Disclaimer: Anything familiar is not mine

A/N: I'm Australian so there might be a few spelling differences

Chapter Fourteen – Cair Paravel

"How is she?" Peter asked as he stood stiffly at the entrance of the healing tent. Behind him was his siblings were equally concerned for Alice who was unconscious on a small cot. Her state scared Edmund to his bones, as her skin was pale as ice, which reminded him of the Witch. Her hair was even whiter than before, speckled with glistening snow.

"She's fine," James answered from his seat next to her, at the foot of the bed stood Eliza. Lucy walked forward to stand next to the small cot. She reached for her cordial which was still full after healing many Narnia soldiers. As her hand touched the cool glass of the flask, another hand grabbed hers. Lucy turned her head towards Eliza, the owner of the hand

"She won't need that," she stated, as she released Lucy's hand. Lucy opened her mouth to protest but was interrupted.

"She'll wake when she's ready," James assured, "The Witch took her magic away from her for too long. She only survived because of Aslan. She needs some time to readjust."

"How long is she going to be like this?" Lucy asked.

"I don't know, Lucy," said James sadly, "It might take years, or months, or days. I don't know."

The journey to Cair Paravel was not a long one, but a tiring one. Peter was sure that his bottom had surely been worn away by his leather saddle. His legs had been dying to stretch out since they reached the beginning of the narrow valley that led to the castle that could be Peter's doom. He turned his head behind him where his sibling all wore the look of discomfort. He heard a low chuckle beside him that caught his attention.

"What?" he asked James, who stopped laughing.

"You are very amusing, Peter," he stated, smiling, "We're almost there."

"You don't suppose know how to rule a kingdom?" asked Peter, nervously. James stiffened thinking that Peter was mocking him. For a small moment, James felt his anger building up, but then he realised as he turned to look, Peter, that his friend was nervous.

"With my history, I'll say no," he joked. Peter smiled at the joke as he felt his heart sink a little towards his navel.

"Then you're really no help to me," Peter joked back, "Maybe you should go back to England and leave everything to us."

Peter signalled to his sibling behind him as James let out a boisterous laugh that shocked everyone around them. Suddenly Peter felt his horse stop it its tracks, so he turned his head back to the front. The site that beheld him was magnificent. Cair Paravel, a castle that sat at the edge of a cliff that was weathered by the splashing waves below them. As the sun reflected each brick, it glistened like as though the stones held diamonds.

"I believe we are home, Your Majesty," taunted James as his horse trotted in front of Peter. Peter broke out of his amazement to stare at James.

"It's beautiful."

It has been a month since the rebellion against the Witch ended. To Edmund, the time has passed so fast, that it felt like only a week has passed. But then again if a coronation could be a plan in a week then Susan was truly a saint. For the past month, the only thing that concerned Susan was the coronation. It was so severe that she couldn't even sit through dinner without making a small critique on how casual and sloppy Peter and Edmund were. It drove the two of them mad, but now that was going to end.

"It's time," said James from the entrance of Edmund's chambers. Edmund looked at his light blue tunic and his matching cloak that barely reached his ankles. Edmund looked to James, who was dressed in a black tunic with a flowing red cloak that dragged behind him.

"I look ridiculous," he stated. As he stated those words, Peter strolled in his room and sat on Edmund's chair.

"You're not the only one," he said, placing his feet on the table. Edmund scowled and pushed Peter's feet off the table. Peter laughed and jumped to his feet.

"Come on! Let's go, before Susan blows her head off," he said, walking to the door. James and Edmund winced at the image and quickly followed him.

Susan was angry when they arrived late for the ceremony. The fact is, they weren't late, at least in James's internal clock, they were five minutes early, but he was afraid to voice his opinion at Susan, as she gave him a glare.

"You're late," she stated bluntly.

"Sorry, Ed, here has cold feet," said Peter, slapping Edmund in the back. Edmund opened to rebutted but was interrupted by James.

"He was so nervous, it took him ages just get out of the lavatories," said James. Peter struggled to keep a straight face as the horror on everyone's faces emerged. Edmund recovering from his shock elbowed his skinny, sharp elbow into the older boy's gut.

"I better get going," said James as he winced in pain. He signalled to Eliza who stood next Lucy, laughing at the exchange. They both left the Pevensie and entered the throne room.

Edmund opened his mouth to explain to his sister but was interrupted again.

"It is time," said Aslan, walking to the four of them. The four of them quickly assembled themselves beside Aslan, the boys on his left and the girls on his right. The large doors to the throne room opened and the horns began to play. They were greeted by the view of the centaurs with their swords raised to create an archway in which they walk. With each step, their smiles grew and their nerves faded to nothingness. At the end of the aisle were their thrones. Each constructed of pure white marble and inlaid in gold were their gifts from Father Christmas. Aslan stopped when they reached the bottom of the steps to the thrones. He signalled with a nod of his head and the Pevensie continued standing in front of their respective thrones. Proudly and strong, Aslan turned to the crowd.

"To the glistening eastern sea," boomed his voice. As the words left his lips, Mr Tumnus and the Beavers strolled down the aisle. "I give you, Queen Lucy the Valiant."

Mr Tumnus bent down the Mrs Beavers level and lifted a silver tiara in the shape of woven vines. Lucy bowed her head and felt the small pressure of the crown placed on her.

"To the great western woods," Aslan continued as the applause grew silent. "King Edmund the Just."

Mr Tumnus delicately handled a silver coronet onto Edmund's lowered head.

"To the radiant southern sun: Queen Susan, the Gentle."

Mr Tumnus placed a golden tiara that was the shape of woven daffodils.

"And to the clear northern skies, I give you, King Peter the Magnificent."

Peter lifted his head as Mr Tumnus retracted his hands from placing a golden crown onto his crown.

"Once a king or queen of Narnia, always a king or queen," said Aslan as he paced in front of the newly crowned Pevensies. "May your wisdom grace us until the stars come raining down from the heavens."

"Long live King Peter! Long live Queen Susan! Long live King Edmund! Long live Queen Lucy!" The Narnians cheered.

"May we have your attention," said Peter in a loud and steady voice. The room fell silent at his words.

"Narnians! For a hundred years, you have all suffered under the tyrannical ruler of Jadis, the White Witch," said Peter as he stood up from his throne. The room continued to stay silent as they paused to remember the fallen.

"Personally, I would like to thank the Guardians of Narnia for helping us when we needed them," Peter continued signalling to them, where they stood next to the thrones. Murmurs and whispering erupted from the Narnians.

"What of Evan, the Witch's dog?!" shouted someone. Eliza felt tears burn in her eyes, beside her James clenched his teeth and reached for Eliza's waist where her daggers were strapped. His axe would be too messy. Peter turned to look at James who stood down at his king's stare. Peter then turned to Edmund to handle the situation.

"As you may know, I was a traitor to my family," he said, standing, "I was charmed by the Witch's words, as was he. Now she is dead, his enchantment is broken. I release from his crimes against Narnia!"

Protest and shouting exploded from the crowd. The four Pevensies looked at each other, nervously. However, they were quickly distracted as James walked in front of them. He lifted the butt of his axe and slammed it into the floor.

The loud noise echoed in the room and the crowd fell silent. Edmund stood next to James.

"Enough!" yelled Edmund, raising his voice, "The Narnian crown forgives, Prince Evan of Autumn, for his act of treason, as he was only a puppet for the Witch's entertainment."

The debate over Evan was left as it was as the celebration of the coronation began. Lucy felt as though she needed some air, after so many dancing with many partners, including her brothers and James. She walked on the balcony and taking in the view of the beach and the sunset. She lowered her eyes at the beach where paw prints littered the wet sand. Lucy followed the trail with her eyes until she reached Aslan who was walking away from the castle.

"Don't worry," said Mr Tumnus behind her. Lucy turned to look at him, confused. "We'll see him again."

"When?"

"In time," he answered, walking up to Lucy and resting himself on the cool stone. "One day he'll be here, the next he won't. But you mustn't press him. After all, he's not a tame lion."

"No," said Lucy sadly, "But he is good."

"Here," said Mr Tumnus, reaching under his scarf, "You need it more than I do."

Lucy closed her small fisted around the hanky she gave to him. Feeling the embroidered edge, she looked back as Aslan, but he was no longer there. Only the trail of his paws remained on the wet sand.

A/N: Hi everyone, I might update the next few chapters in two-week intervals. That will give me enough time to finish writing them.

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