Susan and Dan had eaten a large meal of exotic foods. Much to Susan's amazement the girl had refused to eaten any of the onions which seasoned 3 of the dishes. Susan had thought that Dan would have had enough manners to eat whatever had been put before her but Dan had picked every onion out and placed it on the side of her plate.
Presently Susan was relaxing in what must have been Prince Aidan's sister's tent for it gave the feeling that it belonged to a female and the Captain had left them there. It was lightly furnished with two sofas. The whole tent was colored in colors ranging in bright yellows, blues and greens. The colors gave it an early spring feeling to it. It reminded Susan of a red and yellow tent of a similar style that haunted the edge of her memory. Dan lay on a sofa against the wall of the tent and appeared to be soundly asleep.
Suddenly the flap swung open and a willowy dark haired girl walked in. She couldn't have been any older than 14 and she dressed simply. The girl resembled the prince so much that Susan could not deny they were brother and sister. Her brown haired curled in just the same way and they had the same slender nose. Susan couldn't help but notice that the girl's eyes were lighter than the Prince's though.
"Angst!" Dan suddenly called out rolling over awkwardly. She continued in a sleepy mumble. "Don't worry. It'll wash off."
The girl and Susan both glanced over at Dan before making eye contact. The Princess covered her mouth trying to smother giggles. The incident all seemed very amusing to Susan. She was all but rolling on the floor trying to be as quiet as she could.
"I am Radha," the girl whispered with a smile as she approached Susan and took Susan's right hand into her own. It was a unique greeting to Susan but Radha traced a circle on the back of Susan's hand with her finger. "Your brothers and sister spoke so fondly of you. I was wondering if I'd ever get to meet you Susan."
"It's a pleasure to meet you as well," Susan replied not sure if she should return the greeting or not but tried it anyway.
Radha smiled in a way that Susan was sure the two of them would get along very well. Radha linked her arm into Susan's and led her out of the tent. They found a grassy spot with a blanket laid down. This was apparently a frequent place for relaxing and conversation.
Dan squealed face planting into the thin grass at the opening of the tent. She let out a series of grunts before trying to move her face out of the dirt.
"Shit." Dan stood up groggily. "That hurt, and you left me!"
Radha giggled almost uncontrollably. Susan shook her head at Dan's accusation. Did Dan expect Susan to take her everywhere she went.
"Did you know that you talk in your sleep," Radha asked between giggles.
"Maybe, what did I say this time?" Dan wiped the dirt from her face and took a seat on the blanket.
"I believe the exact quote was 'Angst. Don't worry. It'll wash off.'"
"That doesn't make any sense," Dan laughed and shrugged as if suggesting that she hadn't actually said it or didn't care.
"What were you dreaming about?" Radha continued ignoring Dan's response.
"Actually I was dreaming about—"
"Hello!"
All three girls looked up or in Dan's case up and back. The speaker turned out to be Susan's younger brother Edmund. He was shorter than his older brother and had a rounder jaw line. Standing next to him was Lucy. Well not standing so much as hurtling her self at Susan much in the same fashion as Susan had hugged Peter.
Susan stood to receive her sister. Edmund followed in a slightly more dignified fashion but abandoned it quickly to join in the hugging. The three of them looked something like a six legged monster from the way they hugged and wouldn't let go.
A deep laughter pulled Dan's attention away from them to Peter who had just walked up. She smiled at him from her spot on the blanket. He sat down next to her as his brother and sisters finished their hugging. It took a while.
Once everyone had sat back down Radha politely excused herself to go discuss something with her brother. Dan wondered if she should leave as well given that she didn't necessarily belong in the reunion. She looked over at Peter hoping for a hint about whether to stay or go. He merely smiled. There was a pause before he began to speak.
"You're welcome to stay," he ignored Susan's scowl. "You're story should be told as well."
Peter cleared his throat addressing Susan.
"You'll want an explanation now then?"
"Yes!" said Susan eagerly.
Peter began slowly.
"It all started the day we had supper with Aunt Polly and the Professor. A Narnian looking man appeared before us but said nothing. We figured something had happened in Narnia so we went about sending Jill and Eustace there."
"You see," Lucy cut in excitedly. "When the Professor went to Narnia he wasn't called there by Aslan but traveled there by magic rings. When he'd come back to our world though he had buried them by order of Aslan. So Edmund and Peter had to break into his childhood home and dig them up!"
"Luce," Edmund remarked before she could keep going. "Let Peter tell the story."
"It's alright Ed," Peter responded. "You two may add any details you like."
Susan sat smiling. She had to remind herself to listen to the story. Her mind kept straying to how wonderful it was to have her family back again. Her eyes were tearing up again out of sheer joy.
"Are you alright Sue?" Lucy asked softly.
"I'm fine," Susan replied wiping her eyes. "Please keep going."
"Well then we were all meeting to give Jill and Eustace the rings." Peter continued giving Susan a comforting look. "Ed and I were on the platform and the Professor, Aunt Polly, Lucy, Jill and Eustace were all on the train. Mother and Father were both on the train as well. From where I stood on the platform it looked like the train was taking the bend too fast. The train hit us with a bang."
"It didn't hurt though," added Edmund noticing the look of horror on his Susan's face.
"Then it felt like that time we were pulled into Narnia to go help Caspian. We ended up in a grassy field near a beautiful orchard." Peter continued.
"Well not all of us," interjected Lucy. "Everyone but Jill and Eustace. They were in Narnia helping King Tirian. They showed up with King Tirian soon enough though."
"Thank you Lucy," Peter nodded before going on with the story.
"Wait. I don't get it," said Dan reminding the Pevensies of her presence. She looked at Peter. "I thought you were the king of Narnia. I distinctly remember a very long title with King of Narnia in there somewhere."
"Then you weren't listening," replied Peter patiently. "I said, High King over all Kings."
"Oh. How do you rule if you're not in Narnia?" Dan inquired out of pure curiosity.
"Shut up," demanded Susan. "I need to hear the rest of this story."
Dan plastered a smug but defiant look on her face but kept silent. Peter sighed.
"When Aslan appeared we opened the door Jill, Eustace and King Tirian had used to join on the field. On the other side of the door was Narnia and Aslan brought it to an end. Many creatures joined us on the other side of the door before it was destroyed though. He instructed us to follow him 'further up and further in." We followed him to real Narnia. The place Narnia was made in the image of. We saw real England and found mother and father." Peter had managed quite a bit of the story with any interruptions.
"What do you mean real Narnia and real England?" asked Susan.
"Well, Sue. Every world is like a copy of another world. They're what we used to call the Shadow Lands. Everything there is more real and has more colors and well it's hard to explain them." Peter stumbled with his words having difficulty conveying exactly what he meant.
"We saw all our old friends as well!" said Lucy overjoyed from the mere memory of it. "Mr. Tumnus was there, and the beavers and Caspian and Reepicheep and everyone. It was wonderful!"
"Aslan came to us in real Narnia and explained to us that we never had to leave him again." Said Edmund when Lucy had finished. "We all realized what had happened with the train. Why we felt so complete. It wasn't at all sad. It was wonderful. I can remember just how happy I felt when he told us."
Edmund looked to Peter now who seemed to be calculating how best to tell this next part. He took a deep breath, let it out, and began.
"We were with Aslan and the others for many days." He paused and took another deep breath. "When he approached me personally. Powerful sorcerers from another world had begun to tamper with the ability to travel among worlds. They were searching for powerful warriors or anyone who could save there land from the invaders. He made me an offer."
Peter had stopped again. He looked Susan straight in the eyes.
"It's a dangerous thing to mettle with traveling among worlds. It's not at all appropriate either. We were all born in the worlds we belong too. Those of us who traveled between worlds are very few and Aslan did it himself so it was acceptable. Aslan asked me to come to this world, help them fight off their enemies and ask them to stop their experiments. I would return to life for a time.
"During our conversation Aslan was distracted by something. He seemed to hear something that I couldn't. When he returned his attention to me he changed his offer. Now Lucy and Edmund would come with me and we would meet you here."
Susan was given the impression that there was more but Peter had stopped. He, Lucy and Edmund seemed to be exchanging looks. They knew too. Susan wanted to feel betrayed by whatever had been left out but didn't have time with her mind still processing the events they'd told her.
"You weren't told anything about me?" Dan asked quietly looking toward Peter.
"No," he shook his head apologetically. "You were a bit of a shock really."
"Then why am I here?"
"I'm sorry, but I have no idea."
"Well you must have some sort of story," said Lucy.
"I had just come home from Gymnastics practice and was sitting in my room contemplating life the universe and everything. I got up in search of dinner. Opened my door walked through and was in a meadow. Then my jewelry box and make up bag appeared. Susan there showed up shortly after." Dan explained her eyes starting to tear up.
"You were crying too though," Susan accused her. "I was crying because my family was dead. Why were you crying?"
"Look its personal." Dan replied softly keeping her eyes fixed firmly on the ground. Her voice started to rise slowly as she continued. "I really don't understand why I'm here. You guys are here to save these people but I'm an anomaly. Probably an accident!"
She stood up and walked back into the tent. Lucy made move to follow but Peter stopped her.
"Let her consider what's happened," said Peter in a brotherly tone then switching to a more regal tenor. "Now that we're all here we should meet with King Shea."
-- --
Well that was the most intense chapter to write yet. I mean it's taken this long not because I've been too busy or lazy but because I've just rewritten parts that many times. I like what I've finished with though so it was all worth it. I love all you readers and the reviews. Yay!