Disclaimer: I do not own Narnia in any way shape or form, however, the twist that this works off of and much of the following plot is my own. Do not use them without permission, please.

Author's Note: Ok, so I actually have a number of things to say this time. First and foremost, thanks again to all my wonderful reviewers. You cannot imagine how happy your comments make me, unless, of course, you also write, in which case you probably have a fairly good idea. Probably, most of you do write, in which case, just disregard that last bit. You do know how happy you're making me.

This chapter did not, I repeat, did NOT want to come into existence. So after fighting with it tooth an nail, I eventually come up with something that works-ish. Aslan was probably my biggest difficulty. I love him, don't get me wrong, but perfect isn't easy to write. Also, sorry for those Edmund fans out there, this doesn't have a ton of him in it. His mind is a rather dark, introspective, brooding, and scary place at the moment, and, seeing as I didn't think ya'll would like a chapter-long Edmund monologue, I stayed out of there for the most part.

Anyway, that's it. I'm going to make myself hush now. Better stay away from the sugar next time.

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Being in battle was a fairly new experience for him. Winning one was even newer, and it seemed that it would be wise to follow those who knew what came next. So he did so. King Edmund had a black cloud around him, it was obvious enough for anyone to tell and Caspian didn't dare intrude upon the boy's privacy. Instead he followed a pace behind Susan, hoping that it would serve as well.

They crossed the river with little difficulty, and ere long the prince realized that they were making their way toward the lion who stood beside Lucy. All the sudden the pieces came together in his mind. Could it really be? Aslan? After all these years? His eyes grew round and wide. Still, the evidence was very convincing. After all, that was who Queen Lucy had been sent to fetch, and who else could have summoned the river god? He swallowed and it seemed to stick in his throat.

Lowering his eyes, he dragged himself forward, finding it more difficult with each step that he took. He wasn't quite sure whether he was relieved or even more distressed when he followed the example of the other children and knelt before the Great Lion. Bracing himself, he raised his eyes.

"Edmund! Susan! See! I told you he was here! And we came just in time too!" Lucy squealed, racing forward to embrace her siblings. However, when Edmund flinched away and she noted his wound, she made a quiet 'tsk'ing sound.

"Peace, Lucy. There is much that must pass now," said the great voice and Caspian shuddered as if he'd stepped out of a shadow and into the sunlight.

"Aslan... Lucy, I'm sorry I have to tell you," Susan started to say, but her courage wavered and she stopped. Queen Lucy tilted her head and looked at her sister oddly, no doubt wondering what this was all about.

Suddenly the low sound of a pipe caught everyone's attention and they all turned to look, then looked down. They found a procession of mice coming toward them, carrying Reepicheep. Caspian hadn't known the small knight very long, but seeing him more dead than alive, as he was, was almost more than he could bare, especially after the other events of the day.

"Lucy," came Aslan's voice, and the youngest queen of Narnia snapped into action. For a long moment there was perfect silence. Each member in the gathering was waiting to see if the day would become an even heavier burden on their shoulders. And just when all hope was lost, the furry chest rose again.

In a flash, the mouse was back on his feet, apologizing profusely for appearing before Aslan as he had. Never mind that he'd nearly been killed on the field of battle. Then the courageous creature nearly fell flat on his face, and he realized that he'd lost his tale. The debate raged for a while over whether or not Aslan should make it grow back, but Reepicheep won out, thanks in no small portion to his people.

Caspian could hardly believe it. Not very long ago, the Old Narnians had only existed in the stories Doctor Cornelius had told him. Now they walked and talked right in front of him. More than that though, all the chivalry of a centaur was being exhibited in a body of a rodent. It was enough to make him grin, even on this dark day. Looking over, he noticed the faintest turning in the corners of Queen Susan's mouth and was glad. Even King Edmund seemed to have warmed at the sight, though he still seemed distant.

After the mice left there was a brief pause, which Queen Lucy spent on her tip-toes looking out over the soldiers. "Now where has Peter gotten off to?" she asked, more rhetorically than not. "Probably caught up in some high and noble duty. Still, I'd think he'd come to see me after all this." When her oldest brother didn't appear and no one answered her, she frowned and worry began to show on her face. "Where is he?" she asked quietly.

"Lu..." Susan started to say, but her voice trailed off. She looked altogether too pale and there was a rigidness to her shoulders that Caspian had never seen before. Dispite her stony expression, he had the distinct feeling that she was fighting desperately to hold back tears. Truly this was a burden she should never have had to bear.

Placing a staying hand on the elder queen's shoulder, he locked eyes with the younger. "Queen Lucy, I - I am sorry to tell you this, but your brother has fallen," he told her as gently as he could.

"What do you mean, 'fallen'?" Queen Lucy asked. The prince had little doubt that she knew the answer, but that didn't matter at the moment.

"I mean... King Peter gave his life for Narnia on this day."

"No!"

"It's true, Lu," Susan whispered.

The youngest Pevensie went perfectly white and tears began rushing down her cheeks. To Caspian, it seemed that only a great force of will was keeping her from being racked with sobs.

"Oh Aslan, can't you do something? Can't you bring him back?" she begged.

The Lion closed his eyes slowly and took a deep breath breath before opening them once again. Those eyes, Caspian had never seen anything like them, and the sorrow that they communicated was overwhelming. "No, Dear One," he said at last. "Your brother has left. He has earned this holiday and it would be a cruel thing to deny him it."

At that, Queen Lucy stood very still, but then her shoulders shook and a ragged breath tore through her throat. Suddenly she turned around and ran off, into the nearby woods.

"Oh, that was very well done," Susan said and raced after her sister.

Now it was just the two boys and Aslan in the clearing. Aslan had not moved, nor changed his expression in any way, Caspian was rather shocked at the whole thing, but King Edmund... the younger boy was fuming.

"What's all this about leaving and holidays, Aslan? You and I both know he's dead," King Edmund growled and he glared at the Lion as if he could kill him with looks alone.

"It is as I said, he is simply on a holiday."

Edmund looked up at the Great One now with disbelief and disgust written all across his face. "Aslan, I was with him when he died. I was embracing him, letting him know he was not alone. I... I saw the... the blood and the...," the young king's voice died as he took a shaking breath. "He is dead."

Great tears formed at the corners of the Lion's eyes then, and he wept without any shame. "Yes, he is dead as you would say, both in this world and in your own, but all that means is that he has gone to a different one."

Glancing over at King Edmund, Caspian tried to see the younger boy's reaction, but it was hard to tell. If anything changed it might have been that there was a little less anger in his form, though there was probably more disbelief.

"King Caspian."

Caspian's eyes flew to Aslan and he bowed his head saying, "My Lord, I fear you have named me incorrectly. I am but a prince."

"King Caspian, it has ever been within my power to declare the kings and queens of Narnia. It is now your turn to reign over this land."

"But... I fear that I am not ready."

"And that is exactly why you are. Let no one tell you otherwise. Go now, Son of Adam. The battle has cost your people much, and they need their king to guide them."

Nodding, shaking, Caspian got to his feet and bowed low. Then he spun on his heel and walked away.

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"Edmund," came the deep voice and the boy returned his attention to the Lion who sat before him. There was an uncanny, knowing expression in the being's face that left him unsettled. "Revenge does not become a king of Narnia."

"Sir? I'm not sure I know what you're talking about," the king replied.

"I'm talking about your heart, Young One. When you return to the soldiers, you will learn that Miraz was slain by the river god, but that his second, the general named Glozelle, escaped with a band of his soldiers into the woods. I know you shall want to seek him out."

"Sir, you called me King Edmund the Just, it seems like it's my place to seek out justice."

"Yes, justice you may seek out with my blessing, but I fear that you shall seek revenge instead."

"There's a difference?"

Aslan gave a sigh then and eyed the young king even more intently. "There is, and you know it well. Do not stray from seeking justice, King of Narnia. Revenge is a black pit that is not easily escaped, and you may hurt those that you do not intend to in the process. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Sir,"

"Now I must go, but I will return ere long. See to the others." With that the great, beautiful creature known as Aslan stood, and turned. He walked away into the forrest for some distance, then disappeared, and Edmund was left kneeling there, wondering if it was some trick of the forrest or whether the Great Lion had truly vanished into thin air.