Well, here it is folks, the last official chapter of The Water is Wide. I would like to take a second to thank everyone who has followed me on this voyage. For all the alerts, favorites, and reviews...I thank you! I'd like to thank you for sticking with me through the times where I took a while to update; I do hope you found the wait worth it. I would also like to thank my husband (who probably will never read this). He listened to me ramble incessantly about this or that and occasionally he had a viable option for when I was blocked.

I would also like to say that a picture of Aaralynn's Terebinthian style dress is on my profile, as is a picture of the dress described here. And at the end of this chapter are the lyrics to the song (I suppose you could call it a theme song) from which this story received it's title.

Now...without any other delays I give you:

The Water is Wide

Chapter 30

Lasting Hope

The wedding was beautiful. Lucy had really outdone herself; I was impressed. Not that I didn't think my sister couldn't handle it. It's just that planning wasn't really her forte, but seeing that her siblings and friends were happy and well cared for was what she did best.

The ceremony took place on the beach, whereas Aaralynn's marriage to Silas would have been in the grand ballroom. There was a bit of chaos and confusion as I ushered the guests from the Palace to the beach, but all in all I think the Narnians handled it well.

Aaralynn looked radiant as she walked down the aisle. Lucy had changed her into a dress that was much simpler than the Terebinthian style she had been in earlier. This second dress was of the purest white satin. It had a square neck with long sheer sleeves that opened at the elbow but trailed down to her knees. There were soft petals and delicate pearls around the neckline and waistline, which had a slight angle to accentuate her figure. The skirt itself was a simple A-line. The dress matched Aaralynn's simple personality much better and the hair too. Lucy had let Aaralynn's hair out of the bun and let it hang loose over her shoulders.

It was clear to see that Edmund approved of the new dress as well. I'd never seen my brother so happy before. His smile could not be outdone except by Aaralynn's. Even Peter was happier than I've seen him in a long while. There wasn't a dry eye among the guests as Aaralynn and Edmund passionately exchanged their vows. And the surprise on Aaralynn's face when Edmund slid his own wedding ring around her finger was enough to undo me.

At the completion of the ceremony, the whole party moved back into the castle where the food and refreshments had remained. Edmund and Aaralynn could not be separated as they made their way to each guest to greet and thank them. Whether it was Edmund's arm around her waist or his hand in hers, they were connected.

As I was making my own rounds, I noticed an unexpected face on the edge of the crowd. I discreetly made my way over, weaving through the guests and pausing only a moment to say hello as I did so. He acknowledged my arrival at his side with a bow of his head.

"Queen Susan."

"Lord Silas," I replied. "I did not think I'd find you here."

"Oh? And who would want to miss such a happy union?" He sounded sincere, but there was the smallest of catches when he spoke. It was small enough to be undetected by most ears, but mine had an aptitude for such undetectable things.

"To your brother and his beautiful bride," Silas said as he lifted his glass in a toast. I raised my glass as well and we drank together. Then Silas turned his eyes back to the ballroom where, currently, Edmund and Aaralynn were dancing, a remarkable feat in itself since Edmund detested dancing. We watched them dance in silence for a while before my curiosity got the better of me.

"I saw you in the garden last night, and I know what you saw." Silas' head dropped considerably, and his shoulders slumped as much as a lord with proper upbringing could allow them. "There isn't anyone else, is there?"

Silas sighed before looking back at me. "No, Your Majesty. There is no one else."

I took a step closer. "Then why did you call off the wedding? My brother would not have dishonored you."

"No. I do not believe he would have. The purpose of my wedding to Aaralynn was to protect her, to keep her safe and ensure her future as well as those of her siblings. She will receive all those things here and be better for it with the happiness it will grant her. I believe you will look after her."

"We will treat her as our own sister."

"Then I have fulfilled my promise to her father, and Aaralynn will be happy."

"You really cared for her, didn't you?"

"And still do, but I do not think I could have loved her as intensely as your brother does."

"This is a very noble thing you have done, my Lord."

"Perhaps," he said softly and with a bit of sadness. "Now, if you will excuse me, Queen Susan, I think I shall retire. I trust you will keep my secret."

"You have my word, Sir." I gave a single nod. "None shall know of this deed by my mouth."

"Then I take my leave, Gentle Queen." Silas bowed his head again before leaving the hall, and leaving me to contemplate his generosity.

4 Years Later

"Now parry…and thrust…Move to your left…."

I heard the faint commands of my husband—after four years I never tired of that word—as he instructed Heulyn in his sword lessons. I turned the corner and stood at the edge of the training grounds. Edmund and Heulyn were deep into a double sword duel. Edmund's hair clung to his skin, and I couldn't stop the little rush of attraction I felt for him; I always felt such attraction when I watched him duel. With a flurry of swings and a flash of silver, Edmund disarmed Heulyn of both his swords.

"Well done, Brother," Edmund said as he clapped Heulyn on the shoulder. "You are getting much better."

"Thank you," Heulyn replied breathlessly. "But I am still far from your level of skill."

"Do not worry. You will get there soon enough." Then Edmund turned to me and gave a loving smile. "And what brings you here, most beautiful one?"

I smiled softly and fought to control the attraction pulsating within me. "Someone wanted to see you." Suddenly my arm was nearly jerked from the place where it connected to my shoulder as the tiny hand I was holding pulled from mine.

"Daddy!"

Edmund at once dropped his swords and scooped up our daughter as she ran to him. "Estellynn!" He kissed her cheek and she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. "I presume you had a nice nap. Did you listen to your mother?"

"No less than she usually does," I replied.

"I didn't want to nap, Daddy, but Mama said I had to."

"Well your mother is right. Little princesses need their daily naps; it's what keeps them as beautiful as their mother."

"I want to be prettier than Mama."

"One day you shall be, and it is a day I fear."

"Maybe I should nap again," Estellynn offered.

"Oh no, there is only so much napping a Princess is allowed in a single day," I said.

"Yes, you will get another chance at a nap tomorrow. And, did you have a nice nap as well?" Edmund asked me.

"It was nice enough, I suppose, but the bed was big and I was alone." I lightly brushed my finger across his chin to wipe away a bit of dirt.

Edmund's voice turned low and his eyes held mischief as he replied, "I will gladly fill it tonight."

"Must you speak of such maters while I'm around?" Heulyn replied with grunt. "Or in front of your daughter."

I giggled and smiled apologetically towards my brother, while Edmund replied with "It is the business of marriage, Heulyn. One day, you will understand."

"I did come to find you for another purpose," I said. "Mr. Tumnus has arrived and has a bit of news he would like to share with all of us. They await us in the great hall."

"Then far be it for me to hold us up. Let's go," Edmund said as he secured his hold on Estellynn. He shifted her to one side before leaning in to kiss me on the cheek. Then we began making our way back into the castle.

As it turns out, Tumnus had arrived to tell us all that the White Stag had been spotted near his place in the Western Wood. The White Stag was a creature rarely seen in Narnia, it had been several years since he was last spotted, but the legends said that he would grant the wish of any that caught him. All of us were at once very eager to set out and find the White Stag, simply for the sake of a good time and a good hunt.

Unfortunately, I was unable to ride as I was several months along in my second pregnancy, and someone had to stay behind at the Cair and to watch over Estellynn. Edmund and his siblings quickly saddled their horses; though, it took some convincing on my part to convince Edmund that I would be fine and that he should ride. A small hunting party went with them which included Heulyn. Within an hour of Tumnus' announcement, the hunting party was ready to depart. I stood with them in the courtyard. Edmund placed his hands on my hips and pulled me as close to his body as mine would allow, then he leaned forward and placed his head against mine.

"Are you certain, Aaralynn? I don't have to go."

"Go, Edmund," I laughed. "I will be fine. You want a son so badly, now is your chance to ask for one."

"I don't need to ask for our child to be a son; I already know he will be. And if he's not, then I'll love her all the same. I just don't want to leave you."

"Then you better make sure you come back, and we'll have nothing to worry about."

"Are you coming, Ed?" Lucy teased.

"Yes, he is," I replied for him as I gently shoved him away.

"Fine, I'm going, but not without a kiss." Edmund rushed back and took my face in his hands before kissing me rather passionately. "I love you, Aaralynn, and I promise, I will be back to fill that bed of ours."

"Hmm," I moaned softly. "I will look forward to that night. I love you. Now go."

Edmund's hands dropped from my face with a sigh before he bent down to pick up Estellynn and offer her kisses of farewell. He made her promise to obey her Mama and then he set her back on her feet.

"You will watch over him, Philip?" I asked as Edmund climbed into the saddle.

"With my life, Your Majesty," Philip replied with a bow of his head.

"Come on then," Edmund said. "The sooner we find the White Stag, the sooner I can return." Then he and Philip reared up and took off in a gallop. I waved farewell to Lucy and the others as they quickly followed after.

I knew the hunt could take several days, so I was not worried when they had passed there had been no word from Edmund. But when a week and a half had passed and still there had been no letter of any sort from Edmund, or the hunting party, I began to grow a little uneasy. Then one day, about two weeks after the party had left, I was eating lunch with my sisters and my daughter when there was the sound of a trumpet. I knew it must be the party returning and I rose to meet them. I had just begun to make my way towards the doors when they opened.

"Heulyn!" Soffia cried out as she rushed to meet our brother. Heulyn accepted her hug, but his smile was not as wide as it usually was. I too stepped forward and hugged my brother. Then I looked behind him.

"Where are the others?" I asked. "Did Edmund show off again? Did he lose you?"

Heulyn did not respond for several seconds, and when he did there was a tremor to his voice. "Per…perhaps you should return to your seat, Sister."

"I will stand." I cast him a challenging glare, but he did not falter except to drop his eyes to Estellynn who still sat at the table.

"Emma, Ella, will you please take Estellyn and prepare her for her nap?" My sisters had caught on to the tense situation and they quickly collected my daughter and escorted her from the room. This left only Heulyn and what had returned of the party, Mr. Tumnus, and myself.

"Where is Edmund, Heulyn? Do we need to send for Salinus?"

"There is nothing Salinus can do for him, Sister. He's gone."

I felt my heart sink and my breathing stop. "No. No this can't be happening. How…how can he be dead?"

"Not dead, Aaralynn. Gone. Just gone. All four of them. They…disappeared."

"What?"

"Why don't you start from the beginning, Heulyn, and tell us everything," Mr. Tumnus suggested.

Heulyn nodded. "We found the stag easily enough soon after beginning, and we tracked it into the forest. For days we followed it deeper in. When we thought we'd lost it and were ready to turn back, it'd show itself again and the hunt would continue. Deeper and deeper it led us.

"Then one day we found ourselves deep in Lantern Waste and there we came upon a most strange and unusual thing: an iron tree. It grew from the ground like any tree and it was covered in spiraling vines, but its core was made of solid iron. Their Majesties marveled at it for the longest time and then Queen Lucy began to speak of another world."

"The shining city of War Drobe in the land of Spare Oom," Mr. Tumnus said. "It's where Lucy once told me she was from, long ago. I'd forgotten about it until now."

"Yes, Her Majesty did mention something of Spare Oom. They all grew very excited about something and they headed into the thicket beyond the Iron Tree. I tried to follow after them, but the thicket was well grown and I couldn't get through. When I finally managed it, they were gone. There was no sign of them… anywhere. We searched for days. I did not send word because, well, because I thought this was a thing which I should tell you in person, Sister. I'm so sorry, Aaralynn."

I took Heulyn at his word, but I was not ready to concede a loss of hope. I sent a small platoon to the Lantern Waste and all of the Western Wood to continue the search for the four missing monarchs. I told them to do what they must to ensure that they looked everywhere while maintaining respect for the Dryads and Narnians that lived in the area. Philip and Oreius led the search teams.

We sent word to Archenland, and to our allies in Terebinthia, and to the Governor of the Lone Islands. Should they have heard of any plot against the four Supreme Monarchs they would inform us immediately. Days, and weeks, and eventually months went by however, and there was no word. No sight. No whisper or hint of Edmund or his siblings.

Edmund and his siblings had been missing for about four months when, a week after giving birth to my son—yes a son—I was in my room grieving and feeling miserable. Suddenly the room was filled with a magnificent presence. I looked up to find Aslan lying on the floor. I smiled gently and made my way over and sat before Him.

"I've missed you, Aslan."

"Why, child? I am always here."

"Yes, I know." I was silent for a moment, afraid to ask what I needed to know. "Edmund is really gone, isn't he, Aslan?"

"Yes," Aslan replied with a gentle sigh.

I knew what the answer was going to be, but it still hurt like a fresh wound. I cried in the presence of Aslan.

"Will he ever come back?" I asked, pushing aside my tears.

"It will be many years from now, when Narnia is most in need of him. Edmund and his siblings will return, but that day will not be in your or your children's lifetime."

"Then I'll never see him again? He'll never get to know the son he wanted?"

"There is such a place where you may see him yet. In my own country time and death have no meaning."

"How do we get to your country?"

"If you follow me always, then your way will be made clear when you are ready."

"And Edmund can get to your country even from Spare Oom?"

Aslan chuckled. "Yes"

"Then there is hope yet. Thank you, Aslan." I leaned into His side and took comfort in His warmth.

And so, I lived the rest of my days as the sole Queen of Narnia. Edmund never returned, but I knew that wherever he was he loved me still, just as I would always love him. And I held to the hope that Aslan had given me, that one day Edmund and I would be reunited in Aslan's Country and from there we would never part.

The water's wide I cannot get over

And neither have I wings to fly
Give me a boat that'll carry two
And both shall row, my love and I

Where love is planted oh there it grows
It grows and blossoms like a rose
It has a sweet and pleasant smell
No flower on earth can it excel

The ship there is and she sails the sea
She's loaded deep as deep can be
But not so deep as the love I'm in
I know not if I sink or swim

Oh, love is gentle, love is kind
The sweetest flower when first it's new
But love grows old and waxes cold
And fades away like morning dew

The End

Or is it...?