Disclaimer: Sadly, I own nothing associated with The Chronicles of Narnia (which really bums me out). Only original characters are mine.

AN: In this chapter, the POV isn't from any of our favorite characters, but I hope it's an interesting one anyway. Thanks for reading, and please don't forget to review!

Chapter 7: A Father's Love:

The last month had been a nightmare. His daughter, so young and full of life, was in a deep coma, the result of a careless driver and his stupid habit of taking his eyes of the road for "just a second." The fact that the man was now going to prison was somewhat comforting, but it didn't bring his daughter out of her coma.

Like any true parent, Raymond Oliver sat at her bedside as much as possible. Though he'd have gladly stayed with her day and night, he needed the money and the insurance his company provided to take care of his ailing Ali. And so Ray kept working during the day, while his wife kept watch, and as soon as he was off work, visited the hospital. Then his son would change with him, allowing Ray to go home and rest (as much as he could) for the night. It was exhausting, but he wanted someone to be there, just in case she woke up.

Waking or sleeping, Ray always saw the pale, thin form of his eldest child in his mind, and with that image, his heart ached. She was his only daughter, his little girl, and now she was wasting away in a hospital bed, kept alive by machines as her body tried to recover. No one knew if her mind was intact, but if the machines measuring her brain waves were accurate, then her consciousness was miraculously still there.

Her mother, Kay, struggled to hold on to hope, but with each day that Ali didn't wake, it grew harder to stay optimistic. Kay couldn't help but picture all of the things that Ali should be doing, rather than being in the hospital: hanging out with friends, going to the ballet, calling home sometimes to tell them the latest exciting thing she'd done. Worst of all, the thought of Ali never meeting Mr. Right, dating, getting engaged, married, and having kids of her own was sometimes too much for them to bear.

Ali's brother, Mark, also struggled to cling to hope, and more than once had suggested pulling the plug, saying that Ali wouldn't want to be a vegetable forever. Raymond couldn't help but be furious at the idea –Mark loved his sister, and it tore Ray in two, knowing that Mark wanted to send Ali into death. It would be a merciful death, but Ray wasn't ready to let his daughter go -she was still young and strong, with her whole life ahead of her. How could he deprive her of that?


The dreams started a couple weeks after Ali's accident. In them, Ray saw her laughing, talking, and being embraced by a handsome man just her age. The couple seemed happy together, and clearly in love, particularly when they shared kisses and laughter with one another.

The dreams comforted him, at least in sleep, but when he woke, Raymond felt a deep bitterness in his heart. To him, it was as though his subconscious mind was showing him what Ali would have if she weren't in a coma –Ali had never dated seriously before, and the visions he saw at night clearly showed her to be very serious with this young man. The idea of Ali only finding love in his imagination tore at him, and Ray could feel himself slowly sinking into a deep depression as his daughter's coma wore on.

As his despair grew, Raymond found his dreams growing more and more detailed. He saw Ali riding a horse through a field, or sitting in a white stone room, wearing clothes straight out of the Middle Ages as she laughed and talked with the young man who always seemed to be with her. In fact, in each of his dreams, she was wearing extremely old-fashioned clothes, and that only convinced him that the dreams were a mere fantasy of his. It was laughable, the idea of Ali wearing such ridiculous outfits! Yes, she'd always loved films where the actors wore costumes like that, but she'd never actually wear them in real life.

Then, one night, his dreams changed. A voice began talking to him, telling him that Ali was safe and happy, together with a man she loved and who loved her in return. The voice was deep, authoritative, and comforting. Ray honestly believed that his hopes were slowly driving him crazy, but something about that voice told him to trust everything it said.

But still his doubts lingered, gnawing at him until, one day, as he sat by Ali's bed, he let himself drift into sleep…and the dreams he'd been having began to take on a whole new light.


At first, he thought that his brain was playing tricks on him again. Never before had he dreamed of a perfect forest, with crystal streams, warm sunlight, and fruit tree groves that scented the air with their delicious scents. And standing there before him was a talking lion.

Now, Ray had an imagination, but he'd never had an overly-active one. However, here he was, and there was the lion, speaking to him as though lions always talked.

"Your daughter's essence, or soul, is safe within a world of my creation," the beast said, looking at him with incredibly wise and ancient eyes. "She was sent there because her presence was needed to help it become the great and glorious place it was meant to be."

Those eyes softened. "I know that her absence from you and your family has caused great heartache. Therefore, I send now send you there, so that you may know the life she now leads, and can see the destiny that has always been hers."

Ray stood there, blinking in confusion as the lion gestured to his right shoulder with its nose. "Follow the pathway through the forest. You will have a rather difficult time getting to your destination, but if you are determined, you will find your way to the great city of Cair Paravel."

The lion seemed to smile at him. "Fear not for your safety, for no animals or creatures will find you on your journey. You will find food and water when you need them, and safe places to rest when you tire. Once you reach the city, plea for the help of the Queen, for only she can help you find what you seek."

As though he were in a trance, Raymond turned around and saw the pale brown dirt path leading off into the woods that surrounded him. He looked back to ask the lion why he was dreaming this, but the beast was gone.

'Perhaps this is some sort of vision quest,' he thought to himself as his feet followed the track. After all, Native Americans and other ancient tribal peoples had done this sort of thing before, when they were in search of answers. Ray had never believed in that kind of stuff, but this dream was far too detailed and realistic to be a mere fantasy.

Well, even if it did turn out to be a mere dream, it seemed like it would be a very entertaining and distracting one.

So, Ray decided to do as the lion instructed, and follow the path.


He could tell the exact moment when the forest changed. The air didn't seem as clear and calming, and the flora surrounding him seemed less vibrant and defined. It was as if he'd crossed from Eden into a lesser world, and the loss hurt a bit. He kept walking, though.

As the lion promised, Raymond found berries or nuts when he was hungry, as well as a few wild fruit trees. He passed many streams, and when he was tired, he usually found a glade with a large stump or stone in it for him to use as a seat.

When night arrived, Ray was exhausted, and he was relieved to find a cluster of stones that formed a cozy little cave, with a small pear tree growing nearby.

Silently blessing his parents for enrolling him in Boy Scouts as a child, Ray managed to remember enough of his old Scout lessons to gather wood and make a fire. The bottom of the cave was flat, hard stone, and the cave itself was deep enough that Ray could build up the flames away from the entrance, and not worry about starting a forest fire.

He managed to find a long stick that had fallen onto the ground, and was relieved to see that it was thick enough to tend the logs, without breaking or snapping back in his face. After a meal of several pears, Ray proceeded to keep his ears open as he dozed through the night, his mind whirling with what he might say to the Queen of this world.

In the morning, he was stiff from sleeping upright, but no animals had come to trouble him, much to his relief. He had even managed to catch a few hours of deep sleep, though it had been his intention to stay at least partially awake the entire night.

It was the stiffness in his back and neck that convinced Ray that this was not a dream. People weren't supposed to feel pain in their dreams, and here he was, with dull aches running through his upper body. He'd have given anything for an aspirin, but he had been brought here with nothing more than the clothes on his back. Until he reached the castle, he would just have to cope with what he had.

After a quick face wash in a nearby stream, Ray plucked a few pears to eat on his journey and started walking along the faint path that seemed to appear before his feet and vanished behind him. It was very Alice-in-Wonderland, but his growling stomach and the pains in his back reminded him that, unlike Alice, he wasn't dreaming.


Following three days of travel, Ray felt drained. He was tired, dirty, and craving real food -the berries, nuts, and wild fruits he'd been consuming just weren't enough. Meat he didn't dare try to get –he was no hunter, and he didn't want to risk eating undercooked meat.

At last, when the sun was high on the third day, he walked over a small hill, and what he saw took his breath away. A shining white castle by the sea, shining in the afternoon sun, stood on a tall hill, with a city flowing down from it like waves of foam. Even from where he stood, Raymond could faintly see the bustle of people going to and from the city along wide roads. No doubt the Queen lived there!

Heading down his own hill, Ray made his way to one of the roads, where he found a boulder that looked as though it would be a good place to rest. He'd gone two nights without much sleep, and the area looked safe enough.

The moment he sat down, his world went black.


Voices called to him, and several pairs of large, gentle hands grasped his arms and legs for a brief moment before setting him upon something that moved and swayed. He was probably on a stretcher of some kind, or a hammock or gurney, because he could feel and sense the world moving past him rather quickly.

Forcing his eyes open, Ray saw vague shapes and faces, but nothing detailed. It was as though he were looking through a poorly made window, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't see well. Voices came again, telling him to relax, that he was being taken to a doctor, and that he would safe.

"The Queen," Ray felt himself murmur. "The Queen…help…find my…daughter…"

He immediately blacked out again, and when his eyes next opened, it was to a vague feminine shape hovering over him.

"Fetch Queen Lucy's cordial at once," the woman's voice ordered. "You, make sure the kitchens have something hot waiting for when he awakens. Oh, dear, I can hear his stomach growling from here. Have fruit and water brought at once, for when he awakens, then have a page fetch the food from the kitchen when he wants it."

"Majesty," several voices replied.

In the exhausted, hunger-filled daze that enveloped him, Ray couldn't be sure, but the female's voice sounded familiar –it seemed somehow different from what his memory believed it to be, but something still told him that he knew that voice from somewhere before.

A gentle hand rested on his forehead. "You'll be alright," the woman murmured to him. "I'll take care of you. Rest now."

Ray sighed and closed his eyes, relishing the soft bed beneath him as he fell into sleep.


Seeing my poor father lying there, dirty, exhausted, and probably dehydrated, I felt as though a knife had been driven into my stomach. Daddy had always been strong –now he just looked pale and drained, as though he'd been through a never-ending nightmare.

'He probably has,' part of me whispered. 'Consider what life back there must be like for him!'

I'd never thought about my old world that much, as I'd felt that I would never go back there. After all, the very first King and Queen of Narnia, Helen and Frank, had never returned to England, and so I had assumed that my situation would be similar to theirs. Also, I hadn't been very happy there, just mildly content with it, and besides my family, I didn't have much to leave behind.

'I wonder how much time has passed since I left?' I wondered. 'And what happened afterwards?'

My head began to ache. There were so many different things to consider: the way time almost never seemed to pass in the same amount between the two worlds; whether or not people traveled physically or spiritually to Narnia and back again; and what explanations were given for people who left my world for good to start anew in Narnia.

I swallowed hard as a servant appeared with the cordial. "Majesty," the servant said, handing it to me.

Pulling out the stopper, I took a seat on the bed and gently pried open my father's mouth, allowing a small drop to fall past his lips and onto his tongue. He swallowed it automatically, and I watched in relief as color came back to his cheeks. He seemed to relax a bit, which in turn caused me to relax a little.

"I want you and another servant to watch him carefully," I ordered. "I must go and speak to the King and Lord Drinian. The moment he wakes, inform me at once, and feed him well. Do not leave him alone, not until you are certain of his good health, do you understand?"

The man practically saluted me. "Yes, Majesty," he replied, going to take a seat in the corner of the room.

Relieved that my father would be well-cared for, I left to explain things to my husband.


"It's rather hard to believe," Caspian said, taking a glass of wine from Drinian, who then poured himself one. I had a cup already and was steadily nursing it to calm my nerves.

"Are you sure it is him?" Drinian asked, taking a sip of his drink. "You are not mistaken in this?"

I rolled my eyes. "It may have been years since I last saw him, but I do know my own father," I retorted.

Caspian winced. "We merely want to be sure, Ali," he said reassuringly.

I gave him the same look that Nettie, Felicia and I gave the little girls whenever they misbehaved. This time, both men winced. "I'm sure," I said firmly.

My husband sighed and took a deep drink from his cup. "Very well," he acquiesced. "After you and he have had time to talk, I will be happy to meet him. Once he has adjusted to the idea that you are married, we may then introduce Lucy to him."

Drinian nodded his agreement. "And she shouldn't do it alone, either. Guards will be outside, in case." He saw me scowling at him. "You are Queen, remember? Your safety is very important to not only your friends and family, but also your people."

"But he's my father," I reminded him. "He wouldn't hurt me."

"And you are not the daughter he once knew," Caspian said firmly. "He might not adjust to that very well, and I will not risk harm coming to you."

Sighing, I took another drink of wine. "All right." I wasn't happy with it, but given the state my father was in, a few too many shocks to his psyche might require a guard, in case. "But I want them to stay in the hallway while we speak. No eavesdropping!"

For the next several hours, we proceeded to discuss ideas on how to introduce Caspian to his father-in-law. We decided that we would wait a day or two before introducing the two of them, and that I would take a few of my meals with my father, rather than with Caspian or the court.

By the time a servant arrived to fetch me, the sun was starting to set, and I was relieved to hear the maid tell me that our "guest" was awake, and had been fed a light meal.

"He awaits you, Majesty," the serving maid informed us, "and he is most anxious to meet with you at once."

Putting aside my glass, I stood and brushed at my gown with my hands, straightening it as best I could. "Very well," I replied, trying to stay calm. "Let us get this over with."


At first, when his eyes opened, Raymond couldn't decide if he was dead, dreaming, or something else entirely.

First, there had been the sense that someone had given him a drop of liquid that tasted like a spring morning –warm, comforting, and relaxing. It warmed him from the inside, and eased all of his aches and pains. Finally able to feel safe and relaxed, Ray drifted off into a deep sleep, where he didn't dream at all.

When he woke, he felt both refreshed and hungry. Opening his eyes, Ray looked around. He was on a comfortable bed in the middle of a good-sized room. Around him were beautifully crafted tables, chairs, and even a large wardrobe. Several of the tables had statues or small stacks of books, while others had candelabras, with all of their candles lit to produce flickering light. To his far left was a large window with a balcony overlooking the bustling city. It was dark out now, and he could see a faint glow from the lit buildings.

Sitting up in bed, Ray was startled when a man came in, a smile on his face as he placed a tray on the table beside the bed. "Good evening, sir," the stranger greeted him. "Here is your supper; I fetched for you when I saw you begin to stir. Her Majesty heard of your request, and will be in to see you after you've eaten. Enjoy your meal." Then he vanished, leaving Ray to himself.

Relieved that no one was going to sit and watch him eat, Ray took in the savory smell of roasted beef, potatoes, and bread. Placing the tray across his lap, he practically inhaled his food, only stopping to breathe and take drinks from the cup of water that they'd brought him. After living off of the land for days, everything tasted like heaven.

Once he finished, the serving man returned as though by magic, and whisked the tray away. Left alone with his thoughts, Ray tried to imagine what this Queen must be like. The servant didn't seem afraid of her, so she must be a good monarch who didn't beat or punish her people. In fact, the servant seemed almost eager to do be doing his assigned work. Happy workers was always the sign of a good leader.

Leaning back onto his pillows, Raymond stared out the window, trying to come to terms with what had happened to him. This was all real, because he'd never been hungry, thirsty, and in pain in dreams before. It was hard to believe that someone in this place could help him find Ali's…what was it called? Her soul, or essence, or whatever it was that made Ali herself, was here somewhere, possibly in a new body, and he had to find where she was.

Glancing around, he could see that this place wasn't very advanced, and reminded him of the movies he'd seen taking place in the Middle Ages or the Renaissance. There were no religious symbols, however, from what he could see, so he couldn't have traveled back in time to Old Time Europe. This place seemed to like decorating with carvings or statues, using images of plants, trees, animals, and fantasy creatures like unicorns, gryphons, and centaurs. It was all very well-crafted, and some of the creatures seemed almost lifelike, as though they'd been based on real beings.

For several minutes, Ray sat there, nervously shifting back and forth in the bed. He thought that maybe no one had gone to fetch the Queen, and that they were humoring him, but given that this was the castle, and castles were huge, it would figure that getting her here would take a while.

He'd just begun twiddling his thumbs (literally), when he heard footsteps outside the door, followed by hushed whispering. Then things went quiet, and the door quietly swung open, revealing the last person he expected to see.

"Hello, Daddy."


AN: Review?