Just One Night
Disclaimer: I do not own The Chronicles of Narnia, its sequels, and all related characters. They belong to the brilliant mind of the great C.S. Lewis. No copyright infringement intended. I'm just a college student on break, with nothing to do. Please don't sue me.
Author's Notes: I'm actually a Power Rangers (yeah, that's right) fanfic writer, but I thought I might try my hand at a C of N fanfic, this time. This takes place shortly after The Pevensies return to England. Susan and Caspian miss each other terribly. When both wish to see each other again, will Aslan grant them their heart's desire?
Susan Pevensie lay in bed, flat on her stomach. Her pillow was damp with tears from crying. It had been weeks since they had left Narnia, and it hurt so much to think that she could never return. Aslan's words were like a blade cutting through her heart. She was angry at the Lion. Why did she have to leave, now that she found the one person she felt she belonged with? She blamed him. She was angry with Caspian for letting her go.
How can I hate him? she thought, I love him. She knew he didn't want to let go, as well.
They missed each other terribly. That last kiss was not enough. Their parting had been etched into her memory. She felt some sort of ambivalence toward it. She wanted to remember. But she also wanted to forget--perchance, she might become numb, if she forgot. But Susan could never forget. He wondered about the young king. How was he? Was he alright? Had he married, by now? It was three months for her, but would be three years for him.
She buried her face in the crook of her folded arms and cried. How she missed him. Her Prince. She knew it was silly, but she didn't care. Susan was not the type who cared about what others thought of her. Was it lust, perhaps? After all, they had just stayed in Narnia for a month, on their return. Or was she really falling in love with Caspian? No, it was love. Why would she cry, thus, if it was not?
Suddenly, she heard a soft tap on the door.
"Sue, may I come in?" Lucy called from outside the room.
"Go away!" Susan shouted, and then continued to sob.
Lucy knew her elder sister didn't mean those words. She was just hurting, right now. Gently, she opened the door to Susan's room. She sat down on the edge of her bed, and stroked her hair, lovingly, then rubbed her back, to comfort her. Susan sat up, and embraced her younger sister.
"I miss him, so much, Lu," she said, sobbing.
"I know you miss him," Lucy said, hugging her sister tight.
"Why did we have to go, when I finally fell in love? Why can't I return to Narnia?"
"You heard Aslan's words," Lucy said, paraphrasing Aslan's statement, "You're too old for Narnia. It's time to deal with problems in the real world."
Susan did not say anything. She just hugged Lucy tighter and cried.
"Aslan," Lucy suddenly muttered, "That's it! Maybe Aslan is the solution!"
Susan looked incredulously at her sister. It was a preposterous idea. How could Aslan be the solution to her problem?
As if reading her thoughts, Lucy said, "Maybe you could beg Aslan to allow you and Caspian to see each other, once more."
"That's impossible!" Susan said, almost laughing, "Aslan would never grant my request."
"It's worth a try, isn't it?" Lucy said, beaming.
Back in Narnia...
King Caspian walked in silence, as he covered almost all of the castle grounds. It was a time of peace among the Narnians and Telmarines. But he was not at peace. His heart and mind could never be. How could he be at peace, he reasoned, when the woman he loved was not there? It had been three Narnian years since the Kings and Queens of Narnia's Golden Age had returned to their world. One queen he missed in particular. Queen Susan the Gentle. True, they had stayed only one month in Narnia, but he grew deeper in love with her each day of that month that they were together. Oh, how he loved the thought of making her his Queen! How he loved her! How he longed to be with her!
He ordered for a servant to ready his horse.
As soon as the horse was saddled, he rode it, and the horse galloped toward the woods, and on to the old ruins of Cair Paravel.
The young king alighted from his horse, and he searched the whole place. A slight wind blew, and he thought it whispered Susan's name.
"Must you really play tricks on me, now?" King Caspian shouted angrilly.
There was no reply, for it was only the wind.
He saw a gate, quite ajar. He knew it must be the treasury of Cair Paravel, where the treasures of the Kings and Queens of Old were stored. Descending the staircase, he proceeded to light a torch. As he arrived at the bottom, he looked around and saw the treasures, with four statues of the Kings and Queens. He went over to a particular chest and opened it. Queen Susan's royal robes. He lifted it to his nose to smell it. Her scent was still on them, after all these years. Queen Susan's bow and arrows. Queen Susan's Horn. He picked it up. She had left it in his care, the day she returned to England. The day she returned to England. He closed his eyes, and tears escaped, rolling down his cheeks. That day was a sad day. A bitter memory. He remembered how she had kissed him. He remembered the way he buried his face in her hair, as if to take her smell as a parting gift. Something he would remember forever.
With blury eyes, he glanced down at the object he held in his hands. He was tempted to blow it--to call her back. He wondered if it would work that way. But deep down inside, he knew it would never work. But he was tempted to try. As he put the horn to his lips, he felt a hand on his shoulder, and he heard an old, familiar voice.
"Professor?" the young king said, as he turned to look up at him.
"That wouldn't work, My Liege," Doctor Cornelius said, shaking his head.
"I want to see her again, Professor." King Caspian X answered, in a sad voice.
"You pine for Queen Susan. That is understandable. Why not entreat Aslan?"
"Entreat Him? How?"
"Tell him what is in your heart, young king. I'm sure he knows."
Caspian looked down. He did not feel too sure. But all doubts vanished, as thoughts of Susan filled his head. Having made up his mind, he stood up.
"Thank you, Professor. I will."
As the young king looked out the window of his chamber, an old song came to mind. It was a song he once heard from a Narnian musician.
It
started out as a feeling And then that word grew louder and louder Just because everything's changing Pick a star on
the dark horizon You'll come back when it's
over Now we're back to the
beginning Let your memories grow stronger and stronger You'll come back
Which then grew into a hope
Which then
turned into a quiet thought
Which then turned into a quiet
word
'Til it was
a battle cry
I'll come back
When you call me
No need to say
goodbye
Doesn't mean
it's never been this way before
All you can do is try to know who
your friends are
As you head off to the war
And follow the light
You'll come back when
it's over
No need to say goodbye
No need to say goodbye
It's just a feeling and no one knows yet
But just
because they can't feel it too
Doesn't mean that you have to
forget
'Til
they're before your eyes
You'll come back
When they call you
No
need to say goodbye
When they call you
No
need to say goodbye
He listened to the song being played over and over again, in his head.
"Aslan, have mercy," he breathed. His voice was quivering, and so was his whole body. Tears had escaped, once more.
Peter and Edmund were at the gate of the boarding school where their sisters were staying. Lucy met them at the gate, running. He hugged them tight.
"How's Susan doing?" Peter inquired.
"Mum sent us to talk to her. She's not too pleased," Edmund said, gravely.
"I know," Lucy said, her voice sinking, "She hasn't been doing well. What are we to do, Peter? She never eats any meals! She just stays inside her room, and cries."
"Is she still thinking of Caspian?" Peter inquired.
"We must do something about this, Lu," Edmund put in, looking first at his sister, then at his brother.
"But whatever are we to do?"
"We could ask for Aslan's help."
"I already suggested that, but she just brushed it off as impossible."
Caspian X tossed and turned in bed. He could not sleep. He tried to close his eyes, once more. When he reopened them, he found that he was on his feet. He found himself in the ruins of Cair Paravel, a slight breeze blowing. Trumpkin and Reepicheep were with him. Suddenly, in the distance, they saw movement. Someone was walking toward them. It was The Great Lion. All three bowed before Him.
"Rise," Aslan said.
All three stood up.
"I wish to speak with Caspian alone," He continued, in his deep voice.
"I am at Your command, My Lord," the young king replied, putting his fist on his chest.
They walked a little distance away from Caspian's two companions.
"My Lord, what is it you wish to speak to me about?"
"I have heard your heart's desire, Caspian."
Caspian looked down.
"And I am willing to give it to you," he continued.
At this, Caspian looked up in surprise.
"Yes, you shall see Queen Susan, again."
The dream ended, and the king awoke, more puzzled than before. He sat up in his bed. Sweat trickled down, tears spilled, and he was breathing in shallow gasps.
Susan, he thought. Why did Aslan have to torment him, thus? Didn't he suffer enough already?
"Aslan, have mercy," he said, repeating what he had uttered earlier that evening.
Caspian lay down again, trying to catch some sleep. He closed his eyes, once more. This time, when he opened his eyes, he found himself in a strange place. Something told him he wasn't in Narnia. He was standing in a hallway. Its walls, floor, and ceiling were made of wood. He wondered where he was. He saw lights protruding from underneath the doors, until one by one, all those lights were snuffed out. All except for one. Putting his ear against the wooden wall, he listened, carefully. Yes, he was not mistaken. The crying came from that room. It tore his heart in two, as if he knew those sobs. It was as though those cries were familiar to him--near, yet distant. He knocked softly on the door. When no one answered, he checked to see if the door was locked. He was surprised to see that it was unlocked. Ashamed at the thought of what he was doing, he gently closed it again. But his curiousity got the better of him. Opening the door, he stepped into the room. And there on the bed lay his lady-love. Crying. It felt like a knife to his heart. He approached, sat on the edge of the bed, and ran his fingers through her tresses. The girl--no, she was a woman--on the bed stirred.
Susan wiped her tears with her handkerchief, and tried to smile when she saw him.
"C--Caspian? Wh--What are you doing here?"
"I've waited for three years to see you again."
"Oh, Caspian!" Susan said, as she flung herself on him, crying, "I've missed you so much."
"I've missed you too, my Queen."