CASPIAN ARRANGES a breakfast for the six of us on the morning of Aslan's ceremony, even though we're all going down to the river later for lunch. I don't think anyone minds the extra time spent together. It feels like the first time we've been able to relax in days, and on such a beautiful morning, no less. Unfortunately, we're all in a bit of a hurry to eat and return to our rooms, as we all managed to sleep in far later than expected.

Last night's party kept everyone up long into the night, dancing and talking and the likes. A number of Narnians returned to the camp outside the village after the fireworks, but some stayed and kept the festivities going. As promised, Edmund and I danced many more times together before retiring to our rooms. So it's no surprise when the six of us turn up for breakfast sluggish and yawning.

I immediately make myself a cup of quiras, grabbing the attention of Edmund, who sits beside me. He watches me pour the dark liquid like it's some sort of poison.

"Is that coffee?" He asks.

I narrow my eyes at him, setting the pot back in the middle of the table. "What is that?"

Lucy giggles as she sips her tea, listening to our conversation while Caspian and Peter chat about Cair Paravel's reconstruction.

"It's a drink made from roasted coffee beans," Edmund explains. "It's just something we have in London."

"Yes, but it's dreadful," Susan adds with a look of disdain, prompting her sister to nod in agreement.

I smile and mix in steamed milk. "Well, this is called quiras; it's from Telmar. I have no idea how similar it is to coffee." All I know is that the strong, slightly bitter taste of it helps to wake me up, the scalding temperature warming my fingers and toes in the winter season.

"It smells almost the same," Edmund notes.

I try not to laugh at the siblings' obvious disgust. "You can try it," I offer.

He shakes his head, leaning forward to grab a slice of toasted bread. "Thanks, but I'm alright with tea."

Shrugging, I take a careful sip of my steaming drink. I usually don't have it often, but today I'm desperate for the extra energy. If I start falling asleep during the ceremony, I'll be mortified with myself.

Conversation switches to the picnic Lucy and I have planned — what sort of food we're packing and how in the world we're going to get everything down the cliff to the river. To my surprise, Peter seems to be the one most excited about it. Without the war, the High King is turning out to be almost an entirely different person.

Edmund ends up giving in to his curiosity and tries some of my quiras, which he immediately hates, and reports that it is, in fact, very different from coffee in London.

Not long after, Camillo bounds into the room to tell us the ceremony will be starting soon and we should all get dressed.

"Right." Caspian pushes his chair back and gets to his feet, nodding to the hare. "Thank you, Camillo."

Peter downs the rest of his tea in one gulp, earning a look of disbelief from Susan.

"Peter!" She exclaims, trying not to laugh at his completely undignified behaviour. Lucy, however, does not try. The young queen giggles into her hand, watching her brother with amusement in her blue eyes.

"What?" He asks.

Edmund rolls his eyes, standing up as well. "That was very kingly of you, Pete," he jokes, then turns to me with a beautiful, lopsided grin. "See you at the ceremony."

I nod, following the Pevensie sisters out to get ready in Susan's room. Lucy was upset about missing out on my and Susan's preparations together yesterday, so we decided the three of us would make something fun out of it today.

Susan begins by braiding Lucy's hair into two pigtails and tieing them together while I apply some light cosmetics to my face. Then we switch, alternating hair and makeup between the three of us, all the while talking and laughing. Lucy fawns over her sister's developing relationship with Caspian and, of course, makes sure to tease me about Edmund, which I don't mind.

Soon enough, we lace up our dresses and head out to meet the others in the village. But when we step outside, Peter is there talking to Tevahn and Ersa. Dressed in blue.

"There you are." He looks at Susan. "Aslan wants to speak to us — just the two of us."

I glance between them, not missing their surprise. Neither of the eldest Pevensies are expecting the Lion's summons, but they don't question it.

"Alright." She turns to me and Lucy. "Go on without us; we'll be there soon."

Lucy grins and slips her hand into mine, not at all disappointed by the news. "We'll go find Edmund!" She declares, skipping down the hall in search of her brother. I don't argue.

We find him in the entrance hall with Nyssa and the four of us continue on our way to the village, excited to see Aslan again and finally be done with the Telmarine situation. Once today is over and done, we can start to focus on the issues outside of the palace. Like alliances. Caspian has been debating which of the neighbouring countries to visit first, hoping for allies. First, though, we have some things to do in Narnia.

The Telmarines fear the ocean and thus have no naval forces, so Caspian has commissioned one to be built for additional strength before seeking allies. I suspect he has another reason behind the renewed shipbuilding as well, but I haven't had a chance to ask him about it yet.

And among all of this, he's hoping to rebuild Cair Paravel within a year. It shouldn't be hard with the Pevensies' help, as they knew the castle better than anyone. I can hardly wait to see for myself Narnia's former capital brought back from the Golden Age. Lucy has talked so much about it in the last few days it sounds incredible.

There's lots to be done now that Caspian's king, but I wouldn't wish to have it any other way.

At last, from the streets crowded with Telmarines that have come from all across Narnia, Aslan, Caspian, Susan, and Peter emerge in the village square to begin the ceremony.

The Pevensies gather together along one side of the square's single oak tree while I join Aslan on the other, my father gesturing to the open space beside him.

Cornelius smiles widely at me, holding his arms out for a quick hug. "You look lovely, my dear."

"So do you," I tell him, taking in his red and gold robes. He squeezes my arm and releases me so I can stand between him and Trumpkin, watching Caspian as he takes his place before his people. He doesn't look nervous, to my relief. And his words are steady and spoken with authority.

"Narnia belongs to the Narnians just as it does to Man," he begins. "Any Telmarines who want to stay and live in peace are welcome to. But for any of you who wish," he meets the Great Lion's gaze, "Aslan will return you to the home of our forefathers."

"It's been generations since we left Telmar," a man at the front of the gathering points out.

Aslan addresses his hesitancy before Caspian has the chance to. "We're not referring to Telmar. Your ancestors were seafaring brigands. Pirates run aground on an island. There, they found a cave — a rare chasm that brought them here from their world." He looks toward the Pevensie siblings. "The same world as our kings and queens."

They look between each other in surprise and uncertainty, unaware of the Telmarines' true history. Aslan continues, looking out across the sea of people before him.

"It is to that island I can return you. It is a good place for any who wish to make a good start."

His offer hangs in the air for a long moment, and Caspian glances toward Susan.

"I will go."

At first, I can't tell who's spoken. But when I follow where all the heads have turned, I find the former General Glozelle at the centre of it.

He raises his chin a little, his voice stronger this time. "I will accept the offer."

And when he passes them on his way to the front of the gathering, Lord Scythley with his daughter Prunaprismia and her child, speak up as well. "So will we."

Aslan steps forward as they ascend the stairs. "Because you have spoken first, your future in that world shall be good." With that, he breathes a soft breath upon them, blessing them with magic, and turns to the oak tree on the cliff's edge behind him.

To the shock of everyone gathered, the tree begins to move. The trunk creaks and untwists, forming an odd sort of doorway in the middle of it. A doorway into the sky.

Glozelle and his party don't seem hesitant as they continue forward, walking right into the doorway, into the sky, and vanishing.

Terrified murmurs rise from the crowd, demanding answers for their disappearance and claiming they've fallen off the cliff and died.

"How do we know he is not leading us to our death!"

Caspian looks around uncertainly, unprepared to handle a situation like this and having no idea how to address it.

"Sire," Reepicheep intervenes. "If my example can be of any service, I will take eleven mice through with no delay."

I look between the mouse and the Lion, not sure what to expect. Aslan only lifts his head and meets Peter's gaze.

I can't quite read the High King's eyes from where I stand so far away, but I know the child-like joy he only just found again has left them.

"We'll go."

I stiffen. The sounds of the world around me fall into a crushing silence. Edmund's voice makes my heart cry out in pain.

"We will?" His eyes meet mine — terrified. I don't know what else to do but stare at him.

"Come on." Peter turns to look at his family. "Time's up."

They trade troubled looks and I feel like I'm seeing everything through warped glass. It makes me wonder for a moment if it's one of my dreams. I pray that it is.

"After all." Peter approaches Caspian, handing the King his sword. "We're not really needed here anymore."

Caspian hesitates before taking it, declaring fiercely, "I will look after it until you return."

"I'm afraid that's just it," Susan tells him softly. "We're not coming back."

The king looks like his heart has just been torn from his chest and it makes me want to scream. Because how is this fair? How at all is it fair that they have to lose each other so soon after they found happiness? Why does everything good always have to be taken away?

The blue in Lucy's eyes shatters as she turns to her sister. "We're not?"

"You two are," Peter amends, looking between her and Edmund. "At least...I think he means you two."

"But why?" She asks the Lion. "Did they do something wrong?"

"Quite the opposite, dear one. But all things have their time." Aslan looks at the two eldest siblings. "Your brother and sister have learned what they can from this world. Now it's time for them to live on their own."

Lucy's gaze casts downward, uncertain and dejected.

Peter steps forward to console her as Susan sends me a sad smile. I know beneath her collected appearance she's despairing. I can read it in her flickering gaze and tight lips — the way she shifts her weight restlessly on her feet. I can hardly believe this is the last time I'm going to see her — my sister, if I can say I've ever had one.

I'll never get to hear her laugh or sit down for tea with her or ask for her advice with something. I'll never see Caspian smile the same way he does when she says something witty, or witness what would have become between them had they more time. I'll never see Susan Pevensie again.

After today, her and Peter will no longer exist past my own memories and the stories I knew them by before their return.

I'll remember, I tell myself. I won't forget them.

Because how can I? After the hell we endured together, the battles we fought and lost and triumphed, all the laughter and stories and adventures. How can I forget?

Edmund crosses toward us along with his siblings, I'm assuming to say their goodbyes. That's when I realize how real it is and wish I could freeze time to take it all in before it's over. I wish we had more time before the end came hurtling at us like a train. I wish.

He doesn't say anything but takes me up into a hug and squeezes. And even though I know it'll hurt to feel it all again only to lose him, I open myself to the link. I'm overwhelmed by his gut-wrenching fear and anguish and guilt, swimming through me like a snake spitting venom in my stomach.

I'm terrified and desolate and I know he can feel it so I push as much as I can across the line — all the reassurance, gratitude, affection, everything I can manage. I tell him everything. And I remember all that I can.

I take in the way his heart feels beating against me, the way his strong arms are wound fiercely around my waist like someone might tear me away at any second. I take in how he smells and feels and how his chest expands with his breathing, his breath fanning softly against my neck.

"I'll see you again soon," I say. Because in my bones, the words feel true. They feel right to say.

Edmund pulls away, his arms relaxing and his lips raised to press against my forehead in a last, delicate kiss for me to remember. "Don't wait for me," he murmurs hoarsely.

I look up into his brown eyes that hold a silent but desperate please. I know the translation: don't stare up at the sky with tears in your eyes, don't waste your days missing me, don't let your life fall short and stop for one missing king. Don't spend every day I'm gone waiting for my return.

I let myself smile, giving him something to remember past the silver tears in my eyes. I try to keep myself from worrying so much about him and how his family will get along back in their world. I try not to think about how much I'm going to miss the sound of his voice, the way his hand fits in mine, or how his eyes light up when he sees me and how his freckles turn darker in the sun. How all those promises we made to each other were made only to be broken.

Lucy crashes into me next, her arms squeezing tight around my ribs. "I hope we'll see you again," she says.

Edmund manages a smile at the sight of us and I do my best to reassure the young girl.

"You will."

Even though it's happening right in front of me, I can't quite wrap my head around losing him. It feels like yesterday that we met on that beach and he gave me his shirt, offering to carry me up the cliff to Cair Paravel.

And now I have to say goodbye.

With teary eyes, she releases me and retreats to stand with her brothers before the tree. The same tree under which she taught me to braid my hair.

Peter offers me a firm nod of his head, thanking me for everything and conveying his respect.

Susan then releases Caspian from their tight embrace, kissing him for the last time before approaching me and giving me a quick hug.

"Take care of each other," she whispers. "You both have a terrible habit of doing the most ridiculous things."

I laugh a little, closing my eyes as if it might solidify this moment in time forever. "I'll do my best," I promise.

Smiling sadly, she turns and joins her siblings. Cornelius wraps his arm around me comfortingly as the Pevensies take in their last glimpse of Narnia and Aslan and their friends, before they turn and walk through the doorway into the blue sky.

━━━༻❁༺━━━

The moon has almost disappeared, reduced to a small crescent of silver in the sky. It makes the rest of the stars so much brighter. But not all the magnificence of the sky tonight can fill the emptiness in my chest. I'm not sure anything can, and I'm not sure how I can learn to live with that, either.

The tether is pulled so tight between us — spanning our two separate worlds — it feels as if it never existed at all. I can't reach it or even feel it in the back of my mind where I know it should be. My only solace is knowing it is still there, however faint.

It reminds me of my promise to him.

Don't wait for me. Even if the day he returns is tomorrow or long after I've left the world. Don't wait for me.

I wipe the tears from my eyes and hug my arms around myself, remembering how it felt when it was him — his heart beating in my ear and his arms around me. Don't forget it, I beg. Out of everything, please don't forget this.

The stairwell door swings open with a whine and creak of its hinges, Caspian appearing at the top of the western tower with a half-hearted smile. "I thought you would be up here."

I return the smile as best I can as he stands beside me at the edge of the tower, leaning against the battlements. Neither of us pretends we're okay or tries to talk about it. Not when we know that would only make it worse. We simply revert to the way it was before, when it was just the two of us seeking refuge from the rest of the world atop a tower.

"When my uncle killed my father," Caspian begins, "he made sure to clear a path to the throne. He sent all the Lords most loyal to my father on an expedition beyond the Lone Islands." He looks at me, shaking his head. "No one has ever returned from sailing that far east. He wanted to get rid of them without dirtying his hands anymore." His eyes follow the path of the Great River, all the way toward the ocean. "Whether they are alive or now, it's my responsibility to find them. They deserve that honour. I'll search a year and a day if I must."

I nod thoughtfully, realizing how much of Miraz's poison we still have to clean from Narnia's soil. "When do we leave?"

"I won't leave Narnia when it's still in turmoil," he states. "We must unify the land, make allies, find peace. Or as close to it as we can. Then we will sail."

My gaze flickers to the silhouette of the king beside me. "I'm going with you," I tell him. "The chimæras fled across the ocean because of me; I have to find them and tell them they don't have to hide anymore."

"I know," Caspian says. "I wasn't planning on leaving without you."

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author's note

did anyone catch that reference to the last battle? lmaooo i felt so evil putting it in there but it was too good of an opportunity to pass up

it was really hard writing this chapter and i really hope it wasn't boring or just plain garbage. i thought it would come easier to me since i've been planning it for so long but it felt like i was just forcing words out. idk. whatever. i'm hoping it made y'all at least a little emotional.

anyway, it's the last chapter of prince caspian which means we're halfway (maybe?) through chimæra! i didn't think it would take this long to finish but i also didn't know uni would consume all my time and give me a nervous breakdown every other day, so here we are lol i'm gonna write as much as i can before school starts stealing my time again, and even then i'll keep trying my best to work on this story and get it finished!

thank you all so much for your support through the beginning of this story! i love all of you and can't thank you enough for all the favourites/follows and awesome reviews! i'm so so happy to share arryn's story with you guys!

see you in the middle!