Chapter 29
Lucy.
There it was, the voice of her greatest hero. It's echo breaking through the iced surface of her unconsciousness. "Aslan?"
"The time has come, dear little one, to finally wake."
Lucy's eyes fluttered open, a task she barely had the energy to undertake. The grass was soft and though she knew she needed to feel joy at seeing her long ago friend, she could not summon the emotion. "Has it happened? Am I in your land?"
With a gentle and kind smile, Aslan tilted his head. "Lucy, why are you so unhappy?"
Tears immediately flooded her eyes, "I don't know anymore, Aslan," she sobbed. "I feel weak and I can't seem to wrap my mind around even the little of thoughts. I feel abandoned. Alone. I don't know what is happening to me."
"Dear little one, do you enjoy feeling this way?" Lucy viciously shook her head. "Then why have you not yet fought the evil that still clings to you?"
"What evil?"
"The faes?"
"They were destroyed, I destroyed them."
Aslan began to walk down a soft pebbled beach, the wind swaying in his golden mane. "If they were completely destroyed, then why are you upset?'
Lucy pondered this question, feeling with each step a lightened heart and a clearer head. "I don't know." She could feel her inner light burning brighter within her the further into Aslan's land that they traveled. Why was she so upset? Caspian risked his life to save her. He apologized numerous of times. She loved him, just as sure as she was that he loved her. Susan was happily married, and deep down Lucy knew that she wouldn't give any of that up. Looking at this negative reaction, Lucy couldn't fathom where her depression started from.
Faintly on the wind a small piercing cry rang out.
Lucy turned to stare at the black smoke withering in the wind where she and Aslan first stood. "What is that?"
"That," Aslan explained, "is the darkness that was thriving inside of you, dear little one."
"Darkness, but how did it get there?"
"The Faes," Aslan stated. At Lucy's confused expression he continued, "When the Night Faes withdrew your soul—a soul as pure as light— the darkness crept in. The more light they took, the more the darkness grew, to a point where your light was almost extinguished by the darkness. It feeds you lies and negativity. The only reason it dies there and you stand here was that tiny flame that refused to burn out. Lucy, at this point you have two choices. You may continue with me to my land, or you may return and live out your life."
"In Narnia?"
Aslan remained silent, never to give the secrets of the future.
Lucy smiled and nodded, "I wish to return."
Aslan's smiled and nodded, "As you wish." The great lion placed a gentle kiss upon Lucy's cheek which spread warmth throughout her body which began to fade from the world of the dead. "And Lucy," he cautioned right before she faded away to the world of the living, "your light comes with a forgiving heart."
