PETER POV:

I watched from the balcony as Ruth chased Aslan, dress billowing behind her as she sprinted across the sand.

"Aslan!" I heard her call; her voice sounded strained, as if she were about to cry. When I saw her shoulders shaking, I knew she had broken down.

"Aw, Ruth, when you get back, we'll dance some more," I whispered to her. "I'll wipe your tears. You'll feel safe again..." Safe. She said she felt safe with me, after saying a few days ago she never felt safe anywhere.

Was it the dancing? Was it what I said after bandaging her wounds? Was it the way I made sure she was as comfortable as possible on the canoe the two of us took to the castle? She felt safe enough to take a nap in the sun with me manning the oars... wow, that meant a lot...

I caught myself grinning. Ruth trusted me. She really trusted me. I didn't know what happened to her in the bombing of London. I didn't know what happened between the Beavers' dam and her arrival at the battlefield. But I didn't need to know yet. She trusted me. I would know in time.

"Where is she going?" Lucy asked. I was startled back into reality when I realized she was walking away with Aslan.

"I... don't... know..." It was impossible to breathe. Susan and Edmund came up behind us then.

"Where's Ruth going?"

"I... don't... know..." I said.

"Ruth!" Susan screamed. Soon, we were all yelling to get her attention. But it wasn't until she was about to disappear behind a bend that she finally turned around. She waved and smiled, and she and Aslan vanished into thin air.

Time stopped. I couldn't comprehend what I had just seen. My hands were still warm from where I had been holding her as we danced minutes ago. My heart was still pounding wildly from the excitement of her saying yes to my invitation. And yet... my hands were growing cold. My heart was slowing. My world was darkening. She was gone.

"What just happened?" Edmund asked, breaking the heavy silence.

"She... left..." Susan said. I found myself suddenly fighting tears. "She... just... left..."

Hold it together, Peter. Not here, not now. Cry later. No. No no no. This is just a bad dream. She's coming back. Wake up. Wake up. This is just a bad dream.

"Peter?" Lucy laid a gentle hand on my arm. I looked down at her, my vision completely clouded with unshed tears. "When is she coming back?"

"I don't know," I said, collapsing to the ground, sobbing. One by one, my siblings attempted to comfort me before crying themselves. The party continued around us. No one saw. No one knew. Only the four of us were aware of the catastrophe that had befallen Narnia: Aslan left, and took Ruth with him. Aslan, the lion who came back to life, saving my brother. Ruth, the girl who had almost given her life to save my brother. Aslan, who melted the ice and made Narnia a warmer, brighter, happier place. Ruth, who melted the ice and made my heart a warmer, brighter, happier place. Just... gone...