Author's Note: This one is a WIP hopefully you'll enjoy it, let me know if you have suggestions. Some of this I wrote rather late last night so I apologize for any poor grammar or horrible plot lines. Please R&R, I love you all! -Valiant No More
Lucy had remembered every detail of Narnia, but even her memories couldn't capture the pure perfection she felt in being back. Even though she had no way of knowing how much time had passed of where they had appeared, she knew she was home. Laughing Lucy ran toward the crystal blue waves, kicking off her shoes as she went, for although some memories fade, others only grow sweeter.
It felt wrong, to be here in Narnia and not have all her friends from before there with her. To have their lives move on and slowly be forgotten while her own jumped back so many years seemed unfair, not only to them but to Lucy as well.
She hated being treated like a child when she had lived through more than these people could even imagine, she'd seen more war and battle than any of these soldiers could dream of.
She had once lead Narnia to war, Queen Lucy the Valiant, the lion-hearted girl, their queen who went to war, and they tiptoed around her as if she were set to explode at any given time should they "Frighten the poor child." It made her angry. They had been here nearly a week and nothing had been accomplished yet. Sure Peter and Edmund were at work every day trying to devise a plan of attack, but no one else had made an effort to prepare for the coming battles. These people were to be at war, and they had no experience to such a state. She had to prepare them; she owed it to them as their queen, or what was left of their queen. The girl who abandoned them, just Lucy, valiant no more.
"Oh! Your majesty, I apologize for the intrusion. I did not realize…" Caspian had turned to leave, only to be stopped by the commanding voice of a queen.
"Stop. Caspian, tell me, what do you know of me?"
"Well… You are Queen Lucy the Valiant. There are ballads written about you. "The queen who went to war" they say, friend of the fauns, the great lion's protected. You are said to be second to Peter only in title. All of Narnia would have followed you to battle and on occasion, they did…" Caspian trailed off obviously in awe of the young girl before him.
Lucy smiled. "Of everyone here today, you were the first to know me, even before my own family. To them," she gestured to the door, "I am nothing more than a child who needs to be comforted in this troubling time. Their little queen, so gentle and sweet; Do not mistake me for my sister Caspian; value your life more than that." As she spoke, Lucy's shining smile transformed before his eyes, into the hardened stare of a ruler who should never be crossed, her eyes flashing with defiance.
"Perhaps, my queen, you would care for an opportunity to prove to your subjects just who they are trying so hard to "protect," as I understand it, you alone have yet to take that chance." Caspian returned, flicker of an idea dancing behind his eyes.
"And just what might you have in mind?" she asked skeptically.
"I hear you're pretty handy with a sword…" He replied, and Caspian swears to this day he saw a mischievous smile cross her face.
Caspian struggled to block the next well aimed blow Lucy sent his way, quite a crowd had gathered around the sparring circle now, all of them whispering about who his masked challenger could be. The match was to go until first blood, as they'd decided prior to entering the circle. Normally this was no easy feet for someone up against the prince, but from the beginning Lucy had put him on the defensive pushing and prodding, playing with her prey. Stepping just out of his reach every time he got close.
"Majesty," He called to her just loud enough so she could hear, "you have had me beat for over a quarter of an hour don't you think it's time to end this?"
"What's the matter? Getting tired old man?" She joked, poking him again.
"Old man? I'm only a few years your senior!" He protested playfully swatting the sword away from his person, "Come now, you've won."
"Oh fine, you really are a spoil sport Caspian, I was just teasing." She laughed, sheathing her sword, and reaching up to remove her helmet, allowing her hair to cascade down her back and turning a smiling face toward Caspian, "Now tell me, how shocked are they?"
"Shocked beyond belief my queen, your brother looks like he wants to strangle me though."
"Which one?" she asked, smiling as she watched his face.
"Both, now that you mention it…" He trailed of turning his attention back to her own laughing eyes.
"Well, Prince Caspian," She began in her most pompous tone, "I do believe we ought to make our exit before either of them make good on their thoughts."
"I think that is a very good idea your majesty." Caspian replied with a wink to his conspirator. And with that he offered her his arm, "Shall we go to dinner Lovely Lu? I do believe I was told it would be ready by this time."
"I'd be honored to join you Caspian." Lucy replied laughingly as she took his offered arm and was lead from the circle, blatantly ignoring the shocked expressions of their audience.
Over the next few days, Caspian and Lucy were inseparable, always laughing and teasing one another. Once, they had tried to stay up a little later than Lucy had grown used to, and when Peter came looking for them he found Caspian settled against the wall humming quietly to himself not entirely awake with Lucy leaning against him fast asleep.
"Need any help getting her to bed?" Peter asked the younger man.
Startled out of his thoughts, Caspian looked up quickly, "Huh? Oh uh… no I think I can handle it." He finally replied glancing down at the sleeping Lucy at his side in such a caring manner that Peter almost felt as though he were intruding on something he could never understand.
"Well, goodnight then Caspian, don't stay up to late, we have a lot of work to do tomorrow."
"Goodnight Peter, I won't." and with that, Caspian watched as Peter wandered off down the long tunnel, "Goodnight." He whispered to himself with one last glance down at Lucy before heaving her into his arms and carrying the sleeping girl down the tunnel toward her quarters.
Gently laying her down on the ground near her sister, he brushed a feather light kiss to her forehead, "Goodnight Lucy love, I'll see you in the morning." And then he stood and left in search of his own bed.
Author's Note: Thanks for reading, I'll have more posted as soon as I can get it written. :)