So sorry, it's taken me this long to update! I was busy, then lazy, then busy again, and all I can do is apologize profusely and hope there's still someone out there willing to read my crazy little AU. Without further ado, then, the long-awaited...

Chapter 16

Later on that evening, when we're all back at camp, all the wounds have been healed, all the stone people un-stoned, and me and my friends are in the boys' tent exchanging tales of the day, Aslan enters. Instinctively, we stand to greet Him, giving little bows and curtsies – or in my case, something that could only be called a curtsy if a drunk goat on roller skates attempted it.

But Aslan still smiles. "Enough," He says. "All of you, sit." We sink back to the ground, and Aslan crouches too, His golden tail flicking back and forth as if to watch us when His eyes switch to another.

"You did well today," He continues, "all of you. Thanks to your courage, caring, and perseverance, Narnia is finally free from her curse. Her people thank you. And," a smile flickers on His face, more in His eyes than on His mouth, "I, for one, am quite proud."

We stare at Him, then at each other, and I try to think of something gracious to say ("Oh, no, thankyou!" or "The pleasure was all ours!"). But in the end, I just beam like an idiot, and so do the Pevensies.

Beam, I mean. Not necessarily like idiots.

"Now," Aslan goes on, "I assume you are all aware of the Prophecy?"

The five of us nod slowly. The Prophecy that says my friends are to rule Narnia. The Prophecy that says nothing about me.

"But Aslan... we're children," Susan says, sounding like she already half-believes Him, but doesn't want to get her hopes up. "Surely they don't expect us to rule a nation?"

"Children, yes, dear one. But hardly incapable of the task you are given. For, only hours ago, did you not defeat the army of the White Witch? Did you not restore hope to Narnia by your mere presence? Inspire loyalty in legions before they had even met you?" When nobody argues (mostly because they can't), He goes on, "You four are destined to rule Narnia; you have been since the beginning of its time."

My friends exchange glances, tiny, tentative smiles, and I'm glad they're strengthened by Aslan's words. Honest. But... well, let's just say I didn't miss the part where He said "You four." My head starts to lower and my heart sinks with it.

But, like He read my mind (again), Aslan turns to me. "And you, dear daughter, you have not been forgotten." He smiles. "I have a role for you to play as well."

My frown disappears, a smile up and sprouting in its place. "Really?"

"Yes." Aslan nods. "You will stay in Narnia and serve in the Royal Court as the Kings and Queens' advisor."

Though it doesn't fall off entirely, my smile does droop. My mouth cracks open again, but I don't actually say anything. I can't.

Now I don't wanna sound like a brat or anything, but... advisor? It's... well, it's not exactly a top-notch spot, especially since the Pevensies get to be Kings and Queens. Compared to royalty, "advisor" sounds pretty unglamorous, like a consolation prize. Like, "Oh dear, we couldn't think of anything else to give you, so here you go!"

Then again, Aslan didn't have to let me stay at all. What's more, He hasn't been wrong about anything yet, so if He says advisor is the role I'm to play, than glamorous or not, I'll darn well play it.

Still, I can't help hoping the job is a lot cooler than it sounds.

"You remember," Aslan says, His voice calling me out of my thoughts, "the vision you had shortly after you arrived at camp?"

I nod. Of course I remember. Even though... holy guacamole. That was, like, two days ago, wasn't it?

Feels like two years.

Before my thoughts can ramble off again, Aslan goes on. "And you remember the way you could feel Edmund and Peter during the battle?"

I nod again, slower this time, flashes in my head reminding me of the way I watched over them, protected them – even from lengths that weren't humanly possible. And, even when I wasn't looking at them, how I always felt that tingle of warning, always knew when they needed my help.

Aslan's lips part in a small smile, and He nods as well. "Good. Those talents will be of great use to you all in times to come."

Then, with me still staring at Him, and the Pevensies still staring at me, Aslan rises from the ground and pads out the tent-flap door.

"Well," I say after a few moments, "that was enlightening."

My friends laugh. "Yeah," Susan agrees. "I'm still a bit confused, but... I don't know. It just..."

"Seems like everything's going to be all right." Lucy touches her sister's shoulder and smiles. "Doesn't it?"

The rest of us nod. "I feel it, too," I say, "Regardless of where we came from, this is where we're supposed to be now. Ruling, or in my case, helping to rule Narnia is what we're meant to do."

For a while, we sit in silence. I remember my former home, the old house in the suburbs of Florida, the beach less than five minutes away, my family and old friends sitting in the living room, all of us talking and laughing together.

I blink back a tear, stare at my new friends' faces, and know they're all thinking of similar things.

But there's no way we'd leave now, not when we're on the verge of this... whatever this is. A great – and probably terrifying – adventure.

As far as getting home and our families back there, I get the feeling it'll all work out somehow. And, if it doesn't, well, I guess we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

"Whatever comes next," Peter says, "we face it together. We're a family now." He grins at me. "All five of us."

I reach out to hold the other girls' hands, and, grudgingly, the boys follow suit. Grins grows on all our faces as we look at each other, no idea what's coming next. But for now, we have each other and I'm pretty sure there's nothing we can't do.

Ruling a country included.

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