The Chronicles of Narnia - Adventure continues [ book 1 ]

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

I 7 | The Real Home

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Telmarines and Narnians now gathered in Beruna, where the portal to the real world was. Kings and Queens of Narnia were there too, to say goodbye to the new
Queen.

"You did a good job here, dear one.", Aslan spoke as Hope came by his side.

Her lips tangled into a sad smile with tears in her eyes getting ready. "I'll miss you all.", she added louder, looking at their people.

"And Narnians will miss their Queen.", The Great Lion said again. "But they know they see her again.", he smiled when Hope turned her head.

"I'll be back?", she asked getting a smile as Aslan nodded. Her glare turned to the Pevensie's, Caspian and Eustace.

She first came to Susan. Their eyes met as both were filling with tears. "I'll miss you.", Susan whispered onto Hope's ear when they hugged.

"I'll miss you, too. But, we'll see again.", Hope comforted herself and Susan, still having few tears traveling down her cheeks.

After she let go off Susan, the next in the row was Lucy. "You were like a second sister to me.", Lucy cried when they embraced. Hope gave her comforting smile after she let off.

She came to Peter and hugged him and after him, Caspian. After them, she came to Eustace. His face was annoyed as always, but Hope gave him a strange smile, stopping her cry. "Please, don't touch me.", he announced angrily but she disobeyed him.

"I'll miss you and your annoyance.", Hope smiled at Eustace after leaving his hug.

And them she came to Edmund. Her eyes flickered again and tears began to fall. She came into his arms and hugged him tightly. "I'll come back.", she whispered leaving his hug and wiping tears from her cheeks.

Her steps fastened as she reached Aslan and bowed her head. "We shall wait your return, Queen Hope The Grace.", Aslan spoke with strong voice. The people once again bowed in front of their Queen as she reached to the open portal - two trees.

Her steps were slow, insecure and sad. She was crying, not wanting to come back to her real world. She suddenly stopped, her head slowly turned around with body following as she ran back. Everyone else looked in surprise as she ran to Edmund. She put her arms around his neck and met their lips together. Edmund's hands rested on her waist as he returned kiss. Narnians cheered as they left the kiss, their foreheads touching. "I like you - ", she whispered as she hugged him again. "A lot."

"I like you, too.", Edmund gasped at her ear as she left a hug. She fastened her steps to the portal and waved back. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath as she walked through it.

When she opened her eyes, her sight changed. In front of her was an empty room and behind, a wardrobe she came in.

"Oh, dear, you're here.", a woman came through the door. Hope snapped from her thoughts as she noticed three young men coming after her.

"Mom, what are they doing?", Hope asked as they came to the wardrobe behind her.

"I ordered them to take that old closet to dumpster.", woman, her mother, said.

"No, mom, please. Can you take it in my room?", she pleaded, blinking sadly at her mother.

"Okay, take it to the last room down the hall.", she hesitated but finally accept. Hope smiled, but her heart was still deep in sadness.

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It was night. Hope was sitting peacefully in her room, ready to sleep very soon. "Hope?", call from other side of the door snapped her from thinking.

"Come in.", she answered, recognising the voice. In the room came a little blond girl, Hope's younger sister.

"Can you tell me a bedtime story?", she asked silently when she closed the door and sat next to Hope.

"You're twelve, aren't you a bit old for stories?", older girl asked with a smile but younger raised a brow.

"Please.", she begged. "Pretty please?!"

"Okay, okay.", Hope gave up when she saw adorable face if her sister.

"Do you know any new? I already know all Disney ones.", younger asked boredomly.

"I can tell you a story that this wardrobe hides.", Hope told her sister as she looked back where it was standing. "It is interesting story about four children discovered a magical land called Narnia, in this house passing through this wardrobe."

"Are you sure that's real?", her sister asked interestedly.

"Sure?", Hope sarcastically laughed. "Been there. And met those children and I was declared a Queen, just like them."

After a long hour of Hope's story, her sister became even more intrigueted. She was sleepy, but wouldn't miss her sister's adventures as they were very interesting.

"Will I ever go there?", younger asked when Hope came to the end of her story.

"Olivia, if you believe in it very strong, you can do anything. And especially travel to Narnia. It will be a total new adventure.", she replied with a wide smile. "Now, go to sleep.", Hope ordered.

"Good night.", Olivia answered when she opened door to get out.

"'Night!"

Hope still felt tears not leaving her eyes, but she understood that everything happy has its end. If she was telling the truth to her sister - and it's certain that she does not lies -, next year might be a total new adventure for them. Thinking about her friends made her smile, thinking about Edmund made her smile even wider. Nothing was lost, she got the happy life she wished for.