A/N - Good evening! Or at least it is for me! Sorry once again for leaving it late for an update! Just keep nagging me in your reviews! I am writing in good spirirt anyway because I got A LEVEL RESULTS on Thursday! Anybody who is in England will know what they are, and I passed all five that I did which I am so happy about :) I got 2 A's, 2 B's and a C, so I'm over the moon!
Anyway, quick thanks to all those who reviewed the last chapter: Noel Ardnek, WhiteCloud, Clarkispotamia, Madrigalprinces & ren-hatake. I appreciate it as always! :D
Okay, so just quick info which you may want to know: There are only FOUR chapters left after this one. Yes, you heard me correct. FOUR CHAPTERS left! One of which is an epilogue which I think you may/may not like. It all depends. I think most of you will be glad when it's over to be honest... or will it be over? Who knows.
Anyway nice long chapter. Includes a flashback. And then suspense... hopefully you will be gagging for after this one. I'm so evil.
Reviews are welcomed.
Emmmerald x
The party went on well into the night, and everybody was high in spirit. Caspian was enjoying the joining of two races and Edmund was enjoying the unlimited amount of wine. As part of the Telmarine tradition, celebrations include a dance, something which Caspian was obliged to take part in. He chose Eilonwy as his partner. Everybody was impressed by the sheer elegance of the movements; how Caspian led the dance perfectly and how graceful Eilonwy was. Unlike Narnian dances, the Telmarine dance was more like fiery tango, which even impressed Peter.
In all fairness, Peter was very jealous. Eilonwy has been approached by many suitors during the course of the night. She was gracious but she declined the offers she had received. Peter was desperate to understand her intentions towards him, if there were any. It was the way she always glanced over at him, her eyes seemed to say something her mouth didn't.
It was only when a Narnian song was played by the band that Peter eventually plucked up the courage to ask her to dance. He walked confidently towards her throne where she was sat, and he saw her eyes light up as he approached her. Peter was stumped when a young Telmarine soldier walked up towards Eilonwy to ask her to dance. Peter was dying for contact, talking, anything which would give him some time with her. He ignored the Telmarine's request, and simply walked beside him and offered his hand to the Radiant Princess.
'I'm sorry, but she's spoken for' Peter said authoritively. Eilonwy looked surprised, but smiled anyway before apologising to the young soldier, who looked a little disappointed. She fingers laced into Peter's as they made the way to where the some of the others where dancing. They stopped, bowed to one another and then moved together to dance.
'Aren't you going to say anything?' Peter asked directly.
'Like what?' Eilonwy replied, not really knowing what to say.
'Anything. You have no spoken a word to me all night.'
A smile formed at Eilonwy's lips. 'Hello.'
Peter widened his eyes and raised his eyebrow.
'That was me speaking to you.'
Peter rolled his eyes at her sarcasm. Same old, same old.
The music suddenly became slow, and Peter thought he couldn't write the script. A slow song in the arms of a beautiful woman was going to kill him. Eilonwy moved into his body, placing her head on her chest and she wrapped her other arm around his shoulder. Peter reacted naturally and snaked his spare arm around Eilonwy's waist and pressed his fingertips into her lower back. This felt right, it felt natural, it almost felt...perfect. Peter placed a gentle kiss on her head and he saw Susan looking over at him. He gave a smile to his sister who was stood next to Caspian.
'When are they just going to give in?' Susan sighed as she looked over at her brother and Eilonwy. It was so over they were crazy about each other and yet neither of them was budging. None of them wanted to let their guards down.
'What are you talking about Susan?' Caspian asked coming to stand next to the Gentle Queen. Caspian was slightly affected by the strong Narnian wine, but his speech seemed to be understandable. Susan pointed over to where Caspian and Eilowny wer dancing. 'Your cousin and my brother.'
Caspian shrugged. 'As long as he keeps his hands where I can see them, he's fine by my book.' 'Peter's a good guy. He wouldn't pressure her for anything.'
Caspian laughed heartily. 'It's not him I'm worried about my dear Susan,' He took one last sip of wine from his cup. 'Let me tell you something about Telmarine women...'
Susan covered her ears. 'I'd rather not know. My delicate ears are not trained for that sort of information.' Both she and Caspian laughed in unison.
Caspian placed his wine cup on the table before turning to face Susan. 'Well, if you not prepared to listen with those delicate ears of yours, could I interest you in a dance?'
Susan felt her cheeks flush a hot crimson. 'I'm sure I could let my guard down, King Caspian. Just this once.' Susan accepted Caspian's hand and he lead her to the floor.
Eilonwy felt as though she could fall asleep against Peter's chest as they moved rhythmically in time with the Narnian song. She could feel Peter's fingertips mould into her back and it just felt as though this is how it should be. When Eilonwy caught a glimpse of Aslan stood in the corner, she knew that she had so little time. Less than she anticipated, and she had no time to stop it. She knew that she had to speak to Aslan. She needed to get some things straightened out her in mind.
She heard Peter sigh. 'Eilonwy listen...'
'Peter,' Eilonwy paused for a few moments. 'Just don't speak'
Peter swallowed hard and used this opportunity to just be close to her, even if it was not for very long. Both he and Eilonwy just continued to move to the song, not truly knowing what tonight would hold in store for either of them.
***Flashback ***
'Caspian it's your turn to find me now!'
'Do I have to?' Caspian moaned.
'Yes, there is no point standing around waiting for Uncle Caspian to come home. We may as well pass the time. Close your eyes and no cheating!'
'Fine,' Caspian gave in and began counting. 'Uno, dos, tres...'
Nine year old Eilonwy ran towards the forest knowing full well that she should not be going that far away from the castle. Her father would go crazy if he knew, but Eilonwy and Caspian never cared much for rules, and when in each others company, they were even more defiant.
Eilonwy ran to the first tree and hid behind it. She peered around and she could hear Caspian shouting her.
'A little further won't hurt' she thought to herself. She buried herself a little deeper into the woods. Without looking, she caught herself on a stone and fell backwards and caught her head on a branch as she hit the floor. She hissed at the pain and reached to her head. She had created small cut. She huffed to herself and got to her feet. Suddenly behind her, she heard a snap. She froze, not daring to move. She heard a growl and by sheer curiosity, her body turned. She nearly screamed when she saw the biggest creature she had ever seen stood before her. She panicked but her body was frozen. The creature approached her slowly. Eilonwy's breathing deepened.
'Don't be afraid dear one. I will not harm you.' The creature spoke.
Eilonwy just stared at the creature and swallowed hard. 'You can talk?'
'Indeed I can'
'Impossible. Animals don't talk.'
'Only because you've never seen one.'
'I guess that's true. I haven't met many talking lions before.'
'No, I don't suppose you have' the Lion chuckled.
'You can't be real.'
'Oh really? And why would you think that?'
'Because my father says so.'
'You're father told you Narnians are extinct?'
'Are you a Narnian?' Eilonwy stepped forward, not fearing the lion at all. She was excited by the prospect that she was seeing a real Narnian.
'I am' the lion replied simply.
She took some time to think about it, and stepped back, crossing her arms. 'Well my uncle Caspian says that Narnians are extinct too. And he's the King of Narnia'
'Is that right?' the Lion smiled.
'Yes he is. My father is a Lord and and I'm a Princess.' She bowed to the lion.
'Well then, your Majesty,' the Lion bowed to Eilonwy kindly. 'Royalty deserves respect.'
Eilonwy giggled. 'You don't have to bow. I'm not a Queen...yet'
'Well perhaps one day you will be, like many Queens have been before you.'
Eilonwy was staring at the mighty lion with a curious look often sported by young children. 'Who are you?' she asked.
'My name is not important right now child, but in time you will know who I am, and you will help me.'
'Help you? With what?'
'I cannot say yet little one, but just make sure you look after your cousin Caspian.' The lion started to walk away when Eilonwy spoke suddenly. 'Caspian? You know him?'
The lion turned around to face the young Princess. 'Not yet, but I will.'
A huge smile came to her face. 'You have to meet him! He will never believe this!'
'My dear princess, now is not the time for me to meet your cousin. I will greet him years from now when I address him as King of Narnia.'
Eilonwy's eyes widened. 'Caspian's going to be King?'
'Indeed, a lot sooner than you may think. You must keep this to yourself. You must not tell Caspian, not anybody else about what we have discussed. This must be our secret.'
Eilonwy nodded.'Okay.'
'Anyway, I must depart dear one.'
'Where are you going? Will I see you again?'
'One day. Our paths will cross again Princess Eilonwy, I can assure you of that.'
Eilonwy raced back up to the castle, forgetting completely that Caspian was looking for her. She ran straight to the throne room. She opened the door to see her father, Miraz seated, rubbing his head.
'Padre! Padre!' Eilonwy shotuted. 'You will never believe what I just saw.'
Miraz was not interested by what his daughter had to say. He had a pounding headache. 'What, me hija. Cannot it not wait?' Miraz responded. Eilonwy stood before her father.
'I have some exciting news!'
'And what news would that be?' Eilonwy heard a familiar voice from behind her. She turned and saw the smiling face of her Uncle Caspian.
'Uncle Caspian!' she raced up to her Uncle who picked her up and hugged her. '¿Cómo es usted?' King Caspian asked.
'Soy fino. ¿Y usted?' Eilonwy replied.
'I am better for being home, my dear niece.' Caspian put Eilonwy down and walked over to his throne and sat down. 'So tell us, what is this news you cannot wait to tell everybody?'
Eilonwy was beaming. 'I just met a talking a lion.'
Miraz rubbed his eyes. 'Are you and Caspian playing games again?'
Eilonwy became very defensive. 'No, I really did meet a talking lion.'
Miraz exhaled deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose. 'Eilonwy, what have I told you about telling lies'
'I'm not telling lies padre. I swear.'
Suddenly Caspian came running into the throne room.
'There you are! I've been looking everywhere for you!'
'Caspian, did you meet or see a lion?' Caspian asked his son.
'No. I was trying to find Eilonwybecause we were playing a game of hide and seek. I don't know anything about a lion.'
'Where did you see this lion Eilonwy?' Caspian questioned her.
Eilonwy hesitated with her answer. 'I-'
'Yes?' her uncles pressed her.
'In he woods.'
Miraz slammed his hand against his throne. 'What have I told you about the woods? Do you constantly defy me? First you tell lies-' Miraz came angrily towards Eilonwy.
'It's not lies! I really did a talking lion and he spoke to me and he told me things' Eilowny responded.
King Caspian got to his feet. 'Really? And what things did he tell you Eilonwy?' Caspian asked.
Eilonwy looked down at the floor. 'I cannot tell you.'
'What!' Her father grabbed hold of his daughter by the shoulders.
'He made me promise not to tell you.'
'Eilonwy, you will tell us everything!' Miraz shouted.
'He said that Caspian was going to be King. He said that he will meet Caspian one day when he greets him as King of Narnia. And he said I would help him with something one day.'
'Is that ALL he told you.' King Caspian asked.
'Si'
'You're lying' Miraz spat, releasing his daughter and walking away angrily.
'I'm not lying. I'm telling the truth!' Eilonwy stated. ' He was a Narnian.' Miraz stopped mid flow of walk, and faced his daughter again. 'What did you say?'
Eilonwy swallowed hard. 'He told me he was Narnian.'
'Narnians are extinct.' Miraz hissed.
Eilonwy shook her head.
'That's enough Eilonwy,' King Caspian spoke. 'I think we've had enough imagination for today'
'But I wasn't imagining it Uncle Caspian, I swear-'
'Eilonwy! That's enough!' Caspian raised his voice.
Eilonwy remained silent for a few moments before turning to her cousin who stood there, not looking at her. She walked over to him.
'You believe me, don't you Cas?'
Caspian didn't even look at her.
Eilonwy's eyes filled up and she ran out of the throne room. Caspian suddenly felt very guilty for not defending his cousin and started to go after her.
'Leave her son,' his father commanded. 'Leave her to fantasies'
***End of flashback***
'Sitting out here alone are we?' Aslan spoke kindly.
'I needed some air.' Eilonwy replied. She was sat on the stone step outside of the throne room overlooking the vast Narnian sea. The sound was heard Aslan approach and he placed himself next to her. 'You're thinking a lot aren't you Radiant Princess?'
Eilonwy let out heavy sigh. 'I was remembering the first time I met you. The first time that all of this suddenly became real to me and wasn't pretend anymore. A time when everything I believed to be real, was actually false.'
Aslan smiled. 'It's nice to know that you didn't forget it. But I am guessing that that memory is not the only thing that is on your mind.'
'I just know that this is it,' she paused, running her fingers through her long hair, before turning to face Aslan. She decided to venture the question she was dying to know. 'Nothing in Narnia happens the same way twice, does it Aslan?'
It was Aslan's time to sigh. 'I'm afraid not dear one. History does have a tendency to repeat itself, but only when their are lessons to be learned from it. Both Peter and Susan have learnt the values of courage, friendship and love which is something that they will apply to their new life when they return.'
'When will they go back?'
Aslan took his time answering Eilonwy's question, knowing the answer would break her heart. 'They will leave tomorrow.'Eilonwy was stunned by his answer. She knew their timescale was short, but tomorrow was far too soon.
'If only time was not an issue. I guess I expected that they would not have long, but tomorrow? Aslan surely...' She tried pleading with him, knowing well it would not alter his decision.
'I cannot meddle with Time Eilonwy. Peter and Susan have learnt what they can here, and they must return to their old lives, their real lives back in England. If they stay any longer, the lessons and values they have learnt here will be meaningless and soon they will forget them, which is why they must go home tomorrow.'
Eilonwy's eyes focused back on the sea. 'I understand.'
Aslan fully comprehended the pain that Eilonwy was feeling. 'Eilonwy, I know you must feel like I am taking a part of you away -'
'That's one way of putting it.' It was the only way of putting it.
'Does Peter know this?' He questioned her.
'No, and he never will. I cannot tell him, knowing that he has to leave tomorrow. It would kill me. It would kill us both.'
'Eilonwy, you, like Peter and Susan are learning the true meaning, the true telos of life. '
'And what is that? Falling in love with somebody you have known for nearly four days only to have to say goodbye and never telling them how you feel. If that is the true telos of life, then life is very cruel.
'That's one lesson learnt.' Aslan said calmly.
'I never intended for this to happen. I wish I had never met him.'
'If you had never met, if you and Peter had never crossed paths, if you had never run away from the castle that night to find Caspian, where would you be? Would you be here stood before me?'
'No, probably not.'
'You have experienced something so powerful, something that most people would die for. You have experienced love and pain, you have fought alongside the people you love, to fight for something you believe in. You fought for love. And if that is not something to be proud of, then I have no idea what is.'
'I just never thought it would hurt this much.'
When you love somebody, pain is just a feeling which comes with it. Nobody knows why, but its a force that cannot be reckoned with,' Aslan paused inhaling the cool air. 'You have options Eilonwy.'
'No, I don't Aslan.'
'There is nothing stopping you from joining Peter, if that were the option you decided.'
'I could go with Peter? To his world and live there?'
'If you decided that was you fate, I would not stop you.'
Eilonwy got to her feet and began pacing. She had a thousand things running through her head. A life Petere meant they could live in his world, and grow old together. Maybe even have children and get married, something she couldn't do in Narnia with him. But leaving Narnia would mean abandoning Caspian. Abandoning her responsibilities. Abandoning Narnia just like Peter did.
'I can't. I couldn't leave Caspian.'
'This is not an easy decision for you, I understand that. But the option is there if you should seek it.'
Aslan rose to his feet and started to walk back to the inside of the castle. 'Tell me you find out. Although I suggest the third floor of the castle may be a good place to start.'
And with that Aslan exited, leaving Eilonwy with only one thought.
The third floor of the castle may be a good place to start to seek her answer.
Peter laid down on his bed. His head was spinning, but not from the wine. From Eilonwy. Everything about her dominated him. The way he had watched her dance with Caspian, when he saw her walk through those doors to be coronated, they way he had held her close to him as they danced. Not one single thought did not involver her and it was driving him crazy. He had to see her. He had to see her now. He reached for shirt which was lying on the floor and pulled it over his head. Just as he pulled the shirt on, the door to his chamber knocked. Peter's eyes darted towards the door. He walked over to the grand wooden frame and reached for the door knob, not knowing who could possibly be visiting him at such late hours of the night...
