A/N: What an adventure this has been! Edmund's almost died twice, Corin's had his share of adventure, and now Cair Paravel is safe from any madmen in the form of Galmian murderers. *whew* Unfortunately, though, now that it's all wrapped up, this means an end for our beloved tale of miscreants and murderers.

I would like to offer, once more, my most grateful and devoted thanks to all who read and reviewed this story. You are the oxygen in a vaccuum of toxic nothingness to a poor writer's lungs. ;) In other words, I'd never have gotten this far without you. And again, praise be to the Lion of Judah, the Author of Life and the one who gave me the inspiration for this story. May his terror and love bless all who read these words.

So, without further ado, I present 'The End'.

--Epilogue--

The last morning of King Lune's visit I returned to the Apple Orchard one last time. Somehow I had a feeling that I wasn't alone in my reflections there, and I was right; for as soon, as I sat down under the big apple tree, a large apple, crimson as a cherry, landed on my head.

"Hello, Corin," I said without looking up as I rubbed my aching head.

The prince slid down from the tree and landed next to me on the grass. His merry eyes were clouded and troubled. I didn't have to ask what was wrong. But I did anyway.

"What's the matter with you this morning?"

Corin gave me a miserable look, and then looked away.

"Father said we can't stay any longer. We have to return to Anvard."

I shrugged, a sort of excitement filling my mind. Hadn't I spent the past few weeks longing for Corin—and everyone else—to be gone? Now I could finally take a nap in peace.

"What's the matter with going home?" I asked lightly, tousling his fair hair. "Don't you think you've caused enough chaos for one summer?"

Corin's blue eyes ached as they returned to my face, and I wondered that one who could speak only in jests one moment could be so melancholy the next.

"It'll be so boring back home."

As he spoke, a note in his voice made me think of Cair Paravel in the very near future—tomorrow, even. I could hardly remember the time before Corin came to stay at the Cair. Indeed, I could hardly bear to think of how empty the Apple Orchard would seem without his laughing, merry, apple-throwing presence.

"It'll be boring here, too," I replied, suddenly just as melancholy as the prince.

We both waited in silence.

"Don't worry, Corin," I said after a moment. "You can always come back next summer."

I winced and leaned back against the tree, closing my eyes as I realized what I had just invited him to do. Did I really want another summer like this one?

But then I realized that, even though this summer had not been quite as relaxing as I might have wished it to be, I wouldn't have changed anything about it for the world. I had put my detective powers to the test, discovered a murderer, saved my siblings' lives, learned to juggle, and–most importantly—made a friend—and brother—in Corin. After further thought, I finally understood that this summer would not be one to regret, but one that would always echo through my memory as a distant dream of joy.

An apple hit me in the side. I smiled quite suddenly and opened my eyes. Corin stood beyond the tree, arm raised to throw another ripe fruit.

"You can nap all you want when I'm gone," he said, smiling in fun.

"I wasn't napping," I told him. "Not yet. And probably not for the rest of the summer, either, thanks to you."

"Come on, then," he said, bright blue eyes sparkling like Lucy's beloved Eastern Sea. "Are you ready, Ed?"

I sighed, tossed my apple up in the air and then caught it with a flourish.

Miscreants and murderers…what next? Another malicious monarch? A malevolent monster? On the scarier side, perhaps me as a mentor for this mischievous miscreant?

I shuddered.

"After a summer with you, Corin, I'd be ready for anything."

Peter was accompanying Susan and Lucy on a walk through the orchards that afternoon when all three heard a strange noise. Lucy heard it first. Of course. It sounded like a battle…though perhaps not one fought with swords and spears.

They rounded a corner and were met with a very strange sight indeed.

"Is that what I think it is?" Peter asked, staring as if he'd never seen anything to match the sight before his eyes.

"If you're thinking what I'm thinking, than I think it is," Susan quipped, looking just as astounded as her brother.

Lucy sighed and rolled her eyes, picking up an apple and giving her brother and sister an impish grin.

"Well come on. We might as well go and join them!"

None of them got any rest that afternoon, but strangely enough, they were all having too much fun to care.

finis