Epilogue: Turning of the Seasons

Autumn arrived soon after the battle at Cair Paravel. It seemed to descend during the night, leaving Western Wood ablaze with a palette of warm, vibrant colours. The wind blowing in from the ocean was chilly, but nowhere near as bitter as it would get by the time winter came. The water itself was more grey than blue even though patches of pale sky could be seen through breaks in the clouds.

Zia stood at the edge of the forest, half concealed by shadows, and watched her dark stranger make his way towards the incoming tide. He stopped a few feet shy of the white foam and folded his legs underneath him, wrapping his cloak tightly around his body as he settled on the sand. It was far too cold for swimming; the wind's biting chill chased goosebumps down Zia's bare arms. The forest was dying all around her, but she didn't feel the need to mourn. This year, instead of an end, autumn would bring a beginning.

He hadn't noticed her yet, although he would only need to turn his head slightly for the colour of her hair to catch his eye. His gaze was directed towards the horizon, though not at anything in particular. She let out a puff of air, watching it mist in front of her eyes. It was a faint noise, and for a moment she feared the wind would snatch it away, but then his head turned towards her. He got to his feet as if on impulse, and then froze. Cautiously, unsure of how he would react, Zia took careful steps towards him, feeling her feet leave hesitant prints in the sand until she was standing right in front of him, close enough to touch but still a thousand miles away.

He was perfectly silent, and she was perfectly still. A thousand emotions swirled in his eyes and he blinked hard, as though not quite able to believe she was really there. His fingers twitched a couple of times before he slowly raised his hand, bringing it to rest on her smooth, warm cheek. Something in his eyes sparked, and Zia's heart gave an answering thump.

"Ed," she whispered, "Say something."

"Zia," he breathed, and she buried her face in his chest.

So began a time of peace and prosperity the likes of which had never been known in Narnia. Old enemies became new friends and the four children of Adam and Eve ruled side by side. Though none of them ever married, the Just King and the red-haired Dryad were practically inseparable. Before, her place among the Kings and Queens had was under constant debate, but now there was little or no question about her right to be by the Just King's side. She had proven herself worthy of warrior status, and won Edmund's heart in the process.

It seemed the Golden Age would last forever, but as with all perfect things, ruin is never far away.

A/N: It's finally finished! I have some ideas for a sequel but I don't know if I should let it die and move on to something else. If you particularly want a sequel then please feel free to let me know.

Again, thank you all for being so lovely/awesome/supportive, and a special thank you to my beta and friend Pendragon2601 for just being amazing.

'Til next time!