Our Long Awaited Return Book #8

Chapter 25 Reepicheep and His Humility

Verity's pov

Lucy and I waited for the others to cross the river. All six of them fell on their knees. I did the same to show gratitude to the lion, but Lucy stayed standing.

"Rise, Kings and Queens of Narnia," Aslan said.

The six of us stood up, except for Leona and Caspian.

"All of you," he beckoned.

"But I'm not a queen," Leona answered nervously.

"And I don't think I'm ready," Caspian explained.

"It is for that very reason I know you are," Aslan told him. He turned to Leona, "It doesn't matter if you're not a queen; you're still royalty."

Leona and Caspian both got up.

I heard a bagpipe playing. We turned around and there were Reepicheep's troops, carrying the brave little warrior on a stretcher. He was wounded.

"Oh, poor Reep," Ruth whispered.

Lucy ran over to him and gave him a drop of her cordial.

The mouse coughed, but then was on his feet.

"Oh, thank you, your majesty," the mouse thanked Lucy. "Oh, hail, Aslan. It is a great honour to be in..." But he looked behind his back. His tail was missing. "Oh, but I am completely out of countenance. I must crave your indulgence for appearing in this unseemly fashion."

He looked up at Lucy, "Perhaps just one more drop?"

Lucy shook her head, "I don't think it does that."

"You could have a go," insisted Reepicheep.

"It becomes you well, small one," Aslan said.

"All the same, great king, I regret I must withdraw, for a tail is the honour and glory of a mouse," Reepicheep replied, holding up his sword.

"Perhaps you think too much of your honour," Aslan remarked.

"Well, it's not just the honour. It's also great for balance, climbing, and grabbing things," explained Reepicheep.

"May it please, your high majesty," Peepicheep said, the other mice holding up their swords, "We will not bear an honour denied to our chief."

"Not for your honour, but for the love of your people," Aslan answered.

Reepicheep's tail grew back. He turned around and gasped, "Thank you, my liege, I will treasure it always. From this day forward, it will be a reminder of my huge humility."

We all shared a laugh, but then Aslan looked at Lucy. "Now, where is this dear little friend you've told me so much about?"

We all turned around to where Trumpkin was pointing his sword at the Temarines, ordering them to drop their weapons.

Trumpkin walked over to us and got on his knees.

Aslan gave a mighty roar. I'm sure it scared poor Trumpkin.

"Do you see him now?" Lucy asked.

Trumpkin could only nod in reply.

"Now," Aslan said, "we should head to Cair Paravel. We have a castle to rebuild and a king to crown."

The seven of us Pevensies lingered as the others left. For a moment, we looked at each other. But then Lucy broke the silence, "We did it!"

"Of course we did it," I grinned, "But we couldn't have done it without Aslan."

"No," Andrew shook his head.

"We all made it out alive," Edmund replied.

"Alive, but barely," Ruth muttered.

"But without a scratch," I looked at Peter, "Thanks."

"For what?" he asked.

"If you hadn't been there at the moment Lord Raven was about to kill me..." I felt tears sting my eyes.

I threw my arms around his neck, "I wouldn't be with you now."

He patted my back gently. Lucy then joined the embrace, and then Ruth and Edmund and Susan and Andrew.

It was so wonderful to be together again. When we pulled away, Beth came toward Andrew.

"Andrew," she began, "Can we talk alone?"

"Yes," he nodded. "All six of you, don't you dare..."

"What?" asked Edmund, confused.

"You don't know," Ruth coughed.

"They're in love," I stated as the two walked away hand in hand.

After a few minutes, I grew impatient. "That's it," I walked toward where Andrew and Gwen had gone.

"Key," Peter protested, "They want some time alone."

"But we have been waiting long enough," I said.

"Susan already left."

"I imagine she had someone important to meet," Lucy replied, "Like Caspian."

"Everybody's smitten," I remarked, annoyed.

Peter, Edmund, and I went to get Andrew and Beth.

We found them both in the woods.

"Oh, there you are, it's time..." but Peter covered my mouth. The two of them were kissing.

"Let's leave," Edmund had a disgusted look on his face as the two pulled away.

"We told you," Andrew said, upset.

"We know," Peter grabbed Edmund and me by the arm, "We'll go without you."

Leona's pov
She walked back to Cair Paravel with Caspian, Aslan, and the Narnians.

"I can't believe it!" she exclaimed, "We won!"

"Did you think we'd lose?" Caspian asked in his teasing tone.

"No, but I didn't think we'd win either," she linked arms with her brother.

"Where are the Kings and Queens?" Caspian mused.

Leona looked behind them; they came following behind.

"They're coming," she replied.

Susan caught up to them, "We did pretty well, didn't we?"

"Yes," Caspian smiled; he looked straight at her.

Verity noticed that as her signal to leave the two of them alone. She walked up to Leona, "You think Susan and Caspian make a good match?"

"Well, I don't know," Leona answered.

"I feel the same way about Susan," Verity continued, trying to be understanding, "Besides this doesn't mean they're going to get married."

"Yeah, definitely not," Leona shook her head.

"What are you talking about?" Lucy asked curiously, followed by Ruth.

"The two songbirds," Leona joked.

"It's lovebirds," Verity began.

"We call them songbirds in Narnia," Leona explained. "I think."

"Obviously," Ruth grinned, "What else is there to talk about now. Except for Andrew and Beth."

"Oh," Lucy said, "Better not tell Peter. In our Golden Age, he barely allowed any suitors to come to see Susan. That's why the last one, Prince Rabadash, caused a big battle for Susan."

"Well, the battle began because the Tisroc wanted to defeat Narnia," Ruth replied.

"Yes, in case you've forgotten, Lu, Susan didn't want to marry Prince Rabadash, but Peter was so protective that the Prince came to seek Susan's hand while he was away fighting the great giants of the North."

Leona felt at ease; it didn't seem like she had to worry. I mean, it wasn't like Caspian and Queen Susan would get married.