A/N: I think a lot of you were under the impression that chapter 36 was the last chapter. Nope, the epilogue is! I have an author's note that I will post tomorrow (the day after this is uploaded). It will explain all information you need to know about the next story and answer a lot of the questions you all had about this one, so please leave any of your questions in the reviews! I'll answer all of them!
- Epilogue -
Fresh air flew in through the open windows, the curtains flowed with the breeze, and a cheerful haze clouded everyone's minds.
The twins were in Analiese's room, where their new nanny was dressing them in their coronation gowns. Adela was in the room also. Avaline was dressing her up nicely for her cousins' big day. Besides, this was going to be the first time that the kingdom had seen her since her own coronation over six months ago.
"Aren't their coronation gowns just adorable?" Avaline gushed. "Adela didn't actually have one. I guess that's one of the perks of being the child of the High King, though."
Analiese shrugged and said nothing. A feeling of sympathy moved through her. Deep down, she knew that the treatment of her children versus Adela was different. The twins had been treated with the utmost respect from the moment she had given birth to them. Adela had been accused of being a bastard child far too many times. She was one, actually, but the fact that the people would call their princess this was appalling to everyone. Adela was also attention-deprived. Everything revolved around the twins, it seemed. Maybe it had been the bad timing of her birth, but Analiese felt sure that it was because of her parents' lower titles.
"Pwetty," Adela said. She was sitting in front of the full-length mirror in the corner of the room, admiring her lavender dress and white stockings and shoes.
Avaline lifted her daughter in her arms and placed her at her hip. Both of them stared at their reflection in the mirror. "Yes, sweetie. You're the prettiest baby I've ever seen."
The Telmarine-born queen wore her wavy, brown hair in a braided half-up/half-down hairstyle. Her silver crown gleamed next to her hair. She also wore a deep lavender gown with long sleeves. Platinum silver stitching could be found in certain areas of the dress, which brought more attention to her crown.
Together, the young princess and her mother were stunning. Today, Analiese thought Avaline looked prettier than Susan, who was widely known as the most beautiful woman in all of Narnia.
Analiese looked down at herself. As the High Queen and the mother of the twins being coronated, she was supposed to look amazing. So she had picked out a gorgeous, long-sleeved rose gold gown with gold stitching running along it in places. There was gold material showing through parts of the thin pink dress. Her hair was twisted into a voluminous plaited bun and her golden crown was practically invisible next to her blonde hair.
She thought she looked pretty, though not anything special compared to her sisters-in-law and Avaline.
Peter cracked open the bedroom door and stuck his head in. "Hey girls, the ceremony is starting in five minutes, so you'd better hurry."
He could barely finish his sentence before the girls were gathering their things and heading down. Kingston suddenly began to cry.
Analiese turned around to look at the nanny worriedly. The elderly woman said, "My Queen, I do believe his highness is hungry."
"We have to get downstairs, I don't have time to feed him!" she exclaimed.
"You'll just have to explain to the others. It's either feed him now or feed him when he's crying in front of the entire kingdom, my Queen."
Analiese groaned. She could only hope that nothing else went wrong here today.
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Peter and Analiese entered the small chapel room quietly. Peter held Kingston and Analiese held Cathalina. They walked to the front altar, where they stood facing the crowd of people that came to watch.
Peter nodded at Caspian, who stood behind a podium. He shuffled a few pieces of paper in his hands.
Caspian cleared his throat, then began to speak. "Hello, everyone. It is under unfortunate circumstances that I must inform all of you that Aslan has not made himself present for. Therefore, I have been chosen to conduct this ceremony. Will you please join me in-"
He was interrupted by a sudden, blinding light that was shining from under the crack between the floor and the closed chapel doors. The door came open of its own will and in walked the Great Lion himself. Large and majestic, he had an air to him that was calming and thrilling, yet somewhat frightening.
"I think it is time we celebrate this joyous occasion correctly," he said.
Lucy, who was sitting behind the altar (along with her siblings and friends), broke out into a huge smile. She was finally listening to the voice she loved again. She glanced over at her sister and brother. Susan was clearly happy over the arrival of the lion. Edmund, however, held a stone cold glare that was fixed right in the direction of Aslan.
Maybe he's looking at something else, Lucy tried to tell herself. Or maybe he's just being his normal grouchy self. But even Edmund always cracked a smile at Aslan.
"Welcome, Sons and Daughters of Eve. It is today that we celebrate the coronation of our forthcoming Prince and Princess."
He walked toward Peter and Analiese. He stopped when he just a foot away from them. Then he turned to face the crowd.
"Several weeks ago, Queen Analiese gave birth to twins; a girl and a boy. They are the children of Narnia's greatest king, High King Peter. At the end of the third month, they were born and named Kingston and Cathalina. Today they will become the future of our country."
He began walking toward a pedestal in the middle of the carpeted area in front of the current royals. Then, he motioned to Peter and Analiese. "Please bring them to me."
They both came to stand before him. Aslan turned toward Kingston first.
"My dear Kingston, brave and noble, handsome and dashing, strong and willing. You are a greater version of your father. Your protective nature and agility will help you greatly in battles to come. But you are also caring like your mother. This can be a strength, but it will also be your greatest weakness." Aslan leaned in to breathe atop the child's head.
"Precious Cathalina, a perfect example of the ideal princess. Kind, caring, gentle, and artistic are traits that are visible on the outside. But at closer glance, people will see that you are more than just this. You are nurturing and romantic. All these will take you far in the future." He leaned in to breathe on her head.
He turned to face the crowd again. "Since they are young and cannot hold the weight of a crown, they will be given crowns to wear in the future. Kingston's crown is embedded with pieces of the strongest sword in the history of Narnia to symbolize his power. Cathalina's crown appears as illusions to fit her many sides."
Aslan looked between Peter and Analiese. "Your children will grow to be great and powerful leaders much like their parents. Many troubles will come their way, of course, but they will overcome any obstacles in their path. It is crucial that both of you protect them during this dangerous time in Narnia."
"Ladies, gentlemen, and creatures of Narnia. You all are aware of the many trials and tragedies that our country has faced. There are many heroes and heroines that have assisted us in victory, such as Digory Kirke, Polly Plummer, and Aravis Tarkheena. There are also many royal figures that have ruled before this time that are always to be remembered: King Frank I and Queen Helen of Narnia, King Lune of Archenland, King Cor of Archenland, Prince Corin of Archenland, and others.
"Among our rulers today are some of the greatest kings and queens to ever reign over Narnia. They are High King Peter the Magnificent, High Consort Queen Analiese the Courteous, King Edmund the Just, Queen Susan the Gentle, Queen Lucy the Valiant, King Caspian X, Queen Avaline, and Princess Adela. Joining them now are High Prince Kingston the Noble, and High Princess Cathalina the Patient."
Shouts of joy echoed from every corner of the room. "Long live King Peter! Long live Queen Analiese! Long live Queen Susan! Long live King Edmund! Long live Queen Lucy! Long live King Caspian! Long live Queen Avaline! Long live Princess Adela! Long live Prince Kingston! Long live Princess Cathalina!"
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It was with happy tears and joyful hearts that the ceremony concluded. Afterwards was a small party for the Narnians that were invited inside the chapel for the coronation and the royal family themselves. Again, it was nothing big or fancy, but it was enough to celebrate the great event.
Lucy stood at the punch bowl socializing with two Bulgy Bears. They were being terribly boring and all Lucy had wanted was to get a drink. She hadn't had the chance because she didn't want to interrupt their story in fear of appearing disinterested.
Finally, they finished their story and left her alone. She was beginning to pour some punch into her glass when someone tapped on her shoulder.
"Queen Lucy," someone said.
She spun around to find a handsome young man standing before her. He had dark hair and eyes, he looked as if he'd been in the sun recently, and there was a bit of unshaven stubble on his face.
"Oh, I didn't mean to scare you. I was just hoping to introduce myself," the man apologized. "My name is Sir Aldric of Telmar. I am moving to Narnia very soon as I am tired of the Telmarine government, and I was hoping to meet the rulers of this country."
"Well, it's very nice to meet you! I'm Lucy Pevensie, as you've guessed," she laughed.
Aldric bowed. "It is my honor to earn your acquaintance, Queen Lucy."
"Just Lucy," she corrected. "Do you know when you are going to be settling here?"
"Tomorrow, actually. I have no further reason to remain in Telmar."
"That's wonderful!"
Peter interrupted her as he called for her from across the room. "Lucy!"
"I think my brother needs me, but I do hope to meet you again."
She smiled a sparkling smile, which Aldric returned. Lucy couldn't help but reflect on how attractive this young man was as she walked away from him.
Throughout the rest of the day, Peter and Analiese accepted congratulations, Edmund and Avaline chatted with commoners, Caspian and Susan flirted (as usual), and Lucy laughed while Camden goofed off. But the three children were the subject of everyone's attention, as they should have been.
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The day ended with a bang, but not everyone felt content. On the outside, it would appear that everything was coming together again for the family. But on the inside, everything was still broken.
Peter still held a secret grudge against his wife for a reason she still didn't know. However, Analiese was under the impression that they had worked it through. Quite honestly, she barely remembered the months before the twins were born.
Edmund was hiding something big from Avaline, which worried her greatly.
Caspian and Susan couldn't find a way to tell each other their feelings.
Lucy and Camden were becoming closer and closer. So close, in fact, that she could hardly bear to think of him going back to Durham. And secretly, he felt the same, but he knew he had to go home to comfort his mourning mother.
But Aslan had come and brought them all happiness, and along with that was the light that they all needed. The light that came with new beginnings, the light that came with creation and closed chapters.