Memories and a Coronation

It was early evening when the six young people grouped together. They had all changed out of their armor into some new clothing, and had all gotten a warm meal in their bellies.

Now, all six of them sat in a round circle around a blazing fire, relaying adventures and putting missing pieces together.

After all stories were told and adventures understood, Caspian looked in wonder at the group around him. To his right was King Peter, golden hair and blue eyes shining, and he looked truly happy for the first time. Miranda was beside him, looking relaxed and calm, something she had yet to be since he met her. Edmund followed, with wide brown eyes and dark hair, laughing at a joke his sister made. Lucy was next, her heart showing in her face, full of wonder and joy. Susan was last, tired but with much gladness within her.

They had come so close to dying that day. Every one of them.

Peter had almost been killed by Miraz. Susan had nearly been taken by a Telmarine soldier. Edmund had run headlong into battle time after time. Lucy had almost not made it to Aslan because of soldiers chasing her. Miranda had been tortured and nearly killed. Caspian himself had almost died at the hand of General Glozelle.

But they all sat there, together, as a family; almost as if the events that day had never happened. They laughed and they joked, and for the first time in a long while, Caspian acted like a kid.

Then, Lucy surprised everyone by pulling something from a bag by her side.

"Why!" Edmund exclaimed. "By the mane! Isn't that Mr. Tumnus' flute."

The other's sat up a little straighter and pulled a little closer.

"Yes," Lucy whispered fondly. "I found it among my things at Cair Paravel."

She then handed the flute to Miranda. Miranda looked surprised for a moment, then slowly took the precious flute.

"Do you remember Miranda?"

"How could I even try to forget? It was a flute that I first picked up in Narnia."

"Play something Miranda. Please," Lucy begged.

Miranda gave a loud laugh.

"Command me Valiant Queen. I am at your service."

Lucy looked up at the Narnian stars for a moment before answering.

"Play the lullaby."

Miranda put the flute to her lips, and began to play a mysterious, magical song. Caspian suddenly felt a soft warmth grow in him. As the song wove it's spell, he felt a small poke at his arm, and turned to Susan, who was pointing at the fire.

Caspian's eyes went wide. Within the dancing flames was a great battle. A storm of swords and armor. A tall woman took shape, and the flames gave off a slight chill. A great wand was in her hand, and she began extinguishing flames. Suddenly, another flame figure stepped forward. It was much smaller than the woman, but within seconds, it broke the great wand she held. The woman flame cast an arm towards the smaller flame, and it fell to the floor wounded. Two more flames suddenly took shape. One ran towards the tall woman, a sword raised. The other stooped at the fallen flame, small orange flickers running down it's face. The second flame then stood up and charged the great tall one. The tall woman turned and wounded the two weaker flames. But it was not yet over. All at once, the biggest flame suddenly erupted and extinguished the tall woman.

With that, the song ended, and the flames went back to being fire once more. Miranda took the flute from her lips and began panting.

"It has never done that before," Miranda said in between deep breaths. "I've never had the flames dance for me before."

"You were thinking of the battle," Peter said thoughtfully. "The first battle we ever fought."

"Yes," Miranda breathed out, still catching her breath. "I think about it after every battle."

"You mean..." Caspian began, "That was the Battle at Beruna? That was the battle against the White Witch?"

"Yes, it most certainly was," Miranda replied.

"I recognized the White Witch. And the smaller flame; that was you," Caspian said, pointing to Edmund.

Edmund nodded.

"But, who were the other two flames?"

The group was silent for a moment, memories filling them.

"The one that attacked the White Witch was me," Peter finally said. "The other was Miranda."

No one said anything for a moment. But truthfully, no one needed to.

And then, as if a jolt started them, they began to tell the story of how their adventures first began. Caspian, of course, had heard the story before. But it is one thing to hear it as a story, and a different other to hear it as another person's life.

Caspian laughed as Lucy told of her first meeting with Mr. Tumnus. He felt cold as Edmund told of the White Witch and his betrayal. He watched with animated eyes as they told him of how they met the beaver's and their journey with them. His eyes studied Miranda as she told him of first coming into Narnia, and being found by the fox, Hunta. He felt excitement as both she and Edmund told him of the escape from the White Witch, and couldn't help the chuckle that erupted when they told him of collapsing the tent.

Tears ran down his cheeks as Lucy and Susan told him of the White Witch's meeting with Aslan, Miranda's offer, and the killing of Aslan upon the Stone Table. Then, Peter gravely told him of the Battle at Beruna, and how finally, the Witch was defeated.

"There is one thing that I still don't understand," Caspian said. "If you loved Narnia and the people within it so much; why did you leave?"

"It was all rather strange," Susan replied. "We were hunting the White Stag."

"Boy, was that thing crafty," Edmund put in.

"And then, we saw the lamp post again," Lucy continued on from what Susan had said. "But we couldn't remember why we recognized it. I suddenly remembered something about somewhere else, and I ran into the thicket."

"The rest of us followed her," Peter said. "And that was when Aslan decided our time was up. We ended up tumbling back out into our world on the other side of the wardrobe."

"Wait a minute," Lucy suddenly said. "What happened to Miranda then?"

All eyes turned to Miranda, and she let out a soft sigh.

"It was perhaps an hour or so after you disappeared that word got to us. All the Narnians went into a panic, and began to assemble search parties looking for you. But I didn't."

"You didn't?" Peter questioned.

"No. There was no sign given, no word sent sooner. I knew what had happened. So I went to the Stone Table, found Aslan, and he sent me back home."

Finally, at long last, the story was truly finished; and never in all Narnian years was it ever told that way again. Caspian kept this night and these memories within his heart, so that they would truly never be forgotten.

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The next morning shone bright and full of life. Narnians combed their fur and put on shiny new armor. The Kings and Queens put on beautiful Narnian clothes, and Caspian put on robes fit for a Narnian King.

All gathered around the figure of a great golden lion, who outshone all of them; and even the sun itself. At his paws was a golden crown. Peter and Edmund stood at the lion's right side, while Susan and Lucy stood at his left.

At a nod from Aslan, Caspian stepped forward. High King Peter took up the crown as Aslan kissed Caspian's forehead. Then, the crown was placed on King Caspian's head as Aslan announced.

"Narnians! Behold, a true King of Narnia!"

The talking animals chirped and barked and bayed. The Centaurs reared and shouted with joy. Fauns and satyrs danced in circles, and naiads and dryads cried out blessings in their languages.

Throughout all this fuss, Caspian put his arms around the great lion's head. Then, standing up, he turned to the Narnians, a bright smile upon his face. And the Kings and Queens from the Golden Age of Narnia thought that a better person could not have been chosen.

They mounted upon great horses and pranced toward the Telmarine castle. People lined the streets, throwing flowers upon the happy procession. Caspian walked in front with Aslan walking beside him. Peter and Susan followed, with Lucy and Edmund behind them.

Caspian turned his head to those following him, all with smiling faces and happy hearts. But the sight that made Caspian's breath catch in his throat was something that he had thought near impossible. And it was the sight of Miranda riding Glenstorm, both with laughs on their faces.

Oh, yes. It had turned out pretty alright after all.

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I know that it's a little short. Hope you guys didn't mind.