Final chapter, WOOT! Thanks reviewers for your awesomeness, and thank you readers for sticking with me!
And of course I couldn't have done it without my trusty beta, Witchy Pixie. Enjoy!
~Returning Home~
Chapter Ten – Someday
Tension was still apparent between the Telmarines and the Narnians, even as Caspian's coronation took place a few days after the battle. Telmarines whispered to one another behind closed doors, saying the Narnians were wild and untamed, the dryads were simply ghosts—an uncanny phenomenon, and even Aslan wouldn't sheathe His claws for long with them. Caspian, now King of Narnia under the Kings and Queens of Old and Aslan, was trying his very hardest to accommodate both peoples. But eventually he requested the help of the Great Lion, who gave it willingly.
"We will have a gathering in the courtyard, tomorrow. And we will speak of what must be done," Aslan had said. He had talked to Caspian privately, mentoring him on what would be his duties for the future, and for the meeting that would take place the next day. And then, He summoned the three eldest of the Kings and Queens of Old.
"Aslan, how will be able to leave again if we barely managed it the first time?" asked Alexa. The King and Queens walked with the Lion through the corridors, each with a handful of His golden mane for support.
"I have told you before that I am with you wherever you go. This is true even in your world. There, I am known by another name, but those who seek Me shall find Me."
"You speak as if…" Peter trailed. He was not sure if he should finish the thought. They came to a stop in the hall.
"Through your many years and trials here, you have learned all you can from the land of Narnia. Now, only life in your world can teach you the rest," said Aslan.
"So…we will not be able to come back," Alexa finished, a few tears sliding down her face.
"No, you will not. Each of you has grown as you could in this world."
"But Edmund and Lucy…" Susan started. Her tears were left unshed, but raw emotion was shown through her eyes, not unlike Peter.
"They may learn something still," replied Aslan.
"Sir…I…I don't believe I am strong enough to leave a second time," said Peter tentatively. Alexa went to his side, and he slid an arm around her waist so he could pull her close. Her gentle hand soothed up and down his arm.
Amber eyes gazed at Peter tenderly.
"Not alone. But with the help of those around you," here the Lion nodded at the young woman in his arms, and at his sister, "you may find peace, my son. And one day, when it is your time to come dwell in my country, you will see how your own son has found peace."
Peter looked up, sad, but hopeful at the dream of seeing his son again.
Then Aslan breathed upon him. And despite the lingering, dull ache of melancholy, Peter felt relief in the warmth that spread through him.
Aslan did the same for each of his daughters, though he took the time to nuzzle Alexa's cheek.
"You need not weep anymore, child, nor fade within yourself in grief. You will never be alone."
"Narnia belongs to the Narnians just as it belongs to man. Any Telmarine who would like to stay and live in peace are welcome to, but to any of you who wish, Aslan will return you to the land of our forefathers," the newly coronated King Caspian addressed all the people formally of Telmar on a platform, who whispered amongst themselves at his proposition.
"It's been ages since we left Telmar," stated one from the crowd.
"We are not referring to Telmar. Your ancestors were seafaring brigands—pirates who were living underground on an island. There they found a cave, a rare chasm that brought them here from their world, the same world as our Kings and Queens," Aslan replied.
"It is to that island I can return you," He went on. "It would be a good place for those who wish to make a fresh start." There was a long pause, in which all was silent and none moved an inch. Eventually, however, Caspian's aunt stepped forward with her child in her arms, and her father beside her.
"I will go," she declared. Aslan nodded.
"Because you have spoken first, your future there shall be good."
She and the older man stepped onto the slightly higher platform where Aslan, Caspian, and the Kings and Queens stood. Aslan breathed gently on the woman, her child, and the man.
Then, to the shock of all, a gnarled tree beside those on the platform unfurled into two connected trees. There was a gap between the two large enough for a grown man to walk through.
Shouts and cries of could be heard from the Telmarines who watched, some with astonishment, some with fear, and some with pure awe. The pair looked at Aslan nervously. But they hesitantly stepped through the gap, not coming out the other side, but vanishing through the portal into thin air. The Telmarine crowd dissolved into an uproar.
"How do we know that He is not leading us to our death?" one Telmarine shouted.
"Sire," began Reepicheep, who climbed onto the platform with his crew of mice. "If my example can be of any service, I will take eleven mice through with no delay."
"Knight of Narnia," Aslan addressed the mouse. But He did not answer Reepicheep's request. He simply looked to the Kings and Queens with a gentle smile. Peter took this as a cue.
"It's time," he thought. Peter looked to his wife and siblings, and then back to Aslan.
"We will go," Peter said.
"We will?" Edmund asked, sharing a confused look with Lucy.
"Come on, time is up," Peter answered. He took Rhindon from its sheath. "After all, we're not really needed anymore are we?" He handed the sword to Caspian, who took it hesitantly.
"I will look after it until you return," Caspian said as he admired the sword.
"I'm afraid that's just it. We're not coming back," said Susan.
"We're not?" Lucy asked worriedly.
"Well, you two will be, eventually," Peter said quickly to both Lucy and Edmund.
"But why? Have they done something wrong?" Lucy asked persistently.
"Quite the opposite, Dear One. But all things have their time. Your brother and sisters have already learned all they can from this world. Now they must learn to live in their own," said Aslan. Lucy looked down, crestfallen.
"It's alright, Lu. It's not how I thought it would be, but it's all right. One day you will see too," Peter comforted, and held his sister's hand. She smiled, and he returned it giving a reassuring smile to all his siblings and his wife.
"Come on," he urged, and led them to their waiting friends: Trumpkin, Glenstorm, Trufflehunter, and Caspian. After saying their heartfelt goodbyes, they took one last look at all they had come to know in this very different Narnia. They remembered the old Narnia still, the Narnia of their Golden Age that had become their home. Yet they had come to love this one as well, more wild and untamed, but even so was the same land.
"I…I don't know if I can let go…" Alexa nearly whispered.
"Of what?" Peter asked.
"It's our last connection to him…his memory…" she trailed.
"Garett's memory will always be with us…but we cannot hold onto him here," he said quietly. He grasped her hand and pressed a kiss to her palm, offering her comfort. Eventually, painfully, she nodded, and let him lead her to the tree.
They stepped through the portal, and were once again in the subway station. They wore their uniforms and held the bags they had been carrying. The subway train was coming on their left.
The five walked to almost a foot away from the edge and waited for it to stop. Once they were on board, Peter and Edmund slid their things into the top drawer above their seats.
"Do you think we could go back?" Edmund asked as he rummaged through his bag. The rest all looked at him incredulously.
"How could he be so insensitive?" thought Peter was about to say edgewise, when Edmund cut him off.
"I left my new torch in Narnia," he finished with a smile. The other four relaxed and smiled. Peter mussed his brother's hair teasingly, to the other's annoyance.
"Hey! Get your hands off me!"
"I do say, you look better that way, Ed."
"I don't believe I asked for your opinion, Alexa."
"I do agree with her, except it needs to be more like this."
"Arrg! Get off, Lu! And Susan, your girlish giggling is making my ears bleed!"
The subway began its course down the railway—to St. Finbar Academy and Hendin House Preparatory.
When the commotion died down, and it was only Edmund and Lucy bickering to themselves down the row of seats with Susan trying in vain to finally resolve the situation, Peter grasped Alexa's hand and stopped her from toying with the hem of her uniform. She looked up at him, and was finally able to smile a bit as he laced their fingers together.
"Never forget that I love you," he said seriously, his clear blue eyes boring into hers, "No matter what happens."
Her smile became true when his other hand traced the curve of her face. She leaned forward and brushed her lips with his.
"You may have to remind me, just to make sure," she teased. Peter smirked.
"I can do that."
He captured her mouth with his again, and frankly couldn't care less who saw. Not even those other Hendin House boys at the other end of the cabin.
For now, Peter supposed, he was home.