Susan felt her body jerk violently, and she feltherself flying through the air. This is it, she thought. I'm going to die. She waited, expecting to hit the street at any moment. When she didn't, she still did not open her eyes; she did not want the last picture in her mind to be the dismayed faces of the people on the sidewalk.
When several minutes passed and nothing happened, Susan summoned her courage and opened her eyes, only to close them again due to the brightness. The sun was shining more brilliantly than ever. As her eyes adjusted, she was astonished to find herself standing in the middle of an open field. The sky was blue and cloudless above her, and she could see mountains in the distance. The field was covered in wildflowers of every kind, some of which she had never seen before. Hills dotted the landscape, and forests grew thick and green. Susan gazed in awe at the splendor around her and wondered, "Do I dare hope that I am in Narnia again?"
She suddenly felt insecure in the presence of such magnificence. She wished that she was not in her dreary funeral clothes; they were such a contrast to her surroundings. Then, as she glanced down at herself, she discovered that she was not in her black dress at all but a soft, silver dress that was as comfortable as it was beautiful. It felt familiar, somehow, although she could not remember where she had worn it before. At any rate, she was relieved to be in real clothes instead of the clothes of mourning.
Susan saw something out of the corner of her eye and turned to see something she had not seen before. Two beings were walking toward her, and as they drew closer, Susan realized what they were. She did not fear them, for they were noble creatures in the land of Narnia. One was a unicorn, and the other was a winged horse.
Jewel and Fledge had been contently grazing together in the field when they looked up and noticed Susan standing there. They approached, not cautiously but curiously. Susan watched as they neared, and could not remember when she had seen two more beautiful creatures. Jewel spoke first when they met. "Daughter of Eve, your face is new. What is your name?"
"Susan Pevensie."
Susan noticed a strange look pass over their faces, as if they were trying to remember something. Her name sounded distantly familiar to the two creatures, but they could not recall where they had heard it. Their concentration made Susan uncomfortable. "Please, can you tell me where I am?"
Fledge spoke. "Why, this is the land of Narnia, Aslan's country."
Susan trembled with happiness; she could hardly believe her ears. "How is that possible? Aslan told me I could never return to Narnia."
The animals looked at each other. "Well, she was not here during the last battle of Narnia," Jewel whispered. He turned to Susan. "We shall take you to Aslan. It is time we were getting back, anyway."
Fledge whinnyed. "Of course, the feast! Do you think we shall get back in time?"
"Feast?" Susan asked.
"This morning, Aslan announced a celebratory feast. He said something about a loved one who is returning to him."
Susan walked between the two animals across the countryside. They talked and talked about the last battle and the end of Narnia (the one that she knew), but Susan was lost in thought. A loved one? Returning to Aslan? Could it be that he is celebrating my return? Susan wondered. Her heart quivered with the possibility, but at the same time, she was afraid. What if she wasn't who he was referring to? What if this was all a dream, and she would wake up in the hospital before she could see him or her family? Her thoughts clouded her mind, and worry soon overcame the hope in her heart.
"Here we are, Susan."
Susan looked up and was amazed to see large golden gates. She heard sounds of merriment coming from within. Looking past the gates, she saw people and creatures dancing, singing, and playing instruments. Farther still, she saw long white tables with steaming food and large flagons of drinks. She wasbreathless at the sights, sounds, and smells coming from within the gates.
The gates suddenly opened, and Jewel and Fledge led Susan into the city. Dazed, Susan followed, and was surprised to find that the merriment stopped upon her arrival. Every creature stopped and stared, curiously, as the unicorn and winged horse led Susan up the street toward a large hill. Susan recognized the faces of her family, staring at her with the same concentration that she had seen on Jewel and Fledge—the same wonder as to where they had seen her before. She noticed Professor Digory Kirke and Aunt Pollly standing to the side, with Eustace and Jill nearby. She saw the beavers,Tumnus the Faun, Caspian with Doctor Cornelius, Trumpkin the dwarf, and Reepicheep the talking mouse. All bore the expression of concentration.
There were countless others that she did not recognize, and they also had the same expression. They all had either served Susan when she was queen or heard stories in the centuries that followed, but now, as she walked, they could not recognize her. Susan was slightly troubled by their stares and fixed her eyes on the hill straight ahead of her.
In the next moment, she was unaware of everything around her, and her heart gave a great leap of joy. For on the hill, with light shining all around him, was Aslan himself, more regal and majestic than Susan had ever seen him. She left Jewel and Fledge and began running toward Aslan, throwing away every care she had and fell at his feet. Aslan touched her forehead with his nose. She noticed that he seemed just as happy to see her as she was to see him. Susan was suddenly reminded of the night that she rejected Aslan, the night that caused her to completely lose faith in Narnia. The shame of that recollection caused Susan to weep, and she looked at the ground, too ashamed to look in Aslan's eyes.
Aslan spoke with more compassion than Susan had ever heard. "Daughter of Eve, do not be troubled. Look at yourself!"
Susan looked down at the shimmering silver dress she wore and realized where she had worn it before.
It was her own coronation gown. She was Queen Susan once again.
Susan looked back up at Aslan and smiled through her tears. Aslan smiled back and, looking to the crowd, announced: "I present to you: Queen Susan the Gentle!"
Susan looked back and saw the crowd erupt. With Aslan's words, everybody remembered the experiences and stories. Everybody cheered and clapped, and Susan saw her family hugging one another and laughing. Lucy broke away from them and ran toward Susan. The rest of the family, and then the crowd, followed. Lucy jumped into Susan's arms, laughing and weeping, and Susan was then surrounded. Susan smiled and cried, looking back at Aslan as she was enveloped in hugs. Aslan nodded and spoke once again. "We have a celebration to begin, for the lost queen has returned home."
With that, the instruments, singing, and dancing resumed, and the feast began. Susan sat reunited with her family, and old dear friends came and welcomed her warmly. Throughout the party, Susan wept, but her tears were tears of joy. She could not imagine ever being sad again.
Queen Susan was finally home.
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Author's note: There you have it! Thanks to all my readers out there and for your advice. I hope you've enjoyed my first fanfic! And as usual, read and review, and be nice, please!