Queen Susan's Library
1
When they had cooled and groomed the horses Susan led them back to the Throne Room. This time she went to the chest and opened it, pulling out a stack of first editions of the Chronicles of Narnia and several other volumes as well.
"Somehow, I still find it hard believe you fell through this into your new world."
"It was a lot bigger yesterday morning."
"Come, let us put these in the library where they belong." Lucy and Annie split the stack and followed Susan downstairs.
They set the books on the table beside the stack of books Susan had laid out for Annie a lifetime and thirty-six hours before.
"Well Magic, your reading list just became much more interesting, I should say. In addition to the Chronicles of Narnia with which I know you are familiar, these are the reconstructed diaries from my time as Queen Susan in Cair Paravel. Aslan charged me to share with you the wisdom and knowledge with which we ruled Narnia. This will be the best starting point. Lucy, I'm sure you'll help her to place these events in their proper context."
"Oh, this will be so exciting." Lucy exclaimed.
All Annie saw was a stack of reading. Reading for fun was one thing, but to have to read to learn something always, always turned out to be boring, and she said so.
"Don't you worry about being stuck inside with books all summer, Magic." Susan said. "Your archery lessons just took on a new importance. I also happen to know that Lucy was pretty good with a sword, and since she's more of a match for your size, you'll be training on sword and staff with her."
"Besides, In Narnia, we outlawed boring schooling. Do you think we would stick you with what we wouldn't tolerate?" Lucy added.
2
Susan and Lucy had gone up to the second floor to set up a proper room for Annie's blade training. She carefully picked up the top book. It was leather bound, in gilt lettering on the cover it read The Lion, The Witch, & The Wardrobe by C.S.Lewis. "Mom read me this several years ago." Annie said quietly. She carefully opened the cover, written inside was a note.
Dear Sue,
I am deeply honored by the trust your family has shown in me. When Prof. K. approached me to share this tale with the world I was taken aback. That none of you would wish any credit in its creation, merely the knowledge of it dissemination is inspiring. Against your wishes, I have set up a blind trust on you and your siblings behalf. Perhaps in the future an appropriate use can be determined by you for this fund. It is there for your need.
Sincerely,
Jack
Annie read the note, wondering who Jack might be. She picked up the second book Prince Caspian and discovered it too had a note in it.
Dear Sue,
Again, I am honored by the participation of your family members in this project. The interviews have been most informative. I do however wish that you would have chosen to participate in this latest round more fully. I believe that it might have been possible to more fully capture both you and your brother's sense of loss with further sessions.
Sincerely,
Jack
She wondered if maybe Jack was Mr. Lewis' secretary, he apparently had a hand in the writing of the books. Picking up The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, as she expected she again found a note in the cover. In this case there were blotches on the page and it was clear that the ink had run some.
My Dearest Sue,
I have only just heard this very evening. My condolences on your most tragic loss. I know that in the last year or so, you and your siblings have had a strong difference of opinion. Know, from one who has been blessed with the opportunity to know you all, that they still love you with all their being. I henceforth commit myself to putting to print every story they and you have shared with me. I beg of you to contact me that we may toast our absent friends.
Friendship Always,
Jack
Inside was a folded yellow newspaper clipping.
Station Wreck Claims 100 Lives
Royal railway officials are investigating the derailment of a commuter train yesterday as it approached a downtown station. All but one of the passengers on the first two of the coaches, and a number of patrons in the station were killed when, according to witness statements, the 10:05 apparently rounded the final bend too fast and tipped off the rails, swept the platform and slammed into the station building proper.
Among the known fatalities are Retired Professor D. Kirke, formerly an Oxford Don and his housekeeper Polly Mackready. Also, almost the entire Pevensie family of Finchley, some of whom were waiting at the station for the train's arrival. They are survived by a single daughter, Susan who was not present at the scene of the accident. Officials say additional victim names will be released upon notification of kin. More details will be reported as they come available.
Annie remembered how she and her mother had cried after realizing that poor Susan had been left all alone in the world. Knowing that the Susan she had cried for was actually her great-grandmother brought back that sadness. Not wanting to add more splotches to the book than those Susan had already made, Annie closed the book and pulled out more of her tissues, blowing her nose and dabbing her eyes until she no longer feared dripping on the books.
Each of the remaining titles also contained a brief note from Jack. In the front of "The Last Battle" she found her answer to who Jack was, and an answer to the question she had asked Lucy ages ago.
My Dearest Susan Temple,
Felicitations on your Marriage. I had feared never to see you smile like that again.
This is the last of the Narnia Chronicles. I have discovered that I too have a connection to this enchanted land. Since I was a boy I have had glimpses of this magical place, and yet didn't recognize it until your wonderful family came into my home and shared their amazing stories.
I had thought I was finished after the last, but one night, I had this dream in which the Great Lion pulled me aside and whispered to me the word 'listen' then he breathed on my forehead. When I awoke, I 'knew' what had transpired for your family, and this story is but a pale reflection of that knowledge.
I have transferred full control of the Trust into your hands. Your wisdom and grace will find the most appropriate usage for it.
You Most Humble Subject
C.S. 'Jack' Lewis
3
"After I received the copy of Dawn Treader, I didn't even open any of the packages Mr. Lewis sent me." Annie started, she hadn't heard Susan return. "They remained unopened until November of 1963. Everyone remembers where they were when they heard Kennedy was shot, but for me, that will always be the day I rediscovered my connection to Narnia.
"Sandwiched between the continuous coverage all the media were doing on the Kennedy assassination, one of the newscasters, after mentioning the British Government's sending of condolences, said 'And in other news out of Britain, famed author and beloved creator of the Narnia series, C.S. Lewis has also died this day.' My shock at events here turned to deep sadness, for my last connection to Narnia, and also to my family, had passed. Distancing myself from Narnia had torn my family apart. The accident had separated us from healing the rift. And now, my last connection was gone.
"Over the next week, I read all of the adventures that we had shared with Jack. The pain I felt on reading of Peter, Edmund, and Lucy's sense of loss when they said I was no longer a friend of Narnia." Susan broke down crying.
Lucy entered the room, coming up behind her. "Susan... Susan, we knew you had grown attached to this world, and our fondest hopes have been proven true in that you rediscovered Narnia and have never forgotten it since. Besides, had you not stayed, Annie here would never have existed, and I now believe that she is the reason Aslan guided you away from us for a time."
"Me, the reason..." Annie felt herself losing the thread of the conversation.
"Annie," Lucy began, "As children, my siblings and I were the mythology of Narnia. To them, we were as the Olympian gods were to the Greeks, yet Aslan, and his father, The Emperor Beyond the Sea, were the true Divinities.
"Since that night by the stone table, I have come to believe that, as the nurture and spread of intelligence is the charge of humanity, the nurture and spread of Divinity is the charge of Aslan, his Father, and now you Annie. Worlds are not, and should not be created haphazardly, Aslan and The Emperor Beyond the Sea create worlds for the purpose of nurturing Divinity, but Divinity cannot spring from any one world alone.
"Annie is a product of the combination of Narnia and this world that resulted from the time you spent there Susan. Aslan wanted you to become attached to this world so that Divinity could spread."
"Will I be able to tap the Deep Magic of this world?" Annie asked.
"Eventually, even inevitably, but it is most likely for the best if you only use it to help keep track of the worlds for which you are responsible. This world is under the guidance and protection of its creator, as Mimasu is under yours.
"I have come to sense that with all the many, many worlds that they now watch over, they have long held hope of finding that Divinity within us, so that we may help them with these worlds. Annie, you are the first to demonstrate that Spark. And so we begin a grand, new adventure, as creators and mentors alongside them. But first, you must acquire the knowledge that will allow you to exercise wisdom with this new power."
