A/N: Okay everyone, this is the last chapter! I just want to thank earth17, Amri Ishvique, NatzSti, Psyche101, anonymous, Kaena Blaise, Re-Animated, Carlypso, shippolove844, Evy201, -my-forgotten-rose-, and Crystal-Wolf-Guardain-967 for reviewing the last chapter! And of course I'd like to thank in advance anyone who reviews this one. Hope you all enjoy!

Chapter XXXVIII

The news did not come as much of a surprise to anyone, really. The public was happy; they would finally have the queen they had been pining after for quite some time. Just as Caspian had predicted, the people of Narnia accepted her straight away. It seemed as if they'd never even disliked her in the first place. And the remaining few residents of the castle were hardly shocked – to them, it seemed like the announcement was imminent.

The wedding preparations were strenuous – Elise insisted that they be married outdoors, and because of this the palace terrace seemed to be the most logical location. It would accommodate a large number of people, and it would also allow the public to be involved from below. Everyone could be included.

This had become Elise's new fixation – if she was to be Queen, she needed to get her principles straight. She had adamantly told Caspian that she had no intention of being an "absentee queen," like so many before her, and that she would see to it that they were well-liked by all of Narnia. Not just the nobles, but everyone. Caspian, of course, wholeheartedly embraced this philosophy, as it was in direct accordance with his own. He was exceeding glad to see that she was actively preparing herself for her new duties as a sovereign; he had absolutely no doubts that she would make a wonderful queen.

"I can't wait to be married," she told him one day over lunch.

"The feeling is mutual," he replied with a smirk.

"I'm very nervous, of course," she prattled on, "But I'm confident that everything will turn out all right. How can it not? As long as we're together, everything will be just smashing."

He smiled at her and took her hands in his. "I love you, Elise," he said seriously.

"I love you too," she said earnestly, looking up from her plate. However, as much as she enjoyed being reminded of his affections, she couldn't help but wonder what had brought on this sudden proclamation.

"After we're married people will treat you very differently. It may be difficult to adjust to, so I'm just warning you now."

"I know," she replied.

"Very differently," he repeated, "Servants won't make eye contact with you. You'll have commoners requesting audiences with you. Even nobles will bow as you pass. The whole protocol is a bit jarring, really. I grew up with it so it wasn't as much of an adjustment for me, but I can imagine that it will be utterly foreign to you."

"I understand," she said carefully, "I've been thinking about that, too. I understand the duties that come with the territory. Honestly, Caspian, I'm petrified. I don't know how I'm going to do it. I don't know how I'm going to handle it. But for you – for you I would do anything. So if this is what must happen, then so be it."

"You know that if you're not ready…"

"If you keep saying that I'm going to start to think that you don't actually want to marry me," she joked.

He put his hands up in mock surrender. "Hey, I'm just letting you know that your options are still open."

"Well thank you, but I'm quite sure that I want to go through with it. I've had enough of this semi-sneaking around. As soon as we're married, the world will know the state of our relationship and there will be no questions asked – no matters of propriety, no nothing. We'll be free."

"That's certainly an interesting way of looking at it…" he commented.

"It's true, is it not?"

"Well, yes, but – "

"But nothing! We will be together and we will be free to express ourselves as we wish!"

He laughed. "I'm glad you're so excited."

"And you're not?"

"Of course I am! It's just – well – it's just I don't want you thinking that you're getting into something different than you really are. It's not going to be all fun and games, I have to be truthful. There's going to be a lot of pressure on you… On us…"

"Pressure?"

"Yeah, you know, royal stuff. We've got to set an example for everyone else in the kingdom."

That certainly was a lot of pressure, but she reckoned she could handle it... It couldn't be that hard to set a good example, after all.

A week passed in the blink of an eye. Before she knew it, Elise was standing in front of a full-length mirror with Ophelia by her side. Caspian had taken her advice and elevated the statuses of some of the workers, which meant that Ophelia and her family were now among Narnia's new nobility.

"You look lovely," her friend told her joyously.

"Thanks," she replied, grinning.

It was more her dress that was lovely, she insisted. It was white (of course) with a long train and loose, flowing sleeves. The bodice was very structured, which complemented her figure nicely. Her hair fell down her back in loose waves, and she wore a crown of white flowers atop her head. After the ceremony, it would be replaced with a more metallic adornment.

"Do you remember," Ophelia started, "when you wouldn't even admit that you liked Caspian? To think – now you're getting married to him! I hate to say it, but I told you so."

"Oh, hush – that was ages ago."

"It really was, though, wasn't it? I can't believe it – it seems like just yesterday."

"I don't know – for me, it seems like everything has changed. I feel like I've entered a new life."

"You have," Ophelia said pointedly, "You're living here now – I can't believe it! I'm so glad. Call me selfish, but I really didn't want you to leave."

Elise smiled painfully. "Yes, it looks like life had other plans for me, doesn't it? I really do miss my family terribly, though. And Robbie…"

"Perhaps soon you'll have your own family," the other girl whispered mischievously.

Elise snorted in a very unladylike fashion. "Not for a while yet," she insisted in embarrassment. The thought of having children… No. Just no. She was so unprepared to be a wife – to be a queen! Let alone a mother… She knew it was required of her. She knew that one of the most important reasons for this marriage was so they could produce an heir – she wasn't completely ignorant. Caspian had no relatives to speak of; if something happened to both of them, Narnia would be without a ruler and there was absolutely no one in line for the throne. Yes, they desperately needed an heir. But the thought of it – it was terrifying!

Ophelia did not look convinced by Elise's staunch denial, however, and her eyes twinkled knowingly.

"Stop looking at me like that…"

"Like what?" she asked innocently.

"It's that… look that you do. I don't like it."

"You mean the same look I had when I said that you and Caspian would end up together?"

"Yeah. Don't do it."

"Well, we both know how that turned out…"

"T'was but a coincidence," she dismissed.

"We'll see, won't we?"

"C'mon, Ophelia – it's my wedding day! You're supposed to be supportive!" she accused jokingly.

"Forgive me, Madame," she said sarcastically, falling into a sweeping curtsey, "I will not speak out of turn again."

The pair couldn't help but laugh; Elise hadn't realized just how much she'd missed Ophelia until she was back, bringing her light-heartedness to all. It was especially nice to have her there after all the sadness that had beleaguered the castle.

"You should have seen Robbie's face when I told him I was getting married," she started, "I wish I could have seen it in person. Do you know what he said to me? Well, first he said, 'To who?' and then he said, 'I wish there was some way I could have some of the cake. I bet the cake is going to be delicious.' That's all he could think of! He learns that his only sister is getting married, and all he can think of is the cake. Absurd."

"And yet so like an eight year old boy."

"Very true. I really shouldn't be surprised, actually."

"Hey, I take offense to that," said a voice in the doorway.

No… It wasn't… It couldn't be… She couldn't believe it. Elise spun around, frantically and couldn't help but think that her eyes were deceiving her. Her baby brother. There. Standing in her doorway.

"Robbie?" she exclaimed. "What? How?"

"Aslan thought it'd be nice if I could be here," he replied, beaming. He allowed her to hug him, but not for too long. "You look ridiculous," he commented.

"Thanks," she replied dryly. "Does anyone else know you're here? How long ago did you arrive?"

"Just a moment ago. You're the first person I've seen."

"Hello," Ophelia said, putting out her hand, "I'm Ophelia, Elise's friend. It's nice to meet you. I've heard so much about you."

"Nice to meet you too," he muttered sheepishly.

"Don't worry," Elise commented to Ophelia, "He gets much louder once you get to know him, unfortunately."

Robbie didn't reply, but glared at his sister in annoyance. She, in return, ruffled his hair.

"Why does everyone always do that," he protested.

"I wonder if the Pevensies are here too," Elise commented abruptly, ignoring her brother.

"As a matter of fact…" said a young girl, turning the corner into the room.

"Lucy!" Elise exclaimed.

"The one and only," she replied cheerfully, embracing the other girl.

"Are you siblings here?" she asked carefully.

"Actually, they are – Aslan said that he'd rather they leave Narnia on a pleasant note, so he let them come back!"

Just then, Susan entered the room as well.

"This is brilliant!" Elise said happily, tentatively hugging Susan. It was a bit of an awkward situation, but Susan seemed all right with the whole turn of events.

"Congratulations," she said with a smile, "You look beautiful."

"Thank you," the bride-to-be replied happily. "Where are you brothers?"

"With Caspian," Lucy answered, "They thought it was their duty to go an try to calm his nerves."

"He can't possibly be nervous…" Elise commented wryly.

"I don't know," Lucy started, "I haven't seen him for myself. But I can't imagine anyone not being nervous about their own wedding!"

"That is true…" she allowed.

"As much as I hate to interrupt this reunion," Ophelia started, "the ceremony's going to begin in five minutes…"

Everyone in the room snapped their head in her direction in panic. "Oh yes, and I'm Ophelia, by the way," she introduced, "I already know who you lot are. To think, I'm in the presence of the Queens of Old! I thought you two were just stories."

"Five minutes?" Elise exclaimed, ignoring the tangent that her friend seemed to be continuing upon.

"Yeah. Any last-minute adjustments?"

Elise turned to the mirror again and inspected herself carefully, before coming to the conclusion that things were about as good as they were going to get.

"I think I'm all right," she gulped.

"Don't worry, you'll be fine!" Susan assured her, patting her hand maternally.

"Out with you, then! Good luck!" Ophelia said, pushing the other girl through the doorway and directing her towards the aisle.

There were hundreds of people on the terrace, and she knew that there were even more waiting eagerly outside the castle gates. Flowers decorated the entire area, and everyone was dressed in their finest attire.

Robbie, Ophelia, Susan, and Lucy quickly shuffled to their seats beside Edmund and Peter in the front, while music began to play.

At the end of the aisle that Elise was meant to walk down lay a gazebo. Caspian approached it first, entering from the right. Then, it was her turn. Her eyes were glued to him as he waited anxiously, and she took her first steps towards him.

The whole thing was extremely nerve-racking – all eyes were on her, and she tried to walk as slowly and calmly as possible. She prayed that her internal state of distress was not obvious.

"You're beautiful," he whispered when she finally reached him after what seemed like an eternity of walking.

"You're not so bad yourself," she quipped back.

He flashed her her favorite lopsided, toothy grin, before Amphitryon began the ceremony.

"Welcome, citizens of Telmar," he boomed, "We are gathered here today for the joyous marriage of our King Caspian the Tenth of Narnia to Lady Elise d'Orsay of…" he hesitated for a moment.

"England," she hissed.

"Lady Elise d'Orsay of England," he finished.

At the end of the long, slightly cumbersome ceremony, they shared a sweet albeit very awkward kiss, which was followed by howls of excitement from the crowd. By this time, the sun had begun to set, casting an orange hue on the stucco Telmarine buildings below the terrace. The city truly was a beautiful sight.

Caspian and Elise stood at the railing, arms wrapped around one another, waving at the cheering people below. He caught his new wife marveling at the view and whispered, "This is all yours, now."

She turned to him happily and corrected, "Ours."

He grinned at her again and repeated, "Ours. A new age has begun."

The End

A/N: There you have it! I hope you all enjoyed this story, and I want to thank everyone who has read/reviewed/alerted! I don't quite know what I'm going to go on to next, but a spin off/sequel isn't out of the question. For the time being, however, this is finished and on its own. I'm thinking about starting a Pirates of the Caribbean story, so if that interests you definitely say so in a review or shoot me a PM.

Again, thank you all so much!

- curlycue2102 xoxo