PROLOGUE

Susan stared out at the sky as she fingered the ring on her finger. The stars twinkled as she replayed the afternoon's events in her mind.

"I'm glad I came back."

"I wish we had more time together."

"We would never have worked anyway…"

"Why not?"

"I am 1300 years older than you."

He smiled sadly at this but as she turned away, his face crumpled into lines of pain. She heard his sigh and turned around. She saw his eyes, like melting chocolate staring after her and her heart thumped wildly inside her chest.

She strode quickly across the space between them and took his face in her hands. Their lips met in what she had intended to be a quick kiss, but he drew her to him, his arms trailing down to her waist and her fingers twisted themselves into his hair.

A gasp from the crowd broke them apart and she stared at him in dismay. He pulled her to him and hugged her, his strong arms rubbing small circles into her back. Her eyes welled up with tears and her skin burned where he had touched her when he let her go.

"I love you, Caspian," she whispered in his ear.

"I love you, Susan," he replied.

Then, with one last, longing look, she turned and walked back to her siblings and took her place beside them. The four Kings and Queens of Old walked away, after many tearful goodbyes, and stood before the arch in the tree. Susan bit down on her lip, hoping the pain would distract her.

Just as Peter was about to step through the portal, a deep, booming voice called out to them…

"Wait."

The four twisted round, to face Aslan, to see that the old lion's face filled with a most uncanny expression. His normally placid features were replaced with an expression filled with uncertainty and indecision. No one had ever known Aslan to rethink his decisions. He knew he must choose quickly.

"What is it Aslan? What's wrong?"

Lucy ran to him, putting her hand in his mane, looking up at the king of beasts with a look of worry on her face.

"My child, you long for Narnia and will still do so when you leave?"

Lucy nodded fervently, her eyes still clouded with confusion.

"Your brothers and sister will also do so when they leave?"

"We will Aslan, there is no doubt of that!" chorused the other three.

Peter stared at the lion, sensing another meaning within his words.

"Susan, do you wish to stay with Caspian?"

Susan looked up, shocked at the question.

"Well, of course I do, Aslan, but I can't, can I?"

She stared up at the great animal in mystification.

"What are you implying Aslan?"

Caspian now spoke, his voice filled with emotion as he gazed at Susan. She looked back at him, her heart quivering at the sight of him.

"Do you wish Susan to stay with you Caspian?"

"There is nothing I would love more, I can assure you of that Aslan, but I thought that wasn't possible?"

His voice throbbed with an unseen emotion and hope flashed through his mind.

"Come Caspian."

The lion walked a little way off, out of earshot, and the others stared after Caspian in apprehension as the King strode to Aslan's side.

"My son, if you were to marry the Queen of Old, Susan the Gentle, great things would happen"

"What sort of great things, my Lord?"

"If you were to marry her, I foresee that she would be able to stay, longer than you or I would ever have hoped. I can see a great future ahead of her here, for if she were to return to her own world a great loss would befall her."

"What great loss, Aslan?"

"That I cannot say, but she would have no great future if she continued to return to her homeland. She can achieve much more here than she would ever have in her own land. Her siblings, the other King's and Queen of Old would prosper upon their own earth but Susan should not. I cannot tell the future for it is only shown in the stars and it is holy knowledge, but I can say this, Son of Adam. If Narnia is ever to return to peace again, it's ruler needs to be fully prepared. He needs to be strong and healthy, ready to give advice and ready to make a decision in an instant. He would need to be in a right state of mind and would not be able to be taken over by grief.

"Caspian, my son," Aslan said in a softer voice this time,

"Are you ready to let this chance go? For if you were to let her leave, the chances are that you would never see her again."

Caspian drew in a breath, his eyes wide.

"What should I do Aslan?"

"Go to her my son, let your feelings be known to her."

"Yes, my Lord, I shall. But, Sir…?"

"Yes, my son?"

"What if she were to feel that she should not stay?"

"I cannot say the future my son, only time will tell that. Now go."

Caspian hurried off, back towards the others, his stomach twisting into knots as he saw Susan's expectant face.

"Susan?"

"Yes, Caspian?"

He took a deep breath and got down onto one knee in front of her. He heard her gasp and lifted his head up, his eyes scorching, and gazed into her astonishingly blue eyes.

"Will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?"

Her mouth opened and closed, no sound coming out. She stared down at him, at his carefully sculpted face, his brown, flyaway, shoulder-length hair, full lips, perfectly straight nose and burning eyes. She turned back to her siblings to see Lucy watching them, a bemused smile upon her face. She nodded slightly and smiled as Susan gazed at her, uncertainly. Then, in that instant, she knew what she wanted.

"I will."

She got down on her knees and smiled at him, putting her hand on his face. His eyes roved over her face, memorizing her delicate features as she was his.

"I will love you forever and ever and ever and that will never change."

"That's all I need to hear."

Rapture lit up Caspian's face, their lips met and their arms curled around each other as they stood, still intertwined and the crowd cheered their approval.

And as the new King and his bride to be shared their joy, Aslan looked on, a small smile lighting his face.