The news of Ivar and Kayla's engagement spread throughout the land, much to the delight of most and the dislike of others. The dislikes came from Calormen, Vortigern of Camelot, and of course Conláed, Kayla's half-brother.
When Bliss courted Vortigern, she went ahead and had a wedding dress made. But when the courtship ended, she gave the dress to Úna. Úna wore it in her wedding to Aslan. When she died, the dress was given to Lord Elrond of Rivendell for safe keeping.
The family was sitting on one of the balconies one day, when a faun came running up with a letter for Kayla, who was reading a book.
"My Lady Kayla, a letter for you, from Terebinthia. From Conláed himself."
No one had any words to say about the letter, but Kayla saw the looks of fear and worry on the family's faces.
"Thank you, Damrus."
"You're welcome, my lady."
"Dear Caoilfhionn, or Kayla as you are now called, word spread of your engagement to Prince Íomhar of Ettinsmoor, or Lord Ivar as he is now called. I wish I had been the one to choose whom you should marry instead of yourself, but at least you are getting married. I request that when your first child is born, you send the child to me so I can raise the child as my heir. From your loving brother, King Conláed of Terebinthia and Emperor of the Lasair."
"He didn't ask, he requested this of you?!"
"And that sad part is, there were times when he was loving. I remember nights when he was the one to read me a story to put me to sleep. But no matter what he thinks, he is not my kin! I do not answer to him!"
"Why would he want to raise YOUR child as HIS heir?"
"Because physically, he cannot produce children. It's funny, because HIS heirs have to come from the true heirs to the throne. Oh, the irony of it. He willingly put himself in a trap. We haven't even set a date yet!"
Kayla ran off to the courtyard, and Ivar went after her, but Peter held him back.
"Ivar, you know how her rage is. Like a volcano, it stops on its own."
"Her rage will only ever die when Conláed is dead."
"Probably not even then."
She ran up to the tree where Aslan had made the door in the air, hoping a little bit would open up and she could walk through it. She did not know Aslan was behind her.
"I know what troubles you, M'iníon."
"If Ivar and I ever have children, Conláed wants to raise our first child as his heir. The problem is everyone Conláed can get an heir from is already a true heir. Lucy, Susan, and myself. Even from Peter and Edmund if they ever have daughters."
"And will you send your first child to be raised by Conláed?"
"Over my dead body I will! I don't even know if I can have children, and it's my own brother that brings it up?!"
"He cannot have children of his own. He knows his time will end eventually, so he has no choice but to place the throne back in the hands of the true heirs. He wants to raise your firstborn so that he be the one to teach the child."
"What would Conláed have to teach a child? How to cast an immortality spell? He never taught me anything."
"He only said firstborn, didn't he? He never mentioned whether the child had to be a daughter or a son?"
"No. Athair, despite everything he's done, I can't bring myself to hate him. I just don't have it in me. He is the absolute personification of evil, but he is still my brother and I still love him."
"I cannot say if he still loves you as his sister. There was a time when he did. But it is up to him to show you."
"Are you leaving us, Athair?"
"I am. But I will be back. My time here for now is over."
"It's funny. We sometimes think if you wonder what all of Narnia does when you're gone, but I know for a fact that all of Narnia's answer is we wait for you to come back."
"Everyone knows I am not a tame lion. And I have other countries to attend to."
"Will you say goodbye to the others before you go? As a favour for me?"
"Of course, I will."
"I'll walk up there with you."
Caspian was the first to notice Aslan in the room.
"Aslan!"
"Children, my time here now is over, but I will be back eventually."
"You always come back when Narnia is in trouble."
"There are always risks, Albanach."
"Wait, I remember the last time you called me that, before our coronation. It was when you sent us away!"
"Your memories are coming back. Little Eibhlilín, I'm afraid you won't have many memories coming back to you."
"I know. I was only an itty-bitty thing when we were sent away. But why did you wipe away our memories?"
"Jadis had been to the other world before. Your Professor Kirke told you that story, I believe."
"He did."
"And if your memories had not been wiped away, whenever you would think of this world, Jadis would have known where you were. Not just because you had thrones to come back to, but because you are first and foremost my children and grandchildren. It was better that you were sent away to forget this world, than to in this world and remember it, but only for a short time."
"Aslan, I do thank you for allowing them to come back. I've never had a real family before."
"It's not the blood that makes you family, it's the bond. Even though all of you are related at some point, you've grown up to be the closest this world could have ever imagined."
The family hugged him tightly, not knowing when they would see him again. Lucy and Kayla especially did not want to let go, but they knew they had to.
"Until I see you all again, do not lose faith."
"We won't."
"Goodbye, Athair!
"Goodbye, Aslan!"
Aslan flew off the balcony, and before the family could blink, he was gone.
"Well, what now?"
"It's up to us now. Like it was many times before."
"Aslan said it's up to us children and grandchildren. I'm not his child nor his grandchild."
"Son-in-law, Ivar. Even though we aren't married yet, he's already calling you his son."
