time will soon come when we are reunited. Fear not Daughter of Eve, as you have not forgotten Narnia, neither have the Narnian's forgotten you."
4
Having stayed up all night, the three of them grabbed a midday nap. Susan woke the two girls around mid-afternoon with the suggestion that they go for a ride. They saddled up and rode down to the valley floor.
"I was right." Lucy said. "This is one of the enchanted places in this world."
They picnicked in a small clearing while listening to the laughter of the nearby stream.
"This is the first place I visited in this valley." Susan said. "I kept expecting to see fauns and dryads dancing when I would turn around. Then I looked up at the ridge and I could see Cair Paravel sitting there. When the house was finished, I rode down here and cried because Peter, Edmund, and most of all you Lucy weren't here to see this place. Now, thanks to Annie, who is truly Magic, I get to share it with you at long last."
Lucy walked over to Susan and placed her hand on Susan's breast. "We were right here the whole time. Eventually, we will all share in that moment."
The shadows in the valley began to lengthen. "We'd better be getting back. Magic, by Aslan's order, I have something very special to share with you now."