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 continues to review. I am touched by how many of you like how I write Aslan and Lucy or Caspian and Lucy together. Your encouragement keeps me going.
'Return to Gold' – Chapter 11 – Aftermath
Caspian relaxed, slumping slightly. The bulk of the battle was over now; the only thing left to do was clean up the few soldiers left behind, most of them having been taken out to sea. With a gusty sigh cleaned his sword and dagger before sheathing them.
"We need to gather up the remaining men and figure out what to do with them." Edmund said as they waded across.
The Narnians were already acting, herding the men across the river, promising them they would not be harmed. The men readily relinquished their weapons and stripped off their armor, knowing that there was no way to fight against someone who could summon a river god.
Caspian couldn't take his eyes off Lucy, thankful to see her alive an whole. She smiled at them all as she slid her sword back into its scabbard. At her side stood a lion bigger than anything he could have imagined, his head level with hers, the ruff of his mane giving him a little more height. The aura of power that radiated from Aslan made Caspian want to fall to his knees. And he did, along with Peter, Edmund and Susan.
"Rise, Kings and Queen of Narnia." Aslan's voice was so deep and pure than it rocked Caspian to the core, shaking him so badly that he was afraid he wouldn't be able to stand.
"All of you."
"I do no think that I am ready." Caspian did not raise his eyes, feeling unworthy to be in the presence of such magnificence. He felt small and foolish, leagues away from the nobleness of the Kings and Queens or the greatness of Aslan.
"It is for that reason that I know you are." He chanced a look at Aslan, and saw acceptance and love in His gaze. Lucy was smiling brightly, eyes shining with pride. Slowly he stood, knowing that a new future was dawning.
Lucy couldn't stop smiling. Caspian has spoken the truth, humbling himself before Aslan, displaying his true nature. He was still growing and learning, exploring his future. She longed to be by his side as he learned to be the man he would become. A wave of coldness washed over her on the heels of that thought, knowing that she would be soon leaving. Her and her siblings' task here was over, and it was only a matter of time before Aslan would be sending them back to England.
Haunting bagpipes filled the air, pulling at her heart. Looking around Lucy saw Reepicheep being carried to her on a litter supported by his fellow mice. She couldn't see any wounds, but that didn't mean that the brave little creature hadn't suffered severe internal injuries.
She acted quickly, slipping a drop of the crimson juice into his mouth. Her breath caught in her chest as she waited for his little eyes to open, having developed a particular soft spot for the mouse. Around her skirts gathered the mice that followed their brave little captain, a few of them huddled against her legs, seeking comfort from their lion hearted Queen. Pain was beginning to bloom in her heart, fear that she had been too late, when Reep coughed and opened his shining eyes.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Reep struggled to stand with the help of some of his mice, catching sight of Aslan.
"Oh! Hail Aslan." He jumped excitedly, toppling over. His tail had been severed close to the base, destroying his sense of balance. If a fur covered mouse could blush, Lucy was sure Reepicheep would be as he slapped his paws behind his back in an attempt to cover himself.
Lucy sympathized with him. He had lost a bit of who he was, his tail as much a part of him as his whiskers were. She could only imagine how embarrassed he was. Would a second drop of the cordial restore his tail? Lucy thought the question was a little crazy as she shook her head from side to side. Only Aslan had the power to restore what was lost, to make a person or creature whole. Her cordial merely reversed natural causes to an extent. Once someone passed over into Aslan's country there was nothing she could do, their essence having moved beyond her reach.
"Shall we head to the castle?" Caspian asked no one in particular. "Or should we stay here to help clean up?"
"I think it is safe to head return to the castle." Aslan swished His tail lazily, smile still on His face from restoring Reepicheeps tail. "Your men can handle the Telmarines."
Aslan led the way, Caspian falling into step beside her. They were silent as they walked through the forest and across the wide valley that led to the Telmarine castle. Their hands, however, were clasped tight, fingers entwined, grateful to be together again. Despite the fear Lucy had that her time with Caspian was growing short, she couldn't deny herself the simple pleasure of holding his hand and cherishing the warmth of his touch.
The gates to the castle were open wide, an odd sight. Lucy would have thought that the gates, if not the portcullis, would remain closed. The only time she had ever see a castles gates open were when she and her siblings had ruled, their years having been mostly problem free. As they entered the court yard she noticed that there weren't any soldiers to meet them, the entire castle seemingly deserted.
"Where is everyone?" Susan asked in a quiet voice.
"They were all at the battle." Caspian spoke equally as softly, fingers tightening on hers. "Miraz pulled out all his men to defeat us."
"We killed nearly two-thirds of the Telmar army?" Peter asked, shocked. Lucy shuddered.
"Yes." Caspian whispered, heart aching for the man that blindly followed his uncle.
While they had gone into battle against Caspian and the Narnians, he couldn't help feeling pity for the men and their families, if they had any. If there was a way Caspian could have spared them the pain while still being able to take his place as their rightful king, he would have taken it.
"They knew what they were doing, young Caspian." Aslan's voice soothed Caspian's raw nerves. "There was nothing you could have done to save any of them."
"Aslan is right Caspian." Edmund spoke soberly, dark eyes still scanning the area. "Everyone had their own choices to make."
"My aunt should be here." Caspian sought the advice of Aslan and the others. "As well as my baby cousin. What should I do with them? Pruniprismia may not be a threat now, but little Miraz will be once he grows older."
"We will deal with that later, right now we need to gather up whoever is left and tell them what happened." Peter changed to his best battle voice. "Come one, come all to the grand hall, there is news for all of you to hear."
Caspian heard doors open and women, children and older men spilled out into the courtyard, compelled by the High King's powerful voice. Aslan halted the party, and Caspian began to feel nervous. Lucy must have picked up on his feelings because she leaned against his side and smiled softly up at him. In the light of her smile Caspian felt nearly all of his concerns wash away, basking in the glow of her love.
"Don't worry." She whispered for him only. "You have Aslan's blessing; you have nothing to fear. He'll take care of everything."
"Thank you." He kissed the top of her head quickly, wishing they had some privacy so he could tell her how he truly felt, how he longed to have her in his life and by his side forever.
"Caspian?" A woman's voice called from behind them. Caspian's aunt stood on the steps to the main hall, baby Miraz in her arms. "What are you doing here? Where is Miraz?"
"I'm sorry aunt, but Sepespian murdered him in front of our eyes." He pulled Lucy forward with him as he went to the woman he had felt was a type of surrogate mother to him. While her husband had very little to do with him growing up, she hadn't shunned him completely, being polite and courteous without encouraging him in any way.
"What?" Her eyes went big as her skin paled. "He was our most trusted friend. How do I know you are telling the truth?"
"Would I lie in front of Aslan, the ultimate King of Narnia?" With his free hand he gestured to the Great Lion who was keeping pace with him, advancing on the usurping queen.
"A-Aslan!" Her voice rose to a shriek and she turned to hide her baby from the lion. "Don't hurt us. Don't hurt my baby."
"Don't worry my lady." Aslan reassured in His deep voice. "I nor anyone else here intends to harm you or your child."
"Miraz is dead by then hand of one of his own men." Caspian spoke up, wanting to show the people that he didn't let the lion speak for him, even though he wanted to hide behind the lion and let him take care of everything as Lucy said he would. "Sepespian murdered him after High King Peter defeated him under the rules of Fair Combat. Peter spared his life, I spared his life. Telmarine deception killed your false king."
Caspian paused, letting go of Lucy's hand to spread his arms wide, dredging up his best fair ground voice to float over the crowd.
"I am your rightful King by the right of conquest and the blessing of Aslan. Tomorrow I will be crowned. A new and brighter day is dawning and my reign will be vastly different than that of my uncle."
Later that night Lucy sought out Aslan, a question burning in her heart.
"Aslan, can I talk with you?" She had found him out on the eastern balcony courtyard that overlooked the mountains between them and the coast. He sat looking up at an ancient oak tree that stood clinging to the edge of the cliff, it's branches making shadows dance across the pale grey flagstones.
"Of course Lucy." He smiled and she moved to stand beside him, looking up at the tree as well. They stood in silence for some time as Lucy gathered her courage.
"I'm so happy to be home, to be in Narnia." She sighed, truly happy.
"This isn't your home Lucy." Aslan spoke softly. "Your home is in your world, not this one."
Lucy felt her breath freeze in her lungs and heart burn. Something inside her screamed that He was wrong, that Narnia was her home. Words burst forth, and she was unable to stop them.
"Why?" She demanded. "Why bring us here, show us this amazing world, let us live in a world where we can be who we are truly called to be, and then shove us away? Then you bring us back, dragging us back into the lives that we never should have left, and then you plan to push us away again!
"I can't go through that pain again. I don't think any of us can." Tears were streaming down her face, but Lucy didn't care. "This is where I belong; I am home and I am in love with Caspian!"
She fell silent, chest heaving. Her vision was beginning to blur as the tears came faster, the pain inside ripping her apart. She refused to go back to England. She hated her world. Lucy knew that if she was forced to return again, that she would loose what made her Lucy, becoming bitter and angry, turning into just another girl in an endless sea of anonymity.
"You love me?"
Gasping Lucy spun to see Caspian coming into the moonlight, dressed in loose breeches and shirt, eyes and hair midnight black in the pale light. The small smile on his face made her heart flutter and knees weak. How utterly girly of her.
"Yes, I do." There was no point in denying the truth. Beside her Aslan stood, but remained silent. Caspian's face broke out into a huge grin.
"I'm glad I'm not the only one in love." He reached them and looked deep into her eyes. "Because I love you as well."
Unable to speak Lucy launched herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and hiding her face in his chest. She felt his strong arms slip around her waist, holding her close, pressing his lips to the top of her head. Despite being in the arms of the man she loved, the tears kept leaking out of her eyes to soak Caspian's shirt.
"Shh, Lu." Caspian tried soothe her, stroking her back. "What's wrong?"
"I love you so much." Lucy Looked up into the face of the only man she would ever want to be with. "And I would love to spend the rest of my life here with you, but I don't think Aslan will let us be together, to let me and my family stay here with you."
"What?" Hissed Caspian, turning his black eyes to the lion who stood beside them. "You would let us feel this love and then rip it away from us? Do you care so little for us?" He was griping her tight to him now, as if he was afraid that she would slip from his arms at the lightest thought.
"I care beyond all reckoning, Caspian." Aslan's eyes were dark with pain.
"If you did, you wouldn't throw away our future like this." Caspian was fierce in his protection of her, still holding her close. All Lucy wanted to so was hide in his arms, finding peace and shelter from everything.
"I love him Aslan." Lucy whispered. "I love this world. England has no future for me. I can't make a difference there, I can't be me."
Silence fell over the three as Lucy and Caspian watched Aslan swish His tail, His ears flicking back and forth in thought. Even though He was standing right in front of her, Lucy still prayed to Him, asking him to let her and her family stay. Caspian's hands were running up and down her back as her fingers buried themselves into the back collar of his shirt, seeking to be closer to him.
"You have given me much to think about." Aslan told them, voice resigned. "For now, rest and know that I will give your requests serious thought."