Chapter Six
There were still two months left until Christmas. Rose was growing lonely, all alone again at the Kirke estate. Mr. Taylor was walking further each day. By the end of November Rose was taking him all the way down and through the gardens for his walks.
Peter wrote her often, and she wrote him back, sometimes tucking a small paper painting in the envelope. His letters kept her company. She would read them over and over again until the next one would come.
My Dearest Rose,12-2-46
I can hardly stand thinking about the time that stands between now and our next meeting. I miss you.
Our mid exams will be taken in two weeks, and then I will be boarding the train to take me home. I can almost feel the stress dropping off of my shoulders at the very thought of it, but for the present time I remain strained under books and studies.
I am very excited about seeing Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Mother and Father again. They are all anxious to meet you too.
Wait until you hear what Edmund and Lu did while at our cousin's. They'll want to tell you face to face.
I'm counting to days until I see you again, Milady.
Love,
Peter of Narnia
By the time two weeks had passed, Mr. Taylor was as well as could be. He and Rose had been given the job of decorating for Christmas. Rose also helped Mrs. MacReady prepare the family bedrooms.
Mr. and Mrs. Pevensie and Susan were the first to arrive, on the 22nd. Rose felt very awkward around them, but they were all very sweet. Susan was the same age, but she acted older. They did get along however, and Susan spent hours telling her stories about America.
The next day Peter stood in the doorway. Rose stayed on the staircase and watched his mother embrace him and his father shake his hand. Susan hesitated a moment, then threw her arms around him and clung to him for a minute. They continued to greet each other for a few moments and then Peter looked around. His eyes wandered upward and met Rose's. He smiled and she felt butterflies and shyness all over again.
Their eyes stayed locked as she walked down the stairs and stood there, suddenly timid. Peter paused for a moment, then rushed forward and caught her up in a hug All timidity melted away and her face took on a huge smile.
"I missed you." He whispered.
Mrs. Pevensie seemed a bit shocked at the way Peter was treating the nurse, even though he had written telling her that he had grown close to her and that he had invited Rose to spend the holidays.
Before Peter even had a chance to put his bags away the door opened again, bringing in 10 year old Lucy with a huge grin, and 12 year old Edmund, with his chin high and chest out. Their mother and father exclaimed over them first, then Susan, then Peter.
"This is Rose." Peter introduced her, slipping his arm around her wait.
"Nice to meet you." Edmund said, sticking his hand out.
"You're just like Peter described you." Lucy told her, and hugged her.
Rose stayed in her room for awhile, knowing that the family needed time to themselves to catch up. She wrapped the portraits of the three siblings in paper, planning on giving them to them for Christmas.
About 3 hours later there was a soft knock at the door.
"Come in." Rose called. In came Lucy and Edmund.
"Oh!" Lucy exclaimed. "Peter said that you painted, how lovely!" She moved in towards the pictures.
"Look, Ed, it's the fauns…and…Prince Caspian! My, he looks young there. Tell us all about your adventures in Narnia!" They spent a long time sitting and exchanging stories. Lucy and Edmund's side of the stories can be found in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Prince Caspian.
Later on they all had dinner in the dining room. Lucy insisted on sitting at Rose's one side, but Peter claimed the other.
After dinner Peter and Rose bundled up and walked outside. Lucy and Edmund could see them holding hands from their window.
"Oh Edmund, I think they're about to kiss!" Lucy called from the window.
"Then don't watch, goose." Edmund said dully from the bed where he was reading.
"Oh…they didn't. They started walking again." Lucy's voice was full of disappointment.
"Maybe they knew they had a spy." Sarcasm dripped from his voice. Lucy sighed and climbed into bed.
The next day brought several inches of snow. Lucy begged everyone to go out for a snowball fight, but Susan insisted that snow fights were childish.
"She's even forgotten about Narnia." Lucy whispered as they pulled on jackets. "She seems to care more about being grown up. But I think it's really just the way she's dealing with the pain of not being allowed back."
Outside they ran and laughed and threw snow at each other until it as too dark and they were too tired to continue.
Inside they drank cups of hot chocolate and huddled around the fire. Their cheeks were bright pink and they were pretty weary from using all of their energy.
"This is such a lovely Christmas Eve." Lucy sighed, and the others smiled.
Christmas morning dawned bright and clear. Everyone gathered in the dining room for a large breakfast, then moved into the sitting room that had been decorated. They exchanged presents and Rose gave each of them the paintings. They laughed over the differences and likenesses of the pictures.
When Peter and Rose were alone later he gave her a ring, and she answered with a "yes." They set the date for the spring.
Peter announced the engagement right before everyone left after their week together. The wedding would take place right after he graduated. In the meantime Rose moved into an apartment near the college and worked at a hospital. She also began to get the apartment ready for when Peter would move in by adding little things that made it a home.
When spring bloomed, Rose made a lovely bride. Susan and Lucy were her bridesmaids, dressed in pale blue. Edmund served as Peter's best man. They were married in the gardens at Professor Kirke's house. Rose wished that they could've been married in Narnia, where Aslan could watch, but she had a feeling deep down that he was watching anyway.
After they had been married a year, Rose and Peter boarded a train that would take them to visit Mr. and Mrs. Pevensie for Christmas. It made a stop and Edmund, Lucy and Susan climbed on, and took seats next to them. They exclaimed over little Taryn, and took turns holding her.
Suddenly the train gave a shriek and a lurch. They could hear the brakes grinding, but not in time. Everything happened at once, and then it was still. The five kings and queens and baby princess found themselves in the true Narnia. Aslan was there, Tumnus and Caspian and Trilian and Reepicheep and everyone were all there too. All of the things that had made Narnia imperfect were gone. And so began the beginning of forever.