Disclaimer: I don't own Narnia, C.S. Lewis's Stepson does. All I own are the characters that Lewis didn't come up with.
Chapter 26
Annis's News
When Petra finally opened her eyes once more, her mind was much clearer. She found herself back in the bedroom she had been given at Cair Paravel, dressed in a white nightgown. Completely awake and feeling no injury at all, she slid out from under the covers and walked about the room, taking care to step on the thick rugs, so that her bare feet did not come into contact with the cold stone floor.
Had all of that happened? Had she really ridden a talking horse, watched King Rilian be carried away by a conniving woman, talked to a talking mouse, climbed an iron chain with a Sunglimmer … and faced a crazed dragon lady?
Somehow it seemed all just a big, bad dream. The only thing that remained was the faint taste of the fire in her mouth. She frowned. Fire? Fire didn't taste like that. Fire was hot, burned your mouth. It didn't have a taste …
It was only a dream though. Things could taste however she wanted them to in a dream.
But, then why could she still taste it? That must have been one vivid dream!
As she pondered over this enigma, her bedroom door was suddenly flung open, and in came Annis and Raycheer.
"Petra, you're awake!" Annis exclaimed rushing forward and throwing her arms around Petra's waist. Raycheer wasn't far behind in the hug business. What ensued was one of those surreal moments that can only be properly done in a movie, where everything is in slow motion, and golden light filters through the curtains, and the only sound there is to hear is happy laughter.
That type of moment.
At last, however, the surrealness of everything came to an end and Petra found herself seated on the window seat, with Raycheer on one side of her and Annis on the other.
"You've been asleep for a very long time, Princess Petra," remarked Raycheer.
"A very, very long time," Annis agreed. "But Momma was taking care of you - so I wasn't worried."
"Was all ... of that ... actually real?" Petra at last summoned the courage to ask.
"Oh, yes!" exclaimed Raycheer, clapping her hands. "Oh, yes! It was! We rescued King Rilian, Petra! And Leafglitter!"
"And Momma says that she and I are going to start living here at the castle!" Annis exclaimed. "She says that I'm getting a new daddy!" The girl frowned for a moment, then added, "I've never had a daddy before."
Petra blinked, and turned to the girl with raised eyebrow. "A new daddy? Who?"
"Why, King Rilian, of course!" exclaimed Annis, who was positively beaming. "Momma says that after she marries him, I'll be a princess too! Just like you, Petra! Won't that be fun?"
Petra's eyebrow only went up further. "King Rilian?"
Annis nodded eagerly. "Oh, Yes!" Then she frowned and shook her head in a serious manner. "But Momma says to not tell anyone!" The shaking turned into a slow nod. "They're waiting for you to wake up so that they can officially announce it."
Petra took a deep breath as she leaned back against the window pane and folded her arms over her chest to think that over. "Now that I think about, I'm really not surprised."
Author's Note: And here's chapter 26. There's only a little bit left … and then, a new story! Please leave a review and tell me what you think!