༄ 𝑇𝐻𝐸 𝑃𝐻𝑂𝐸𝑁𝐼𝑋 𝐴𝑅𝐶𝐻𝐸𝑅（𝐿𝑊𝑊）༄

Chapter 25- Fifteen Years Later

After staying in the castle for a few weeks and helping the Pevensies, I thought it was about time for me to return home. Tumnus had declined the invitation, saying castles weren't for him, but had agreed to visit frequently and often. He became an advisor and went on diplomatic mission with Edmund and sometimes Peter.

When the Pevensies learned that I planned to depart, they told me that they wished I would stay. So I did, finding myself more at home in the castle then I had been before. Besides, it was easier to be a protector when I was closer to where the threats would be. Mr. Tumnus brought my few belongings to castle on his next trip back to the castle—once I told him where I lived. He had some help from the Beavers, would visited often as well.

The Pevensies worked hard over the decade and a half to create a time of peace and joy. The Golden Age of Narnia where it had flourished under their rule. There were a few tiffs here and there, but they were settled quickly. In the last few years, Peter left to deal with Ettinsmoor's giants while Edmund occupied Susan on a diplomatic mission to Tashbaan. The former had refused to take me with him, much to my frustration but I was thankful Edmund didn't make me stay behind with Lucy—it wasn't Lucy that was the problem, but rather staying in the castle.

Fifteen years had passed and I went from being around the Pevensies age to being the youngest. Peter was thirty-two, Susan thirty-one, Edmund twenty-eight, and Lucy was twenty-five. It was kind of weird for me at first because I wasn't used to comparing my age to humans. I had to explain to the Kings and Queens many times about why I wasn't getting any older. And the older they got, the younger I seemed so they started restricting what I could do. Which meant no battles unless it was absolutely necessary and that made my job harder.

Susan and I had quickly surpassed all the other archers in skill. Even trick shots we could make. Susan seemed to be the better archer, but unlike her, I wasn't practicing as much—due to restrictions on actually fighting—and I hardly had reason to use my bow. The Kings and Queens all thought I was too young to worry about it. Peter and Susan were the worst, but sometimes Edmund or even Lucy would comment on it. I was over a hundred years yet I was being treated like some teenage. My looks and energy was the only thing they made me fifteen. I was "wise beyond my years" to many foreign dignitaries and nobles. I had just as much skill in battle as the others. The only difference was that I didn't look like I should. So any time they all left, they placed me in charge of the castle. My task was to make sure it didn't fall to invaders, but it was a very boring tasks since we were at peace.

I did manage to practice some, but only when Their Majesties were too busy to pull me away. The standard targets had become too easy and I was forced to look for others. At first I made for the woods and practiced shooting pine cones. The wind and small size made them ideal targets. When the orchard was planted—with the help of Lilygloves and some dryads—I started using the bad apples as target practice. It kept me within the castle grounds should anything happen. There was also the addition of making it impossible for anyone to lecture me for wasting apples. They would've gone to waste so I made use of them.

There were many parties and celebrations throughout their reign. We had ones to celebrate each of the Kings and Queens birthdays. The Narnians themselves decided to celebrate the day the were crowned as well. The Kings and Queens didn't celebrate it themselves, but it became a Narnian tradition. Christmas and seasonal solstices were brought back and they were some of my favorite holidays to celebrate.

At the parties, I stayed in the corners a lot and surveyed the whole party. Susan would occasionally try to get me to join but I would politely refuse. As the parties became more frequent, I began engaging in conversations with other Narnians, but I still kept an eye out. Any suspicious person, anyone who moved too quickly, anyone who seemed a little to interested in Their Majesties. Orieus and some of the private guards helped me with this task as it made any one person less conspicuous.