Hold me, touch me
Let the love come rushing through me
I'm yours with every breath I take
Forever and ever
Hold on to love
Cause deep down that's what we're made of
Never let go for my heart's sake
Cause my heart belongs to you
'My Heart Belongs To You', Hayley Westenra
My eyes flickered open. All around me, bright sunlight lit up the beautiful bed chamber. l saw that l was lying in a large bed with white sheets and covers, tinted golden by the sun. l was wearing a white nightgown. The sun shone through open doors leading to a balcony.
Everything flooded back slowly, letting me process the information. Aslan gone, the battle, Peter, Edmund, Oreius. What had happened... Well, I was alive for one thing. That must have meant we'd won. The witch would never have kept me alive.
Silently, l pushed back the covers and stood up, gingerly testing my weight. l stood firm and carefully moved over to a mirror. The cuts on my face were healed. The only remains of the war was a faint line across my left cheek were the witch had slashed at my face and the gash which l could feel tingling beneath the nightgown with every movement l made. My long hair was clean, tumbling in soft golden waves down my back.
l crossed to the window and leant over the balcony. The ocean lapped at sandy beach below me and the salty sea breeze whipped loose strands of hair across my face.
"Cair Paravel," she whispered with a smile. "Mother..."
A cry echoed behind me and l turned in surprise.
"Arneia!"
Elaya leapt from the doorway and embraced me with leafy arms.
"Elaya! What's going on? What happened? Edmund, is he-?"
"Slow down, he's fine!" Elaya took my wrists and drew me back to the bed.
"I'll fill you in, but then we must get you ready! The coronation is this afternoon!"
"What! But I can't-" l began to protest.
"Yes, you can! After the kings and queens, and Aslan, you're the most important person in this country. You must be there. It's all ready. The food's being laid out this morning and their majesties are being bathed and dressed in their chambers. They've told them they can't come down until told to. Aslan has decided that the Beavers are going to carry the crowns and, if you didn't wake up, Tumnus was to present all four. But now that you're awake, you're to present Peter's."
l gasped. "I'm what?" I couldn't imagine facing Peter, yet I wanted to see him more than any other...
"It would have happened regardless, it is your right" Elaya replied patiently. "After you got knocked out, Peter attacked the witch. I suppose you were the last straw for him." She smiled wickedly and Arneia's eyes widened. "So he went for her, but Aslan and new Narnians turned up. It was something to do with the old magic and the stone table, Aslan will explain to you later. Lucy and Susan went with Aslan and awoke all the statues at the witch's kingdom and so they came, Aslan killed the witch and Lucy healed Edmund with her potion. Now then, your-"
"Wait, Aslan-"
"Arneia. No, listen. You have forever to hear about what happened after the coronation has taken place, from anyone and everyone. Now, we need to get you dressed and check that your gown fits. And then we need to do your hair and make sure your tiara still fits too because you haven't worn it in a while."
"Elaya, I don't have a coronation gown, because as you said I was knocked out. And I haven't exactly had much occasion to wear my tiara lately until now."
Elaya laughed. "Both good points, but only one correct. Aslan asked me to design the coronation gowns and we had yours made anyway, so, what do you think of this?"
Elaya drew me up and to the wardrobe. She stood in front of the wardrobe and pulled out a long gown and hung it on the door. l gasped.
"Oh Elaya, how did you do that!"
The gown would reach the floor on me and was made of a smooth velvety rose pink material. The gown fitted over the shoulders, under a gold velvet strip. The gown was buttoned with tiny gold buttons to the waist where a triangle was cut to the floor, showing a gold velvet under gown. The rose sleeves ended half way above the elbows, the arms instead covered by sweeping gold sleeves.
"Oh, it's beautiful!"
Elaya laughed. "Come on, get that gown on, I want to do your hair." She handed me the dress and turned to a small red cushion on which rested a tiara.
l pulled on the gown carefully and sat down at the dressing table. Elaya stepped behind her and brushed out my long hair. She drew the front locks back from my face and used gold twine to tie it back. Then she settled the crown on my head. The light weight upon my head felt comfortingly familiar. The gold of the tiara clashed well with my dark blonde hair once it was placed among my loose curls. The tiara curled across the top of my head like vines and decorated with golden flowers.
When l stood and faced the long mirror, I sighed.
"You know, one would doub there could be a Narnian lady could be as beautiful as you are now," Elaya mused.
I gave an amused accusationary half smile.
Elaya nudged the tiara slightly. "There. You're ready."
"Daughter," a voice rumbled and l looked around in shock. l knew that voice, but it was impossible!
Aslan, as large as life, stood in the doorway.
"Aslan?" l whispered in amazement. l moved forward slowly to meet him, and curtseyed silently, quivering slightly. Then l fell to my knees and hugged his great mane. l felt a paw squeeze my back.
"We did it," l said softly, drawing away and looking into his face. "We saved Narnia. But... I don't understand how...?"
Aslan nodded. "Think on everything I taught you, about the deep magic. About sacrifices made at the stone table."
l frowned.
"By killing an innocent..." he prompted.
Realisation dawned on me in wonder. "Time turns back! The deep magic. You swapped with Edmund, knowing you'd come back, because he was the traitor not you."
Aslan nodded, pleased.
"So the witch thought she could kill you both with you gone, but you knew you could keep both of you alive!" l felt crying in relief.
"Exactly! But we can talk later. Now, it is time for you to take your place." l nodded this time. I knew I was ready. l rose and smoothed my gown, before silently following Aslan out of my room.
l stood at the end of the aisle beside Tumnus, who wore a new scarf of velvet green. The beavers were before us , each with a red cushion carrying the four crowns.
l watched Aslan lead the way to the thrones, Peter and Edmund to his left, Susan and Lucy to the right. The four monarchs were still unaware of my presence. The Narnians all around the hall had all noticed me and the joy on their faces appeared to spread.
l ignored them, focussing on my own role. I wasn't going to be distracted.
When they were half way up the aisle, the beavers began their own walk up. l followed, a smile lighting up my whole face. I couldn't stop it.
As the monarchs reached their thrones and turned to sit down, they all four noticed me with Tumnus and l saw the wonder across their own faces with another smile. Peter especially wore a expression of complete surprise and happiness.
l smiled again and looked down modestly at my feet as we took their positions to the right of the thrones.
"To the glistening eastern sea, I give you Queen Lucy the Valiant," Aslan announced, as Tumnus placed a silver tiara among Lucy's dark curls. "To the great western woods, King Edmund the Just." Tumnus rested the silver jeweled crown on the young king's head. "To the radiant southern sun, Queen Susan the Gentle." A golden tiara, similar to mine, was laid among her own dark hair. l stepped forward and took up the last crown from Beaver's cushion, gold and jeweled. l crossed to Peter and stood in front of him and met his eyes at last.
"And to the clear northern skies, King Peter the Magnificent," Aslan announced, and Peter knelt as the High Lady placed the crown upon the High King. l stood back to Tumnus as the monarchs rose and seated themselves in their thrones.
l heard Aslan speak the familiar words to them. "Once a king or Queen of Narnia, always a king or queen. May your wisdom grace us until the stars come raining down from the heavens. "
The cheers sent the doves soaring from the rooftops. "Long live King Peter! Long live Queen Susan! Long live King Edmund! And long live Queen Lucy!"
l crept out of the door, down the stairs and found my way out onto the beach. The celebrations were still in full swing as dusk moved in. My feet ached from dancing, my side was straining a little from food, my ears ringing from music. l moved across the sand and finally came to a rest, facing the sea. l knelt down and swept the sand at my feet to the side. l soon found the weathered headstone. It was inscribed with the familar writing that I watched carved into the element.
'Near lies a fallen Lady, who leaves behind a daughter, who died to protect her child. She shall be loved, honoured, remembered. Lady Evanna, Daughter of Narnia.'
"She will be remembered," a deep voice echoed. l looked around to see Aslan standing beside me.
l gently leant against him for a moment before standing.
"So Narnia has a new monarchy at last," l sighed.
"Yes," Aslan replied. "At last."
"Where will you go now," l asked. I knew he wasn't staying.
"I'm needed in another land. You won't come with me?"
"You're needed there. I'm needed here. Narnia's my home."
"Of course," the deep mellow voice replied. He licked my hand, and as l smiled l closed my eyes for a moment. When l opened them, he was gone.
"Arneia!" a voice called after a moment's silence.
l looked around in shock as Peter came to a halt beside me. I hadn't noticed him running across the sand. I swallowed. I still hadn't spoken to him.
"Arneia?" he gasped. "You really are there..." A slightly shaking hand was raised and I felt his fingers gently touch my face. At his touch, l closed my eyes, smiling, then opened them again. l felt the tears rise and as Peter threw his arms around her waist, the tears streamed down my face. l drew my own arms around his neck and hid my face in the soft velvet of his shoulder. He held me close, l felt his fingers caught in my hair.
After a minute, we parted slightly, Peter pressing his forehead gently against mine.
"I didn't think you would survive," Peter whispered.
"Neither did I," l murmured back, honestly. I hadn't... "I didn't think I was strong enough..."
"You're staying, right?" he asked.
"Of course I am," l replied. Something washed over me... something unfamilar, I'd never felt it before. But l knew what it was. My father was alive, my people were safe, my country was whole, and Peter was here. l felt blissfully happy...