If you dig up your roots
Then I'll dig up my roots
And we can take them with us
Wherever we go
And all that we are
Is in the beat of our hearts
And I know we're ready
To dive into the unknown

~"Roots" by Orla Gartland

The great lecture hall was abuzz with students after the previous day's exams. It was the end of the spring term and many of the students were eager to return home for their summer holiday. This Medieval Music History course was known to be one of the most difficult exams at the Imperial College London and would determine if many of the students would be able to move on to their next year.

Evelyn sat at the back of the hall, drumming mindlessly on her large textbook. It had been almost five years since the end of the war and her first year studying here in London. How peculiar it was to be eighteen once more, having the body of a woman and yet still have the naivete of a child. She glanced at her classmates, all happily chatting with one another as they discussed their holiday plans. Evelyn kept to herself, but smiled as she remembered the warm summers in Narnia at the coast of Cair Paravel.

It was still strange to Evelyn that it had been over fifteen years since she'd last seen Peter. He filled her dreams, always holding their daughter with his free arm outstretched, inviting her home. The separation was unbearable, especially since she'd been thrown back into a child's body and without Aslan's guidance.

Evelyn had found Frau Mosser and lived with her in Bern until the war was over. Her mother joined them in Switzerland when the Soviets and Americans had clashed over Berlin, giving her the opportunity to escape to freedom. They returned to England when Evelyn was fourteen, living with her grandparents in York. Evelyn had just recently moved to London to study music and history at the Imperial College, sharing a flat with four other girls while her mother remained in York.

Freya had never been found after the train accident and Evelyn had always suspected the smaller, twisted body she had seen at the back of the train had belonged to her sister. Her father had disappeared as well and was presumed dead at the conclusion of the war. The SS had sent him to a labor camp in Dachau and he hadn't been seen since. Evelyn was incredibly lonely and questioned herself every day of why she had wanted to return to this hellish place. Her studies at the Imperial College were what kept her going, immersing herself in music and history that reminded her of the beautiful land she had begged Aslan to leave behind.

Their professor entered the large lecture hall, immediately silencing the chatter of students. He was a strange man, with white hair that sat in tufts on his head, a long white beard, and rounded spectacles that sat on the edge of his nose. He was devoted to his area of study, but terribly strict in his grading. He began passing graded exams to the many students and many admitted sighs of relief while others hung their heads in despair. Evelyn continued to drum on her textbook, keeping her eyes down.

A large packet was placed on top of her book. She glanced up to see her professor smiling brightly.

"Well done, Miss Löwen. One of the best performances I've seen on this particular exam."

Evelyn couldn't help but smile as she flicked through the large packet, seeing barely any corrective marks inside. "Thank you, Professor Kirke," she said.

"Your knowledge of medieval instruments is quite impressive," he said. "After class, why don't you come to my office. I'd like you to meet my teaching assistant. He seems to be interested in many of the same content areas as you."

At the conclusion of class, when all the other students had bustled out their door, hurrying to their summer holiday, Evelyn obediently followed the professor through the many winding hallways of the history building. They entered a small room filled with lush furniture and upholstered chairs. She marveled at the strange artifacts decorating the room, many of which seemed so familiar yet she couldn't place where she had seen them before.

"My current teaching assistant is graduating after this term," the professor said, settling himself in the large chair behind his desk. "I'd like you to take his place next fall."

Evelyn beamed. "I would be delighted."

"He's in my personal library in the adjoining room," the professor said, nodding over his shoulder. "You can ask him about the position and then let me know if you have any other questions."

She nodded, making her way to the other room. There was a boy slightly older than her kneeling by one of the large bookshelves. His blonde hair was slicked neatly against his head and the sleeves of his shirt were rolled up, revealing strong forearms. Just like the artifacts in the professor's office, there was something vaguely familiar about him. He turned at the sound of her footsteps and his bright blue eyes locked with hers.

She couldn't help but let a smile break across her face, a gasp emitting from her lips.

"Peter."

Don't forget to R&R!