Battle of Fear and Trust

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"Hark! The herald angels sing. Glory to the new-born king" I sing while straightening up the lights hanging with the garland over the fireplace. It's going to look lovely tonight. I step down from the stool and look at the decorations. I can't believe I'd ever hated this holiday, I think to myself, still staring at the lights. It's been over nine years since Aslan freed me and I'm grateful for not only that freedom, but for all I have now.

Over the last nine years I've spent time learning about Aslan in this world, and decided to be the queen I was in Narnia. Not one who craves glory and power, but one who serves others and gives to those in need. That's why I opened the Pevensie Home, a place for those who lost nearly everything and have nowhere else to go. Right now, the house is filled with single mothers and orphan children who've become like family in the last year. This is the first Christmas since the opening, and it sure to be a lovely time.

"You know, Susan, I don't think this room could be any brighter," Nancy says from behind me. I turn to see her standing in the doorway. I've lived with Nancy since the accident and did my part in helping her with her son, Ben, so that she could still teach.

"Well, you're the one who always said the garland looked better with lights," I tell her before walking away from the fireplace. "This is as many lights as you put up every year," I reply, going over to another box.

"Yes, but I used dimmer bulbs. With these ones, I'll have to take my son to an eye doctor," Nancy grins. I rummage through a box, searching for the stockings to hang over the fireplace.

"I'll take him, I'd love to spend more time with my nephew," I tell her while grabbing the stockings from the box.

"More like she loves spoiling him," I hear Mark say as he walks into the room smiling.

"I don't spoil him as much as you. After all, you got more presents for him than our own children." I pretend be cross, though I know Mark treats Ben and the other children here as though they were his own. He's a kind man and it's one of the things I love about him.

"To be fair, an eight-and-a-half-year-old wants a lot more than a three-year-old who'd be happy with just a box and two infants who don't know what Christmas is yet." He says and I laugh. Six years of marriage and I still can't stop smiling around him.

"Not sure that's completely true, after all, there's only one thing Ben wants for Christmas and it's not in this world," Nancy says. I turn towards her as she stares at the lights, fiddling with a necklace that holds her wedding ring from Peter. It took her a few years to take the ring off her finger and she still has not looked at another man the same way she used to look at my brother.

"Right," I say softly moving away from Mark to confront Nancy. "I'm sure a lot of the children here want the same thing."

"I didn't know the other kids wanted Peter's sword and shield," She laughs and Mark and I join in.

"Anyway, my mum is looking after James and Rose. Helen is somewhere with the other kids, and I need to pick up your Aunt and Uncle." Mark says.

"Alright." I say before giving him a kiss goodbye. "I love you."

"I love you too." He smiles. When we first got married, we promised that anytime one of us left the house we would always say goodbye like this, since we never know when it might be the last time. "I'll be back soon, bye Nancy." And with that, he walks out the door.

"Will you help me hang these up?" I ask Nancy, grabbing more stockings to hang them on the fireplace. Of course, we made sure we had one for each child staying here.

"Susan, Nancy," I hear someone say as I watch Margaret, one of the widows who lives here, walks in carrying a box with beautifully carved wooden angels. "My husband made them; I thought you might like to put them on the tree." She adds as she hands me the box. I watch her as she stares at the box's contents.