Adoration

iii

Narnia 2325

"Where do you think Aslan is?" Lucy questioned the following night. They were sat outside, on a patch of grass they found that overlooked some beautiful forest scenery. After the news they had received about Narnia coming to an end, Lucy had refused to be inside for more than ten minutes at a time, claiming she wanted to absorb the Narnian air.

Susan sighed. "I don't know, Lu. I'm sure he'll show himself eventually."

Lucy lay back, her eyes latched onto the constellations above. "What if he doesn't?"

Shocked, she turned to look at her sister. "Where's this coming from, Lucy? You've never doubted Aslan before, even when the rest of us did." She paused "What changed?"

The girl shrugged, "maybe it's because I'm older now. Or maybe it's just because there may be an end in sight for Narnia." She removed her hands, looking at Susan. "How can Aslan let this happen?"

"We've all grown up," Susan spoke, holding Lucy's hand and squeezing slightly. "Everything has to end eventually, even Narnia." Lucy's eyes became marginally redder - probably from withholding tears - but, not wanting to make her feel bad, Susan ignored it. "I've missed you; you know."

"When we go back to England, are you going to leave again?" Lucy questioned.

Susan sighed, scolding herself for allowing herself to believe this conversation wasn't inevitable. "I just find it difficult."

"I get you missed him, Susan. But what about us? You haven't seen me for four years all because I reminded you of Narnia." Lucy began, her voice breaking slightly.

"It wasn't like that," she lied. It was exactly like that. Susan had forgotten how easily Lucy could read her.

Edmund strolled onto the scene, announcing his presence by throwing himself down beside Lucy. "What's going on?" Seeing the tears on his younger sister's face, he wiped them away gently without a word. Susan shook her head when he looked at her for answers.

The three sat in a comfortable silence, staring at the horizon.

Ten minutes later, Lucy was snoring softly from her place in between her siblings.

"It's nice to be back here; I've missed it." Edmund whispered into the wind.

Susan nodded in agreement. "I hope we're all wrong about the end being near."

He grasped her hand. "Narnia won't end. Aslan won't allow that to happen."

* * *

"Susan." A deep voice spoke, rattling the Earth under her feet.

"Aslan." Susan recognised, turning on the spot, but seeing nothing but darkness.

"Time is limited, and a choice must be made."

Time.

A choice.

The ground in front of her opened slightly, a tree growing until it stood in front of her. She recognised it as the Tree of Protection, smiling at its strengthened state. She stepped forward and touched a gentle hand to one of the forest green leaves.

A rumble sounded once more, and Susan stepped back with a gasp as the leaf turned brown, falling at her feet. In a matter of seconds, every leaf was stained brown and lay on the ground. The bark began peeling and the branches drooped, gravity seeming too strong for them to remain erect.

"Do you understand now?"

* * *

Susan gasped, her body jolting up from its position on the ground. She was still outside, and a chill had settled over her body. Edmund and Lucy lay beside her, both peacefully asleep and undisturbed by dreams.

A sudden realisation had dawned on her as soon as the dream ended. The tree was strong until it was touched by her delicate hand. And Susan suspected she knew the answer to the question they had been asking.

So, with tears in her eyes and a tightening in her throat, she ran to the stables, using the map in her memory to guide her through the darkness.

Narnia was coming to an end.

And it was because of the Pevensies.