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Chapter 36

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I suggest that all those who have not read the Narnia book series read a brief summary of each book. I have references to 'The Magician's Nephew' in this chapter. I'll do my best to explain as much as I can though!

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I have more reviews for Royal Findings II than the first! You readers are amazing, thank you so much. You have no idea how much reviews help inspire me. Keep it up!

Now enjoy:

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The table went absolutely silent. We stared at Edmund unable to understand what he said. I felt my blood freeze. My stomach fell, quickly followed by my heart. I felt sick... I felt nothing but absolute and utter terror. Aslan bleeding? Impossible.

"No," Ed whispered, "It's not Kay."

I blinked, then realized that I had actually spoken aloud.

"W-What happened?" Duke questioned. He sounded as if someone had just punched him in the stomach, knocking the air out of him. I snapped out of my stupor and glanced at him. Duke was slouched in his seat, his hands trembling as they struggled to hold onto the sides of his beanie. He looked frightened...

I understood.

If someone could harm Aslan... No one was safe.

"Narnia is in trouble," Ed pinched the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes. He took a few moments to gather his thoughts before he opened his eyes, keeping them on me now. I don't think he had the will power or strength to look at everyone, the despair in his brown orbs sent shivers down my spine. "Aslan can't protect us anymore, we have to do this alone."

"Do what?" Dad asked. He sounded concerned, but nothing more. I wanted to shake him and scream. But it wasn't my dad's fault... He didn't understand the gravity of the situation. He couldn't understand how scary this news was.

"Save our home," Edmund kept his eyes locked on my face. "Our country is in trouble... Narnia needs us. That's why Aslan sent me to bring you back Kay, he can't do it on his own this time."

"This time?" I echoed. "What does that mean?"

"There have been other times when Aslan has protected us, we didn't know though. He isn't the only one with powers, there are others out there."

"Where?" I frowned, "Magic doesn't exist here, no matter what time or year it is. And the only other people with magic were Jadis and myself... Not even M-" I bit my lip as it trembled.

Could I say it?

Could I say that wicked woman's name? Ever since the day I died, I had never spoken her name.

Yes.

It was time now, time to move on. That had been a long time ago, years for me. That had been a lifetime ago for others, for Peter... Oh Peter. I blinked hurriedly as water filled in my eyes again, begging for permission to fall out. My poor Peter... He was lost and withering away without me. It had been such heartbreak for us to separate the first time- how could fate do this? Why would it tear us apart again?!

I took a deep breath to calm myself, and it worked. "Not even M-Marie," My voice trembled a bit, but I forced myself to keep speaking, "had magic. She just used herbs. There isn't anyone in Narnia who could threaten Aslan-"

"But that's just it," Edmund reached out and cupped my cheek with the palm of his hand. It was warm and comforting, I felt myself stop trembling in fear. "There are other worlds."

"WHAT?" Will exclaimed.

"No!" Mom covered her mouth in horror.

"How?!" Alyssa gasped.

Dad and Duke sat there, quiet, but obviously stunned. I don't know how much more news we would handle before our spirits broke. This was all too... insane. Absolutely insane! I leaned into Edmund's hand, seeking out the only thing from keeping my sanity in tact. "Ed... That... That can't be true."

"It is!"

"How could you know?"

"Aslan told me," He replied quietly. "I rode up to the castle ruins on my horse, who began to act strangely. He was scared and I fell off when he reared back. I got up and chased after him as he ran off, neighing loudly. He turned a corner and I found myself standing in the middle of the courtyard..."

Images of stone figures flashed in my eyes. The White Witch had imprisoned innocents for decades in that courtyard. Aslan had been the one to set them free, Susan and Lucy had told me the tale. Poor Mr. Tumnus... I hope that he was at peace in the world of the dead. Vicern promised that it would be a good place to go.

"Aslan lay there, alone, and at first I thought he was... I thought he was dead." Edmund shuddered, "But I heard him say my name... He called me to him, asked me to sit with him. I tried to bandage his wound, but my supplies were gone as my horse had vanished. I was going to tear and use my shirt but Aslan stopped me, saying that I would need my clothing. He told me that it was time to take everything that I had learned from Narnia, and use it to save those I loved. He spoke of other worlds, ones full of danger and wicked creatures, ones of beauty and peace, ones of emptiness... And the one for the dead. 'Heaven' as we would call it..."

"Edmund, please, what happened?" I whispered, afraid to hear the answer.

"He wouldn't tell me everything, but I know enough to realize that it doesn't matter if we know all the details," Ed said lowly. "Look, there are other magical beings, they come from other worlds. Jadis came from another world, did you know that? It's called the World of Charn... There were humans in Narnia before us, they were present for the creation of Narnia. But that's another tale, for another time. Point is, they came across the Wood Between the Worlds... the gateway world I suppose. There are portals to all the worlds there, they look like pools of water. Well, the human accidentally brought Jadis to our world, my time, and Narnia. She imprisoned the country for 100 years in winter! And that was just one magical being... Imagine what a handful could do! Aslan has been keeping them at bay with his own magic, from the way he spoke, I get the feeling that he oversees all the worlds. Like some sort of Guardian, like you, except for all worlds, not just Narnia. That's why he was gone! That's why he didn't stop the Telmarines from invading... There were wars and dangers in other worlds that kept him delayed for so long!"

"Oh... my... God." I breathed heavily. My mind was wheeling.

Ed nodded, "Exactly my reaction. But listen, Aslan knew that we needed his help too, so he returned. He awoke the trees, just when we defeated the Telmarines remember? There was a cost to his coming though. We distracted him, giving the other magical beings a perfect opportunity to strike. They've broken through, into Narnia and-"

"How?" Alyssa broke up, her voice high pitched. "They couldn't get into the portal world without humans bringing them right?"

"Right," Ed agreed, finally taking his eyes off me. He gave Alyssa a sad look, "Aslan's power is strong enough to keep them out, unless a son of adam or daughter of eve brings them in. He can keep them out physically... But they're magic, they have powers that we wouldn't understand or believe. I don't really get it myself... but somehow a few of them have been able to send some sort of... spirit. A shadow. An evil extension of them in soul, since their bodies couldn't physically follow Aslan."

"These... spirits," I said carefully, "Followed Aslan?"

"Yes, he didn't know," Ed sighed. "We distracted him, he could hear Susan's horn call for him too. He could hear the thousands of prayers and pleas of Narnians. He could feel the hope of the country for him to return. He could feel your fire as you fought when he could not. As Guardian, he couldn't ignore us. We needed him, so he came."

"O-Okay," I tugged on the edge of my shirt nervously, "What happened to these shadows?"

"They're powerless without a body," Ed explained. "So they found new ones."

Silence.

"W-Who?" Duke whispered darkly. "Who did they take?"

"Niomee."

"Why her?" Will asked, his voice wavered.

"Aslan said that they feed on dark desires, they can control weak and dark souls... Niomee wanted Vicern, when he was taken. She was desperate for help, but I doubt that she would have asked for that sort of help." Edmund sighed, "She's a victim, not an enemy. We need to save her too. Her companions are loyal to her, she has probably threatened them and so they listen to her... The shadows have also attracted enemy creatures. Hags, werewolves, ghouls, and others have joined Niomee. They overwhelmed Aslan at first, he fought back and managed to escape with a wound."

"Holy crap," Duke let out a crazed laugh. "This is ridiculous. First talking animals? Witches? River Gods? Actually... No, this does make sense. We never even considered there being other worlds. Let alone what else could exist. Damn, this is an adventure novel!"

Leave it to Duke to turn to humor...

"This is real," Alyssa reprimanded him. "Not a story book."

"Who else?" Dad questioned, getting back on topic.

Edmund turned back to me with a pleading look, "Susan... They took Susan."

My world came crashing down then. No more. I couldn't take anymore. "Why do you need me?" I argued desperately, "Please... I don't have any powers anymore! Aslan sent me back! Do you hear that? He doesn't want me there-"

"You're wrong," Edmund gave me a hard look. "He needs you! Narnia needs you!"

"Why the hell would-"

"You don't get it do you?! That's why you're called the Guardian. You're his assistant, his substitute. When he cannot guard Narnia, it is you who must."

"And who is the guardian of this world," Dad suddenly spoke. He looked upset, "Why the hell should my daughter risk her life for some crazy lion? Where is our guardian? Where is my daughter?!"

Edmund opened his mouth to retaliate, but I beat him to it. "DAD!"

"What?!"

"How can you say that...?" I shook my head, "That's so selfish. You've always taught me to help others-"

"Not like this-"

"They needed my help," I said, standing up. "Innocent people needed my help. I don't know why, but Aslan chose me. And if it's within my power to do something, to improve life, then I'm not going to turn down such a responsibility."

"What about us?" Dad stood up too, glaring. "Are you so ready to die again? Your death would kill your mother! Just look at her now!"

My eyes darted to my mother. They widened at what I saw.

A devastated, crumpled form sat huddled in the chair. She didn't look like my mother... She looked gaunt and dead, but she still breathed... rapidly, as if having an asthma attack. She rocked slightly in her chair, in attempt to comfort herself. Her eyes were closed and hands over her ears, as if she wanted to block and forget the world.

I had never seen my mother like this.

Guilt filled me, hitting me hard. I walked around the table and wrapped my arms around her, "Oh God... Mommy... I'm so sorry!"

Mom didn't say anything, she kept rocking. I couldn't tell if she had even felt me embrace her. She looked so broken, so lost.

"Mommy," I sobbed, finally crying. "Mommy... please, don't cry. I'm sorry! I won't go back, I won't leave you again-"

"Kay we need-" Ed began.

I froze and snapped my neck so I faced him, "Be quiet!" I hissed, "Look at her. I can't leave her. It'll kill her."

"You have a family in Narnia too!" Ed shouted. "What about me? What about Lucy? What about Susan?! My sister is missing. My brother is going insane. They were your family too!"

My arms tightened around my mom, I sobbed harder. I couldn't see anything, just watery blurs of colors around the room. "I... I can't. But... Oh I don't know... Mommy... I love him. But.. I-I d-don't know! I love you Mommy, I do." I was blabbering, but I was so lost.

I had two families.

I had two homes.

But I had one heart.

That one heart loved everyone equally, I couldn't split it in half. My love belonged to everyone... It could not be stolen or bought. There was only one of me. I wanted to protect everyone, I wanted to save everyone.

I wanted Mom to paint my nails, I wanted to see Lucy grow up, I wanted to shoot hoops with Dad, I wanted to cook with Susan, I wanted to fight over the remote with Kate, I wanted to horseback ride with Edmund, I wanted to see Will win an archery competition, I wanted to help Caspian with ruling, I wanted to laugh with Duke, I wanted to duel Vicern, I wanted to see Alyssa graduate medical school, I wanted to love Peter.

I wanted two worlds, I wanted it all.

How could anyone ever ask me to choose?

"Kay..."

The voice was weak and soft, but full of authority.

I looked up and through my tears, "Yes Mommy?"

"Go. They need you. He needs you."