Chapter Twelve~
Though Mrs. Pevensie wasn't sure what Jessie meant by her statement, she was so very happy to have the very thing that was the center of her children's joy come to visit them. With Peter taking up her bag, Jessie followed the Pevensie family with Lucy holding her hand and talking as if no time had gone by. Mrs. Pevensie noticed instantly how the children radiated a confidence that was unquestionable, they shined with an inner power that came from some sort of strange otherworldly knowledge that she had discovered first hand when her children had returned. Now seeing them with their friend Jessica Ryan, who they talked about nearly none stop, she was certain that the days she spent with her would be engraved into their memory for ages to come. When they reached the family car Peter placed Jessie's bag into the trunk as they all settled into the car with Mrs. Pevensie asking Jessie,
"I hope you don't mind sleeping in the guest bedroom."
"Not at all Mrs. Pevensie, I'm just glad to be with my family." Jessie replied making Mrs. Pevensie blink yet smile with joy at the words, despite not truly understanding the deeper meaning behind them. It took about two hours or so before they arrived at the Pevensie home in Finchley, a modest two story home that seemed nearly out of placed with the other buildings and stores seemingly clouded from the war. Stepping out of the car, Jessie smiled and thanked Peter who again took her suitcase for her. Upon entering the house Mrs. Pevensie showed her to the guest bedroom across from the girl's bedroom. Settling in, Jessie began unpacking as Lucy entered saying,
"I'm so glad to have you back Jessie!"
"I am too Lu, I've missed you all so terribly bad." Jessie said watching Lucy take a seat on the bed. She had grown as much as had the other Pevensie children—especially Peter. Jessie had nearly lost her breath when she had seen Peter, not expecting to see the handsome young man standing before her with his blue eyes shining with delight upon seeing her.
"Peter missed you terribly, we all have." Lucy said softly so that Jessie smiled wistfully as Lucy continued,
"You know Peter meant to—" yet she was interrupted when Susan entered the bedroom telling them,
"Supper will be served in an hour you two." so that they both nodded as Susan smiled stepping into the room, looking ever more beautiful than ever.
"You've grown so much Jessie." Susan said so that Jessie laughed telling the other older girl,
"So have you, look at you! Looking all dolled up!" Susan blushed a bit saying,
"It's just enough to be pretty." Jessie noticed how Lucy rolled her eyes so that internally she felt concern rise as Susan added,
"And you've grown to be beautiful too." now it was Jessie's turn to blush saying honestly,
"No, no not really." then Edmund appeared around the corner of the doorway saying with a cheeky grin,
"Come on now girlies, suppers ready!" so that the girls exchanged glances before all laughing and heading downstairs for supper. After settling around the dining room table with the children sitting how they would have during the Golden Age in Narnia and after saying Grace they began eating. During the meal Jessie spoke of her aunt and the Professor who she would visit. She spoke of her time without them and tried to avoid speaking outright about missing Narnia—but the children understood. When supper was over the children helped clean up as Jessie even pitched in. When all was said and done, the children sat around in the living room having hot chocolate and popcorn talking about times long ago.
"My aunt told me a story that you all might want to hear," Jessie began as the children leaned in as Jessie whispered,
"She and the Professor went to Narnia apparently, when they were children like us. They met Aslan and the very first King and Queen of Narnia! And most importantly they met the White Witch." at this information they all fell silent as Edmund shivered at the name 'White Witch', Peter straightened tall at 'King and Queen', Susan became more interesting wanting to know more and Lucy wanted to know how Aslan was. Jessie answered all their questions as best she could before they all realized it was far past elven in the evening. So off to bed they went heading upstairs to go to their bedrooms, only Peter pulled aside Jessie wanting to speak to her for a moment.
"Do you suppose we'll ever go back?" he asked her point blank so that Jessie blinked seeing the ache in his eyes making her put a hand on his shoulders as she told him honestly,
"I doubt Aslan would forget us." that made Peter smile as he looked down at her lips, and slowly leaning into her gave her a most important gift—her first kiss! As gentle as a breeze against skin yet as loving and tender as a caress, when Peter pulled back he pressed his forehead against hers whispering,
"I've missed you Jessie." as Jessie blushed up to her hairline unable to speak from the tidal wave of emotions drowning her. When the two her footsteps they pulled apart and Jessie raced to her bedroom leaving Peter to watch her with an emptiness inside his heart. If they hadn't left Narnia—they might have been married by now. Shaking his head and running a hand through his hair he went off to his bedroom as Jessie shut the door to hers. Quickly changing into her nightgown, Jessie turned off the lights and slipped into the guest bed nearly falling asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. Beside her bed was her necklace given to Peter which began to give off a soft strange glow. That night she dreamed of a figure on horseback racing across a black misty plain being chased by several other figures on horseback. Once entering the woods filled with blackened shadows that twisted and swallowed the first figure she heard a loud roar of a lion forcing her awake. Bolting into a sitting upright position, Jessie was sweating with her brow dotted in sweat and hair sticking to her scalp. Panting, Jessie looked to her necklace given by Peter for some comfort to see it was glowing and then to the window to see a blood sun rising. Remembering what Oreius had said all those ages again Jessie shivered as if an icy breeze had wrapped around her. As she dressed that day in a knee length tan skirt and a navy blue blouse, Jessie braided her hair and put on her necklace before looking out the window towards the bomb shelter. A violent reminder of the reason why she had met the Pevensies, why she had become an orphan, why she had moved to the country in the first place. Shaking her head, Jessie stepped out into the hallway to see Lucy leaving her bedroom who smiled at Jessie though the smile faltered.
"Are you alright Jessie?" Lucy asked her so that Jessie forced a smile telling her,
"Of course Lu, why wouldn't I be?"
"You're lying Jessie." Lucy said putting her hands on her hips so that Jessie frowned and exhaled saying as she stepped over to the younger girl,
"Remember what Oreius said once—about blood red suns?" Lucy blinked before realization dawned on her as she said slowly,
"He said, they meant blood had been spilt." nodding, Jessie pointed to the window saying softly,
"Every time I look outside I see a blood sun rising. And—and I can't help but think of Narnia no matter how much I try to reassure myself." Lucy blinked and looking concerned she asked sounding fearful,
"Do you think something horrible is happening there?" shrugging, Jessie was unable to say anything more as Susan stepped out of the bedroom dressed for the day. As the children joined Mrs. Pevensie for breakfast they talked about getting ready to go back to school which would happen at the end of the month. So Jessie had a whole month to stay with them! The joy she felt soon died down when she felt a wave of terror flood her as her necklace began to burn and she had to excuse herself. Worried, Peter followed her into the living room asking her,
"Are you alright Jessie?" turning around, Jessie pulled out the necklace he had given her soon many days ago saying,
"I can't help but worry Pete, worry about our Narnia. It's like—it's like my heart can't forgive myself for leaving." watching his face turn to stone, Jessie stepped over to him and hugged him telling him,
"Please don't be worried for me Pete, I'll be fine."
"No," Peter said pulling back telling her in a stern Kingly voice,
"I was High King, I was supposed to protect you all from danger even if I couldn't foresee it." Jessie then realized he blamed himself for them leaving and hugging him again whispered into his shoulder,
"Please don't blame yourself Peter, you have to let it go. If anything—let it go for me." holding her close to himself, Peter was silent for a moment before saying softly,
"I don't know if I can Jessie, I really don't know if I can." the rest of the day the Pevensies plus Jessie spent at home talking about times gone by so that by the time dinner time rolled around they had filled their hearts with joy. Yet even so, soon a month would fly by and they would be getting ready for school. Soon they would be going back to the train station to head off to their schools leaving Jessie alone again—or would they? For when you aren't looking Magic can sneak up on you—and something's forgotten can find you once more.