Chapter 9

They all were taken away to freshen up, when they reconvened the five were in formal clothing while Eustace and the adults were in semi formal clothing they seemed to have made it somewhat out of their stupor and were looking around with interest at least that's what John and Helen were doing Alberta Harold and Eustace were huddled together looking miserable.

Aslan led them into the throne room Peter and Serena on his right Susan Edmund and Lucy on his left and whispers followed them.

"They're back!"

"They're children again was it some sort of spell?"

"Who cares if they're children again the only thing I care about is that they're back!"

That last was Mr. Beaver and the five smiled as Aslan chuckled they all had a soft spot for the beavers.

As they made their way to the thrones Aslan stopped and the children continued Standing before the Five Thrones they turned in perfect synchronization that came from years of experience and sat. Mr. Tumnus who looked overjoyed at having his Monarchs and friends back came forward to crown them again.

When at last Lucy was crowned a golden haze descended on the Five and the court gasped in worry for them but calmed when Aslan purred. As the mist dissipated they heard a familiar musical laugh.

"Brothers Sisters, we are ourselves again Oh, thank you Aslan!" The mist had finally disappeared and sitting in the five thrones were adults instead of children though one could say that the five were children at heart.

There was a roar of sound as everyone began cheering, the five grinned with happiness, and they could see that their family was stunned into disbelief.

John couldn't believe it one moment he had been in his comfortable living room sipping chocolate and the next he had been in a snowy meadow getting attacked then subsequently rescued by beasts of myth and finding out his children were kings and queens and now they were suddenly adults. He was more than a little overwhelmed and he could see that his wife sister brother in law and nephew were as well. He noticed the golden haired woman... Serena his oldest daughter…he had to remember that was glancing shyly at the man horse? Centaur that was it named Orius it was a look that Helen often gave him one a wife would only give to her husband. He gently nudged Helen and she looked at him startled he nodded his head toward Serena following his gaze to their daughters then her gaze to Orius she looked back at her husband confusion turned to understanding then to speculation.

Their silent conversation was interrupted by Peter getting to his feet.

"Cousins friends we thank you for the warm welcome home." He smiled at the cheer that went up. "We did not actually mean to leave but we are glad we did for we brought back with us something precious our family, our parents our uncle and aunt and our cousin so please give them a warm welcome to our home." Everyone clapped and cheered for the Pevensies and Scrubbs who nodded and looked shell shocked.

"Now I think it is time we all went to bed after all in a few hours we'll have to wake again to open presents from Father Christmas." A general laugh was heard. The court was dismissed and Lucy looked around eagerly for Aslan and pouted to discover he had slipped away unnoticed.

The only people that remained in the throne room were the five their parents and aunt uncle and cousin and Orius.

When they knew they were alone with only family the Five collapsed exhaustedly into their thrones.

"Now that we have a chance to talk I would like to request we be taken to the nearest British Consult!" Alberta stated haughtily while Harold looked rather exasperated and Eustace nodded in agreement.

"Aunt Alberta there is no British Consult…" Susan tried to say.

"NO BRITISH CONSULT!" Alberta shrieked and everyone flinched.

"We are not in England or even on Earth for that matter. We in a whole different world in the land of Narnia." Serena said rubbing a tired hand over her eyes. Orius looked concernedly at his wife.

"I think we all need to go to bed after all the celebrations will begin in a few hours."

"The celebration oh Aslan I had forgotten in the excitement I'm sure there are things that need to be done!" Susan said jumping up she was about to hurry off when Orius stopped her.

"Your majesty needs not worry, Mrs. Beaver has everything well in hand after all she is your assistant."

"But surely there must be something…" Susan said looking a little lost.

"Susan there is nothing that needs to be done except to enjoy the celebrations." Orius smiled and Susan sighed and smiled back.

"Now it is time for bed." Peter said his voice filled with finality. No one could argue especially when they saw Lucy dozing in her throne. Peter lifted her and everyone followed him out of the throne room the elder Pevensies and the Scrubbs were escorted to their rooms by two fauns.

Scene break because I couldn't think of a title for it.

Serena took a deep breath as she entered the quarters she shared with Orius, she didn't know what she had been expecting. Nothing had changed everything was exactly the same clean and tidy even the dressing gown she had thrown over the back of her dressing table had not been moved.

"I couldn't bear to change anything." Orius said Serena turned in time to see him shimmer into his human form a pair of tan breeches hugging his legs.

"I don't know what I was expecting…" she trailed off, to Orius she had been gone for twelve months to her it had been only five, and to both it had seemed like an eternity. Serena took her time studying her husband he was thinner than he used to be and had lost some muscle mass.

"You haven't been taking care of yourself Love. She said plainly.

No he hadn't his will and drive had been lost the day Serena had disappeared. He had kept himself going for Narnia but his heart hadn't been in it.

"We'll just have to build you back up again starting after Christmas." Orius laughed and nodded glad that his heart had finally returned, she was his comfort just as he knew he was her rock.

Orius wrapped his arms around her and she sagged against him, this was one of the things she loved about him. She could relax completely, breakdown in tears, or scream and throw things and he never said a word only offered her comfort, things to throw and tea to soothe her hoarse throat when she was done.

She sighed as she felt her dress fall to the floor in a pool of emerald silk and went docilely as he led her to the refreshing room so that they could clean their teeth and faces for bed. Serena was going to pull her hair into a braid for the night when Orius stopped her with a murmur. He swept her into his arms and put her into bed and a gentle passionate kiss drove everything from their minds.

Outside a shaggy elephant sized lion blew and the candles in the room were snuffed and the curtains that hadn't been closed swept together.

"I am glad for you my children." He thought to himself as he paced away, as he walked he wondered when children would make their appearance for the two. His steps brought him to Edmunds balcony.

Aslan leapt lightly onto the balcony and sat.

"Oh Sophie!" He heard and saw Edmund on his bed a pile of letters discarded beside him his head in his hands.

"Sophie I disappeared for twelve months! How could you still love me?" He whispered.

"She loves you because you are you she knows all your faults and she knows you would never leave her willingly that is why she loves you Edmund." Aslan whispered and though Edmund did not here his words, Edmund felt the comfort he wanted to give him.
"Thank you Aslan." Edmund smiled feeling better and finished the letter to Sophie he had left on the writing desk. Edmund went to the window not seeing Aslan and called for an owl. When he came Edmund handed him the letter.

"Please my good cousin take this to Lady Sophie of falcons sweep in Archenland, she will be at the Castle with King Lune if it is no trouble make sure it is placed on her pillow so that she sees it in the morn when she awakens for Christmas."

"Tuwhoo…. I will do as you ask my king I am glad you and their other majesties are back with us again!" the owl Nightwind took flight on his mission and Edmund smiled again.

"Thank you my good cousin and may Aslan bless your journey."

Aslan purred and leapt off the balcony padding into the night he knew the owls' journey to young Sophie would be without problem.

Aslan stopped at Susan's window, the middle queen was running over lists in her head while trying to fall asleep. Aslan frowned he did not want his Gentle Queen to worry so.

"Susan rest now you are home and safe the celebrations are taken care of and your people have the greatest gift they could ask for: you and your siblings back again." Susan yawned and turned over snuggling into her covers as she drifted to sleep a smile on her face.

Aslan again left and found Peter not in his room but in his study pacing.

Aslan frowned again.

"Peter go to bed rest now everything will be taken care of in due course. Allow yourself to remember the child you were tis partly why I sent you back for so long."

Once again Aslan's silent words affected one of his chosen, Peter relaxed and nodded to himself as though he had come to a decision, Aslan watched the young man walk to his room and get ready for bed leaving only when he was sure Peter had fallen asleep.

Aslan found Lucy's bedroom to be dark and went inside to find the youngest monarch asleep curled up with a velvet plush toy that resembled him. Aslan laughed merrily to himself, remembering when Serena and Susan had come to him to ask if they could sketch him to make the toy.

He had been delighted and the toy had turned out beautifully, he had breathed upon it so that it would be resistant to wear and tear. He watched the twenty four year old for a moment then grabbed the covers with his teeth and pulled them up over Lucy's shoulder purring at her.

"Good night my Dear Heart thank you for having such faith in me." Aslan watched as a small peaceful smile passed over Lucy's face and took his leave closing the balcony doors behind him.

His quest was not done for he had five more people to visit before taking his leave of Narnia.

Aslan came to the balcony of the guest quarters that housed John and Helen Pevensie. He watched as they talked.

"This is so surreal, the children are adults and royalty animals talk and our daughter seems to be married to a centaur." John said Aslan saw where both Serena and Peter got the agitated pacing from.

"Well I don't think we can blame her he is a handsome centaur." Helen said frankly.

For a moment all John and Aslan could do was stare at Helen then they both began to laugh. Aslan understood where Serena Susan Edmund and Lucy got their wit from.

"Ok, we were obviously brought here for some reason."

"It's obvious dear they need us as their parents." Helen said simply.

"I guess you're right we'll support them any way we can just as we've always done." John smiled at his wife's determined face.

"Lets go to bed now dear." Helen said and Aslan left confident that they could put themselves to bed.

Aslan found the Scrubbs next and could already hear Alberta railing at Harold. His tail lashing his flanks he sat stiffly on the balcony to watch.

"No British consult and the MOST uncivilized way of living…"

"Alberta dear please I think this may be a boon to us."

"What are you talking about there are no modern conveniences no aeroplanes or cars nothing that is civilized and I wont have it I want to go home!" Alberta shrieked and before Harold could speak she spoke again. "And my poor Eustace no vitamized nerve food or purified water he'll waste away."

"Alberta you're being overly dramatic, yes there are no cars or aeroplanes but there is also no pollution haven't you smelled the air? Didn't you see how clear the water was? And I think that Eustace could do with a little exercise and good rich food they serve here." Alberta swelled to yell at him and he raised his hand.

"Look I let you raise him in England and never said a word against you but in recent years I've come to worry for him he has no friends smarts back to adults including us though you don't see it and spends all his time with bugs, the doctor said he was too small for his age and I happen to agree with him. I know that wasn't how you were raised Alberta did you ever call your parents by their first name?" Alberta thought and shook her head but she wasn't quite ready to let go of what she believed in and both Harold and Aslan knew it would be some time before she would change.

"Fine, Fine we'll stay but if any harm comes to my Eustace I'm blaming you!" Harold nodded exhaustedly and they too went to bed.

Aslan nodded to himself it was good that Harold was standing up for himself this was also why the Scrubbs had been brought here and finally the Great Lion stood leapt of the balcony and made his way to the sea taking his leave of Narnia.

Aslan did not have to move fast for with every step miles fell away from his paws and before he knew it he came to a beautiful palace doors opened as he walked up to them and found himself in a throne room where two people sat.

The crowned man had a stern and kind face as he looked upon the golden lion and the woman was smiling warmly in greeting.

"Well met my son how goes it in Narnia." The Emperor –over the sea asked.

"Well my father my five chosen have returned along with their family they are sleeping for now and will awaken on Christmas day."

"I am sure our friend Father Christmas will enjoy that, he does so love to be elusive." The Empress said smiling and the three laughed thinking of their noble and jolly friend.

"Yes I am sure but for now my parents if I may take my leave I have other worlds to tend to before I may relax."

"Of course son you are very responsible just make sure to return here for your birthday celebrations." The Empress said mock sternly.

"I will of course Mother I shall see you soon." The Emperor and Empress smiled and nodded and Aslan bowed before leaving to tend to his other responsibilities.

A/N Hi hope you liked it tell me what you think of Serena and Orius i was trying to make it realistic without going over board into more mature waters i hope i did a good job and it's up to scratch ok i'm gonna take a break go to the park with my kid then get cracking on the new chap see you later Happy reading Long Live Aslan!