A/N: I would like to take a slight moment to apologize for my lack of entrees. This pass semester has been crazy busy to the point that I have suffered one illness after another. I had thought that this winter break would be my time to recuperate however after returning from a triffling doctor visit, I unfortunately must say that I am worse off than I had originally thought. However, this semester I have drastically cut back on my classes in hope to regaining my health. So please forgive my lacking, and enjoy this new chapter of Keeper of Her Heart.
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Chapter 19
Lucy...
Lucy...
Lucy...
Lucy awoke laying upon soft green grass as her skin warmed by the kisses of the sun.
"Lucy, rise."
"Aslan?" Lucy shot up to both feet. "Aslan!"
He stood in his shiny golden coat and sky blue eyes not ten feet from her in the center of a meadow. A magnificent God she has ever known. Actually, the only god she has ever known. She couldn't hold back, springing from her rooted stance latching onto his neck in a tight embrace.
"I have missed you so, Aslan. Why do you insist on staying away for so long upon our return? Your face should be the first we see upon arrival."
"We, dear Lucy?"
Lucy broke the connection with a small shrug. "Well, it's only me this time." A frown slipped into her brow. "Aslan? The last time Edmund and I where here, I could have sworn that you said we would no longer be allowed in Narnia. What happened?"
Aslan chuckled deep within this throat. "As it appears, Narnia has use for you still, Little Dear One. As much as it does for your cousin Eustace. Perhaps, I was mistaking the last time we said goodbye."
Lucy shook his head, "You are never mistaken, Aslan."
"It seems I was, Lucy. I was in all ernest the last time we parted. You were never to see our shores again. Why or how you have made this journey now, I am uncertain. Perhaps it is not you who needed Narnia this time, but Narnia who needed you."
"What can I do? I am just a little girl?"
Aslan took several steps backwards. "Look at yourself, Lucy. You are a girl no longer, but a woman full grown, with a mind of great knowledge and a throne of great power. Never believe you are weak and powerless, for I know it is not true."
A breeze began to blow first lightly than more forcefully with the buds of multiple flowers dancing upon its waves. One by one they began to circle Aslan and soon within their magical waltz he vanished.
...
Lucy groggily crawled onto her hands and knees. She was still in her cage, still in the cave with its lovely decorations of dirt and rocks. Pulling her knees to her chest she sighed, "So much for power."
This cage is nothing more than three walls pressed against a stone wall. It doesn't even connect. Such poor craftsmanship to keep prisoners in. One could simply...
Lucy froze, "Not connected." She searched the edges of the bone cage again. "They aren't connected. Eustace!" She whispered harshly towards the other cage. "Eustace the cage isn't connected to the wall."
Hooking her feet between two spaces, Lucy shoved her shoulder into the stone and pushed. It budged just slightly but at that smallest movement Lucy's heart jumped in joy. "It moved. Eustace it moved!"
"What?" Came a sleepily reply.
Lucy grunted as she tried again pushing even harder. She was panting, still weakened from her earlier ordeal with the Faes. Aslan said I was powerful. I am powerful. I am. With one final grunt
the cage slide further, sending Lucy falling to the ground. Unfortunately she had the misfortune of striking her head against a jagged rock. The pain came before the blood. Feeling her head Lucy was grateful that it was only a small cut just above her left eyebrow.
"Lucy are you alright?"
Lucy nodded, "Yes, Eustace. Keep quiet they might hear you."
"Not bloody likely. Besides there is still an hour until sunset. They won't awaken before." Eustace's face showed in the dimming light, as dirty and dusty as hers. "Lucy? Why are you out of your cage?"
"What do you mean why?"
"How! I meant how did you escape?" His face turned into the darkness, "She's free. Lucy has found a way out." Turning back to Lucy, Eustace became very serious. "Lucy listen to me. I want you to run. Follow the sunlight out of the cave. Find Caspian and get help. The only way to win is with the sun."
Lucy shook her head, "Eustace I'm not leaving you behind. If anyone leaves than we will do it together. No one is to be left behind."
"Lucy if we help everyone escape we might not make it to the exit before they awaken."
"Eustace." Lucy said more firmly. "We are leaving together. Now help me move this cage."
The crew were weakened from their lack of food and water. Seven cages with five to seven men in each was their goal. Only one soul was lost to them; Francis, the man the Faes fed off of before Lucy's arrival. Before moving onto the final cage, Lucy paused a moment to pray over his body.
"Amen. I will return for you."
"Lucy, come on." Eustace urged. He limped back to her and assisted in helping her to her feet. She was dizzy but determined. With 38 men at their flanks they shuffled their way down the tunnel with the faintest of sun light. "Hurry, everyone. Sunset is falling faster then ever this day."
It was at that moment a terrible screech echoed off the wall forcing them a momentary pause to cover their ears. "Run!" Lucy screamed. She watched as the men sprang forward toward their stary sunset opening.
The group skidded to a stop as they looked down a twenty foot drop to the waving ocean below. They were on a ledge with the blue sea on one side and five screaming Faes on another. Lucy knew she could with hold them. It would give the others a chance to be saved.
"Go." She shouted. "Find Caspian. Tell him what happened." When the men stood rooted to their stop. Lucy gave two a giant shove and slowly they toppled into the waters below until only she and Eustace was next. "Eustace go."
"No I won't leave you behind, Lucy."
"Eustace you must." She slapped him and got the reaction she longed for. He froze just long enough for Lucy to place both hands on his broad chest and push with all her might. "GO!"
As Eustace fell his last sight of Lucy was of the Faes daring the final streaks of sunlight to drag Lucy back into the cave.
"Lucy!"
