Chapter 9

Word Count: 1,658

Cair Paravel was decidedly the most beautiful place Luna had ever seen. Surrounded by waters as magnificently blue as in storybooks, with beautiful mermaids dancing beneath the waves, their scales reflecting the gold of the sun that stood out in the clearest and bluest of skies. The castle sat atop a mountain top, which was covered in lush greenery wherever you looked. The castle itself was absolutely magnificent, both in beauty and stature. It was an off white color, with more arches, windows, and columns than Luna thought possible. It followed the curve of the mountain, wrapping around the landscape as it reached higher. Red and gold banners and flags decorated the palace, Aslan's crest everywhere you looked. The trees and grass emerged within the castle's bounds, blending nature and architecture beautifully.

Centaurs dressed in decorative armor blew their trumpets while surrounded by more flowers than could fit in a flower shop. Narnians had gathered in the main entrance, hooves, paws, and feet resting on the marbled floor. The Pevensie children walked with Aslan under the raised swords of centaur knights. Five thrones awaited them in front of a magnificent stained glass panel. The five children were dressed in clothing only seen in fairytales, each looking like the royalty they would be.

Susan wore an elegantly decorated pale silvery blue dress with blue sleeves, and a gold lined navy cloak that clasped at her collarbone. Her hair was pulled back in a braid that reached past her shoulder blades.. Lucy's dress was a pale silver, with slippers to match, and was cloaked in red. Her hair had been curled and still didn't quite reach her shoulders. Peter was clad in a magnificent gold and dark forest green tunic with matching gold leggings and green boats. Edmund sported a similar outfit, having exchanged the gold and green for silver and gray blue. Luna's dress was in a similar style as Susan's. The bodice and skirt were silvery green with golden detailing and darker green sleeves. Her own cloak was emerald green, contrasting with the crimson curls that fell down her back. As they walked alongside Aslan, Susan and Lucy on one side, Peter and the twins on the other, the knights raised their swords. Luna smiled as she passed Oreius, who was healed thanks to Lucy's cordial.

The thrones were white marble with golden detailing. The middle two had blue cushions while the outer three had red. Luna could pick out each throne. The one with the small sword carving at the head was Edmund's, the larger sword being Peter's. The horn carving was Susan's, and the cordial was Lucy's. That left the throne beside Edmund's as hers, though the carving was similar to Edmund's, a large snowflake sat behind the sword.

"To the glistening eastern sea, I give you Lucy the Valiant." Aslan announced. Mr. Tumnus took the silver crown from the beaver's pillow, placing it on Lucy's head. The crown was decorated to look like small flowers and leaves, with bits of gold decorating.

"To the great western wood, King Edmund the Just." Tumnus placed a silver crown atop the boy's head.

"To the radiant southern sun, Queen Susan the Gentle." Her crown was composed of golden vines amd light gold daffodils.

"And to the clear northern skies, King Peter the Magnificent." His crown was large and gold, reflecting his stature in royalty. The siblings were happy, but confused as to why Luna had been skipped over.

"And do not think I've forgotten you, child." Aslan chuckled, walking over to Luna. She stood at her throne between Edmund and Peter, patient and quiet as always. "To the alluring silver moon, Queen Luna the Wise." With the crown cushions empty, Aslan placed a gentle paw on her head. He raised it to reveal a silver crown decorated with vines, foliage, and beautiful flowers. In the center of the crown was a tiny blue gem, reminiscent of her sword. "You are not only a queen, but a knight as well." Aslan announced, "A great warrior and slayer of the White Witch." The Pevensies all took their seats in the throne, Stellaluna escaping Mrs. Beaver's paws to sit in the redhead's lap.

"One a King or Queen of Narnia, always a king or queen." Aslan looked at each one of them. "Let your wisdom grace us until the stars rain down from the Narnians erupted into cheers for their victory and the crowning of their five kings and queens.

"Long live King Peter! Long live King Edmund! Long live Queen Susan! Long live Queen Luna! Long live Queen Lucy!"

The kings and queens of Narnia ruled for a good decade and a half, training, teaching, and learning throughout the years. High King Peter and King Edmund had perfected their sword fighting techniques, although neither could single handedly beat Queen Luna in a duel. She had trained on all fronts; with High Queen Susan in archery and Queen Lucy in dagger throwing. She had forced Oreius to teach her hand to hand combat and Aslan had left her in the care of many professors and a large library to perfect her magic. Soon she was able to control it, using it to play tricks on her brothers and fight in wars.

The Pevensies had each grown quite a bit since they had first come to Narnia, and by then it felt like they'd never been anywhere else. Narnia was perfect in all aspects, and the rulers were just. They'd all grown nearly half a foot taller, with Peter and Edmund still the tallest. Peter and Edmund had let their hair grow nearly to their shoulders, and Peter refused to shave his mustache and beard. Susan, Luna, and Lucy had thinned out at the waist, grown larger in the chest, and their hair fell lower than it previously had.

One day the Pevensies all went for a hunt, Peter in his red tunic and purple cape and leggings and brown riding boots. Edmund had on his blue tunic and brown cloak. Susan's dress was purple, Lucy's red with a cloak, and Luna's a deep blue and her navy cloak. They were all on their horses. Peter's unicorn had long since passed, and he rode a great black stallion called Chauncey. Susan's horse was a chocolate brown mare named Genevieve, Lucy's named Fauna in honor of Tumnus, who was still alive and kicking. Edmund still rode Philip, the caramel brown stallion, and Luna had gifted her non talking black pegasus with the title Aegeus.

The five siblings rode through the forest, the sunset streaming light through the foliage that lay high above them. They all had smiles on their faces, cloaks and capes flying as their horses ran faster. Philip slowed down, his breathing growing harsh.

"You alright, Philip?" Edmund asked, placing a gentle hand on the stallion.

"Not as young as I once was." Philip breathed out.

"Come on, Ed," Susan coaxed, the four of them riding back to Edmund.

"Just catching my breath." Edmund lied.

"Well that's all we'll catch at this rate!" Susan joked, referring to the white stag they'd been chasing.

"What did he say again, Susan?" Lucy asked, grinning slyly.

"You girls wait at the castle, I'll get the stag myself." Susan mocked in a lower tone to imitate her brother. The pair chuckled, but Peter and Luna noticed that Edmund wasn't joining in on the fun.

"What is it, Ed?" Luna asked, slipping off her mount. Peter followed, pointing to the object above Edmund's head. A black lamppost, a fire still crackling within.

"It seems familiar." Peter commented with a frown.

"As if from a dream." Susan added softly.

"Or a dream of a dream." Lucy whispered. "Spare oom." She realized, looking to her siblings. She picked up her skirt and ran past the lamp, her siblings chasing after her.

"Lucy!" Peter cried.

"Not again." Susan muttered.

"Lu?" Peter called?"

"Come on," She coaxed, voice muffled by the brush. The forest became thicker the farther they went.

"These aren't branches." Peter realised.

"They're coats." Luna corrected.

"You're on my foot!" Edmund complained.

"Peter, move!" Susan cried.

"Stop shoving!" Peter ordered. They yelled over each other, voices getting lost in the mound of coats. They pushed until a door opened, and all five siblings fell to the ground of the spare room. They were no longer in their twenties and medieval wear, but young with their spring clothing, the clothing they'd worn into the wardrobe. They looked at each other incredulously before looking back at themselves and their garments.

The door opened, and in walked the professor, reading a book. He looked up at the children over his glasses.

"Oh, there you are." He commented, putting his book down. "What were you all doing in the wardrobe?" The Pevensies broke out into smiles as they looked to one another.

"You wouldn't believe us if we told you, sir." Peter replied honestly. The professor tossed him the racquetball, which he caught with one hand.

"Try me." The professor challenged with a knowing twinkle in his eyes.

That night, Lucy snuck back into the spare room. She bundled up in her pink coat and stepped towards the wardrobe, opening it with a creak.

"I don't think you'll get back in that way," The professor told her from the corner, "You see, I've already tried." He approached her, pipe in hand.

"Will we ever go back?" Lucy wondered.

"Well, I expect so," The professor replied, closing the wardrobe, "Probably when you least expect it." He took her hand and they walked away from the wardrobe. "What's to say?" He whispered, "Keep your eyes open." He shut the door to the spare room. As they left, the wardrobe door creaked open, a bright light shining through. A roar emerged before the spare room was cloaked in darkness. That night, Luna slept soundly, dreaming of the day they'd return to Narnia.

A/N: Well... that's it! For this story at least. I want to post another two, one for Prince Caspian and one for the The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Don't expect those out to be anytime soon. Again, I'll be posting those stories as a whole versus chapter by chapter. It's just not my thing! Sorry!

Please review!