All characters and character likenesses are copyright of C.S. Lewis and everyone affiliated with him and his estate. I only own parts of the plot and any miscellaneous characters I may introduce.

This is a heavily alternative universe based on the Chronicles of Narnia series, and I do not intend to offend any purists out there. Again, I own only parts of the plot.

Thank you to everyone who reviews, faves and reads this story. I can't believe how popular this story is.

'Return to Gold' – Chapter 6 – Aslan's Howe

Though Caspian knew of the Howe through his professors' tales, he had never personally seen it. Most of the Narnians that were in their party had never seen the holiest site of their faith in Aslan either. He felt bad that he and many of the others couldn't answer the Kings and Queens questions about it, none of them quite agreeing on what the area looked like.

"Why is it called Aslan's Howe?" Edmund asked no one in particular.

"You will have to wait and see, my King." Trufflehunter shrugged.

"No one can say for certain." Trumpkin added. "The Howe was abandoned long ago to avoid bringing it to the attention of the Telmarines."

Lucy still walked beside him, but was skittish, avoiding all eye and physical contact. At first Caspian thought that it was something that he had done, but he had caught Peter glowering at the two of them, a worried frown on his face. He realized that Lucy was trying to reassure her brother that there was indeed 'nothing' happening between him. Caspian knew that it was a lie, having seen the guilty look on the youngest queen's features as well as the doubtful look on Peter's.

Due to their steady marching, the party reached the Howe just as the sun was setting in the woods behind them. The grey slate blocks making up the Narnian made mountain was were washed in gold, warming them and making the religious site welcoming to the travelers. He paused, letting the four returning rulers proceed side by side. They lead the way as they marched across the vast plain that lay around the site that was bordered by the forest.

Caspian was in awe as he watched them stride forward, true rulers and warriors. He felt like he was play acting at becoming a ruler, a child pretending to be an adult. Those thoughts and feelings dogged his heels as they passed by a ceremonial stand of stones that surrounded a flat, paved area directly before the beginning of a long causeway into the mound. Inside dozens of Narnias were preparing weapons, armor and storing supplies.

"It may not be what you are used to, but it is defensible." Caspian felt the need to defend the Howe. Compared to the splendor of the Golden Age, the Howe surely was not what the four of old were used to.

Peter and Edmund wandered off to speak with the warriors and inspect their work. They managed to maintain their nobleness without seeming to be snobbish to their subjects. Susan also wandered, but to join the archers as they limbered up their bows and fletched their arrows.

"Thank you." Lucy spoke softly, lowly so her voice would not travel.

"Your welcome?" Caspian was caught off-guard by Lucy. He turned his head and looked down at her. She stood beside him, looking over the assembled creatures preparing for war. Her features, though in silhouette, showed her thoughts.

Lucy was troubled about something, but trying to hide it. There was also fear, fear of the unknown, most likely. Sadness and happiness also flicked across her features as well as confusion. Her brow was slightly lowered and there was a shadow of a frown tugging at her plump lips. Caspian felt a compulsion to gather her into his arms and promise her that everything would be fine. He knew he would do what it took to make sure his promises were kept.

"For reassuring me in the woods." She smiled softly, still not looking at him. "I'm not normally given to self doubt, but then, this is not a normal situation."

"What do you mean?" Caspian was confused by several things surrounding the Kings and Queens of Old, one of the things being their age. It appeared that they had not aged a day since they were last seen, and yet over 1,300 years had passed.

"When I – when we left, we were this age, but in our world we were returned to the age we were when we entered Narnia. Mere seconds had passed on Earth as opposed to all the years we spent here." Lucy rubbed her arms, the sadness coming through her voice. Caspian laid a comforting hand on her shoulder, wishing he could do more to ease her pain.

"A year passed in our world." Lucy shook her head. "I hoped that one day we would return while the others began to loose hope. I didn't know what to expect when we would return. We knew time passed differently between worlds, but we had no idea what being gone so long would do the world we had known and loved."

Lucy finally looked up at him, eyes liquid emeralds in the firelight of the torches lining the interior of the Howe. Her hair was colored darker as well, a rich mahogany. But her skin, her skin was just as lily white as it had been in the sun. Caspian noticed the slight dusting of freckles across her nose and under her eyes. She was utterly enchanting.

"Once I saw how Narnia had changed since I led the others into the woods past the Lantern, I knew I was to blame. I had convinced myself that I was the cause, that I was the deceitful one to Aslan." She shook her head again. "Then you told me the truth. You made me see that we left according to Aslan's will, not our own. So again, thank you."

"Your welcome." Caspian was glad to have eased her mind. It had disturbed him that the one called Valiant could be so upset and brooding. He had always imaged Queen Lucy as a bright, shining woman, the golden glow of Aslan's favor and love shining all around her. The stories told of her being wise and gentle, but not afraid to set off for adventure or battle.

"Peter, Edmund, Lucy," Susan called from the mouth of one of the tunnels, face troubled. "You had better come see this."

With a glance at Caspian, Lucy hurried to her sister's side, Caspian following in her wake.

Something in Susan's voice worried Lucy. Her sister was the most level headed, unflappable person she knew. Not much could surprise her. She took everything in stride, and people had also compared her to a glassy mountain lake, cool and calm. Whatever had startled her disturbed her greatly, Lucy having detected a slight warble in her voice. She led the way into the tunnel, only to stop near a bend and gesture.

"Look at these."

Dancing in the light of the torches were wall carvings, their color having faded almost to nothingness over the generations. They were simplistic in nature, and yet, they told a story. Their story. Lucy gasped and moved to trace her fingers along the carving of Tumnus as she had first seen him, in the snow beside the Lantern wearing his red scarf and holding an umbrella. While she had never lost her memory of him, the year in England had managed to diminish him, to make him less that what he really was, her first true friend in Narnia.

Now that she was back, those memories were sharp and as bright as ever. She kept expecting to see him among the other fauns and then she would remember, he had long since died and his bones turned to dust. She would feel a moment of pain and sadness, then would realize; he was home, in Aslan's country, waiting for her to arrive so they could continue their friendship.

"It's us." Peter marveled, looking at a picture of one of their last battles with Telmar. The irony was not lost on Lucy or the others as she felt Caspian stiffen slightly beside her.

"What is this place?" Lucy asked the prince, wanting to change the subject.

Surprised Caspian looked at them all, confusion on his face.

"You mean you don't know?" They shook their heads. Caspian grabbed a nearby torch and continued down the tunnel, leading them deeper into the Howe.

As she walked behind the future king, Lucy mulled over Caspian's reaction to their conversations before. She was unused to any young man paying attention to and listening to her, seeing her when all Susan had to do was blink and men came running as well as several Narnians. Caspian's reactions seemed genuine, his touch gentle. She felt as if she could hide herself in his arms and let the world drift away and let him take care of her.

Deeper in, something else overcame her. It was a great sense of peace and victory, joy turning the air sweet. She couldn't quite place the feeling, but Lucy knew that she had felt it before. The feeling seemed to grow as Caspian led them deeper, the only light coming from the torches he and her brothers held. Suddenly the sound of their footsteps changed, echoing softly, as if they were in a large open area. Caspian moved aside, leaving her and her siblings. A bright flash of light blinded her, making her blink several times.

Fire sped though a trough of oil, illuminating the room. Pillars littered the room, some standing, some lying, others propped up on those that lay on the floor. At the center of the room stood something Lucy hadn't seen in a year and a lifetime; the broken Stone Table. Carved into a wall behind the table and between the two thickest pillars was a relief of Aslan as he had been that morning. Proud, triumphant and whole.

As if in a trance, Lucy took the three steps leading to the table, that fateful night and morning playing through her mind. She was so innocent and pure then, everything simple to her child's mind. Emotions were true, while words were not. Aslan was the answer, only he could save them by sacrificing himself and returning to life. Her hand shaking with emotion, Lucy reached out and laid her hand on the place where the Great Cat's head had rested, still seeing him laying there, shaved, shamed, beaten, dead.

"He must know what He is doing." Lucy echoed Susan's words from so long ago. She turned to look at her family and Caspian. "We need to reach Him, to find Him before the Telmarines arrive."

"How?" Edmund asked looking around. "You know as well as I do that Aslan comes and goes as he pleases. No one can call Him and have Him arrive, not even you."

"Pray." Peter sounded resolute, face hard. "Pray He comes in time. But we should also be prepared. We need to plan out what we are to do."

Lucy looked back at the carving wistfully, wanting to bury her face in the Lion's mane. She could feel its rough softness and smell it's fragrance of pure magic and freshness. She knew Peter was right, they had to plan for everything. Edmund turned and went back into the main chamber, gathering those who would be in the war council.

Lucy, more comfortable around the Stone Table than anyone else, climbed up onto the right stone slab, settling down in a very ladylike position of repose. Carefully she arranged her cloak to cover Aurora, her sword, hiding it from view. Edmund had always thought it was funny that her cordial and sword had the same name, Aurora and Dawn being interchangeable in meaning.

"I honor Aslan with them," Lucy had reasoned. "He comes form the east, from the dawn. We are here because of him, we owe everything to him."

Caspian moved to stand near her, off to the side and allowing Peter to take the reigns on the meeting. Lucy was still unsure of what she felt towards him. On the surface she was drawn to him physically. He was 'tall, dark, and handsome', everything about him pleasing for her to look at. He was very Spanish, from the dark hair and eyes to the sexy accent to his skin that was darker and richer than hers. He was exotic, a mystery that she wanted to explore.

But deeper, she was drawn to who he was. She could sense him growing into his role, transitioning from boy to man. Peter and Edmund, while their transitions came sooner in life, were not that dissimilar from those of Caspian. He had a good, kind and gentle heart and spirit, but had the ability to be cold and hard, serious when the situation called for it. He was becoming the protector and champion of the world she loved. While Lucy was secretly proud of him for that, she was also envious; once she and her siblings were done, they would have to return to England, leaving their true home and lives behind once again.

"Miraz was party is on its way here." Peter was looking around. Trumpkin, Trufflehunter, Nickabrick, Reepicheep, Glenstorm, Braw the Bear as well as Edmund and Susan were included in the meeting, making up the group that would decide their strategies.

"Those same men aren't guarding the castle. This is the perfect time to attack Miraz and end this feud."

"What?" Caspian sounded outraged. He stepped forward, going toe to toe with Peter. "You can't do that. The castle has never been taken!"

He looked around just as Peter had, telling his tales.

"For centuries others have tried to take the castle, and they have al been slaughtered. Miraz army is immense; there are more Telmarines in the army than there are free men. Last count they reached numbers of 10,000 and only half of that are on their way here. We have a better chance of surviving if we dig in here."

"I appreciate what you have done here Caspian." Peter laid his big hand on the younger man's shoulder. "But this isn't a fortress, it's a tomb. We may be able to hold them off, but for how long? We need to show your Uncle that we aren't afraid to fight for what is ours."

"And I am telling you," Caspian reiterated. "While that plan may have worked in the past, it won't work this time. There is only one way in and one way out, as well a garrison of over a thousand men that never leave the castle. We would be outnumbered a dozen to one. While we could inflict some damage, more than likely we would not come out alive."

"How about a surgical strike?" Edmund spoke up, his mind having been working overtime on finding a way to appease the two royals. "Send a few of us in to gather information and get out. If we decide to attack later, at lest we will know the fortress' strengths and weaknesses."

"Aren't you forgetting something?" Lucy wanted to bring some reality to the conversation. "We can't do this without Aslan. You know that."

"We can't wait forever for Him, Lucy." Susan told her, voice chilly. "You can try to find Him, but we need to do something in the meantime."

"Let's try this: we go on this mission, and depending on the outcome, we wait to call on Aslan, or Lucy can go into the forest to find Him." Peter tried to placate both sides of the argument.

Lucy didn't like the idea, but kept her thoughts to herself. The council continued around Lucy as she prayed to Aslan.

'Keep them safe. Open their eyes to the fact that we need you. Please grant me the ability to find you. Keep us safe.'