ALT ENDING

A/N: This is going to skip around a bit between the books- bear with me – I didn't want to write another story =P This chapter is an alternate version of CH. 32A: Peace.

Also, assume that this whole story takes place before the Pevensies return to the real world at the end of The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. I'm skipping over what happens in the other books –dabbling a bit with Prince Caspian - and going straight to the end of the The Last Battle (even though I hated this book…)

Art: There are a lot of character sketches, costume sketches, even scenes and other art in my deviantart site (link in my profile) including some really new stuff. There's a folder in my gallery all for Narnia related fanart. Check it out

If any of you are curious I also tend to write this to the following music (in shuffle mode):

- Chronicles of Narnia OST (1st one; sorry hated the 2nd ost) – DUH

- Enya (all 6 of her albums)

- Loreena McKennitt (all her albums)

- recently Secret Garden (all their albums)

- sometimes music by Anwyn & George Leverett

- On occasion the Escaflowne OSTs by Yoko Kanno

CH. 32B (Alternate Ending)

As the days in Narnia passed most of the physical wounds had been mended but there was a greater pain that lingered for which there was no cure. Not even Queen Lucy's Fire Flower potion could heal those wounds.

Day by day, all of Narnia slowly moved on with their lives, trying to rebuild what had been destroyed, accepting the loss of many loved ones. All but Narnia's Kings and Queens. Esmiel's death was a heavy blow for them all, but it dealt most of its harm to the High King. But as Kings and Queens, the Pevensies let no one but each other know the extent of their grief. In public, they wore their brightest smiles to hide their deepest pains. They had all felt the loss of a friend, an ally, a sister, but to Peter Pevensie, she was more than just that.

Lucy cried each night when memories of her time with Esme or Esmiel haunted her dreams. Every time she passed by the door which once led to her friend's room, Lucy fought the urge to open them knowing that despite all her hopes and dreams, she would not find Esmiel there. No one had set foot in the room since the end of the battle. No one wanted to see anymore reminders of Esmiel.

Susan did her best to guide her siblings to move on and think of the future. Always she urged them to remember their friend but not to dwell on those memories – after all, they had new ones to make. And of course, she constantly reminded them that Narnia needed them to be strong. Although the evil was gone, the task of rebuilding would be daunting. While it would not be as difficult as starting from scratch, as it had been when they were first crowned Kings and Queens, they had lost so much in the battle and in the attacks prior to it. Susan was more than happy to take on the task of cheering up her siblings. It was her way of avoiding her own grief. But if ever she had a moment alone, Susan could not help but let slip her own silent tears.

When he was not trying to help Susan encourage Lucy to cheer up, Edmund was quiet. He spoke only when he felt he absolutely needed to. He often busied himself with various duties so he would not find the time to feel the loss. But sometimes, as he made his plans or made his orders, he could not help but forget that Esmiel was gone. He lost himself so much with his work it almost seemed like her death was merely a dream. But then, he would remember that no, it was not a dream at all. It was very much real.

It was far too real for the High King. Peter, like his brother, tried to keep himself busy but when he was not out performing his royal duties, he stared listlessly out his balcony. During meals he tried to stay positive and cheerful, as his siblings all struggled to do, but his appetite was lacking and he barely ever touched his food. Susan had long since learned to cease her nagging as he refused time and again to eat more than a few bites. She was not proud of it, but sometimes she used Lucy as an excuse for Peter to try and be more himself saying that their little sister needed them. Sometimes it worked and there was almost a hint of the old Peter in his eyes, but more often than not, he put on the same mask of a smile as he did for the rest of the kingdom.

On some nights, Peter sat upon the lush grass of the training field. He would train by himself, using his anger and his grief as a source of strength. And when he grew tired, he lay on the grass and stared at the stars. But never could he look upon them for very long for they brought too many tears to his eyes.

One night, Peter thought he heard a voice calling to him. He sat up in his bed and looked around in the darkness. The voice was faint but familiar. "Esmiel?" he called out. Silence. His heart beginning to race, he leapt out of bed and ran out of his room. He stopped before the high wooden doors of what was once Esmiel's room. Take a deep breath he pushed them open and there on the balcony rail stood a young woman with her back turned to him. "Esmiel?" A smile started to tug on the corners of his lips as his bare feet padded toward the balcony.

Upon hearing his voice, the young woman turned her head and a smile graced her lips. The same happy and knowing smile she wore when finally her lover and brother were brought together in peace. "Esme!" Peter almost laughed as his hand reached out to her. But then his smile faded. Esme slowly took a step forward and fell from the balcony rail. "NO! Esme!"

Peter gasped as beads of sweat and tears stung his eyes. He sat up in bed and realized it was all just a dream. He took slow deep breaths to calm his heart then slowly slipped out of bed. Tears rolling down his cheeks, he walked out into the hallway and to Esmiel's He gently pushed them open and looked to the balcony. The doors were still open, lush curtains billowing softly in the wind. But the balcony was empty. He set his hands on the cold rail and looked out at the view Esmiel loved so much. And finally Peter fell to the ground, his body racked with sobs. She was gone. She would never come back. She was merely a memory now, a dream. All he could do now was to cherish that forever.

Out on the beach, Aslan walked, the soft waves lapping at his paws. Despite the distance he could hear Peter's sobs and he knew the sorrow that plagued his heart. The great lion turned his head to the direction of Esmiel's balcony and took a deep breath. How he wished he could comfort Peter and his siblings. But even his words would do little to heal their hurts.

A few weeks following the aftermath of the battle, everyone was gathered in the great throne room for a celebration of peace. Aslan repeated his announcement about the end of all great battles against evil so that it could be heard by all the Narnians and the Archenlanders in attendance. There was a loud applause and cheer following Peter's words. Cor and Corin who both stood near the thrones cheered loudly as well. Cor and Avaris exchanged meaningful glances and squeezed each other's hands. Lucy's smile was brightened when she caught sight of Mr. Tumnus who was now completely healed.

But in addition to the greet cheering, there was also a long pause for silence. There were a great many lost in battle. More Narnians had fallen in this one battle than in the one against Jadis, the White Witch. And all in all, the small attacks throughout Narnia combined with the toll of the war meant that Narnia's numbers had dwindled by quite a bit. Peter and his siblings knew that there was a long road to recovery ahead for them. Much of Narnia had been tarnished by this evil and much of its lands were no longer fit to call home for the survivors.

Archenland offered their support to Narnia should they be in need of it. They knew that had this war taken place on their lands, Narnia would come to their aid as well. Peter thanked them for their generosity. After all, many Archenland warriors had fallen as well and the neighboring country would need its own time to grieve and recover.

After the sun had finished sinking below the horizon, and music and dancing filled the hall, Peter finally found a moment of solace. He pulled away while his siblings and his friends smiled and laughed as they danced and talked.

Only one pair of watchful eyes caught sight of the High King slowly walking to a balcony overlooking the sea. Aslan took a deep breath and followed Peter. At the balcony, Peter leaned at the railing but his eyes saw neither the sea nor the view of his country. No, his eyes were to the stars. The very stars Esme loved so much. Aslan walked over to the High King and nuzzled his shoulder. Peter turned to look at the Great Lion and put his hand against his soft fur. For a while neither spoke. They only looked up at the great stars above. It had taken days for Peter to finally look upon them for more than a few moments.

Finally, Peter let a tear fall. "I miss her so much, Aslan," he admitted in a hushed whisper. "I should have told her sooner. I should have told her how much I loved her. All that time I was so afraid and now she's gone…"

"Do not burden yourself with these regrets, dear Peter," the lion said gently. "You did what you thought best. Love is a strange and curious thing; it is powerful in a great many ways. It can be frightening and beautiful all at once. All you can do now is to treasure your memories of her and your time together. Be happy, Peter. For much of what she has done she did out of love for both you and her brother."

"I know," nodded Peter. "I know…but it's so hard Aslan. I've lost many friends in battle – but never someone whom I loved so dearly." He honestly felt as if he didn't want to go on with his life. He wanted to withdraw from everyone. But he knew he could not do that. He was High King and the needs of his people were greater than his. "I just don't know what to do." Peter finally let his tears fall freely as he leaned heavily on Aslan who raised a paw to the king's back.

Lucy could stand it no longer. She rushed to her grieving brother and embraced him from behind. Peter turned and returned his sister's embrace as Susan and Edmund joined them, wiping the tears from their own eyes. Though they failed to see their brother leave the party, they did not miss the Great Lion's sad countenance as he walked to the balcony.

Aslan stood back as he watched the siblings mourn over their friend and sister and companion. He knew that it would be painful for all of them, especially Peter, but he knew that together they would carry on and as they rebuilt their great country, so would they rebuild their lives.

And so it was that Narnia prospered in what would be known as the Golden Age. Narnia's Kings and Queens lived happily with their people and no great wars or battles ever plagued them as their battle with evil itself. Peter no longer wandered his halls late at night, unable to sleep, as he was wont to do for a long while. He often could be found at the training arena lying on the field, watching the stars, longing for his companion but no longer with tears stinging his eyes. Always will he love her, but his grieving had ended.

In commemoration of Esmiel, a statue was built alongside Aslan the Great Lion in the courtyard's large fountain. Together they stood, proud and strong to watch over Narnia. Susan and Lucy made sure that detailed scrolls and texts of their time with Esme and Esmiel were safely stored in the Great Archives so their adventures could be remembered by all.

It was not long before the Pevensies decided to go out for a ride to chase after the Great White Stag. But before they left, Peter stood longingly at the statue of his beloved. She would have loved the chase, he thought.

In one moment they were chasing after the Stag, in another they were tumbling out of an old wardrobe, no longer Kings and Queens, but children. They were merely Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie once again.

-----

Years later….

Peter Pevensie looked out the window and stared up at the stars. It was long past midnight and still he could not sleep. There were nights like these where he dreamt of the past, of his life in Narnia. And he knew that his siblings did the same. They could never remove Narnia from their memories. Although, sometimes their lives as Kings and Queens seemed more a distant dream than a memory, especially for Susan. But Peter, Edmund, and Lucy refused to completely forget. Peter was, admittedly, just a little bit jealous of his youngest siblings who were able to see Narnia one more time after he and Susan were barred from its gates. He had so longed to be a soldier when he was younger, longed to grow up. And so he had grown up quite a bit in Narnia, but he had grown up too fast in the real world. How he missed his country, and what he sometimes felt was his real home.

Despite all the years, he could never stop missing the one person who mattered most to him. Sometimes he would try to remember the constellations she had taught him so long ago. When he couldn't find one, he made one up, just as she confided she was wont to do herself. She was more a dream than Narnia; their time together had been so brief. The memories of his past life with her that he had regained a few glimpses of in Narnia were completely lost to him now. He clung to his memories of her like pirates cling to their treasures. His memories, his dreams, were all he had left of Narnia and of Esmiel, his Esme.

While Peter met other girls whom he did fancy, they were not the same. They weren't her. And while he often felt the pang of loneliness, especially when he gazed upon the stars as he and Esme did long ago, he knew in his heart that somehow, they would find each other again. After all, just as Ulla and Tinthor said in their story, death could not stop love – all it could do was delay it for a little while. And so he would wait patiently until they could be reunited.

Peter did not have to wait long.

------

Lucy was feeling antsy all day. Edmund noticed and asked her and she admitted she couldn't sleep very well the night before. She just kept feeling anxious about something, almost as if she knew there was a surprise waiting for her.

"Maybe you ought to lay off the sugar, Lu," joked Edmund. But he couldn't help but feel a little anxious himself. He wasn't sure if it was because Lucy was being contagious or if something really was going to happen. For a moment he allowed himself to dream a little. Perhaps we'll have another chance to go back to Narnia, he thought. But then he shook his head. No, that's impossible. We're too old now. Even Lucy can no longer go back.

"Are you ready to go?" asked Peter. Lucy and Edmund nodded. "Come on then, we don't want to be late for the train."

With that the three Pevensies walked to the train station.

And before they knew it, they were once again in Narnia.

-----

It was amazing. The sight of the real Narnia and the real England, Inner England, was unbelievable. It stretched on and on and for a while they were all of them silent. Finally, one after another, they began shouting, yelling out names of mountains and streams and forests. But it was not like in Shadow Narnia at all. No, it was so much more and The Pevensies felt for the first time that they were really home.

When the siblings caught sight of their parents waving back at them, they waved back. Confused about what was going on, Aslan, the Great Lion told them that in the Shadowlands they were dead. But that was just so they could finally be in the real Narnia at last. There was no need to fear ever leaving and Lucy almost cried upon hearing this.

It was strange how things changed from being a dream to being real. When they were in Narnia, the Pevensies' lives in Outer England was but a dream. But when they returned to the world from whence they came, it was Narnia that seemed more like a dream. But now they knew at last – both worlds were but a dream and now they were in the true world at last. Those days of dreaming were long over and new, more wonderful, brighter days lay ahead for them all.

Peter watched as Lucy and Edmund ran toward their parents, excited to greet them, wanting to show them around the world in which they were a King and Queen. But Peter did not follow. He would greet his parents later. He was just happy to be here at long last. "Thank you Aslan," he said.

"You have no need to thank me, Peter," said the Great Lion. "I have merely brought you to where you belong."

Peter smiled at the Great Lion and put his hand against the soft fur. It's so perfect here, he thought.

"Go, Peter, go to your family. Welcome them to this great land," Aslan nudged the High King toward his family. Peter nodded. The lion watched as he hugged his parents; smiles on every face. Then the lion looked up into the blue, blue sky, smiled, and nodded.

"This is beautiful," said the Pevensie's mother.

"This is a great excuse for us to explore," said Lucy, her eyes full of excitement. "Who knows what these lands hold for us that once lay hidden in Narnia's shadow?"

"There was already so much to see then, I can't believe what we might find here," Edmund agreed.

Suddenly Peter caught sight of something in the corner of an eye. He turned his head and realized that it was a feather, white and shimmering, twirling in the breeze. His heart skipped a beat as he caught the feather in his hand.

"What is it, Peter?" asked his father. All eyes turned to the High King.

Lucy's eyes widened when she saw the feather he held. She could not even form the words she so desperately wanted to ask. Instead her hands grasped her brother's shirt tightly.

Edmund looked at the feather and back at Peter, his mouth agape. A few more feathers fell and then they all looked up.

Slowly and gracefully two figures with white wings floated down to greet the Pevensies. If it was at all possible, Esmiel and Esorael were more breathtaking now than they were before. While Esorael had been a fallen angel when last they met, he had still looked magnificent. But now, with his wings of pure white spread behind him, he looked even more glorious.

Lucy's eyes filled with tears and Edmund pushed the very stiff, still very shocked Peter, toward the two angels. The Pevensies' parents looked at their children and at the angels with confusion. But when they saw how Peter's gaze softened when he looked at Esmiel, they knew in their hearts what this meant.

"Esmiel," Peter finally managed to whisper, tears beginning to spring from his eyes.

"Greetings," she whispered back. She was rather amused by the look on his face.

Peter immediately brought Esmiel into his arms, gripping her tightly. "Esme… Esme…" he could not believe it. Please, please don't let this be just a dream, he prayed.

Esmiel pulled away a little so that she could put her forehead against his. "Once before I was but a dream… but never again, my King, my beloved. Here in these lands, never shall we be parted. And finally we three can live in peace." She looked back at Esorael who nodded with a smile.

"No, never again will I ever let you go," he said in return. He put cupped her face in his hands and kissed her forehead, her nose, and her lips.

Esme smiled. How she missed the touch of his hands, his lips. But then she tilted her head to the side. "Now, are you going to introduce me to your parents or will I have to do it myself?"

THE END CH. 32B

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So there it is! The end of the alternate ending! Sorry it was so haphazardly put together and very abrupt but I didn't really feel like writing a whole other story so it's been condensed into this one chapter =P So which ending did you like better? Let me know. Both are super cheesy in their own rights so eh. Thanks again for reading this you guys! You're also so awesome!

*You can probably use "Only the Beginning" Track like in Ch 31A (the other ending) for Esmiel's entrance here but I haven't really thought about it..