This story is oh so close to coming to its close. A few more chapters ought to do it.

But for now the story continues!

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EDMUND'S POV

The battle was over, we had won. But I felt no success, no victory. In fact, I didn't feel anything at all except crushing disbelief. I was still holding her and her arms hung limply like a ragdoll. I felt like my world had stopped spinning and everything around me was moving in nauseatingly slow motion I felt my stomach heave as I tried to blink my eyes into focus. It took me a long time to realize the reason everything looked so fuzzy was because of the tears that refused to leave my eyes. I felt hands lift me from under my arms and I struggled against them as they tried to remove her body from my grasp.

"Ed," it was Peter's voice, I noted with some difficulty, "You have to let her go."

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I had always heard about the shock that comes after a tragedy but I never knew what they meant until now. It was like a terrible nightmare that you assume you'll wake up from, all you have to do is wait it out and you'll see that it's not real. Reality falls away and nothing seems to be real anymore except the fact that you're in a dream. But after that comes the devastating realization that it is no dream…it happened and there is no going back. This is the point where your entire body fails you and there is nothing you can do but cry until you just can't anymore. And then, graciously, there is the final stage of acceptance. You realize there is nothing you can possibly do and no amount of screaming and crying will change a single thing. You square your shoulders and put on a bold front for the sake of those around you. This was the point I had finally reached when we marched through the gates of Cair Paravel.

Lucy and Susan had been notified of the outcome of the battle and Natani's sacrifice. Sacrifice? What a word to describe it. I vaguely wondered just how many people were going to be sacrificed for me in my lifetime. By the time we reached Cair Paravel, the graves for the losses had already been dug by the Moles and burrowing animals who were too small for battle.

So it was that, later that day, I found myself standing by the edge of a six foot deep, rectangular hole in the Narnian earth. A Greyhound whose name I found to be Kahli was whining by my side, he had apparently met her in the camp but had not revealed her, but I couldn't be mad at him when he looked so devastated already.

I swallowed the emotions in my throat as Natani's body was lowered slowly into the ground and the words began to be spoken over her. When the centaur blessing her soul had finished his eulogy he turned and asked if I had anything to say, I shook my head.

I looked away as the first shovelful of earth was thrown over her and looked off into the distance at the tree line. My jaw dropped at what I saw there.

Aslan.

He was walking toward me, looking directly at me with eyes full of sadness. I didn't hesitate, I ran to him and threw myself at his paws, my tears making little dark spots on his fur.

"Oh, Aslan, if only you had come sooner," I sobbed miserably.

I felt something wet splash onto the back of my neck and I looked up in surprise. Aslan's eyes were brimming with great salty tears and one of them had slid down his jaws. I had never seen such depth of sorrow as I now saw in those golden eyes. I felt like my sadness was nothing compared to his.

"I have come now, my much loved son," the Lion's voice seemed to reach to my very sould, which it probably DID. "I have seen your sadness and I know your innermost hurt. To lose those whom we love dearly is to experience the deepest pain one can imagine."

I nodded. This was far truer than I realized until now. All forms of torture in the universe could compare to this.

"Aslan, I don't think I can bear it," I whispered pathetically.

Aslan placed a paw under my chin and made me to stand on my feet again. He gazed at me intensely for a long time and I felt that it would almost be better to be swallowed in his terrible mouth than to look into his eyes for a moment longer. Then he blinked and turned away from me and walked toward the gravesite where everyone was slack jawed and in awe as they looked at him. They all knelt as he walked among them right up to the edge of Natani's grave.

I found what little strength I possessed and slowly made my way to his side and felt tears threaten as I looked at the lifeless, cloth wrapped body below us. Aslan was once again crying his silent Lion tears and I noticed one sliding down his nose. It slid its way down and dripped slowly down into the grave, landing squarely on Natani's chest right about where her heart would be, I assumed. I felt a tear of my own slide down my cheek and I turned my face away from the grave and began to walk back to the spot where I had stood during the service.

"Come, Daughter. Be my voice."

The crowd around me began to gasp and some of them cried out in shock and covered their mouths with their hands. I stopped in my tracks. Not. Possible. I slowly turned on my heels…and my heart nearly jumped out of my ribcage.

Natani stood before me. Not a scratch on her. Not a single hair out of place from her braid. Her eyes had a light in them I couldn't identify. She was alive…she was ALIVE!

I took a small step forward, fearing I had lost my mind, and hesitated.

"Natani?" I whispered.

She smiled and stretched out a hand toward me, inviting me to come to her.

"Edmund," she whispered softly, her voice was like music to my ears, "Please don't be afraid."

And I wasn't. Not anymore. I let out a joyous, sobbing laugh, tears streaking my face, and I ran to her. I grabbed her around her middle and pulled her close, crushingly close. I took in her scent as I buried my nose in her soft hair. I swung her around joyously and set her down to get a good long look at her, but I couldn't just look, I had to feel. I had to believe it. So I kissed her, hard and long and passionately. And when I felt her reciprocate I knew it was true. Aslan be praised!

At that thought, I turned back to where the Lion was watching with eyes full of joy.

"Aslan…" what could I possibly say that would even begin to sum it up?

But Aslan pressed his nose to my forehead and I fell silent.

"I know, Edmund," he said softly, "Your heart says it all. Be silent."

He turned and began to walk away and I knew he was leaving once again. I wasn't sure when or if I would see him again but something told me this wasn't goodbye. I smiled and watched him go until his golden splendour disappeared among the trees.

"Did you miss me?" Natani's voice cut into my thoughts. I turned to her and smiled.

"More than you could ever imagine."

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"He is jealous for me. Love's like a hurricane, I am tree bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy. When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these affliction eclipsed by glory and I realize just how beautiful you are and how great your affections are for me."

That's a fantastic song! If you've never heard it, look up "How He Love Us"-David Crowder Band. It came on when I wrote the ending of this chapter. I thought it was a nice touch :D

Well…the end is near…I think only one or two chapter left. Reviews are awesome!