Too Many Sunsets (Prince Caspian)

Where New meets Old

At the river, Telmarine soldiers worked hard creating Miraz's bridge. They worked at a pace, sawing, chopping down the trees. From behind a mound of chopped trees, the Kings and Queens watched. The bridge looked almost completed.

Miraz enters on to the beach accompanied by his men. 

"Perhaps this wasn't the best way to come after all", Susan whispered to Peter. 

Peter looks around and decides to head back. The others follow him with a worried brow.

They stood once again at the gorge. Lucy looked across at where she saw Aslan.

"So, where exactly do you think you saw Aslan?" Peter asked.

"I wish you'd all stop trying to sound like grown-ups. I don't think I saw him, I did see him", Lucy said.

"I am a grown-up", Trumpkin states quietly.

Lucy walks over to the cliff edge. "It was right over–". The cliff where Lucy stood gave way and Lucy dropped to a cliff just below. Her siblings call after her worried. They look down and spot Lucy sat looking down at the water. "–Here".

The group make a descent down the cliff on some steep steps. Following Lucy, they reach the stream at the bottom. Trumpkin stands close to Lucy. She trips on some loose rocks and loses her balance. Trumpkin catches her and holds her up. Lucy thanks him with a small smile.

In a small clearing, the group make camp for the night. Lucy stares up at the starry sky. 

"Lucy, are you awake?" Susan whispers.

"Hmm".

Susan turns to face her sister, "Why do you think I didn't see Aslan?"

Lucy props herself up to face Susan, "you believe me?"

"Well, we got across the gorge".

"I don't know. Maybe you didn't really want to".

"You always knew we'd be coming back here, didn't you?"

"I hoped so".

Susan lies back down on the grass. "I finally just got used to the idea of being in England".

"But you're happy to be here, aren't you?"

"While it lasts".

The sunlight wakes Lucy gently. She looks around at the sleeping camp and gets up. She hears a soft growling and walks up into the forest. Giving the group one last look, she continues onwards. 

Lucy follows a narrow trail lined with white birch trees. The sun shines brightly warming up the way. Loose flower petals drift on a breeze. They swirl softly together and dance around Lucy. It is one of the beautiful tree women. But, just as quickly as she appears she laughs and flys away. As she walks on, two more tree petals dance around Lucy. They usher her along a small path. The petals sweep again into the figure of a woman who gently guides Lucy down a path. The birch trees move to line the path which Lucy walks down. 

"Lucy", a voice hums.

Lucy turns a corner. Her eyes widen and smiles joyfully.

"Aslan!"

She rushes to the Great Lion who stands on a perched rock. Sunbeams majestically fall on Aslan. 

"I've missed you so much. You've grown".

"Every year you grow, so shall I".

Lucy's smile fades a little. "Where have you been? Why haven't you come to help us?"