I don't own Narnia or the Pevensies. I just am obsessed enough with them to think first thing on Easter, "today Aslan came back and defeated the Witch."
And tomorrow did come. It came sunny and bright, though still not warm, with the few gulls that had remained for the winter swooping over the waters outside Lucy's window. She rose from her bed, having prepared herself for the journey the night before, feeling a little apprehensive but mostly feeling hopeful. Before, she had found it impossible to say to herself that Susan was dead. Now she realized she could think it and even say it out loud, but only because she could tack on the bit at the end about being able to do something about it. Yes, Susan was dead – but she could change that. Feeling rather empowered, Lucy crossed the room to her wardrobe and opened it.
Inside hung the usual array of dresses and gowns, but she ignored most of them and instead pulled out her favorite riding kirtle. It was light, comfortable, and most importantly it didn't rip as easily as everything else – she didn't know where she'd be going, so it was best to travel prepared. Shutting the closet door, Lucy walked over to the stiff-backed chair where she'd left the rest of her outfit. It had been quite a while since she'd put on armor, but she managed the buckles all right and cinched her belt around her waist. From it hung the gifts she'd received from Father Christmas, the little dagger that had helped her in many a tight spot and the cordial that had saved the life of her siblings and comrades more than a dozen times to date. Finally, she pulled her old traveling cloak from the back of the chair, folded it over her arm and left her chambers.
Edmund had prepared an address to their subjects, which she knew he would be giving before they left. Normally Peter would have handled such matters but since he'd returned, beaten and bloodied, Edmund seemed to have taken it upon himself to be the one in charge. Lucy thought this was probably a good thing; though her eldest brother had spent the previous day resting as instructed, he had only sunk deeper into his guilt-induced depression, his focus drifting and his shoulders slumped with the weight of his regrets. On the other hand, Edmund had perhaps taken on his duties a little too ferociously – he seemed to think that whatever mistakes he perceived he'd made before could be corrected if he drove himself to the brink of exhaustion by taking on all of Peter's responsibilities on top of his own. She'd had to force him to bed late the night before as he was still ferociously trying to write even more instructions for Oreius and Mr. Tumnus, who would be overseeing the country until their return.
This morning, she found she had little interest in breakfast, but decided she should eat some anyway. She stopped by the kitchens and took some honeyed porridge on the go, carrying it up to Peter's room before knocking and letting herself in. He was not asleep. She hadn't expected him to be. He sat on the edge of his bed, fully clothed and armored, elbows resting on his knees and hands face-up. Rhindon lay across both his palms, the pale morning sunlight reflecting off its polished blade, casting strange, troubled light patterns into his eyes.
"Peter?" Lucy said. He looked up slowly, expression not changing. Though he did not speak, she knew he was acknowledging her presence. She thought of what she'd intended on saying, but realized she didn't really have anything planned. She'd just wanted to see him to make sure he was all right. She offered the first thing that came to mind: "You should eat some breakfast."
He nodded mutely, rising and sheathing his sword with a metallic ring. He paused for a moment, waiting for her, and she headed out the door with him trailing behind. When they reached the kitchens she gave him a brief hug and wandered off towards the Great Hall, where she expected Edmund would soon be delivering his address. She wasn't wrong – a good deal of the court had assembled at his request, and when she entered the room he was already sitting on his throne, reading over the scroll he'd prepared one more time before he gave his speech. Like Lucy and Peter, he was dressed in traveler's armor, and had left his crown elsewhere. Lucy chose not to take her throne but instead stood behind the last row of courtiers, drawing as little attention to herself as possible. After a moment, Ed stood and cleared his throat.
"Citizens of Narnia," he began, and the noise died away. "I am certain you have heard many rumors regarding the disappearance of my sister, Queen Susan the Gentle. Sadly, these rumors are not ill-founded – our sister has indeed passed on from this world."
There was a sudden rush of whispering, horrified gasps and anxious mutterings. Edmund held up his hand and the babble faded.
"My siblings and I were much aggrieved at this news, but we were paid a visit by the Great Aslan, King above all kings in Narnia," said Edmund. "He has told us how we might change the way things are, how we might retrieve our sister from the place she has passed on to. I will not lie to you, good people. This is a dangerous quest. We cannot know how long we will be gone, but rest assured that while we are you are in good hands with Oreius, High General, and Mr. Tumnus, the Royal Steward. This very morning, I together with my sister Queen Lucy the Valiant and my brother High King Peter the Magnificent will embark on this expedition to bring back our sister Queen Susan the Gentle. I have nothing more to say. Thank you for your presence, good subjects, and a good morning to you all."
He stepped down off the dais that held the thrones to a smattering of applause. Lucy caught his eye from the back of the room and he strode over to her, sword and shield already bucked to his hip and back.
"Hey, Lu," he said, but despite the nickname and the informality of the greeting, he sounded very businesslike. "Are we ready?"
"If Peter is," she replied. She changed her course to head towards the kitchens and Ed followed, but Peter was not there. After a brief search they discovered him outside on the ramparts, eating a piece of fruit while staring south with a heavily-lidded gaze, not really seeing anything before him but gazing beyond the plains to something they could not see. They came up on either side of him, Lucy gently touching his arm.
"Are we leaving?" he asked hollowly. Edmund cracked his knuckles.
"Yes," he told Peter. Lucy thought he sounded the slightest bit irritated. They had planned to leave from Susan's chambers at Lucy's insistence. Her argument was that since they would probably be coming back to the same spot when they returned to Narnia with her, it would be lovely to arrive in her bedroom so she would feel quite at home. Peter had agreed with a sullen nod, while Ed had not really seemed to take much interest in the sentimentality of the request.
"Let's go, then," said Peter resignedly. He finished his fruit and led them down off the battlements and along the long walk to Susan's chambers. The courtiers and servants they crossed paths with all wished them the best on their journey, but Lucy found she was the only one responding with a smile and a thank you. Ed would only nod curtly. Peter didn't respond at all.
When at last they stood in a triangle on the carpeted floor of Susan's room, Peter fumbled with a pouch on his belt and withdrew all four rings with a gloved hand. They only worked when touching skin. He held his palm face-up, showing them the little glimmering circles, bright yellow and spring green.
"Since there's only two yellow rings, I won't be carrying one," said Peter disinterestedly. "In case of an emergency you two can use them to travel to this "Wood Between the Worlds." And you'll carry the greens, too, because there's no point in having the green if you don't have the yellow."
"But what happens if we're separated from you?" asked Lucy concernedly. "We can't just leave you behind."
Peter shrugged.
"Doesn't matter."
"Will you stop that?" asked Edmund crankily. Peter looked at him in mild surprise. "Stop moping. For the love of Aslan, you've been a right fountain of misery all day."
Peter shrugged and didn't respond, but placed a yellow and a green ring in Lucy's upturned hands and grabbed Ed's wrist before he could protest. He pushed the other rings into his younger brother's grasp and straightened out.
"Keep them safe. Use your pockets or your belt satchels. And be careful you don't touch the ring when you don't mean to," he told them flatly. Lucy dropped both rings into the pouch on her belt, next to her cordial. She removed her gloves and tucked them into the rations pack she carried, while Edmund did the same after a moment of angry hesitation. Then they stood in a circle. She slipped her hand into Peter's so that he would travel with them.
"On three?" Lucy asked somewhat nervously. Her brothers nodded.
"One…two…three!"
She plunged her hand into the pouch, felt cool, humming metal beneath her fingertips, and then Cair Paravel was fading around them.