Author's note: I don't own Narnia, unfortunately. Here it is, the most dreaded chapter, in my opinion. A bit of Christina's character becomes more apparent in this chapter, when she is faced with grief and loss. Hopefully it's done well, let me know what you think!

The next morning I was woken up by the curtains being yanked open and light flooding the room.

"Ari, what are you doing?" I demanded groggily, covering my eyes with my pillow.

"None of that now, milady. King Caspian has called a gathering that all in Telmar must attend. You have a quarter of an hour, Lady Christina."

I snapped out of bed.

"Fifteen minutes?!" I cried, panicking.

While Ari laced up the back of my under-dress I violently yanked a brush through my hair, trying to tame it as much as possible. Pulling on the exterior portion of the dress, I tapped my foot impatiently as I waited for Ari to lace that as well.

Then I dabbed on the tiniest amount of perfume and set off, running at top speed as my "hand maiden" led the way to the village, where a huge crowd of people were already gathered around what looked to be a stage.

Glenstorm, Trufflehunter, the badger, Trumpkin, the Pevensies, King Caspian, and Aslan were all stationed on the stage, looking very grim.

I pushed my way through the people, settling on a spot in the crowd near the front.

"Narnia belongs to the Narnians just as it does to man. Any Telmarines who want to stay and live in peace are welcome to. But for any of you who wish, Aslan will return you to the home of our forefathers," Caspian started strongly, silencing any muttering within the crowd.

"It's been generations since we left Telmar!" one man called out.

"We're not referring to Telmar," Aslan announced sternly.

"Your ancestors were seafaring brigands; pirates run a-ground on an island. There they found a cave, a rare cavern that brought them here from their world, the same world as our Kings and Queens. It is to that island I can return you. It is a good place for any who wish to make a new start."

"I will go. I will accept the offer."

I turned to see a cold, middle aged Telmarine moving forward. It was the same man that tried to kill Caspian with a spear during the battle. I shuddered.

"So will we," Caspian's aunt, recently widowed and clutching a baby, added.

Together, the group of Adults walked toward the stage, towards aslan.

"Because you have spoken first, your future in that world will be good," the great lion promised.

With that, he turned his head and let out a deep exhale. The huge tree that stood behind the stage began turning, its branches creaking while doing so. After only a few moments, the trunk separated, forming what looked to be an Arc-way in the middle of thin air.

None of them asked any questions. Instead they just proceeded forward.

I thought that when they walked through the arc, they would just come out the other side. But, as I watched the last man disappear, I realized that I should have known better. After all, it was Aslan we were dealing with.

Gasps issued from all around me, even a few began muttering angry words.

"How do we know he is not leading us to our death?"

Was he talking about Aslan? How dare he? This was Aslan. King of all Kings. How could anyone question him? Or was he referring to Caspian? How could he? Caspian was simply a man. What everyone had just seen was by no means orchestrated by a mere human being.

"Sire, if my example can be of any service, I will take 11 mice through with no delay."

Aslan didn't answer Reepicheep. Instead, he looked up at the Pevensies.

"We'll go."

What? NO!

"We will?"

The eldest pevensie looked at his younger siblings and sighed, "Come on, time's up. After all, we're not really needed here anymore." Peter approached Caspian, unbuckling his sword from his waist and handing it to him.

It was a peace offering.

"I will look after it until you return." Caspian vowed, gripping the hilt.

"I'm afraid that's just it," Susan muttered, looking extremely close to tears, "We're not coming back."

Oh god no. Please don't take the pevensies away. Not Edmund, Aslan.

"We're not?" Lucy questioned.

"You two are," Peter stated as he rejoined his family. "At least, I think he means you two."

I stared at Aslan. How could he do this? Narnia just got out of a war! The Narnians needed their Kings and Queens. I needed them. The Pevensies belonged in Narnia. This was their home. They can't leave now.

"But Why? Did they do something wrong?" Lucy asked.

"Quite the opposite, dear one. But all things have their time. Your brother and sister have learned what they can from this world; now it's time for them to live in their own," Aslan explained.

Tears sprung to my eyes. This was really happening. The Pevensies were going to leave. WAIT! What about me? I came to Narnia around the same time as the Pevensies (give or take a couple days). Does that mean that I have to leave soon too?

No, Christina, you have yet to fulfill your task.

My eyes snapped up to the lion. He didn't even acknowledge the fact that he had just been inside my head.

"It's alright, Lu," Peter reassured, "It's not how I thought it would be, but it's alright. One day you'll see too. Come on." He took her hand and led his family over to those standing on the edge of the stage. Here it was: time to say goodbye.

I couldn't just stand here as my friends, my best friends, left.

As quickly as I could, I pushed through the remaining people in front of me and almost threw myself onto the stage, crying, "No!" Their eyes snapped up to stare at me, the crazy girl on the edge of the platform.

I made my way over to the three Pevensies (Susan had stayed back to talk to Caspian.)

"Oh, Christina!" Lucy cried, capturing me in a bone crushing hug.

I returned the sentiment, squeezing my eyes shut in an attempt to stop the already flowing tears. "I don't want you to go!" I whispered to her, patting her shoulder as she stepped away and wiped her tears. She smiled sadly, agreeing with me without a word.

"Goodbye, Christina," Peter muttered, holding his arms out for a hug.

I squeezed him as tightly as I could, trying to convey just how much I would miss him into this one hug. "This is the last time I'll ever see you, isn't it?" It then dawned on me. This was the last time I would ever see any of the Pevensies.

"You'll always be my big brother, Peter," I managed to say as he moved away.

Now came the worst part of all.

"I-"

I couldn't find words. The lump in my throat had expanded to the size of a watermelon, making it difficult to even breathe. He looked down at me, those familiar brown eyes so full of sadness.

"Edmund!" I wailed, throwing myself at him.

I must have held him, bawling into his shirt, for what seemed like hours before we finally let go.

"You're my best friend, Ed," I choked out.

"It's a pity I can't stay longer, the plot with Caspian was just beginning to thicken," he whispered, winking.

At the name, I turned around to see how he and Susan were faring.

Their lips were locked in a kiss.

A whole new round of tears came on, one that I could easily pass as crying for the Pevensies, as I turned around to face Edmund. "Told you so," I half-heartedly joked.

"Christina," his voice was completely serious.

I looked up from my unwavering gaze on the ground to meet Edmund's eyes just as I felt him wrap his arms around my waist and pull me close. Before I could comprehend what was happening, his lips were on mine.

They were soft and warm and tender. Everything I imagined Caspian's would be.

But I was too consumed by shock to even respond. This was Edmund. My best friend in the entire world. And he was kissing me. In broad daylight!

"Go along with it!" he whispered, against my lips.

It's an act. For Caspian, you idiot.

OOOHHH!

I closed my eyes and wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him close.

This was his last ditch effort at trying to make Caspian jealous. I doubted it would work, but I couldn't bring myself to argue or fight with him mere moments before he left me for good.

When he finally pulled away I hugged him tightly again.

"It worked," he whispered in my ear, looking over my shoulder.

Then, he let go of me and joined his family.

"I love you, Christina Montgomery," Edmund announced out loud.

"I love you, Edmund Pevensie."

"I'm sure when I'm older I'll understand," Lucy whispered to Peter, who just chuckled.

And Just like that, Peter, Susan, Lucy, and Edmund Pevensie walked out of my life.

Tears rolled down my cheeks silently as I held my breath to keep from screaming. Narnia wasn't Narnia without the Pevensies. I didn't know how I would deal with them being gone. What was going to happen now?

Without saying a word I climbed off the stage and walked back to the castle.

No one tried to stop me.

As I reached the entrance of the great stone building I realized my mistake. I still hadn't learned how to navigate the castle yet. How was I supposed to get to my chambers when I didn't even know which direction to go?

More tears streaked out of my eyes: I was hopeless.

Scoffing, I gathered up the skirt of my dress and took off up the staircase, desperate to get out of the public eye and grieve the loss of my friends in peace. I ran for at least ten minutes, turning down random corridors and taking foreign staircases.

When I stopped, I was in the middle of a secluded spiral staircase.

Bawling now, I pulled my knees to my chest and buried my face from view. Uncontrollable sobs shook through me as I let today's events sink in.

The Pevensies were gone.

Edmund was gone.

The name alone brought on a whole new fit of tears. Edmund. My best friend. Edmund. The one who trusted me with his deepest insecurities and biggest fears. The one I trusted with my secrets and fears. The one that was there for me. The one that held me when I cried.

The one I loved.

"Edmund, Edmund, Edmund," I chanted over and over.

After a while I had convinced myself that if I said his name enough, Aslan would bring him back. Even after the sun had gone down, bathing the staircase in shadows, I continued whispering his name; anxiously waiting for when he would appear in front of me, smiling at how I had fallen for his prank. Waiting for when he would laugh and tell me that he loved me, and Narnia, and would never leave willingly.

He never did.