Susan checked herself in the mirror, hardly able to believe the image that stared back at her. Though Finchley dwindled in her memory as each day passed she could not shake the overwhelming transformation that was about to become her. Her hair was fashioned in tightly pleats that servants of hers (she was still getting used to that as well) had wrapped around the back of her head, woven with flowers and ribbon.
She felt lovely, queenly.
"Su! Susan!" cried Edmund from down the hall. Their chambers were all in the same wing of Cair Paravel, only staircases and tapestries separated them now.
Susan looked over her shoulder as her brother's voice got nearer and nearer and soon he appeared in her doorway. A smile greeted the both of them and Susan stood from her vanity and turned to face him. It was hard to believe what all he had endured these past few days, the reminders of which were still fresh on his face. His lip was cloven right down the middle and there was still some residual bruising left from the White Witch's abuse but the eyes that shone back at her were pure and full of delight.
"Well, what do you think?" he asked good-naturedly, posing with his hands proudly on his hips, chest out to fill the tunic as best he could.
Susan laughed and clapped her hands.
"Silver is your color, Ed." She replied, walking towards him to grab his hands and squeeze lightly. "You look splendid. Now, give me a spin!" demanded his sister, her voice suddenly matriarchal with the expression of a tyrant.
"Yeah, Edmund, give us a spin, you cheeky king!" chimed Lucy from the doorway. Her elder siblings turned to look at her and all three shared a laugh. Lucy was dressed similarly to Susan, with ribbons and petals in her hair – gifts from the naiads.
Edmund walked over to her and embraced her abruptly, having to stop himself from giving her a good rub on the head so as not to muss her hair. Lucy had been the first to welcome him back, somehow forgiving him despite his awful betrayal. Edmund would never forget that and nor would he likely repeat any mistake of similar caliber. Lucy smiled into the warm, downy fabric of Ed's silver tunic.
"You look great, Ed," She said with a smile. "You too, Susan."
"Where's Peter?" Edmund asked. "I should like to see what color tights he's wearing."
Again, from the doorway, a loud voice was heard clearing his throat.
"For your information, they're red." Peter affirmed in a kingly manner as he too posed similarly to how his brother had only moments before. "And I think they're trousers." He said as he stepped into the room and examined his pants simultaneously, turning his walk into somewhat of an odd dance.
Edmund laughed and was promptly seized in a headlock only to be given the noogie that he spared his sister.
"Peter!" Susan scolded with a smile as she watched the two boys interact like they used to. It was great to have them all together, all getting along, all victorious over the evil that they had unknowingly stepped into. Even Edmund was smiling and his laughter filled the room as he managed to slip from Peter's grasp and trip the soon-to-be High King right onto his buttock. Peter however, grabbed a hold of Edmund's forearm on his way down and toppled his brother into a pile on the floor next to him. Before Susan could protest, Lucy pounced on her brothers and all of them were laughing so hard that tears ran down their cheeks.
Not one to be left out, Susan adjusted her dress and sat next to her family on the floor, close enough and yet far enough away that should would not be struck with a flailing hand or foot in the fray.
"Your majesties?" a timid voice called from outside the doorway.
Immediately, the Pevensies stood upright and addressed the voice outside Susan's chamber. There was a jostling of bodies as they struggled to fall into line and straighten their lopsided tunics and skirts.
Stepping into the room, Mr. Tumnus bowed his little horned head to his kings and queens. Lucy's smiled and rushed forward to hug the faun around the middle, the scruffy hair on his chest prickling against the smoothness of her child's cheek.
"What is it, Mr. Tumnus?" she asked.
"Aslan is waiting downstairs in the throne room. He has two very important people for you to meet."
Susan and Peter exchanged a look. Were they really expected to meet diplomats already? But Aslan knew best, as always and the four Pevensie children shuffled down the stairs, Lucy and Tumnus arm in arm.
There were all manner of creatures bustling about Cair Paravel – centaurs carrying huge loads of food into the kitchens to prepare for the feasts, naiads scattering petals and leaves all over the marble floors, fauns practicing songs to be sung for the celebration, even the mermaids could be heard splashing and singing out the windows from the sea below! The entire world was celebrating them and Edmund took a moment to drink in the sights of salvation. He was a changed and humbled boy, somehow feeling closer and yet so different from the others. His love was richer now, more pure.
In the center of the throne room stood Aslan in his tawny splendor. Even though the sunlight bathed every corner of the castle, Aslan still radiated a glow of his own that made the sun's rays seem tawdry.
"Peter, Susan, Edmund, Lucy, I have someone important for you to meet." Aslan stated. He sat down on his hind legs and from behind him Edmund could just see the top of a man's head. The four of them walked over to Aslan and were surprised to see another figure standing next to the lion, a girl around Susan's age.
"Your majesties, this is Blane and Tholyn. They are the Charge and Charge-in-Training." Aslan stated proudly as the two figures bowed their heads a little before righting themselves. The man was tall and impressive, standing almost as high as Aslan with fiercely curly brown hair and a beard that hadn't been shaved for quite some time. His clothes were function over formality and it was clear by the lines in his face and that strength of his gaze that he knew things, things that the kings and queens would find of great use.
Tholyn too was dressed similarly to her father. She wore leggings and trousers with great, high boots that looked to be made of the finest leather. Her shirt was ladylike and fitted with a simple leather vest, but the chain mail peeking from underneath it was not and her curly brown hair was braided with bones, shells, and teeth. Edmund could not take his eyes off her. Tholyn looked wild and savage and yet was the Charge-in-Training – whatever that was.
"Excuse my naiveté Aslan, but what is a Charge?" Peter asked, looking to Blane and Tholyn with great regard. If Aslan thought it important enough to introduce them personally then they must be of great significance. Susan and Lucy waited excitedly to hear Aslan's explanation but Edmund was too entranced by Tholyn to pay much attention. He could see knives strapped to her belt and a diagonal discoloration across the leather vest that indicated that she was an archer as well.
She and Susan should get on just fine. He thought to himself.
Lucy, noticing her brother's gawking, took it upon herself to discreetly elbow Edmund in the ribs.
Blane looked down to his daughter and smiled.
"Go ahead, you tell them." He ordered warmly, knowing that Tholyn was dying to speak.
Edmund perked up, his face visibly happier than the moment before as he watched his lady fair step forward, unafraid to address the royal court.
"I am the Charge-in-Training your majesties and the Charge is an ancient ally of Narnia. Originally we are from Archenland and we patrol all borders, slaughter enemies of the throne, and serve as ambassador to all allies. We are more servants to the world of good than citizens of Archenland and with your coming our duties will be to keep you constantly informed of the goings on of the lands around you." Tholyn stated proudly. Her voice was a soothing alto and Edmund found himself respecting her more and more with every passing word.
Blane leaned down and whispered something into his daughter's ear to which her face lit up and she let out an, "OH!"
"We will correspond with you via message hawk and we have a militia of our own that is ours to command. If Narnia should ever need us, the Charge's forces will be there. We are well versed in the Narnian ways and consider all of Narnia's inhabitants to be friends. As our oldest ally you are our main concern as Archenland plays the coward card and would prefer to stay in silence than stand up for what is right."
Blane cleared his throat to voice his displeasure at his daughter's final statement but Aslan merely chuckled deep in his throat. Tholyn stood in front of her father, clearly unashamed of what she'd said. To her, it was true. The White Witch had reigned for as long as she could remember while Archenland stood by and did nothing, Narnia's oldest ally. There was no respect in that.
Edmund was altogether impressed and by the look on his sibling's faces, they were as well.
"So what sorts of things go into being the Charge-in-Training?" he asked somewhat unceremoniously, unable to staunch his curiosity. He simply had to say something to her, she was so good at talking he figured he'd keep her doing so.
"Actually, your majesty, Tholyn here is going to take my place as Charge starting today." Blane corrected. He cast a look to his daughter, who wore an expression of utter disbelief. Edmund too was shocked, and Lucy and Susan widened their eyes. None of them could imagine what it would be like to have such a heavy responsibility without the support of Aslan and each other. Being the Charge seemed to come with certain sacrifice, like home and family. Now, Tholyn was losing her father's guidance, and her hesitation showed.
Tholyn took it like a solider though, and wiped her face of any fear.
"Sir!" She answered in the affirmative, standing tall and proud despite herself.
Aslan leaned a little and touched his great head to Tholyn's in a comforting fashion. This was a lot of responsibility to place with a twelve-year-old girl.
"I must speak with the Charges alone. The coronation starts in an hour so entertain yourselves until then, sons of Adam and daughters of Eve."
The four Pevensies began to leave the room, clearly taking Aslan's word as a commandment. However Edmund just couldn't let her get away so fast, regardless of whether or not she was staying. He didn't know if she would leave right after the ceremony but he wanted her to stay and celebrate. Never before had a girl caught his eye but he had watched Peter enough to know what to do when one did.
"See you later, then?" asked Edmund when he was nearly out of the room. He was clearly looking to Tholyn and Susan and Peter shared a knowing smirk as they ascended the stairs.
"Yes, master Edmund, you will see them. Now away with you. We have business to discuss."