Chapter 12 – Good for Narnia
Disclaimer: I own the Eragon calendar that one of my besties gave me for Christmas!! …sadly, I don't own Narnia…
Author's Note: Yes, it was a bit late… But not too bad, right? Blame it on school and my boyfriend and my friends who are always taking up all my time. (Ha, actually I was just being lazzzy.) This chapter is going to be a bit different than usual… I hope you like it! ;)
-----
Narnia – February, Year 1012
-During the year in which Peter was 25, Susan was 24, Edmund was 22, and Lucy was 20.
-----
It was February the fourteenth, Valentine's Day, and also Susan's birthday. Edmund, who had always been a bit party-shy, had taken a bit of a break from the celebration and was quietly sitting at the back of the room, watching the goings-on.
As he scanned the dance floor, his eyes paused on his younger sister Lucy. She was quite a sight in her sparkling blue evening gown, her long golden hair pilled up high on her head in some up-do that Susan had created. She was dancing with Tumnus the Faun, a bright smile on her face and her cheeks slightly pink from exertion.
She really has grown up, Edmund thought with a smile. Lucy's not just my little kid sister anymore.
He watched her spin around the dance floor for a few minutes, and noticed, with slight displeasure, that Lucy had almost just as many men asking her to dance as Susan did. He thought that he would have to have a talk with Lucy about making sure she cleared her suitors with Peter and himself before she courted him, but then changed his mind. She was an adult now; she was old enough to decide who was right for her and who wasn't.
Mr. and Mrs. Beaver were at the party, and as Lucy stopped dancing to get a glass of punch, Mrs. Beaver joined her at the refreshment stand and in moments they were engaged in conversation. Watching the two of them, Edmund realized how good Lucy was for Narnia.
She always had Narnia's citizens in mind, and she always did what was right for them. She was kind and caring towards all the Talking Beasts, but she definitely wasn't a push-over or a softie – she was one of the most valiant out on the battlefield, when she was needed.
Queen Lucy the Valiant, his sister. Watching Lucy in the middle of the celebrations made Edmund swell with pride. How proud he was to have Lucy for a sister.
-----
Talking with Mrs. Beaver, Lucy saw her brother approach.
"My dear Mrs. Beaver, you wouldn't mind if I stole my sister away for a dance, would you?" Peter asked the Beaver with a smile.
"Of course not," Mrs. Beaver said amiably, and waddled off to find her husband.
Lucy had always loved dancing with her eldest brother, ever since she was a little girl. He was so much bigger than her, and so careful with each of his steps, and he never stepped on her toes like Edmund did – not that she minded that much.
Spinning around the dance floor with Peter, Lucy began to think of all that her older brother had done for Narnia. Between the battles and the Giants, the decisions and the planning, her brother always seemed to have everything covered – and magnificently, at that. She knew that through all the years she was growing up in Narnia, Peter had always tried to be her father figure, as well as a brother – and she loved him for it. With Peter, Lucy felt safe – and she felt that Narnia was safe as well.
-----
Later during the night, Peter was able to find a time to dance with Susan. It was difficult, given how many men she had flocking after her, but it proved to be possible.
"Have you had fun tonight, Peter?" Susan asked.
"Surprisingly, yes," Peter replied. And he was surprised – usually Susan's stuffy parties weren't quite for him.
"Oh, me too!" Susan said. It was times like these that Peter could see Susan at her best, in her element. It was amazing to watch the way his sister treated other people – always with the utmost patience, and she was always so kind and generous.
Gentle, Peter realized. That was why the people of Narnia described his sister in such a way. He had never quite understood the title, because he had always associated the world 'gentle' with someone who was calm, mild, and soothing. And while his sister could be these things, she could also have quite a temper.
But now he realized that this was not what 'gentle' was about. 'Gentle' was about being kind, and loving, and caring, and patient.
And that was what Susan was.
-----
After finishing her dance with Peter, Susan realized that she hadn't seen her younger brother around lately.
She scanned the room for Edmund, and after a minute found him sitting in the back corner.
He wasn't exactly sulking; he didn't look as if he was in a bad mood. He didn't even look bored. Actually, he looked rather observant.
"You okay, Ed?" Susan asked him, taking a seat next to her brother.
"Yes… I was watching Lucy. She really is an amazing little sister, isn't she, Su?"
Smiling, Susan replied, "Yes she is, Ed."
As she began to talk with her brother, Susan thought about something that she had known for a long time. While her brother was definitely Just, as he had proved many times over, he was also caring. He had changed so much from the bad tempered, petulant little boy that she had known back in England, and it was definitely for the better.
Edmund was good for Narnia, Susan knew.
They all were.
-----
Author's Note: I got this idea from Just a Little Bit Dramatic ages ago, and decided to save it until closer to the end of the story. So this chapter is dedicated to her. ;)
Much thanks to all of the reviewers for sticking with me all this time, and to my anonymous reviewers of Chapter 11: Sunshine (lovveed your idea!!), Lady Rosebud, and Alambil.