AN: I would like to thank my awesome editors once more. Arisa, Ariel of Narnia, and Nothing Really Specific. I do appreciate their excellent beta work.

Enjoy this new and last chapter.

Chapter Two

The Verdict

Susan felt her mouth drop in horror. She could feel herself backing away from the Dryad and grabbing a hold of Lucy, who was looking on in astonished horror. Peter meanwhile stood there aghast, his eyes wide circles of disbelief and his mouth hanging open but unable to find words. Susan could tell that she and her siblings were all thinking along the same lines. What kind of world was this, that honestly believed that it was okay for anyone to stone another to death? What kind of madness did they adhere to?

Something told her that the only hope that the Dryad had was with the Lion. The Dwarf and the other Narnians were claiming that it was Aslan who was going to condemn the Dryad for her misconduct. Susan found herself turning to Him, her eyes pleading at him. She hoped that He would see reason and decide otherwise. Sure, the Lion was terrifying and the Beavers had told them all over and over again that He wasn't safe. Yet they had also claimed that He was good.

If He was good, surely He wouldn't agree with this law? Surely He would speak out against it...

Wouldn't He?

She had hoped that the look of disbelief would be plain to see on the Lion's face. Even though she wasn't looking directly at Him, the second eldest Pevensie could tell that Aslan had an unreadable mask on His face. His head flicked occasionally to show that He was indeed paying attention to the scene that unfolding before them. Aside for this attentive look, Susan could find no other trace of emotion. Not of pity or remorse, nor of anger either towards the law or the Dryad.

Susan felt her heart start to sink with the heavy realization that they were going to have to wait.

By now the Narnians who were going to take part in the ritual had picked up their stones. Others were quickly handing out some to the ones who didn't have any. For the ones who were unable to throw stones, such as the four-legged Talking Beasts or the ones with wings, the ones who were capable of throwing them took another to throw on their behalf.

Finally, the Dwarf who seemed to be leading the Narnians grabbed the Dryad and shoved her so that she stood closer to Aslan. The Dwarf grinned in a raving self-righteous manner that Susan found absolutely disturbing.

However she was even more abhorred when a Faun, a child one no less, came up to her and her siblings, and coaxed them all to hold out their hands. Susan, who had been speechless before, now felt as though she had lost her ability to even speak syllables, let alone words as the young Faun shoved a smooth yet surprisingly heavy stone in her hand. Its weight was psychologically making it more heavier for Susan as she thought about what it what it was she was going use it for.

"This isn't right," Lucy whispered to her. "I can't. I don't want to throw it."

The young Faun looked at her reproachfully. "It's the law of the land, your majesty. You must uphold it as a future queen of Narnia."

Susan saw Lucy's face turn ghostly white and her mouth hang open in disbelief. Next to her, Peter looked as though he were a sickly green.

Deep within, Susan wished that he would say something. As the one whom Aslan seemed to be establishing as the head of all Narnia save Himself, she knew Peter could carry some influence. Surely he wouldn't do this, give in to the demands of the Narnians and this wretched custom. Sure he had killed before, but that was because the situation was different. Lives were on the line back when he had earlier slayed Maugrim. This was an entirely different circumstance. What they were about to do wasn't a necessity...it was just a barbaric idea.

The look on Peter's face told her that he had no idea what to do or how he was going to handle it. She could see the desperation in the eyes, similar to the kind that she had seen in those of the Dryad's. Her brother wanted nothing more than to get out of this abhorrent situation. To find a way of escaping what was now currently being demanded of them.

Turning to the Dryad, Susan found that she didn't know what to do either. The eldest Pevensie daughter was heartbroken by the fact that the Dryad's expression was now that of resignation. Her eyes were now looking down at the ground and she was sniffling back what tears had not been shed. Her shoulders were slumped in submission and her hands gripped the soil beneath her as if she were trying to cling to some part of the world before it would all be brutally taken away from her.

In that moment, Susan felt every ounce of pity which had been lost when the Dwarf had announced the Nymph's crime come back. Regardless of how immoral her actions had been, the second eldest Pevensie knew deep down that this was a punishment that the Dryad did not deserve. If she had the power, then she would have ordered that all the Narnians put down their stones. Yet she knew that queen or not, she had no authority to change tradition and custom. To do so be blasphemy, and they would not take too kindly to a ruler who they didn't felt represented their values and ideals.

Searching for some kind of hope Susan turned to the crowd. The ones who were eager to see the Tree-Spirit put to death had firm grips on their rocks and were slightly moving their arms, awaiting the order. Just one word of indication and they would be casting those stones at the Nymph. However she could also see that even amongst the Narnians in the crowd, there were a few people who were reluctant to do what was about to be done. Yet she could also see the look of resignation on their face. The kind that showed that while they felt they couldn't they also felt they had no choice. Custom, no matter how brutal, demanded that rituals be carried out.

She found her eyes once again drawn to the Dwarf as he walked up to Aslan. She noticed that he too was doing his best not to look into Aslan's eyes. Even as he walked in his surety his legs trembled.

"Aslan," he said reverently as he bowed deeply, his nose almost touching the ground at the Lion's paws. "My King, it would be an honor if I were to throw the stone for You on Your behalf." He turned his back on the Lion and raised his arm in the air. Pointing at the Dryad he said, "Just give the order, High King over all High Kings. Pronounce your judgment on this Dryad's wickedness. Give me the word and Your stone will begin the rain of judgment upon her. We will cleanse ourselves of the sin in our company through the obedience to the Law and through that of the stone."

Susan felt tears spring to her eyes. Even still as she stood beside Him she wasn't exactly sure what to think. He was just so terrible and mighty and dangerous. Yet at the heart you could see kindness and tenderness. Which as a result presented all sorts of unpredictability. How can one possibly predict on how such a phenomenon would rule?

She found herself starting to despair as the Lion continued to remain silent. Inwardly she was pleading with all the strength and the resolve that her body, mind and soul could gather. She begged for the Lion to not tell them to follow through on the Law. Her eyes were shifting to the Lion and back to the Dryad. To the Dryad to the Dwarf. From the Dwarf, to the Narnians. From them to Lucy and Peter. Then she found her own eyes looking into herself. If nothing was done to stop this madness, would she be able to follow through if they had to?

Possibly, but not without deep regret.

Finally though, the Lion spoke. His voice carrying out across the crowd. His words resounding from without and within all who were gathered there. "May any here or beyond who have never committed any treachery be the first ones to cast their stones."

Tears sprung to Susan's eyes. Not out of sadness of course, but out of relief. She found herself dropping her stone as if it was the most unpleasant thing she had ever touched. (And in that moment she felt that to be true.) She looked and saw that Peter and Lucy were eagerly dropping their stones. Before long, the crowd of Narnians all began to do so as well. First were the ones who didn't look as though they were comfortable with the idea of casting the stones. Then the ones who had a more stronger resolve, with the ones with some of the strongest being the ones who last let them go. The sounds of stones hitting the dirt as they were released filled the air, accompanied by the astonished whispers among the Narnians.

Glancing at the Dryad, Susan saw that there was both surprise and relief, tears streamed down her face. With her own still rolling down, the second-eldest Pevensie went to the Dryad and got down in the dirt next to her. From the corner of her eye, she could see that Lucy was doing the same. The two Pevensie girls held the Dryad close to them, the fact that they had never even known her not of any of their concern. Nor did it seem to be that of the Nymph's. The three of them all just sat there in the dirt, embracing one another with relief that the course of events swayed in a different outcome. The Narnians watched in awe as the two future queens of Narnia linked their arms beneath those of the Tree-Spirit, and together the two of them found the strength to help her stand up.

"Thank you," whispered the Dryad gratefully and the two girls could feel her tears on their shoulders as she managed to lean forward and kiss them gratefully on the cheeks, smooth leaves touching their faces and necks. "My queens, thank you."

Susan couldn't help but smile. It was Lucy who said, "No need to thank us."

Glancing in the direction of the Lion, Susan could see that He was waiting patiently for them to finish. However, she did notice that his eyes were kind and that they shone with something that surely must have been pride. Turning to the Nymph, Susan whispered kindly, "Do you think you can stand on your own?"

"I'm weak," the Dryad said, "but not because of frailty or mistreatment." With her eyes glancing in the direction of Aslan, the two queens of Narnia took the hint. "Please, my queens, return to His side. I shall be able to fair long enough."

Peter, who had been standing standing there in stunned silence, carefully made his way towards them. "Are you certain, cousin? Perhaps I could take the place of Lucy in holding-

"Fear not my king," she reassured. "I don't know if I will be well, but I will certainly last. Please, it does not do well to keep the Lion waiting in even His most seemingly unlimited patience."

Reluctantly, the three Pevensie children made their back to their original positions alongside the Lion. When they had returned, Susan couldn't help but glance in the direction of the Dwarf. Out of any of the Narnians that were gathered, she could see that he was the only one who still held his stones. For the first time that Susan had ever seen, this Dwarf was the one who was speechless. A smug expression appeared on her face despite her attempts at keeping it from showing. It felt nice to see the Dwarf in such a distraught state.

Finally the Dwarf must have worked up some courage because he said, "I don't understand. "Does not the law-"

Aslan interrupted him. "Your laws were written by those who believed that they knew my Father. They were not written by Him or I."

"But Sire-"

"Go now Kritikern, Son of Earth. And instead of condemning others for their sins, first look to cleanse those that are your own."

Kritikern stood there for a few moments with his arm still raised to throw the stone. Then finally he dropped it. Bowing low to the ground to Aslan, he then turned away and began to patter off. He ran past the Dryad as if she were some kind of disease, and then began passing his way through the crowd. Susan watched as he went, pleased by the fact that Aslan had sent the wretched the Dwarf away.

Then Susan felt someone tugging on the sleeve of her dress. She looked down to see that it was Lucy doing so, and also saw that she pointing ahead of them.

Susan turned and saw that Aslan was making His way towards the Dryad. The Nymph, who had previously been crying in relief at being spared, suddenly found herself absolutely terrified again. Her face was turning into a paler shade of green than it had ever been. She was now curtsying to the lion as low as she could, until she finally decide that it wasn't enough, so instead she got on her hands and knees and lowered her forehead on the ground before the Lion's paws, kissing them gratefully. It took all she could to stutter out the words, "H-H-High King of all H-H-High Kings. I thank you. But please, don't look on me. I know that I have done terrible things against your Father's laws."

"Daughter of the Forest, what is your name?" Aslan kindly spoke to her.

The Dryad, dumbfounded at first was unable to speak. Finally she found her voice and said, "Daphnene, your majesty."

"Well, Daphnene, I don't condemn you."

"But Aslan, I am most surely a wretched child-"

Those who had chosen to remain then all watched as the Lion opened His mouth. At first terror washed through them all, and Susan was aghast After all that had happened, was the Lion choosing now to extract vengeance? She squeezed her eyes shut and turned away, afraid of the sight. She had caught a glimpse of the Lion's mouth. It was no less terrible than the rest of Him.

"Susan," Lucy whispered. "Look."

Despite her desire not to, Susan opened her eyes. Once again, she could feel shock overwhelm her at what she was seeing. However the surprise was that of relief. It washed through her and the rest of those gathered as in those moments, she watched as Aslan- instead of latching his mouth on her- breathed a puff of breath. Within seconds the breath seemed to wash upon Daphnene, everyone could notice an immediate change come upon her. All of a sudden her pale leaves became fuller. Not just to the state at which they had been originally, but somehow much more so. There seemed to be a fresher look to the Tree Spirit's eyes and in the green of her leaves. Not just to the ones which made up her face and body, but those that made up her entire being. Susan had thought that she had looked like a goddess before. If anyone had doubted this claim, the bright look in the Nymph's eyes and the freshness of her leaves would have been the only testimony needed to prove the claim.

What Aslan did next though was the least expected of all. The Narnians watched aghast (though Susan couldn't help but smile) as the Lion leaned forward and opened His mouth and stuck out his pink tongue. They watched as He gave the Dryad a lion's kiss on her forehead. All the Wood Nymph could do afterward was sit there, her eyes revealing her utter shock and her mouth rendered unable to say a single word.

"I do not condemn you, my Daughter," Aslan said warmly to her. "Go forth, and do no more wrong."

Daphnene nodded enthusiastically. Within a few split seconds, she was off of her knees and onto her feet. She gathered herself up and as she slowly reverted to a form of leaves flowing in the wind, she said, "I won't, Aslan. I swear that I won't."

With that, she completely reverted to a scattering of leaves on an invisible wind, and she began making her way back across the camp.

The rest of the Narnians who had remained began to return to whatever it was they were doing before the incident. Once the crowd had cleared, Aslan turned to Susan and her siblings. "You may return to finishing your meal, children."

Peter and Lucy began making their ways back to the picnic blanket, Susan following.

"Susan," the Lion said. "If you would, please remain. I wish to talk with you alone."

Susan's eyes widened. What was it that the Lion could possibly want with her? Had she done something wrong?

She looked back to her siblings. They had paused when they had heard Aslan request that she remain. Peter looked at her with raised eyebrows, and Lucy looked up at her with a questioning glance. All Susan could do was just wave them on. She mouthed that she would join them at their picnic blanket in a few minutes.

When she was standing beside Aslan, Susan waited for Him to speak. She felt herself tremble, but she managed to work up enough nerve to at least look at Him. Not directly of course, but so that the Lion knew that He had her attention.

"Daughter of Eve," Aslan said to her after a few moments pause, "you were reluctant to cast a stone at the Dryad. True or not?"

"Yes Aslan, it is true," Susan confirmed, bowing her head. "I didn't want to throw a stone at her. Nor did I want it to be done."

"Why did you feel that way?"

Susan glanced up at the Lion to the best of her ability. "Aslan, it was because I don't believe that any one deserves to die in such a barbaric manner, least of all someone like Daphnene."

"You don't believe that she should have been put to death because of what she had done," Aslan said.

"Yes, sir."

"You weren't willing to judge whether she was guilty enough to die or not. Yet you were so eager to judge her and her story, though you didn't (and still don't) know anything about it."

Susan opened her mouth to deny it, but Aslan said firmly to her, "Did you or did you not, in your heart, believe that she was a disgrace to herself and to her people for what she had done?"

Realizing that she wouldn't be able to deny it, Susan looked down at the ground. She could feel shame washing over her. "Yes, Aslan. I did feel that way when I first discovered what it was that she did."

"From the manner in which you speak, you are ashamed." It wasn't a question but a statement.

"Yes, Aslan," Susan admitted. "I may not have wanted her to die, but I was still willingly thinking that I was eager to condemn her for doing what she did." She looked down at her feet.

"What she did was wrong, was it not?"

Susan nodded. "Well, yes of course. It wasn't the most moral thing. But I know now that that doesn't change the facts. I really have no more room to judge anyone. It's not my place to condemn, whether it be to death or to a life of seclusion." An analogy that she could use to explain her thinking suddenly sprung to mind. "I know that many here are going to think that Edmund deserves to be severely punished. Law demands that it be carried out. My brother has said and done terrible things, to be sure. But nothing so bad that he deserves such harsh treatment. It's an honest mistake that any one of us in his position could have made. Just because someone makes a mistake doesn't mean that they should have to live with the consequences forever, if at all."

"Your words are as wise as they are gentle," the Lion said to her, his voice contained what must have been pride.

"Aslan, is there ever a time where we may be allowed to judge such matters?" asked Susan.

"It is neither yours or anyone else's concern to judge whether they have the right to die or to be alone, Daughter of Eve."

Nodding, Susan then asked, "Aslan, we all know that you are High King over all others. It's something that we have heard over and over in this world. You had every right to condemn that Dryad to her death. She broke the laws of Narnia, more than once from what I gather. Sure they may have been horrid laws, but they were laws all the same. Why didn't you have it demanded that she be killed?"

"Susan, do you believe that death is glorious?"

Crinkling her nose, Susan said, "No, I don't believe that."

Aslan looked at her. "Neither do I. When my Father sent me out into the darkness, I sang the world into being. I was the one who sang Helios into the heavens and told him to begin his race across the expanse. I created the stars and all celestial bodies. I separated the waters from the skies. I brought the land forth and raised the mountains and lowered the valleys. I filled the land and the skies and the waters with all life of all sorts. It was I who sorted out the Talking from the regular Beasts. I sang the Dwarfs from their mountains and the Marsh-wiggles from their swamps. It was I who brought the Centaurs, the Fauns and the Satyrs and all other creatures from the dust of the world. I who called the Mermaids and others aquatic creatures from the waters. I gave the Trees the ability to walk and declared the waters divine. I'm the one who called gods into being and tasked them with serving as my lords over particular elements. It was I who first summoned the first Children of Adam here, even though they all thought that they had come here by accident. It was I who instated the law that they were the ones who must rule Narnia, for it was they who brought wickedness to this world in the days they had awoke. Since then, I have seen all sorts of things. I've seen stars die, mountains crumble to dust, and nations rise and fall. I've seen kings and queens come and go. Waters dry and lands crack and disease spread. There is no denying the fact that plenty of dark things have been done in this world.

"Yet I've also seen some of the most awe-inspiring things. I've seen great nations fall and then rise again. I've watched kings and queens who upheld their oaths to their kingdoms even until death. I've witnessed Stars be born and Beasts do great and wonderful deeds. Even now, as you and I are standing here, I see great potential. In you, dear Susan, as the High Queen of Narnia. In your brother Peter as High King. In Lucy, who will look to the East. Your brother Edmund as well, I know that he too can and will do great and wonderful things. Should he and Peter be both instated as kings of Narnia, they will do many wonderful things for this country and the entire world."

"That's why I don't like death either, Susan. You and I both know and comprehend unfortunately that war is sometimes necessary. Yet it's something that we're not eager for, and something I hope you will never be excited to incite. It is something that I hope you will advise your brothers against in circumstances which it can be avoided. For I created all the peoples and creatures of Narnia in My image, in My essence. I created them with natural rights and freedoms. Any practice that defies any of these makes me both angry and distraught, for they are ruining some of the most sacred gifts given to them.

"However I also know each and all of their stories. I listen to their cries of despair as well as their praises. I hear the voice of the slave as much as I do that of the one who is free. I dispense justice and mercy as I see fit. I keep records of all who have lived, do live, and are sure to come. I've seen some of the most wretched people find a means of being able to redeem themselves. I've also seen people whom thought that they were absolutely brilliant actually be some of the most toxic individuals that one could ever meet. I know the amount of tears they shed and how often they laugh. I know what they will all choose even as their stories are unfolding before them. That includes the Dryad's, the Dwarf's, and even yours.

"I may have the right to be able to condemn someone to such misery. But I will not do so unless that individual had done everything they could offer and never without a heavy heart."

Susan nodded in understanding. "Aslan?" she asked.

"Yes, Daughter of Eve?"

"You said you know our stories...do you know mine?"

"Yes."

Susan paused for a few moments as she looked for a way to carefully explain her thoughts. "What happens to us, Aslan? Do we defeat the Witch? Do we rule as kings and queens? What about back home? Do we go back and find that years have passed? Will the war ever end? Who comes out as the winner? Will Mother be alright? And Father, is he safe, wherever he may be? Where will any of us be in the future? Do we even have one?"

Gently Aslan responded, "Susan, your journey and those of all you love, know, and despise are left up to two main forces. The Deep Magic, which governs all our destinies (including yours and mine) is one of them. However, your own choices must be taken into account. I know your story and I know how the Deep Magic will dictate, but I'm not the one who writes your story. You too have a say in your own individual decisions you make in every moment of every minute of every hour; of every day of every month of every year of your life. If you knew what were going to happen, you would not be driven to take responsibility for your actions, whether right or wrong. You won't make your own choices on how to live your life, therefore not learning and growing. That is something I won't take away from any soul. To be able to live and learn, that is one of the greatest gifts to ever have in a lifetime."

"I'm not sure if I understand, Aslan."

"Comprehension will come as you learn and grow, Susan Pevensie," Aslan smiled warmly. "Patience, and all things will be revealed as they choose to be."

Then before Susan realized it, he stepped forward and opened his mouth. She felt terror flow through her when she saw His gaping mouth. But she was immensely relieved when he instead licked her on her forehead.

"Susan Pevensie," the Lion said warmly, "I want you to always remember something."

"Yes, Aslan?"

"In all that you do, always try to remember to be kind and loving and tender and good. A gentle heart is just as important as one that is magnificent or just or valiant. A heart that isn't gentle, that doesn't know compassion, is a hand that doesn't know how to give. Wherever your life may take you, always remember to treat all things with respect and dignity, even your inferiors and enemies. Treat well those whom you may love, and those whom you may not. Go into the world and show mercy. Never be eager to judge. Go and teach others who want to learn. Be an inspiration so that those who don't will want to learn and do the same.

"Remember that there is only one that has the right to condemn...and that it's only He who only knows an individual's entire story. It will be Him who makes the final decisions, and no one else."

Nodding, Susan said, "Aslan, I will remember. I will never forget."

Aslan then leaned forward and Susan felt a sudden warmth spread through her as He breathed upon her. She felt differently. A part of her felt as though she was as radiant as the sun. She felt uplifted as well, as if she were flying on the back of an eagles' wings. She couldn't help but ponder if this was how the Wood Nymph felt...

Aslan smiled warmly at her, "Go now, my Daughter, and join your siblings. Remember to keep these words in your heart and mind always."

"I will, Aslan," Susan said gratefully.

When Susan later went to return to her siblings, the Great Lion turned towards the horizon. Evening was now starting to pass as Helios began his descent towards the west. Upon the moment that the future queen of Narnia left him, the Lion felt a sense of grief. His head hung down as he pondered over it.

Gazing at the sun, the Lion said, "They will say that the Gentle Queen did little, but they don't even truly know her. Like her siblings, her impact was meant to be carried in two worlds. That effect was made to be more important in the one than the other. She will go through many trials. She will doubt and she will have hope. There will be a lack of belief, and then it will be rediscovered. She will be lost, but then she will be found.

"High Queen Susan shall be like the radiant southern sun. She will rise, she will reign, and then she will slowly begin to decline until there is nothing left but darkness. And darkness will remain. Until finally her time will come again, and she will rise again. And she will do it all through her own choices. Some help along the way, but by her choices nonetheless.

"Just like Daphnene, Queen Susan has her own story to experience."

"Do not judge so that you may not be judged." -Mark 7:1

"When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, 'Let anyone among you who is not without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.'" -John 8:7

"She said, 'No one sir.' And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.'"- John 8:11

AN: Thanks to all of you readers. It means a lot knowing that people find my work such a joy. :)

If you would like to read more works like this, I would recommend checking out my other Narnia fanfics, most particularly The Commission. The other two Narnia stories I have written are set in the same universe. All future Narnia fanfics written will be related in some form or another to this universe.