Gone, Gone, Gone
"My lady, you need to stir yourself," Sylvie exclaimed as she burst into Lucy's bedroom. The dryad froze and realized that bursting in like that was a bad idea as she quietly contemplated the weaponry that was now pointed at her. 'Sir Alex has been a bad influence on the Queen,' the dryad thought.
"What's going on Sylvie?" Lucy asked sleepily.
"Word has come from the woods near Lantern Waste that a white stag was spotted in the area," the dryad said, while slowly backing away. "Your brother, the High King, wishes to hunt the stag and requests that you accompany him; immediately."
"Alright Sylvie, tell him I'll be there as soon as I'm dressed."
"Yes milady," Sylvie replied. "Should I send for someone else to assist you?"
"No, thank you," Lucy replied and Sylvie left, closing the door behind her.
Lucy fell back in bed, and then rolled over to look out the window at the barely risen sun. Quickly she dressed in her hunting gear and hurried to Alex's room. Lucy knew that in addition to her weapons, Alex had asked the dwarfs to make a ring as well. Lucy had a feeling that it soon would be on her hand and the thought made her feel warm all over. She was soon at his door but unlike Sylvie, she did not burst in. Instead she knocked three times before opening the door. "Wake up love," she called out from a safe distance and half covered by the door.
"It's barely morning," his voice called out from the mass of bedding. A pillow, thrown with surprising accuracy followed this pronouncement.
"Someone has spotted a white stag and Peter wants to hunt it," Lucy said as she ducked the pillow.
"That's supposed to be a good omen, right?" Xander asked.
"Yes, it is."
"Is it too much to hope that the thing was spotted somewhere close?"
"Sorry my love, but it was spotted far to the west, in Lantern Waste."
"Horseback, right?"
"Yes, we would be on horseback," Lucy said with some exasperation at his delaying tactics.
"Pass, I want to wait until my newest set of blisters heal."
"I cannot understand it," Lucy said with a huff as she came in and sat down on his bed. "How can someone who can move the way that you do on a battlefield or on a ship, not be able to master the ability to sit in a saddle without hurting yourself."
"It's a gift," Xander replied, his voice muffled by the pillows. A hand shot out from under the covers and grabbed the young queen around the waist. It then pulled her completely onto the bed as she yelled in protest. Her laughter making the threats she was yelling seem not so serious. "How about instead, you stay here and help see to my recovery, personally. I'll even let you put on the salve," he said with an eyebrow waggle.
Lucy blushed, well aware of where Alex's blisters were. Then she pulled him up and kissed him thoroughly. "That sounds lovely," she said with a lot of sarcasm; but then became more serious. "Peter asked instead of ordered, and I have to say that things have been a bit strained ever since you got back from Archenland because I've spent so much more time with you than I have with them."
It wasn't Willowbabble but it was close and Xander smiled at the memory. "Go on then," he said with a smile. "Have fun hunting and I'll be here when you get back." He flopped back down as Lucy stood after one last brief kiss
Lucy just shook her head at the man. He knew that there was some tension Lucy and her brothers and sister and it was so very like him to put her wants and needs ahead of his own. Legend held that a white stag could grant a wish if it was caught and Lucy knew exactly what her wish would be if she managed the feat. She stood in front of Alex's mirror, straightening her mussed hair and slightly rumpled clothing. Soon she was ready to go. "How do I look?" she asked.
Xander rolled over, "I think the stag will take one look at you and surrender outright."
"Am I that awful to look at," Lucy pouted. This was marred by a slight smirk, as she knew that Alex realize she was fishing for a compliment. Lucy knew that his reply would be wildly extravagant.
"Not at all," Xander replied. "I think he'll take one look at you and understand that he's not the most beautiful thing in the world and surrender to you out of awe."
"Most likely," Lucy said, practically skipping back to the bed. "I'll see you in a couple of days," she said, then kissed him passionately. "Thank you," she murmured as their lips parted.
"You're welcome," he said seriously and then reverted to his more playful self. "I'll be right here when you get back," he said with a bit of a leer. Then he sank back into the bed, closing his eyes as she left. He never saw her again.
Two days after Lucy left, Xander knew something was wrong. There wasn't anything specific, but his Scooby Sense, which had been nearly silent during his time in Narnia, was pinging madly. Despite the necessity of riding a horse to get there, Xander was sorely tempted to go out after them. But as there was nothing to base his suspicions on; he stayed at Cair Paravel. He was walking along the battlements that faced west, trying to settle his nerves and taking a break from Peridan pummeling him at chess; when he saw a figure approaching fast. His guts clenching painfully, Xander hustled down to the audience chamber; he wanted to at least give the appearance of being calm. On his way, he asked a faun to bring Sir Peridan to the audience chamber; Xander knew that the news would affect both of them. Xander was just getting his breathing under control when Chadrae, a centaur that had been with the royal party burst in. "Sir Alex, you and Sir Peridan are needed."
"Sir Peridan is on his way," Xander answered, his façade of calm in place. "Please calm down Chadrae," Xander continued, "however grave your news may be; we don't want to cause a panic." This was nearly impossible for Xander to say, the exhausted appearance of the centaur told him that the news was very bad indeed. As Xander noticed this and several other signs of fear on the centaur, he felt his guts clench even tighter. The feeling of tension in the air, like a storm just before it bursts, reminded him of the time when he had stared down Angel in the hospital.
Chadrae nodded, hearing the wisdom of Xander's words and worked to calm himself. In the short time it took Peridan to arrive Chadrae was back to the usually inscrutable appearance all centaurs seem to wear.
Peridan could see that Alex was tense but calm when he bustled in but noted that Chadrae was anything but calm despite his appearance. "What news?" he asked, knowing he would not like the answer.
"Their majesty's have disappeared," Chadrae replied, his patina of calm slipping more with each word. "They were in close pursuit of the white stag when they apparently dismounted and continued on foot; but then their trail simply vanished."
"Vanished how?" Peridan asked.
"I know not milord," Chadrae replied. "Melody the Hound was with us and said it was most strange. Their scent was strong but then it simply faded as though over time, but it was only the length of a few paces."
Hearing this, Xander's guts were no longer clenched, instead it felt as if they were simply gone and he was hollow inside. He was afraid that he knew what had happened, but that knowledge didn't bring him any comfort. Lucy was gone, and her brothers and sister with her, it was as simple as that. The only thing that was keeping him from screaming hysterics and leaving was that an entire nation was now needing him to be in control and as unemotional as possible. He knew that forcing all of his emotions down would exact a price later, but he had a mission to carry out and his soldier memories reminded him that the mission was everything. Xander didn't want to speak, he didn't want to ask the questions that he knew would yield the answers that would effectively shatter his heart, but he had to. "Tell me Chadrae; was there a lamp-post nearby?"
"I don't understand milord?" the centaur answered, looking confused.
"A metal post with a small flame on the top; a flame that does not go out and is protected by a cage of metal and glass."
"Yes," the centaur replied, after a moment of thought. "There was such a thing there and you have described it perfectly."
"And their majesty's tracks went west from there?"
"Aye, milord," now the centaur looked awed. "But how could you know that?"
"Because Queen Lucy once told me about how she and her brothers and sister came into this world. It was from a grove of trees that were just west of the lamp-post."
"What are you saying Alex?" Peridan asked.
"I'm saying that I believe that the Kings and Queens have gone back to their world, and that we are now on our own."
Peridan was silent for a moment, the reality of what Alex had told him sinking in. "So you are saying that we should now rule?"
"No Peridan, neither of us can ever rule here."
"Why not?"
"Indeed Sir Alex, either you or Sir Peridan would make a fine ruler for Narnia."
"Thank you Chadrae, but that cannot happen. And the reason is, is that it would look as though one of us had something to do with their majesty's disappearance so that we could take power from them. Because we would be gaining something, neither Peridan nor I could ever take the throne. No matter how good or beneficial our rule might be, no matter how blameless we might be, there would always be talk and rumors. Eventually it might tear the kingdom apart and we cannot risk that."
"So what are we to do?" Peridan asked forlornly, already missing his friends.
"We must find some scion of the old ruling family, no matter how distant the connection and place them on the throne;" Xander said firmly.
"Do you think that's possible, that some branch would survive after all this time?" Chadrae wondered aloud.
"Honestly, I don't know," Xander replied, "but it's our best bet. We also have to think about how we're gonna break the news to the kingdom. We can't afford a panic, nor can we appear weak, we must be firmly in control with the understanding that the two of us are merely regents until the proper ruler can be found."
"There should be a period of mourning," Chadrae said. "Losing such beloved monarchs will not be easy and the people would accept a new one better if they had a chance to mourn those lost."
"Good idea," Xander said, standing. "Peridan, if you could see to the announcement and anything particular for the mourning period please. You're much more of a people person than I am." He turned to the centaur, "Chadrae, if you could go back to where they disappeared and make sure of everything, it is possible that I am wrong about what happened. Also find their horses and anything that they might have left behind." The centaur bowed and left in a clatter of hooves.
"And what about you?" Peridan asked.
"I'll start the scholars looking for any hint of the former royal line," Xander replied as he left the audience chamber. He gathered the scholars and any others that he thought could help and set them up in a secluded part of the castle so that they could work in peace. He took care of many things that day and many Narnians were openly wondering why Sir Alex refused to be their ruler. Xander answered these questions openly and hoped that his replies would circulate through the city and kingdom. After everything that could be done, had been done; Xander made his way back to Lucy's room and collapsed as soon as the door was closed. He knelt next to the bed with his head and arms laying where Lucy would normally be, silently weeping. It just wasn't fair, he thought, to keep finding and falling in love with these amazing women, only to have them torn away. He lay there cursing fate until he fell asleep.
The next two months were an exercise in pure control for Xander. He could not allow the grief and loss that he was feeling any kind of an outlet because he was afraid that if he gave it vent; then he wouldn't be able to stop. Narnia, and indeed all the lands in the north needed him to be stalwart and true and above all, in control. Only those closest to him, Peridan, Sylvie and Timerus could see that he was constantly in agony because of what he had lost. It wasn't simply that Lucy was gone; there was more to it than that. It was how she'd been taken, with no warning and no chance for any kind of closure. And even beyond that, if Xander did get back to his home and looked up Lucy Pevensie, what could he say to a seventy year old woman, someone who had lived her life. Could he tell her he loved her, would she even be the same woman that he had fallen in love with, should he even look for her. All of these considerations simply added to the anguish of his soul. So he welded a look of mature consideration on his face and focused on the mission, there would be more than enough time to wallow down the road. Narnia had reacted as Peridan and Chadrae had expected it to, with mourning but no panic. The different countries that had sent condolences heard back from their ambassadors that Narnia was hurt, but by no means weak. And that was due to the roll that Xander and Peridan had assumed. Xander was the iron fist to Peridan's velvet glove, and between them, the country carried on.
Those who had been tasked to research possible rulers from the old line had come up with several possibilities; but when they were looked further into, it turned out that they were unsuitable in one way or another. There were only two realistic possibilities. One was an enclave of Narnian exiles who had fled to southern Calormen to escape the White Witch; the other told a similar tale, but they had fled to Terebinthia instead.
"Which should we pursue first," Peridan asked after Xander had spelled out their options.
"Well, from the looks of it, the group in Calormen is closer to the old royal line, so that is where we should try first. And if they all say no, then you're off to Terebinthia."
"And if they say no as well?"
"Then we re-consider some of those families that fled to the northlands."
"Are you serious?"
"What other options do we have? We cannot rule, nor can we place anyone from Archenland on the throne. Whoever is to rule here has to have a tie in to the old royal line, that's our only option."
"I know, but why does it have to be me?"
"Because I would simply knock the first possible candidate on the head, bring them back here and threaten them until they agreed to rule Narnia. I'm too scary and abrupt for this kind of job."
Peridan grinned at his friend for a moment then said, "You're leaving us afterwards, aren't you?"
Xander sighed, "It will take a while to get whoever we end up with up to snuff, but once that happens; yeah, I'm out of here."
"There is no way you would stay?"
"Everything I see reminds me of her, Peridan; its killing me inside to stay here but I've got a job to do. Once that's done, I have to leave or I'll die; it's as simple as that."
"I understand Alex."
"I know you do, my friend," Xander replied. He was heading back to his rooms when he turned back to Peridan. "You might want to take Aravis along with you when you go down to Calormen. She's obviously familiar with all of their customs and such. Anyway, it couldn't hurt to have someone from the country on your side."
"True," Peridan replied. "The ship will be ready in two days; we can send a message and meet them at where the Winding Arrow empties into the sea."
"That sounds like a plan," Xander said, and swept from the room.
Time moves forward, as it always does; and Xander managed to keep himself busy. He was personally training the guards when he wasn't seeing to the day to day business of running the kingdom. He had to stay busy, otherwise he would start thinking about what was going on and what had happened before and Xander was afraid that his emotions would honestly overwhelm him. Eventually word came that Peridan was returning from Calormen, unfortunately he was returning alone. Over the last one hundred years, the Narnians in exile had intermarried with the local population and thus they now considered themselves to be Calormen, and not someone who should rule in Narnia. When Peridan told Xander what they had said, the resulting language had been extraordinarily pungent, but after he calmed down, Xander had to admit that they had made a reasonable point. Unfortunately, this meant that now all their hopes were pinned on Terebinthia. Peridan stayed at Cair Paravel for two weeks, recuperating from the Calormen trip and preparing for the one to Terebinthia; and also catching up on the news from Narnia. "So there's no trace of any of them?"
"Just their horses and the gear on them, oh, and Susan's horn; it was the only one of the treasures that they had with them at the time."
"At least there's something."
There was silence for a minute or two, then Xander brought something up. "I was thinking about some kind of a public memorial but that seemed kind of . . . . un-Narnian, what do you think?"
"I don't like the idea of anything public," Peridan replied. Maybe something here in the castle though; statues or that kind of thing."
"Alright, I can track down a sculptor easily enough while you're gone."
There was silence for a bit as the two friends just sat and listened to the fire crackling, lost in their own thoughts. Finally Peridan quietly spoke, "Are you still planning on leaving after I return?"
Xander sighed, "Not immediately, but yes. After we're sure that whoever we put on the throne isn't won't be a danger to the country, I'm heading back to Fellimath."
"Can we come and find you if we need you?" Peridan asked.
"You can try, but I've got a feeling that I won't be there for long."
"You think the way will be open?" Peridan had been told of Xander's origins.
"Yeah, call it instinct or something, but I believe that I'll be able to get back once I'm where I came through to begin with."
"You will be missed."
"Thanks," Xander replied. "I'll miss a lot of the people, but it just hurts too much to stay here."
"Are you sorry that you ended up here?" Peridan asked, honestly curious.
"No," Xander answered immediately. "Meeting Lucy was one of, if not the, high point of my life, but the way we were split apart and how I'll never be truly complete because of it is just too huge a wound. I doubt I'll ever really heal, but if I'm gonna, then it can't be here. I'll miss Narnia, and you and loads of others, but I just can't stay."
"I understand," Peridan said. Then without another word, he stood and left Xander staring at the fire. Xander sat there for quite a while.
The trip to Terebinthia turned out much better than the one to Calormen, and Peridan returned to Narnia with Analisa, soon to be Queen of Narnia and her younger brother Conrad, who would be the Crown Prince until Analisa had children. She was about Xander's age with thinning mouse brown hair. She was also rail thin and badly in need of glasses; but she was kind and had left an easy life for the never ending job of ruling a kingdom. This made her OK in Xander's book. Conrad, who was sixteen, however; looked every inch the part of a dashing young nobleman. He had also originally possessed the conceit to go along with the looks.
That changed when he made the mistake of commenting on the skills of a warrior with only one eye within Xander's hearing. The young man had then suffered an epic thrashing, in the guise of a friendly spar, which had ranged all over Cair Paravel and had only stopped when the young man begged Xander's pardon within earshot of a number of people. After that, Xander had taken it upon himself to train the young man, who had turned out to be a rather decent kid when all was said and done. Xander had impressed upon Conrad the need to be a living symbol of the monarchy to the people and had suffered several trips on horseback to show the young man the lay of the kingdom and to allow the people to meet the new Queen's family.
Soon the young woman was crowned and it quickly became clear that she would make an admirable Queen for Narnia. One month after she took the throne, Xander packed his things. He did it at night, so as to cause as little fuss as possible. He took very little, just a few clothes for himself, his weapons and armor, and a scarf of Lucy's that still smelled like her and the supplies that he'd need for the trip. Peridan found him loading the little sloop that Lucy had taught him to sail. Honestly Xander wasn't surprised that the seneschal had found him.
"Her majesty understands your need to leave, and thanks you for your faithful service."
Xander looked at his friend, "Thank you for making her understand, and thanks for seeing me off."
"It was the least I could do," Peridan replied. "I'll miss you."
"And I'll miss you, but this is your place and not mine."
"I know, so how are you going?"
"I figured I'd follow the coast down to the cape at Calormen and then straight east to Fellimath."
Peridan came forward and hugged his friend, "I hope you find the peace you deserve Alex."
"So do I, my friend." Xander got into the boat and raised the sail as Peridan cast him off. The trip was easy and uneventful and sooner than he had expected, Fellimath was in sight. Xander wasn't quite sure what would happen when he got there. He suspected that there would be a welcoming committee, mostly because whatever reason he had for being here was now over. Xander hoped so, because he was dying to give the Lion a piece of his mind about how he conducted business. If Aslan wasn't there, well Fellimath was a lonely and mournful place; the kind of place he could finally grieve and let his emotions run free now that he no longer had to be strong.
As Xander approached Fellimath, he was only paying cursory attention to his sailing. Instead he was focused on a huge golden figure standing next to his cottage. Xander gave a feral smile; it looked like his wish was going to come true. Part of him realized that it was stupid to piss off the only being he knew of that could send him home, but most of him didn't care about that. Most of him was simply angry. From the stories that Lucy and her siblings told, Aslan sounded way too much like the Powers for Xander's comfort. He agreed that the Lion was a good guy, but what Aslan saw as good and what the people (human or otherwise) who danced to his tune saw as good were probably two very different things. Having a lot of time to think while he'd been sailing, Xander had examined his experiences in Narnia and had come to the realization that he'd been played, he wanted to know why. Scratch that, he was darn well going to be told why. His boat ground to a halt on the beach, but Xander barely noticed as he gathered his few possessions and clambered out and started up the path to his cabin. Aslan was larger than Xander had expected, and much more "real" than everything around him, for a second he almost reconsidered his planned course of action; but the anger won out. "Aslan," he said quietly, as he approached the Lion.
"Alexander, the way back to your world is now open, thank you for all that you have done."
"You're welcome," Xander said. He was about to simply walk past when he paused and turned. "How do you deal with the guilt?" he asked.
"What guilt would I feel?" Aslan replied, his voice completely neutral.
"I don't know," Xander's voice taking on an increasingly sarcastic edge; "how about guilt for separating two people so completely in love, how about guilt for pulling someone out of their world and sticking them in a situation where they can only do what you want them to do. How about guilt for forcing knowledge on young people; knowledge that no children should have? How about guilt for placing an entire country in peril by suddenly removing their rulers? Do you want me to go on?" Xander practically screamed.
"Those are some very serious things," Aslan rumbled. Xander could tell the Lion was angry. "Could we go inside and I will do my best to answer your charges?"
Xander just nodded jerkily and went inside. Somehow Aslan managed to follow him without destroying the doorway, Xander wasn't quite sure how he managed to pull it off, but he did. Xander sad down in his favorite chair and Aslan sat near the hearth, he was noticeably smaller than he had been outside. "You're like the Powers, aren't you?" Xander asked.
"That is close enough to true," Aslan replied. "In your reality there are many who do what I do. This place is just a small branch off the tree of creation, so I am the only one needed here."
"A small branch?"
"You might think of it as a pocket universe. I believe that you are familiar with that term."
"Yeah, I am," Xander replied. He'd read enough comics to grasp the concept.
"The main realities, let us call them the trunk realities to keep the tree metaphor going, are so large and complex that they have a large number of caretakers; it doesn't matter if you call them Elders or Powers or the Valar, they all perform the same function as I do. Which is make sure that things run according to plan. Sometimes we do distasteful things to accomplish this goal, but it is a necessity and something for which we do not feel guilt."
"So this is some kind of an offshoot of our reality?"
"In a way. It was created for many reasons, most of which I will not tell you. But one of the relevant reasons is so that people from your world can be removed from the plan without being killed. Those whose presence or actions would cause part of the plan to go awry are taken and placed here, a rather pleasant world; where they can live out their days as they see fit. For example, the Calormen were descended from a tribe that was preparing to invade and destroy the Jewish nation when it was first starting. Rather than allow that, and instead of wiping them out with a plague or something, they were brought here to live and flourish."
"So you took away their freedom to make a choice."
"Not took away, so much as finessed it," Aslan replied. "All I will say is that there are some aspects of the plan that cannot be changed. And when something threatens those aspects, then action must regrettably be taken. Nothing outside the bounds mind you, but it certainly borders on what you would call dirty pool."
"So why was I brought here, what was I threatening."
"Nothing, you were brought here because I needed you. In essence Alexander, the multiverse works much like your Mafia used to; with favors being exchanged. I needed help here and the Powers owed me a favor or two, so we arranged for your arrival here."
"That's crazy. Are you trying to tell me that throughout human history, you couldn't find anyone else that could do what I've done here?"
"Basically," Aslan replied, almost with a chuckle. "Do not sell yourself short Alexander. You are able to deal with the strange and unusual without lashing out immediately. You are able to train and instruct in several different areas. And most importantly, you are able to have power without desiring more. Like it or not, you are a rare person Alexander Harris."
"Yeah, I'm so great. You forgot to mention that I would do exactly what you wanted, so you didn't have to worry about that pesky free will thing. You knew how I'd react to all the situations even before they occurred. The problem is; you forgot one thing."
"And that is?" Aslan asked, choosing not to comment on what Alexander had to say about his free will.
"I was also the perfect guy for Lucy. We got together, fell in love and then you ripped us apart."
Aslan looked both mournful and uncomfortable. "Yes, I did do that," Aslan replied. "But separating the two of you was not done out of malice."
"Then why?"
"There is something that you must understand Alexander. The Elders, the Powers, Myself, we all have one great blind spot."
"And what is that?"
"Love, surprisingly enough."
"What does that mean?"
"It means that we have never been human, so we think and feel differently than humans. We love and care for entire worlds, entire universes; to us, the whole notion of loving just one other being so completely is impossible. We are simply not capable of doing so. So you falling in love with Lucy was something I could not foresee or plan for."
"Hang on a second," Xander said after a moment of thought. "Didn't you sacrifice yourself for Edmund when they first got here? That sounds like love to me."
"I sacrificed myself to preserve the plan for this reality," Aslan replied. "Not because of any personal feelings that I had for Edmund." Aslan suddenly looked almost abashed. "I simply cannot conceive of caring for one being that much."
Xander was stunned. "You're telling me that for all your power and knowledge and wisdom; that none of you understand love, I mean being in love."
"That is correct," Aslan replied. "I realize that this is quite a shocking revelation . ." Aslan started.
"No, actually it explains a lot," Xander said thoughtfully, cutting the Lion off. "It explains why the Powers were caught flat footed by Buffy and Angel falling for each other. It explains how they miscalculated about Buffy sacrificing herself for Dawn. It explains why they didn't see Darth Willow coming after Tara's murder. But what it doesn't explain is Lucy and I. Why didn't you even give us a chance at goodbye or even the possibility of being together back in our world?"
"For making it so that you two could never be together in either world, I do apologize. But there was a very good reason why you two were separated the way that you were."
"And that is?"
Here Aslan looked uncomfortable, like he was trying to come up with a simple way to describe a difficult concept. Finally he spoke, "There are some things, which once they are made, cannot be unmade by anyone or anything. These same things cannot be made by anyone who is not human; it is an innate function of humanity."
"You're talking about souls, aren't you," Xander asked after taking a minute or two to think about what Aslan had said.
"I am indeed," Aslan replied. "When an offspring is conceived, the soul is created, when that is done, no magic above or below can unmake it." He let the statement hang there for a moment as he watched Xander try to work out where the discussion was going. He saw realization dawn on the young man.
"So if Lucy and I had a child, or even if she just became pregnant, there was no way that she could ever leave Narnia. And for some reason she has to leave Narnia, either because she has something to do back in our world or that she has to be able to return here far in the future. In order to assure that she was free to return, you had to separate us completely before we could possibly conceive a child. Giving us a deadline or an opportunity for one last goodbye was just too risky so you handled it the way that you did."
"Correct."
"But, from what I had heard, all of her siblings were . . . . active."
"None of them could conceive; only Lucy could conceive a child."
"So, to sum up; you had to pull us apart before one of these irrevocable occurrences happened and a paradox was created because Lucy would have to leave, but couldn't leave."
"A very apt summation."
"What can I say, I read a lot of comics," Xander muttered. "The whole thing really stinks," Xander finally said, looking Aslan in the eye. He was surprised that the last of his anger had melted away. Now he only felt hollow again, he was ready to leave.
"Yes it does," Aslan replied. "I would that there were some other way of resolving this whole situation, but I could not see it."
"There wasn't," Xander said after thinking the whole situation through again. He stood and placed his hand on the Lion's head, "Thank you for telling me the truth."
"I owed you that courtesy for all that you have done for me."
With that, Xander gathered up his gear and without a backwards glance; walked into the cave and through the back wall. He never returned to Narnia.
To Khani it looked as though Xana had flashed out of existence as he attacked the evil Witch Doctor. But even as she turned to be sure, after dismembering the demon she was currently battling; Xana was standing up, his axe dripping blood. But there was something different, he was standing and carrying himself differently, she was not yet completely sure that this was her Xana. Quickly she made her way back to him. "Are you alright Xana?"
She saw the slight grimace at her name for him, and that more than anything convinced Khani that this was her Xana, and not some imposter. "Yeah Khani, I'm fine. Were any of the girls hurt? "Nothing serious Xana," she looked carefully at the man. "You vanished for a moment, what happened?"
"Mr. Mojo had a trap door to some kind of hideaway back there. He tripped it just as I killed him and it took me a while to figure out how to us back here. Fortunately time doesn't really pass there."
"As you say, Xana," Khani replied, not liking what Xander had said at all. It sounded like he had been trapped for some time. She would keep her eyes on him; she didn't want anything to happen to her Xana. She smiled a bit as he joked with the others, but she could tell that it was forced. Khani hoped that time would be all he needed to get back to being Xana again.
