Hello my readers! For my birthday celebration, here is another installment. I am also happy to say that I finished writing A Legendary Queen on March 2, 2012! There are six more chapters after this one. I hope you enjoy this current chapter. Thanks to EWCOM for betaing!

Disclaimer - I do not own Narnia.

Chapter 36: Summer
June 4, 1942; Thursday

My hair danced about my face as it blew in the gentle breeze while I walked to the Pevensie house. I hadn't seen the kings and queens in near two weeks, for their father had returned from the war with an arm injury, and Mr. Pevensie wanted to spend some time with his children. I spent those two weeks with my girls. We talked about summer plans (all were going to relatives' houses), I gave them a couple more stories, and we thought about our futures. Maggie wanted to become a teacher since she enjoyed tutoring the young children at Saint Finbarr's so much. Emma was very much into chemistry, and she enjoyed scaring everyone with her experiments. Sara knew she was going to be an artist. Heidi and Heather didn't know what they wanted to do yet, and Phebe was praying about becoming a Religious Sister or a Nun. And me, well, I had been giving serious thought about becoming a nurse since I spent a good deal of my off time in the healer's ward during my time as Princess and Queen of Narnia.

I knocked loudly on the Pevensie's wood door. As I waited, I filled my lungs with the late spring air; my feet happy to stand still after a thirty minute walk. I heard heavy footsteps approach the door. The smile that had been on my face slowly diminished to a worried frown once the door opened. Edmund greeted me with a smile, but it was far from genuine. There was disgust and disappointment in his eyes that he was trying to hide.

I reached out for the Just, and I half expected him to shrug my hand off. "What's the matter, Edmund?"

The young king went to greater lengths to try and hide the look in his eyes. "It's nothing, Swanwhite."

I narrowed my eyes disapprovingly. "There is too something the matter, Sir Edmund. Do not try and deceive me."

The Just opened his mouth to respond when an unfamiliar low, husky voice interrupted him. "Eddie, let your guest in! Don't keep 'er standin' in the doorway."

I let my hand drop to my side and King Edmund gave an agitated sigh before he stepped aside to let me in. Mr. Pevensie stood by the staircase as he waited for his youngest son to introduce me to him.

"Dad, this is Annabelle Reeder. Annabelle, this is our father, John Pevensie."

Mr. Pevensie extended his hand. "How do you do, Annabelle."

I clasp his hand and shook it firmly. "It is a pleasure to meet you, sir."

"My children have told me about you. Susan mentioned you helped cheer her up when she was down."

"I did, sir, multiple times actually. But I highly doubt she would like me to discuss the particulars with anyone besides her," I said in hopes of ceasing any further discussion of the topic. Thankfully Edmund jumped in.

"Peter, Susan, and Lucy are waiting for us out back," the Just said.

Mr. Pevensie nodded his head. "Of course. We don't want them to start worrying because you've been separated for less than five minutes," he grumbled.

A small frown appeared on my face as Ed led me through the kitchen to the back yard. I glanced at the preteen, and his expression confirmed my suspicions: Mr. Pevensie's re-inclusion into the family had not been easy. When we reached Peter, Susan, and Lucy, I noticed the same disappointment in all their eyes; only in the Valiant's expression did I see Edmund's mutual disgust.

I repeated the question I had asked the Just with great concern as soon as we joined the other three on the grass. "What is the matter?"

There was a moment of silence between the four before Peter answered. "We're all going different ways this summer."

My jaw dropped. "You're being separated?"

"Except for me and Edmund," Lucy piped in. "We're going to Uncle Harold and Aunt Alberta's." Both she and Edmund grimaced at the mention of their extended family.

"It wouldn't be so bad if not for Eustace," the younger king added. "He's such a beast to live with."

I had the unfortunate pleasure of meeting Eustace Clarence Scrubb when Eamon and I came over for Christmas dinner. He whined and complained and followed us around so much that I had to be clever in giving the four their gifts – which were drawings of their Narnian weapons. "Oh, I'm sorry."

Lucy gave a small smile, and Edmund gave half of one. "If they are going to Cambridge, then where are the two of you going?" I asked, turning to Peter and Susan.

The Gentle spoke first. "Mum, Dad, and I are going to America. Dad said something about giving lectures over there, and he could only afford to take one of us along."

"How did he decide on you, Susan?"

"Because I am apparently 'no good with books' and should think more about a social life instead."

My face contorted into one of disbelief. "That is complete rubbish!"

"I know! I'm practically acing all my classes. The only one I have major unexpected difficulty with is history and that's because I keep thinking of Narnian History."

"You have made improvement, Su," Lucy interjected.

Susan smiled meekly. "Only with the help of all of you."

We all silently accepted the Gentle's praise. Before the silence got awkward, I asked Peter where he'd be staying.

"I'll be staying with the Professor. The only reason he didn't invite Ed and Lu also is because his mansion somehow caught fire last year, and he's now living in a two bedroom cottage. He's going to help me for next term's tests, so the less people the better."

I narrowed my eyes in thought. "Wait a minute. Don't the big tests start in year eleven?"

"Yes," the Magnificent answered.

"But I thought you were going into year ten."

"Not anymore. The headmaster of Hendon wrote to mother and told her that he was advancing me and Edmund a full grade. Mum got a similar letter about Susan and Lucy from Saint Finbarr.

"Huh, that's interesting. When did you get the letters?"

"Just this week," the Valiant answered. "Did you not get a letter yet? Surely you should be advancing a grade like us."

"I have not received a letter, perhaps in the next couple days if at all. Really, I think it's peculiar that they'd actually advance us at all."

"Not so peculiar when you think about it," said Edmund.

We all faced the just one, and he continued. "We've learned so much to become kings and queens, and much of what we learned is also taught to us in schools here – the only differences really being history and literature. Since the headmaster and headmistress see that we know significantly more than we do not, or that we have an easy time with the material, they want to try and challenge us."

"Though we should be careful with that," the Valiant said, picking up where he brother left off. "We don't want to accelerate too much, else people might get suspicious."

"I agree," said the Gentle. "It is not uncommon for students to advance one grade, but never more than that."

"How should we . . . distract ourselves then?" I asked.

"Perhaps we should get involved with sports. It would give us something else to concentrate on," Peter suggested.

"Maybe we could find something that is similar in Narnia!" Lucy exclaimed, practically bouncing where she was.

We all smiled brightly with the youngest queen. The opening and closing of the back door made all of us turn around.

"Come on children! You've got packing to do!" called Mrs. Pevensie.

A communal sigh went up between the five of us. We all got up and walked slowly back to the house. As we walked, Susan answered the question that was forming in my mind.

"We all leave on Sunday," she said quietly.

"Alright, thank you," I replied.

After we entered the house, I took my leave of the Pevensie family, not without promising to see them again on Saturday. During my walk home, I began to seriously think about taking up Miss Polly's offer to spend the summer with her.

-x-x-x-x-x-

June 7, 1942; Sunday

Eamon was not as reluctant to let me go visit Polly as I thought he would be. He told me that I would get lonely during the day while he was gone since all my friends would be gone. I did agree to come home two weeks before school started so we could spend some time together. When my departure day finally came, my brother and I went to morning mass, to a café for breakfast, and finally to the train station. My train did not pull in until ten thirty, but my brother always arrived anywhere a half hour ahead of time. Together, we spent fifteen minutes praying the Rosary quietly so as not to disturb others who were waiting for the train.

When we finished, I felt the need to tease my brother. "So, are you going to do anything while I'm away?"

He shrugged. "I will definitely be spending evenings reading."

I rolled my eyes. "That's it?"

Eamon glanced down at me. "What else do you want me to do?"

"Oh, maybe go out on to a movie or even play an outdoor game with some friends. Maybe even go out on a date."

My brother wrinkled his nose. "Who would I date?"

I clicked my tongue at him. "There are plenty of ladies in town that are interested in you. The problem is that you're not clever enough to notice."

"I know, sis, I know. How about you, though? Do you and Peter plan to date?"

"Now why would you ask that?" I asked as I eyed my brother suspiciously and attempted to hide the horror I felt inside.

He seemed to enjoy my reaction to his question. "Oh, you spend so much time with him and his brother and sisters that I find it quite amazing that you haven't started dating," he answered with a smile.

I shook my head and completely mastered my emotions. "There are a few problems with that idea."

"Do tell."

"First," I started quietly, for I did not want anyone accidently overhearing. "Peter is the High King above all kings and queens save Aslan, and it would be improper for him to be courting a queen under him. Second, it would be doubly improper for a queen of seventy-four to be courted by a king of thirty. Thirdly, Aslan sent me to help the four in this world. That does not mean getting romantically involved with Kings Peter or Edmund. Fourth, I have already been with the love of my life. And lastly, he likes someone else."

Eamon nodded as he listened to me. "That's quite the list. Who does Peter like?"

"Maggie.

"One of your friends?"

I nodded. "And she likes him."

"Have they told you this?"

"Nope."

"Then how do you know?"

I giggled to myself. "When I introduced them, I saw the same look in their eyes that I saw in Mezinda and Leesum's eyes when they first met," I explained.

"Ah."

The train whistle blew and a rumbling that had been farther off got louder and louder. Soon the train stopped and the passengers began to depart. We rose from our spot and hugged each other.

"Now don't forget to practice," whispered Eamon, referring to my dagger which hung from a belt beneath my skirt.

"If you think I wouldn't, you're silly," I replied.

We separated after I spoke and gave each other a peck on the cheek. I reached down and grabbed my valise. "I'll call you when I get to Polly's house."

"I'll be waiting for it then. I love you, Belle."

"I love you too, Eamon. God bless."

"God bless."

I gave the conductor my ticket and climbed onto the train. Before I disappeared into the train car's innards, I turned around and waved one last time to my brother. He smiled brightly as he waved back. I turned back and proceeded to find a compartment in which to sit. Being one of the first ones on board, I had a wide choosing, so I took one in the middle of the car. Rather quickly, I placed my valise on the rack above the seat after taking out a book on Medieval History and checking my dagger. The book held my interest for a while, about fifteen to twenty minutes. The train had started moving, and somebody had opened the door to the compartment I was in.

I looked up from my book to see who had opened the door, and I was filled with delight as I recognized the intruder. "Peter!"

The High King smiled down at me, amused. "Hello, Swanwhite."

Peter put his own valise upon the other rack and shut the door before we hugged – a custom the five of us had adopted. "Where are you headed?" I asked after we separated and sat down opposite each other.

"To the Professor's, of course," he answered as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

I rolled my eyes and lightly kicked my king for his tease. "You know what I mean! What station are you getting off at?"

"Goosey."

"Really?" I said, fully aware that the High King was not telling me something. "How far from town does the Professor live?"

The magnificent looked up at the ceiling and narrowed his eyes in thought. "Oh, about a mile or so from Miss Plummer's place," he answered with a satisfied grin and a twinkle in his eye.

I felt like kicking my king again, harder this time, but settled on an all out glare. It did nothing to shame him, and only added to his grin and twinkle. "When did the Professor tell you that?"

"Yesterday, before you came."

"And yet you made no mention of it when I spoke of going to Polly's house for the summer?"

Peter's grin turned into a wide smile. "I thought this would be more fun."

I shook my head. "Did you do this to your siblings in Narnia as well?"

The High King's teasing smile turned soft, and his eyes had a faraway look in them. "On occasion." A wicked grin appeared on his face as he looked back at me. "And it bugged them just the same."

I sighed and looked up at the ceiling – something I did when I talked to Him when not praying. "I guess this is better than some of pranks that I heard tell from his siblings."

Peter leaned towards me. "And what pranks have my royal brother and sisters told you about?"

I pulled a teasing thoughtful look. "Oh, when you hide Edmund's crown under his bed and rearranged Lucy's musical instruments, and when you snuck up on Susan while she was talking to her beau."

"Ah," the High King said off handedly as he leaned back into his seat. "Nothing that would damage my reputation."

My eyebrows arched in a question. "Oh? There are worse pranks that have yet to be spoken?"

My king looked smug. "And you won't hear about them."

"What makes you so sure?" I asked as I moved my person next to his. A look of concern appeared on Peter's face, and I poked him in the ribs. My king wriggled away as quickly as possible, but my fingers followed. He swatted at my hands and moved to counter attack. A shriek of laughter attempted to escape my lips as Peter squeezed my sides. I responded by poking him in the stomach. Sadly, Peter was saved from farther tickling when the conductor came down the hall calling out, "Goosey Station! Goosey Station!"

The Magnificent relaxed and let out a sigh of relief. "Saved by the train."

I laughed. "Why do you typically lose tickling matches?"

He looked at me and smiled. "All the time."

We reached out and clasped hands and pulled each other up. I moved to get my bag and put my book back inside before I followed Peter out of the compartment. The train slowed as we walked down the corridor and stopped just as we got to the end. Once on the platform I began walking to where I usually met Polly.

"Did the Professor say if he would meet you here?" I asked.

"He said he had told Miss Plummer that I was coming, so I suppose that I might be traveling with you," my king answered.

I nodded. "I hope, then, that Polly didn't bring the buggy. The three of us would not fit!"

"And that is why I brought the horses," came Miss Polly's voice.

I ran towards my friend, dropped my bag, and gave her a hug. "I've missed you, Miss Polly."

"I missed you too, Swan."

We released from our embrace, and I remembered Peter who was standing off to the side. "Miss Polly, this is Peter Pevensie. Peter, this is Miss Polly Plummer."

Polly dipped a low curtsy – I figured that the Professor had thoroughly filled her in on the four. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Peter."

The High King bowed lowly in response. "And I you, Miss Polly. Swanwhite has told me and my siblings much about you."

"Why I'm flattered. And while we could stand here all day and chat, I'm sure you both want to get settled," Polly said as she turned to the side so we could see the horses.

"You brought Fledge and Helen!" I said, excited.

"Yes, I didn't bring Frank because that would be too many horses to bring into town, so I'm afraid you'll have to double up on Fledge."

I looked at Peter, and he nodded, his amazement at the names quite clear. I turned back to Polly. "We don't mind."

Turning back around, I reached for Peter's bag so I could balance them on Fledge's back. "The horses are named after the first king and queen of Narnia and the father of Winged Horses," the High King stated more than asked. His words were directed at both of us.

Miss Polly took the liberty in explaining. "When I inherited the farm my parents worked when I was a teenager, I wanted to have something that reminded me of the place I once visited. It took a long time, but I finally found Helen and Frank and named them so since they were the first horses on the farm in a long while. When Helen gave birth, it made sense to me to name their colt Fledge since he was the only other Narnian that I knew besides Aslan."

"It is wonderful that you have them," my king replied.

Together, Polly and I swung up into the saddles. I held my hand out to Peter to give him leverage when he swung up. Once we were all comfortable, Polly lead us off in the direction of her house at a canter. We talked little as we rode, and when we did, it was to make sure no one felt like they were going to fall off or to make sure no one pulled ahead. Upon arrival to my friend's house, the three of us dismounted, and I removed my valise from Fledge's flank. Sam also started his barking from inside. I rolled my eyes and waved at the border collie in the window.

I turned to Peter and said, "I'll quickly go put my things in the house if you want a ride to the Professor's."

My king smiled. "I would enjoy that, milady."

I faced Polly. "Is it alright?"

Miss Plummer smiled, the corners of her eyes wrinkling. "Of course. Just make sure Sam doesn't burst out the door."

Smiling in reply, I said, "I will."

Quickly and carefully, I put my valise just inside the front door. I returned to Fledge and mounted him for the second time that day with Peter behind me. We trotted down the road to the Professor's little cottage, and it was little – there was no way the four of them would have fit in that house.

"My goodness, it is small. I hope you can study in there properly!"

"As long as the studying gets done," Peter remarked.

Just then, a gentleman about the age of Miss Polly came out the front door. He was tall with wispy white hair and beard. The High King quickly dismounted. "Professor!"

"Hullo there lad! How are you?"

"Very well, thank you. Professor, this is Queen Swanwhite the Alluring of Narnia – the last queen before Jadis ruled our beloved land."

The Professor looked a bit taken aback. "Another one, eh? Well, it is a pleasure to meet you, my lady," he said with a small bow.

I leaned forward in the saddle in reply. "It is my pleasure to meet you finally, Lord Digory. Lady Polly and the Four have told me much about your adventures in Narnia."

"I'm a might flattered, ma'am. I would like to hear your adventures as well."

I smiled softly at the dear man. "And I would love to tell you, but I need to telephone my brother in Finchley to tell him I am safe, and I am sure you and Peter have much to talk about."

"Aye, that."

With the mention of my leave, my King came over and untied his luggage from Fledge. "I thank you for the ride, milady."

"It was my honour, milord."

Peter backed away from the horse, and I turned Fledge around so as to lead him back to the road. Once on the road, I called back, "Aslan's blessings upon you!"

"And you!" they both yelled.

And with that, I spurred my mount into a gallop for Miss Polly's.

What do you all think? Could you make my birthday even better by leaving a review? Because I would appreciate it :)

Remember-six more chapters to go!

Aslan's Blessings,

~Fierce Queen