Mist and Mystery at Calormen's Grove

All Things End

21. All things end

"I'm still not sure how you did it, brother... but I'm glad it worked," Peter spoke in a heartfelt voice and threw his arm around his brother's lean shoulders.

They had returned to Narnia once more, all of them for the most parts unscathed, and the Pevensies along with Caspian, Aslan, Cornelius, Reepicheep and Trumpkin had gathered in the council room to discuss the latest development. Of course, there had been little discussion after Susan had broken into tears and held her younger brother close to her for a long period before relinquishing her hold on him.

Edmund patted his brother's back in return, equally relieved to be alive and shook his head, "I don't know, Peter... One moment I was thinking I was actually going to miss your ugly mugg, and the next... I felt the life leave my body. In the same heartbeat... it returned."

The two brothers turned to face the mighty lion at the head of the table where he stood next to Caspian but Aslan shook his head stoically and smiled one of his trademark, secret grins. "Do not look to me for the answer. I encourage you instead to look within."

The youngest king frowned. "I don't understand."

"I have an idea about what happened," Lucy spoke up from her seat and gazed at the faces around her. "I mentioned it to Susan when we were at the grove. I remembered when Jadis wanted to sacrifice you, Ed, but Aslan took your place. I thought perhaps such a selfless act could help us once more, even though we weren't at the traitor's stead. We were at a sacred, ancient grove with magic older than time. I thought it was possible, at least. I hoped it was."

"Yes, yes!" Cornelius nodded fervently at the girl. "That's right, my young queen. The grove is sacred, but not for dark magic only. And there certainly doesn't exist any lighter magic than a selfless sacrifice such as Edmund's. Perhaps his actions outweighed the evil of the Sorcerer's ritual, after all, and undid the dark deed."

Aslan bowed his head in Edmund's direction. "Your sacrifice was not equal to mine, but it was nonetheless as great. When one is willing to give everything up for others without any thought for oneself, one can invoke the most powerful of good magic."

"Then... we were right?" the young Pevensie queen asked hopefully. Despite the lion's silence, she could not be fooled. Even though he did not give them the answers they were searching for, Lucy was nonetheless certain he possessed the knowledge. She wondered if Aslan merely wanted them to evolve and find out the truth for themselves, without him offering the true tale so easily.

The lion smiled over at the youngest queen and bowed his head at her. "You have touched upon the core of the matter." Aslan then turned back to young Pevensie king and gazed up at him with knowing eyes. "I am proud of you, King Edmund, you have come far from the young boy you were when you first stepped into these lands."

"Thankfully," the dark-haired boy commented smartly with an impish grin.

"Alright," Peter smiled teasingly and poked his brother in the ribs. "I think you've had enough praise for one day. Wouldn't want it to get to your thick head!"

"Heaven forbid!" Edmund joked back. "Then it might get as thick as yours!"

Susan, who stood by the Telmarine king, dried the last of her joyful tears and turned to face the strong lion. "So it's all over then? We're safe?"

"Yes, my queen," Aslan bowed his head. "The threat has been elliminated. Your heart can rest once more."

Trumpkin cleared his throat and the others turned in his direction. "With your permission, my king... The news of your victorious return will have spread to your citizens by now. May I suggest a celebration to honor your victory?"