"Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow..." I whimpered as I pulled stockings and gloves on over my bandages. Fortunately the tailors had been kind enough to give me white garments to cover my ugly bandages, and they actually looked pretty, contrasting with my evergreen dress. I wore a bag at my side, as was my new custom, containing the journal my father gave me, a new Narnian quill, and, for tonight, my beanie. I had written down my adventures in Narnia so far, with tear stains on the pages describing what happened with the White Witch. I carried it everywhere now, to write down whatever happened. My bandaged hands rendered me unable to do my hair, so I walked down the hallway to Susan's room, where she was just finishing her elegant hairdo.

Lucy ran up to me and threw her arms around me. "Ruthie, you look beautiful!"

"So do you two!" I exclaimed, taking a step back to look at their dresses. Lucy's was pearly white, adorned by small decorations and accented by a red and gold cape. Susan's was as blue as a bird's egg, with a navy and gold cape. I had no cape, for it was not my coronation, but as an honored human guest, I received a dress just as beautiful as the Pevensie sisters'.

Susan patted the padded chair in front of her. "What do you want me to do with your hair?"

"I have no idea..." I confessed as I sat down. I looked up at her. "I always just do a braid because it's easy and I can do it myself. I... I used to do my sisters' hair, but I've never been able to do much with my own."

A small smirk crossed her face.

"What's that for?" I whined jokingly.

"Oh... nothing..."

"Oh, it's something."

"Well... let's just say Peter will like what I do."

"Wait, why does that matter?" I stammered. "Well, I mean... I want him to like it, of course, but... why did you say that?"

"Why wouldn't I?" she asked, eyes glowing.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Oh... never mind... I'll just do your hair now."

With deft hands, she soon had my hair styled in a tight but elaborate and beautiful knot. "After the ceremony," she instructed as she tucked in loose hairs, "let it down. Your hair is be beautifully curled."

"Thanks," I said with a grin, still perplexed by her comments about Peter. Speaking of, he appeared in the doorway with Edmund right then. Our eyes met, and I stopped breathing. He looked... wow. Just wow. He blinked and cleared his throat, his eyes lingering on me.

"Uh... we're ready if you girls are." His gaze flickered to his sisters, but came back to rest on me.

"We're ready!" Susan said cheerfully. "Right, Ruth? Anything else you need?"

"Um..." I bit my lip nervously. "Y-Yes. I'm alright." I rose shakily from my seat, praying Peter couldn't see my flushed cheeks.

The five of us walked down the hallway slowly, Edmund and Lucy chattering excitedly, Susan fiddling with her dress, Peter walking by my side silently.

"You know..." he began, taking even slower steps, "I heard you have a prophecy of your own."

I looked up at him, still silent.

"Is the scar on the back of your leg from a tree, by any chance? I noticed it while applying your first bandages and I put two and two together."

"Mhm... my first visit to Narnia, I was met with some... unfriendly trees."

"Ohh," he said, "so your comment about hating the trees...?"

I couldn't remember what he was talking about. "When was that?"

"Walking to the Beavers'?"

I was still puzzled, so he continued. "You said you hated the trees. Is that why?"

"Huh. I guess so."

"Are you alright?"

"Mhm..." I said unconvincingly. The heat in my cheeks had only intensified, but I doubted it was from embarrassment any longer. I fought the urge to shiver. "It was just so long ago..."

"Only a few days..." I did not miss the concern in his voice.

"Oh. Sorry. Feels like longer."

"Alright..."

We saw Aslan ahead of us then. We gathered around him in a semicircle, the past hours of preparation forgotten. It was time for the rightful rulers of Narnia to be crowned.

🦁

The horns of centaurs rang triumphantly through the hall as the Pevensies and Aslan proceeded down the aisle creating by rows of armored soldiers. They all paused for a moment at the base of the stairs, gazing in awe upon their four thrones. Each sibling then climbed the stairs to stand in front of their respective seats, and Aslan turned to address the crowd."

"To the glistening eastern sea, I give you Queen Lucy the Valiant," he announced. Mr. Tumnus and the beavers, carrying two pillows with two crowns each, then approached her, and Tumnus slowly, with hands shaking from the emotion of the moment, placed a silver crown upon her head. They exchanged a tender look, both beaming.

The threesome slowly approached Edmund. As a crown was placed on his head, Aslan declared, "To the great western woods, King Edmund the Just." For Susan, "To the radiant southern sun, Queen Susan the Gentle." And lastly, for Peter, "And to the clear northern skies, King Peter the Magnificent."

They all sat down in their thrones then. "Once a king or Queen of Narnia, always a king or queen," Aslan said softly. "May your wisdom grace us until the stars rain down from the heavens."

A cheer began then, in which everyone in attendance took a part: "Long live King Peter! Long live Queen Susan! Long live King Edmund! And long live Queen Lucy!"

I yelled loudest of all, a smile covering my face. They all turned to look at me, and I beamed even wider. I didn't even think it was possible to smile any wider.

However, I was proven wrong mere minutes later. Following the short ceremony, everyone proceeded to the ballroom. The fauns and the dryads began the dancing, while the other creatures began the feasting. I sat alone at a table, absorbing the scene with wide eyes and nibbling on a cracker. Aslan and the new kings and queens had gone down another hallway, but I assumed they'd be back soon.

I soon became lost in thought, reliving all that had happened to me. The tree. Meeting the beavers and Mr. Tumnus. The White Witch. The battle. My whole body ached, and I was seriously considering slipping away to my new sleeping quarters and going to bed. I was about to get up when I heard a soft voice in my ear.

"Ruth?" I turned to look at Peter, who straightened up and extended a hand. "Would you like to dance with me?"

I grinned, hoping I didn't look too red in the face. "I would love to, High King Peter," I said lightly, placing my small, gloved hand in his and letting him help me to my feet. "I will admit that I have never danced with a boy before, save when my father taught me one night in our kitchen," I added with a giggle.

He smiled. "And I have never danced with a girl, save my sister when she taught me."

And with that, we took the floor. His hand on my waist guided me, and my feet knew exactly what to do. The weight of my sorrows was lifted as I allowed myself to get lost in his eyes and drown in the sound of the sweet music. I had never felt as light and giddy as I had in that moment. The music reached a crescendo, then fell to almost silence. A slow song began then. Peter pulled me close, placing his other hand on my hip. I looped my arms around his neck.

"Peter?" I asked, tipping my face up a little higher.

"Yes, Ruth?"

"I feel safe right now. Here. With you."

I didn't think his smile could have possibly gotten any wider, but it did. "Now that is music to my ears," he said. Just then, I felt a small tug on my dress.

I dropped my arms immediately and saw a crying Lucy. "What's the matter?" I asked, swooping her up in a hug.

"As-As-Aslan's leaving!" she cried, pointing to the beach. I felt the blood drain from my face, and took off running. I caught up with him halfway down the beach.

"Aslan!" He turned at the sound of my voice. I stopped a foot away. "Where are you going?" I began to cry.

"Ruth, do not cry," he said gently. "I am responsible for many other lands. Now that Narnia is free, I must attend to their cares."

"I do not wish to be parted from you," I wept.

"Then come."

I was then faced with the most difficult decision of my life. Aslan, who had brought me here? Or my new friends, who had given me reason to stay? I remembered Peter and the dance we had. Susan, who had already become as close and trusted as Anna. Edmund... oh, Edmund, I had just gained his trust. And Lucy would be... devastated. And yet... something deep within me compelled me to go with Aslan.

"I will."