Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I own nothing related to The Chronicles of Narnia. That belongs to a bunch of other people, not me. Only original characters and plotlines are mine.

AN: Here's the end of the story! Next part will be up next week, no worries. Review?

Epilogue:

It didn't take me long to recover from my wound, and within three days of my waking up, I was allowed to rise from my bed and walk around. Not surprisingly, I was slightly shaky at first, but soon steadied on my feet. After proving to the healers (and Caspian) that I could walk the length and width of the tent without fainting or falling over, they gave permission for me to leave.

But first, with help from a female Faun, I was able to scrub myself clean in a smaller bathing tent behind the healers' large one. And thanks to the ever-courteous Caspian, who sent for a small bag of necessities for me, I had a clean change of clothes to get into, so that I was at least presentable when he escorted me out into the cool morning.

The minute I stepped outside, I knew something was up. The soldiers camping nearby turned and started looking at me, as though I were something interesting or fascinating. A few had awed expressions, others amused, but all of them had 'respect' written all over their faces.

Before I could say anything to Caspian, he had taken my arm and began directing me towards the pavilion that stood outside his own private tent, where I had often eaten with him and his retinue.

His sleeping quarters were plain enough (at least on the outside), but the pavilion was as grand as one could expect, for it was made from purple-and-gold material, with a good-sized wooden table in the center, with matching chairs on three sides. There other, smaller side tables for servants to put food platters, and two silver buckets in which bottles of wine could be chilled in ice, which was brought from nearby mountain tops by griffons.

Here, Caspian ordered me to sit while one of his retainers served us food and chilled beverages. I could still feel eyes on me, and did my best to ignore it, but Caspian could sense I was uncomfortable, and ordered that three sides of the pavilion tent be closed off. Of course, according to Narnian culture and etiquette, my being "alone" with the king was improper, at least in this case, so the side facing the campground was left open. With so many chaperones, it wouldn't be too improper for me to dine with my friend.

The food was wonderful, and as always, there was wine –however, after my last disastrous indulgence in Narnian alcohol, I passed on it. When I had scraped up the last of the stewed rabbit and roasted root vegetables, I pushed aside the empty plate and sat back in my chair with a sigh.

"Better?" Caspian asked, smirking as I glared at him.

"You wouldn't be so smug if you had been eating nothing but soup for the past several days," I retorted, throwing my cloth napkin at him. "Just smelling the food cooking by the soldiers' tents made me want to cry."

Wadding up the napkin (which he had easily caught) in his hand, Caspian put it down on the table and took up his wine goblet. Before he could do or say anything in retaliation, I heard shouts of laughter from the soldiers outside the tent. Worried, I rose to my feet just as a large, furry form burst in, threw its forelegs on my shoulders, and proceeded to lick my face off.

"Fang, stop it!" I playfully cried, trying to keep him at bay. "I'm already cleaned up, thank you."

The sound of racing hooves drifted into the tent, and then Fang was being butted out of the way by Roan, who didn't quite slobber all over me, but he did enough damage by trying to pull my nose off with his horsey lips.

Seated at the table, Caspian laughed as I tried to push both animals off of me. "As you can see, they were worried about you," he teased, taking a sip of wine. "They've been anxious about you, and were very upset about the healers not allowing them to visit."

I honestly didn't know whether to sigh and roll my eyes, or laugh at the whole thing. I ended up doing neither, and settled for soothing my friends' nerves, muttering how much I had missed them, and that I was as glad to see them as they were to see me.

After being assured of my good health and recovery, Fang settled down by my chair and practically ordered me to sit down and rest. Meanwhile, a servant came and rolled up the side of the pavilion so that Roan could graze next to it and still keep a sharp eye on me. It was annoying having two hovering nannies nearby, but they were my friends, so I resigned myself to it –at least for now. Lord knows what I'd have to endure on the long ride back to Narnia!

"So when do we depart for home?" I asked, reaching for my water cup.

Caspian finished his wine and held out his goblet for more to be poured by the male server hovering nearby. "I imagine that things should be ready in a few days," he said, nodding his thanks to the man, who bowed. "Everyone who was injured has been seen to, and most are nearly recovered. Perhaps three days, at the most."

I stood up, much to Fang and Roan's objections. "Then I'd better get packing," I said, dusting off my breeches. "I have laundry to do, as well as a dozen other things, and not enough time to do them. If you'll excuse me?"

At Caspian's nod, I briefly dipped my head in a bow and took off for my tent, frantically thinking of all that I needed to do before we headed off for home.

Upon our return to Archenland, King Nain welcomed us and his returning soldiers with a great banquet, and was more than thrilled at the news that the Calormen Empire was no longer a threat to his kingdom, or to Caspian's. There was much feasting and celebrating, which I heartily took part in only because no one expected me to wear a dress while I danced around the campfires, among the Centaurs, Fauns and Dwarfs at the parties.

For three days, we rested in safety in the areas around Anvard. When our stores were resupplied and our mounts eager for the journey North, we rode off, every last one of us in high spirits.

However, as we rode, something began to nag at the back of my mind. "Caspian, I must ask you something," I said quietly while urging Roan closer to his mount. "Before, why did you never ask about my family, or my life? You must have been curious, but why did you not say anything?"

He gave me a soft smile. "Given the tale you had spun for me at the time, and that you never mentioned them once in all of our conversations, I had thought that perhaps your family had died, and that you did not wish to speak of them, nor your life. I thought it might spare your feelings."

I smiled back. "That was very kind of you," I replied softly. "Thank you."

"Oh, don't thank me," Caspian said with a grin. "The curiosity was eating away at me, and it was only the presence of the Professor that kept me from intruding on your past."

Tilting his head to the side, he gave me an odd look. "And speaking of Professor Cornelius, have you…?"

I sighed. "Yes, I have been keeping notes," I said, rolling my eyes. "It's one of the first things I did after packing for our return back to Narnia. It doesn't make for much exciting reading, except for the battle, but I'm sure that will be enough for him. Long notes about our travel there and back don't seem very exciting."

"Do not forget about our time in Archenland," reminded Silvermane, who trotted to my right, on the other side of Fang. "Your mentor will wish to hear all of it from you."

The Centaur had chosen to become my constant guard (with Caspian's blessing, I suspected), and had stayed by my side ever since we began our journey. Between him, Fang, Roan, and Caspian (who was being more subtle about it), I was without a doubt the most protected person in Narnia, except for the King himself!

'Well, it's only for a little while longer,' I thought, holding back a sigh. 'Once we're back at the castle, things will calm down.'

At least I hoped so…

Well, it wasn't so –or at least, it wasn't as calm and 'normal' as I wished it would be.

We arrived at the castle to a great celebration, and to be quite honest, I don't remember much of it. I know I slept a great deal, and spent a great deal of time with the Professor, as he tried to squeeze every detail that he could out of me about the whole thing. I did manage to meet up with Trumpkin and Reepicheep, as well as a few others I had made somewhat-friends with, but that was pretty much all I wanted to remember.

Sadly, there was one memorable event that I rather wished hadn't happened, or that I could forget about.

Once word got around that I had saved the King's life, the nobles of the court began asking questions, and one of them was whether or not the King had rewarded me for such a noble act. When they heard that he hadn't, many had demanded that I receive at least money, land, a title, or all three. Caspian heard all of them out, and did his best to ease their demands.

"Alandra does not desire any one of those things," he said, shocking them all. "I have offered her riches and titles, but she has refused them. She merely wishes to live a quiet, peaceful life, and that is all."

Many of them didn't believe him, of course, and insisted that I receive something, even if it was against my will. Those that believed Caspian's words only seemed to respect me even more, and they, in turn, also insisted that my 'noble heart' be rewarded with something, even if it was minor.

Finally, to pacify them, I was publicly acknowledged as the King's dear friend, and given a very generous allowance each month. There was a ceremony, where I was given an exquisite dagger and filigreed sheath on a fine gold chain belt, a symbol of Caspian's gratitude and a way for the nobles to see that I had been given at least a bit of a 'thank you.'

While the extra income was nice, the attention was unwelcome. People began bowing as I passed, and I frequently had to squish the urge to drag them back upright. Officially, I had no titles, but since I was now known as the King's friend, and someone who had saved his life, I guess everyone felt obliged to show their respect. It was very annoying.

Luckily, Professor Cornelius, who had some influence over other people, made it known that while I was close to the King, I was not to be treated any differently. Everyone thought it wonderful that I was so 'humble,' and did their best to do nothing more than bow their head slightly whenever I passed by. Since a head nod was better than a full bow or curtsey, this was much easier to live with.

And so, my second year in Narnia began…

AN: The end! Well, sort of, so keep a sharp eye open for the next update!