Hey, sorry about the long wait... I've been sick and caught up with getting back into the school routine. Here's the next chapter! Enjoy!

I don't own any of the Narnian characters except for Rhianna, Darkmoon, and Lilyflower (she's a one-time appearance, though, so don't mind her too much!) Love Rhianna and Darkmoon well for me!

Chapter Thirteen: Brush With Death

Soft voices spoke in low tones beside her, one smooth and gentle, the other pleasant and light. Very slowly, Rhianna opened her eyes. "Oh!" the small female faun at her bedside gasped, nearly dropping her tray of food.

Susan spun around. "Rhianna!" she exclaimed, her eyes lighting up. "You're awake! I thought I might never see those beautiful blue eyes again!" Gingerly, she bent and touched the elf's forehead, her eyes turning soft and full of sympathy. "How do you feel?"

"Like I've been bowled over by a hundred elephants," Rhianna admitted ruefully. Her eyebrows drew together in confusion. "What happened to me?"

Susan opened her mouth to respond, but a cry of joy came from the doorway as Lucy shot into the room and threw herself Rhianna's arms. "Lucy!" Susan reprimanded, "you'll hurt her!"

Rhianna laughed. "Actually, Su, this is the best medicine I've ever had."

"Lilyflower said you were awake," Lucy said happily, her voice muffled in Rhianna's hair.

"So…" Rhianna said slowly, "what happened?"

"Well," Susan began as Lucy shifted and snuggled into the crook of the elf's arm, "Peter rushed in to stop the Witch from killing you, then Aslan came. His roar sent terror through Jadis' armies and they fled. But, according to Peter, one brutish ogre decided to take a few Narnians with him. He ran you through from behind as he passed."

"Then why am I still…?"

"Still alive? Lilyflower – she's your nurse faun – said he aimed poorly and missed your vital organs; otherwise you would have been dead before you hit the ground. Even so, you were inches from death when Lucy administered her potion to you, and it took longer to heal you than it did anyone else. Even after you healed, the trauma left you unconscious for almost a week."

"A week?" Rhianna echoed weakly, "It's been that long?"

"Yes, it has," a deeper voice came from the doorway. Peter strode across the room and stood by her bed, grinning boyishly. "Took you long enough." He still looked the same, save for the new depth and maturity behind his eyes, and the lines of his neck and jaw were more sharply chiseled. But something had changed, something deeper…

"What's happened since then?" Rhianna asked.

"Aslan killed the Witch," Lucy supplied.

"And Peter and the other warriors routed the rest of her followers," Susan said.

Rhianna nodded. "And Darkmoon? Is she…?"

"She's fine," Peter said gently, "she's in the Horse And Unicorn Quarters, hitting it off well with that big chestnut stallion." He winked mischievously.

"What else?"

The three siblings traded glances. "We wanted to wait, Rhia," Lucy said, shortening Rhianna's name affectionately, "we really did."

"We even pushed it back a few days," Susan said.

"I'm really sorry, Rhianna," Peter added, "but Aslan didn't want to delay it."

"Delay what?" Rhianna was thoroughly amused by their responses and her dark blue eyes twinkled. "Come on, out with it."

"You missed the coronation," Susan finally said. "We really wanted you to be there – Edmund most of all – but we had to take care of things and Aslan wouldn't wait, so we –"

"I understand," Rhianna cut in, "It's fine, really. I'm not upset with any of you. I would have agreed with Aslan myself, if I had been in his place."

"But you didn't miss the ball!" Lucy announced. "It's set for tonight!"

"Will you be strong enough by then?" Peter asked, concern darkening his vivid eyes.

"I'll be fine," Rhianna replied. "In fact, I'm planning on getting up within the hour. Don't protest," she added quickly, seeing the objections forming on their lips, "let me set my own limitations."

Peter looked as though he might protest anyway, but at a stern glance from Rhianna, he nodded. "I have a few things to attend to," he excused himself, "And Lucy, you have an archery lesson, hurry!"

Giving Rhianna a quick kiss on the cheek, Lucy got up and followed her older brother out of the room. Susan also stood, but instead of leaving, she went to the wardrobe, pulled it open and rifled through the bottom, straightening at last with a folded white tunic in her hands. "I thought you might like to see the damage," she said gently, handing it to the elf. "Peter wanted is disposed of, but I knew you would want to see."

Taking it by the shoulders, Rhianna allowed it to unfold itself. When she did, her elegant eyebrows shot up. "I survived this?"

"Barely," Susan replied dryly.

A narrow slit – from the sword – entered the fabric just to the left of her spine and below her ribcage and came out level with her navel. All around the two spots, a reddish brown stain was still visible – apparently the washer had been unable to scrub all the blood off. The elf uttered a low whistle. "That will make quite the scar."

Susan shook her head. "No scars. Lucy's potion heals totally and completely."

Rhianna nodded thoughtfully.

Susan stood. "Well, I have to go. Oh, and by the way," she added, stopping at the door, "I think it's amazing that you're an elf… and it explains a lot about you." Noticing Rhianna's startled look, she quickly explained, "I noticed your ears while cleaning your hair, then went to the library here in Cair Paravel – which is enormous, by the way – to look it up. The description matched you perfectly."

Rhianna smiled ruefully. "So now you know. It's just as well – I don't want to keep secrets from my monarchs."

"None of that, Rhia," Susan said affectionately. "I um… took the liberty of taking your measurements and asked Darkmoon what your preferences are." She nodded toward the wardrobe. "All those are yours. Feel free to wander around Cair Paravel, but take it easy, okay?"

"I'll behave, Rhianna replied, winking. Susan smiled in return and ducked out.

Once she was alone, Rhianna leaned back against her headboard, running over her physical abilities. Confident in her rapid physical recovery, she decided to explore Cair Paravel and visit Darkmoon. Carefully, she swept back her covers and swung her legs over the edge of the bed, taking stock of her surroundings. She had been given comfortable accommodations; a roomy suite with a modest parlor through a door to the left of her headboard, a washing room to her right, and a dining area beyond the parlor, accompanied by a small store of snacks and lightweight foods. The left wall was largely given over to an elegant set of ornamental doors leading out to a scalloped balcony overlooking the sea – a beautiful sight if there ever was one. Exploring the other rooms, Rhianna discovered, much to her pleasure, that the main entrance to her rooms was through the parlor and that she could lock her bedroom door. Doing so, she found a full-length mirror in the washroom and examined her appearance. After washing her face and hair, she declared herself fit to depart, choosing to remain in the simple white, lightly embroidered, long gown she had on. Selecting a pair of soft white slippers, she slipped out of her room, nearly bumping into the small female faun she'd seen in her room earlier.

"Oh, my lady!" the faun named Lilyflower exclaimed, "Should you be up so soon?"

"I'll be fine," Rhianna assured her quickly before moving past her and following the hallway to its end. Flights of steps leading both up and down met her and she chose the descending flight to the main hall.

She prowled around Cair Paravel for almost an hour, taking time to memorize her way around. She found to throne room – where Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy were conducting Narnia's affairs – the ballroom, the visiting dignitaries' suite, the council chambers, the dining hall, and the entrance to the kitchens. She also found the library and vowed to return there later in the day, after she visited Darkmoon.

The sun was approaching its zenith as Rhianna gracefully leapt the fence of the Horse And Unicorn Quarters and landed nimbly on the other side. Several horses looked at her curiously and an elderly female unicorn approached. "Can I help you, dear?" she asked Rhianna.

"I was looking for a friend – Darkmoon. She's –"

"Yes, yes, I know her, dear. She's become quite the hero around here, as she nearly lost her life while carrying the smaller animals to safety during the battle. She is such a charming young thing. Climb on my back, child; it's quite a distance from here to your friend's home."

Unlike horses in the human world, who are kept in narrow stalls and fenced-in paddocks, the equines of Narnia who lived at Cair Paravel were given a large, open space which was occupied by stands of various trees, each growing in densely-spaced circular patterns, thus providing privacy, shelter, and comfort. Darkmoon's grove was situated in the southwest corner of the land set aside for their accommodations, a lovely circle of silver maples. The mare came out to greet her two-legged friend and quickly ushered her inside to show her around. The fauns had carefully constructed and placed mangers and bedding in each shelter, while the horses who lived in them were free to add their own decorations. As Rhianna admired a lovely tapestry that draped across several branches, Darkmoon stirred up the dry, fresh grass that served as her bed and lay down. Rhianna joined her a few minutes later, snuggling against the soft warmth of Darkmoon's side. They talked for a long while before dozing off, just content to be together.

When Rhianna woke a few hours later, the sun was beginning its descent toward the western horizon and the world around them had been clothed in a hazy, sleepy atmosphere. She sat up and stretched, frowning as she felt the pull of tender muscles; she was still recovering and remembered almost too late to go easy on herself. Darkmoon raised her head, her dark eyes watching Rhianna intently. The elf ran a hand through her chestnut hair and looked back at the mare, smiling slightly. "I should get back. They'll be wondering where I've gone."

Darkmoon nodded and got to her feet. "I'll take you back."

Rhianna smiled gratefully and swung up onto her friend's back. Once she was firmly seated, Darkmoon set off in a gentle canter towards the glittering spires of Cair Paravel.

Author's Note: And to make up for some of those short chapters... here's a nice long one!