I'm off to Disneyland tomorrow! Yay! But anyhow, here is chapter four, and possibly the last chapter unless I get enough feedback. This one is Lucy and it sort of ties up the four pieces. I really do like this one, so let me know what you think! Thanks. (Oh, and this one, while a glimpse into the future, is also, in a way, currently happening. You'll get what I mean.)
Don't own them.
Chapter Four: Lucy
Lucy pressed her nose against the glass wall as she watched the majestic lion pace in front of her. On the other side of the enclosed space she could see his mate, but at that moment she only had eyes for the lion that was not two feet away from her.
"I do wish I could pet him," she murmured softly, turning to look at Peter who was standing beside her. Further away, on a bench, sat the rest of their family, each of them enjoying an ice cream cone. Lucy had finished hers early and had insisted on coming to see the lions. A quick pout had not only convinced her father, but also persuaded Peter to accompany her. Now, he smiled at her, reaching toward his six-year-old sister with a handkerchief.
"Lucy!" He exclaimed, laughing, "Did you eat any of your ice cream, or is it all on your face?"
She ducked away from him, dodging the kerchief. "Did you spit in it?" The little girl wrinkled her nose, glancing toward her mother. "Mum always does, and she thinks I don't know!" She gave him a knowing look, and Peter found himself biting back a laugh. "But I do know, Peter, and it's positively yucky."
Peter laughed, handing his sister the handkerchief. "I didn't do anything to it, Lu. I just though you might fancy cleaning up a bit before Mum and Susan come over here and let you have it."
Lucy rapidly wiped her face, offering the sticky piece of cloth back to her brother. This time, it was his turn to wrinkle his nose. "That's quite all right, Lucy. You keep it. I think I've had enough to do with ice cream for one day."
Lucy flashed a grin at her eldest brother before stowing the sticky kerchief in a pocket and turning back to the lion. "He is wonderful, isn't he Peter?"
Peter nodded, watching the lion eye his younger sister. "Yes, he most certainly is. Although I'm not sure how well he'd take a hug from a little girl. He might eat you for supper, Lucy!"
She giggled, but shook her head, sunlight bouncing off of her golden curls. "He's not a mean lion, Peter! Not at all! Can't you tell by his eyes? He's good."
She could tell Peter was still skeptical, but knew he would come around eventually. He always did. "I would still love meeting a lion like him face to face without some sort of wall in the way." She frowned at the glass barrier, biting her lip. She looked back to the lion's warm, brown eyes and said, "But, Peter, look how smart he looks. Why he looks almost as if he'd like to say something to me!"
Peter laughed indulgently, ruffling her hair like he often did. "Well, let me know what he says, Lu!"
She nodded intently, now certain that he wanted to say something to her. She could just feel it.
The moment was broken as Edmund raced up behind them, shoes slapping loudly on the pavement. "C'mon. Susan wants to go see the beavers, and I'd like to visit the elephants myself."
Lucy frowned. "But we can't go yet, Edmund! I'm still waiting!"
Edmund cocked an amused eyebrow at Peter who merely shrugged. "She's waiting for him to say something."
Edmund looked at the lion for the first time and gave Peter a startled look. "He does look like he wants to say something."
Lucy whirled around, glaring at her brothers, a finger on her lips. "Shhh! I won't be able to hear him!"
Her brothers' voices stopped, and the only sound was that of rustling branches and crickets. The moon shone in the night sky, and strangely familiar constellations littered the dark sky. Lucy sighed in delight, breathing in the crisp, sweet air. Around her, trees swayed and she felt the deepest longing, as if something more was supposed to happen. And then she saw him, further in the forest.
"Aslan!" She cried, racing toward him and burying her face in his mane. He purred, and she realized that she had never felt such a joy before. As they walked through the trees, she saw glimpses of wood gods and goddesses bowing to their creator. Suddenly, she remembered her longing.
"Oh, Aslan, will they ever wake up? They seem so sad and quiet." She was surprised at the passion she felt toward these trees.
He faced her solemnly, and she marveled at how large he seemed. "Someday, little one, when the time is right." Lucy stared wistfully at the dancing trees but nodded in consent. "Now, child," began Aslan, "you must remember me and this world, for a time will come when you alone will be responsible for the fate of all of Narnia."
She shivered in delight, wondering what he could be talking about.
"Can you do this, Dearheart?"
She furrowed her brow, still puzzled, but then nodded, smiling at the great Lion. "I think I can, Aslan."
He purred and smiled, breathing on her. "I will see you someday soon, Lucy Pevensie. Always keep good faith, even in the darkest of times."
The trees faded around her, but Lucy found she was still looking at the same loving face. The lion… Aslan? Gave a nod and moved away from the glass. As he went, she felt as if some of the majesty faded from him.
"He can talk!" she exclaimed excitedly, eyes sparkling as she grinned at her brothers.
Peter gave her an indulgent smile. "What did he tell you, Lucy?"
She looked at him, feeling longing and passion at the same time. "The trees…." Her eyes drifted toward the clump of trees behind her parents and Susan. "Come with me!" She cried happily. "He said they'd wake up!"
Peter couldn't help but laugh at Lucy's excitement and Edmund's laughter as she dragged him along with her. It seemed as if Edmund was always being dragged around by Lucy, yet despite his disgusted looks, Peter knew he loved playing with and teasing their youngest sister.
The two of them raced by their baffled parents, and Peter was amused to find that Edmund seemed to genuinely believe that this lion had spoken to Lucy. The two of them quickly swept a giggling Susan into their whirlwind, Lucy leading them in some sort of dance.
Lucy twirled around under a canopy of trees with Edmund and Susan. She paused briefly, remembering the lion and the dancing trees. Sighing, she hugged the trunk of an old tree, pressing her cheek against the scratchy bark.
"I do wish you'd wake up." The tree waved its branches through the air, and Lucy smiled delightedly as the breeze ruffled her hair. "Someday," she whispered the lion's words.
She heard a shout and opened her eyes to find Peter chasing Edmund. She giggled as her older brothers clashed, fighting each other with sticks. Grinning, she rushed toward them, grabbing a stick of her own.
"Can I try? Please?" Both Peter and Edmund halted, and Lucy pouted up at them. She directed her attention toward Peter as Edmund began to snigger, aware that pouting had never worked on him. Before Peter could object, Susan whisked her away, twirling her under the trees
As the greenery whirled around her, she could have sworn she saw the trees dancing with them. The wind picked up, and the leaves floated through the air, landing gently on the four children below. Susan and Lucy laughed giddily, and Lucy sighed in contentment. Sugar was good for her sister; it made her forget to try and be a grown up. She would ask Mum if they could have dessert tonight. Lucy had missed her playmate.
Now, though, as she played with her brothers and sister under a green canopy, Lucy felt that someday she'd like to live in a forest. After all, she had met…. Him…. in the forest. Warmth spread through her, and she collapsed onto the ground beside her older siblings. Across the way, the lion roared, and the sound seemed to echo across the entire zoo. Around them, the tree branches rustled as if the call of the lion aroused them from a deep sleep. A warm, soothing voice seemed to resonate in her mind, telling her "Someday." She twirled a flower between her fingers and beamed at her siblings.
"Someday," she told them, and though they did not know what she was talking about, they all agreed.
"Someday."
I'm very fond of this chapter and think that it wraps up this quartet rather nicely. If you'd like me to continue, let me know, but otherwise I think that I'm going to be done. I have to get tons of feedback to continue, because I'm rather busy right now. Anyhow, thank you so much for reading and please review!