After the End (Narnia)

Chapter VI - Reunited

Susan was overjoyed to see her siblings again. It felt as if a part of her had re-emerged, a part of her that had been missing for a long time. Just seeing their faces was a breath of fresh air, overpowering even the Narnian scenery laid out before her. It seemed like she was caught in a dream, a perfect, wonderful dream.

Edmund looked at his sister with joy warming his heart. True Narnia had always been amazing, but it hadn't felt quite right without Susan. Sure, Susan had been far from his favourite sister when he was younger, but he was immensely glad she was finally in True Narnia, where she belonged. He hugged his sister tightly, followed immediately by Peter and Lucy, the whole scenario ending in a fierce group hug. The Pevensies were meant to be together.

Susan looked radiant. She was smiling, a smile Lucy hadn't seen in years. Giving her the completed daisy crown, Lucy found herself returning the grin. They had experienced many happy days in True Narnia, but today was by far the best.

Susan found herself looking at the crowd of Narnians that lived at Cair Paravel and its surrounding forests. Smiling at their returned queen, the Narnians bowed low to the ground, Aslan prowling forward through the crowd. Some of the spectators were wiping away tears, and many had to hold themselves back to avoid causing a scene.

Aslan approached the beaming Susan with a lion's grin on his face. "Welcome home, dear one. I always knew you would join us here. You have experienced many trials in the world you left behind, but you have worked through them and returned, and that is all that matters," Aslan addressed Susan in his normal gentle tone. Susan smiled back at the old lion. She could now see where she had gone wrong - logic had blocked her faith. But she was here now, everything forgotten, the slate wiped clean. She was now in paradise. Susan couldn't wait to explore.

Still grinning, the Narnians returned to their previous activities, slinking back through the doors of the castle and back to the forest, a river of laughter and joy. The Pevensie siblings, Caspian, Polly and Diggory, Jill, Eustace, Reepicheep and Tumnus remained. "I think a celebration is in order," Caspian started, raising his eyebrow cheekily.

"I agree. Last night didn't quite fill my entertainment quota," Eustace agreed with a nod.

"How large is your entertainment quota?" Jill looked confused.

"How about a ride in the forest? I'm keen for more of this lovely fresh air," Peter diverted.

"That was where I was meaning to go anyway," Edmund explained.

"Then it's decided. Somebody lead the way, I don't remember the place too well," Susan delegated. Caspian took charge with an impish swing in his step. "To the stables we go!"

The stables were filled with a calming silence, a stark comparison to the rest of the busy castle. Smelling of damp hay and animals, the stalls were dark and ancient. Caspian expertly chose horses for the party, selecting saddles and calling the animals each by name. Susan observed him with an intrigued gaze. She had never taken Caspian for an animal type, but he looked at ease in the quiet dampness of the stables. She wondered what else she didn't know about the former Telmarine prince. The man was an enigma.

At last, the horses were saddled and the party was ready to depart. Mounting their chosen horses, the eleven rode out onto the green lawns of the castle. Susan laughed as she struggled to stay seated. It had been a ridiculous amount of time since she had ridden a horse. The rest of the group rode effortlessly, easing their horses into a comfortable trot. Even Eustace, with his infamous motion sickness, seemed to be a master of the reins.

A quick ride around the lawns dubbed all the riders ready to encounter the forest. With Peter leading the way, the Narnians ventured into the forest down the narrow dirt paths reserved for riders and pedestrians. The scenery varied from trees to forest brooks to clearings and shy rabbits, the paths winding in a picturesque way. The air was fresh, the sun peeking through the branches in patches of dappled light, the hay-like smell of the horses and the smell of fresh earth mixed together in a delicious scent. Quiet conversation was made along the trail, careful not to disturb the various colonies of forest creatures. Some Narnians had grown accustomed to living in the forest after the Telmarine occupation, and preferred their way of life amongst the trees.

Suddenly, a sharp turn in the path lead the riders into the depths of the forest. Here, everything seemed colder, fresher, somehow greener. A peculiarly straight blackened tree passed by Lucy's arm, a tingle of magic brushing through her hair as she shuddered. A rocky cliff face came into view, a single door cut into the stone. "Wait. I don't think I've ever seen this part of the forest before," Peter spoke warily, his usually confident voice quite shaky. "I'm sure I recognise it from somewhere," Edmund replied thoughtfully.

"Maybe we should be turning back," Susan was getting a little scared of the unknown place. The door looked like a gaping stone mouth leading into uncertainty. Tumnus suddenly laughed. "I don't see why you're so scared of this place. I recognise it."

"Well, why don't you tell us? Please don't tell me it's a dark magician's cave," Peter's brow was furrowed in a wrinkle-inducing way. Tumnus' laugh only got louder. The faun clutched his belly as he fell off of his horse, shaking the leaf litter off of his horns.

"I'm quite sure I would have known if a dark magician lived here. Although one did visit once, well, her henchmen. No, there were only happy memories here," Tumnus seemed a thousand miles away, reminiscing some unknown time.

"What is it then? We don't have all day you know," Eustace retorted, his eyebrows raising in a disturbing manner.

"Welcome, my friends, to my house!"