Chapter Twenty-Five: There's A Place For Us

A/N: This is the last chapter. Wow, I'm going to miss writing this. I've been at it since I was what, fourteen – and I'm nearly seventeen now! This has probably been my biggest project to date on Fanfic, but now, sadly, it must come to an end. Of course, there will still be the one-shots – look out for them, they're mainly about the Pevensies and Rose in England – but I feel the same way I did when I realized after Dawn Treader that the Pevensies weren't coming back: greatly saddened. So before I get too sentimental, here's the last chapter. I hope you've enjoyed it.

The mist had vanished, and when it did, there came the boats filled with lost Narnians. As Gayle and her father, Rhys, dived off the ship towards Gayle's mother, Edmund put one arm around Lucy and the other around Rose as he watched with a content expression on his face.

Suddenly, shouting alerted them to the fact that Eustace was in the water – and he was a boy again. Apparently, it had been him who had set down the seventh sword and that was why Rhindon had glowed blue.

"Look!" cried Reepicheep, and at the edge of the water, Rose could see it – a white expanse that could only be one thing...

"Aslan's country," Caspian muttered. "We must be close."

Edmund was grinning. "Well, we've come this far."

It was quickly established that Rose, Eustace, Caspian, Lucy, Edmund and Reepicheep would be taking a boat over, through the white lilies in the water. Rose ran her fingers through the water, admiring the lovely lilies as she sat in the small boat.

"So what was it like?" Edmund asked of Eustace, "When Aslan changed you back?"

Eustace shrugged. "No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't do it myself. Then he came towards me. It sort of hurt, but it was a good pain – like when you pull a sore from your foot. Being a dragon wasn't all bad. I mean, I think I was a better dragon than I was a boy, really. I'm so sorry for being such a sop."

"It's okay, Eustace," Edmund replied from where he and Caspian were working the oars, "You were a pretty good dragon."

At the front of the boat, Reepicheep turned to face them.

"My friends, we have arrived."

Rose looked up and gasped. It was an amazing sight. The water was curling upwards in one huge wave, but it didn't crash down. It just stayed that way, and she marvelled at how wonderful it looked.

They clambered out at the shoreline and strode towards the wave, amazement written upon all of their faces.

"Aslan," Eustace said suddenly, and the rest of them all whirled around. Indeed, there was the Great Lion himself.

"Welcome, children. You have done well. Very well indeed. You have come far, and now your journey is at its end."

Lucy looked at first Rose, then Edmund.

"Is this your country?" she asked.

"No," replied Aslan, "My country lies beyond."

"Is my father in your country?" Caspian asked quietly.

Aslan turned his golden eyes upon the King of Narnia.

"You can only find that out for yourself, my son. But you should know that if you continue, there is no return."

Caspian moved tentatively forwards, plunging his hand into the ever-curling wave. Rose didn't know whether he would actually do it or not, yet she didn't find herself surprised when he turned away. Caspian's eyes were full of tears, but he did not cry.

"You're not going?" Edmund asked him.

"I can't imagine my father would be very proud that I gave up what he died for," Caspian replied solemnly. "I've spent too long wanting what was taken from me and not what was given. I was given a kingdom. People."

He moved towards Aslan and in that moment, Rose was so proud of him. He looked every inch the King of Narnia.

"I promise to be a better King."

"You already are," mused Aslan. He turned to the others. "Children."

Lucy stepped forward with a smile.

"I think perhaps it's time we went home, actually, Lu."

Lucy turned back to face her brother with a disappointed expression on her face.

"But I thought you loved it here."

"I do," Edmund insisted, "But I love home, and our family as well. They need us."

Lucy bowed her head, but then Reepicheep cleared his throat and moved forward. The others watched him with surprise.

"Your Eminence," he took off his feather and bowed deeply to Aslan, "Ever since I can remember, I have dreamt of seeing your country. I've had many great adventures in this world, but nothing has dampened that yearning. I know I am hardly worthy, but with your permission, I would lay down my sword for the joy of seeing your country with my own eyes."

Aslan looked down upon Reepicheep with something like tenderness in his golden eyes.

"My country was made for noble hearts such as yours, no matter how small their bearers be."

There was a fond farewell from the Pevensies, Eustace, Caspian and Rose. She smiled down at him as he bowed to her.

"Your Highness."

"Oh, Reep," she sighed heavily, "You deserve this. I'm going to miss you a lot. You've been a great friend."

Then he was gone, paddling over the curling wave and disappearing into Aslan's country. They watched him with serious expressions on their faces and somehow Rose felt that things were only going to get sadder when it came to parting ways.

Lucy sounded devastated when she turned back to Aslan. "This is our last time here, isn't it?"

"Yes," Aslan replied, "You have grown up, my dear one. Just like Peter and Susan."

"Will you visit us in our world?" Lucy asked, stepping forward with Rose and Edmund standing behind her.

"I shall be watching you always," Aslan assured her as she reached out to stroke his mane, "In your world, I have another name. You must learn to know me by it. That was the very reason you were brought to Narnia – that by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there."

Lucy was nearly sobbing. "Will we meet again?"

Aslan growled softly. "Yes, dear one. One day."

Then he roared and the waves parted, and Rose could have cried as she realized that this was the end of Narnia for them. Lucy was already sobbing quietly and Edmund looked deeply saddened himself. Rose would miss this place. So many things, both good and bad, had occurred here. She wasn't sure she wanted to let that go – yet she knew that the memories of Narnia would live on, inside her.

"You're the closest thing I have to family," Caspian told them all as they gathered around him. He turned to grin at Eustace. "And that includes you, Eustace."

Lucy and Edmund moved forward to embrace Caspian in turn, and then Rose couldn't contain her tears as she threw herself into his arms and burst out crying. She gripped her by the shoulders and smiled at her.

Then she forced herself to turn away – from Caspian, from Narnia, from all the wonder she'd ever known...and follow Edmund, Eustace and Lucy back into her own world. All four of them turned to glance behind them as the waves closed over Narnia, barring them from that world for the last time.

PARAGRAPH

"Have you heard the news?" Lucy asked Rose, taking the older girl's coat as she entered the Pevensies' house. It had been three months since their return from Narnia, and the war had ended – meaning they had all gone to living the way they had at first. It was good living just across the road from the Pevensies. Rose had missed not being able to see them whenever she wanted.

"What news?" Rose asked as she linked her arm through Lucy's and they headed into the kitchen. Mrs Pevensie and Susan were in there making dinner, and Rose smiled as she moved to embrace the older girl.

"Hello, Su."

"It's good to have you over, Rose," the older girl smiled, tucking a curl behind her ear, "I missed seeing you when we were in America. It's good to be back."

Lucy tugged insistently on Rose's arm and led her upstairs to the room she still shared with Susan. Rose was waiting impatiently for this news of Lucy, which she announced with a huge grin after she closed the door.

"Peter proposed to Alyssa!"

Rose gave a little cry of delight. She definitely hadn't seen that coming. Clearly, Peter had learned his lesson from Narnia as well. The door opened and a smirking Edmund stood in the doorway.

"Calm down," he chastised, moving over to embrace Rose, "I know you're excited to see me and all, but there's no need to be so loud."

He closed the door behind him and they all sat down on the beds. This was their custom: sitting down to discuss Narnia. It was one of the things they did frequently nowadays. Lucy's eyes filled with tears and she quickly wiped them away.

"I miss Narnia," she whispered, "I miss it so much. It's breaking my heart that we can't go back."

Rose moved over to comfort her, putting her arms around the younger girl and holding her tight. She knew how Lucy felt, because she felt exactly the same way herself. Edmund sat across from them, his dark eyes filled with melancholy as he watched his younger sister crying in Rose's arms.

"I'm sorry," sniffed Lucy, wiping at her arms and standing up, "I shouldn't have brought it up. I know you two must miss it just as much. Please excuse me. I think I'd better go and clean up before dinner."

She moved out to the bathroom, closing the door behind her. Edmund crossed the room and sat down beside Rose, looking at her with concern.

"So are you alright?"

Rose nodded. "I'm fine. We need to learn to live in the real world anyway." She changed the subject. "So, what do you think about Peter and Alyssa?"

Edmund grinned. "I hope the idiot knows what he's getting himself into."

Rose was fully aware that her smile was somewhat flirtatious as she turned to glance at Edmund, watching for his reaction.

"Do you think you'll ever get married?"

Edmund just shrugged, but his dark eyes sparkled.

"I guess I'll just have to wait and see."

There was a knock on the door and Susan opened it to glance almost suspiciously at the pair of them.

"Dinner's ready. Come on, Peter's going to be home soon."

She turned and headed back downstairs and Edmund gripped Rose's hands in his own, hoisting her to her feet and kissing her on the lips. Before things could get too carried away, Rose pulled away.

"We'd better get downstairs. I want to tease Peter relentlessly."

She took Edmund by the hand and led him downstairs. They might be back in England now, they might never return to Narnia...but that didn't matter, because they had each other. They didn't need Narnia to make their relationship magical. Rose could only hope that they would last forever.