[twenty-four: you look so much like your father]

The sunrise meant so many things as it drifts in, igniting the colours of her room. This light is the greatest artist in history, creating beauty on the canvas beyond this window pane. It shines a path to the Narnians, and, as her mind wanders to them, she could feel her eyes smile and a rising coziness in her core. Along the way, these new rays will reveal silken webs and grass wands of many hues, the rich browns of oak arms, the silver-cream of our moon above. Even before she moved the duvet for the last time, she had dreamed each waving leaf, telling its own story to the wind with each dancing flutter.

Prince Oliver Percy Pevensie had been born on a starlit night, amid the warmth of late summer twenty years ago. Some say it became part of him, that brilliant light from above and cozy feelings remaining from sunshine behind and ahead. Genevieve especially saw that in her son, as he always assured that there was a sparkle in every darkness, behind every cloud. It was as if when coldness came he was the warmth, as if his baby skin took it all in and kept it safe. His voice had a slowness, as if he had all the time in the world to talk with any Narnian, as if they really mattered to him which they did. Genevieve can say that there is no person who ever held her in his eyes the way he did, another might need use of arms, not he. Yet in all that gentle spirit there was a warrior, one who would make any sacrifice to save others, to guard them, pay any price.

Yet today marked they day where he was to become a King which also meant it was the last day the Prince would spend with the Queen before she ventured forward to her own wardrobe and found herself back in England for she knew Narnia would be at peace with her son ruling the land. Genevieve rose from her bed as she quickly got changed before she went to wake her son for the last time - not that he currently knew that.

She walked down the hall and knocked on his chambers, knowing full well that he would still be asleep as she walked in to find him enjoying is slumber of his King sized bed - which he wouldn't be for long. Genevieve firstly pulled the curtains open, the sun displaying delicate rays that pierced through the window panes onto the eyes of the Prince who still refused to wake. Genevieve sighed as she sat on the edge of the bed and ran a  hand through his raven locks and whispered for him to wake up, which he tried to ignore as he buried his head in a pillow and groaned which caused Genevieve to laugh before she ruffled his hair - forcing him to bolt upright.

"Morning sweetheart," Genevieve said as she smiled at her son who looked at her with tired eyes. "Its time to get ready."

"Five more minutes." He mumbled only for his mother to shake her head and his as he pulled him up out of bed and forced him to get dressed. "What's the big fuss anyway?"

Genevieve gave her son a blank look, waiting for his mind to comprehend and remember why exactly he had to get up today. A look of realization crossed his eyes as his mouth formed an 'o' and he quickly grabbed his royal tunic and went into the bathroom to get changed - leaving his mother alone in his room to look around one more time. Genevieve traced the deigns on his bedpost with a sigh as she tried to take a picture in her mind so that she would remember this room when she returned to England as she prepared herself to leave Narnia likely forever.

After spending thirty five years in Narnia, twenty without her husband by her side, Genevieve discovered who she truly was as a person and she was a lot stronger than she was before. She no longer allowed people to treat her like scum and she didn't allow herself to be pushed over because she was a female. She had gone through much physically and emotionally that she had built herself into a strong person, someone who was always true to herself and never let anybody talk her down and she was finally happy.

"Mum, you coming?" Oliver asked as he walked out of the bathroom his hair combed neatly and looking smart apart from the fact that one of the buckles on his tunic was undone. Genevieve chuckled as she walked over and did the buckle up properly for him before stepping back - ensuring her son looked perfect for his coronation before tears welled in her eyes. "What?"

"You look so much like your father." She whispered before Oliver chuckled and pulled his mother into his arms to try and keep her sane. "You ready?"

"Ready as I'll ever be." Oliver said as he and his mother walked to the throne room where many Narnians were gathered ready for the King to be crowned.

+++

"All hail King Oliver!" The Narnians cheered as Genevieve placed the crown over her sons head, tears falling from her eyes as she looked at her son, King Oliver the Noble.Genevieve knew that it was time to announce her departure to the Narnians, knowing that if she didn't do so then they would deem her leaving as an abandonment which is not what she wanted them to believe at all and so she walked into the center of the room calling for quiet as she spoke.

"My dear Narnians," she started as she took a deep breath before continuing. "Today is not only the last day that I serve as you Queen but it is my last day in Narnia. Period."

Gasps could be heard from the whole room, especially from her son who was looking at her with confusion before he ushered everyone to be quiet as he urged his mother to carry on - having a feel that he knew where this was going.

"A lot of you know that I am not originally from this world and whilst I love each and every one of you I know it is time that I return to my own world where the Kings and Queens left many years ago. I saw it only right that I leave you with a great monarch before I go and I think I have provided that through my son who will be the Greatest Monarch Narnia will ever see and I am so so undoubtedly proud of him." Genevieve said as she wiped some tears away from her eyes. "If I could stay in Narnia forever Aslan knows I would but I have fulfilled my duty here in Narnia and now I must fulfill it in the other world where the Kings and Queens lie. I hope one day I will be able to return to Narnia but even if I don't please know that I am forever indebted to all of you for making me feel so welcome in your land even though I don't belong here and I pray for a good future for all Narnians to come. To Narnia!" 

"To Narnia!" The Narnians shouted as they all dispersed among themselves to the Banquet hall, a select few staying behind to say goodbye to the selfless Queen who say Narnia through so many things.

"Oh my." Mrs. Beaver muttered as she ran at Genevieve, as fast as her old legs could take her as she hugged the life out of the girl she viewed as a daughter - Mr. Beaver and the twins joining their mother in doing so. "I'm going to miss you!"

"I'll miss you all." Genevieve said solemnly as they pulled apart, the old faun Tumnus being the next to embrace her.

"I am so proud of you," He said and Genevieve smiled into the hug before they pulled back. "If you find Lucy please tell her how much we miss her."

"I promise." She whispered and approached Regulus, Elizabeth and Philip who all gave her weak nods as Genevieve hugged them all goodbye. Then as if by fate, her son was the last to say goodbye as he pulled her into a hug as they cried into each others shoulders savoring the last moments they had together.

It was time. 

The time she knew would come sooner or later but dreaded. She had to say goodbye to the only person that she felt cared, to the only person that she felt happy with. How was she supposed to just do it without feeling like I've lost a part of herself? All those times were we would just talk and laugh and do normal things normal people would do like a mother and son would disperse. When she had forgotten how to live, he was the one who showed her the way. When she felt like the world was falling apart around her, he made her feel as though it wasn't so bad. When she felt like nothing could make her feel better, he somehow managed to put even the slightest of a smile on her face. She wished she could go back to his birth so she could do it all over again and she wouldn't change a single thing. She couldn't help but feel so isolated and companionless. She needed him because without him she was nobody for he had made her so much better by allowing her to be a mother despite how imperfect she was. She had this feeling in her chest where it just feels empty, like a black hole, pitch black and barren. She felt lost and the only way for her to be found again is if she could see him again after this moment.

But that was impossible!

"Baby I need to go." She whispered as she wiped the tears from her sons eyes and sent him a small smile which he tried to return but failed miserably.

"What if I'm not good enough? What if I need you?" Oliver panicked in hopes that his mother could stay, only seeing the tears fall from her eyes. 

"Just because I'm not here physically doesn't mean I'm not here. I will always be here." Genevieve pointed at his heart as he pulled him into another hug as sobs emitted from the pair. "How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard."

"Then don't say goodbye. Stay. Please." Oliver pleased as he held his mothers hand and begged her to stay, already knowing the answer in the back of his mind.

"This is not a goodbye, my darling, this is a thank you. Thank you for coming into my life and giving me joy, thank you for loving me and receiving my love in return. Thank you for the memories I will cherish forever." She whispered before she kissed his cheek and his forehead before leaning away. "I love you Oliver and I am so so proud."

And with that Genevieve turned and walked out of the castle and ventured towards the direction of the lamppost, tears streaming from her cheeks as her heart told her to turn around and go back to her son even though she knew she was doing the right thing. Upon reaching the lamppost she wasn't surprised at what she saw as she sighed and took a deep breath before facing the creature again.

"Am I doing the right thing?" She asked and the creature just gave her a look before walking towards her, allowing her to cry into his mane.

"That depends on what your goal is." The creature said as he smiled at his Knight and sent her a nod. "You have been brave young Eve but now it is time to return to your own world."

"Will I ever come back?" Genevieve asked and the creature chuckled and nodded at her, holding out his paw as Genevieve placed her armoury rings in there - the creature stopping her from removing her wedding and engagement ring.

"Those may be deemed useful in your world until you get what is yours back." 

"Is this a goodbye?" The woman asked as tears streaked down her cheeks again and the creature shook his head before smiling at her.

"It's a simple 'See you later.'" The creature said and the girl laughed before backing away towards her own wardrobe with a smile on her face. "Oh and Genevieve?"

"Yes?"

"You can't live a good life if you can't learn to forgive." The girl stopped for a moment, rethinking the words before walking into her wardrobe.

"Goodbye Aslan."

And then she fell through the wardrobe.

+++

Someone once said that if you're brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello and Genevieve had been one to stand by that idea with the events that followed as she left Narnia again. Upon arriving home she found herself back in her ten year old body, everything being the same as it was except for the two rings that were tightly gripped to her fingers being her only memory of Narnia being real at all.

Walking out of her room, Genevieve quickly walked downstairs surprised to find her uncle with a small boy - likely around the same age as Lucy had been - staring back at her with a teddy bear in his hands. His hair was a sandy blonde that was swept over the side of his face, hiding his brown eyes that reminded her of Oliver so much that her heart swelled at the thought. Genevieve smiled politely at the boy before turning towards her uncle Marcus who smiled at her warmly - something she hadn't expected to ever happen since he was never one to smile even in his rare good moments she remembered from when she was last here.

"Genevieve I know I haven't been the best uncle to you but I now realise why I have always appeared so heartless compared to you and its not fair how I've treated you." Marcus said towards the young girl who looked at him in confusion, unsure of where all this negativity seemed to be coming from. "I never mourned after my sister, your mothers, death and I always seemed to blame it on you because you were there when she died and I suppose I took my anger out on you which was completely unacceptable of me to do so. Can you forgive me?"

"Of course I can." Genevieve said, remembering Aslan's words as her uncle pulled her into a hug and she smiled - finally having a sense of hope of a real family in this world.

"Now Genevieve I'd like you to meet Ronald. Ronald this is Genevieve" Marcus said as he pointed to the sandy haired boy who gave her a weak smile and Genevieve sent him one back before her uncle spoke again. "I've just adopted him and I thought you could show him around."

"Of course." Genevieve said as she held her hand out to the boy. "Come on Ron."

The boy carefully took her hand as she directed him upstairs to his room as Marcus watched behind them with a smile on his face. That was the day that Genevieve gained a sibling and Ronald gained a home.

But that was also the day where Genevieve Potter unknowingly became betrothed again.

End of Part Two