Finding the Queen of Old

This is Home

Susan rocked Alistair with a small smile on her face, humming a lullaby. For some reason she felt exceptionally happy, like things were all coming together. Edmund was still gone, but she could just feel that he was fine, that for once everything was fine. 

Her bedroom door opened and Peter left the room, his eyes troubled slightly but seemingly relaxed. Susan didn't wonder why, certain he was just tense about Edmund still. She gave him a smile as he passed by and he returned it. 

As Alistair nodded off to sleep once more, Susan carried her son back into her room and laid him in the crib. Turning back towards the bed her fiance still rested on, she gave him a playful smirk, a look that had not genuinely crossed her face in quite a long time. 

"You seem exceptionally happy this morning." Caspian grinned widely as Susan began rummaging her drawers for an outfit. He stretched and stood up, making his way to grab an outfit as well. 

Susan spun around to face him, nightgown twirling out around her knees. "I feel... I feel like my old self today, so I thought it best I enjoy the feeling while it's here."

The grin on Caspian's face could not even stretch as wide as the one that shone on Susan's. He dropped the shirt he had picked up and moved across the room to embrace her. Susan laughed, burying her face into his chest. While she knew it was still just the beginning of her continued healing, it sure felt good to not be plagued by James for this time, however long it may last. 

Her eyes shone as they broke apart, and she stood on her tiptoes to kiss him lightly. "Care to help me with the zipper on this dress?" She smiled slyly as she held out the piece of clothing.

"Of course, love."

---

Isabela bounced on the balls of her feet as she and Edmund made their way towards the Pevensie home. Today was the day they would be going to Narnia. She was eager to see the true land, to meet all her other heroes she had learned about from Aslan. 

"Are you nervous?" Edmund gave her hand a small squeeze.

Isabela smiled. "No, kitten, I'm excited! I've been waiting for this for so long that I can barely believe it's actually happening. I know we're close, but aren't we there yet?"

"We're almost there." He smiled back, picking up his pace. 

---

Lucy nibbled on the pastry she had gotten for breakfast,  her eyes still sad. While she knew staying was what Tumnus wanted and therefore what was best for him, she had hoped she could change his mind. He was the only one she felt completely at ease with besides her family, and even then she had some thoughts she wouldn't share with them.  He and she knew everything about each other, had stories to share and memories to laugh about. 

Her favorite memory was of a dance held during her and her siblings reign. While it was nothing major or even all that eventful, it was pleasant. Tumnus had nearly fallen flat on his face while trying to dance with a dryad she knew he fancied, and after seeing that attempt, Lucy had instructed him in the proper art of dance during the next few songs. That is, until an advisor of the Archenland court had asked if she would be willing to dance with her. She had to watch to make sure she didn't step on her partner's dress for the first half of the dance, but after she had time to glance over at her friend as he made his way back to the dryad. They had both then happily danced the night away, and once the dance had ended talked the night away, laughing and teasing as friends do.  

She could not imagine waiting even a few days for him to return...

"Lu?" Tummus spoke quietly. "You know it's not forever... I'll see you again."