JUST AND MAGNIFICENT
Volume 3: The Price We Pay For Love
3.13: Aftermath
Most of Volume 3 of Just and Magnificent takes place in the 3-6 years after the events of the movie. It is the last of three volumes. It is AU and if you haven't figured out, contains slash and incest. Hopefully you find it handled in a way that is as pure as possible.
Summary: In the aftermath of war, hope reigns.
Warnings: Slash, Incest, Love, Romance, Adventure, Mystery, Action.
Disclaimer: Only characters that are mine are the Pretty Eyes People from Shian! And since they're all dead except Orrin, well I only own him now! Well actually, he's dead now so now I own no one! sniff All the rest belong to that master of awesomeness, C.S. Lewis.
JUST AND MAGNIFICENT 3.13 – AFTERMATH
THE BATTLE IS OVER, THE WAR IS WON
All across the battlefield, cheers erupted at the sight of the destroyed dome and the fall of Lejious, the one who is many. His war that had risen in shadow years ago and culminated in this battle, the largest battle in the largest war the world had ever seen. As such, the casualties were unfathomable.
For two kings, the end of the war brought them relief they could not believe. Peter the Magnificent and Edmund the Just had survived everything Lejious had put in their path, and could finally breathe freedom. They lay on the ground, still recovering from their final struggle to save Edmund from the abyss. The abyss that Edmund had witnessed Orrin sacrifice himself into, in order to save the world from Lejious once and for all.
"It's over, Ed." Peter cried, sobbing into Edmund's neck as they lay on the ground, "It's over. We've won. We won. And you're still with me."
"I can't believe it, Peter. We won. It's over." Edmund smiled in disbelief, a smile that was soon laced with anxious tears, "It's finally over. You didn't leave me. You didn't let go this time."
"I told you I wouldn't let go again. I told you I wouldn't leave you."
"I know, Peter." said Edmund as he held Peter on the ground, Peter's tears still falling against his neck, "You kept your promise."
"I'll always keep it, Ed. You don't go where I can't follow. You don't leave me. I don't leave you. That's how it …."
"Hey! Save some hugs for me!" yelled an overwhelmed and overjoyed Lucy.
Lucy threw herself on top of her two brothers, as the three monarchs joined in a tearful celebration. It was the first time they had really been able to be with one another in months. The first time they could truly embrace knowing that war no longer threatened them. The first time they could breathe, knowing that what had been undone with Edmund's death at Beruna years ago had finally been restored as much as it possibly could be.
"Narnia is saved!" Lucy cried, "We did it!"
"Yes, we did." Peter gasped, still overcome with disbelief, "We did."
As three monarchs celebrated in the warm embrace of one another, the fourth monarch stood a distance away. Susan the Gentle cast her eyes upon her siblings, her eyes craving for a warmth they now freely shared in celebration. She however did not feel she had any warmth to contribute to that warm embrace. She did not know whether she had been forgiven for her actions, even if it was spurred on by Likatrik's magic. She did not know if perhaps part of her still blamed Edmund for the loss of her husband. She did not know if the knowledge she would not even see her husband in death had been too much for her fractured heart to bear. All she knew is that somehow … she no longer belonged with the three who reveled in the warmth of each other before her. For she had little warmth of her own to offer.
"You fought like a … Shian, Queen Susan." said Oreius as he approached Susan from behind, "I am honored to have you as my gentle Queen."
Susan contemplated his words. She had fought above and beyond the call of duty. She had fought harder and stronger than anyone could have ever expected her to. She had been classed gentle. Yet now, either because the war was over or because she simply had not heart, it would no longer be the case for her.
"This Queen is no longer gentle." Susan said with a heavy heart, throwing off her bow and swords, "This war …"
"Majesty, the war is over." Oreius said placing a hand on Susan's shoulder.
Over. Yes, the war was over. For her, much more than just the war was over. The war had been won for all, but perhaps not just for her, the price of victory had been too high. The war was indeed over, in more ways than one.
"It is …" Susan said as tears began filling her eyes, "It is."
She cast a glance toward her siblings, rubbing her arms as if to try and rid them of a shiver that would not leave. Sobbing, she met eyes with Peter. As if finally able to show grief that stemmed from the loss of her child to the loss of her husband, to finally losing the chance to be with him in the hereafter, Susan let her grief flow freely in her tears. They were empty tears. Tears without heart or hope, but tears that ached and longed for something she could never take back.
Breaking into distraught sobs she turned away from the sight of her siblings and began stumbling aimlessly into the battlefield. She continued rubbing her arms looking as lost as child whose mother had misplaced them. And as much of Narnia and the world celebrated their victory, a sobbing and broken Queen Susan the Gentle disappeared into the smoky haze of the battlefield.
The battlefield erupted with the cheers of the faithful, of the loyal, of the true. Those brave from the world over who made their last stand today and because of it, now celebrated victory. A stunning sight, hundreds of thousands all raising their weapons and cheering for their freedom, for their families, and for the hope they now had because this war had finally been won.
For all those who celebrated, there were just as many who could not bring themselves to cheer. There were many who now shed tears over fallen comrades. Some shed tears for a fallen beaver, a satyr, an Archenlander, a Calormene, a Shian. Some shed tears for giants, for foxes, for men, for women. The hope that this battlefield won, would not be shared by those who forged its existence. Even the great lion seemed somber, for this victory had perhaps cost him more than he let on.
This battle, this war, would not be so easily forgotten. Indeed, simply the task of recovering their wounded would be momentous. Peter did as he could, leading like the High King he was, with help from King Lune and Tisroc Lash. Lucy tended to the wounded with her cordial, sparing thousands from joining the list of the dead. Edmund searched desperately for Susan, for a victory was not a victory without her. She had sacrificed more than any of them, and thanks to Likatrik, isolated herself from the rest of her family and her kingdom in the process. He wanted desperately to find her, before she hardened her heart to her grief and despair and no longer had room in it for love or reconciliation.
Edmund searched frantically for his sister. A sister he had not truly found peace with and a sister whose grief was no doubt only just being allowed to breathe. A sister whom he wanted nothing less than to hold and plead apologies and comfort her, reassure her, and let her know that she had no cause to feel guilty or pull away from them, from him. A sister that most importantly he wanted to let know, was not alone. Try as he might, he did not find her. She was perhaps, in more ways than one, lost to him, lost to them. Just one more casualty in a war that claimed far too many.
AFTERMATH
For days the battlefield was the temporary home for Peter and two of his siblings. Susan had left with her Southern Alliance, planning to stop into each kingdom and thank them personally for their aid on behalf of Narnia. Edmund could not help but feel troubled by this, for he had not spoken personally to Susan since the end of the war. In fact, none of the siblings had.
"Is it because of Orrin or is it because she feels bad? Does she think we have not forgiven her?" asked a frustrated Edmund as they stood on the now somewhat tidied battlefield, "There is nothing to forgive. She was deceived by Likatrik. She was torn by grief and she had a right to be angry. We have to fix this, Peter. She should not have been allowed to disappear from our sight on the day of our victory. I fear if we let too much time pass, her heart will grow cold from despair. She feels she has no one, but she has us. Might I seek her out, Peter?"
"No, Edmund." said Peter in a tone that was not in the least bit open to concession, "We are needed here to rebuild. Susan will return and when she does, we will tend to her."
"Yes, Peter."
"Ed, please." Peter sighed as he took Edmund's hands in his own, "This is no time for you to be setting off into the horizon. Susan is doing her part by tending to those who fought by our side. It has always been her place. Right now your place is by my side and here at home. This war has devastated us. It has shaken the world. It will take years or perhaps an entire lifetime to restore what was lost. Narnia needs you here right now. I need you here, alright?"
Peter kissed Edmund's hands before kissing his lips, trying to remove any unease that Edmund felt. Though Peter was just as concerned for Susan considering they had only seen her during the battle and not since. She had lost her husband again, only this time to a fate far worse than death. Peter was not certain how she had coped with such a loss, especially given the choice he knew she had to make to lose her husband again. Once again she had lost her husband, not for Peter this time, but for Edmund. She had lost her love, so that Peter could once again have his. So that Narnia would have the Just and Magnificent Kings. So that the world would be saved and Lejious would be destroyed.
What Peter also found unsettling is that prior to her return at the final battle, the last time Peter had seen Susan was immediately following the public fallout between Edmund and Susan, and indeed himself. He knew that her anger was twisted by grief and also by Likatrik's deceitful magic. A magic that he himself had fallen prey to when the hag Dalzell lured him into lust. He had not yet uncovered how deep Likatrik's network of traitors ran, but he was certain Edmund would seek them all out with the use of the Order of Justice.
As Peter stood on the remains of the battlefield, there were still corpses that were yet to be removed. It had been a slow and gruesome process that Peter himself took a big part in. Oreius had retaken Cair Paravel and the last of Lejious's loyalists were scattering to the winds. Peter would deal to them all in time, but for now, rebuilding would have to begin.
"Where do we even start?" gasped Peter, his mind furrowing with contemplation.
When Peter turned to seek Edmund's counsel, Edmund was no longer by his side. He spotted Edmund standing in the distance next to the great lion, Aslan. From the look on Edmund's face, he could see the topic of discussion was none too pleasant. He could only hope that whatever it was would have no bearing on their future together. Surely fate had thrown enough in their path during the course of this war? Ever since Edmund died at Beruna, Peter had found it a constant struggle to keep Edmund by his side. The war was over now and the prophecy was now restored, wasn't it? The prophecy of the four?
"It must be." Peter said to himself, "Surely there is nothing else."
The sight of Aslan standing next to Edmund against the skyline reminded Peter of the first instance he saw Edmund all those years ago when they'd first entered Narnia. The first instance when Edmund had been rescued from Jadis and stood before Aslan on the rise. Though the Edmund of all those years ago was barely a teenage boy, and this Edmund now was by far a man. A young man, but a man nonetheless. Someone Peter was proud to call his husband and just as proud to call his brother and his very best friend. Proud most of all to call his soul mate, for that is truly what Edmund was to him.
Anxiously Peter waited for Edmund to finish speaking with the great lion. Their discussion seemed to last forever with Edmund's face going from wild despair to almost mischievous smiles. Peter would emulate Edmund's gestures as if he was on some ride of anticipation. He knew all too well that Edmund's fate was rather unique and special, and that fact gave him more pause for concern than for celebration. He felt that even though Edmund was his husband, he could very well lose him in an instant. He could not explain this fear, but it is what drove him to make sure that he did not lose Edmund.
It was with a great sigh of relief that Edmund returned to him with a broad smile. Peter marched to him none too quickly, arms outstretched as hands clasped wrists in a firm bond of reassurance. Peter could not help pulling Edmund into fierce embrace, kissing his cheeks and then his lips, before resting their foreheads together.
"Please tell me that Aslan has not summoned you for another 'quest' or that you will not be leaving me again anytime soon."
Edmund turned his head to see Aslan stalking off on his own, to where, nobody quite knew, though Peter knew it was never their place to question the lion's motives or actions. They had to simply accept what he did was for reasons only he knew. When Aslan was out of sight, Edmund's face turned to Peter with a bright smile and a warm kiss.
"I am not leaving you, Peter. It is you who will leave me." Edmund said as though somehow, that was cause for relief.
"Oh we're not starting on that again, are we? I thought we covered that when we pulled you out of the …"
"That's not it, Peter. Starting from today, we have one life together." said Edmund, raising his index finger as if to emphasize the one, "One life. One golden lifetime. For how long, I do not know, but I am awfully excited. When that lifetime is over … you will leave me."
"Ed …" sighed Peter, his eyes narrowing as he spoke, "Why do you say such things? I'm not leaving you. I'm not leaving you. Now or ever."
"One day you'll understand. It is beyond us to control. But that day is far from now. You and I have a lifetime before then. A lifetime, Peter." Edmund said with happy tears in his eyes, "This is what I have been waiting for since this war began. You and I can finally live, Peter. We will rebuild Narnia and dare I say, this world. We will do it together. You and I, Susan and Lucy. Oh, Peter, there is so much to celebrate."
"How can I celebrate when you bring me news that one day I will supposedly leave you and our time together will be done. Ed …" Peter said with pained eyes, "I don't want to live if you're not beside me."
"You must never say things like that, Peter. I am bound to you, not you to me. Your life will exist beyond mine in ways neither of us can imagine. But this is all so far away. We have a life together now. Let us make the most of it. I am happier today, as happy as I was the day you married me."
"Ed …" gasped Peter, pressing a kiss upon his husband's lips, "Promise me … that you will never stop believing in me. If you believe in me, I will not allow this fate to pass. I will not lose you again."
"Peter, I will never stop believing in you. But can I ask you this? Do not think so much of what will come, but rather, what we have. We have each other. This world has a future. This world has hope. Aslan has told me so many things that … well, you'll see. It is not my place to say. The golden age can truly begin …"
RETURN TO CAIR PARAVEL
After weeks of clearing away the battlefield and using it as their base of operations, Peter led the return to an almost fully recovered Cair Paravel. Leaving behind the drudgery of battle, the true process of rebuilding in the aftermath of the greatest war in history could begin. It began with the victorious march of the Narnian Army into Cair Paravel.
Entering the castle grounds for the first time since Narnia fell, High King Peter the Magnificent marched at the head of his returning army. He was flanked to his right by King Edmund the Just and to his left by Queen Lucy the Valiant. Their return was met with as much pomp and celebration as Narnia could muster. Today was truly the first day that Narnia had taken to celebrate the victory that so many had given their lives to achieve. This fact was not lost on Peter, for as he led the returning march, he stopped before a large greenstone wall that had recently been erected.
The wall of remembrance. Sitting in the center courtyard of Cair Paravel, the huge wall was a testament to those who fought for light and gave their lives because of it. Just standing before it brought Peter to tears, just as it did for Lucy and Edmund. Peter brushed his hands across the wall, his fingers touching the engraved names one by one. There were so many names and still so many left to be engraved, thousands from just Narnia alone. Names of those who fell not only in the final battle, but also in the years preceding it. In all the battles that resulted from the war. So many names, so many souls.
"Mr. Beaver …" Lucy cried as she rubbed his name, "Oh, Mr. Beaver."
"Seeko …" Peter gasped for one of the last to fall, and a dear friend, "Goodbye, Old friend."
"Prince Orrin …" Edmund said with grateful tears in his eyes, "Son of Shian, Brother of Narnia."
"General Lero." Peter added of the mighty general who fell in the battle of the eastern defense, "Loyal centaur and beloved friend."
The three monarchs continued reading names from the wall. Names that would serve as a constant reminder that their freedom was given to them by these brave, these many, these loyal. To all who witnessed this sight, it was a truly a time for grief to be shown. From Roan the gryphon who grieved for his friend, Seeko, to Mrs. Beaver who had lost her very heart and her husband. Oreius mourned for his companion and loyal friend, Lero. One of the few who lived before Jadis's reign began over a hundred years ago.
So many lost so that many more would live. It was in this fact that Peter drew his strength. It was in this fact that he summoned the courage to turn and face those who gathered around. He stood before them as a King, a father, a friend, a guide, a man. He stood with neither pride nor boast for the war's victory, but humility and thankfulness.
"My fellow Narnian! I, King Peter, return home to you now with a heavy heart for those we have lost. Let us take this time to remember those we have lost. I ask you all to observe a few moments of silence for our friends, our fathers, our brothers, our mothers, our sisters, our sons and daughters. All those who were lost shall never be forgotten. This war has taken a toll far greater than I could possibly imagine. We have lost part of our soul and only with time and dedication to the joys and values that we fought to protect, will that soul be restored. I ask you now in your grief to celebrate those we lost and do your very best not to despair, even though this will be a difficult task." Peter said as pained tears streamed down his face, "I pray thee Narnia, that we never again live to see such death and loss. I beg thee now to join together in this time and help one another to rebuild our fallen kingdom. We have won this war, but the price is high, so very high. We are on our knees. The very world is on its knees. Only by helping each other can we stand up and take our place in history so that the future will see us as a beacon of light and of hope. We will serve as a constant reminder that in times of the greatest darkness, there is always hope. In our moments of grief and the darkness of being left behind, I ask thee now to remember that we … are alive. We live. We love. We breathe. We dream. We hope. Let us remember now those who lost their lives so that we would have these things. Please join me and lower your heads in respect to those whose grace will never be ours again."
Indeed, every creature and person in observance did lower their heads and pay respect to the fallen. Peter's right hand clasped Edmund's, while his left hand clasped Lucy's. They stood in the center of the large gathering with their heads lowered. Not a sound permeated that moment of grief and remembrance. It was a moment that seemed to last an eternity. An eternity of memories, of tears and sobs that were too strong to hold back.
Lucy broke free to comfort Mrs. Beaver who collapsed with her grief. Peter nodded, understanding perhaps just a little of how she felt. He cried his own tears for the thousands who died under his command. Edmund cried for just as many, and also for the man who had saved him and the world from Lejious. He also cried for his absent sister, who he believed that though living, was indeed another casualty of this war. A war whose victory had come at far too heavy a price.
LET THE GOLDEN AGE BEGIN
After a day filled with many tears and just as many hopes, the two kings and one queen of Narnia entered the throne room for the official ceremony of their return to Cair Paravel. Once again High King Peter the Magnificent took the center, flanked to his right by King Edmund the Just and to his left by Queen Lucy the Valiant. They marched in unison toward the four thrones, though only three would be filled.
Unlike the somber ceremony earlier, this one was far more jubilant. Trumpets heralded the monarch's return as well as a formal military salute. Dressed in their formal attire, the three monarchs retook their crowns before ascending their thrones. Much to their surprise, Aslan emerged from the side of the throne room. He walked with a surety and grace that only he could muster, with all standing in honor of him.
Aslan stood before the three monarchs, studying them for a moment before casting a sad glance over the empty space where one queen no longer stood. Though all expected Queen Susan to return, it was perhaps a foreshadowing of things to come that she not be present today. He turned his attention back to those monarchs who did stand in attendance and observed them silently for a few moments before finally speaking.
"Sons of Adam and Daughter of Eve, thank you. Through your leadership and sacrifice this war was won. May your wisdom and hearts continue to keep Narnia safe. Under your rule, Narnia will know the greatest age it will ever know. Because of your efforts, freedom reigns and hope is restored. Balance is restored. The Prophecy of the Four …" Aslan said with another brief glance at the empty space between Peter and Lucy, "has been restored. You have defeated the greatest darkness that has ever befallen this world. The casualties have been great and this world has suffered greatly. Your leadership will rebuild and recover what was lost. Your hearts and wisdom will guide Narnia to greatness and prosperity, compassion and servitude. Sons of Adam and Daughter of Eve, let the golden age begin!"
The entire throne room erupted into a chorus of cheers and celebration. The three monarchs themselves shared a few glances of joy as they looked out over their fellow Narnian and the great lion standing before them. A great lion whose grace was awe inspiring to witness.
"Let your wisdom reign and hearts soar! The golden age has begun!" roared Aslan, "Long live King Peter! Long live King Edmund! Long live Queen Lucy!"
- To Be Continued -
3.14 - Celebration
In the aftermath of war, a Golden Age begins.
A/N:After the heaviness of war, a nice breather to come down from all that rawr rawr in The Final Battle. In the aftermath of war, everyone realizes that victory wasn't without a price. Just and Magnificent is winding down. The next chapter will be fairly light and will serve as a bookend to this story, while the final part will be well, the final part lol. Think of the next chapter 'Celebration' as the goodbye, and the last chapter as an epilogue type. Oof, I'm going to miss writing this story very much. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and the story. I still have a little bit up my sleeve yet, but you know, it's goodbye time, so can't exactly pull out much in one chapter lol. Peter and Edmund got their happy ending. Susan didn't. When this story is over, I am going to be going back to do rewrites and will update chapters at random. Hopefully you won't notice, but just thought I'd let you know. There were a lot of scenes I cut out that I think deserve to go back in so if you ever reread one day and find something different, you'll know. Things will only be added, or current scenes edited for grammar etc etc, but nothing will be taken out, so it will be the same, just ... maybe more. Reviews are love. Thank you for reading!
