A/N: Wow, this was a really hard chapter to write. I'm not sure if I achieved what I was trying, but I'm putting it out there anyway. I borrowed a few of my favorite lines from Mr. Lewis. I hope he doesn't mind.
The fall term was starting again in two weeks' time, and Eustace was scheduled to take the train back to his house at the end of the week. The sun was out every day, and the Pevensies spent as much time out of doors as possible. After having to spend the majority of their holiday apart, they tried to make up for it while they still could. No one could remember having such a fun time with Eustace around (in fact, no one could remember ever having a fun time with Eustace around at all), and since Eustace had never cared for doing things that were outdoorsy or normally considered fun (like fishing, sunbathing, swimming, or anything physical in nature), the others found it a great sport to introduce him to all of the things that they had always done together. And other than a bruised knee from his first try at cricket and a bee sting from a late afternoon picnic, Eustace was enjoying himself immensely.
The only one who was not was Susan. She was feeling as though she were too old to be running around outside with her siblings, even though most of the time she ended up going along anyway. Edmund was usually the one who came up with the schedule each day. He would announce at breakfast each morning what was on the agenda and then Susan would launch into protests that it was too hot or that she was not going to spend her day playing children's games. Lucy would plead with her to come and Peter would tell her she was being silly, and Susan would eventually relent when Edmund told her that she was being a wet blanket and they'd leave her at home if she didn't stop her grumbling. And despite how hard she tried not to have fun, even Susan had to admit it was shaping into a great end of the summer. Slowly she was beginning to get used to the new Eustace and was almost able to stop expecting him to start complaining or giving them a lecture about proper bicycle care or something. Susan even forgot to be self-conscious when she was out with the younger ones, and would give up peeking over her shoulders to see if there was anyone she knew around to witness her splashing in the lake with her sister or kicking a football around with the boys. Peter never seemed to have such hang-ups, even though he did feel that this was probably one of the last summers that he would be able to spend having fun with the others. Lucy said several times (and Edmund agreed) that they were having as good a time as they did when they spent the summer at the Professor's house.
No one brought up the subject of Narnia. Lucy had tried to speak with Susan again that first night about it, but Susan made it clear that she wanted to hear nothing else. The others agreed that they should give her some time before trying to discuss it again. And so things went on like this until the next wet day.
"Well, this puts a huge damper on things," Edmund sighed. He was sitting on the window seat in the parlor, watching huge raindrops crash against the window. Eustace and Peter, with help from Lucy, were playing chess.
"Don't worry about it, Ed," said Lucy. "We have plenty to do here."
Peter moved his knight. Immediately, Eustace captured it. "How are you doing that?" Peter asked.
"Doing what?" said Eustace.
"How did you get so good at chess?"
"You're not being a sore loser, are you?" asked Susan, who was curled up in a nearby chair.
"Who says I'm losing?" said Peter.
Eustace and Lucy laughed. Susan rolled her eyes. "I'm going to make some tea," she announced, and left the room.
"The truth now, Eustace," said Peter. "How did you become such an expert?"
"I played a lot on the Dawn Treader," said Eustace. "Reepicheep was an excellent teacher."
"Shhh," said Lucy. "You don't want Susan to hear you."
"Bother Susan," grumbled Eustace. He watched Peter's next move. "Why can't I mention Reep? I thought you had all known him from before."
"We had," said Lucy quietly. "Although I don't know if Susan fancies remembering all that now."
Peter frowned. "Eustace is right. We can't all go on acting as if nothing ever happened."
"I don't know if it's that simple," said Lucy. "I think Susan is really hurt. I wish that we could do something to help her. I hate to see her like this."
"No," said Edmund seriously. "It's Susan who has made this choice. All of us, except for Eustace, have been told we cannot return to Narnia. Aslan made that decision. We must accept that. We have always trusted in Aslan, and he has always done what is right for Narnia." Everyone was silent for a moment. Eustace thought about Caspian's face when he returned from his cabin to say that Aslan commanded that they were to leave the ship with Reepicheep. Although it made him terribly upset, Caspian did what Aslan said, and they all knew that it was what was best for Narnia. Edmund thought of the times he and Peter had ridden to battle, leaving his sisters and his people for weeks, sometimes months at a time. But after his experience with the White Witch, he knew that he had to protect Narnia at all costs. Lucy could only remember that terrible night at the Stone Table. It still brought tears to her eyes, thinking about the sacrifice that he had made to save Edmund, to save all of them.
"Once a king or queen in Narnia," said Peter, "always a king or queen. That's what Aslan told us at our coronation. He told us to bear it well."
"Even though we're no longer there, we are still kings and queens," said Edmund. "We are still a part of Narnia."
Eustace bit his lip. "I know I've only gone once," he said. "And I mucked up the first half of it. I don't know if I'll ever get to go again. But even if I don't, I'll always be happy that I went."
"I know what you mean," said Lucy. She patted Eustace's hand.
"Something has to be done about this," said Peter.
"You are the eldest, Peter," Edmund said. "You were made High King, and we've always followed you. We'll support your decision now, as well."
Peter sighed. "Now I just have to figure out what the right decision is."
