Forgive me my readers for neglecting this story! Life has gotten busy with story ideas crowding around in my mind and other life's difficulties. However, I will wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Forgive me if this chapter is not up to par, but I'm hoping the next chapter will make you all happy and provide many surprises, and answers. As there isn't too much left before the finish, please feel free to let me know if you want a follow-up with "Prince Caspian", and a return of Rebecca and Joy. I have some ideas that I would really like to write and I'm hoping you will want to continue with these characters for another adventure.
Happy reading!
Chapter Thirteen
Aslan allowed the Narnian army a day to rest after the battle before moving the army to Cair Paravel for the coronation of the new Kings and Queens. The children slept half the day away while the camp was slowly dismantled and packed for the trek to the castle at the river mouth. When they awoke, they were given fresh clothes to wear, a hot meal and each were assigned a horse, or unicorn, to ride to the castle the next day.
Edmund, to Joy's dismay, had become fast friends with Philip, which left Joy to a new horse named Sharon who reminded Joy of the huge English draft horses she remembered seeing in the countryside. Rebecca received a stallion named Saffire who had a blue/grey coat and a white/gold mane, whom she took a liking to from the instant she saw him. Susan and Lucy received gentle mares of gold and silver colouring named Acorn and Liberty. Peter still rode the unicorn whom Lucy had healed yesterday on the battlefield with her cordial.
Late that afternoon, Joy and Rebecca walked over to the stables to spend some time with their horses. "Rebecca?" asked Joy as she brushed Sharon's coat. "Are you still thinking about Flamewing?" Rebecca plucked some burs from Saffire's coat before answering.
"Yes," said Rebecca, slowly turning around to face her "but when I talked to Aslan about her, he said that she was in his country, where she will never suffer again." A peaceful look came over Rebecca's face and she turned her attention back to Saffire's coat. Joy frowned.
"That's it? No tears?" asked Joy. She couldn't understand the peace and calm that filled her sister's eyes, for she had never seen her sister like this before. Curiosity filled her and she asked, "Is that what talking to Aslan does to you?" In response, Rebecca shrugged.
"I don't know," she said with a half smile. Joy felt utterly confused and buried her face in Sharon's light brown mane.
"I bet you still miss Flamewing," she whispered, pressing her cheek against the horse's neck.
"Yes," said Sharon softly, and she rubbed her head against Joy's shoulder. Joy smiled and looked up as Rebecca glanced over her shoulder at her.
"I wonder what Cair Paravel will be like," she said, and Joy instantly brightened, solemn thoughts instantly forgotten.
"Yes! I can't wait to see it," said Joy excitedly. She went back to brushing Sharon's mane.
"Me too," said Sharon, and a deep voice chimed in "Me, as well," and Joy looked from Sharon to Saffire. Both horses were smiling, only Saffire's looked more serious.
"I bet its beautiful," said Joy wistfully "with shimmering floors and halls. And crystal chandeliers!" Joy sighed with happiness. "And balconies from which you can see all of Narnia," she looked over at Rebecca. "I can't believe we'll get to live there," she said.
"If the Kings and Queens allow you to live there," said Saffire, and Rebecca's head snapped to attention. She looked over at Joy and Joy realized what she was thinking.
Now that the battle had been fought and won, what would happen to the two of them? What was the plan for their future here in Narnia? A lost and helpless feeling washed over Joy and she looked over at Rebecca. Rebecca gave her a gentle smile and addressed Saffire.
"I think they will allow us, Saffire," she said. "I mean, they are our friends. They wouldn't turn their backs on us just because they are crowned Kings and Queens." Joy looked at Rebecca, her doubts melting away, and Rebecca met her eyes with a slight nod. Joy instantly thought Rebecca would make a good Queen. She was so strong and sure, but also peaceful and gentle at the same time. She had spent a couple hours talking with Aslan earlier that day, and Joy wondered if that was the affect Aslan had on those who talked to him. At least, those who hadn't made mistakes like she had. She shook her head to get rid of the guilty thoughts and turned her attention back to Sharon.
The rest of the day was spent with their mounts and trying to help around the camp. Only Peter had something to do as he was always with Aslan, talking about the coronation and the move to Cair Paravel. Once evening fell, the children slept out under the stars, wrapped up tightly in blankets and with two centaurs standing guard nearby. The last thing Joy remembered before shutting her eyes was the constellation, the Ship, flapping its sails and carrying her across the starry sea.
Early the next morning, the children rolled up the blankets and packed them away in a wagon. After a quick breakfast, the children mounted their horses and made their way to the main crowd of Narnians to where Aslan waited in the mouth of the valley. Joy recognized it as the place where she and Philip had arrived at Aslan's Camp. She looked around at the remainder of the camp, surprised by the change. All the tents had been taken down and bundled into carts and wagons, along with all the weapons, food and the sparse furniture. The carts were being pulled by non-Talking animals, mainly those who were taken from the Witch's camp after Oreius and Aslan raided it. Most Narnians were yawning as they packed up, Joy included.
Peter was at the front of the procession with Aslan, riding the unicorn again. Behind him, Aslan and Oreius, Susan, Edmund and Lucy lined up their mounts and waited. Then, behind the three Pevensies, came Rebecca and Joy. They stopped the horses and waited, while Aslan looked in all the faces of all the children. A smile crept into his eyes as he looked at Rebecca and Joy, and Joy couldn't help but smile back. Then, Aslan nodded at the centaur, Lidnar, standing to the right of the procession, who blew his horn and they started out.
Aslan led the Narnians out of the valley and along the coast of the Eastern Sea. Joy's breath caught in her throat as she stared at the glistening waters. The sea spread to the horizon, and Joy watched the pink and orange skies as the sun rose out of the sea. White birds flew over head and Joy spotted a spout of water from a whale in the distance. She looked to her left and saw Rebecca watching as well.
Joy had to admit that Rebecca somehow looked older than she had two days ago, and Joy thought Rebecca looked every bit the Lady that the Narnians called her. She rode with perfect posture, her dark blue cloak set off her golden hair which shone in the early sunlight, and her expression was serene. Joy realized she was envying her and looked back at the sea. For a moment, she wanted to be called a Lady, only to remember Philip had called her that by the river when she had been rescued by the naiad. Was that to be her and Rebecca's perspective titles? She then heard her name and her eyes homed in on Philip.
"I was the horse who rescued the Lady Joy from the Witch's dungeon," bragged Philip, and Joy smiled at her friend's words.
"'Lady Joy'?" said Edmund, and he started laughing. Joy's smile fell. "I don't think she's a Lady, but she's a good friend." That statement made all the envy in Joy's heart dissolve and she smiled. Strangely, his words made her feel better, and Joy felt she would rather be known as a friend than by a title. She quickly looked away from her friends and focused her eyes on the horizon so she could watch for mermaids.
The group of Narnians rode along the coast with a large escarpment to the left and low hills on their right, until both suddenly vanished and they were riding on a sandy beach. Two mermaids jumped out of the water on their right side and waved at the children. Joy and Lucy quickly waved back before the mermaids splashed down in the water again.
Up on the hill above them was a large shining castle. Joy thought it looked so much brighter than the Witch's dreary-looking castle. With towers and fortifications, the castle covered the entire hilltop and the Southern side of the hill. As they rode up the hill and got closer, Joy could see balconies, the gatehouse, columned halls which looked out into the open air, battlements, and the Keep which was situated on the very top of the hill.
Aslan led the procession through the gate and passed a crumbling wall which ringed all the way around the castle. Peter pointed at it and said something to Aslan, who slowly nodded. The group came to a halt in front of a large wooden door stood before them at the base of the Western tower. "Dismount, Sons and Daughters of Adam and Eve," said Aslan, and all the children complied. Several dwarves led the horses away as the children followed Aslan to the large door. "Peter," said Aslan, "you may unlock the door." Peter took a golden key from a ring which was attached to his sword belt and he inserted it in the lock. It squeaked, like the lock had not been turned in a very long time. Joy heard the tumblers groan, and the hinges screeched as the door swung open.
Inside, everything was dark and dusty. The children's shoulders drooped with disappointment. "So much for crystal chandeliers," whispered Rebecca to Joy, and Joy scowled. She had to admit that from outside she had thought everything would be bright and beautiful on the inside as well.
"Go on, children," said Aslan from behind them, and so the children walked forward. Peter carried a lit torch in his hand as he led them down the corridor and up a tall flight of stairs. The room grew lighter the further they climbed, and Joy felt a fresh breeze brush across her face as she climbed alongside Edmund, Suddenly, the group stepped out into the open air.
From the top room of the tower, they could see the entire bay below them, and all the battlements and stairs which led from one section of the castle to the next. Edmund, Joy and Lucy ran forward to explore while the older siblings called after them and then gave them chase! Joy ducked into the top tower room of the Southern tower and looked out at the Narnian countryside below. Directly below her was a cliff, and down to the left was a small tower which sat almost at the water line.
"Found you!" said a voice from behind. Joy screamed and whirled around, startled. Edmund grinned at her, and then ran out onto the balcony. Joy ran after him and chased him down several hallways and across the battlements until he came to a halt on the Southern balcony. Both stopped running, clutching their stomachs and breathing heavily. When she regained her breath, Joy grabbed the railing with excitement.
"Can you believe we get to live here Ed?" she asked in a dreamy voice. The sun was high in the sky, making the water below look bluish-green, and the surf a glittering white.
"I think so," he said in a matter-of fact tone. Joy looked at him sideways, and he shrugged, smirking. Joy smirked back as an idea formed in her mind.
"You're it!" she said, gently slapping Edmund's shoulder as she ran past him and into the solar behind them. Coming out through a Western door, she ran across the battlements, through another tower room and turned North. She could hear Edmund's footsteps behind her and she kept on running. Lucy joined her, laughing gaily.
The two girls led Edmund through what looked to be a dining hall and found a great staircase leading into the yard below them. They ran down the stairs, across the yard and into a side door. This part of the castle looked to be where the bedchambers were. Joy and Lucy darted from room to room, looking which one was bigger and which would potentially be theirs. Edmund finally caught up to them in the largest room at the end of the hall and they all collapsed on the bed laughing.
"There you are!" came a voice from the doorway. The children slowly sat up or in Edmund's case, propped himself up on his elbows and looked over his shoulder at the intruder. It was Mrs. Beaver, carrying a stack of linens. "Would you all head to the dining hall please?" she asked, bowing her head slightly with respect. She pointed at the hallway with her paw and glared at the children with a stern expression, and for a moment she reminded Joy of Mrs. Macready. She looked at Edmund and Lucy and she could tell they were thinking the same thing. The children quickly left the room and walked slowly down the hallway.
"I wonder what is waiting for us up there?" asked Edmund.
"Its probably the others," said Joy, crossing her arms "and they'll tell us not to act like children by running madly through the halls like we have."
"But it sure was fun though!" piped up Lucy, making Joy and Edmund laugh. They headed out the side door again and up the large staircase. Joy thought it seemed bigger going up than coming down. Panting and breathless, the three children reached the top of the stairs, turned to their left and entered the open door which beckoned to them. Now that Joy was no longer tearing through the hall like a madman, she looked around at the beautiful hall.
Large windows with stained-glass details lined the South side of the room which overlooked the sea. Beyond the windows there was a column-lined balcony. There was a corridor leading off to the left, if Joy went down that corridor, she would probably find herself heading up towards the Keep and the Great Hall. Susan, Peter and Rebecca were standing around Aslan, beside a long table with many chairs around it. A bowl of fresh fruit sat on the end of the table closest to them but there was no tablecloth. Edmund instantly went over and picked up an apple.
"Children," said Aslan, drawing all the children close to him. "Tomorrow night is your coronation," he said, looking into each of the Pevensie's faces "until then we will be getting the castle ready." The children nodded. "You will be given appropriate clothes for the coronation, and I will be in charge of things until then." He rested a heavy velveted paw on Peter's shoulder. "That will give you a rest, Son of Adam." Joy agreed, Peter did look tired, and they all probably did after a rough night sleeping on the ground.
"I can help you Aslan," said Rebecca "if you wish." She stepped forward, ready to assist.
"Rebecca and Joy," said Aslan, looking at the sisters and it suddenly occurred to Joy that she looked like a mess. "You will find Ember in the solar. I need to talk to our Kings and Queens about some details for the coronation." Joy and Rebecca nodded and then Joy led her sister out onto the balcony.
"Why do you think we are meeting Ember in the solar?" she asked, as they walked down some dark stairs.
"I think for our coronation dresses," said Rebecca "we can't go in these dirty dresses." Joy nodded, suddenly remembering she slept on the ground last night in this dress. The girls left the stairs and went through another set of doors before they came out into the sun-filled solar. Ember was there with her pins, pin cushion, and rolls of exquisite fabrics were resting on the chairs and couches; silver in varying shades and patterns, burgundy, gold, blue, purple. Both Rebecca and Joy gawked at the variety and Ember chuckled at the two.
"You humans are all alike when it comes to fabrics." She gestured to Joy. "You're first, my Lady." Rolling her eyes, Joy removed her cloak and stood on a stool with her arms spread wide. Ember took the measuring tape from around her neck and held it up, scribbling the measurements on a piece of parchment with a feather pen.
"Alright," Ember motioned for Joy to step down "you're next, Lady Rebecca." Joy sat down beside a pile of fabrics while Rebecca was measured, wrapping her cloak around her arm. Ember held up some swatches of fabric; dark green and silver with a leafy pattern woven into the silky material. "Hm," sighed Ember "I want to use the perfect material that will match your colouring perfectly."
"Why not red again?" asked Rebecca, holding the silver swatch on level with her eyes.
"No," said Ember with a smirk, "the High King has already seen you in red." Rebecca blushed, Ember smirked, and Joy thought she would be used to the teasing by now. "Don't worry, I will find something perfect for you." Ember turned back to a chair covered in gold and blue fabrics.
"What about me?" asked Joy from her seat by the mound of many coloured silks and velvets. Ember thought for a moment with a twinkle in her eye, before shrugging.
"I have a couple of ideas," she said, and then she made a shooing motion "now get out of here, both of you" she said with a secretive smile "I have to get sewing." Rebecca picked up her cloak and the two girls left the solar.
"I wonder what the mystery is," remarked Joy, looking over her shoulder at the closed door.
"Me too," said Rebecca. "All the Narnians have been incredibly nice to me since the battle. I wonder what it all means," she said with a pensive tone, and then shrugged. "Its probably because they're grateful that we helped save Narnia from the Witch."
"They probably think you'll marry Peter," said Joy, and she burst out laughing as Rebecca's face turned red.
"Joy!" Rebecca quickly stepped in front of her, forcing Joy to halt in the middle of the hallway. "Honestly, you have no idea how royalty works. A King must marry a Queen or a Princess in line to the throne." Rebecca recited that so easily that Joy thought Rebecca must have thought it all out long before this conversation. "Don't say anything like that again, alright?" she asked and Joy nodded, feeling sorry for her sister. Rebecca turned away and headed towards the Southern tower. Joy turned left into another hallway and wandered back towards the dining hall.
The children were kept busy the rest of the afternoon with fittings, exploring the rest of the castle and helping with the cleanup as well. Joy scrubbed windows in the Dining Hall, swept the dust out of her room, and helped Mrs. Beaver out in the kitchen. Rebecca and Peter walked the length of the castle walls and made notes of which places needed repairs. Susan oversaw the family wing of the castle and made sure the rooms would be cleaned out and freshened up before bedtime that night, which was why Joy ran down to the kitchen immediately after sweeping. Edmund spent the rest of the day with the horses and joined Joy in the kitchen before supper. Lucy and Mr. Tumnus spent the day catching up and talking, and Lucy introduced him to her other Narnian friends.
While the sun was setting, the children walked down to the beach for one last evening of fun before the solemn occasion tomorrow. They quickly discarded their shoes and weapons and girls took the ribbons out of their hair before running into the waves. A splash fight quickly ensued among Joy, Edmund and Lucy, which continued to grow and gradually involved the others as well, leaving all the children soaked to the bone. At one point, Joy swam out to look for mermaids but there were none in sight. The skirt of her dress tried to drag her out to sea and Rebecca and Edmund had to drag her back to shore. The children then looked for tide pools and different sea creatures up and down the beach until the sun was nothing but a sliver of light on the horizon.
After putting their shoes back on and wrapping themselves up in blankets, the children headed to their rooms in the Western wing of the castle. Joy recognized it as the hallway she, Lucy and Edmund had run down earlier that day. Peter had the largest room at the end of the hall, then Edmund's and Susan's rooms were on the North side of the hall, and Rebecca's, Joy's and Lucy's were on the South side. Before they all went inside, Mrs. Beaver told all the children to go right to bed so they would be well-rested for the next day and walked away.
Joy was surprised to have her own room, but at the same time she knew she would enjoy it! There was a large window facing the ocean, and a window seat perched underneath. A large mirror was standing in the corner, and beside it was a large oak wardrobe. A writing desk sat against the wall, beneath another window which looked down at the castle wall and the ocean beyond it. But the thing that most excited Joy was the large four-poster bed with two fluffy white pillows that seemed to be calling to her tired eyes. She quickly pulled off her wet dress and shift and put on the provided nightgown hanging in the wardrobe and then pulled the curtains shut. Flopping down on the bed, she stared at the ceiling.
She had never had a room to herself before, and she felt rather odd. Maybe she should go talk to Rebecca, maybe- There was a knock on her door. "Come in?" she said and sat up quickly. The door creaked open and Joy smiled at the intruder. "Rebecca?" She thought her sister looked like a golden-haired ghost in her white nightgown while being framed in the torchlight behind her.
"Need some company?" asked Rebecca as she closed the door behind her. Joy thought the room seemed a little brighter and warmer with Rebecca's presence, and she nodded.
"Sure," said Joy, and she slid to the left so Rebecca could climb up beside her. "Careful, I kick," she whispered before slamming a pillow over head as Rebecca said, "You do not!" Joy laughed and crawled out from under the pillow. The two settled down and Joy relaxed at the familiar sound of Rebecca's breathing. She was half-asleep when Rebecca's voice floated through the darkness.
"Joy?" she whispered. "Are you asleep?"
"Yes," mumbled Joy, not carrying if she told the truth or not.
"I'm glad you weren't hurt in battle," said Rebecca, and Joy jumped as Rebecca's arms snaked around her middle and pulled her into a hug. "I don't think I could bear almost losing you again." Joy smiled at the word.
"Don't worry Rebecca," she said, "I promise I won't cause you trouble anymore," Rebecca sighed, relieved. "On purpose," Joy added before laughing again. The two stopped laughing as the door opened again. Joy looked up to see two more silhouettes standing in the doorway, one shorter and one taller.
"Joy? Rebecca?" came Lucy's voice. "Can Susan and I join you?" The two girls sat up in bed and looked at each other. Joy looked back and Lucy and nodded. With a grin, Lucy tore across the room and jumped onto the bed, as well as Rebecca's leg.
"Ouch!" exclaimed Rebecca and she quickly climbed out of bed to grab an extra blanket from the wardrobe.
"Sorry!" cried Lucy. Susan closed the door and then sat down on the edge of the bed.
"You sure you don't mind?" asked Susan. Rebecca set the extra blanket on the bed in front of Susan. Joy shook her head.
"No," she said, "this is going to be fun!" She dove back under the covers and Lucy crawled up beside her.
"Like a sleepover!" said Lucy excitedly.
"Alright," said Rebecca, and Joy saw her winking at Susan in the dim light from the filmy curtains on the windows "but nobody is going to stay up late chatting! We have a big day tomorrow." The girls all curled up together under the blankets, and silence filled the room again.
"Rebecca," said Susan, and Joy felt Rebecca tense up against her leg "what's going on with you and Peter?" Rebecca let out a long sigh, and Joy remembered the speech she gave her earlier.
"I, I don't know Susan," said Rebecca hesitantly. "I don't know how to talk to him about it because one minute I think there's something between us, and the next there isn't."
"Oh, Peter likes you, Rebecca," said Lucy "I know it, he told me," and she curled up next to Joy.
"Thanks Lucy," said Rebecca, and Joy took note of the smile in her tone. Rebecca then sat up and looked around at the girls. "You girls are the best friends I could ask for," she said. Lucy suddenly wacked Rebecca in the head with a pillow.
"You were saying?" she said cheekily, and the pillows started flying. The girls squealed and laughed as they mock fought on top of the bed. Joy rolled off and landed in a heap on the floor, and Lucy hit her over the head again. Someone started pounding on the door, and all the girls froze, including Joy with her arm over her head and a pillow clenched in her fist.
"Would you all quiet down and let us two get some sleep?" shouted Edmund. All the girls started laughing and Joy felt so weak from laughter that she needed Rebecca to pull her up onto the bed. Edmund pounded in the door again.
"As your future King," came Peter's voice "I order you to pipe down and get some sleep." Joy could tell he was teasing.
"Of course, Your royal Highness!" said Rebecca in a high, floaty voice. The girls fell apart laughing again. Lucy chucked a pillow at the door and Joy got up to retrieve it.
"Silly girls," said Edmund through the door.
"You've got that right, Ed!" shouted back Joy. The girls and the boys argued back and forth through the door until Mrs. Beaver came along and shooed the boys back to their rooms. Finally, Joy's room went quiet in the early hours of the morning and the girls all fell asleep on top of each other, bundled up under the blankets.