It Is Time

[Queen Susan the Gentle]

"The voice . . ." She fought to whisper, "It tells me diffrent . . . Dark magic, and death . . . It's here . . . waiting . . . for one of us." She let herself fall limp in his arms for a moment, but the child would not have it and contracted again. How long she lay there in pain she knew not. How much longer she could give the same response. She only prayed it was short.

[King Caspian X]

"The voice is a liar." Caspian tried to help her. "It's a deceiver. It told my father that I was dead, did it not? I'm alive. It told him that all hope was lost. But look at where we are now. It's lying to you." the man tried, and pretty much did, believe those words himself. "And if it comes down to it, I want you to live. Please, Susan, if you have the ability to choose, live. Don't die, Darling." Caspian's voice was harshly a whisper now. He couldn't bare to see her dead. He couldn't bare to see the baby dead either, but especially not Susan. Caspian squeezed her hand, trying to comfort her. "You can do it." he told her.

[Queen Susan the Gentle]

"I will . . ." She whispered agian leaning against him and taking his other hand and pushing harder. "I trust you . . ." But she did not truly believe. There was more than just the voice at work here. Her sacred tree had told them as well. How could it be a lie?

[King Caspian X]

"I love you." he said to her, and hugged her lightly, just to be sure that he didn't hurt her. His lips touched her cheeck softly. Caspian sighed. Would she really be alright? Of course she would. What had he been praying to Aslan for all these months? Her life. Her safety. He belived that she could do it. "I have faith in you." Caspian told his wife, stroking her hair. "It'll be okay."

[Lennia Silverwind]

Len quickly knelt by Susan. She reached into her bag pulling out a few herbs. She grounded the mix into a thick green paste and used some of her magic to strengthen it. She turned her attention to Susan. In her hand was a cool damp cloth. She placed it on Susans head and used her small coat to cover the girl. With out taking her eyes from Susan she addressed Caspian "I need a blue flower from the bush with sharp leaves. It should be right near those trees" She motioned with her head. "Now Susan I want you to take deep breaths. You will not loose your child under my watch" Len used her magic to help even the flow of liquid through so the lving child would come first. She ready her paste and waited for Susan's breathing to even out.

[King Caspian X]

Reluctantly, Caspian left her side. But only for a moment. He dashed over to the bushes, quickly searching out and plucking the flower from its roots. He came back and sat down by Susan again, and took her hands. The King handed Len the flower, and could only watch as the witch helped them. He gave an encouraging smile to his wife, praying that maybe, even through all of her pain, Caspian might find hope in her eyes. The King felt nervous, frightend, worthless, and all he wanted to do was what he was incapable of. Helping Susan. Taking her pain away. But all that he could do now was offer her comfort. Caspian's eyes went from Susan, to Len, to Susan again. He kissed her again and ran his fingers through her hair. "Is there anything that I can do?"

[Cotnar]

"Aslan?" The girl said. She had wandered the forest's edge aimlessly for hours strung on end stopping only now as she neared the lion. She looked to him, almost doubtful, but soon a smile stretched across her face and she ran to him and embraced his mane "It is you Aslan! You've come at last!"

The lion sat on his hind legs, his great paws wrapped around her shoulders. "You always believed I would, you never lost faith."

"But then why did all these things have to happen?" She questioned him, "I know you've told me things never happen the same way twice, but dose that mean this time you can't help us?" They parted from the hug and Lucy sat on a small field of clover as the great lion sat before her, his golden pelt bathed in moonlight with his tail around his paws.

"It is within my power." He told her

"But then why only come now?"

"If every battle I fought for you what would you learn? Things will happen, battles will be fought. But with each battle, whether won or lost, a lesson is learned."

"If you fought we would learn how powerful you truly were."

"True as this is it is not power I seek. I want only the safety and stability of my followers, nothing more. But the choice is there's to follow, they are not puppets that I may hold the strings to. No, in my worlds there is freedom in the hearts of all."

"Then will you help us?"

"It is there choice to accept me."

"Who's choice? What Narnian hasn't begged for you to come? Caspian goes to the stone table, a night's ride away, to pray that you'll come. You gave us a reason at why you wouldn't help Susan, what about the rest of us?" She spoke almost as if she were angry, justifying all the suffering in Narnia, blaming the lion for it all. But the lion's voice remained the same, eternally calm, eternally bound to peace.

"My inability to help your sister is not one I find pleasure in. But no one shall know any story but their own today."

"Will you at least stay with us?"

"I come and go, you will see me one day and not the next. I have other worlds to attend to. After all, I am not a tame lion." Her head dropped in sadness and he pressed his muzzle to her heart, "I will return, just as I always have. But for this moment I have business I must solve now."

"Will you drive Lamont away from here, never to let him return or find a way back like we did."

"No, what must be done now concerns you, my child."

"Me? What have I done?"

"Nothing of any harm to anyone. You have been loyal and brave and true to me since you learned of my existence. You have fought and won impossible battles in my name. When danger comes you are the first to seek me and will never lose hop in finding me. You are unlike your siblings, unlike the other Narnians, pure to the very end."

"I don't want to think I am better than them."

"Yet another reason. You are humble as a child, putting others above yourself. And now I ask you of something," He stood, "Will you come with me and live in my country, the world beyond world's end, and rule it by my side as a lioness. Stay with me there along with thousand of other Narnians who have already met death's cruel claws. Mr. Tumness is there, and the beavers, even most of the warriors who fought in the battle of the white witch. It is a glorious, beautiful land where all things good are plentiful and darkness has no place. In my country there is no sadness, no loss, no weakness, no pain. Come, dear one, and come to my country. It is a fate you deserve."

"Why would you ask me to do this now, of all times?"

"You have proven yourself worthy beyond all others."

"If I chose to stay will the others be hurt?"

"They will have their share of hardships, as do all, regardless of your choice."

"But will it be worse?"

"It is not my place to say, but there's to learn. Now come."

"I never truly gave an answer."

"You will come."

"Aslan, I've spent enough time away from them. I want to join you, I really do, but my place now is to stay here and serve and protect Narnia in any way I can. I am sorry"

The lion lowered his head and shook his shimmering mane "You are too good for this world," He said, "You deserve the life I can offer."

"Someday, when I have served Narnia well and I am older I will die," She told him, "When that day comes I will join you without a second thought."

"This is true."

"But why offer it only now?"

"Because in truth, I haven't." Another lion, slightly bigger and older than the first joined them "I would never tear you from your family. You will join me in my country when the last grain of sand falls from your timer of chronus."

"Aslan?"

"It is so."

"How can there be two Aslans?"

"There is not. I am Aslan, the only Aslan. I am the son of the emperor beyond the sea. I am the one all Narnians live to serve. I am the one who gave my life on the stone table and cracked it so no one would pay the same price only to be reborn. Search your heart, dear one, and know it is true." Silence formed a barrier between them as she looked over the two great cats with confusion written on her face. The slightly smaller, the first to confront her, growled slightly."Come to me," the larger said, "See the scars beneith my mane given to me by the white witch and know " Lucy stepped forward and put her hands on the mane. Warmth passed over her body as she parted the soft hairs so she could see the scar.

"You are Aslan! She shouted happily, "You are the one who died for Edmund!"

"For all of Narnia, yet for the sake of your brother alone I would do the same."

"A scar proves nothing," The other said, "any beast may bear a scar. That dose not make him Aslan."

"Do you have one?"

"Come and see."

Lucy went to move away but felt a paw from the lion behind her. "do not willingly walk into the paws of the wicked." And then she stopped

"He bears a scar yet dose not allow what is true to speak. The imposter lies in the shadows never letting light reach his followers. Come my child. See the truth beneath my mane." Again she stepped forward and again she felt the paw over her shoulder only this time he said nothing and she brushed it away. She touched the smaller's mane and ran her fingers through it.

"I see none." She said sadly after a long while.

"That," he said snarling and pounding on her with his claws dug into her chest long enough to draw blood. "is because I have none." She screamed for Aslan as his teeth met with her throat.

The instant after her cry the weight was gone. Through blurry vision she saw the shapes of two lions fighting, clawing, and roaring at each other. After long moments the smaller began to fall. His body became different as long antlers formed on his head and the buck fled. But the lion did not give chase, only let the deer run and when to Lucy's side.

"Aslan . . . What's happened?"

"Hush, child," He said pressing his muzzle to her heart, "Rest now and soon I will join you. It will be much sooner than you think." She reached to touch the soft velvet fur of his nose, but fell short.

"Aslan . . ."

"Shhhhh," Again she moved to reach him and this time he met her hand half way. She rested her fingertips against him, and then as darkness threatened to consume her, she forced a smile to the lion. The last sound she heard was the sound of his roar.

Then . . . nothing

No sound . . .

No light . . .

Then suddenly . . .

Aslan, I see you now. You are more beautiful than I ever imagined . . .

[Queen Susan the Gentle]

Susan kept her body still and tried to concentrate soley on her breathing. The cloth made her head feel cooler, but that was its purpose. When Caspian left her she wanted to scream for him to come back. She couldn't bear to have him leave her now of all times. But he was back before the cry could escape from her mouth. When she heard his question she gripped him tighter, "You can stay," She said. But the moment she spoke she heard the sound of great and powerful roars. Lions were in the forest somewhere, perhaps even Aslan. She wanted to see him, but was bound to the earth by her comming child. She couldn't deny Caspian the right to see him if he came this morning of all times. "If that is Aslan's roar, and you want to, you can go to him." She said.

[King Caspian X]

Caspian held her tightly. "I will not leave you." he said, his voice soft and quiet. "I have gone to Aslan every day for months. He can come to us now." The man could feel her firm grip on his hands, and he wanted so badly to find a way to get rid of her pain. "Besides, I think you need me more than he does right now." Caspian said, and stroked her face lovingly with his hand. "Maybe he will come and find us." he said hopefully. "Maybe he will help us." Caspian looked up to Len. "What's the paste for?" he asked.

[Queen Susan the Gentle]

It would help if he came and blessed her child in the moment of its birth. But fate had a cruel way of giving her hope and taking it from her. She would pray he would come, but she would always doubt he would. "He may not need you, but you could bring him here," she thought hating the thought herself. She was sugestion for him to leave.

[King Caspian X]

Caspian didn't even have to think before he gave his answer, "I'll stay with you." he told her. "Aslan hasn't called me, but I will go get him if you want me to." The King didn't want to leave her. He stroked her belly, wondering if the Great Lion really would come and bless their baby. But there was also a chance that it might not even be Aslan roaring. No, it was Aslan. No one could mistake his roar. Maybe he would come anyway, without being called for. He might have been on his way here to see them anyway. Caspian kissed Susan when he felt the baby kick against her. He would pray for Aslan to come.

[Queen Susan the Gentle]

She was unsure of how long she lay there. The shadows around them moved with the sun until it was ready to set. But no mater how long she lay, despite how she thought it impossible, the pain grew to a great climax. She let loose a cry she did not know she could make and her body tightned boyond what she could handle. Blood was spilled, but the child was near.

[King Caspian X]

Caspian wiped away her tears and sweat. "It's almost over." he said. Try as he might, he couldn't form even a fake smile now. Seeing his wife in so much hurt forbid him to do so. "Just a little longer." he told her, and squeezed her hand, telling her it was going to be okay. "You're doing great." Caspian wanted to see her smile again. Wanted to see her laugh and watch her eyes sparkle at him. He wanted the birth to be done. He wanted her pain to go away. But the first of his three children was still not born. The man took the cloth and flipped it over, laying back down across her head again. "You can do it." he told her.

[Queen Susan the Gentle]

"No," she whispered not able to force anything more out of her throat, "I can't . . . I'm done." She had no more strength in her. The hand that she had used to channel some of her pain through now hung limp in Caspian's. There was no fight left in her. This wasn't like her dreams, there would be no happy ending. You will die, the voice told her and she felt herself beginning to relax, you will die and all this pain will end. Let go . . .

[King Caspian X]

"No! Don't say that!" Caspian pleaded. "Yes you can do it! I know you can!" He could feel tears beginning to form in his eyes, but he angerly blinked them away. Don't you die on me. . . he thought in his mind. "Don't give up Susan." the man begged. He bent his head and kissed her neck, is lips trembling as more tears attacked his eyes, which were again blinked away. "Come on." he said, rubbing her shoulders. Please, please. . . Don't die. . .