A Wardrobe to Another World

Chapter 16 - Afternoon Sun

⟢Susan's POV⟣

I absentmindedly follow Aslan as we head back to camp. Lu talks with Aslan ahead of me. My thoughts quiet when Hazel and Peter's voices carry on the wind toward me. "... back you'll see." Hazel's voice carries on the wind first and I start to eavesdrop on her and Peter's conversation. "How do you know though? He could be anywhere. The wolf could lead them into a trap. He could be-" Peter's voice is abruptly cut off before he finishes the statement. I whip round thinking they've been attacked only to see Hazel with her hand over Peter's mouth looking at me with a raised eyebrow. Peter follows her gaze to see me and understanding flickers across his face before he lifts a hand to take Hazel's off his mouth. They both step forward trying to tell if I heard them still holding hands I notice. "Susan, Peter he won't be. I know The Witch's ways she'll be keeping him alive. We'll get him back and everything will be fine." Hazel tries to reassure us. "How can you be so sure?" I mumble letting my facade of happiness drop now that I'm only with the older two. "Because it's happened before." She answers before the tears that have welled in my eyes over the conversation start flowing. I feel Peter's familiar arms around me and bury my face in his shoulder as he holds me gently. "It's okay to cry." he whispers and more hot tears flow, causing the streams on my face to become rivers. Pulling out of the hug once I'm out of tears Pete wipes the last of my tears from my face with a kind but forced smile. Over his shoulder Hazel heads to a tree before asking us to trust and follow her.

We run out of the woods a few minutes later, mild chaos surrounds us. I walk over to a nymph who I'm fairly sure is Artema. "What's going on?" I ask as she turns to me. She looks at me then over my shoulder to Peter and Hazel. "Your majesties, Hazeline! Your back!" Her cry quietens those around and the news spreads of our return. Why she called Pete and I your majesty but not Hazel I don't know but before I can question her Peter and Hazel are at my side questioning her about the chaos. "His eminence returned with only one daughter of Eve. We thought you had been taken or gotten lost. We were just about to go look for you." Artema explains. "Art, I spent years running through those woods. I know them well." Hazel speaks, semi telling us how she knew where we had been. "Nevermind that now Hazel. We must alert Aurelius of your return." "I think he already knows." Hazel says looking behind Artema. We all look and see a centaur, who I'm guessing is Aurelius, standing there not looking very impressed. "Sorry, we were just coming to see you. It's my fault I accidentally made Susan think Peter and I were attacked. We're all fine though." Hazel gushed so many words and at such a high rate that I'm surprised Aurelius is able to process it all. "Just like your father." Aurelius sighs, shaking his head. Hazel gives him a small sly smirk, a shine in her eyes that I haven't seen before. Aurelius turns, gesturing for us to follow as we head to our tents, Artema returning to a tent that has bits of fabric hanging outside it. I watch in curiosity as she picks some velvety deep blue fabric up and starts sewing it. "Come on, we'll be left behind." Peter's voice snaps me out of my trance and we hurry to catch up with Hazel and Aurelius.

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We spend the last of the afternoon sun in a quiet spot behind our tents together. Hazel tells us about her life in Narnia and answers our questions. She offers to teach us how to use our weapons tomorrow which we all agree to. She says that she'll get Orieus to help too if he's back. "Speaking of Orieus, is he really as scary as he seems?" Lucy asks. "Not really. It's like papa he often had to wear a mask of invincibility when he was speaking to or running the army. Orieus is really funny when he's not being Mr Serious." Hazel replied. We all laughed at the 'Mr Serious' part. She had the brightest smile I had ever seen on her face. "Stop spreading lies, Hazel." A vaguely familiar voice states from the gap between our tents. "Well that depends on how you define lying." Hazel shoots back. "I define it as not telling the truth. How do you define it?" "Reclining your body in a horizontal position." "Shut up." "Absolutely not." We all watch the interaction in amusement. Aurelius shoots her a joking glare before addressing the reason he came to find us. "There is to be a celebration of your arrival or return. It will occur just after sunset at the fires. Hazel knows where they are so I'm sure she can take you there. We hope you will attend though you don't have to." He bowed his head before leaving. We all looked at each other wondering if we should go. I sit quietly as Peter and Hazel discuss going. I know that I want to go but it will be weird without all of us there. The sound of movement snapped me into reality. A hand appears in front of my face, Peter's. "Come on! Lucy wants you to go get ready." I take his hand and pull myself to my feet. I glance towards Lu who is now practically dragging Hazel by her arm to the tent and bombarding her with questions.

I entered the tent a few moments after the others because I wanted to bid Peter goodbye. Hazel did so over her shoulder as Lu dragged her away. Lu's excitement is contagious and I soon find myself smiling and heading to pick out a dress.

Lu and I pick out matching dresses in different colours, mine in blue and Lucy's in a pretty burgundy . I do Lu's hair for her in a half up with a white floral clip I found on the dresser. Hazel comes over in a beautiful red dress with gold vine detailing around the neckline and gold clovers embroidered on the cuffs and base of the dress. Lu is getting really excited and can barely sit still while Hazel and I do each other's hair. She does my hair in an intricate braided half up. While I do hers in a half up bun that has some flowers added in. Personally I think we all look splendid.

We walk out to meet Pete a few moments later. I smirk as he freezes a bit upon seeing Lu and I who came out first before his eyes drift to Hazel and a slight blush climbs up his face. I glance back at Hazel who has a smirk on her face too. "Follow me!" She says happily and takes off down the camp. 

 - 1198 words