2. Dalia slid away, obviously profoundly downcast and Peter found he was brushing away tears. Someday, my dearest, but not today.
Lucy sidled up to him and slipped her hand in his. “Lambert is still waiting,” she said, nodding in the direction of the garden where the great Wolf had been patiently sitting. “You will speak to him about Susan.”
It was not a question and Peter imagined Aslan’s growl of displeasure at his behavior of earlier reinforcing Lucy’s near order. “Yes, I will. I owe it to both of them.”
Peter broke from the group and slowly walked across the green to where the regal Wolf sat quietly observing. Peter could not tell if Susan's long-time Guard was perturbed for Lambert had learned to mimic his Gentle Queen’s manner and seeming serenity -- as in life and now in death, Lambert was as implacably composed as Susan herself would be.
“Lambert,” Peter began.
Lambert stood and bowed his head. “High King, welcome to Aslan’s Country.”
“Thank you, Lambert. I am sorry for your sake that Susan is not here herself. She misses you very much.” Peter thought of the carving Guy Hill had made for her; Mr. Hill had been murdered before he could give it to her. “A friend made a token for her of your likeness. Susan carries it with her wherever she goes.”
Lambert’s tail wagged. “I had hoped you would tell me why my Queen was not with you all when you died? Were you separated in the calamity?”
“No, Lambert. I am ashamed to say that Susan was not with us due to my own fault. We had a terrible argument right before we died. I…” Peter stammered, deeply ashamed. “I did not trust in Aslan’s power; Susan did, and she was right.”
The wagging stilled. Lambert looked at him carefully, nose flaring and an ear twitched briefly and then settled; Lambert would reveal his unease no more than Susan would. “Why are you telling me this, High King?”
“Because it is practice for what I shall tell Susan when I return. That I am deeply sorry and ashamed to have doubted her. She has heard and heeded Aslan’s command, far better than I, and is doing great and important things in our world, Lambert. You would be proud of her.”
The pause was so long to become uncomfortable. Finally, Lambert said quietly and solemnly, “Are you proud of her, High King?”
Peter thought of all the times he had simply taken for granted all the things Susan had accomplished and how he had never noticed what she did enough to even praise it.
“I am, Lambert.”
“And you will tell her that?”
“I will.”
Lambert inclined his head. “Thank you. Please tell my Queen that I will wait for her and that we shall see each other again when her great work is done.”
Re: Last Battle AU, possibly Rthverse (forget 3 sentences...)
Dalia slid away, obviously profoundly downcast and Peter found he was brushing away tears. Someday, my dearest, but not today.
Lucy sidled up to him and slipped her hand in his. “Lambert is still waiting,” she said, nodding in the direction of the garden where the great Wolf had been patiently sitting. “You will speak to him about Susan.”
It was not a question and Peter imagined Aslan’s growl of displeasure at his behavior of earlier reinforcing Lucy’s near order. “Yes, I will. I owe it to both of them.”
Peter broke from the group and slowly walked across the green to where the regal Wolf sat quietly observing. Peter could not tell if Susan's long-time Guard was perturbed for Lambert had learned to mimic his Gentle Queen’s manner and seeming serenity -- as in life and now in death, Lambert was as implacably composed as Susan herself would be.
“Lambert,” Peter began.
Lambert stood and bowed his head. “High King, welcome to Aslan’s Country.”
“Thank you, Lambert. I am sorry for your sake that Susan is not here herself. She misses you very much.” Peter thought of the carving Guy Hill had made for her; Mr. Hill had been murdered before he could give it to her. “A friend made a token for her of your likeness. Susan carries it with her wherever she goes.”
Lambert’s tail wagged. “I had hoped you would tell me why my Queen was not with you all when you died? Were you separated in the calamity?”
“No, Lambert. I am ashamed to say that Susan was not with us due to my own fault. We had a terrible argument right before we died. I…” Peter stammered, deeply ashamed. “I did not trust in Aslan’s power; Susan did, and she was right.”
The wagging stilled. Lambert looked at him carefully, nose flaring and an ear twitched briefly and then settled; Lambert would reveal his unease no more than Susan would. “Why are you telling me this, High King?”
“Because it is practice for what I shall tell Susan when I return. That I am deeply sorry and ashamed to have doubted her. She has heard and heeded Aslan’s command, far better than I, and is doing great and important things in our world, Lambert. You would be proud of her.”
The pause was so long to become uncomfortable. Finally, Lambert said quietly and solemnly, “Are you proud of her, High King?”
Peter thought of all the times he had simply taken for granted all the things Susan had accomplished and how he had never noticed what she did enough to even praise it.
“I am, Lambert.”
“And you will tell her that?”
“I will.”
Lambert inclined his head. “Thank you. Please tell my Queen that I will wait for her and that we shall see each other again when her great work is done.”