Epilogue

I should have felt angry. Sad. Possibly even disappointed. Never would I have dreamed that I would feel relieved, let alone happy. I certainly imagined for myself a different future, one where I would have a beautiful wife, and a child to come home to, where we would live in a large white house, with a picket fence and a dog out front. There would be a dog, and maybe even a cat, that would roam the yard, playing with our son or daughter.

Wishful thinking, I suppose.

Who knew I would be in a different world, a land unheard of, serving as a Knight of the Kingsguard and living in a beautiful palace called Cair Paravel? I certainly didn't.

It has been five years since that fateful night where I followed a woman through a portal to another land. Five years to the day when I gave up my homeland on a whim. Then again, they tell me that time here runs differently than time back there. And considering a year in England could be thirteen hundred years in Narnia, I doubt those I knew back then are alive. There wasn't much I could do, considering I had supposedly died in action.

The day Aslan told the Pevensies that they were to stay was a day of rejoicing. A grand ball was held in the enormous hall, where all Narnians and Calormens were invited to celebrate the return, and permanent stay, of the Kings and Queens of Old. Lords and ladies mingled with the common Telmarines, and everyone could see the happiness shining in their royal Kings and Queens.

I had left the ballroom to take a breather in the fresh air. It was here that Aslan came to me. He asked me if I wished to stay, or if I wanted to go back to England. Without really thinking, I said, if he permits it, I would like to stay. To this day, I know not what made me say those words.

The following weeks after the ball hosted by King Caspian, would have been chaos if Susan hadn't taken the reins. Many who had sided with Fajad were to be sentenced in a fair trial. There were those who said they should be put to death, but due to Edmund and Susan's insistence, they were merely exiled to the desert waste of Calormen, where we learned later on that they had perished due to lack of food and water. They had a different fate in mind for Robert, however. They knew, given his fragile mind and obsession with Susan that he shouldn't be allowed anywhere near the Royals. Peter and Caspian decreed that he should spend the rest of his days as a donkey, much like a past suitor of Susan's had. Despite Susan's initial reluctance, she finally agreed to their wishes. With Aslan's help, Robert was turned into a donkey and sent to the stables where he currently resides.

As the months turned into years, I let go of my love for Susan. She was far too beautiful, too kind, too wise to be with someone like me. Besides, I knew she was in good, strong hands. Even today, I can see the love burning in Caspian's eyes as he looks at her. A year after they had returned, Caspian had proposed to Susan. They had a joint wedding with Peter and the Lady Sabella, who are currently expecting their first child, due to be born next month.

Now that the last enemy of Narnia has been defeated, and peace has been restored to the land, Peter and Susan have set about finding suitable spouses for their younger sisters. Lucy is now nearing 17, and has been growing more beautiful each day, much like Susan did they tell me. Edmund insists he does not need to marry, but I see him eyeing one of the ladies of the court quite frequently. I'm fairly certain Susan has noticed it, since she keeps nudging him and giving him these sly looks.

In short, peace and prosperity have taken over as the Diamond Age of Narnia has finally begun.

"Eric! Eric!" I've been standing on one of the balconies overlooking the sea when I hear my name being called. I turn to see Lucy running towards me, a wide smile on her young pretty face.

"What is it?"

"Caspian and Susan want to speak to all of us at once. But I have a fairly strong idea of what it may be." She grabbed my hand and started dragging me down the corridor.

"Lucy, I can walk fine on my own. There's no need to drag me," I said, a hint of amusement in my voice.

She let go and smiled sheepishly at me. "Sorry."

Chuckling at her enthusiasm, I followed the young queen to Susan's private audience chamber. Upon entering the room, I still cannot help but be blinded by the love Caspian and his queen shared. And today, it seems more pronounced, as if they were surrounded by a halo of light. Looking around the room, I see Reepicheep, Trumpkin, also known as DLF, and Trufflehunter are present as well. All close friends to the family, known for their bravery and loyalty.

"Susan and I have some very important news to tell you. We've been waiting a long time for this to happen, and we want to share it with our closest family and friends before we announce it to the public," Caspian said.

Susan looked at each and every one of us present in the room, smiling as her eyes met ours.

"Dear friends, I am pregnant."

At first there's silence as we register this bit of news. And then the next thing I hear is a scream as I see something fly towards the dais.

"I knew it! I knew it!" Lucy cried.

Everyone was congregating around the happy beaming couple. Edmund was patting Caspian on the back while Peter hugged Susan as she laughed at Lucy's exclamations that she's going to host the baby shower. Sabella had a broad grin on her face as she looked on the scene, amused at Lucy's grandeur ideas.

I made my way over to Caspian and shook his hand. "Congratulations, mate!" I told him.

"Thank you Eric. You can't imagine the joy Susan and I feel at this announcement."

"I can only begin to comprehend that," I replied with a smile.

"Also, Eric, there's something else."

A sense of foreboding came upon me. Caspian seemed concerned all of a sudden. A thousand ideas ran through my head, but what came out next was not one of those ideas.

"Susan and I want you to be the godfather."

My jaw dropped.

"Such an honor," I said quietly.

"Before you say anything, there are reasons why we chose you. First, it's because should anything ever happen to Peter and Edmund while in battle, or in a joust, we would be at a loss as to who would guard our child. Second, Susan insisted. I don't know if you still feel anything for her, Eric, but I know she has a special place in her heart for you. You had bowed out so gracefully when she rejected you, and I think she holds you in the highest esteem because of that. Given her past with Rabadash and her other suitors during The Golden Age, I think she was surprised at your reaction. She had expected you to hold on, if only for a little while. Third, I don't think I could thank you enough for keeping Susan safe. No, don't argue. Regardless of your feelings at the time, you didn't let emotion get in the way of protecting her, like Robert did. But anyway, what do you say?"

"I would be delighted to be the godfather to the child. Are you certain Peter and Edmund don't mind?"

"They know Susan's grateful towards you, and being the wise and just kings I know them to be, they'll accept our decision with the utmost respect."

"Very well, then. I can't begin to express my gratitude at this honor – "

"Oh, Eric, being the gentlemen I know you to be and the man Susan knows you to be, is just enough. Now, enough bowing and thanking me. Go enjoy Lucy's enthusiasm."

I laugh, and as I make my way over towards Edmund and Lucy, I catch Susan's eye. I nod and smile, knowing only she would understand the gesture. She does, and mouths "thank you," to me. Edmund looks quizzically at me, but I just shake my head and smile. He'll find out soon enough.

9 Months Later

King Caspian, ruler of Telmar and King Consort to Queen Susan the Gentle, Queen of Narnia, have given birth to a girl, a princess called Eleanor. The kingdoms of Narnia and Telmar, rejoicing in their king and queen's happiness, are hosting a ball in the meadow, before the How, where the little princess shall be introduced to the public.

Her christening was attended by everyone, and the Great Lion himself performed the baptism. The princess' godparents are Sir Eric the Loyal, Captain of the Kingsguard, and Queen Lucy the Valiant, Queen of Narnia, who stood next to the royal parents on the dais, watching as Aslan blessed the child.

It is indeed, a new age for Narnia.

Fin.

Okay, just to clarify some things:

Princess Aayliah of Calormen ended up marrying a common Telmarine, with the blessing of her brother, the Tisroc, may he live forever.

Robert stayed a donkey till the end of his days, due to his refusal to accept Susan's happiness.

Peter and Sabella had a boy, whom they named Edward in honor of Edmund.

And I think that's it. I couldn't find a way to put all that information in, but I didn't want to leave any ends open.

I can't believe it's been THREE years to the day that I've been working on it. Yes, because I posted the first chapter on November 12, 2009. I didn't really plan it this way, trust me. It just kind of fell into place.

But anyway, I want to thank ALL my reviewers and story subscribers. But special thanks goes to mae-e for helping me come out of my little hovel when I had nowhere to go. Without you all, I would have never had the motivation to finish this! So thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

On that note, I bid you all farewell. 3

-alcatluvr13