As you can see, I have changed the date of my weekly updates to Wednesday so that it corresponds to something in my life. I'll explain later. Anyway, here is chapter 37. There are a few parts that I'm not 100 satisfied with, so let me know what you think. Constructive critism is very welcome.
Thanks to the following people for reviewing-
Terra-Thank you (and I agree;) )
Eve-Peter and Nerina both had to compromise when it came to the wedding.
In answer to the many questions I have been asked, no, Aslan was not present at the wedding. It's like saying "In the presence of God", but then again God is everywhere, but yeah anyway, creative liberties.
Enjoy!
Chapter 37: Through the Years
"To the love of my life- Nerina, and to my siblings and all of Narnia," said Peters as he lifted his goblet.
"To the love of my life- Peter, and to my family and all of Arcadia," said Nerina, doing the same.
The toasts were just beginning, and, in Narnian tradition, the bride and groom faced each other, linked their raised arms, and drank from their goblets.
Every guest cheered, and the toasts continued. The feast had been wonderful, and everyone looked forward to the large white cake that sat at one end of the party area.
At the end of the festivities, everyone retired to their tents, which they had all set up when they arrived. The torches that created the party area were extinguished, and slowly all grew quiet and dark.
Hey, time won't wait
Life goes by
Every day's a brand new sky
Every tear comes to dry
All that really matters in this crazy world
Is you and I together, baby just remember...
Standing in the moonlight away from everyone else were the bride and groom, holding one another and gazing at the open sea before them, as they whispered to each other. What did they whisper? Why, dear reader, it is not my place to tell you, for this couple deserves some private moments.
Early the next morning a crowd gathered to bid farewell to Peter and Nerina as they began their honeymoon. Plans had been made for the two to spend a month in a well-respected inn in Archenland. Handkerchiefs were waved, bells were rung, rice was thrown, and songs were song as the happy couple got into their carriage and waved to their friends and family.
The first leaves of the tree,
The way you look at me,
A thousand chiming church bells ring
The simple things are free
The sun, the moon, the stars,
The beating of two hearts
How I love the simple things,
The simple things just are
And now, cherished reader, we come to a point in the story where everything that happened cannot be told. For if I were to describe everything that happened with our Narnian and Arcadian friends, we would be here until we were very, very old. To save us both, I will highlight a few important occurrences in the years following Peter and Nerina's marriage, beginning with their one-year anniversary.
NTMNTMNTMNTM
"Open your eyes!" said Peter, taking his hands away from Nerina's eyes.
"You got me…a stone wall?" Nerina said, observing the tall wall before her.
"No, it's what's inside the wall that matters," Peter laughed, kissing his wife.
"Well where's the door?"
"There is no door."
"Um, Peter? Are you feeling all right? Did you hit your head?" She placed her hand on his forehead.
He laughed again. "You are the door Nerina. Make an ice ladder to take us over the wall."
So here we go
Let's just dance
Teach my soul to take this chance
Put my heart in your hands
Out of all the moments that we leave behind
Turn around and tell me baby we'll remember...
She complied, and slowly and carefully the two went up the ladder and down the other side.
"Oh Peter," breathed Nerina after they reached the lush grass and she had made the ladder disappear. "This is beautiful."
"And it's all for you," Peter smiled. "You are the only one who has access to it. When you want to be alone, just come here. Come see the rest of the garden."
Indeed, it was a garden that Peter had made for Nerina. It was surrounded by the rectangle-wall, and was not too large, but not too small. The couple walked along, and Peter pointed out various things.
There were lilies and petunias and violets. Hydrangeas of blue blossomed while rhododendrons grew larger and larger. Butterflies drank sweet nectar from roses, and bees buzzed as they pollinated the trees.
Peter brought Nerina to the center of the garden, where a small rock water feature was located. The water babbled as it cascaded down the rocks to the pool. A stone bench was placed nearby under what would grow to be a shady tree.
Nerina instantly fell in love with her gift and kissed Peter, thanking him. In the years to come the garden would be a place of solace for Nerina, who would go to her garden to read the mornings when Peter was away. Normally the two would read together every morning, and the garden provided comfort for the nervous Princess. She worried about him constantly when he rode against the giants, and always sang praises to Aslan when he returned. Nerina did keep herself busy with her continuing music lessons, which were a huge success. She, Lucy, and Susan also had plenty of fun around the castle, especially when suitors for the Narnian Queens came to visit. The three would giggle and have a great time discussing the many suitors.
The thunder and the rain,
The way you say my name
After all the clouds go by the simple things remain
The sun, the moon, the stars,
The beating of two hearts
How I love the simple things,
The simple things just are
Filia ended up marrying her friend from the ballet school. Chorevo and Anthea gave birth to twin boys, and Nerina went to visit for the celebration. The rest of the Princes all married kind women, and had families of their own. Adelphos never married, having decided to devote his life to composing musicals, a thing he was becoming quite famous for, but he still kept in touch with his friends at Cair Paravel.
Lucy and Susan never married either, but Susan came rather close to it. Nerina stayed behind, taking care of the castle, while Lucy, Edmund, and Susan when to visit Calormen to visit Prince Rabadash. That story is not mine to tell though, but I do encourage you to read it once you finish this tale.
Oh, The ocean and the sky
The way we feel tonight
I know that it's the love that brings the simple things to light
The sun, the moon, the stars,
The beating of two hearts
I love the way the simple things,
The simple things just are
One day, after Peter and Nerina had been married many years, how many I could not say, Aslan came to visit.
"Thank you," he said to Nerina as they stood before him, "for bringing music to Narnia. You have given the music that existed here new life, and shown the people what music can do for them, and what they can do with music. You all now see how you fit into the larger plan. This plan is not yet completed, and will not be for many, many years. You have all learned your lessons well though. Cherish your musical abilities, and share them with others. And now my child, we must talk alone."
So Nerina and Aslan walked away from the group, and when she came back unaccompanied, she had tears in her eyes. She would not reveal why, and no one persisted further.
"He's left again," she said, "Aslan, I mean. He had to go, but he'll be back. We don't know the day or time, maybe not even in our lifetime, but he'll be back, and so we must always be ready to welcome him."
Song Used-Simple Things by Jim Brickman
Please review! Thanks!
Haras