Narnia: A Queen's Hope

Goodbye

Leandre noticed Aslan staring at Peter and Susan who were busy talking about peace treaties and negotiations for Narnians and Telmarines "What are you thinking?" Leandre asked after a moment of silence. The two lions were in a secluded area and no one even dared to get close to the two after what had happened, they can only stare at them with respect and slight fear.

"Peter and Susan...how much they have grown..." Aslan said. Leandre frowned slightly "Well, they seem to have matured since the last time they set foot here. Before, they both tend to butt heads almost everything. Now they seem to get along so well, less hesitant and more sure of their choices" Leandre blinked before turning her gaze to Aslan.

"You're not thinking...how would Edmund and Lucy feel?"

"Do you remember the reason why Narnia was created?"

Leandre pondered for a moment "When you created Narnia, you wanted this world to live and grow on its own...and rule it with wisdom and caring" Leandre said "Yes...to do that, they must learn what they can from this world and live out their own lives in theirs. Narnia is a world between worlds my dear" Leandre let out a mellow sigh.

"In the end...it is saddening to watch them grow. Aslan, how long must I wait for you this time?" Leandre asked. The Great King gave no answer, simply leaned his head to her in an act of comfort. Aslan then walked towards the two when Susan and Peter finished their talks and Leandre headed off outside the castle, feeling something inside her getting heavier with every step.

***

A few hours later, Caspian walked down the steps at the courtyard and spotted Aslan talking to Peter and Susan. Sensing Caspian, Aslan turned his head towards him which made Peter and Susan look at him. Caspian nodded at them in greeting "We are ready. Everyone has assembled" He noticed the sudden sorrow within Susan's eyes and it was gone before he could ask.

She turned her head away as the three walked to the direction outside the castle. Caspian frowned but didn't put much thought into it although it did gave him a slight sense of uneasiness.

***

"Narnia belongs to the Narnians just as it does toman. Any Telmarnies who want to stay and live in peace arewelcome to. And for any of you who wish, Aslan will returnyou to the home of our forefathers" Caspian began as he stood in front of the crowd.

"It has been generations since we left Telmar" A Telmarine Lord, one of Sopespian's Counsel said " We are not referring to Telmar. Your ancestors weresea-faring brigands, pirates run aground on an island.There they found a cave, a rare chasm that brought themhere from their world, the same world as our kings andqueens" The Pevensies looked at each other in shock.

Aslan had just announced that the Telmarines were once People from their World generations ago?!

"It is to that island I can return you. It is a goodplace for any who wish to make a new start" Aslan said, looking at the Pevensies. There was a pause in the air as people looked at one another "I'll go. I will accept the offer" Glozelle, the man who refused to give the final strike that would have ended Caspian's life, said with no hesitation.

"So will we" Another said as they pushed pass the crowd and stood before Aslan "Because you have spoken first, your future in thatworld will be good" Aslan said before breathing on them. The tree behind them suddenly twists and formed a round opening.

They walked through the door in the air and immediately vanished from sight and the people gasped in shock and alarm "How do we know he is not leading us toour deaths?!" A peasant asked. Leandre's eyes zeroed on the peasant with an unpleasant look on her face "Sire, if my example can be of anyservice, I will take eleven mice though with no delay" Reepicheep said.

Aslan didn't speak but simply looked at Peter who gave a sigh "We'll go" Peter said "We will?" Edmund asked in bewilderment "Come on, our time's up" Peter said as he walked towards Caspian and handed him his sword "After all, we're not really needed her anymore" Peter added.

The reign of the Kings and Queens of Old had been finished ever since the Telmarines invaded. Narnia will have a new King, one who is both a Narnian and a Son of Adam "I will look after it until your return" Caspian vowed.

Susan slightly winced and decided to announce the big news "I'm afraid that's just it, we're not coming back" Pain and anguish was written all over Caspian's face along with shock and denial "We're not?!" Lucy asked with a horrified look on her face.

"You two are" Peter said before looking at Aslan "At least...I think he means you two" Peter replied. Lucy looked at Leandre who couldn't exactly look at her in the eyes right now and settled for Aslan's calming gaze "But why? Did they do something wrong?"

"Quite the opposite, dear one. But all things havetheir time. Your brother and sister have learned what theycan from this world. Now it‟s time for them to live intheir own"

The answer was simple but the weight of it all was too much to take in "It‟s alright, Lu. It‟s not how I thought it wouldbe, but it‟s alright. One day you‟ll see too. Come on" Peter said with a small smile.

No! I don't want to see! 

A stubborn part of Lucy wanted to shout but she knew this was Susan and Peter's choice. They turned to their closest comrades with them. Peter shakes Glenstorm's hand as Edmund, Lucy, Trumpkin, andCornelius bow. Lucy and Trumpkin bowed a second time before the two shared a hug.

Lucy fought back tears as she released her dear little friend. Susan walks up to Caspian "I'm glad I came back"...even if just to have this with you was the only thing Susan didn't say out loud, not wanting things to get hard enough for her to leave and return home.

"I wish we had more time together"

"It wouldn't have worked anyway" Susan said casually. Caspian gave her a confused look "I am 1300 years older than you" Susan said jokingly as Caspian let out a huff with a smile. Susan turned and made a move to join her sibling before she stopped and turned back to give Caspian a farewell kiss.

Something to remember me by

The crowd let out sighs of joy and pain for their King and the Queen of Old "I'm sure when I'm older I'll understand" Lucy whispered to Peter who smiled at her "I'm older and I don't think I want to understand" Edmund deadpanned "Weren't the four of you old already in Narnian standards? 100 years makes you look wrinkly already" The three gave Leandre a look which she grinned.

Susan gave Caspian one last smile before joining her siblings. They looked over at their new friends before one by one, they entered the door. Leandre nuzzled herself to Aslan, getting his scent on her as much as possible before following them without so much as looking back.

***

The Pevensies found themselves back on the Train Station. Leandre sighed as Lucy looked back to where she knew the door to Narnia was but there was nothing there "Are you coming Phyllis?" A geek voice made them look at a young boy wearing ridiculously a pair of nerdy glasses.

The Pevensies looked confused for a moment before they realized that they were suppose to board the train for their boarding school and quickly gathered their things before entering the train.

"Do you think there's anyway we could get back?" Edmund asked as he rummaged through his bag. Everyone gave him a confused look "I left my torch in Narnia" They all laughed, the boy who called out to Susan gave them a bewildered look and shuffled slightly away from them.

The train quickly pulls away as the doors closed. When they entered the tunnel, Leandre swore she heard him roar and a faint echo in her ear reverberated around her.

We'll be together soon.

Leandre never felt this much hope in a long time.

END