Old Memories, New Life
Disclaimer: I don't own Narnia, no matter how much I wish I did.
God damn it all!" A tall ruby-haired girl groans as the next man haled the bus slowing it down once agian. "I will die if this bloody bus is stopped one. more. time." She moans as the bus jerks a few places, then stops. She waits, then sighs with relif as the bus moves, and kept moving. She smiles, looks back and panics. The bus and the world are behind. Is she dying? She doesn't know. She doesn't care, now that she thinks of it. She has nothing to live for. Her mother is dead from the bombings, the letter of execution for her father had come a week ago. The grief hadn't caught up with her yet, but is just did. She wishes she really is dying. It would be easier than life, easier than any thing else...
"Ah!" Anastasia gasped and landed hard on her bottom. She looked around. She was sitting on a warm beach, curled into a ball. Water lapped the shore near her. The pain had not gone, but it was lesened somewhat. Perhaps being somewhere as beautiful as this numbed pain.
She smiled and kicked off her shoes. She would try to have fun, where ever she was. Mama would have told her to do that. It didn't matter where she was, anyway. She didn't have any friends... not since Peter, her best friend, had moved to Finchely. She missed him, but would probably never she him agian, so there was really no point in living, or being where she was before. Smiling sadly she ran into the water, and untied her hair, letting the burgundy strands float around her head.
'"Peter!" Susan hollared into the kitchen. Peter and Edmund entered into the hall, both holding sandwitchs. They had both missed dinner, as they had been talking with the Archenland couirers. "There's someone on our beach, I don't know who, but..."
"I'll go" Peter said calmly.
"Fine" Susan said
"Don't be silly" Edmund said. "I'll go. It's Peter the Archenlanders want, anyway. They won't mind if I leave, but if he does… we are in the middle of peace talks, after all."
"Fine" Peter sighed, and muttered "Stupid peace talks" Susan said: "We need those Peter, and you know it" Peter groaned and Edmund grinned. Ed left for the stables, and Susan headed to the archery butts. Peter went to wait in the strategy room for the Archenlanders return.
Anastasia groaned and rubbed her head. She was going to get sunstroke out here! She walked back into a cover of trees and sank down upon the soft grass with relief. Then she looked out. Trotting down from the high castle that she'd noticed before came a large horse. He was a chestnut, and his rider swayed on his easy gait. The rider wore brown breeches and a green tunic over a linen shirt. He looked relaxed, but Anastasia couldn't help noticing the way the sword on his hip seemed part of him. Years of watching her Father fence told her he knew how to use the thing.
"Fair Lady!" his voice was childlike. Anastasia got up to have a look at his face and stopped. He was a child. He had black hair, and looked no more than eleven. She left the shade and went to meet him. "I-" he began then stopped. Close up, he looked familiar, but she wasn't sure how. The boy jumped from the horse. He was staring at her clothes. "Where did you come from?" he asked.
"Uh-the bus, I guess…" Anastasia didn't know how to answer the question.
"No, what country, what continent?"
"Um-England, Europe."
"Is your country at war with Germany?" He asked, his head tilted to one side. God that was familiar.
"Y-Yeah"
"What's your name?"
"Anastasia." His eyes widened
"Rowling" he breathed "I've missed you Taz." How could he have not seen it? The chestnut hair, same color as Phillip, the pouty mouth, the sparkling hazel eyes, her unique scent of lemons and cinnamon, all mixed together.
"Edmund?" Tears were forming in her eyes. She bent and Edmund ran at her. She held him tight. He looked at her, smiling, and she saw the little six-year old she had played with at age nine in his eyes.
"Swing me around Taz?" he asked head tilted again.
"You're so big!" Taz was laughing.
"Pweaz?" he pouted, as he had when they were little.
She groaned. "That's unfair… Fine." She grabbed his arms and began to turn until his feet left the ground.
Peter was leaning out the window the talk to Susan and Lucy at the archery butts when Edmund met Anastasia. He looked up, however, as she began to swing him around. His breath caught in his throat. There where only two people Edmund allowed to do that to him. One was fighting in the war. They hadn't seen the other for five long years, but one of them was here, in Narnia! By the long red hair flowing around the two, he was damn sure it wasn't his father.
"Look!" He pointed to them. Susan and Lucy looked, and began to run. The strategy room was on the ground floor, and Peter simply leapt out the window. He caught up with Lucy and Susan.
"You jumped!" Lucy cried incredulously "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine!" Peter said. Their talking alerted the two on the beach of there arrival. Taz dropped Edmund to his feet, and began to run at the approaching party. He followed her. She met Lucy first, and scoped her up in her arms.
"Eight!" she cried "I can't my little Lucy is eight."
"Hey Taz!" Lucy smiled at her shyly.
"I'll have to get to know the big grown up Lucy soon" Taz remarked "That'll be fun. What d'ya say Lucy-lu?" Lucy smiled more confidently, and Taz let her down. She immediately was swept into a hug from Susan. Taz hugged her back warmly.
"I missed you" Susan said, her mouth trembling with happiness.
"Same here." Taz smiled "Being an only child is no fun at all." They let go, and Taz turned to the last one: Peter.
"Hi Taz" Peter said, hand out stiffly. Susan put a hand to her forehead and groaned. Lucy giggled, and Edmund's shoulders were shaking with mirth. Taz took one look at him, and ignoring the outstretched hand, ran at him, and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. She was shaking. The others thought she was laughing, until they saw Peter look at her worriedly. "Taz?" he said "Taz?" she shook her head and buried it in Peter's chest. He picked her up, and she wrapped her legs around him, sobbing. He carried her under the trees, and looked up to see Susan, Lucy and Edmund setting off to the castle. He stared.
"Someone has to talk with the Archenlanders" Edmund cried. "and you need to talk to Taz. We'll see you later."
Peter ignored them. His mind was with the girl in his arms.
Hope you like! It's my first fic that I've published, so please be nice! I don't mind consrtuctional critism though. Tell me if you notice a problem, just be nice! Thanks!