Narnia: The Chronicles of the Lioness

Chapter 29

By: Lady Aescwyn

The Chronicles of the Lioness

It's the same dream as before.

Peter is holding my dead body and wailing.

I want to run over to him.

To stop him.

To stop his tears.

I want to hold him and tell him that I'm alright; I'm still here.

I'm still alive.

But I can't move.

I can't force my feet to move, it's as though they've been nailed to the ground.

Unable to move, I call to him, "Peter! I'm not dead! Peter, look at me; I'm alright, I'm okay!" I scream, "That's not me! Look, I'm here!"

But he can't see or hear me. His cries are getting more desperate and are growing in intensity.

Then, I hear other voices; voices of people I know.

Voices of people I love.

The darkness around Peter and I is dissipating and drawing back to reveal a battlefield strewn with corpses.

Lucy, Susan, and Edmund are there too, alive and crying.

Crying for me.

"No!" I scream as I fall, trembling, to my knees, "I'm alive..." I whisper, but the horrible sounds continue. I can hear mum's voice, and grandpa's.

Around us the battlefield is being consumed by raging flames.

I squeeze my eyes tightly closed and I grab my ears as the keening sounds reach an unbearable level.

"No," I whimper, "please." I plead, "Make it stop."

And it stops.

Afraid of what I might find, I slowly open my eyes, but I see nothing. I am surrounded by encompassing, black, life-sucking darkness.

I stand up warily; although it may seem as though I am alone, I'm not. I can feel something; someone.

Someone sinister.

From behind me, I hear the distinctive, clear ring of a blade pulled free of its sheath.

I whirl around to see a woman.

She is not like any woman I've seen before; at least, not any human woman. She is taller than any real woman has a right to be and her skin is a milky, pale, translucent white. Her features are cruel and proud, like a queen.

A false queen.

Even though I have never seen her before, I know her name, "Jadis." I whisper.

She sneers at me with pure, unadulterated hatred just before plunging her blade into my chest.

I wake up, gasping for air.

I panic as I find myself still unable to move.

Franticly I struggle against the forces that bind me.

I manage to roll myself out of my hammock and I land with a thump on the floor of my tent.

Stunned, I lay there for a moment as realization sinks in; I'm alive, I'm awake, and I'm tangled hopelessly in my bed sheets.

"Oh God, what's happening to me?" I whisper as I bring my uncontrollably shaking hands to my face and start sobbing dejectedly.

What's wrong with me?

Why is this happening?

What's happening?

What does it mean?

I'm still on the floor of my tent, curled into the fetal position and crying my eyes out when I hear a noise behind me. "Lizzie! Lizzie! Wake up! It's Edmund! He's back!" laughs Lucy as she rushes into my tent, "Lizzie? Why are you...?"

I try to wipe the tears away, but nothing can hide my puffy eyes, soggy cheeks, and blotchy face; not to mention, I'm shaking like a leaf.

Susan is right behind Lucy, when she sees me, her smile dissolves and is replaced with fear and worry, "Lizzie, what's wrong?!"

"What's happened?!" asks Lucy.

There's alarm in Susan's voice as she calls out, "Peter!"

"No, it's not-" I try to stop her but I'm interrupted by Peter barging in.

"What's wrong Su? What's going... Lizzie?" his eyes widen and his expression turns to concern as he drops to his knees beside me, "Lizzie! Are you alright? Are you hurt? What happened?"

"It's nothing! I'm fine! It was just a bad dream!" I half yell, but I don't sound convincing, even to myself.

Peter's hand is resting on my arm, "But you're shaking..."

I'm angry now, mostly out of embarrassment, "I'm fine!" I yell as I finally extricate myself from my blankets. I just want to escape.

I bolt from my tent changing into a lioness as I do so. I dart into the camp; I just want to run and hide. I would never tell anyone this, but I'm afraid.

When I am clear of the tents and the camp I finally stop. I am at the base of a gentle hill and sitting at the top, watching the sunrise, is Aslan. Somehow, instinctively, my paws carried me to the place I needed to go without me knowing.

I need answers.

Aslan doesn't turn, even though he knows I'm there; he just continues to gaze at the horizon.

Then, I realize what had just happened; my friends had just been worried for me. They had been trying to help, but I pushed them away and ran from my problems.

Ashamed, I lower my head and slowly start up the hill. At the top I say, "Aslan? Is it alright if I... sit here for a while?"

He nods and turns his warm gaze on me; he is smiling knowingly, "You have questions." It was a statement, not a question.

If I had been human I would have flushed red, "That obvious, huh?"

His smile grows a little and there is a little rumble in his chest; almost a laugh, but he doesn't say anything.

I sit down beside him; he's huge, much larger than I am. I'm like a kitten next to a cat. We both look out at the sunrise and the clear blue sky tinged with pink. A cool breeze runs through my fur and I take a deep breath, letting it fill my chest and clear my head. "Aslan? Why am I...the way I am?"

"It is because you have Narnian blood in your veins." He says, "If you will remember, the Beavers mentioned the prophecy about the one with Narnian blood who will come with the Children of Adam and Eve."

"But how is that possible? I'm from Finchley!" I say.

He chuckles again, "Your Father was Narnian, but I don't think he knew it."

My eyes widen and I feel a lump in my throat, "Daddy? But...how?"

He looks at me, "Do you know the story of King Frank and Queen Helen; the first king and Queen of Narnia?"

I'm at a loss, "I think so...yes. But what does that...?"

"King Frank and Queen Helen had many children and those children married Narnians; the boys married Nymphs and the girls married wood-gods and river-gods. Their first son became the next King of Narnia and their second son became the King of Archenland to the south."

But that still didn't answer my question.

Aslan sighed, "Ever since Narnia was created, there has been a link between it and your world; there are many doors that go both ways, your grandfather's wardrobe was only one."

I thought about this for a moment, "You mean I'm a descendant of the first rulers of Narnia?"

He nodded.

"And one of my ancestors came through a door from Narnia into our world?"

He nodded again. "Your grandmother."

I vaguely realize that my mouth is hanging open; it was a lot of information to process. My grandmother? A Narnian? I hadn't known her well; she had died when I was very young. "Can you tell me about her?" I finally ask.

Aslan smiles as he scoops me up with his paw and gently licks my head, like a mother cat cleaning her kitten, "That is her story, not yours little one."

I close my eyes and enjoy the pleasant sensation. The next thing I know I hear a strange, vibrating rumble. My eyes fly open, it's coming from me! I'm purring! Once more content, I close my eyes and ask, "But why a lioness?"

Now finished, Aslan lays down and I curl up next to him, "There is no why, it is just a part of who you are."

After a while he gets up and says quietly, almost a little sadly, "Edmund will be waking up soon. You should go back and get some breakfast little one."

I nod as I stand, "Thank you, Aslan."

He touches his tongue to my forehead before we both turn and go our separate ways back to camp.

End of Chapter 29

Whew, another chappie! Does that answer some of your questions? Do you have other questions? What did you think? I won't know what you think unless you tell me.

brezzybrez: Thanks, I hope you liked the update!

ScarletRosePetal: Ack! Stalker! Lol, just kidding! Thank you so much for reviewing!

StarsOfMystery: Aww (hands you a Kleenex)... on second thought, take the box; you might need it later... Hehe, I like making Peter and Lizzie flustered. Sure, they're growing up and becoming more mature, but part of them is still in that awkward teenagery stage. Many, Many thank yous!

Irish Avalon: Ah, thanks for pointing that out! (goes back and fixes it) Thanks so much for your review and good luck on your finals!