"Sight Unseen"

Ch. 7

(Narnia, Cair Paravel)

Audrey peered down at the Narnian's flooding onto the beach. The sun had just begun to set and everyone had taken their seats. Queen Lucy and Queen Susan were helping Audrey get ready. Audrey could see King Peter and King Edmund greeting the last of the wedding guests. Edmund guided them to their seats. While Peter just looked nervous.

But not as nervous as Audrey felt.

Audrey looked away from the window and stepped toward Susan. She was standing by the mirror, holding the white, lace veil. Susan eyed her suspiciously.

"Have you had a vision of the wedding going horribly wrong?" Susan asked.

"No," Audrey shook her head. "Although, I wish I did so I know what will go wrong so I can, at least, see it coming."

"Nothing is going to go wrong," Susan told her.

"Except fall flat on my face, wearing these," Audrey said, lifting up her dress to reveal her white, high heeled boots (Victorian style-ish). "How the women in your world can walk in these things without falling is beyond me."

"We manage," Susan replied, dragging Audrey in front of the mirror.

As she placed the veil on top of her head, Lucy entered.

"Mr. Tumnus is waiting downstairs for you," she said to Audrey. "The last guest has been seated. It's time."

Audrey took in a deep breath and then released it slowly.

*****

King Edmund and Queen Lucy stood in front of one of the windows of the castle and watched the setting sun. King Peter was pacing back and forth, in front of a door that led to where Queen Susan and Queen Audrey was. Despite the stone walls, they could hear Audrey's yells through the wooden door.

"You're going to put a whole in the floor, Pete," Edmund said, finally.

Peter stopped abruptly.

"She's been in labor all day! How long does it normally last!" Peter said, a bit irritated.

"The Midwife said it could take days," Lucy answered.

They were in silence, listening closely for any hint of what was going on in the other room. Until, at long last, the yells subsided. It was silent in the room until cries from a newborn baby finally were heard.

However, it was another 15 long minutes until Susan came out of the room, drying her hands with a clean piece of cloth and informed them all: "Both are fine now. Audrey's exhausted though."

"And the baby?" Peter asked anxiously.

"It's a girl," Susan told him.

Peter looked ecstatic.

13 years later . . .

Audrey sat in the large bed, reading by the light of the fireplace. Suddenly, there was a sharp pain in her head. Her eyes became milky white and her nose began to bleed. Audrey was having a vision.

(Narnia, Forest)

The four older Pevensies chased the white stag through the forest. But, Lucy stops. She sees the lamppost that is just outside of where they entered Narnia through the wardrobe. The four get off their horses and follow Lucy. Until suddenly they were gone.

(Narnia, Cair Paravel)

Peter snapped her Audrey out of her vision, by saying loudly, "Well, Emily certainly has your spirit. Getting her to bed is just as hard now as it was when she was 5. Granted, my sisters didn't help much either."

She was just wiping her bloody nose on a handkerchief when he went over and sat down beside his wife.

"You've had a vision, I take it?" Peter asked casually.

"Uh huh," she mumbled tiredly.

Audrey closed the book she was reading and placed it on the side table. She leaned back and rested her head against the pillow. Peter took her into his arms soothingly and planted a kiss on her lips.

Peter's beard made her sneeze, ruining the tender moment.

"You told me you were going to shave this," she told him, gently rubbing his facial hair with her hand.

"I will tomorrow," he promised.

Peter kissed her once more.

*****

"Why can't I come too?" the thirteen year old whined.

"You know you have your studies," her mother sighed heavily.

The girl folded her arms and pouted.

"You know that doesn't work on your mother, Emily," a much older Peter said, walking into the room. The girl still pouted, "And it doesn't work on me either." he added, smiling.

Emily plopped down on the seat in front of her. Her books were laid down on a large table in front of her.

"Let's just hope your Uncle Edmund doesn't slow us down this time," Peter said to his daughter.

Peter kissed her on the cheek. Emily laughed and rubbed her cheek, from the scratchiness of his beard.

"Hopefully this shouldn't last too long, Sweet Heart," Peter said, going over to Audrey and kissing her on the lips.

She wrapped her arms around him and held him close to her.

"Blagh!" Emily exclaimed, making a face.

"I love you," Audrey said, ignoring her daughter.

"I love you, too,"

Peter kissed her once more and squeezed Emily's hand affectionately before leaving.

*****

The sun had fallen, leaving only a faint purple. Audrey stood outside one of the balconies that looked out over the ocean. Daja was perched next her. The fire bird was the only source of light.

"They have not returned yet, Your Majesty?" a familiar voice came from behind her.

She turned and saw Mr. Tumnus standing at the doorway. Audrey shook her head tearfully. Tumnus stepped forward and now stood next to her.

"I'm sure you'll be sending a search party at first light," Tumnus suggested.

"There is no need," Audrey said, shaking her head "I felt them all slip away from me. The same feeling I had when Peter died during the battle with Jadis," she told him. "I had a vision a few nights ago that they all would leave. I just wasn't sure when," she fought hard to hold back tears now. "I could have stopped them."

Mr. Tumnus put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"You've learned along time ago that it would be no use to try and change what happens," Tumnus said to her.

"I could have at least tried," Audrey said, sniffling softly.

Audrey put her head on Mr. Tumnus' hand that was on her shoulder and sighed deeply. Daja began to sing her phoenix song into the salty night air.

The End!

(A/N: Part 2 is coming up! And a thank you to all who reviewed!)