Disclaimer: In case anyone has any lingering doubts, I'll say it one more time – Narnia and the Nautalis are not mine!

Thank you as always to BrokenKestrel for betaing the chapter!

Chapter 21

Eustace took his first deep breath in what seemed years. No one with proper feeling should find crying people a relief. But Eustace can be forgiven for his relief when he saw Captain Nemo and Vasiliev crying on each other's shoulders. After all, it wasn't the crying that relieved him – it was the inference that now, perhaps, no one was in danger of being murdered.

Caspian, Lucy, and Reepicheep had quietly come out of the forest. With Edmund and Father Christmas, they gathered around Eustace.

"What happens now?" Eustace asked Father Christmas. Captain Nemo and Vasiliev were still weeping. Behind them, stood the crew, staring at their captain. Most were silent, but the Narnians could hear a confused and angry murmur slowly rising.

"This is a place of rest and healing," said Father Christmas, his eyes full of sadness. "But as with all healing, it will never be perfected within Time."

Even as Father Christmas spoke, Captain Nemo shakily rose to his feet. He helped Vasiliev up. Then he turned to face the crew.

The conversation that followed was completely unintelligible to Caspian and Reepicheep. Lucy, Edmund, and Eustace caught a few words they thought might be French. But none of them needed to understand the words to understand what was happening.

Vasiliev stood with slumped shoulders, as if he wished to melt into the ground – as well he might. Only Captain Nemo stood between him and the angry crew. Captain Nemo was speaking with a calm, clear voice with no sign of the tears he had been shedding only minutes earlier. The crew was listening to their captain for now, but hatred burned in their eyes.

"Is there anything we can do to help them?" Lucy asked, looking pleadingly at Father Christmas.

"Would any of the crew come to the Dawn Treader?" Caspian asked. "Aslan created the Door in the Sky for the Telmarines who did not want to stay and live with Old Narnia."

"Your Majesty, those recalcitrants had not yet sworn fealty to you," said Reepicheep sternly. "These men have affirmed their loyalty to Captain Nemo only minutes ago. We make these men oath-breakers and traitors."

"You are quite right, Sir Reepicheep," said Father Christmas. "These men have given their word to Captain Nemo. They have learned when they must disobey, now they must learn once again to obey."

"But why are they so upset?" Eustace asked. "It's Captain Nemo's family who was murdered." Eustace could understand not liking Vasiliev – he didn't care for the man much himself. But after spending a night in Vasiliev's company, Eustace's dislike was mingled with pity, rather than anger.

Father Christmas's eyes filled with sadness. "No one is told any tale but his own, and that would be a multitude of tales of great sorrow. This much I will say. All of these men have suffered – some more and some less – by the actions of the Russian government. Vasiliev is a Russian officer, and therefore a representative, however lowly, of that government. By setting aside his own claims against Vasiliev, Captain Nemo is asking – nay, commanding the crew to lay aside their claims also. You have seen – if you did not know already – how hard that is for any man to hear. But it is a lesson the crew must now learn."

Silence fell for a long moment.

"But even if that were not so," Father Christmas continued, "I could not allow you to take the crew with you to Narnia. It is one thing to show you where you may return and a very different one to send people who have never been there." His face became grave. "Dreadful events have been set in motion that way. Glorious in the end yes, but dreadful nonetheless."

Eustace wondered what events Father Christmas could be referring to.(1) But the other Narnians seemed to have fallen into deep thought – perhaps it was not the time for a long explanation. So instead, Eustace quietly asked, "But you will help them, won't you, Father Christmas?"

"These men are in my home," said Father Christmas, and a smile displaced some of the sadness in his face. "I will do everything in my power to help them find peace and rest."

"Should we at least say goodbye?" asked Lucy.

They all looked over at the still-unfolding argument. Vasiliev was still standing – the crew was still listening to Captain Nemo. But the tension still hung thick in the air.

"I think it would be best to let the Captain handle the situation, Lu," said Edmund. He looked at his sister sadly. "It won't be the first time we had to leave without saying goodbye."

Eustace wondered what they were talking about, but before he could ask, Caspian said, "You never know when Aslan will appear – or when he will leave."

Even Eustace knew this about the ways of the wild Great Lion – Aslan had disappeared without warning after turning Eustace back into a human boy. A small smile came to Eustace's face at the memory. The other Narnians, with memories of their own, began to smile as well.

They turned to look back one last time at the friends they had made on this strange adventure. Captain Nemo's back was to them as he talked to his crew. All of the crew had their eyes fixed on him.

Vasiliev, standing by Captain Nemo, also had his back to the Narnians, but he stood uneasily, shifting and looking about nervously. He glanced behind, and his eyes he caught the Narnians'. He became very still, then his bearing relaxed. After a moment, he drew himself together and rendered a smart salute.

The Narnians returned the salute. Now still and silent, Vasiliev turned to face the crew.

The Narnians turned to face Father Christmas, now standing on a wide dirt path leading into the forest. He was smiling now.

"Come, it is time," said Father Christmas. The Narnians followed him into the dim forest.

The mention of Aslan and saying goodbye to Vasiliev had jogged Eustace's memory. He hurried to catch up with Lucy and caught her arm.

"Lucy," Eustace whispered urgently, "have you ever seen Aslan – I mean, have you ever seen him in our world, in England?"

"No, why do you –" Then realization flashed across Lucy's face. "Oh, of course! Father Christmas!" she called.

Father Christmas was some distance ahead. Lucy and Eustace hurried to catch up to him.

"Father Christmas," Lucy asked, "what did you mean when you told Vasiliev Aslan is in our world? I've never seen him there, and I don't think any of the others have either."

Father Christmas smiled as he continued walking. "No one in your world now alive has," he said, "not for almost two thousand years."

"Then how are we supposed to find Him?" Lucy asked. "We are supposed to, right?"

"Of course – but it isn't necessary to see something in order to find it. In your world, it is written, 'Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'(2)"

Edmund was now walking with Lucy and Eustace. Father Christmas looked at them thoughtfully. "When you three return to England, make time to go see Professor Kirk. He found Aslan in your world some time ago."

Before anyone could ask any questions, Father Christmas stopped at the entrance to a large cave. "Here we are," he said.

Eustace thought the entrance seemed large enough for the sleigh, pulled by reindeer, that he had seen on Christmas cards in the shops. His whole life he had been told Christmas was nothing but humbug, and now – Father Christmas was standing before him. A slew of questions filled his mind and excitedly poured out of him.

"How many worlds do you visit?" Eustace began. "Can you really do it all in one night? How many worlds does this cave lead to?"

Father Christmas's eyes twinkled, but he said, "Such things are of little importance. Never forget, I am but Aslan's messenger at Christmas, and the festival day is about Aslan himself."

Father Christmas turned Caspian and Reepicheep. "I will see you at Christmas, whether at Cair Paravel or aboard the Dawn Treader. Fair winds and seas bring you to your desired haven and at last to Aslan's Country."

Father Christmas turned to Lucy, Edmund, and Eustace. "I will also see you at Christmas, though you will not see me. And Aslan is always with you, even when you do not see him. Remember to talk to Professor Kirk."

He raised his hands in blessing over all of them. The Narnians waved one last goodbye, then took one another's hands as they stepped into the dark tunnel that would lead them back to Narnia.

The return to Narnia was as quiet as the leaving. There was no flash or rumble to announce the passage between worlds – just a patch of daylight appearing.

When the Narnians emerged from the cave, blinking in the sunlight, they only walked a short way before they saw the sea. There was the Dawn Treader waiting for them. Somewhere below, still hidden from view was their campsite on the beach.

"Do you think we'll ever see them again?" Lucy asked. No one needed to ask to whom she was referring – they were all thinking of Captain Nemo and his companions.

"I do not doubt but that we shall, Madam," said Reepicheep. "Father Christmas told us Aslan is in your world, but he did not say there is more than one Aslan's Country. I believe we shall see them there, if not before."

"Time passes differently in different worlds," said Edmund. "Perhaps they are waiting there now."

(1) If, like Eustace, you are wondering what Father Christmas is talking about, the next story you should read is The Magician's Nephew :)

(2) John 20:29

THE END

Thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed over the past year. Particular thanks to BrokenKestrel, who has beta'd much of this story and has given many a pep talk along the way. This story would not have happened with you! :)