3

Return to Reality

Their was a great celebration in Narnia as the King's and Queen's of old and of new returned in triumph to the castle at Care Paravel. Susan was seated on the throne once more with her bothers and sister and there was peace all over the realm. Creatures came from near and far, those that had battle and those that had not and even those from different worlds and different heavens. Susan's parents were among the visitors as was Caspian and his many descendants and anyone Susan had ever loved and lost in her life time.

It was an amazing sight for Faith and Samuel to meet their grand parents and see the family that they had never known. There was a pride in the Pevensie family that radiated joy and hope. In that moment Samuel and Faith knew that forever in their memories their mother and their family would exist. Susan had finally found her way back to the place she really belonged. It was true that Narnia and Susan were one in the same. Samuel and Faith had always known Narnia in some way as they had spent their whole lives, up to this point, with a living Susan and Narnia lived through her.

Susan had also found comfort in her return to Narnia. She had fallen weeping into Aslan's mane and thanked him for letting her finally returned. He told her that it was always the plan for her to return to her homeland. It was where she had been fashioned and created and so the homecoming in a way was bitter sweet.

But there was also sadness in the celebration. Samuel and Faith both knew that they did not belong in this world but that it was rooted deeply in their souls and much like the family that had come before them to rule Narnia they too would have to return to their own world and their own time to grow up, but not to forget.

In a moment of calm Susan took her two children aside to speak to them as she knew that her time with them was drawing to and end, "I will always be alive in your memories," she said to them as she hugged them close to her, "my heart beats in everything that is living and in all worlds that you may encounter and someday we will meet again. I will wait for you until that day and know that I will never, ever stop loving you."

"Your suffering is over Mother, we know that and though we will miss you everyday, I will never forget the happiness I see in your right now. It will be our secret and no one will know the joy and the hope that is in you like we do," Samuel said as he hugged his mother.

"You belong here," Faith said with a smile, "everything about you is magical and there has always been a mystery about you. I will see you in everything that I paint and everyone that I love and I will hear your heart beating through time just as I hear Narnia speak to me."

"I have learned so much from you," Susan said at last as she dried her tears on the sleeve of her beautiful honey coloured gown, "you've taught me to be innocent and to believe again. My faith has always been in you Faith and my strength has always been in you Samuel. I will see you every day that I look at Lucy and I will hear you in every whisper of the wind through the trees. I love you."

"I love you too," Faith said joyfully.

"I do too," Samuel echoed.

And with that they returned to the festivities and the celebrations of the Narnian subjects. The party and the music went on long into the night and there was a joy in the homecoming that only creatures and people that were there and that loved as the family loved would understand.

Late that night, as the moon shown high in the sky and the Narnian stars winked down at them, Faith and Samuel stood on the balcony of the palace as Aslan walked toward them from within. They knew what was to happen. They had seen through Lucy's looking glass that the end had finally come to their mother and that she really had returned to her rightful place in Narnia and now it was time for them to return and to mourn and learn to live in a world without their mother.

"You have found a magic that is deep within everyone and everything. It is the magic of hope and trust. I know that you will find your way back to us one day," Aslan said with a smile.

"But we can never come back to this place while we live, can we?" Samuel asked.

"I am afraid not, dear one, but there is another world waiting for you and we will see each other again," Aslan said with a smile and a mysterious twinkle in his eye.

"Another world like this one?" Faith asked excitedly.

"It will be for you to decide. These worlds appear to the believers to help them learn and understand their path in life. You will find it when you least expect it," Aslan answered with a joyful chuckle, "there will be danger but there will also be great adventure and you will forever be a King and Queen of these worlds."

"There is so much hope in that isn't there?" Faith asked as she looked deep into her brother's eyes.

"Yes," he said the excitement written all over his face.

"But sadly, it is time for you to leave this world," Aslan said as a doorway appeared before them and Susan, Peter, Edmund and Lucy came out of the castle.

Susan ran to her children and took them into her arms once more, "I will miss you forever and ever," she said with a sigh and a tear in her eye.

"And I will miss you forever and ever," Faith said as the tears appeared on her face as well.

"We will be strong, knowing you are here and happy," Samuel said trying to keep his emotions in check but failing as the tears rolled down his cheeks.

"We will be waiting your return," Peter smile as he hugged his niece and nephew.

"I will see you every day that I look into my mirror or catch myself in a pane of glass," Lucy whispered through her tears into Faith ear.

"Our Narnia is yours to discover now," Edmund said as he handed his journal to Samuel, "take it will you and add to it all of your adventures."

"I will," Samuel answered as he took his little sisters hand.

"Never let go of this place, my dear once," Aslan said to them before they stepped through the door.

The cupboard door closed behind them and the silence of the house was all around them. Samuel took his little sister into his arms and began to cry with her as they sat on the floor before the beautiful painting Faith had yet to finish. There in the beautiful meadow, among the grass and the flowers stood the Pevensie children just as they had looked in their youth. There was happiness and a secret in their faces and in the colours that seemed to live and breathe on the canvas.

Samuel placed the journal on the floor beside him and looked deep into Faith's eyes, "that was quite the adventure we just had," he whispered through his tears.

"It will not be our last," Faith whispered back as the door to the bedroom opened.

"You have heard the news already?" their father asked as he knelt down beside his children, tears in his eyes.

"Yes, but she is in a better place now," Faith whispered, "you have to believe that Father."

"I do."