Part Fifteen: Home

There were feasts and celebrations following Caspian's recovery. Eve hadn't stopped smiling and nor had Emma for the last few days. Even Iva had been smiling more than usual. It was infectious. As the days went on though, Emma began to feel a stab of sadness. She missed home she realized. But she didn't want to leave Narnia. The knowledge that her departure was imminent saddened her just as much. Iva seemed to realize that they would be heading home soon too.

"We're leaving soon, aren't we?" she asked Emma bluntly one evening.

"Yes, I think so."

Iva was silent for a moment. "Well, I guess we had to go home some time. But still, I will miss it here. I've grown to like it."

Emma smiled and put an arm around Iva. "I know."

Iva smiled. "I've changed," she stated.

"I noticed."

Iva shoved her playfully. "For the better, I think. I don't feel so angry all the time. And I feel like I have a place."

"And a friend," Emma added seriously.

"Thank you."

They turned as Eve and Caspian approached them. "It's time," Eve said to Emma and Iva.

"How do we get back?" Emma asked.

Eve smiled. "Back the same way you came." She motioned for them to follow her. They found four horses ready to ride in the courtyard. "Come with me," Eve said, mounting her white horse.

Emma climbed into the saddle, patting Windflower's neck. Iva clambered onto Kaspar's back. Rosemary hopped up to them, jumping up in front of Emma.

"I wanted to come to say goodbye," she said, flopping her ears about.

"I'd like that." Emma smiled down at the hare.

They rode into the forest a ways until Eve pulled up, dismounting and leading them by foot to a small section of ruins. The stones lay scattered across the ground, but one wall stood intact.

"I found it when I was riding," she said, motioning toward the wall. "It's a way home."

Emma frowned, looking at the wall. "How-?"

"Look!" Iva exclaimed. "That's not the forest through that crack in the wall."

Sure enough, as Emma looked closer, she could see that the scenery through the crack in the wall was not the forest at all but the grounds to Saint Finbar.

"It's our school," she said. She dismounted Windflower, hugging the horse around the neck. "Thank you for coming with me," she said. Windflower nudged her affectionately.

"We'll meet again," the horse told her. Emma stroked Rosemary's ears.

"I hope so," she said. She turned to Eve who smiled and came forward to hug her.

"Thank you for everything, Emma. You're brave and full of determination. I feel sure we'll see each other again." Emma nodded, hugging the girl back.

She turned to the king, feeling shy. He smiled at her. "I owe you my life." He took her hand and squeezed it. "Thank you."

Iva said her goodbyes, receiving a hug from Eve. Then it was time to go. Iva took Emma's hand and they walked toward the wall. Emma looked back as they reached it.

"I'll be back," she said, feeling sure of it. Then they walked through the crack in the wall.

…

The bell indicating that lunch hour was over rang somewhere across the vast campus. Emma and Iva stood on the other side of the wall. Simultaneously, the girls looked back at the wall. Emma walked over to it, but on the other side she could see the same scenery that should have been there. Narnia was gone.

"Hey, don't worry, we'll be back," Iva told her, squeezing her hand.

Emma turned back to her and smiled. "I know."

The girls started the trek back to the school, walking side by side, their thoughts far away in another land where animals could talk.

The End

Thank you so much for reading! I know this one is a lot shorter than the others and I took flipping forever to finish it, but I promise the fourth story in my series will be longer, more action-packed, and will have a new romantic plot with a very special new character. Emma will be returning as well.