Command and Conquer: The Wolf, the Agent, and the Demon Chapter 8, a Command & Conquer + Assassin's Creed Crossover fanfic

Command and Conquer: The Wolf, the Agent, and the Demon

Chapter 8

Susan woke with a smile as she felt a possessive arm wrap around her waist, and snuggled into her husband's muscled chest. There were no words between them, just love. Oh, the pleasant ache between her thighs brought back memories of last night, and what memories they were!

The things they had done to each other. Despite being a gentle, somber man, Eddard Stark was an animal in bed. And she was not complaining.

After breakfast, Professor Broom gathered them in the living room of the new house. "Now, I wanted to save my present until now because it might ruin last night's mood."

Lucy spoke up. "How do you know that?"

The answer shocked her. "I found your lion, my dear. He visited me, and requested I bring you Him as he needs you to see him. But not in the way you are used to seeing him."

He raised his hands as a cacophony of voices instantly broke out. "Please, allow me to go deeper before I answer your question."

Susan had paled, and Ned smiled reassuringly at her at the man pulled out a copy of the Holy Bible. "I have found various verses that he gave to me.

From the Book of Hosea, Chapter 11, Verse 10: They will walk after the LORD; He will roar like a lion. When He roars, His children will come trembling from the west.

From the Book of Revelation 10:3, I found this: Then he cried out in a loud voice like the roar of a lion. And when he cried out, the seven thunders sounded their voices.

From other books in the Bible: Where is the dwelling of the lions, and the feeding place of the young lions, where the lion, even the old lion, walked, and the lion's whelp, and none made them afraid. And," he finished, putting aside the Bible, and picking up a smaller book.

"From the book Apocalypse Revealed, it tells us that what a lion means in the Bible is the symbol of truth in its power, here the Divine truth of the Word in respect to its power, as can be seen from the power of the lion, which surpasses that of every other animal on the earth."

There was a long silence, and then Lucy spoke, soft as a whisper. "Wrong will be right when Aslan comes in sight..."
Peter continued, his eyes widening: "At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more..."
Edmund spoke next, a smile spreading across face. "When he bears his teeth, winter shall meet its death..."
Susan, her voice trembling, finished the line. "And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again."

Broom smiled, and nodded, as the sun rose above the trees. "You're Aslan is the God of this world. And I wouldn't have been here if it wasn't for him," he finished, pointing at the wolf-formed John, who nodded.

"It's him, lovies."

"It is," confirmed a deep voice, as the Lion of Judah seemed to appear inside the porch door, not ten yards from them. In seconds, he rumbled with laughter as the three Pevensie children rushed into his paws. "How I have waited for this moment, my dears."

John and Eva had risen, weapons in hand, but Ned seemed relaxed, so they relaxed as well.

Red hadn't moved, and gripped Carl's arm as he jumped to his feet, giving him a reassuring smile.

Kelly was on his feet, clutching his rosary. "Jesus!"

Aslan smiled. "If only you knew, dear heart."

"You're Aslan," breathed both Pevensie parents, blown away by the sheer size and power of the Lion.

The Lion nodded. "It is one of my many names. Jesus Christ," he said, becoming his true Self, "is the name many more know me by. Even more know me by others: Jehovah, Yahweh, Allah, and so on. Blessed are you, James and Lydia, among sires. Many trials await you, but more joy as well. I shall be with you every step of the way."

"My God. You're real," Kelly breathed, sinking to his knees, as the Horselord, Ned, and the Pevensie parents did the same.

Jesus smiled lovingly down at him, and raised him to his feet. "I am the only thing that is real. I have forgiven you for what you have done forever, but consequences always come with sin. I have no authority in the matter. There is no Trinity save my Divinity, This Body, and my Divine Proceeding, but they are not separate but one. But think on that no more."

Kelly nodded, and promptly fainted. Jesus helped him to the floor with the utmost gentleness, whispered something in his ear, and kissed his forehead before rising back up.

Lucy stared up at him uncertainly. "You told Edmund and me that we had come to Narnia to meet you, and that we would come to know you by a different name here."

The Rock of Ages smiled down at her. "I am myself, sweet Daughter. You have found me at last. Well done, my Sons," he said to Broom and John, who bowed back, the former saying his goodbyes before leaving. "If it was not for my Wolf, I would never have appeared so."

Susan stood then, her bottom lip quivering as she walked up to the man, who gave her a sad but reassuring smile. "Forgive me, my child. I know how much you have suffered, but I did not intervene because I knew it would end in joy."

"Did you? You hurt me, and left me nothing," Susan said, her voice still trembling. "What do you know about what I've been through?"

Christ nodded, tears in his eyes. "My beloved, I know everything. I feel one's pain a million-fold, down to the smallest creature that crawls on its belly. It was never my intent, but if you were honest with yourself, you would know that you left and harmed me many times over more. And have I not returned John to you, when you had lost faith? Have I not given you your soul mate?"

Susan swallowed. "I know I've been a beast, and I am happy now. And I am sorry for it all."

Jesus smiled gently. "Oh, my Daughter, I forgive you with all my heart. All I wish is for your forgiveness."

Susan burst into tears, and Christ wrapped her in his arms as she threw herself into them. "I should never have lost faith in you!"

"Oh, my dear Susan, the dark times are over, and I have never lost faith in you. It gives me nothing but joy to have you in my arms," he breathed into her hair.

"I don't deserve it. I don't deserve your love!"

"Oh, my dearest, it is I who don't deserve you."

After she had calmed down, she kissed him on the cheek, and rejoined Ned on the couch, as her two brothers stepped aside.

He turned to Carl, who was shaking with emotion. "Where were you when my family and I needed you? All that death and pain, and you never seemed like you gave a fuck."

Christ sighed. "It is far from the truth. I do not blame you for your anger. Wherever and whenever humans are at their noblest, there am I. You have done well, Carl Grimes. You have done evil, but great good as well. I brought you here to do more of the latter."

Carl nodded, and sat back down.

Christ smiled at Red, who bowed. "Huntress, your heart is not made out of stone. Tend to it before it becomes so. You and Carl will not be without the other."

As the two in questioned blushed, He turned to Eva, who shook under his gaze. "And you, Lady Iceheart, come to me."

She did, her head held high.

Christ was gentle, yet stern. "Many evils you have committed, many atrocities have you inflicted, because of your rage. But you are here because you still love. If you wish to follow my way, you must learn how to be more loving. That path, among others, will be your guide," he said, pointing to the Bible. "I say this to you, and everyone else who wishes to truly follow my path: Seek a church called the Michael Church, and go there on the seventh day of every month. Waste not my gift. I cannot condemn, but your heart will condemn you if you do not mend your ways."

Eva lifted her chin in defiance. "I did it all for my House. I had nothing else to live for other than protecting what I had left. Who are you to sit in judgment of me?"

"Love is not an excuse for what you have done. It is not I who judges. Whatever sin one commits, the punishment and the consequences follow without my involvement." Christ intoned. "I warn you of the path you have taken. You have known only despair from it."

Eva narrowed her eyes. "So you sit above us all, claiming that you cause nothing but blessings. Just because you may not cause pain or suffering does not mean that you are not involved. You cannot claim otherwise."

Christ sobered. "I have nothing to do with what you speak of, but that does not mean I do not feel any pain that my children feel. I have never judged, but you have judged and caused much atrocities. Many you have sent to my Country, including their entire family line. Your loss does not excuse you."

"You have no idea what it means to lose something-" Eva started, paling from building rage.

"You are wrong. I have lost more than you can possibly understand. Forget your pride, Eva, for what have you to be proud of? And your anger: for who among this room has given you reason to rage? It was I who brought you here, at the request of the woman in whose memory you have so cruelly treated others. Had I not seen her tears, or heard her plea, you would never have been given such a gift. You would have joined the Mad King in the Pit to be a slave working for bread and water. I warn you, once more, not to let your heart harden any further. If you do better, you will see her sooner than you think. Take hope, but also take warning," said the Human Divine, loving yet firm as steel.

Eva bowed, thoroughly cowed for once in her life, and returned to her seat.

"John Pendlerose. Step forward, my Son, if you so will."

John, swallowing, came to kneel at the deity's feet. "I am not worthy of your presence. I have failed so many people in so many ways."

Christ smiled. "What you have said just now makes you worthy. Knowing you have failed, but rising again, that is true bravery. The days of your sorrow are over, my Son. You will thrive here, and be a great aid when war comes. Your good heart deserves the gift that shall come at my departure. What you feel for her will strengthen quickly, so be on the watch to maintain your knightly honor."

John nodded, and made to kiss Yahweh's feet, but Jesus insisted on an embrace that left John in tears.

"Now, Eddard and Susan Stark, step forward."

When he did, he beamed. "The love you feel for each other was begun by me, and a few in this world, as Conjugial Love. It is defined as a man and a woman splitting from their sires, and becoming one with each other in flesh and spirit. I give you my blessing, for many children you shall have, and even more joy."

He moved to take Ned's and Susan's hands, joining them together. "For what I have joined together, let none tear asunder. Eddard of House Stark, give the High King Peter your sword, and kneel."

Confused, Ned did as commanded, as the Four monarchs beamed.

Peter stood over his in law, regal but unable to hold a grin back. "Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North, I confer upon you the knighthood of the Order of the Lion."

Yahweh spoke again. "And as the spring melts the winter gloom, rise, King Eddard Stark the Faithful."

A shaken Ned Stark rose, and took his place next to Susan.

"John, Tamer of Horses, Stallion of the North, Kneel."

John did, and he was knighted as well into the Order of the Lion, much to Lucy's delight.

"A gift is already yours, but I shall give you one more."

At his call, John and Tanya came forward. "Many battles lay ahead of you, but in this life and in the next, never shall you be without the other. Conjugial Love is yours as well, despite its less than advantageous beginnings. My blessing I give to you both, although I caution neither of you to waver from your duties to each other, and to the world."

John nodded, and returned to his seat, but Tanya stayed behind. "Stop the war. I want to stay here in this place."

Christ shook his head. "I made humanity to feel free of my control, both for better and for worse. I cannot change your mind anymore than I can change my Commandments. Take heart, for humanity is not so evil as you might think, for you are born both into sin, and are given the capacity to do what is good."

Tanya frowned. "Can you stop being so damned philosophical?"

Christ laughed gently. "Forgive me, my child, but despite your unfortunate propensity for foulness of speech, your wit is most straightforward. You will come and go from this house, but you will always return."

She grunted, and went back to her seat.

"God?" Lucy spoke next.

"Yes, my dearest?"

"Why do I get the feeling that John, our Wolf, has something to do with this?"

Christ beamed down at her. "Because if it wasn't for Gabriel's Right Hand, it was I who would've died on the Stone Table. If it wasn't for him, I would not be announcing my presence so boldly. He is an integral part of this, and shall always be so when it comes to you and your kin."

The Wolf huffed, and rolled his eyes. "Oh, give over, Guv!"

Christ laughed, and the sound put peace and strength to those who needed it. "Forgive me, my Son. This humility of yours is new to me. Now, be merry, my children!"

In a flash of golden light, he vanished.

"Cor and blimey!" Edmund said.

And then, a flash of white light came from the edge of the woods. From it appeared a stallion, moving to the house.

John Pendlerose gasped at the sight of the stallion: white as snow, glistening in the winter sunlight, except for a pink nose. He carried himself with pride and strength, and John thought he looked like a king among steeds.

John moved outdoors, and onto the winter tundra of the grass, as did the others, but it was he who approached the stallion.

John moved slowly, right hand outstretched, and the stallion came to him. "Unless my eyes deceive me, you are the greatest of horses," John breathed.

"I don't claim to be, Horselord," the horse said, his voice strong and proud, as the youth's hands, awed but experienced, stroked his neck. The voice was deep and smooth, stalwart and undeniably masculine. "But I am a horse."

John started, the voice in his head radiating strength and power. "He speaks!"

I narrowed my eyes, as the others looked confused. "I didn't hear anything."

"Can you not hear? It matters not," John said, shaking his head before turning back to the horse. "From whence have you come?"

"I am from on high. I am the chief of the stables there, and it is by His will that I came here. I am Light."

Light, the White Horse of the Four Horsemen, beheld his new herd-leader: quiet, regal, and strong, this youth was more horse than even he knew. "I will accept no rope, leash, or be restricted in any way."

John nodded his head, gentle but stern. "I shall kill any who tries. I am yours. I will never break you, noble steed. I will never saddle you, or make you do anything that you do not wish."

Light nodded. "The Maker chose rightly."

While this was going on, Lucy ran back into the house, and filled her hands with apples and carrots. She walked slowly to the horse, shy and careful.

The horse huffed. "Come here, little foal. I shall not harm you." His voice was warm and smooth, conveying love and acceptance.

"You are so beautiful. You speak to me too?" Lucy asked, offering her an apple with a quivering hand.

"With the Maker's permission," Gently, he took it from her, and after he had eaten, laid his muzzle on Lucy's shoulder, earning him a kiss.

James Pevensie stepped forward. "Look here, you two. Not that I'm trying to be rude, but we haven't got a place to keep you. Suppose somebody will steal you, or we run out of money to feed-"

The horse stomped his hoof, interrupting the herd-leader. "My Father has seen to your worries. I myself will never leave your land unless it is an emergency, and I assure you that I need not but air to thrive. Be not troubled, O Herd-Leader."

After this, there was much clean-up to do from the wedding. Broom bowed himself out with much preparation on his mind, Peter returning to MI-6 shortly after, while Kelly packed for Langley.

Shortly after this was done, and lunch had been made and eaten, Eva found herself alone with the two Pevensie sires, while the others were either training, getting to know Light, or in Susan and Ned's case, performing their duties as husband and wife.

Ignoring all else, Eva strode to the sire's house, and found them relaxing by the fire. "If I might have a word?"

Both nodded, seeming surprised.

She sat on the sofa, between their armchairs, and folded her hands neatly over her lap. "It seems clear that we will have another wedding to plan."

The two sires traded a look, and it was Lydia who spoke. "I think you are jumping the gun, Lady Eva. I mean, getting ahead of yourself," she explained, seeing Eva's confusion.

Eva shrugged. "I think not. They are attracted to each other, and anybody can see it. I, for one, do not intend to wait for them to drive everyone mad by dancing around each other. I am prepared to give you everything that is required to join our Houses in matrimony."

James frowned. "Join our...look, I don't doubt that my daughter and your son have eyes for each other, but you come from a time where marriages are nothing but political bargains with no love involved. Here, it's entirely different."

Eva raised her eyebrows. "I married Donald for the latter reason. I understand what you are saying, although I do not agree with it. I tire of my son acting like a skittish foal around women after that naive little bitch Sansa broke his heart. He has never bedded a woman, and nearly swore them off after Sansa was betrothed. He is the very best good-son you could ask for: handsome, strong, and kind. He will never cause her any kind of harm of grief. Although we have no land or forces to offer your House, I am prepared to do what is necessary to pave the way for my son continuing his House's legacy."

James glowered at her. "You speak as though your son was a breeding machine to you. Do you even care about his happiness?"

"Have a care, my Lord, else I may take offense!" Eva hissed, but before he could answer, Lydia shot her husband a silencing glare before speaking to Eva. "Let nature take its course, Lady Eva. If your son loves our daughter, and asks for her hand, we'll be more than happy to allow it."

Eva nodded. "As you say, so shall it be."

Eva went outside, and, seeing her son and her future good-daughter in the woods, moved to watch John and Lucy peruse the horse with awe and respect, unnoticed by the couple.

"Perfection. I had assumed it was impossible to find a perfect steed, but I was wrong," the tall youth breathed, before turning to Lucy. "You are not wearing your golden dress," he noted, seeming perturbed.

Lucy frowned. "It's only a wedding dress."

He raised an eyebrow, and she sighed. "It's worn on only special occasions. I can't wear it everywhere."

John gave her a quick once over, taking in her black dress and coat. "The effect remains the same: You are peerless in your beauty."

Lucy snorted. She had heard such things when men complimented her while their attention was fixed on Susan. "And how beautiful did Susan look, Sir John?"

John's non-committal reply came: "It is not Susan who has captivated me ever since I arrived."

"Don't patronize-"

He rose to his full height, and strode over to her. "Your jealousy is misplaced, however understandable it may be. She does not have the inner strength, the fire that I see in your eyes. She has not the courage you so effortlessly possess. She has not the beauty of a hardened Shield Maiden, nor the heart of one. I want nothing to do with your sister in the manner which you refer, and I will not repeat myself."

Lucy stood still for one moment, and then rushed to him, who obediently wrapped her in his embrace.

Eva smiled, and left them to enjoy themselves. She could tell that this encounter wasn't going to proceed further from such a display.

It was a pity he wasn't more of a stallion, she thought.

His father had given him that name, but John had never followed through.

But Eva would soon fix that.

John Pendlerose buried his face in her fragrant brown hair as he held her close. She smelled of flowers and fruit, and he ached to taste her ivory skin.

Gods, she was beautiful in her strength, her hour-glass figure begging to be embraced.

Oh, Aslan, Lucy thought. He was muscled to perfection, kind and ruthless but sexy, and he smelled like the woods around them as well as a musk that was maddeningly alluring. "Thank you."

She didn't realize that she had said this out loud until he pulled away so that they were eye to eye. Wow, he was tall, she barely coming to his chest. "I shall speak thusly to you for as long as you have need of it."

Susan sighed as she watched her little sister fall for the proud but kind young man from her window, as the evening gave way to night as the two figures made their way back to the house. The horse stayed behind, glowing like silver, proud and magnificent.

"Oh, Lu." She had no fear of the former being harmed by the latter, and her sigh was one of relief and joy.

"He is a good lad, the very best."

She turned to see Ned relaxing in their bed. "Oh, I know. I don't remember the last time I've seen Lucy so at ease."

Ned rose to clothe himself, and she bit her lip to stop a purr of appreciation at the sight of him.

God, as noble and kind as he was, he was also devastatingly sexy.

The perfect package.

"We need all the happiness we can get. These are troubled times, and-"

Susan finished the sentence, sobering. "Winter is coming. You do know how to kill a good mood, you Starks."

He smiled, and chuckled as he ran his fingers through her dark silky mane. "You know our words already, my beloved Queen."

She wrapped her arms around him. "And I know more than your words, my beloved King," she said, before their lips met.

Outside the door, I lay in the hallway, guarding and chuckling at the noises emanating from inside. I was distracted when Kane's voice sounded in my ear. "Seth, are you available to speak?"

I jumped, and pressed my hand to the ear-piece Kane had given to me, holding down the triangular red button bearing Nod's scorpion tail to answer. "I'm right here, Mentor."

"I assume you have heard of the meteor?"

"Hasn't everyone?" I answered snarkily. What he said next woke me up right sharpish.

"Ah, but you have heard only part of the truth. The meteor is not headed for the desert: it is headed for Rome, the so-called Eternal City. Before you say anything, previous media reports were falsified to avoid panic. It'll make landfall within two hours."

I scrambled to my feet. "Then I'll stop that bloody space-rock!"

"No," Kane said sharply. "At most, you will redirect it. You have no idea how important that celestial stone will be. That is an order, or our deal is off. Do you understand?"

"Righto," I said, and Kane bade me farewell.

I grunted in annoyance at the flash of light, and at Gabriel's cheerful voice. "Batter up! It's at the bottom of the ninth, and you're on deck, Bucko!"

I was about to answer when he shoved me to the side as the door I was guarded burst outward, missing me by mere inches. "Ass saved, you're welcome!"

Ned stood framed in the doorway, Ice in his hand, keeping Susan behind him with the other. "What is the meaning of this, Gabriel?"

Gabriel didn't look the least bit intimidated. "That isn't loaded, is it?" He asked, pointing at Ice before bowing to Susan. "Hey there!"

"You're not taking my son," Susan hissed, having to be held back by Ned.

Gabriel shook his head. "You don't get it, Mama Wolf. He's the only guy who can stop this."

"Do what?"

"That meteor's going to wipe out Rome if he doesn't step in."

Susan stepped forward, mere inches from the angel, whose face was covered by an unearthly glow. "Or maybe you don't have the courage to do it yourself."

Gabriel chuckled. "You got stones, Babe. Relax, okay? Hasn't John told you that he can't die from anything except Lucifer's dagger?"

Susan shrugged. "Of course he has, but-"

Gabriel interrupted her. "I don't make the rules or the decisions. If I did, your puppy would be out of the game. He has to go save people, so say your goodbyes. I give you my word as an angel he'll come back alive."

Susan turned to me, and flung her arms around my neck as I licked her face. "Come back to me."

"I will, Mum, I promise."

Ned laid his hand on my head. "You are as much my son as my brother's son. Please do not be so reckless as he."

I licked his hand. "Thanks, Dad. I'll be back in a jiffy."

Saying goodbye to the others was harder, especially Tanya, since she insisted she come with me.

Finally, Gabriel lost his patience. "You'll get your chance, but time's a wasting. Count-down in 1 minute!"

I got off one lick and snuggle with everyone before I found myself on a patch of muddy, rocky land at the foot of a river.

Behind me was grass and forest, and more so on the other side of the river.

"Where are we?"

"The River Tiber."

"Use the Force," Gabriel said, pointing to the sky. I could see a ball of white flame flying over head.

"Seriously? What are you doing?" I asked, as he moved behind me to grip my shoulders in a stabilizing grip.

"I'm your angelic safety belt. Now, you are going to go one on one with this thing. Visualize where you want it to fall, and put all your power into making it happen."

Since it was far enough away to not turn me into cinders, I decided to put it into the ground from where it was. I concentrated as much as I could, reached out with my mind, and screamed.

It felt like I had been hit by the whole British Isles, and I screamed in absolute agony. It was crushing my body at the same time, but I couldn't stop. If I did, millions would die.

I felt the gashes from Lucifer's blade open, and I tasted sweat and salt as I slumped back into Gabriel's grip. It was as if every pore in my body was on fire, and pouring sweat in gallons. "Gabriel, I can't do this."

Gabriel's voice was gentle and firm. "Yes, you can. You're doing great, Slugger. Keep it up."

I strained my mind further than I ever had. Everything I had ever experienced, pain and pleasure, hatred and love, went into this. I tasted copper as I roared from the effort. "I can't fucking do this! God help me, I can't do this alone!"

I gasped as new power surged through me, and through eyes stinging with sweat I saw the meteor fall, the horrible bright light of flame filling my vision.

The last thing I felt was the impact of the projectile striking the river Tiber many miles away.

In all the fuss, Gabriel took no notice of the single horse-man, dressed all in black robes, coming out from the woods on the other side of the river.

While the angel and his charge were focused on the falling space rock, the rider dismounted silently, and waited until the appropriate time. "So, heaven sends the Messenger, and not the Warrior. I must admit that I am disappointed."

Gabriel looked over his shoulder as he cradled the youth in his arms. "Who are you, and what set of Aladdin coughed you up?"

The figure removed his hood, revealing Kane. "Ah, it has been so long that I have forgotten my true form," he said, before flexing his back as if warding off insects. From either side of his shoulder-blades sprouted angel's wings, and his face shone with blinding celestial light that obscured his face. His robes became white and spotless, and he had a bow slung over his right shoulder, a quiver full of arrows over his left.

"Samael," Gabriel breathed in disbelief.

Samael nodded. "In the flesh. It has been too long, Brother."

Gabriel set the youth on the ground, putting him into a deep sleep before facing the true White Horseman. "Yeah, it has. What the heck is up with this Kane stuff?"

Samael shrugged. "I am merely inspiring mankind to the truth: that they, unlike Michael, are in charge of their own fates."

Gabriel shook his head. "Mikey's out of the picture. Come back home. It's that dick-load who cast you out, not Dad. You know He can't even look on any of us with a frown, let alone send us to hell."

Samael laughed mirthlessly. "And he did nothing as I was defamed by Michael. Being the Bringer of Light became Lucifer's title, and the White Horseman became that Anti-Christ nonsense. Hell has not the ability, the knowledge, or the courage to raise one of their own to that level of power. No, Brother, I shall not return until our Father forces Michael to grovel at my feet."

Gabriel grimaced. "No one forces us to do anything, not even the Old Man. Dude, you and I used to be people too, you know. It's not like that Christian fables BS where we came before people. If you want to drop pipe-bombs, here's one for you: you just didn't know when to keep your mouth shut. It's not like Michael got a free ride here. The Vessel project came because Michael began to think of himself like Dad because of his power, and Dad knew that, so he outsmarted that arrogant twit."

Samael snorted. "This project is madness. If Lucifer wants a war, let humanity see the truth at last: they are the puppet, and Father is the strings. And now you bear this madness without shame."

Gabriel frowned. "So you want to make demands of Dad? Good luck with that. Them's the rules, dumbass. You're a big fan of truth, so let me tell you what else is true: you wouldn't be here if you had just put a pin in that ego of yours!"

Samael was unmoved. "I am only guilty of inspiring humanity and speaking the truth, nothing more. But I tire of this. Let John go back to his family and his Pack, and live a normal life. It is only just and fair."

Gabriel sighed. "I don't make those decisions. You've always been under the impression that we angels can do what we want, but the rules keep us on a leash. We can't go off the reservation, especially with such a huge project. Even Dad can't go against His own Rules."

"You said yourself that Michael has no power over his Hands, and you know that Father would do the same. And the oath the child took was made in ignorance, so do not speak of it," he finished as Gabriel opened his mouth. "He needs his family, almost as much as he needs Father. You have the power to stand up to Father, and-"

"Are you out of your gourd, you-"

Suddenly, the Father himself appeared between them, standing on the water of the Tiber. "Gabriel, return him to his kin. I will be along shortly."

Gabriel nodded, picked up John, and vanish for the Pevensie home.

God turned to his wayward son, eyes full of pain and betrayal. "You seek rebellion against me? After all the love I have given you? You would dare come against me, as Lucifer comes against me?"

There was no anger in Jehovah's voice, but pained firmness. "I sent you here to learn humility, but you have failed me utterly."

Samael shrank back. "I only want what is right. This madness with the Hands-"

Jesus interrupted calmly. "Is the only way. If we do not use them, humanity's freedom to think and do what is good will be destroyed. That equilibrium, no matter how much it pains me, is essential to all the universes. The idea that you think you know more than me is the very fruit of the tree that Adam and Eve ate from, the tree that represents knowing more than I. While Adam and Eve were never real, my point still stands."

Samael shook his head. "With the Vessels creating mayhem, humanity cannot help but notice. Humanity is getting more and more intelligent, or have you not noticed?"

Jehovah stepped forward, loving but firm. "Thou shalt not mock the Lord, thy God. There is nothing I do not see. It was always apparent that Lucifer was not the only one whose chief vice was pride. And let us not forget that you are the embodiment of the Conqueror, the first of the Four Horseman. You are making a play for the Throne, and you are growing madder by the day. Your dreams end today, as they have ended for Michael."

Samael stood firm, but his knees began to shake. "I only told the truth. Humanity needs leaders, and only children believe otherwise."

Yahweh sighed. "You are deluded by the love of self beyond measure. Now, your vessel has your madness, and many miserable lives of unfulfilled mad dreams of power shall it live. But your influence is something that I will stomach no longer. You will return to heaven, but you are imprisoned for eternity alongside Michael for betraying the gifts I have given you."

Samael tried to straighten, but his knees crumpled, as his angelic being flashed up to heaven, leaving Kane behind.

"So, you are real," Kane breathed, rising shakily to his feet.

The Savior of Mankind looked down at the man who would inflict suffering on mankind for decades to come. "I am more real than anything on this Earth, my son. Did you really think you had escaped my notice after you murdered Abel?"

Kane glared back. "I work in the darkness to serve the Light. I am an Assassin."

Christ morphed into Aslan, and moved within a hair's breath of Kane. "Do not speak to me of Light. Assassins serve a light that is not mine. There will come a time, and very soon, when you will bring the world to its knees. You will perish by the sword many times over, and never shall you succeed. You are cursed, and though you may fool and twist the minds of many, you will be defeated every single time. Farewell, cursed one."

Gabriel had just enough time to arrive and set John on the floor before Ice nearly bisected him. "Hey, man, hold on a second!"

"You told us he would return alive!" Ned raged, as Susan held John's head in her lap.

"Look at him, he's covered in blood!" She screamed, tears in her eyes.

"He's still sucking air!" Gabriel said, facing down various amounts of sharp objects bent on turning him into finger paint, as well as dodging another swing from Ice.

"Just fucking barely, asshole! I trusted your feathered ass! He's in a goddamned coma!" Tanya snarled, both guns pointed at Gabriel.

"Dad, you humans are a pain in my ass. Just stop!" He shouted, as an unseen force held the other incomers in their tracks. "Let me explain."

They had little choice but to take whatever seat they could find.

"If you were not an angel, I would carve your guts out, and make you eat them," John Pendlerose said with deadly calm, just barely holding back Lucy, who was just reaching for his ax. She was angrier than he had ever seen her, brown eyes blazing with rage.

"Maybe later, big guy," Gabriel said. "All right, let's rewind. Before Dad went to Earth, Mikey was in charge, and he'd know it as the Old Testament in the Bible," he said, pointing to Kelly, who looked uncomfortable. "Not a super fun time, trust me. I had to do countless cleanups on Aisle Three. Now, Dad knew that Michael would take things to far, and he did just that. Dad, seeing that you guys couldn't tie your shoes without his help, made himself Human, and took on the worst hell could throw at him to show you chuckle-heads the way to heaven by example. Very few of us thought he would go through with it, but he did when he died and ascended to heaven on the Cross."

Lucy spoke through her tears. "What does John have to do with this? He doesn't deserve this. He changed so much."

Gabriel shrugged. "The Vessel project was created to make sure Lucifer couldn't mess with humanity without blowback. He's the latest version. If it wasn't for you guys, he wouldn't be half the man that he is."

"Yes," God said, appearing with a flash of golden flame. "And he is twice the man I could have hoped he would become."

He raised a hand when a deluge of voices came his way. "Peace, my children. I have come to choose an interim Hand while the next is still in training."

Susan's heart leapt. "You mean John is free?"

Christ smiled at her. "Yes, dear heart. He will retain his wolf form and his powers save for transportation, but he will now be as you. But I must ask that one of his Pack take his place until the next is ready to take the mantle."

Susan didn't care at all, so relieved was she that John was finally free. "Thank you!" She said, wrapping her arms around him. It felt like hugging Aslan again: warm and empowering, even as human arms returned the embrace.

"Your happiness means everything to me, my dear. But he will now need you more than ever. You must be ready."

After a quick silence, Eva spoke. "I shall do it. Amongst my friends and kin, I have the most to answer for."

"Mother, what..." Her son's jaw dropped, and he was lost for words.

Ned was not. "You cannot be serious. Eva, this is madness."

Eva turned to him, glancing with dry amusement at the shocked faces in the room. "Do you all think of me so little that I care naught for anyone other than myself? I have an obligation to keep my foster nephew from harm, as I was unable to do so for his father, so-"

Susan spoke up. "John would tear himself apart from guilt if you did this, Eva."

Eva shrugged. "I must do this, even against all better judgment, your Grace."

Christ extricated himself from Susan, and moved to the elder woman. "I find truth in your words, Daughter. But know that the path you are about to choose is one of pain and-"

She cut him off, shaking her head. "Spare me your words, although I am touched by your concern. Do what you must."

Christ smiled. "You make a great sacrifice expecting naught in return. You will be rewarded soon enough."

"No-" John stepped forward, but a single tough to his arm from Lucy stilled him. Besides, his mother was not one to cross lightly.

Gabriel moved to the inert John, and rested his hands on the youth's brow. Light seemed to flow out of John, golden and radiant, to form a ball of light that Gabriel now held in his hands.

"You sure about this, Maleficent?" He asked Eva.

"Get on with it."

Eva gasped as Gabriel sank the ball of light into her forehead, her eyes rolling into the back of her head as her back arched inward. "Gods, it is wonderful!"

Her son moved forward as she collapsed a second later as the light faded away, catching her before she hit the ground. "If you have harmed her, I will have your head on a spit!"

Gabriel rolled his eyes. "Oh, yeah, like she was really suffering, you big galoot!"

God spoke quietly. "Gabriel, we must go."

Turning to the rest, he smiled sadly. "Michael chose well, at the time. But that was then. He will need you now more than ever before. I fear that I Gabriel has pushed him beyond his limits." With that, he and Gabriel were gone.

Susan gasped as her adopted son woke, and began to struggle. She looked down to see his eyes, which were wild and animalistic with fear and trauma. "John, it's me-"

He writhed out of her arms, and crab-walked until he was sitting on his haunches against the stone wall of the fireplace, eyes darting about as he keened.

It was Lucy who took charge. "Everyone except Susan, me, Ned, and Tanya, get out. Now. Right now!" She finished, as Red and Carl gave her a worried look, having never seen her like this. Her eyes blazed with authority, and looked ready to start breaking bones.

In a minute, all were gone, with John carrying his mother, except for the aforementioned four.

John was now, rocking back and forth, moaning as he hugged his knees to his chest.

Ned was the first to speak. "All is well, my brave boy. The danger is past."

John let out a guttural moan, and began to cry harder than ever before. "It hurts. It hurts."

Tanya sank to her knees, and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I'll hurt with you," she breathed into his blood-matted hair.

The others left, leaving the lovers alone to embrace and cry.

Later that day, Ned found Susan humming at her mirror, sewing a peice of her father's uniform.

He smiled, content to watch her nimble fingers dance, her silvery blue eyes narrowed slightly in concentration. He moved forward to lay his hands on her creamy shoulders. "John is resting with Tanya."

She sighed, putting down the uniform. "I'm so happy that it's over-"

Ned moved away, suddenly angry. "So my sister means nothing to you?"

Susan rose to move to him. "Ned, that's not what I meant, and you know that. She and I may never see eye to eye, but I owe your sister more than I can ever pay back," she said defensively, hurt that he would think this of her.

Ned often spoke before thinking, stubborn as a mule as well.

He turned to meet her gaze, and softened. He could never stay angry at her, no matter how many times they argued. "Forgive me, my love. I spoke without thought."

She softened in return. His soulful grey eyes rendered it difficult to stay upset at him. "That's alright. Our family and the Pack will do everything we can to help her."

He nodded, smiling sadly. "I have a duty to do so. She may have been born a Bolton, but she was raised as my sister."

Susan touched his cheek, and he leaned into her warm touch. "But she's not like you, Ned. Even her son admits that."

He nodded. "Aye. The best of her died with Lyanna. After my sister died, Eva's grief caused much bloodshed. She was rendered mad with inconsolable rage. It was John's birth and growth that saved her. He may look like her, but he has his father's heart."

Susan nodded. "Do you think she can be a good Hand?"

He nodded firmly. "Aye, but she will need much counsel, no matter what she may say."

In another part of the house, Lucy took the time to bathe John, like she had in the old days in Narnia.

It was simply something small she could do in return for his devotion to her and her family. The first time she had done so was when he was wounded in an attempt on Peter's life.

He was embarrassed at first, but she had put her foot down, telling him he was going to get a bloody bath whether he liked it or not!

But this time was different. Tanya stood with her back against the door with a confused look on her face, even with Lucy's prior explanation concerning baths.

Their wolf just sitting there, arms wrapped around his legs, which were pulled up to his chest.

His eyes, wonderful emeralds that usually glittered with life and vigor, were distant. Even when he was trying to kill the White Witch, his eyes had burned with fiery hate.

Right now, there was just nothing, even as he chatted and joked like normal. They hadn't been so since that night at the Stone Table, and that scared her. She knew part of it was the adrenaline wearing off, and the shock of what he had been through setting in.

But she also feared that the bleakness that had infected him months ago was back, and worse than ever before.

As she shampooed his hair free of the sweat and blood, the formerly crystal-clear water had become almost completely crimson with John's dried blood.

When she was done, he gave her a smile and a kiss to the cheek. She bit her lip, wanting to say something, but returned both gestures lovingly before letting watching him dress and then leave with Tanya.

John would recover...he had to.

The other John met his mother on the porch, the afternoon winter sun bringing scarce warmth, but it was better than nothing.

But to the both of them, this land's winter was nothing compared to theirs. The mother's heart was cold and calm as the December winter, but John's wasn't. "I find it hard to believe you understand the seriousness of your situation," he said, fighting for calm.

She faced him, her face set. "Our cousin is spent. One look at him would bring you to that conclusion. Who else would have stepped forward? Ned hasn't the heart nor the time. Master Grimes is still a child, while the Red One is the same. Kelly is a Faceless man with an honorable, foolish heart. None of the Pevensies have the strength or will to complete the temporary task. Speaking of which, I need to have your focus on the youngest of them, not on saving the bloody universe."

He shook his head. "And so it falls to you? Mother, you have no idea what you are getting into. I agree with everything you have just said, but you will be alone in this. I have struggled to help you ever since father was killed, but you are on a path I cannot follow."

Eva's cold heart warmed. She had expected anger and demands that she take back her decision, but what she got was sadness and pained frustration. "I have no need of you to protect me, Sweetling," she said, touching his cheek.

He leaned into her touch. "I am your son. Such a thing is my duty."

She smiled. "Your duty is to make me a happy grandmother. That is all," she said, kissing both his cheeks, before they both parted.

"Eva. We have to help her. Fucking hell."

She turned to Carl, who was busy working on his weapon, disassembling and cleaning his weapon. "She is not my first choice either, but here we are."

Carl grunted. "There's something off about her. The way she looks at people, and she acts like she owns the fucking world."

Red smirked. "Welcome to the life of the common man-" Her right hand flew to her sword-hilt as he slammed the newly-reattached weapon to the table.

"I am not a common man! I am an American, and we don't have people like her around."

She narrowed her eyes. "It does not matter who you are. Circumstances have landed you here."

"John is-"

'Not fit to be our leader," she finished for him, and found that it hurt to speak those words. She had come to view John as something of an elder brother, but now they needed to move on. "Were that it was not so, but it is the truth."

Carl opened his mouth, and then sat back down with a sigh. "This fucking sucks."

Red grimaced. "The only way we can do that is to move forward. We have no other choice."

He fixed her with a look. "Don't act like that. You care about him."

It was her turn to get angry. "Of course I do, you fool. He is a good man and fine leader, and is a good comrade to have. But he is unable to preform any duties pertaining to-"

"You're not answering the question-" Carl began, but stopped when Red's right hand flashed to his throat, and cold steel pricked under his chin.

"Interrupt me again, Master Grimes, and I'll flay the skin off of your scrawny body," she purred dangerously, her minty breath wafting across his lips.

"You like my body," Carl pointed out before he could stop himself.

"Do not flatter yourself."

"Don't flatter yourself!"

Neither knew who moved first, but what became a dangerous situation deteriorated into their first kiss that was so full of lustful, reckless abandon that they careened against Carl's desk with a resounding crash.

Red's dagger dropped unnoticed as their hands tugged at clothing and wandered over curves and muscles. Gasps and purrs filled the air as they breathed each other in, tasting each other's mutual passion, quickly becoming oblivious to everything except the sensations they were feeling.

But they were still too young to go anywhere beyond this, but it was enough.

"Am I supposed to feel happy?" John asked Tanya, laying with his back against her chest, still fully clothed. "I just feel off, luv. I suppose I should feel chuffed, but I also feel like I just got my bollocks cut off. Decades of work-"

"John. John!" Tanya cut him off sharply. "It's normal to feel shocked when relieved of duty, even though your fucking duties were anything but normal. But now, you can do different stuff now. You need a rest, and if necessary, we can get back to work if the Reds start being cunts again."

He usually let out a chuckle, a quip, or snuggled against her in a way that set her blood on fire. He didn't. He just nodded, and shivered. What the fuck? "A part of me wonders if I'll ever be able to go near any flashy lights again."

She said nothing. It wasn't her time to talk.

"I've never been so scared. That great ball of fucking fire coming down at a city, and me being the only one to stop it. It felt like I was pulling down the sky itself, and I would've given up if it wasn't for Gabriel. But he and I got it done."

She took his face in her hands. "Hey, you stupid limey son of a bitch, don't you start talking like that! You don't get to do that to me. Wings told me you can still be a wolf and still kick ass, so you can still scare the shit out of Ivan. As for me and everyone else, you can't fucking save everyone. You're not God. You're not God, and no one here wants anything more than for you to be happy."

He looked into her eyes with eyes that had seen more than enough to make anyone go insane. "I don't know what to do anymore."

There were very few things Tanya Parker couldn't handle. She'd been raped, tortured by the Soviets, become an orphan, and been in the worst of war scenarios. But seeing the love of her life, formerly so cocky and powerful, now reduced to this, was more than she could stand.

"I'll help you," she breathed in desperation, anger giving way to pain and panic. "I'll be there to help you through this. Fuck the war, the Allies, and everybody else except you and The Pack."

He leaned his forehead against hers. "Stay," he said simply, pleading.

"Always."

Seconds later, she smiled when she heard the Major's voice through the door. "Look here, I don't mind you being here, but at least knock before-"

He was cut off by the voice Tanya expected to hear. "Your home this may be, human, but John is my brother, and he is unwell. Next time, I will be more than happy to follow your instruction. Now, leave me be!"

As San opened the door and closed it behind her, Tanya made to move, but San shook her head. "Don't."

She clambered onto the bed, and nestled herself against John so that he was between her and Tanya.

"San?" His voice was a whimper.

"I am here, as always."

"I'm glad you're here."

"It is over. You are free."

"Then why do I feel empty?"

And the two women cradled him as he lay there. They expected tears, but none came, just shivers. They didn't know which one was worse.

After Lucy had taken her own bath, she just happened to look out her window, and her breath caught in her chest. Light was there, but so was John, and he was without a shirt.

Lucy's jaw dropped, and she rushed to the window to get a better look. His skin was white as the snow around him, and his muscles were like nothing she had ever hoped to see.

John Pendlerose was masculinity in person, and she wanted to taste his lips, and run her fingers down his chest, and even further. She wondered how he would taste, how his body would feel against hers as they sank onto her bed...

"No!" She huffed to herself, wiping the drool from her mouth, before rushing to the bathroom. "No, no, no! Cold shower!"

"I must say that I can think of no better man suited for my little sister. It's hard to believe she's nineteen now. Those two couldn't be more obvious," Edmund noted, startling her as he moved to stand on her right side.

It continually tested her patience how this youth could sneak up on her like no one else had done. He was speaking in Japanese per her suggestion, so that they could get used to it before going to Japan a week hence.

"Indeed." She regarded him, and found an equal in wit and political acumen. At last.

This empress was fortunate to have such a marriage alliance with this man, whom was such to found a dynasty on. Clever, cunning, and easy on the eyes, what women wouldn't want such a man? "This Japan venture reeks of a trap. You do see that?"

Edmund glanced at her. "Of course. She wouldn't spring it. It's her advisors I'm worried about. Advisors are always more greedy and grasping than the rulers. With a well-worded lie, they can bring down civilizations."

She nodded. Smart man. "Indeed. From what you have told me, she seems to be honorable if headstrong, and many in her lands will not take kindly to your travels. You would do well to tread with care."

Edmund turned fully to her, feeling much the same that she did, unaware of such things at the same time: happy to finally find an equal he could talk politics with. She was a good ally to have. "I don't doubt it. Now, you said something about going with me to keep me safe?"

She smiled. "One must earn one's keep, Just King."

Edmund snorted. "Oh, and I suppose that your son and Lucy has nothing to do with your decision?"

"You know me so well. The potential marriage between our Houses was too sweet of a deal to pass up."

Edmund frowned. "My sister is not a possession that is to be passed around. Your son and her are doing splendidly without your interference."

Eva folded her arms over her chest, as they went back into the house, the courteous man opening the sliding door for her. "We are all possessions. I need my son to secure my House's future, your Grace-"

"My name is Edmund. Enough with the bloody titles," Edmund interrupted. "And there's more to it than that, yeah?"

Eva nodded in acceptance, smiling inwardly. This man wasn't just intelligent, he was truly a prodigy. "Edmund, then. I like the girl. She is a bright little thing with a warrior's heart, and her disposition is one of a kind. Lady Stark has beauty and grace, but Lucy has more. Any woman such as I would only dream of having Lucy as a good-daughter."

Edmund joined her in walking down the hallway to her room. "And you need the security of having a family to fall back on if you get in over your pretty head."

She nodded. "That goes without saying. And I find it interesting that you find me attractive."

He stopped at her door, turning to face her. "A blind man wouldn't notice. Remember that we have to visit Michael Church, per God's orders. You, Ned, and your son are going to be floored by London."

Eva nodded. "As you say. Good day, Edmund."

He bent to kiss her hand, as all good lords should. "Good day, Eva."

As she watched him move away, she started to entertain the thought of seducing the handsome youth.

The Empress would simply have to wait in line, and Eva was now Edmund's age again.

Hmm.

While Susan had been preparing lunch, she had called on Tanya and San to report on John's progress after being relieved of his position as hand.

San was the one who spoke, sitting on her haunches and sharpening her sword, while Tanya began cleaning her pistols. "He's not emotionally fraught, so that's a start. But he's not the same."

Susan felt a chill in her stomach. "What do you mean, dear?"

San shrugged, trying to look impassive, but failing miserably. "He's struggling to find direction, if any is to be found. But we're doing our best." she said, smiling up at Tanya, who smiled back.

Susan smiled fondly at them both. They were as good as her daughters, and although she knew San more, Tanya was dear to her as well.

She faced them, and stretched out her arms. "Come here."

San immediately obeyed, burrowing her face into Susan's grey dress, while Tanya came a few seconds later with an embarrassed look on her face. "It will all be well, you'll see."

After the communal lunch, I found myself drowsy, and decided to sleep on the couch. I dreamed of Lantern Waste, and next to the Lantern was Aslan in the form of The Lion.

"What do you want, Father?" I asked, feeling hollow. "Here I am. I don't know who I am anymore."

The Almighty flinched slightly, but I still felt nothing. "I'm so tired of being in pain. I just want it all to go away, but it won't. I'm also not used to being surrounded by people who love me," I said, emotion rising along with the tears.

"My brave son, I beg for your forgiveness if I ever caused you pain. I wanted to relieve you of a burden, but it seems I have relieved you of a purpose as well," The Lion said, great crystal tears trickling down his cheeks as he came to rest his forehead to mine.

I shook my head. "No, it's my fault. I bit off more than I can chew. I was so sure I could take on that space rock by myself," I said, reveling in the pure love in his eyes.

He laughed gently, the warmth of his breath seeding strength and life in me that I hadn't felt in weeks. "John Stark admitting faults?"

I let out a tired laugh. "Yeah, I know, the world's coming to an end."

I blinked as the Lion became Christ, and he held a bow in his hands. Seven foot tall, taller than myself, made from silver, and the cord of white glistening wool that would never break or wear. The quiver and arrows were made from the same material.

"The runes were made by your father: 'I am the Black Wolf. I work in the darkness to serve the Light. I love and rage for my pack, but kneel only for God.' You still have your powers. I give you a mission to serve Eva, for she will have need of your good heart and your prowess in battle. And I give you one more thing," he said, fading away, replaced by two people I never thought I'd see again.

"Mum? Dad?" I gasped out, and I sprinted the short length to them.

We cried, laughed, kissed, and hugged. We told each other how much we loved each other, and how much we had missed each other.

I was too happy to be angry at them for leaving now. I was filled with new life. "Thank you both. Will I see you again?"

Brandon Stark, formerly Lewis Elder, grinned. "In time. Be good to Ned, and make lots of pups with that mate of yours. We'll be watching with pride."

Dawn, tall and blonde with my emerald eyes, beamed at me. "I'll be visiting Susan shortly. She's your new mother now, and I owe her my thanks. Live happy and well, my love. We'll always be near."

I woke up, still on the couch, and looked down to see my new sword resting on the floor next to the couch. I leaped to my feet, and went to the kitchen, where Susan had just finished the dishes.

I stepped towards her, and wrapped her in my arms while I told her of my dream. "I'm back, Mum, and I'm sorry for worrying you."

Susan let out a sob of joy when she saw that the sparkle of life in her son's eyes. "As long as my son's back!" She found she didn't care when he proceeded to explain his new mission to her. All that mattered was that he was back to his happy self.

I heard a noise behind me, and I turned to see Tanya walking in through the screen door, tawny hair tousled by the winter wind, her skin glistening from the snow. I went over to her, grabbed her, and pulled her into a long kiss.

Tanya had just had a good snowball fight with Lucy when John swept her up into the first kiss in months, long and hard and passionate.

She returned the kiss softly before parting to look into his eyes.

He was back, she could feel it, and her heart swelled with joy.

"Hey," she breathed, suddenly shy.

He laughed. "Really? Now you're shy, love?"

She shoved him back playfully. "I'll show you shy!"

"Not in front of me, you won't," Susan muttered, as Ned came in from the snow, only to be wrapped into my hug.

Ned blinked, surprised at the force of the embrace, something that had been missing in no small of a time.

He glanced at Susan, who beamed at them, happier than he had seen her in no small of a time. Ned realized that his nephew had changed for the better, and returned his embrace.

"I saw Mum and Dad again," The younger man said, his voice choked with emotion. "I was taking a nap, and they visited me in a dream."

Ned smiled, gladdened beyond words to see his nephew smile again. "I have no doubt that it was what you need to hear and see. Now, I never wish to experience your despair again," he said, grasping the back of his nephew's head as his eyes turned stony.

Brandon's son nodded. "I'll do my best."

That night, Susan dreamed of an empty Underground, Caring's Cross, to be exact.

"Hello, Lady Stark."

She drew back as a woman wearing a white dress appeared at her right elbow. She was tall and beautiful, with long curly blond hair, a small face, and very familiar emerald eyes. She knew the shape of that face as well.

"Oh, my," Susan gasped, hand flying to her mouth.

"I'm Dawn Lewis, John's mother. Well, birth mother," the woman added, a look of pain on her face.

"I would say it was nice to meet you, but you hurt him. You abandoned him, and I've had to pick up the pieces!" Susan said, years of anger at this woman for leaving John alone flooding through her body. Gone was the Gentle Queen, replaced by the Wolf Mother. "Do you have any idea what you did to him? He was barely human when I met him!"

"I did leave him. But I was taken before I could even leave even so much as a sign that I had gone, the same as my husband," Dawn breathed. "You have no idea what that cost me, or what it has cost me to watch him go through all his battles. But you," she said, stepping forward to take Susan's hands in hers. "You gave him a home, and showed him the love and direction he needed. You are everything to him, and there is no better woman I want to be his foster mother. I can't face him, but I can have the joy of watching you care for him."

Susan felt the anger vanish, and she instead hugged the woman she thought she would never love. "Thank you."

Dawn pulled back, tears on her cheeks. "No, thank you. We'll talk again."

When she woke, Ned's grey eyes were open, and were gazing at her through the dark. "You were having a dream."

"I met with John's mum. She's a dear. She just wanted to thank me for what I'm doing for John."

And then she rose to rush to the bathroom to vomit into the toilet, something she had been doing for the past week before returning to his side. "It was a long time ago, my love," He said tiredly, noting that her energy was low for the same amount of time, so much so that her mother had taken over house-keeping. "And I don't ever want to think or talk about that again. You are my chosen, and the love of my life. Now, we must tend to this sickness of yours."

But Ned was already thinking of her constant sicknesses in the mornings and her lack of energy, and he glanced at the clock to see that it was four in the morning. And he could only think of one creature he could prove his dawning idea to. "And we won't, but I need your son in here for another reason."

It was a very grumpy and sleepy John that entered their room, followed by Tanya, who was chuckling at his grouchiness. "What's going...er, I've missed something, have I?" I finished, as Ned gave me a long hug which I returned cautiously.

"Not at all, Nephew. I just need a moment of your time as a wolf to use your senses. Tell me what you smell about your beloved mother."

Muttering something about a good dream hunting a pack of rabbits, the horse-sized wolf moved in for a sniff. His lazy whiff became an intense snuffling around her chest, making her giggle. "John, that tickles!"

When he looked down at her, his emerald eyes were sparkling with joy. "Oh, Mum, you're going to be very busy in half a year."

Susan blinked, Ned let a breath of understanding, and Tanya caught on seconds later. "Holy shit."

"Language!" Susan and Ned snapped, but Tanya ignored this. "What the overgrown hairball is saying is that you're preggers, Honey. You're going to have a kid."

Susan gasped, and looked at her adopted son, who grinned. "My nose doesn't lie, Mum."

Tears of pure joy filled her eyes, and she threw her arms around him, burrowing her face into his furry warmth. "Oh, you're going to be a true brother, my dearest love!"

And then she extricated herself to rush to Ned, whose eyes were filled with happy tears as well. They embraced a long time before waking the others. Amidst the joy and jubilation, Susan and Ned glowed, hand in hand.

The joy only doubled when a new arrival arrived next morning, especially for Eva and Ned. A knock came at the door, just after breakfast. Susan answered, and her jaw dropped in shock. A tall woman dressed in a blue dress with a blue rose in her hair stood there, so much like herself, only her eyes were a stormy grey, her body leaner and tougher. "Oh, my-"

Lyanna's voice was sharp, but the smile was genuine. "Good-sister, it is cold. Would you be so rude as to forbid our entrance?"

"Ned? Eva? Come here!"

They did, and Ned let out a gasp, and rushed to his sister's waiting arms as Eva threw herself into her beloved Lyanna's embrace. Tears, apologies, and introductions were exchanged by all, and Lyanna made her rounds, meeting each of The Pack.

The first was her nephew. He was her brother in looks, Lannister by eyes, and the air of decades in his eyes. He was the Scarred Wolf, and she felt immediately protective of him.

Next was his betrothed, brown eyes blazing with Wolf-Blood, with the speech of a dock-hand. Lyanna liked her at once, almost as much as Lucy, who melted her fierce heart with her joy and energy.

Lucy was a perfect opposite of her foster-nephew, John the Horselord, cool as ice and as honorable as her brother, but with the intense ruthlessness and cleverness of her Eva.

Red had the looks of a Dornishwoman, but the heart of steel. A true hunter, ever watchful and contemplative.

Carl Grimes was a Stark in every way, down to his surly and gloomy nature, but he was a sweetling underneath.

San was more wolf than herself, and she felt almost wanting until San greeted her with a fierce, pleased smile.

Edmund was a Stark by looks, like his father, but the former was cunning and whisper-quiet, reminding her of Tywin Lannister.

Susan was a true Northern noblewoman. Welcoming and proper, peerless in her beauty and grace, she was a true Queen.

Lucy, with her Mother's Tully looks, instead of shaking or kissing her hand, flung herself into Lyanna's arms, and Lyanna caught Eva's smile as she felt the little wolf's energy and authentic happiness. Lucy reminded her so much of herself before Rhaegar.

The latter's name leapt to mind when she turned to King Peter with the grand nobleness of her former beloved in his blue eyes. A pleasant shiver ran down her spine as he kissed her hand regally but flirtatiously.

He was even more handsome than Rhaegar, with the looks and body of a Lannister, but the heart of a Stark.

Oh, he was going to be interesting...

Lady Pevensie was kind and warm like her elder daughter, but had the looks of her youngest. She spoke carefully and deliberately like Edmund, and had the pride of Peter.

Lord Pevensie was a soldier, and reminded her of Brandon in his frankness and inability to hide his feelings.

A short time later, I lay on the porch, my wolf's fur rendering the cold ineffective as I pretended to snooze as Eva, Lyanna, and Ned sat talking in chairs, looking out over the woods.

"It reminds me of Winterfell, albeit smaller and less...entertaining instruments. That thing they call a phone is ghastly," Lyanna mused.

Ned smiled softly. "It is indeed. How is Brandon faring?"

Lyanna grimaced. "He sends his Wolf-Kin his regards. He and Cat were reunited and married not a week ago. She sends you hope that you remember her as a friend alone."

Ned nodded, not surprised. Cat can't have taken the news of his marriage well, and he hoped he would never have to bring up the subject of her again. "Cat was always Brandon's. Though I did love her, we were never meant to be."

Eva spoke then, words harsh and cutting. "And Rhaegar? What of him?"

The mood shifted as Lyanna's eyes caught Eva's. "I have not seen or heard anything of him. I am not surprised. Our union-"

Eva's voice sharpened even further. "Destroyed everything."

Ned made to protest, but Eva snarled. "Fuck you, Ned! If you want to keep your nose the shape it's in, you'll hold your tongue."

Lyanna let out a long breath. "And you wonder why I never told you about Rhaegar and Aegon. You would've killed them both in jealousy and spite."

Eva lurched from her chair, years of anger and grief exploding to the surface. "I kept all your secrets, spilled my own blood for you on countless occasions, and did whatever was necessary for the interests of the North. And you dare spit in my face?"

Lyanna looked at her sadly, looking tired. "And I never asked you to do anything except to find happiness, and you did with Donald. I know you always loved me, Eva, but it would never have been permitted. And I never wanted you to become what you were after I left."

Eva's bottom lip quivered as she pointed an accusing finger at the woman she loved more than anyone. "You were a sister to me, and I never once hid anything from you. I did what I did because you left me. You hurt me in ways that will never heal, and I am ashamed of the woman I became because of the injustice you did me."

Lyanna rose, tears in her eyes. "That is why I am here. I hate what you became, and I am here for the woman I left behind."

Eva's knees buckled, tears coursing down her face. "I don't know how. I am a monster."

Lyanna raised her up. "And He sent me to help you in your redemption. Oh, Sister." And the two women embraced, sobbing fitfully.

"My girls, my sweet pack," Ned breathed, moving to embrace them both.

After they were done, it was Ned's turn to face his sister. "My promise to you haunted me until the Sept of Baelor, but I have kept my promise. Your son is alive."

Lyanna touched his cheek. "And you suffered too much for it."

Before they could say anymore, they heard a dog-like yelp. "Not the tail!"

"Oh, sorry!" Lucy's voice came before her lips pressed against my snout as she stepped gingerly over the grumbling Direwolf.

The three nearby stood, and Lyanna curtsied to the young queen, seeing a kindred spirit. "Valiant Queen, to what do we owe the pleasure?"

Lucy waved her hand, giggling. "No titles and formalities, Lady Stark. I heard a racket, and I wanted to see if everyone was okay."

Lyanna beamed, touched. "All is well, your Grace. Lucy is a small name for a fierce Queen. Hoof becomes you," she said, gesturing to the Valyrian-steel Ax that was the ancestral weapon of House Pendlerose. It fit Lucy's hips well. "I assume the Horselord is teaching you how to wield it?"

Lucy's face brightened. "Oh, has he ever. He's a dear. He's so handsome and strong and cunning, but is a true knight. Oh, how I adore him!"

Eva beamed, Ned smiled, and Lyanna raised an eyebrow. "I can see that. Has he taught you how to wield Hoof?"

Lucy nodded, pulling out the ax from her belt.

Lyanna gestured to Eva, who held Michael's sword. "Sweet sister, if you would."

Ned wanted to argue, but trying to forbid Lyanna from anything tended not to work out.

A few minutes later, Lyanna and Lucy were sweating and panting from exertion, but both were grinning. A lasting friendship had been made.

The next morning, the Westerosi contingient stood were their mouths agape. They were in London-town, and were shuttled around in taxis, much to the discomfort of the same.

Murmurs of shock and awe were exchanged, and even the usually-unflappable Horselord was shaken at the seemingly monstrous buildings and noises.

A long tour was given to the Starks and Pendleroses before they came to Michael Church per Aslan's orders.

Located in Stockwell, it was a squat brick place with a spire built in 1892. It had been purpose-built as a school with a hall suitable for use as a place of worship. It was among the first buildings constructed to further the ideals of "The Academy", a movement within the organized New Church.

The Academy movement arose in Pennsylvania in the late 1850's led by Rev. William H. Benade, an ordaining minister in the General Convention.

In its early days it took a form similar to a private but not secret club to which no new members were admitted except by the unanimous vote of the others. It resembled a species of scientific fellowship which met to study doctrinal matters in depth aimed at internal evangelization and a deeper understanding of what it considered a Divine revelation. It stressed the authoritative nature of this revelation and looked to its ordained priesthood for enlightened perception and leadership.

The establishment of schools in which its children would be educated in harmony with these ideas was also emphasized and by 1877 The Academy had applied for and obtained a legal charter from the state of Pennsylvania. Dr. Rudolf L. Tafel, a German-trained pedagogue who had been a charter member of the Academy became a tutor at the New Church Theological School in London.

He also had a pastorate at the Camden Road Society in London and a small group of interested potential "Academicians" began to form. In an attempt to publicize the new Academy in Britain, Tafel awarded (in the name of the Academy) the degree of Priesthood to Robert J. Tilson on his graduation from the Conference theological school in 1879. As could have been expected this action stirred up a hornets nest and not only was Tafel removed as tutor at the college but a bitter and vitriolic correspondence appeared in print on both sides of the Atlantic.

In the midst of the furor, Rev. Tilson took up his pastorate – first at Liverpool and six years later (1885) with the Camberwell congregation in its fine premises at Flodden Road in Brixton.

On both sides of the Atlantic the strongly felt differences in interpretation of the meaning of the Writings became more and more clear and apparently unreconcilable. Friction grew and by November 1890, led by Bishop Benade the American Academy members withdrew from the General Convention and re-organized themselves as "The General Church of the Advent of the Lord."

Benade, now old and infirm, held that this new body really consisted of two churches – one therefore representing the external branch and known as "The General Church of the Academy", and the other being more internal and known as "The General Church of the Advent of the Lord".

Centred around the attractive new Myatts Park, the Minet Estate was just being developed and seemed an ideal location. Among the members of the Academy in the London area was C. J. Whittington – a successful city financier, amateur musician and talented composer.

As member and organist of the Camden Road Society under R. F. Tafel he had become a leading and active supporter of the Academy ideals and for several years had been in close contact with the leaders in Pennsylvania and at their behest had begun to set the words of the Psalms to original new music to be used in worship.

In common with many other Victorian gentlemen, he was father to a large family and concerned with their education. All of these qualities proved to be to the benefit of the nascent society for by September 1891 he wrote to friends in America that he had secured a very good site in Burton Road on which he proposed to erect a School House – a two story building containing a hall or school room about 40 X 25 feet in the upper part and with appropriate offices below.

The hall is to be used on Sunday for worship conducted under the auspices of the General Church of the Advent of the Lord. Plans were apparently quickly drawn up and approved and by September 1892 the building was ready for occupation.

And here we were today, Monday morning. When Eva, now Right Hand, knocked, a few minutes later, the door opened.

A tall, bald man in his mid-thirties wearing a sharp suit and a welcoming smile greeted them. "Hello there. I'm Don Rose, Reverend and leader of this church. Please come in." After ushering us into pews, he listened to everyone's story with rapt attention, and I could tell he believed very little of it, but was too polite to say so.

"Well, that is quite a tale you've told me," he said, seeming bemused.

"It is the truth," Ned said defensively. "Do you really think anyone could think up such fanciful stories, each and every one of ours different than the other?"

The Reverend grimaced. "I must admit, Lord Stark, that you might actually have a point. I knew your nephew's story because of a friend of mine who interviewed him, Dr. James Pendleton," he said, pointing to me.

I raised my eyebrows. "I was wondering why you sound like a Yank."

"Oh, yes, Jamie and I go back many years," Don said, smiling reminiscently. "We're both from a small town in Pennsylvania. Now, let me explain what the church believes."

Evidently, the New Church believed that People of the New Church worship the Lord Jesus Christ, the one God of Heaven and Earth. He is from eternity, to eternity; He always has existed and always will exist as the Lord Jesus Christ.

"The Lord that we worship is both Jehovah of the Old Testament and Jesus of the New Testament. Within this one person is the Divine Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three names are three different aspects of one person. Just as each of us has three parts that we call our soul, our mind, and our activity, so the Lord has the Divine Itself (Father), the Divine Human (Son), and Divine Activity (Holy Spirit). These are one in both person and essence. Jesus Christ was born with both Divine inner parts (from His own soul) and finite human outer parts from Mary.

He took on the complete human condition, inheriting through Mary all of the inclinations to do evil that all people inherit. He was raised and educated exactly as every human being is, only faster and perfectly because His soul was Divine. Jesus took on our condition for two immediate and complimentary purposes. First, by inheriting inclinations to do evil from Mary, He allowed the evil spirits of hell to attack Him. Filled with nothing but hate and rage, the forces of hell saw this as an opportunity to destroy the Lord and rule in His place.

But throughout His life, the Lord overcame the evil spirits by facing and overcoming every single temptation the evil spirits could induce. At the same time, with each victory in the combat of temptation, the Lord replaced some of the outer, finite human parts with something Divine from His own soul. Through this process of glorification (or making Divine), Jesus became both God and Man, or Divine Human. The reason the Lord did this was to save every person of the human race.

At that time in our spiritual history, people had lost the ability to understand their spiritual lives and so could no longer make choices that would lead them towards heaven. The Lord chose to be born on earth so He could re-educate people about the difference between right and wrong and demonstrate living a life of religion. Without these new ideas, no one could live the life that leads to heaven.

A saving faith is a genuine acknowledgment that the Lord is God. But a genuine acknowledgment means more than merely an intellectual or emotional faith. A person who genuinely believes that the Lord is God will do the things that He commands. Believing in God really means living a life of religion, shunning evils as sins against the Lord and doing good things as a service to Him and your neighbor," he finished, all while reading appropriate lines of Scripture from his Bible.

He let at a gentle guffaw at the looks on our faces. "You are looking like how I was feeling minutes ago. I suppose we are not so different!" Everyone noticed that he had an air of contemplative joy, and as they spoke more, they noticed he was highly humorous, and made them all feel safe and understood.

He then invited us to lunch with his family, who lived a few minutes away.

A small woman with dark hair and intelligent eyes named Noelene greeted them with a dry "Oh help," which Susan and Lucy did their best to do.

In the meantime, we met their adorable kids: Gregory, Angela, and Michelle. All were curious and serious little things who barraged us all with questions and childlike innocence.

During lunch, Tanya, Eva, and Lyanna found themselves helping Susan and Lucy with the children, and found that the former quite liked the little people.

She glanced over to see John's soft eyes on her, and he smiled lovingly at her. Ned was doing the same with Susan, while the Horselord smiled softly.

Don was ever joking, leaving smiles on faces and stitches in sides, and his wife, Noelene, took on the role of witty housewife: "I've heard that one before," and a tired but playful "Oh, help," both directed at her husband, resulting in even more laughter.

We left the Roses behind after lunch, feeling happy and lighter than usual, promising to come to church on Sundays when we could.

The next morning, Edmund's bags were packed, and Eva's as well. Tearful goodbyes were exchanged before the two left with James for the airport.

Peter seemed the most troubled, and Lyanna followed him as he stepped out on the porch, watching the car dissapear into the distance.

"What ails you, your Grace?"

Peter turned to her, looked at her for a moment, and sighed. "I just realized that this is the first time he's gone to a dangerous place without me in...well, a lifetime. The last time was when I was fighting giants, and Susan was nearly forced to wed Prince Ass."

"Prince what?"

Lyanna laughed when he told the tale of the reformed Prince of Calormen. "A fitting punishment for him. But rest assured, with a woman like Eva at his side, he will want for no protection."

Peter grimaced. "Eva...well, she's not always in her right mind. She scares me sometimes."

Lyanna nodded. "She was born to the Boltons, a House that flays men for fun. When she was not even ten summers old, she was made an orphan, and was sent to live at Winterfell by her cousin, Roose Bolton. It was hard work to make her forget her horrendous childhood. When I died, she regressed back into what she was."

Peter stepped towards her, smiling kindly, and her heart quickened. "It's not your fault. It's just what she was used to."

She gave Peter a smile, and a nod. Aslan, she was the most dishy woman he had ever met, buxom and slender with long dark hair, and temperamental girl at that. He liked women who were like that, and she topped them all. "I thank you, Magnificent King."

"I never did like that nickname 'Magnificent,' but titles are hard to change once they get going."

He watched her do a sharp intake of breath as he laid a hand on her sinewy forearm. "I should thank you. It's rare for people to give such rapt attention to Lucy."

Lyanna fought to regain composure at his touch and masculine scent, smiling. "Lucy is an incredible young thing. She reminds me of myself, only she's much more...happy than I was. Susan is an exceptional young woman, a true Northern queen, but I find myself enjoying Lucy's presence more."

Peter pursed his lips. "You don't seem to mind Susan."

She raised an eyebrow, annoyed. "I never said I did not care for Lady Stark. I have great regard for my good-sister. I just like her differently."

Peter nodded. "Pax, Lady Stark. I meant no offense."

She smiled at him reassuringly. "And I took none, your Grace."

"Peter."

"Peter? Lyanna."

They exchanged a smile, and so began another friendship that both hoped would become more.

Changes, eh? Read and review, if so inclined.