First of you, can I just apologise a MILLION times for taking so long to update! My life has just been absolutely crazy! I had to write a 10,000 word dissertation in my first semester of University and then I graduated in June so that was the first half of my year. Then since June I have been working and saving money to move to London and start my career, so it's all been up in the air this year!
But I really hope that this chapter has been worth the wait. We are nearing the end of the this story with only a couple more chapters to go after this one, so I hope it is satisfactory! Please leave a review as these have been motivating me to continue this story as I want to give you all a happy ending!
So, read and enjoy! :D
*~To Narnia And Back~*~Chapter Twenty Six~*~It's Time~*
I was on the ultimate high once Caspian set me on my feet. That's the only way to describe what my insides were doing. We had shared a passionate kiss, one that I didn't want to ever end. I was finally in the right place, with the right person, and nothing was going to dampen my spirits. That was until I remembered that we were indeed about to face an evil that none of us knew hardly anything about.
"I can't believe that this is happening. If someone had told me this over the past three years, I would have thought they were trying to make me cry." I said, my forehead pressed to Caspian's, my hands on either side of his face.
He grinned brightly at me, leaning down for another kiss. "I never would have believed it either. Although I always hoped."
A bang from above us on deck startled us from our bubble. Caspian's smile faded.
"I hate to say this, but we have to prepare for the last step on our journey."
I nodded, fiddling with the beautiful ring on my finger. As I slowly slipped it off my hand, Caspian stopped me.
"What're you doing?"
"This fight, or battle, or whatever this is going to be, could get bad. I don't want anything to damage this beautiful ring." I held the ring in my palm. "And I also don't want Lucy, Edmund, or anyone to see it just yet. They're going to ask a bunch of questions, and I'll have to explain everything to them, and we need their focus on the task at hand. This can come after."
Caspian waited a beat, and then opened a drawer on the other side of the room, returning with a thin chain. "Here." He threaded the chain through the ring, and fastened the ends together. He then attached the chain to my belt loop, and the ring and chain fell into my pocket. "Now it's all secure, and still with you."
I smiled up at him. "Thank you."
With one last kiss, we made our way back up on deck.
By early evening, we had arrived just outside the black, thundering cloud of mist that surrounded Dark Island. Caspian had ordered everyone to prepare themselves and the Dawn Treader, so the crew were all gathering their weapons and armour, loading the canons, and keeping an eye on the Island.
I leant on my elbows on the side of the ship, squinting at the danger that lies ahead, but I couldn't see anything other than the mist. What could be in there? An army, imprisoning the innocent lives? Creatures beyond our recollection? Something no one has ever faced before? I'm sure whatever lies beyond we will be able to face, but that doesn't stop my heart sinking into my stomach to cause an uneasy feeling in my gut. What if this is the end of our journey? What if we don't...
Before I could get too deep in my thoughts, I went below deck to suit up. Caspian had managed to find some armour that would fit me, although he wasn't too pleased when I declared that I would be joining in the potential fight. His over-protectiveness still sends butterflies soaring in my stomach. It just adds to the list of reasons that I know staying here with him is my destined path.
I smiled to myself as I walked out of Caspian's bedroom and down the hallway, when his voice stopped me in my tracks. I leant closer to the door to his study area.
"Incase we don't get through, whatever this is, I want you to know that I think of you as my brother, Ed."
"Me too."
The smile grew on my face.
"You gave up your sword." Caspian said.
"It wasn't mine to keep." Edmund responded.
"Use this."
There was a moments pause.
"But it's-"
"Peter would want you to have it."
Is Caspian talking about Peter's sword? I didn't think it was possible to love him even more. He gave Edmund the sword.. I leant against the wall, my smile even bigger. Edmund was finally getting the recognition that he deserves. I was just about to walk away, but upon hearing my name, my ears perked up.
"By the way, as for Alex..." Edmund spoke. "I think you are meant to be together. You should be together."
My heart fluttered. It was a blessing in disguise. I waited a few moments before I entered the room.
"Hey. Everything's all set." I announced, trying to keep my smile at bay. The look in Caspian's eye told me that he was just as affected by Edmund's words as I was.
"Brilliant." Edmund replied. Then he did something totally un-Edmund-like. He crossed the room, and wrapped his arms around me, embracing me tightly. I hugged him back, enjoying his rare act of tenderness.
He pulled away, smiling at me.
"I love you."
Tears welled up in my eyes. "I love you too, little bro."
He chuckled, and exited the room. I looked at Caspian, who was also smiling.
"Ready?" He asked.
I nodded. "Ready."
He took my hand, and lead me out of the room.
Everyone was gathered on deck, all suited up in armour, manned with weapons. Caspian stepped up onto the upper deck, and started to deliver a speech.
"No matter what happens here, every soul who stands before me, has earned their place, in the crew of the Dawn Treader. Together we have travelled far, together we have faced adversity, together we can do it again. So now is not the time to fall for these temptations. Be strong, never give in. Our world, our Narnian lives depend on it." His eyes fell on me. "Think of the lost souls we're here to save. Think of Aslan. Think of Narnia."
Just as he began to descend the steps to join us, the crew raised their voices in cries of "For Narnia!" They chanted it like a mantra, making Caspian stop in his tracks. The look on his face proves just how unsure he has been about his reign, unsure about how the people respond to him as their King.
He has nothing to doubt now.
I grinned up at him as Edmund and Lucy joined in with the crew. Caspian caught my eye, and I gave him a small wink. He grinned back.
Once the crew had calmed down, we started to make our way through the mist, very cautiously. We couldn't see twenty feet in any direction; it was just green fog. It swirled around us in waves, snaking its way through the crew. Everyone was on high alert, their eyes looking in every direction, their weapons raised. I stood next to Caspian, who flinched suddenly when the mist circled around him. He looked intensely at it, as though he could see something in the mist that we couldn't. I was about to question him, when a very familiar voice hissed in my ear.
"We know what you've done."
"You call yourself a part of our family?"
Peter.
Susan.
The green mist had morphed into them on either side of me, both of them trapping me with their glaring eyes. My breathing started to pick up a little bit, the ring in my pocket feeling like a stone weighing me down.
"You chose him over your family."
"After all we have done for you...You're a traitor."
"Narnia won't want a traitor for a Queen."
I kept my eyes trained forward in a hard stare, not listening, not giving in. Until another voice joined in.
"Darling."
Peter and Susan had disappeared, and been replaced with my mum and dad. I couldn't tear my eyes away.
"They are right. You are a traitor. Your mother and I are waiting for you back home, yet you choose to remain in this make-believe fantasy world."
My parents looked so disappointed and angry with me.
"I'm ashamed to call you my daughter."
I clamped my hands over my ears and screwed my eyes shut. I will not believe what they are saying. It's not them. It's not them. It just wants to get inside my head. It's not real.
I felt a hand on my waist and I flinched, but calmed once I saw it was Lucy. Edmund had just yelled to the mist, but I couldn't see the form it took, just as I bet the others didn't see what forms the mist took for me. Thankfully.
The crew no longer looked composed, including Caspian. I grabbed his hand. I couldn't offer words at this moment, still trying to shake the words from my family out of my head.
"KEEP AWAY! KEEP AWAY!"
A deep, ragged voice rang out from beyond the mist. Edmund and Caspian regained their royal poise.
"Who's there?!" Edmund called out.
"We do not fear you!" Caspian stood at the edge of the deck, still gripping my hand.
"Nor I you!" The voice responded.
Edmund got out his torch and shined it into the distance. There was a man, sword raised in the air. The archers in our crew took their aim.
"Caspian, his sword!"
Recognition, and relief, flashed in Caspian's eyes. "Lord Roupe!" He let go of my hand and descended the steps. "Men, stand down! Let's get him on board."
The Lord was not having it. He started backing up towards the rock fixture behind him. Just as the crew were about to throw ropes to assist him on getting on board, Eustace swooped down from above, wrapped his giant claws around the Lord, and delicately dropped him onto the deck. The Lord started yelling and swinging his sword around, clearly threatened by the situation. Caspian held an arm out in front of me when the Lord became too out of control, but stood up tall.
"Be calm, my Lord. We are not here to hurt you. I am your King, Caspian."
The Lord froze. He lowered his sword and turned to look Caspian in the eye.
"Caspian?" He approached Caspian. "My Lord, you should not have come. There's no way out of here!" He turned in circles, motioning to the whole crew. "Quickly, turn this ship about before it's too late!"
Edmund indicated the sword. "We have the sword, let's go!"
"Let's turn her about, Drinian!" Caspian ordered.
"Ey ey, Your Majesty."
Haste is one way to describe what happened next. The crew practically flew to their positions on deck, while I grabbed Lucy and Gael and led them to Drinian, who was manning the wheel. However, it wasn't going to be as easy as that.
"Do not think!" The Lord advanced on Caspian, fear in his eyes. "Do not let it know your fears, or it will become them!"
"Oh no..."
Panic surged through me as I looked at Edmund, who had dashed to the edge of the ship, looking out into the distance.
"Edmund, what did you think of?!" I spoke up for the first time.
"I'm sorry!"
After a moment of tension, the ship jerked violently, throwing everyone to the floor. I jumped to my feet, and looked towards the mist. I squinted my eyes, trying to seeing further into the distance. All I could see were rocks...
"it's too late!" The Lord shouted from somewhere behind me.
There was something not quite right about the image in front of me. I'm sure there was another rock breaking the surface of the water not too long ago...
Just as I was about to voice the thought, a massive sea serpent reared up out of the water, screeching so maliciously that I had to throw my hand over my mouth to stop from screaming. Exclaims came from all around me, the crew shocked and stunned. Caspian dived in front of me and forced me backwards, while I gripped his shirt, gaping at the serpent.
"Men! Aim your weapons!" Caspian commanded.
The crew responded instantly, but before they could fire, a huge blast of actual flaming fire plummeted down from the sky, hitting the serpent square in the face. Eustace followed suit, throwing himself onto the serpent and attacking.
"Eustace, don't!" I yelled, trying to force my way forward, but Caspian held me back. The serpent and Eustace battled, but the serpent had the mightier strength, sinking it's teeth into Eustace's tail and slamming him against the rocks. As Eustace weakened, trying to fight back with fire, a sword flew through the air and sunk itself into Eustace's scales. He roared, and out of terror, flew off into the distance. Lucy and Edmund shout for him, but he doesn't respond.
He is gone.
Grunts pulled my attention to the wheel, and I saw Lord Roupe trying to wrestle the wheel for himself, but Drinian knocked him out with a blow to the back of the head. He gripped the wheel, looking mighty.
"Men, to your rowing positions! Oars at full speed!"
The men respond, and almost immediately, we were sailing out towards the open, mist-less sea.
Caspian pulled me into his arms, holding onto me tightly. "Are you okay?"
I nodded into his shoulder, taking a shaky breath. "Yeah, I'm fine, I was more scared for everyone els-"
A deafening crash of breaking wood penetrated the air, throwing everything off balance, sending Caspian and I cascading to the ground. Another ear-splitting screech wailed through the air when the serpent crashed into the Dawn Treader for the second time, wrapping its body around the deck. Caspian grabbed my arm and hauled me up to the top deck, commanding me not to move, while he then turned back to the serpent, sword raised. But I wasn't one to sit back and watch the people that I love and care for get hurt. While Edmund, Caspian and the crew were battling with the serpent, trying to disentangle it from the ship, I located Lucy and Gael crouched in a corner.
"Lucy, Gael, get up! Quickly!" I pulled them both to their feet, shielding them as much as I could while we stumbled towards the double doors to the lower decks. I didn't stop urging them down the corridors until we reached Caspian's cabin.
"Gael, stay here until someone comes to get you!" Lucy told Gael, and she huddled herself at the foot of the bed, gripping the bedpost as the ship rocked back and forth violently from the sudden loss of the serpents weight. I gathered my bow and arrow, slinging the sheath over my shoulder and gripping the bow tightly. Looking out of the window, I saw a huge wave crash into the side, indicating that the serpent had dived underneath the waters surface. The men must be putting up a great fight.
Lucy grabbed Susan's bow and arrow from the side, but I grabbed her before she could run past me. "Whoa, you need to stay here too."
She looked at me incredulously. "What on earth do you mean? Of course I'm not staying down here!"
"I cannot have you in that kind of danger, Lucy! That serpent is-"
"Alex, no. I have fought in many battles that are twice as bad as this one, and I was a young girl! I can do this!" She stood up taller, clutching the bow. "We can do this."
Suddenly, I wasn't seeing my little baby sister anymore; I was seeing the woman she has become. The determination in her eyes was fierce, and her chin was held high. I couldn't help but give a small, proud smile. I touched my bow to hers, and she mirrored my smile.
"Let's do this, my sister."
To say that it was chaos on deck would be an understatement. Everyone was in five places at once; trying to keep the serpent at bay with harpoons and ropes, Drinian trying to dodge the rocks and lead the ship out of the mist, Caspian giving out commands whilst running around, and the serpent was cascading around the ship, snapping and screeching. Lucy ran onto the top deck, whilst I made my way over to the bow of the ship, dodging broken wood and weapons flying through the air. I lost my footing on a growing lake of water that had taken over the surface of the ship, throwing my hands out to catch me. A wave then crashed over the edge, soaking me to the bone, but I flipped my hair out of my eyes and sprinted to the bow of the ship. If I could just get some height...
It was at that moment that I noticed Edmund was balancing on the bow, torch shining, the serpent attacking him.
"Edmund!"
It was too noisy for him to hear me. There was no use trying to help him, the bow would be too unsteady with two of us on there. The serpent was tearing at the bow with its teeth, shattering the wood, coming closer and closer to my brother...
I drew an arrow, attached it to my bow, and took aim. The ship had gentled its rocking, letting me keep my balance. I released the arrow, and it sank right into the serpents left eye. Screeching filled the air once more, but I raced forwards, reaching over the bow to grab at Edmund. He gripped my hand and I helped him up, pulling him to safety. I hugged him tight, breathing hard.
"That was so scary, Ed."
"I wasn't sure how much longer I could've held on for. Good shot."
"I learned from the best."
We scanned the rest of the ship, seeing that Caspian and the crew were gathering ropes, when out of nowhere, the ship lurched to one side, throwing Edmund and I off of our feet. I crashed into the side of the ship, a piece of loose wood digging into my back. The pain made me cry out and see stars, a throbbing developing by my hip. Edmund tried to help me up, but I just whimpered in pain.
"No, I'm okay." I looked into his eyes with determination. "You have to kill it, Ed. I believe in you."
He looked around at the serpent, which was now rearing up at the crew members who had assembled on deck, all sporting harpoons, with Caspian among them.
"I need to get up high..." His eyes lit up. "The mast!"
"Go!" I urged, and with one last look, he took off, weaving through the wreckage on deck, and furiously ascending the main mast.
As I grabbed the edge of the ship, trying to keep myself from sliding around, I felt my back for any blood. My hand was clean, but the pain still sent shooting sensations up my spine at sudden movements. As I grimaced from a particularly sharp throb, I heard my name being called and a person sink to my side. Lucy.
"I'm fine, Lu. I just hit my back."
Another screech penetrated the air, diverting our attention to the serpent. Caspian and the crew had sunk several harpoons into the serpents scales, and were trying to pull it down to the deck, trying to keep it under control.
At that moment, Lucy rose to her feet, and drew an arrow, attaching it to the string. She took a deep breath and took her stance, fire gleaming in her eyes as she stared at the serpent. I watched as the arrow soared through the air, and took residence in the serpents head, right between its eyes.
"Fantastic, Lucy!"
She grinned at me, and I looked at her with pride. My little sister truly is a warrior Queen.
The arrow had some effect in making the serpent a little dazed, but then it reared up with might, and the ropes binding it were snapped, tossing the crew in all directions Caspian among them. I felt that this was the finale. It was now or never; we had to take that creature down, otherwise we won't be seeing daylight again. Ignoring the pain in my back, I staggered to my feet, with Lucy helping me. My heart was starting to pound more fiercely, but I wasn't sure if it was the physical pain I was feeling, or the fear for my people on this ship.
Upon this thought, I froze. Did I really just..?
My people. My people.
A deafening crash and screech disallowed me to ponder any further. I looked up, and saw a blue glow emitting from Peter's sword. It was sunk deep into the serpent's mouth, Edmund having stabbed it. The serpent met its end, falling back into the sea with a crash, final waves colliding with the ship. I took a moment to look up at Edmund, who was still wielding the glowing sword. That's my brother. I smiled as the thought warmed my heart. My brother.
Light started to break through the clouds and mist, bringing life back into the present. I had forgotten what the sun felt like.
"The spell, it's lifting!" Lucy said.
I turned to the lower deck, and upon locating Caspian, raced as well as my back would allow to his side. I dropped to my knees and cradled his head.
"Caspian." I whispered, searching his eyes for any kind of pain.
He looked up at me with relief, and something else; adoration. His fingers traced my cheeks, making my eyes swim with tears. My face broke into a watery smile, and with nothing to stop me, I leaned forward and gave him a soft kiss on his lips, not caring who saw this time.
"Are you hurt?" He asked.
I shook my head. "Are you?"
"Not anymore. The battle is won." His hand dropped to my pocket, feeling for the ring. I felt his fingers roll the band between his fingers. "And you are safe, here, with me. Nothing else matters." My smile grew into a grin, feeling so much relief, and tension leave my body after much too long. We had defeated the darkness. But I hadn't missed the double meaning in his words. I am here, with him.
Lucy called our attention to the edge of the ship, and looking out into the distance, we saw small boats appearing out of the mist, all filled with people.
The lost souls. Narnians.
Rhince and Gael jumped into the water and swam towards them, calling out for their found family member. My heart gave a pang upon seeing this. I long to see my mother and father once again.
"Let's have them on board! Clear the decks!" Caspian announced.
I came to stand by Lucy and Edmund, with Caspian joining us moments later.
"We did it. I knew we would." Lucy said, and I tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"It wasn't just us though." Edmund spoke up.
I then heard a voice that had been missing for much too long.
"I'm down here, Lucy. In the water! Lucy!" We approached the edge, leaning further over the side in pursuit of the voice. "I'm a boy again! I'm a boy!"
Eustace. There he was, grinning without restraint, treading water as a boy once again.
Reepicheep appeared on my shoulder. "Eustace! I see your wings have been clipped!" Reep then jumped into the water, joining Eustace in friendly banter. I looked into the distance for a moment, when something caught my eye. I squinted and unconsciously leaned forward, trying to get a better look.
I pointed it out to Caspian.
"Aslan's Country. Must be close."
"But I thought Aslan's Country was too far for anyone to sail to?" I said.
"It's possible to sail to, it's just that no one has ever sailed this far." Caspian said.
"Well, we have come this far. What's a little more distance?" And upon Edmund's words, we piled into a small boat; Lucy, Caspian, Eustace, Reepicheep, Edmund and I.
Edmund and Caspian rowed us through pond lilies towards Aslan's Country. It was like a whole other world out here. It was so beautiful. I had never been to a place back in our world that even came close to this one. I don't think there even is a place that would even compare to the aesthetic life of Narnia.
As the others started to converse about Eustace as a dragon, I found myself lost in my own mind. We had achieved so much in such a small amount of time. It was hard to believe that we had changed lives, and saved so many lives. We had completed our journey, but my mission must continue. And I have a feeling that this is going to be the toughest yet.
"My friends, we have arrived." Reepicheep announced.
We stepped onto the beach, and approached a mighty tidal wave. The beach continued far into the distance in both directions; there was nothing else around.
"Aslan." Eustace cut into the silence.
There he was. The magnificent Aslan himself.
"Welcome, children. You have done well, very well indeed. You have come far, but now your journey is at its end."
"Is this your country?" Lucy asked.
"No, my country lies beyond."
I willed my eye to sight something over the top of the wave, but it was too high. All I could see were blue skies.
"Is my father in your country?" Caspian asked, turning to Aslan.
"You can only find that out for yourself, my Son." Caspian took a step forward. "You should know that if you continue, there is no return."
Caspian slowly approached the tidal wave, and I am ashamed to admit that my heart sunk into my stomach unpleasantly at the thought of him not returning. He held out his hand in the upward stream, and the water continued to soar towards the sky. After a moment that felt far too long, he dropped his hand and turned back to us. His eyes were glistening, but his expression was hard, strong.
"You're not going?" Edmund asked.
"I can't imagine my father would be very proud that I gave up what he died for. I've spent too long thinking about what was taken from me and not what was given. I was given a Kingdom, people...a Queen." He looked at me, and I smiled, tears swimming in my eyes. After his smile mirrored mine, he turned back to Aslan, his demeanour that of a Ruler. "I promise to be a better King."
"You already are."
Aslan then locked eyes with me. "Now is the time, my dear one."
I closed my eyes, feeling everyone's gazes on me. I knew this moment was inevitable, but no amount of time or words were going to make this easier. The sound of rushing water forced me to open my eyes, and what I saw hit me so hard that I took a step backwards on instinct.
A type of portal opened up in the tidal wave, and Peter and Susan emerged. My jaw went slack while Lucy and Edmund raced to them and engulfed them in hugs. I haven't seen Peter and Susan in a long time due to the war, and it took me a moment to fully realise that they were real. This wasn't some illusion.
After Caspian and Eustace had greeted them, I joined in the hugs, gripping onto my siblings tightly.
"I can't believe you're here!" Lucy exclaimed, not letting go of them.
"I can't...How are you guys..." I swallowed and found my words, turning to Aslan. "How did you do that? I thought the other worlds were frozen in time when we're here. How did they get through?"
"You forget my power, dear one." Aslan smiled at me, and that was all the explanation I needed as I admired him with awe.
"I don't understand." Susan spoke up. "Why were we brought here? I thought our time was up?"
Aslan looked to me with a smile on his mighty face. It is time.
I stood still for a moment, while my siblings looked at me expectantly. Sensing that I had something very important to voice, Eustace and Caspian stepped back to give us space. I felt my heart break, slowly, piece by piece crumbling, as I tried to figure out how to tell them. There is no good way to tell them. They are my family, and I know that I will break each of their hearts with my words, no matter how softly they are spoken.
I have to be brave, strong.
I stood in front of them, nervously clutching my hands together. I looked each one of them in the face, and found my voice.
"I..." I swallowed thickly, trying to squash down the lump in my throat. "I'm staying here. I've finally...found the place where I belong. Here, in Narnia, as Caspian's Queen." I glanced at Caspian, and saw a mixture of pain and love in his eyes. He knows how much this hurts me to tell my family. "The three years I spent apart from him, I lost myself. You guys all saw how I was. I didn't know who I was, I didn't know what I wanted to do. But only one thing was for sure; I needed to get back to Caspian. It was all I ever wanted. It still is all I ever want to do. I can't go back to the person I was without him. I want, and need, to be by his side for the rest of my life."
Shock, sadness, pain, longing, and disbelief were etched upon each of their faces. And I had caused that. My heart broke all over again.
I found myself starting to cry, but I know I had to stay strong. For them.
Tears started to fall down Lucy's face. "But-but we're-" She put her hand over her mouth as she tried to hide her sobbing. I felt a vicious tug in my heart, and I could no longer refrain from wrapping my little sister in a tight hug. She grabbed me in return and started to cry into my shoulder.
My voice started to crack. "You know how much I love you. All of you. I'm not doing this to hurt you. I know it seems selfish, and it seems wrong, and it's as though I'm abandoning you after everything you have done for me-"
Peter then cut in.
"No, it's not like that at all."
I looked over at him. He was on the verge of tears, a sight that I had only seen a handful of times in my life. But his warm smile gave me hopeful butterflies in my stomach. "Looks like you've finally found your purpose for being brought here. And I am so proud of you."
I brought my lips into a smile, but a sob escaped me. Edmund was also smiling proudly. Susan had water streaks down her face, but amongst the sadness in her eyes, I saw joy. Joy that I had found myself.
I released my hold on Lucy, wiping her tears.
"I love you all so much." I said to them all. I couldn't control my emotions any longer, and so I let myself fall apart, sobbing without dignity. Susan immediately hugged me tight, the other three joining in after.
This was a moment that none of us were ever going to forget. I never wanted this moment to end. I can't say goodbye now. I just can't.
I pulled back from the hug, all of us with tear-strained faces.
"I don't want this to be the end." I looked to Aslan, silently communicating with my eyes. He gave a slight nod of his head, seeming to understand what I was pleading in my gaze. I turned back to my siblings, those hopeful butterflies causing a tsunami inside me. "Will you come back to Cair Paravel with us? If you feel that your time in Narnia is up, then please just come for a small amount of time. I don't want this to be goodbye. I can't have this be goodbye." I could feel the pain returning, so I tried to lighten the mood. "Besides, I have to walk down an aisle in a white gown and they've got to put a crown on my head and I don't think I can do either of those crazily scary things without you all by my side. It wouldn't seem real without you all there."
I had brought smiles to all of their faces.
"We wouldn't miss it for anything." Susan said, her grin lighting up her eyes.
"Besides, if you ever got married without Lu and Susan as your bridesmaids, you would never hear the end of it." Edmund chimed in, making us all laugh.
I felt a hand rest on the small of my back, and I knew it was Caspian.
"If I recall, it is my duty to ask for the blessing of those closest to my Love." He smiled at me before turning to my siblings. "Peter, Susan, Edmund, Lucy. Do I have your blessing to love, honour, and protect your sister for the rest of my life?"
The men shook hands, while Lucy and Susan gave hugs to Caspian, each uttering a personal 'Yes'.
"I think it's time we make it official."
He then reached into my pocket, and slipped the ring from its chain. He got down on one knee once again, although this time, he didn't utter a single word; he simply gazed into my eyes as he placed the ring on my finger. I grinned at him as he stood, sweetly pecked my lips, and rested his forehead against mine.
I had finally found where I belong.