Beyond The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (The Movie)

Author's Note: The series, by C.S. Lewis, is one of my favorites, but I really love the Susan/Caspian romance angle. Here's a bit of drabble that's probably going to span from the empty space between the victory at the river and when they leave, then a bit of drabble in the beginning of the Voyage of the Dawn Treader, and an epilogue at the end. (Unless I make them seperately...) Sorry for the rambling; on with the writing! Setting, here, is on a hill in a meadow where Narnians have set up tents for the surrendering on the downhill side and Narnian tents on the top (think the first movie) a few yards from the river.

Susan made the last of her rounds, ensuring the enemy party were finally settled down in their tents, then walked back to the Narnian tents to get some rest. She laid back on the pillows (used by all as a makeshift bed) and closed her eyes, trying to get some sleep. It was to no avail, however, and after a few more minutes, she decided to get up. She side-stepped the other sleepers, almost yelping when she heard Lucy mumble something about lions. She breathed a quick sigh of relief when she realised everyone was, in fact, asleep, then proceeded outside. The sun was just setting, and soft oranges and pinks and purples and blues splayed across the horizon. Susan walked luxoriously along the path, chuckling when she heard members of other tents celebrating.

As she continued along the path, going downhill now, opposite the enemy party, she relished the Narnian land. Susan knew the others thought her as the practical one, the one who didn't have as much faith or love in Narnia as the others. But she did—sometimes she thought she loved it more. It broke her heart when they last returned, so much so she had to convince herself that England was where she belonged—she never wanted to feel that pain again. But in the back of her head, she had a foreboding thought that perhaps this was the last time she would come here.

Susan shook her head, trying to shake those thoughts out her head. It was no use musing over that—she was here now. She reached the outer edges of the meadow, entering the sleepy, whispering forest. About halfway between the meadow and the river, however, she turned off the path—when they had last fought a battle here, over a thousand years ago, she had found the perfect star-gazing place—a tall mound of rocks, several in a large circle; easy to pull yourself onto and high enough to look over the trees at an angle; yet small enough to stay secluded.

Susan loved looking at the stars; they seemed to wink and laugh at her and each other, always having fun yet radiating peace in the nighttime sky. And so she lay there, gazing at the sky...

...until, all of a sudden, she came out of her trance and heard muffled footsteps in the pitch-black night. With a slight gasp, she fumbled for her quiver and arrows—only to realize she had forgotten them. The newcomer came faster, until she could practically feel his prescence next to her. She fumbled along her belt, grabbing her small dagger instead and bringing it up to his throat, all in a matter of seconds.

"Now, explain who you are before I cut your throat open," she threatened. She hated being attacked, and hated having to threaten people even more.

"Easy, Susan, it's just me," came a familiar voice, rather amused.

Susan gave a sigh of relief. "Heavens above, Caspian, you nearly gave me a heart attack. And quit chortling!"

He pulled a straight face, only just barely succeeding until they both cracked up. "Alright, I'm quite sorry, if that helps. Now may I please accompany you on this lovely rock? I rather love watching the night sky."

"How'd you find this place? I was rather under the impression it was my secret."

"No, I was roaming through the forest after we set up camp and thought it would be perfect for my star-gazing."

"Roaming off the path? Seems rather dangerous for an unaccompanied foreigner such as yourself."

"That's what I have your horn for, though." Caspian added with a wink. "Besides, what are you doing roaming off the path?"

Susan blushed. "I happen to have lived here a few hundred years ago as a queen, remember?"

"Yes, I do." Caspian gazed into Susan's eyes long enough to make her uncomfortable, and she looked away.

"Anyways, I'd better be off."

"What? But you can't be leaving!" Caspian protested, putting his body in the way of hers as she slid off the rock.

Startled by his sudden proximity, she leaned backward, and he too, leaned away a bit. Suddenly disoriented by his radiating body heat, she heard herself contradict herself. "Well...I guess just a little bit longer couldn't hurt."

"Good," Caspian said, then moved backward and leaped up to settle himself on the rock. Susan shook her head. Get yourself together, she thought. She circled around to the other side and leapt up herself. Again, she was startled by how close they were. Caspian seemed to sense this, and scooted a bit to the left. "Sorry."

And so they lay next to each other, looking up the sky. Susan pointed out constellations Caspian hadn't heard off, and he regaled her with stories of his battles. She, in turn, told him éndless stories from her reign. Caspian found himself laughing and laughing, and he delighted in returning the favor and looking at the sparkle of her eyes whenever she told him a particularly amusing story. Susan, in turn, found herself reveling in the quiet wit of Caspian, the way he looked around and saw the light in everything around him. Soon, though, they slipped into a compainable silence as the night lengthened and the yawns came more often. Until, that is, a rather ghastly breeze came through, leaving Susan shivering.

"Why don't you come closer?" Caspian asked. "You seem rather chilled."

"It's—it's okay."

"Really, I wouldn't mind."

Susan thought for a bit, then decided she was rather too cold to protest anymore. She scooted closer, and Caspian put his arm around her. Susan stiffened for a bit, but then relaxed. And so they lay next to each other in this fashion—his arm around her, and her head on his chest.

Susan reveled in the strength of his body-he was very subtly muscular and by Lion's Mane, he smelled delicious... She had to admit, she'd rather sleep out here every níght-no, Susan, she reminded herself. Don't do it. Don't even think about getting close to him. But then, she wondered, isn't it too late? Would it be so bad? She resolved to push the thought to the back of her mind, and soon, they both fell asleep.