Here's another chapter, hope you like it.
When Susan woke up, she heard nothing but silence. Sighing she remembered that Ella, Oliver and Poppy had gone home yesterday. Looking around the house she realised just how empty it felt, she'd gotten so used to having them around; it had become the norm.
After eating she sat in the lounge and closed her eyes, what she'd decided were memories of Narnia swirled round her head.
Keep it you might need to call me again.
Her own voice sounded in her head along with the image of a young Hispanic looking man holding an intricately carved ivory horn. She could feel the weight of her clothing on her body and the heat of someone else behind her, she felt the leather of horse reigns in her hands and the damp air of being underground on her skin. She revelled in the memory taking in every aspect and when she finally opened her eyes it was dark outside.
"How long have I sat here?" She said aloud, knowing there would be no response.
She walked into the hallway intending to go to the kitchen for food but instead stood frozen to the spot staring into the mirror. Looking back at her was her own reflection but there was another woman with her. She blinked and shook her head, but the image stayed.
"I must be going crazy." She muttered as she went to walk away.
"You're not crazy, Su." The image in the mirror said.
Startled she looked back at the mirror, the image smiled.
"I promise." It said and then disappeared.
She stayed there in shock until her stomach rumbled loudly and she hurried off to find food.
Ever since that day Susan would spend several minutes staring into the mirror but the image never appeared again, she wished it would, she had so many questions.
Instead her life continued with a boring normality, although Ella had taken to making surprise visits just to make sure Susan was ok. It was on one of these visits that Ella had brought along Oliver and Poppy as well. They'd all shared lunch and Poppy was playing outside when Ella and Oliver bought up a topic Susan had come to dread.
"Mum, I know you don't want to but Oliver and I really think you should move into a home, The staff can look after you. It would make me feel so much better knowing you're not always on your own."
"Thank you for the concern both of you," Susan said gently, "but I'm not moving into a home. I'm perfectly fine on my own here."
"Oh Mum please. I'm so scared that something bad will happen and no one will know because your on your own."
"Ella, I'm in perfect health. You don't need to be scared."
"Susan, I think what Ella is trying to say. Is that she's worried you might get lost in your own thoughts and start a fire, say." Oliver attempted to explain calmly.
"I sometimes get lost in memories, that doesn't mean I lose all regard for my safety."
"Oh Mum, please don't be awkward. It's for the best."
"For the love of Aslan. Trying to get me to leave a house I've been in for the majority of my life is not for the best." Susan said with a strained control, frustration evident in her voice.
"What?" Oliver asked looking confused.
But before Susan could answer Poppy came running in screaming, "Come quickly, the tree's moving?" She dragged her parents from their chairs with Susan following into the garden.
The 4 of them stood on the grass as they watched the big oak tree twisting, its trunk beginning to form an archway. As they watched Susan remembered seeing the same image before, just before she'd left Narnia.
"Impossible." She said louder than she'd meant to. They all turned and looked at her.
"It's like in your story, Granny." Poppy said surprised.
Suddenly a deafening roar sounded from the archway of the tree, and a second later was followed by a powerful wind that blew them all off their feet.
When Susan sat up, she felt different. Lifting her hands she realised the wrinkled skin of the old lady she'd been was gone and replaced by the smooth skin of a much younger person. She struggled to her feet and saw the others doing the same, though they all looked exactly the same as they had a moment ago.
"Mum?" Ella asked looking a Susan her face a picture of shock and one that was mirrored in both Oliver's and Poppy's faces.
Susan didn't answer but instead looked down at herself, her body was covered in an elegant pale blue silk dress with golden embroidery, it clung loosely to her hips before cascading to her feet where the hem just skimmed the ground. She reached up and touched the hard circular object on her head, her fingers brushed over flowers and she knew immediately it was her Narnian crown.
"This isn't possible." She said looking towards the tree once more.
"SUSAN." They all heard the voice yelling her name.
"Peter." She said the shock evident in her voice. She hurried towards the tree only to be stopped by Ella.
"Mum, what are you doing?" She sounded scared.
Susan held her hand gently and looked into her daughters eyes, the eyes that were so much like her own, "trust me." She said quietly.
Ella let go of her hand and Susan turned and walked through the archway. One step later and she was standing on soft green grass and breathing the freshest air anyone could ever imagine.
Back in England
"What just happened?" Oliver stammered nervously.
"It's all real." Poppy cried out and then louder, "It's all real."
"What?" Oliver asked his daughter.
"Mum's books." Ella answered instead from next to the tree. "When I was little she wrote books about a magical land, one protected by 4 siblings who fought an evil witch and were made monarchs."
"This is ridiculous."
"We have to follow her."
"Why?"
"It feels right."
Ella smiled and Poppy who grabbed both her parents hand and stepped through the archway into a new world.
Hope you liked it, please leave a review. xem98x