She was floating.

Above and beyond all things she sailed through it all like a bird through the sky.

Lucy was no longer cold, the chill that had haunted her now replaced by radiant warmth. It was a feeling like no other, she was safe, safe from all that could harm her; fear would never steal a place in her heart again.

The light around her was bright and almost stunning in its clear brilliance. Lucy reached out, wishing to touch the light, and found that she could touch it. It was smooth and clean – pure, almost like water. It was a feeling she could not describe – not even in her mind. It was incomprehensible, unfathomable.

As Lucy reveled in the perfect beauty around her, taking in all the sights and smells, she became aware of another being beside her.

Turning to look, Lucy caught a glimpse of a golden lion. His mane appeared to be made of spun gold, his body was strong and his face was kind. Without a doubt, Lucy knew who she saw, her eyes widened with gladness as her face brimmed with joy.

"Aslan!"

He laughed, a deep, rich chortle as he came to stand beside her as Lucy rushed to embrace him.

Suddenly, Lucy was puzzled. She wondered where she was and why she was here. A vivid, dark thought of what had passed flashed into her mind and the thought itself seemed to grave for this world.

"Is it over Aslan?" Lucy said timidly. "Am I in your country?"

Aslan smiled warmly. "That is for you to decide, dear one, for I can call you to me at any time I chose, you know as well as I that my plans are always perfect. I have called you to me now, but my plan does not always call for death, it is bigger than you can even imagine."

Lucy looked at Aslan, struggling to understand his meaning.

"But what do you mean Aslan, isn't it your plan for me to be with you."

Aslan nodded slowly.

"Yes child, it has always been my ultimate plan for you, but my plan for you in not complete yet; plans that will require what you have come to know through your suffering."

Lucy's eye took on a light of comprehension, as suddenly, she caught the meaning of Aslan's words.

"You want me to return?" Said Lucy, her eyes searching The Lion's.

Aslan did not answer her reply, but in his eyes Lucy saw the answer to all she asked.

Lucy looked around her, admiring all the gentle magnificence of the place.

Truth be told, she didn't wish to leave, in fact, she wished she could forever stay in the perfect paradise of Aslan's country – or what she believed it to be. There was still so much she couldn't see, so much more she had yet to discover. It seemed a shame to leave and go back to a world so much darker and dimmer than His country.

Suddenly, all she'd ever known seemed only a glimpse of what paradise really would be. Although Lucy could see much of the beauty and experience much of the wonder around her, there were still blurred spots, places she wasn't meant to see yet.

"How long Aslan?" Lucy questioned. "How long before I will be with you again?"

This time Aslan answered with words, his voice gentle, but firm.

"This is something you can never know dear one."

Lucy cast her eyes downward, almost ashamed she'd even asked. Aslan saw her through her shame, and placed his paw on her shoulder.

"Don't fret my child. Although you can never know when, I hope you will always know the why, and knowing that, you can live every day as if you shall again be with me."

Lucy looked up to face Aslan, only to find him slowly disappearing from her sight, his form slowly melting away into the light that surrounded them. Just as Aslan faded from view, the world around Lucy also seemed to fade. Lucy longed to reach out, to grab it and keep it from disappearing forever, but knew she could do nothing to stop it.

The world around her swirled, and faded, first to grey and then to black.

Lucy coughed.

At first it was only a small, gasping cough, before growing stronger, bringing up the stinging, salty sea water from her lungs. It burned at her throat as she gasped; taking in fresh, clean air into her oxygen starved body. Pain flooded her chest as she gagged, bringing up the last of the liquid before struggling to open her eyes.

The sky above her was a soft, pink color mixed with a gentle grey. The sky just before a sunrise.

Slowly, Lucy realized where she was, lifting her head hesitantly. She lay on her back on a large, rough wooden slat. The wood was waterlogged, but firm beneath her fingers, and Lucy assumed she rested on wreckage from the ship.

Still dazed, Lucy turned her head to the right and was shocked to see Edmund lying motionless beside her.

"Edmund?" Lucy called to him.

Edmund remained unmoving, his face pale and his dark hair lying in matter waves across his forehead.

"Edmund!" Lucy called, reaching across the gap between them to take her brother's hand in her own.

Suddenly, just as suddenly as Lucy had once awakened, Edmund also coughed. Water spurted from his parted lips, bringing a smile of relief to Lucy's face. Edmund's rich brown eyes opened slowly, his face turning to face Lucy's.

For a moment, neither of them spoke a word, and Edmund paused to look up at the sky above them as the sun rose across the horizon. His gaze returned to hers, his eyes puzzled and his voice raspy as he finally spoke.

"You'll never believe it, but I had the most wonderful dream."

Lucy smiled, she didn't need an explanation, she didn't ask questions. She just squeezed Edmund's hand tightly as the shores of Narnia came into view.

And she never was sure, but as they drifted homeward, she almost thought she'd heard a lion's roar in the distance.

The End