A/N: Sorry about the delay with getting this chapter up. I thought it was already posted. I don't expect the next chapters to be out anytime soon. I'll try to get the last couple of chapters up, but I find myself with less motivation to write/edit these days. Anyways... On with the story!

~Previously~

I had no time to process what was happening. But I knew I was dying. Everything around me was so dark and I felt cold. Phoenix felt so far away, no matter how hard I tried to reach for her, it would not come. I could only hope that I would be alright and this was all just a bad dream. None of this had actually happened. Aslan wasn't dead, we didn't go to war, Edmund wasn't dead. None of it was real. Everything would be fine when I woke up. This couldn't be the end.

Chapter 21 The Reunion

I heard a faint noise, but I was able to tell what it was. It sounded like someone was saying my name but it was as though I was underwater. I couldn't make out what was said or who was saying it. And I couldn't see anything either. Everything was still pitch black and I was trapped under the surface of the water, trying to pull myself above it. Eventually I heard someone faintly speaking. It was clearer than before and I thought I was making progress, but I still couldn't place the voices.

"Lets get her to the castle. I'm sure she'll wake up after a bit of rest," the voice said.

Another one replied "Why didn't it work, Aslan?"

Whatever the response was, I couldn't make it out. It was as fuzzy as it had been before. I had brief reprieve from the haziness, but it was gone now. I couldn't tell what exactly was going on but I knew it had to be a dream. Those voices had to be a dream. Aslan had died so there was no way he could be here unless... Was I dead? Did that mean we lost the war? What happened? Why was everything so dark and hazy? Why did I feel as though I was trapped underwater?

So many questions flooded my mind and I couldn't stop. They were overwhelming and I decided to just try and sleep. If none of my senses were working while I was awake, then what was the point? I'd be better off asleep than this weird semi-awareness. On occassion I would catch phrases that someone said like "she's so pale" or "why won't she..." but never enough to tell me what was going on. I figured I could pick up bit of their conversation because my hearing and sight were twice that of a normal humans. The Narnian part of me enhanced those senses. But if that was the case, why couldn't I see anything?

There was silence for quite awhile and I thought I managed to finally doze off. It was a dreamless sleep though. I wasn't sure how much time had passed as I had no sense of time, but I finally decided to try and open my eyes again. This time I wasn't met with darkness. Instead, I found myself staring into a too bright of light and had to close my eyes again. I had been used to the dark for too long that I was unprepared. Blinking, I slowly opened my eyes and allowed them to adjust. Once they did, I realized it wasn't as bright as I initially thought.

I tried to sit up but the movement caused a wave a nausea to run through me and the room started spinning. I place a hand on my head to make it stop and found it bandaged. A head injury would definitely explain my symptoms. And the confusion as to how I got it... I realized that I didn't know what happened.

Instead of sitting up, I surveyed the room as best as I could. Only turning my head marginally and allowing my eyes to do most of the work. The room didn't look familiar to me at all. I hadn't been in this place before or at least this room. It was much bigger and fancier bedroom than what I was used to. The bed was huge and it practically swallowed me up, making me feel quite small. But the room itself, besides a bed, wardrobe, chair, and a small table, was almost empty. No signs that this qas someone's room. The drapes has been drawn, but sunlight still peaked through and that was what had blinded me at first.

A soft knock sounded on the door and I turned my head to it. Before I could say anything, someone opened the door. There was a pause as the person seemed to wait just inside the doorway where I couldn't see who it was. Then, almost cautiously, Lucy peeked around the door and looked at me. When our eyes met, she grinned brightly before abruptly disappearing out of sight without so much as a hello. The door softly closed and I heard her footsteps depart. I frowned at the action, confused as to what she was doing.

After a few minutes where I had almost dozed off again, the door opened and a grinning Lucy appeares. She wasn't alone this time however. Susan, Peter, Edmund, and Aslan all trailed her. With Edmund's appearance I suddenly remembered him being stabbed by the Witch. I was a bit shocked to see both him and Aslan standing near my bed as if nothing had happened. Both should've been dead or on the verge of dying, yet they both looked as though nothing had happened. As if the Witch had not even tried killed them.

"Ana?" Susan hesitantly asked.

"Yes?" I replied.

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine. I get a bit nauseous and dizzy if I try to sit up but otherwise I'm fine."

Aslan smiled softly and looked at the others. I thought he was going to ask them to leave but He didn't. Instead, He was the one to leave, without saying anything to me and I knew a frown made its onto my face. He always had something to say to me but Aslan didn't this time. I had did have a small feeling that He wishes to wait until the others were finished. Like whatever He had to say wasn't important and could wait until another time.

"You had us so worried," Lucy said.

"Well, I'm fine now," I tried to assure them.

"I don't think you understand," Peter stated carefully. I looked at him in confusion and waited for him to explain.

"I used my cordial on you but—" Lucy started to say, but was interrupted by her brother.

"You didn't wake up like Edmund did," Peter finished.

"We almost thought you were dead!" Lucy blurted. "That I was too late... But we saw that you were breathing and most of your wound began heal. It'll scar though...

"You just wouldn't wake up," Susan said. "You've been unconscious for two days."

"I'm sorry I scared you guys. But I'm okay now so don't worry," I told them and they nodded, seeming relieved. "How are all of you?" I had some questions about how I came to possess such and injury, but assumed that answer would reveal itself on its own.

"We're all fine. In a lot better shape than you," Peter assured me. I smiled, glad that they were alright and we lapsed into silence for a moment.

"Aslan decided to hold off on the coronation. He wanted to wait until you woke up," Susan interjected when the silence started to grow too much.

"None of us really wanted to go through it without you either," Lucy said. "But the Narnians have been preparing for it ever since we arrived at Cair Paravel."

I nodded in understanding. They had been without a ruler for so long that the Narnians were a bit excited. It was nice have Aslan back and to crown new leaders. But to me it seemed as though they were just as gidy as I knew the Narnians were. Whether that was because I was awake or the prospect of a being crowned Kings and Queens was up for debate.

Lucy grinned and jumped up on the bed to give me a hug. She was carefully not to jostle me too much and I was thankful for that. Doing so was likely to have made me feel nauseous again. I returned the hug as best as I could and the others laughed when Lucy jumped down. She was excited and it was starting to spread to her siblings as well. They told me that Aslan defeated the Witch and Narnia was free of her. I felt my smile grow at that.

They all left my room with smiles on their faces and laughter in their eyes, even Edmund. I guess they were relieved to have the battle over and glad to know I was alright. I was glad as well. Everything would be alright now.

I was left alone for just a brief moment. Aslan returned shortly after the Pevensies left. I looked at Him and He smiled a soft, gentle smile in return. There was something that He wanted to say but wouldn't say in front of the Pevensie children. I've know him long enough to know that there were only few things he kept from others. If they had already been told, Aslan would've said it beforehand.

"Aslan?" I asked him.

"I'm fine. I had a plan and I knew what I was doing," He replied, knowing full well what I was asking.

"By going instead of Edmund? I don't understand."

"There are many things we may never understand." I nodded and he smiled before saying, "But I can help you understand this. I've already explained it to the children earlier. If the Witch had known the true meaning of sacrifice, she would've interpreted to Deep Magic differently. When a willing victim that has committed no treachery is kill in a traitor' stead, The Stone Table will crack and even death itself will turn backwards."

"I see," I replied, processing what He had told me. Then I asked my other pressing question. "Aslan, why didn't Lucy's cordial work? Right away I mean because I guess it worked after a while."

"As with everything, Ana, it was your magic. Phoenix is very sensitive to medication. Too little and the only thing it helps is the phoenix. Too much and it could kill you. Given the potency of the cordial, only one drop is needed. The reason it took so long was because the phoenix used it up first. It treated the injures that helped itself beofre letting you heal. Giving you any more could've had adverse affects. We just had to let it run its course. The Pevensies weren't so convinced to that you'd be alright so I knew we couldn't do the coronation without you."

"But shouldn't it have treated me first?"

"Phoenix will always try and outcompete you for its needs. When you're healthy and awake, you fight and win. But if you're injured, the phoenix will win." It kind of made sense, though I didn't understand why my magic would compete against me.

"It's to protect you," Aslan answered the unspoken question. "Phoenix is basically testing for dangers and by using it up first, it guarantees you have a fighting chance should anything be wrong."

"I get it... I think," I told him with a smile. "Is there something else? Another reason why you delayed the coronation?"

"You're also included in it, so can't have it without you." He smiled.

I was both shocked and confused, as I was finding myself to be more often lately. The prophecy clearly said it would be two Sons of Adam and two Daughters of Eve that would rule. Why would I be in the coronation? I held no importance for such an event. I looked to Aslan, meaning to ask, but He spoke before I could ask him to clarify what He meant.

"Just rest up and I'll explain more when the time comes. The cordial hasn't done all it needs to yet, so when you can move around without feeling nauseous or lightheaded, be sure to come find us. It should only take you one more day to be fully healed," Aslan said.

Then He left and I never figured out what Aslan didn't want to say in front of the others. I knew He wanted me to be completely healed, but He left me with many unanswered questions. Aslan seemed to like leaving me with questions to figure out as that's what He had been doing lately. But the main one that was on my mind was why I was in the coronation. If I wasn't a Queen or a Princess, then why was I involved? I wasn't getting a crown, and I most certainly didn't want one, so what else could it be?