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"Fulfill the prophecy

Be something greater

Go make a legacy."

High Hopes

Panic! At The Disco

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Chapter XXIV - Cair Paravel

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Reality follows in and out. The neighing of horses and the bouncing of the carriage becomes more constant, pulling me out of the darkness that surrounded me. I only have the energy to roll my head to the left, extremely grateful to see Ben walking beside the wooden trailer with an arrangement of hay for comfort that I found myself laying on.

"Where are we? What happened?" I ask, pushing myself up and looking at my surroundings.

All I could see in front and behind me were soldiers, all marching in a line to an unknown destination.

"Ash, you're awake!" Ben's voice calls out with joy.

My brain takes a minute to process everything. Seeing Ben certainly calmed whatever panic was about to come.

"How long was I out?" I ask first.

Ben looks up at the sky, seeing the sun positioning before answering, "A little less than a day, so you pretty much missed this whole venture to the Cair."

My eyebrows narrow in confusion, "The Cair?"

"Cair Paravel." He answers with a smile.

It was clear that Ben was happy to not have to return a different castle in Narnia.

I questioned, wondering if that was just another lie my mother told me to keep me from venturing too far, "I thought it was impossible to get to?"

"That was before the winter melted." Ben answered, "We will be there soon."

"Pardon me," A faun, interrupts. I was baffled with the tone he was addressing Benvolio. It was with great respect and a bit of shyness. He looked not much older than me, his horns were almost but not quite full grown. He was unsure of himself, most likely still a bit shocked from the war and what will come next. "I was told to bring Ms. Ashton to the front once she awoke."

"That's quite alright, we can make it there on our own." Ben insists.

"I'm sure Aslan will be alright with it," I assure the faun, with a slight smile.

The faun pauses for a moment, thinking his words out carefully, "I'm not under his orders, Madam, the request came from King Peter."

"Oh," I blirt, "Where is Aslan then?"

"He's in the back, making sure no one falls behind." He answers with more confidence than before.

I begin climbing onto Benvolio's back, feeling more comfortable there than this shakey carriage "I should have assumed that. Thank you for all your help, but we can handle ourselves."

"I have no doubt you can handle yourself, my Prodigy." He stammers out, "I- I..."

"You're worried about the future King." I finish for him.

He nodded slightly, "I would hate to disappoint him on the first task he has requested."

"Don't worry, Peter is as harmless as a cupcake. And I'll put in a good word."

"Thank you so much, Madam!" He exclaims, standing up straighter with a bit of pip in his step.

I chuckled to myself as Ben lead me to the end of the line of still war-painted and tired soldiers. To the one person, I needed to talk to most.

Aslan's gaze met mine, and a bright smile came to his face, "Ah, Ashton, nice to see you upward again."

"You as well but, what happened?" I ask, getting through the formalities quickly so we can get to the most important matters.

"When your mother died, her magic was released. Since the magic cannot be destroyed, it found its way to the closest thing to her. You. Your blood will now host the magic that was once hers." Aslan explains.

"Oh, how the tables have turned." Ben comments, enjoying the irony.

"What if I don't want it?" I question.

"You cannot just abandon power, Ashton," Aslan tells her, seeming surprised she would want to be less powerful.

Ashton sighs, struggling to admit what troubled her, "The last thing I want to do is become her."

Aslan now understood, his tone remained soft as he consoled the girl he had begun to admire and respect much, "You decide what to do with your magic, not the other way around. If you choose to only do good you could never become your mother. You have chosen to leave your crown, which is a path your mother died to keep others from royalty. You are already so much different."

"Thank you, Aslan." Ash smiles gratefully, "I believe I am wanted at the front."

"Well hurry along then," He advised, "We are almost at Cair Paravel."

Ben and I wove out away up the line of soldiers, trying to get to them from where the Pevensie's were. Just as I saw the back of Peter's head as he rode high on a horse, the horse walked through the gates of Cair Paravel. The line of soldiers tightened as we walk through the stone arches of the gate. People had gathered in the streets, all hoping to get a glimpse of their soon to be Kings and Queens. Some soldiers broke away from us, finding their family members in the crowd. Cries of joy and laughter filled the streets. It was a truly beautiful sight.

But something else caught my eye, children of multiple ages danced freely under a tree. A noticed small pink and white flowers sprouting from the ends of the branches. With a small motion of my hand, the flowers got caught in the wind, raining down on the kids. Their laughs grew louder making my smile grow as well. One of the youngest girls looked around for some explanation for the mysterious wind and her eyes fell upon Ben and I. I gave her a subtle wink and continued to follow the crowd through the courtyard.

Once we reached the second set of gates, the ones that allowed entrance to the castle, I tried to follow the Pevensie's. Unfortunately, I was stopped by a small female Beaver that I felt like I had seen before.

"Thank Aslan, I found you and you're awake." She speaks quickly, waving for me to follow her into the castle. Kept her little legs moving quickly, but continued talking in a rushed tone, "Oh I don't believe we have formally met, I'm Mrs. Beaver."

"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Beaver but where are you leading me?

"You're quarters. We have much to do in such little time."

"What do you mean? My quarters? There's a room for me?" I stop in shock. She starts pulling at my boot impatiently.

She sighs, turning down another marble hall that leads to stairs, "Oh, so many questions darling."

"Where is Ben going?" I fire another question.

"Everyone has a coronation to prepare for!" She exclaims as if I should already know.

"What? Tonight?" I ask with confusion.

"The sooner the better!" She jumps with excitement turning down another corner.

I jog to catch up with her, "Doesn't it take months to prepare for this type of thing?"

"Not when over half of Narnia is coming to help in any way possible, anything to see the prophecy fulfilled." She squeals joyfully. "I was able to get here as one of the first and helped set up, this guest wing and royal wing with help from many others. It's amazing what everyone can do together. History will remember this day for long after we are gone."

She stopped in front of a tall wooden door with gold detailing, it looked old but not worn, almost magically protected like much of the rest of the castle.

"Welcome to your room." Mrs. Beaver says opening the door to reveal a huge room.

I was speechless as soon as I walked into the room. It was colored with white, gold and a light blue. A bed large enough for a dragon was placed against the center of a wall. And a dresser much like it was against another wall. Tall pillars around the room lead to the high ceiling, which was decorated with a grand painting and a sparkling chandler. Though I never think I will require the chandler with all the light that came in through the multiple windows and the glass double doors to the balcony. I was clearly in the East Wing of the castle, as the balcony had the most spectacular view of the Eastern Sea. I could see for clear skies and crystal clear oceans for miles.

I look down to Mrs. Beaver, "This is all mine?"

"Of course," Mrs. Beaver answered casually, "You can explore the castle later but right now we must get your ready."

She pulled on the bottom of the miserably comfortable dress my mother forced me into over two days ago and lead me towards a different door than the one we entered.

"Ashton, I was hoping we could have a word." A voice calls into the room.

I turn around making Mrs. Beaver groan. I find Peter leaning against the door frame.

I was about to answer before Mrs. Beaver spoke for me, "You can talk to her after, darling. She needs to get in the bath and, King or not, you can't come."

My eyes go wide as Mrs. Beaver just began pulling me towards the other room, away from Peter.

"Of course," Peter agrees, taking a step backward respectively at Mrs. Beavers comment.

"I'll see you later, okay? At the coronation?" I tell him quickly.

"You will not be going to the coronation if you do not get ready!" The determined brown fur ball interjects with stress increasing in her voice.

He nodded to me, chuckling a bit at the pesky beavers comment.

I wanted to take her time in the bath after relieving her skin from the dirt and blood it had gathered in battle, to give my muscles a chance to be at ease. But that seemed to be the last thing Mrs. Beaver wanted.

She clapped her hands, "Dear! You must hurry! We don't have much time and I must do something with those blonde split ends!"

I frowned, displeased with the insistent rushing, "Fine."

I wrapped myself in the robe, she had left out for me. Instantly appreciating the cloud-like softness of it. It wasn't until I sat down that I realized how tired I was. Mrs. Beaver started playing with my hair, giving it a trim and finally settling on a hairstyle that she thought looked best. I began to drift to sleep, only to jolt awake by a knock at the door.

"Who could that possibly be?" Mrs. Beaver wonders out loud, going to check.

She opens the door to reveal Susan, ahead of schedule, in a perfectly fitting full gown. The gown was silver and sparkled like the night sky. It was trimmed with a respectful mid neckline.

She bows to Susan, "My Queen."

"Mrs. Beaver," The brown-haired girl responds in a soft tone, "I have something for Ashton if she would like."

Susan then held up a dress, identical to hers, the only difference was that this dress was black and the jewels showed an array of blues and purples.

"It's beautiful, Susan," I comment, not sure where her unusual warmth towards me is coming from.

"It's for tonight. Lucy's is a pale pink. It only seemed right for you as well." She continued.

"Now that I think of it," Susan recalls, "Mrs. Beaver, I have a ribbon that goes with the dress, I forgot in my room. Would you mind getting it for me?"

"Of course dear, I'll be right back." Mrs. Beaver says running out of the room.

This left just Susan and I. Which I assume Susan wanted as she began to speak now with full privacy.

"I would like to thank you." She managed to say after a few seconds of pondering, "For coming back, when Narnia needed you. I was wrong to send you away. I was thinking as a sister, not as a queen with her ally, which I hope we can be. You saved Narnia and I will be forever grateful for that."

"I appreciate that Susan, I really do." I say as respectable as possible after our less than friendly encounters so far, "But why do I feel like there's something else you came here to talk about."

She sighs, knowing I have her figured out, "It's about my brother."

"I assumed." I purse my lips.

"I will always protect my family. They are the most important people in the world to me. I will always look out for their best interest, royal or not." She tells me proudly.

"Why do I feel like your always threatening me in the nicest way possible?" I question her with a cocked brow. She was the only Pevensie I feared would let the royalty go to her head.

"I know better than to threaten you." She backtracks with a nervous laugh, "This is my way of offering peace between us. As long as you lookout for the best interest of the crown, I don't see any reason for us to have a problem. I'm actually hoping, eventually, we could be friends."

At that time, Mrs. Beaver came skipping back into the room with a black ribbon in her hand.

"Perfect, thank you." Susan smiles to Mrs. Beaver, then pulling small strands of my hair back and making a bow.

She smiles brightly again with a content sigh, "Doesn't she look daintier and more like a lady of the court, Mrs. Beaver?"

Most girls dream about being a lady of the court. A precious beauty selected from the many to be groomed for a wealthy husband or some royal title. Not me.

"As stunning as ever." Mrs. Beaver compliments, going along with Susan.

"Well, I will see both of you lovely ladies tonight."

"Until then." Mrs. Beaver says with a bright and excited smile.

"Until then," I repeat mindlessly, more fixated on what Susan had discussed instead of her exit.

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I didn't edit this so I could get it out tonight, just tell comment if there are any errors.

Sorry, this chapter took so long to get out, I've been really busy with two jobs.

B