Chapter 18: Change of Seasons

From behind their spot strategically hidden by boulders inside the cave, a certain lion and elf stood, watching as a newly crowned king sank to his knees, agonized by a pain that was beyond the healing abilities of any magical cordial.

The lion tilted its majestic head to glance at the elf, who stood frozen, rooted, in the soft sandy grounds of the cave. Her rose-golden eyes fought with hot stinging tears as she heard, and felt, the raw anguish released from the one High King of Narnia.

It was a battle she was destined to lose as a single rebellious liquid diamond trickled down her cheek.

The lion turned to leave, but he took barely two steps when the elf spoke with a tight voice.

"You knew." It was a question and at the same time, it was a statement.

Aslan need not be a Ruben Elf to read the thoughts running through Leia's mind. He paused in his tracks. "Yes, I did."

"How could you?" Leia continued, her voice trembled as her body shook with anger. "How dare you?"

The lion was not offended. He knew he deserved her anger. "Because you need to know."

"Your kinsmen used the last of their powers to keep you from harm. The Kings and Queens of Narnia fought hard to give you hope, and a future." Aslan continued, his voice deep and his words wise. "You can't live for the dead, Leia."

"You need to live, for yourself."

Fragment images of a huge tidal wave, a white sandy beach, shadows of familiar figures and voices flashed rapidly in her mind at Aslan's words, piecing together a memory that was lost.

"I was there, wasn't I?" Leia asked, her voice low and hoarse. "Your country."

Aslan's silence was the answer she needed.

"How did I come back?"

The lion retraced his steps back to the spot beside the elf. He glanced at her quietly before taking another look at the figure kneeling on the beach.

"LEIA!"

And that, was the answer she needed.

He didn't know how long he knelt there. His skin felt the warm rays of the setting sun faded away; it wasn't long before the warmth was replaced by the coolness of the early night.

His throat was parched and throbbed slightly, but he didn't care.

Or rather, he couldn't find the heart to care.

His heart, was lost.

The pain that burnt him like a fierce forest fire moments earlier dissipated as quickly as it came, leaving behind an empty shell of a being.

His life, was empty.

Peter stood up, his shoulders slouched and his arms hung lifelessly beside him. The magnificent view of the starry night across the Narnian sky reached his eyes but could not reach his heart.

He took one step after another, only out of reflex. His mind was void of any thoughts, emotions.

The lack of emotion, this feeling of emptiness was the only emotion he could afford to have at that moment.

"Peter."

He shook his head, shaking away the memory of the voice he yearned to hear. Just the mere memory of that voice was so sharp, so clear, it was as though it came from right in front of him.

"Peter."

It was louder this time, his delusion. Peter pressed his hands against his ears and shook his head harder. He can't allow his memory to work, not yet.

Not when he knew he can't afford to be reminded of her. Not at his current state of mind.

"Peter!" The memory sounded exasperated now.

"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!" Peter howled and started beating the sides of his head with clenched fists.

"PETER PEVENSIE!" A pair of soft but firm hands pulling his hands away before the memory yelled his name right in his face. It was the feeling of warm breath and the echoes of his name in his eardrums that brought his senses back to reality.

He opened his eyes.

"Leia?"

"It's me." Leia pulled his wrists gently down before he could hurt himself again. "It's me."

Peter could hear the his heart pounding in his ears as he gazed deeply into the rose-golden pupils, as though ascertaining she was real and not a figment of his imagination. He dared not blink; the fear that she would disappear in the next second was fresh on his mind. Uncertainly, he reached for her, the tips of his chilled fingers felt the warmth of her elfin temperature as he caressed her cheek with the gentleness of silk upon her skin, just like the many sleepless nights he spent, keeping vigil by her bedside.

He saw a small, guilty smile touched Leia's lips and a soft shimmer in her eyes. She held his gaze and her fingers mirrored his action, touching his cheek in return.

"Leia?" Peter breathed in disbelief.

Leia nodded, cupping his chin with both her hands, tears now pooled in her eyes. "I'm sor –"

Before either of them could understand what happened next the rest of her apology was cut off as Peter pulled her closer, sealing all of Leia's unspoken words with his lips.

When Peter and Leia made their way back to the castle, they met with a distraught Susan with two sobbing younger siblings. When Leia called them to their attention, she was immediately tackled to the floor by Lucy, who couldn't seem to decide whether to hug her, or cry, or laugh, and thus did all three simultaneously.

Leia was pulled to her feet a few moments later, before a solemn Edmund stepped forward and hugged her tight. Leia sighed and returned the hug affectionately. She felt another few more pairs of arms around her and gave a light chuckle, stretching her arms as far as she could and pulled all four Pevensies into a tight group hug.

Leia tilted her head and met the aquamarine eyes of the High King of Narnia. The young king blushed as his eyes darted left to right sheepishly at her gaze. The elf's rose golden eyes sparkled with mirth at his reaction as she tightened her embrace on the four most treasured friends she had.

She may have lost her kinsmen, but she had also found a new family.

At the back of her mind, she heard a deep, wise voice bidding her goodbye. Out of the corners of her eyes, she saw (and heard) tiny buds waking up and each giving a tiny whisper of sigh atop the millennia-old blossom tree. She could only imagine the beauty of its flowers and spirits when they fully blossomed in the coming days.

Spring, had truly arrived.

Author's note:

Am I stopping here? Yes I am.

I simply couldn't resist making a cliff hanger that leads into the sequel. Personally, I was quite tired of Peter being so slow in terms of understanding his feelings for romance, but through my own personal experience, 13 year old boys are just about as astute as a baby when it came matters of the heart.

But yay. Finally, in this last chapter, he took action, or rather, his subconscious took action before he could fully come to terms with how he feels for Leia.

I love writing first kiss scenes. *hearts*

Peter is not ready to be in romance, but he will be, as he continues to grow into the sequel.

Thanks to all readers and double thanks to all who took time to review~! Epilogue, coming soon!

With love
Rainremember