Wow, last chapter already? I can't believe it!

Chapter Twenty-Five

I moved in and out of consciousness for who knows how long. Faces swam in front of me, feeling my forehead, peering over me. Everything was blurred and I couldn't make sense of what they were saying to me. What did they want? Who were they? And then back into the void of unconsciousness.

But finally I came back awake for good. I woke with a start in the middle of the night, drenched in sweat and pain. Immediately, people rushed to my side. There was Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, Tumnus, several nymphs, and a few other Animals. Mrs. Beaver asked me, "How are you feeling dear? Has the fever broken?" I blinked rapidly, pushing the sheets off of me. "How long has it been?" I asked hoarsely. "Four days," Tumnus answered. "We won." I lay back against my pillow, nodding. I felt the bandage around my torso. "My wound?" I whispered. Shifty glances. "It's fine now, dear. Don't you worry. It'll be healed up soon." I looked around the room, searching their faces for what they weren't telling me. Mrs. Beaver asked the all of the others except her husband and the faun to leave. "What are you keeping from me?" I asked hoarsely. She glanced around nervously and picked at her fur. "You were wounded through the back, right through your ribs. The blade barely missed your lung. There was a bit of internal damage and a lot of bleeding. You were fading fast, and we had to find some way to heal you. And then Anduril stepped forward and offered his horn. You know the horns of unicorns can heal almost anything, so…" I paled. "Andy gave his horn…for me?" They nodded. "But…" Tumnus interjected. "He's perfectly fine. It doesn't harm his health at all." Mrs. Beaver agreed. "Now, dear, you musn't worry. You've got to get better as quick as possible! We'll get you some soup, and then you need to get some rest."

I had a meal, and then they left the room. I thought about what my ever-faithful unicorn had done for me. I cried. Because of the pain, because of the loss of my kings and queens, because of my new responsibility, and because of the dedication and love of my mount.

When I slept, I dreamt of Aslan. The painting I had done of the Great Lion on my wall came to life, and he spoke to me. When I woke again, I knew what I was going to do when I was better.

It took me another week to heal enough to move about and bathe and go outside. I was still a bit weak and sore, but my wound had healed into a scar in the shape of a jagged cross, raised like the one on my arm. I turned and looked over my shoulder to see it in the mirror. I visited Anduril for the first time since the battle in the stables.

He greeted me with an eager and relieved whinny. Tears rolled down my cheeks when I saw him. Where his noble, shining horn had been, there was just a small bony bump on his poll. I rubbed it as I leaned into him, saying how sorry I was. He butted me and shook his head.

That night I told Tumnus and the Beavers and Fireheart what I was going to do. "I had a dream about Aslan. I'm going to the Western Woods." I took another breath. "I might not come back. Aslan told me to meet him in the woods by the Lamp Post." They were quiet for a moment. Mr. Beaver spoke first. "But…what are we going to do? There's no one to rule Narnia if you leave." I was silent now. I had agonized over this. There were no heirs to the throne and no successors if I stepped down. "If I don't come back within two days, Fireheart should rule Narnia. Tumnus, you, and Mrs. Beaver will be his advisors. It will be up to you as to who is the next ruler."

I packed my sword and two spare tunics, along with two woolen blankets, a short dress, and some food for the journey. I also took a small bundle of golden Narnian coins, just in case. Before I left, I hugged all of my friends goodbye. They all hoped I would come back, but I wasn't so sure.

It took me and Anduril a day and a half of hard riding to reach the Western Woods. We went as the crow flies, straight across all terrains, crossing several rivers. I tried to take in every single detail, every different shade and hue of a color, and commit it all to memory.

We reached the Lamp Post in the late afternoon. The shadows were growing longer and sunlight danced through the autumn leaves. I ran my hand along the cool black metal post, now covered in green ivy. Then I noticed the air grow sweeter smelling, like a fresh breath of spring, and I turned to see Aslan. He was even bigger than when I last saw him at Anvard, and I bowed before him. "Greetings, child." I raised my head up to look at him. Anduril had knelt down on his knees as well. "What am I supposed to do, Aslan? Where are Peter, Edmund, Susan, and Lucy?" "They have found their way back to their own world. You have a choice to make, Rose. You many stay and live out your life in Narnia, or you may go back to England." I thought for a moment. "Narnia is the only place I have ever felt at home. In England, I have only known sadness and anger and cruelty. Narnia has that too, but there is a lot more happiness. But…I think that happiness, for me, has to do with the people I have lived with. The Pevensies are like my family now. I don't think that I would be nearly as happy if I stayed here without them. So I want to try and find them in England." I bit my lip and waited. Aslan nodded his great golden head. "Then I will send you back to England. You will find the Pevensies, but it may take time." I asked another question that had been bothering me. "Aslan…Will I ever get to come back to Narnia?" Aslan gave a quiet laugh. "Yes, child. But I must warn you not to lose trust in me. You will have hard times in your own world, and you may think I have forgotten you. But remember my promise, and trust me. And now, let you return to your own world."

His voice grew fainter and the woods around me seemed to blow away like sand as I felt a little pinch. The cool, fresh autumn air grew icy and I noticed it grew thicker, less clean. It felt like my body grew a bit stronger and looser. And there we stood, in a small little wood in England. Anduril was staring at me strangely. I looked down to find myself wearing the same dress I had been wearing when I got to Narnia. How could it still fit? I wondered. And then I noticed that the scar on my right arm was gone. I looked for other scars, but they were all gone and my skin was smooth. I knelt down and pulled my longsword out of my pack. I looked at my reflection, and dropped the sword in surprise. I was exactly the same age as I had been when I left England. "Anduril," I said shakily, "I'm fifteen again." I stared around at the snow covered trees around me. "No time has passed. It's like I was never gone…"

AH! Cliff-hanger! But don't worry, a sequel is on the way. :D Again, just have patience, and the first chapters will be here before you know it. Buuuutttt…reviews are always nice to get. I would love to hear what you guys think, so please tell me! And thanks for reading my story!