Tranquility

Disclaimer: I do not own anything Chronicles of Narnia related, but I do own Natalie, Orecar, and some other random original characters.

A/N: Warning! Suggestive material in this chapter!

Natalie woke feeling sore but incredibly happy. She glanced up sleepily, seeing her boyfriend flopped on his back while she had slept pressed against his chest in his large bed. One of his arms hung off the bed while the other held her close to him. She smiled and trailed her fingers across his chest lightly. She moved her finger tips down to where his wound had been, noticing an odd scar there and traced it. "I got that scar on my first trip to Narnia," Edmund's voice suddenly said above her head. Natalie gasped slightly, startled, and looked up to see him gazing down at her. "She had run me through when I tried to get her from getting to Peter..." he explained and took her hand, kissing her fingers.

"Edmund?" Natalie asked softly, still tracing her fingers over his scar.

"Hm?" Edmund responded simply, watching her.

"Can you... can you tell me,-"

"What that witch meant? About me betraying people?" Edmund supplied knowingly.

"If... if you don't mind?" Natalie blushed, looking up at him through her lashes.

"I don't," he smiled. "She can't hurt me anymore," he took her hand and kissed her palm slowly, working his way to her wrist, deliberately taking his time, making pleasant shivers spread all over her. He pulled back after a moment and had a calculated look on his face. "A long time ago," he began. "I sold my siblings out to Jadis, for the prospect of becoming her King and getting all the Turkish Delights I could ever want," he grimaced. "I was a stupid kid and I was so angry at my brother. I just wanted to feel big and important too. I know that's not a good excuse by any stretch, but..." he sighed, his expression was bitter. "In the end, I betrayed Jadis as well, told Aslan everything and fought her alongside my brother," he told her. "Still, my guilt over that stupid decision I had made tortured me for years," he sighed again.

"I can't begin to understand what you felt, but I know what it's like to be tortured by a decision you made," Natalie told him, reaching up to run her hands through his hair, soothing him. "I felt that way when I refused to go with my parents... Sometimes I thought if I had just delayed them a bit longer, they could have missed their flight and had to take the one the next day... then they would have been alive," Natalie admitted. "It's part of a past that neither of us can never change, but it is also a past we both learned from, isn't it? You learned to treasure your family, treasure loyalty and you became a better person because of it," she smiled.

"You're right... I never thought of it that way," Edmund grinned and leaned in, catching her lips in a grateful kiss. He pulled back and smiled again. "I love you, have I mentioned that before?"

"Hmm, no I don't remember hearing you say that before," Natalie teased. "I could stand to hear it a bit more though," she grinned. "I love you too," she sighed, reaching over again to stroke his jaw lovingly.

Natalie all of a sudden felt a powerful need for him, almost making her gasp, as if this would be the last time they would be together like this again for a long time. Edmund must have sensed it because he had moved toward her, kissing her cheek softly and holding her close. Natalie flushed, biting her lip, as Edmund rolled over on top of her again, trapping her underneath him again, pulling her arms around his neck and legs around his middle. His fingers did tantalizing things to her as he swept them over her naked body. She felt him against her again and tried desperately to calm her racing heart down, but to no avail.

"I love you," he whispered again, against her neck, and then there was no more actual talking between them, besides the whispers of love and sounds of approval. About an hour later, Edmund and Natalie forced themselves to dress looking away from each other, on opposite ends of the room, lest they never leave the room that morning.

This time, Caspian and Lucy were equally surprised to see both Edmund and Natalie leaving Edmund's chambers. "Wha?" Caspian uttered incoherently.

"Natalie, what did you need with Edmund so early in the morning? It's surprising to see either of you awake so early!" Lucy smiled.

'Bless her, she's so innocent,' Natalie chuckled inwardly, but was still unable to hide her blush from Caspian's reaction. Clearly, he was not so innocent. Luckily, he kept quite about it and Natalie went along with what Lucy had suggested, making up a story about being afraid that she had dreamt he hadn't made it and died in the battlefield. Just the thought brought a tear to her eye, it wasn't a pleasant thought at all, but it worked to solidify her little lie. Lucy bought it and patted her arm sympathetically. Natalie and Edmund inwardly breathed sighs of relief and didn't miss the knowing smirk from Caspian. It was probably wrong to fool Lucy like that, but neither of them wanted to 'taint' Lucy's purity, besides, even if she could handle it, they probably wouldn't hear the end of it!

Breakfast with everyone went as usual. Edmund and Caspian debated over something, the testosterone level in the room rising, making the girls roll their eyes. They laughed together, teased each other, talked about generally anything that popped into their heads. It was a time of bliss and peace. They hadn't felt this good for a long time, and they hoped it would never end... unfortunately, it would have to. Hearing a sound coming from the hall way, they turned to see a great lion standing by the door to the dining hall. The four of them quickly stood. Natalie followed them as they went over to kneel before him.

"Greetings, young ones," the lion walked over to them and Natalie had to force herself not to gawk in astonishment. She suddenly knew exactly who this way! She had seen him so many times before, had heard his voice soothe her. Aslan was as big an powerful looking up close as all the stories she had heard told and read since arriving to Narnia. He was truly a sight to behold, beautiful and terrifying at the same time, at yet, she did not feel afraid of him.

"A-Aslan," Natalie bowed to him with the others, falling to her knees.

"Rise, my children," Aslan chuckled. They did as they were told. "Natalie," he smiled at the oldest girl there.

"Y-Yes?"

"Natalie, my daughter, come closer, dear, kneel before me," he told her. Natalie blinked in confusion but received excited and assuring looks from her friends. She walked over to the magnificent lion and knelt. "Natalie, you have achieved greatness in your time here. You have overcome your fear, found love, fought against evil, and prevailed in everything you set your heart and mind to. You have become everything befitting a Queen of Narnia. And so, I here by declare you, Queen Natalie, the Serene," he finished.

Natalie gaped in surprise, not hearing the cheers and applause from those around her. "Sir... I... I don't think I deserve such an honor..." She protested weakly.

"Hmm, a great King once said something very similar to me," Aslan smiled, winking at Caspian, who promptly blushed. "And I shall tell you what I have told him. The very reason you believe you do not deserve it, or that you feel you are not ready, tells me that you are. Arise, Queen Natalie," he nodded to her. Natalie bit her lip but did so, blushing at the attention she was now aware of from the others. "Once a King or Queen of Narnia, always a King or Queen of Narnia," he said.

"Th-Thank you, Sir," Natalie stuttered.

"You deserve it," Aslan smiled. "Unfortunately, my new Queen, you will not have a chance to live up to your new title, at this time..." he added sadly.

"What? Why – Sir?" Natalie asked curiously.

"The time has come, my child," he told her simply.

"Time has..." Natalie's eyes widened. It was time to go home! But... that meant... Natalie turned to look at her friends and at her love. Going 'home' meant losing Edmund! No! "But... but Sir! I- I can't... I can't go home!" She gasped, turning back toward the enormous lion.

"And why not, young one?" Aslan smiled knowingly, the wind moving his mane gently.

"Because I- because, Sir, I found love here. I have a life here! I... I didn't back... back home! O-Okay? I can't because... because I can't leave my new family..." Tears were now streaming down her cheeks. "Not when I almost lost Edmund once... I can't lose him again! Please, please, Sir," Natalie fell to her knees before him, a lump of emotion in her throat keeping her from continuing. Aslan stood, gazing down at the sobbing woman before him. And, to everyone's surprise, started to chuckle.

"S-Sir?" Edmund probed softly. He too was feeling almost betrayed by him, desperately wanting to go over and take Natalie in his arms and refuse to let go. He could not go against Aslan's word, however, so he forced himself to hold back, no matter how much it greatly pained him to do so.

"Forgive me," Aslan said, his laughter dying down. He smiled at Natalie and bent down, nuzzling her cheek, making her jump in surprise. And did she just hear him purr? She was under the impression lions didn't do that! Whatever it was, she instantly felt better. "Do you really think I would allow you to experience what you have, and then simply take it all away?" he asked wisely.

"Huh?" Natalie blushed at her silly response.

"I was, in fact, not talking about your previous home before Narnia, my child," he all but smirked. "You do not belong there anymore," he told her.

"I... I don't?" Natalie blinked.

"No, you don't," he shook his head. "I was aware of your downward spiral before coming here. Everything that happened to you happened for a reason, my child. The unfortunate death of your parents and dear brother, your pushing people away, refusing to make connections with anyone... it was all to prepare you for this place. I am sorry, my daughter, I know they were difficult things you had to deal with. It was a hard lesson to learn for anyone, to learn to truly value life, to value friendship and know what it was to truly love. My child, you have learned all of these things, and so much more," Aslan nuzzled her again when the mention of her deceased family made fresh tears trail down her cheeks, sending a wave of comfort through her. "What's more, you are right, you made a new family here with Caspian, Edmund and Lucy... but your new family does not end there," he smiled mysteriously.

"What do you mean?" Natalie asked curiously.

"I mean to say, you are with child, dear one..." He laughed mirthfully once more at the group's astonished expressions.

"What?!" Natalie's jaw dropped.

"Whoa..." Caspian's eyes were just as wide. Somehow, with the way Edmund and Natalie spent so much time alone together, he wasn't so surprised.

"Oh my goodness!" Lucy's eyes bugged out. When had they..?

Natalie's head was spinning. 'I'm... but that can't-! Really?' She couldn't form a coherent thought. Was that why she... but no, surely a week was too soon to be having... symptoms, right? In any case, Aslan wouldn't lie! He just did not lie! She was-! With Edmund... oh, holy crap. But would she make a good mo- ...m-mother? Who would she have to help her? Would she have to return home or..?

Aslan cut in to her inner panic attack. "Your life and the life of your unborn child are now irreversibly linked into Edmund's world, as was foreseen. As I said, none of this happened as an accident, my daughter. You belong to his world far more than the one that raised you. So I will ask you this, will you go with him, live your life in his world?" He asked, making her breath catch at his offer. "Take heed, young one, for the decision you make now is not to be taken lightly. If you choose to accept, the 'ancient magics' will move the universe for you..."

Natalie continued to gape speechlessly, until she realized again how incredibly rude that was an shut her mouth with an audible snap. "I..." She glanced over at the positively stunned, jubilant, and hopeful looking Edmund, and shut her eyes, taking a breath to steady herself. "Of course I wish to do this. My heart belongs to him, as does the... the child I carry..." Natalie placed a hand over her belly, a flush covering her face, including a dazed look in her eyes. She was having Edmund's baby! Unreal... and yet, that made so much sense, felt so right.

"Very well," Aslan nodded.

Meanwhile, Edmund was just as stunned as Natalie. 'I'm going to be a... a... a...'

"Edmund, are you ready, my son?" Aslan cut into Edmund's astonishment with an amused smile.

"Wha-err uh- yes, of course! Absolutely! I am! Yes!" Edmund replied in a fluster.

Aslan chuckled affectionately. "A simple 'yes' would have been enough, my child," he smiled. "Good. Then I wish you and yours the very best," he said softly. "You may say your farewells to your friends," he nodded toward Caspian, the centaurs, and the others there. Trumpkin pretended to stretch to hide his tearful eyes.

Many hugs and best wishes were exchanged. Caspian hugged the three of his closest friends tightly, trying to fit them all in his arms. "You will be greatly missed, my friends! Do try to stay out of trouble?" Caspian smiled almost tearfully at them. "I know you'll be a fantastic family. Edmund, you'll be a strong and wise father, Natalie you'll be a nurturing and fantastic mother, and Lucy, you be sure to spoil your niece or nephew rotten, okay?"

"We promise," Lucy laughed tearfully.

"Come, children, it is time..." Aslan gestured toward the tree, which unfurled it's branches, revealing the familiar portal. "Perhaps you shall see this place again?" Aslan suggested enigmatically as he turned to them again.

"That would be awesome," Natalie grinned.

"Go now, my children," Aslan smiled. The three nodded and stepped toward the tree, waving at their friends.

The moment Natalie stepped through the portal, her hands being held by her boyfriend and her best friend on either side of her, her vision went black. And then... slowly... images began to race before her eyes. At first, it was all blurry, double-imaged flashes that rushed by like a slide-show. She saw her parents, she saw them waving goodbye to her as they boarded the plane. She then saw a completely different image, it was her parents, but they were wearing strange clothes and waving goodbye to her again, but it was different, everything looked different.

She was then seeing herself getting the news of her parents' and brother's death from a police officer, at ten years old. Once again, the image shuddered and shifted, repeating itself but in a very different way. She saw the police officer again, but he was different, and dressed in very old clothes. More images were replaced like this, images she remembered seeing. Not replaced, but pushed aside to make room for the new, different memories. The next couple were altogether completely different. She first saw herself being led from the orphanage she grew up in, to some heartless couple's house who only used her to get a paycheck out of her. But then, the image changed to her meeting a kind, elderly British man, taking a liking to her and offering to stay with him back in England, she had agreed.

She saw herself then in court, at sixteen, becoming independent. The memory changed drastically then. This time, instead of becoming independent at sixteen, as it was impossible in that time period, she saw herself as eighteen. She saw herself mourning over the death of the kind old man that cared for her for eight years. She saw herself becoming independent at court again, but at eighteen. She saw herself then purchasing an old, abandoned house in Finchley, using the small fortune, an inheritance the old man left her, to fix it up and live there. In that town, she met Lucy in the boarding school she had walked passed, and then met her brother. In those memories, they became fast friends. The next images were even fuzzier. She saw herself being led by the same janitor, wearing different clothes, down a different street to get to her home when the street she had been walking down was under construction. There had been an awful storm and she sought shelter in a store she had not seen before, but as soon as she stepped through the door, she found herself in Narnia.

Aslan had made it so her original memories were still there, intact, but he placed in her mind new memories to be able to function in the time she was sent to. The new memories would take precedence in her mind, though she would always be aware of the changes, but not troubled by them. This way, her naturally inquisitive mind would not endlessly seek answers to something that felt different, out of place. From there, everything happened exactly as it happened before. She saw rapid flashes of genuine memories she made in Narnia, up until the moment she stepped through the portal with Edmund and Lucy, coming to a full circle. And then... she saw no more.

TBC...

End A/N: I hope that last bit didn't confuse anyone! If it did, PM me and I'll explain! No, this isn't the ending lol. Hahaha! To those of you who guessed it right, congrats! Virtual cookies for you! Yes, she's pregnant! She's having an Edmund junior! Lol! How cute. And before anyone says anything, yes, I'm aware it's not normal for someone to have "morning sickness" after just a week, the "nausea" Natalie was feeling was more of a foreshadowing! Kudos to you who guessed right!

Shout-Out:

Allie Danger: Of COURSE I would include Aslan! It wouldn't be a Narnia story without him, after all!

Guest: Me too!

narnias no.1fan: Agreed!