Bring Back the Music (Return to Narnia)

Chapter 3

Over the next few weeks, the little clearing began to feel like home. Of course, there were none of the luxuries of Cair Paravel, but our little party didn't mind. We even had some fun, carefully searching for food outside the clearing, having laundry on a clothesline, and drinking from the stream right by Peter and Ivy's cottage.

However, it wasn't all fun and games. We didn't forget what was going on outside the clearing. Every few days we sent out spies to see what was going on in Narnia. Any news we got was bad.

"Your Majesties, our flutes have disappeared," the fauns told us.

"My father went out to play his violin and I can't find him," said a worried squirrel.

"Some trees in Lantern Waste were dancing, and now there's a clearing in the woods where they used to stand," the chief maple tree told Edmund.

It seemed that everything and everyone that tried to make music outside our protected clearing disappeared. The animals and creatures were frightened, and all of Narnia felt gloomy and tired.

One cloudy August day, it was Peter's turn to scout in the Black Woods. He had gone to consult with our ally, Darin the centaur, and to creep near to our castle to see what was going on. I was extremely nervous for him, but I tried not to show it. We were all in danger these days.

"Lucy, where is the big pot? I want to make some stew for dinner. It's nearly noon." Ivy sounded agitated.

"I washed it and it's drying by the stream. Shall I get it?" I asked.

"No, I'll get it. Thank you." As Ivy walked away, a tear slid down her cheek. I decided to follow her.

"Are you alright?" I implored. She nodded her head, but I wasn't convinced.

"Are you sure?"

She shook her head. "I'm sorry, Lucy. I'm just worried about Peter."

I tried to reassure her. "Peter's going to be fine. He's a smart man, and he's been in these woods hundreds of times. If there was any danger, Peter would be first to fight it."

"That's what I'm worried about!" Ivy cried, the tears beginning to fall faster. "He feels like he needs to protect the entire kingdom by himself. If someone tried to hurt him, Peter should run, not try to be the hero."

"That's what Susan used to say," I reflected.

"Susan? Your sister?"

"Yes, my sister." 

"Why doesn't anyone talk about her? I asked Peter once...he only said he misses her and that she wasn't here now."

"I think Peter thinks it's his fault." I almost realized this as I said it. Edmund and I had even stopped mentioning Susan in front of him because he always looked so hurt whenever someone brought her up.

"What's his fault? I've only heard how she was a gentle Queen in the Golden Age."

 I sat down at the edge of the stream to tell Ivy the story. I told her everything. How Susan was such an amazing archer and swimmer, how she could sing, compose, and play piano and lute. How she had forgotten Narnia. How she had forgotten me. How she had once been my best friend. When I finally stopped, Ivy said nothing. I looked over at her pale green face. She seemed to be thinking hard. 

"Maybe she wishes she could be here now. She should be here," Ivy finally said.

"Why?" I asked, angrily, surprising myself with my frustration.

"Because-"

I interrupted. "She thinks Peter, Edmund, and I are dead! And she doesn't care. She's doesn't need me anymore." My heart ached for the sister I had lost, and my grief was fringed with bitterness.

"If Susan was here," Ivy went on excitedly, "she would know how to stop this magic from overcoming everyone who isn't protected." Now my friend had a fiery glint in her eye.

"But there's no way to get her here. She doesn't even believe Narnia exists," I protested.

"Maybe not. But - you don't think there might be some way? Surely Aslan could bring her here."

"But why?" I asked. "Why would we need Susan now? She'd just laugh at everything disappearing in our little 'imaginary country'." I really didn't understand. As much as I missed Susan, she really wouldn't help our situation!

Ivy looked down into the swirling water of the stream and whispered, "If Susan was here, she could bring back the music."