Author's note: I do not own C.S. Lewis's characters. I hope you enjoy my story! Please read and review! ;)

The Quest for Healing

Chapter One

I walked into the dimly lit room. The heavy curtains were drawn, not letting in the smallest bit of light. No candles were burning, save one on a small table. The room had an ominous and heavy feeling. I suppose it was the feeling of sickness. Lucy, my little sister, was ill. She had lain in her bed for weeks now, tossing and turning, and only waking for small periods of time. What had started out as a harmless cold had turned into a life threatening illness.

I walked to her bedside and stroked her forehead. She stirred, but didn't wake. It was horrible to see her like this.

Lucy, the girl who normally brought happiness and joy into a room, was sick. She would light up a room with her smile, and lift up a person's spirit with her lively, joyous demeanor. She was the sunshine that pierced through the gray clouds when things were going wrong.

But now, she just lay there in her bed, pale and ghostly looking. When she was awake, her eyes were glassy and burned with fever instead of shining and full of joy. How I wished to hear her laughter and see her bright smile again…

Dear sister, how I wish you were well again. Please, please get well, I thought. I bent down, kissed her forehead and left the room.

I walked down the long corridor and turned to enter my room. I looked out the window, looking at the bright blue sea. I sighed and picked up my embroidery, trying to keep my thoughts on happy things instead of sad things like illness.

******************

A knock sounded on my door, and I drew myself out of my thoughts. Setting down my embroidery, I walked to the door. A servant was standing outside.

"The doctor is here, Your Majesty."

"Thank you. Tell him I will be right down," I replied.

The servant gave a curt "Yes, Your Majesty" and hurried back down the hall.

I smoothed my dress and prepared myself for what I was going to hear. Hopefully it would be good news. So far, the doctor had tried many different remedies. Some of them seemed to work for awhile, but then she would just get worse. I was praying that he had found something to cure her.

I walked out of my room and down a hall. I swiftly moved down the stone steps and entered the great hall. The doctor, who was tall and skinny with red hair, was seated in a gold and red velvet chair. He stood up and came over to me.

"Good day, Queen Susan."

"Hello, Doctor," I replied, leading him down yet another hallway into the library, where we could speak privately. I motioned for him to sit down, and I sat down as well.

"Well, let me get straight to the point, my lady," He started, running his hand through his hair.

"Please, you can call me Susan," I said.

"Alright, Susan. Queen Lucy is very ill, as you know. So far we haven't been able to cure her. I have tried and tried many different remedies. I think I have finally found a cure."

"Really?" I beamed. " When can we give it to her?"

"I am afraid that we cannot give it to her just yet. I don't have it. It grows in a very desolate land, and it would be a most treacherous journey to get there. It is an ancient plant that grows only there, and it should heal Lucy."

"Then we should send some soldiers to get it. We have to get it. It's the only way Lucy will live." I replied, staring intently at the doctor.

The doctor sighed. "Soldiers wouldn't be able to pick it. Only the hands of royalty may touch the plant. If any other hand touches it, it will shrivel up and die, not to mention that the person's hand would be severely injured. It only heals when it is alive," the doctor paused; then continued on. "That's why I was hoping High King Peter and King Edmund would be willing to go."

"They left on a journey several weeks ago. There isn't any way to contact them." I said, deeply saddened.

"Hmmm. Well, even if they were here, then we would have no guarantee that it would heal Lucy anyway. I do have one more remedy we can try. That plant is a last resort."

"Please try it," I said. "Anything you can do to help her."

"Of course, Queen Susan," he said; bowing and leaving the room.

I watched him go, and then got up and stared out the window. If only Peter and Edmund hadn't left! I sighed, turned from the window, and went to my room.

******************

It was gloomy, and the clouds above me swirled, letting down a light drizzle. Everyone was dressed in black and looked somber. There was a casket, and people were laying flowers inside. I approached it and looked inside. The sweet face of Lucy was inside! Tears rushed down my face as I sobbed. NO! NO! NO! This couldn't be happening! NO!

"No!!!" I sat up, my face was wet, and I was sweating. I looked around, and found that I was in my room in Cair Paravel. I rushed out of my room and into Lucy's. I walked to her bedside, and she was sleeping peacefully for once. I breathed a sigh of relief, kissed her forehead, and left the room.

I tried to go back to sleep, as it was the middle of the night, but I just couldn't. The nightmare stuck in my mind, and I couldn't stop thinking about Lucy. I wouldn't be able to bear it if Lucy were to…Were to…NO! Don't think that way! Lucy isn't going anywhere! I told myself.

Probably the medicine the doctor had given Lucy earlier was already working, and she would be better within a few days. With this thought on my mind, I got back in bed and fell into a fitful sleep.