Hey everyone! I meant to get this chapter up sooner (last week), but I got distracted. Better late than never, right? :) Thanks to Ewcom for betaing!

Disclaimer-I don't own Narnia-phooy.

Chapter 40: The Group Grows
October 17, 1942; Saturday

"Is everyone here?" Phebe asked.

The eight of us looked around Heidi and Heather's room. "Susan is the only one missing," Lucy answered melancholy.

I gave my fellow queen a sympathetic look. Much to my and Lucy's disappointment, the Gentle hardly spent any of her free time with us. Though Susan told me that she was not going to be able to spend as much time with us because she had to work on her mission, I still wished she could have come. I had noticed throughout the week, when she wasn't studying, eating, or sleeping she was spending time with Bethany. It made me wonder what she was doing with the school enemy, but the Gentle gave me a 'don't-ask' signal when she caught me watching. However, I guessed it had something to do with the mission Aslan gave her. So while the Gentle worked on that, I endeavored to spend as much time with the Valiant as possible to try and make up for her sister's absence. Yet, I knew there was nothing that truly compared to having one's close sibling around.

"We noticed Susan hanging around Bethany and her minions," H squared commented simultaneously. Their words were laced with suspicion.

Phebe and Sara's eyes grew wide in fear while Maggie and Emma frowned in thought. "Do you think Bethany is corrupting the Gentle Queen?" Sara asked nervously.

Lucy, Maggie, Emma, and I looked at the girls in disbelief. "Did you forget that knock-down-drag-out brawl from last year, Sara?" Emma asked incredulously. The other girl winced.

"Easy, Emma," I said as I tried to calm my best friend down.

Sara bowed her head and placed her hands in her lap to hide the wringing. "I do," she answered softly.

"And don't forget the stories she told us this past year about her life in Narnia," Maggie added gently. "She's been through so much—ruling a kingdom, fighting in battles, and she even had to deal with a Prince who would stop at nothing to try and make her his wife. Not even the knowledge that she was already married! Well…the only real thing that completely stopped him was the knowledge that he'd be turned into a permanent donkey if he traveled far from home. I don't think Susan would go through all that just to give in to Bethany."

Everyone in our circle on the floor nodded in agreement. Susan was loyal and a fighter. Though it could take her a while to understand strange concepts that others might get right away, she would eventually understand.

"You're right!" the twins exclaimed.

"Bethany doesn't tease the girls as much anymore," Heather started.

"If anything, she's trying to make better friends and help out," Heidi finished.

"She's also been treating the teachers with more respect," Sara added.

I saw a smile that was caught between happy and reminiscent cross Lucy's face. "Susan's always had a good effect on people—even the mean ones."

I smiled with the Valiant. "Then she's sacrificing her time wisely, and most probably, according to His Will."

My fellow queen's smile turned definitely happy, and she nodded.

"So," Emma piped up. "What was this meeting supposed to be about, Swan?"

"Yes," Phebe interjected. "I didn't think we were going to talk about Susan the whole time," she added jokingly.

I smiled at all the girls assembled. "No, we met so Lucy and I could tell you all about the group that was formed by those who visited Narnia." I turned to the Valiant. "Would you care to do the honours, my Queen?"

She positively beamed. "I would love to, Swanwhite," she said as she bowed slightly to me. After shifting so she could easily address the girls, Lucy spoke. "Over the summer, Swan brought up the prospect of spreading the knowledge of Narnia to friends we trust so that they can share in the joys the Lord gave us. The name we decided to give the group is 'The Friends of Narnia'. Would you ladies like to join?"

Emma, Phebe, Heidi, Heather, and Sara were all silent in thought, and they looked at each other. Then they looked at Maggie. Peter's suitor's eyes darted to all of the other girls'. "Don't look at me! I already decided to join. Besides, I'm courting the High King," she added with a dreamy smile.

"You're what?" they all exclaimed.

Lucy, Maggie, and I busted out laughing. The looks on their faces were priceless.

"I...I wish we had a camera!" the Valiant said between gasps for air. "That…that was great!"

The other girls couldn't help but join in the laughter—it always seemed to be contagious.

"But seriously—you're dating Peter?" Heather asked once we all calmed down.

Maggie nodded. "He asked me over the summer."

Sara tilted her head to the side. "How did he ask you? Over the telephone or a letter?"

"Neither!"

The girls' eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "How did he ask you then?" Emma inquired.

"He rode over to my keeper's house one day and asked me," Maggie explained.

"Wow! How's it going?" the twins asked.

Maggie shrugged. "It's going well."

"Don't you think you're a little young for a relationship, Maggie?" Phebe asked.

She shrugged again. "It feels right. And we're taking it nice and slow," Maggie replied. "Now, weren't you five supposed to be deciding if you want to be a part of the Friends of Narnia?"

The girls glanced at each other. "We're in!" they all answered.

"Alright!" I started. "Now, everyone definitely gets together around Christmas time and hopefully during the summer so we can share stories and discuss different things…"

-x-x-x-x-x-
Later that day

When I got back from dinner that evening, I was surprised to find Susan in our room. For the past few Saturdays, I normally did not see her until around eight-thirty or nine o'clock at night.

"Blessings, Susan," I said as I shut the door. "I did not expect to see you so soon."

The Gentle sat up from her laying position on her bed. "Blessings, Swan. I was quite spent, so I came back. I am sorry I did not make it to the meeting," she replied with a tired smile.

"How is Bethany?" I asked as I took my shoes off. I flopped down on my own bed and shifted to face my fellow queen.

The Gentle gave a small smirk. "She is coming around. It turns out beating her in a brawl helped a bit," she joked.

I grinned. Then I remembered Lucy's demeanor at the beginning of our meeting. "Susan," I began. "I know you are working on your mission that Aslan gave you, but Lucy is very lonely. I try to keep her company; however I am not you, Su. She needs to spend time with her sister."

The Gentle paled. "My goodness! I cannot believe I got so caught up with helping Bethany that I forgot about Lucy!"

She sprung up and began pacing frantically. "Aslan forgive me!" she muttered to herself.

Susan finally stopped in front of the window and gazed out. I saw her shoulders start to quiver, and she sobbed a moment afterward. No sooner had I heard her, I was at her side holding her in a hug. The Gentle hugged me back tightly.

"How did I let it happen?" Susan asked tearfully.

I laughed softly. "It's called focus, Su. We tend to forget some things when we get so focused."

My fellow queen lightened her grip on me. "Yes. I do remember this happening in Narnia."

We smiled at each other as we pulled apart. I quickly retrieved a handkerchief for her. "Now," I said in a mock serious tone. "Wipe those tears away! I am sure once you apologize to Lucy you will be having fun in minutes."

Susan laughed. "I will do that," she said with a wet smile. "Now what was the meeting about that I missed?"

We moved back to our beds before I told her what happened. The Gentle listened intently as I relayed the meeting's details. She laughed heartily at the girls' reactions to Maggie's news. We soon got off telling stories about our years in Narnia. We shared tales of training, husbands, children, the Narnians, and the diplomatic travels. Before we knew it, it was late into the night. Together, we quickly got ready for bed.

We laughed together as we brushed our hair and shared children blunders. I closed my eyes as I brought my brush up and saw the following:

An old Caspian getting on a boat. Then Eustace and a girl about his age went from Cair Paravel to the Northern Marshes where they picked up a Marshwiggle. The three of them continued to Ettinsmoor. There they encountered Giants, and then they entered a sort of underworld. A lady all in green appeared with a young man tied to a chair. Eustace, the girl, and the Marshwiggle freed the young man, and they young man killed the lady in green after she turned into a serpent. Then the young man, Eustace, the girl, and the Marshwiggle made their way back to Narnia. Lastly, the young man leaned over a dying Caspian.

"Swanwhite?" Susan asked as I came out of my reverie.

Quickly, I related what I saw to the Gentle. She seemed glad to hear news from Narnia, even if it did come with sad tidings.

"We can call Eustace tomorrow and get the whole story."

"Alright. Good night, Su."

"Good night, Swan."

I know, it's short-sorry. I hope you at least liked it. Two more chapters to go!

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Aslan's Blessings,

~Fierce Queen