Author's Notes: HAPPY B'DAY, Clear Plastic! This is a fic I wrote (the plot kinda entered my head while I was 95 percent asleep). Seeing as it was to do with birthdays and seeing as today (today happens to be 15th September 2008) is her birthday, I dedicate this fic to her. Hope you read and like this, Clear Plastic!
And to the rest of you readers out there...I have jsut two things to say: First, read and enjoy this fic...second, REVIEW!! It totally makes my day ;D
The Present
Chapter One: Surprise!
Trrrrriiinnngggggg!
The bedside alarm rang with an unearthly sleep, disturbing the sleep of an already-troubled Susan. She reluctantly pulled the bed covers away from her, cursing the cold December weather as she did so. Another sleepless night had passed and here she was again. Lucy, who slept in the bed opposite her own had been tossing and turning the whole night, mumbling something that sounded like Narnia, Aslan, Caspian and Dear Friend or something of the sort the whole time. Her mutterings had gradually given Susan a splitting headache that refused to go away.
Her life seemed meaningless, going on and on with no particular reason or direction. She unwillingly made her bed and ambled towards the bathroom to brush and shower. Another dreary day at college beckoned. The freezing water that came from the shower on the already cold day did nothing to better her mood. She sighed, cursed under her breath once more and proceeded towards her room to get ready for university.
She picked out a pair of thick jeans with a deep green woolen sweatshirt and beige coat to go over it. Anything that would be sufficiently protective for this horrid cold would do. She was least bothered about her looks. There was a period when all she cared about were her looks – she went to college dressed in snazzy and extremely revealing clothes that, needless to say, did not please her brothers. Her pretty face had been hidden beneath a deep mask of make-up. But that period of her life had ended, and Susan cared no more for her looks, studies or even her life.
"Aslan…Aslan…"
Susan whipped around in alarm. Lucy was doing it again…talking in her sleep. Her words stirred something deep within Susan, but she willed it to go away. She had tried so hard to forget and was partly successful. If you're treated like a dumb animal for long enough, that's what you become. The words had hit home.
Running a hurried comb through her ebony curls, she walked towards the kitchen to prepare breakfast, rubbing her hands as she did so. Surprisingly, Peter and Edmund were awake too.
"Good morning!" chorused the brothers. They caught each other's eyes and laughed at their impromptu chorus. Susan looked at them suspiciously.
"What is your plan for today?" asked Peter nonchalantly.
"Nothing much," replied Susan half-heartedly. "Catch the bus with you to university, get back home, complete assignments and thank the Lord for the wonderful day that he has given me." The sarcasm in her voice did not go missed.
"Well, as long as you don't wander astray after college, I'm fine with your schedule," said Peter half-jokingly."
"And what does that matter to you?" she snapped. Peter and Edmund raised their eyebrows. She seemed to be in an even crabbier mood than usual.
"Well, mum was asking all of us to be back home by 3, because Aunt Alberta was coming to visit," said Ed, trying to relieve his brother from being the receiving end of Susan's annoyance.
Susan looked over from the counter, where she was busy preparing waffles and orange juice as breakfast.
"Alberta and Harold are coming to visit?" she asked, raising a shapely eyebrow.
"Yeah" replied Ed. "And you know that mum is a stickler for punctuality, so…" he trailed off suggestively.
She sighed yet again. "Sure thing. I'll be home soon which will be a great sacrifice, seeing as I have a supremely active social life to miss."
Peter shook his head. What was it with her today? Her mood seemed even darker than normal. Well, hopefully we will be able to fix it.
"Thanks for the breakfast, sister dear. I'll go get Lucy ready for school…you and Peter had better go soon or you may miss your bus. You're running late as it is."
"Thanks, Edmund." With a curt nod, she made off towards the front doors. A blast of icy wind entered the house and the boys shivered involuntarily.
"I don't know which is colder; Susan's behaviour or the weather today," said Ed sounding uncharacteristically disgruntled.
"Don't worry…it will be fine. Once she sees what we have in store for her, all traces of her bad mood will dissipate for good," replied Peter soothingly. "I have to be on my way now…I'll see you there!"
"Susan, have you done your biology homework? I was kind of unable to complete my work, and so…"
Susan shook her head with disgust. She very well knew what these girls would have been doing and why they hadn't completed their work. Partying took up a major portion of their lives. Susan had once been a part of their gang, caring for nothing save social gatherings, parties, popularity and looks. A deadly combination.
"Here it is. Please return it before Miss Parkinson returns, alright?" she asked wearily. Johanna, the girl who had asked her for the homework nodded in response. She reached out her long hand for the book; the red fingernails made Susan cringe. It made her remember a past that she was trying so hard to throw behind locked doors forever. She shook her head and sighed, which was become a habit for her now. Some things never change.
Her time in school passed away in a blur and, all too soon, Susan found herself boarding the train that she normally did to facilitate the journey between her home and school. The nerdy boy that she had met three years ago just before and after her second and last journey to Narnia was standing behind her. Big surprise.
He tried so hard, everyday, to engage Susan in some conversation or the other. Apparently he had picked the topic of mythological creatures today.
"I was reading a very descriptive and informative book on mythology yesterday, Susan," he started. Susan groaned internally, but didn't want to hurt his feelings and so nodded politely in his direction.
"All the creatures that we have read about as pre-school kids, such as centaurs and sphinxes and minotaurs and gryphons, naiads and dryads and phoenixes and dwarves were explained in such a graphic way, that it made me wonder…"
Next to him, Susan froze. Her entire body stiffened and she grasped wildly at the memories that came crashing down upon her like giant waves that refused to relent.
Being alongside her brothers as they rescued Trumpkin and listened to his extraordinary tale of the fate that had befallen Narnia after their leave.
Being carried by the gryphons to Miraz's castle in the dead of night.
Leading the centaurs in the war against Miraz and the feeling of satisfaction she felt as she watched their arrows expertly strike down the enemy.
Being fussed over by Shenae, the sweet dryad who was a motherly figure to them whenever she fell ill.
Tears gathered at the corners of Susan's eyes and she brushed them off impatiently. That period in her life was gone and would never come back. There was no reason to get all emotional about it now.
But it is so, so hard.
She wished now that she had confided in her siblings. She was one of the very few who was so blessed as to having 3 siblings. 3 siblings who, most probably, were also suffering the same pain from within but had been successful in masking their overwhelmed emotions. She shook her head to clear her confused thoughts.
The metro screeched to a halt, interrupting her train of thoughts. Noticing that it was her stop, she tightened her coat around her and walked out towards the cab stand.
"Susan! Susan!" The voice sounded unfamiliar. She turned around once and seeing no one she recognized, she walked even faster towards her destination. There were an end numbers of Susans in England. It wasn't like her name was unique or special in anyway. And neither am I, thought Susan bitterly.
"Susan Pevensie, cousin of Eustace!" Susan froze for the second time that day. The voice had to be calling her. It was just not possible for another person to share the name of both her father as well as cousin. Dazed, she turned around to meet a pale, thin girl wearing her bronzed hair in two long braids.
She was clutching at her chest and gasping for breath. Immediately feeling guilty, Susan steadied the girl and waited for an explanation while she caught her breath. The girl held her hand out to Susan who shook it reluctantly.
"Sorry for giving you a fright, Susan. I am Jill Pole, a classmate and close friend of Eustace. He might have mentioned me before."
Susan scrambled around in her memory for any mentioning of the name. "It does sound vaguely familiar, yeah," admitted Susan.
"Eustace was supposed to come home today," stated Jill. Susan nodded. "Uh…Harold and Alberta had a sudden change of mind. And today happens to be Professor Kirke's and Aunt Polly's sixty-fifth friendship anniversary. They actually started celebrating this every year after their fortieth, because it is amazing that a friendship could actually last that long."
"Why are you telling me all this?" asked Susan, a touch of annoyance to her voice. "I'm getting late to go home, you know. Mum must be going hysterical-"
"That's why I'm here," interjected Jill.
"They're celebrating down at the mansion and invited your family, who decided to go since Harold and Alberta cancelled their trip anyway."
"I don't want to go," said Susan, a stubborn look entering her eye.
"Sorry, you have to."
With strength far greater than her appearance suggested, Jill half-dragged Susan across the walkway to where another train stood. "In we go."
Susan, after glaring at Jill for long enough, finally dozed off into a disturbed sleep.
A vaguely familiar melody played in the background and she was in a lawn, clutching Lucy's hand on one side and Mr. Tumnus' with her other hand. A variety of creatures were gathered there laughing, talking and merrily enjoying the beautiful night.
ROAR.
With a start, Susan awoke, shivering and drenched in a cold sweat. What's happening to me today? She wondered. Jill looked at her, concerned. "I'm fine," gasped Susan.
Jill pointed out towards he station they had halted in. "We're here."
A few moments after Susan put her foot on the ground of the Station, a hand caught her back and another shut her eyes. Her hands were pinned to her sides.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAUUGHHHHHH!!" yelled Susan. She had never been so truly terrified in all her twenty-two years of existence. "Somebody, help me! Jill! Jill, where are you? Security!"
"Sssshh," said a voice in my ear. "You'll be fine." Am I supposed to trust this person? Not a chance, she decided grimly.
She responded by kicking him somewhere (she couldn't exactly determine where as she was blinded) but she did have a pretty clear idea, judging by his yells.
"Peter?" asked Susan in a shocked disbelief. "What are you trying to do, kill me?" when she got no response, she started struggling even more. Suddenly, another pair of hands, smaller and softer than those belonging to her mugger (that's what Susan felt, anyway!) grasped her even tighter.
"Shut it, stupid," snarled two voices. Susan, finding that she had no other choice, obeyed.
After what seemed like forever, the jerky walk came to a stop. Susan could vaguely smell candles. She was horrified. Are they really going to kill me?
Her captors freed her and removed their hands from her eyes. She was in a dark, long room. Her captors were nowhere to be seen. Not a sound was made.
Suddenly, bright lights were switched on, and the multitude of colours before her eyes just seconds after she was in the dark left her dazed. She blinked in surprise, and then her mouth dropped wide open at the scene before her.
"HAPPY BIRHTDAY, SUSAN!"
Author's Note: So, how did you like it? Hope it was good...if it was, please REVIEW! If not, review that too! Point out where I'm lacking and if I have made any mistakes, I'm always waiting to improve and give readers what they want. Bottomline? REVIEW, please! NO FLAMES, though.
Hearty thanks goes out to ToryJonas, Clear Plastic, Narnian Nights, Red Bess Rackham, XXRingoXX and RoxxiDevil (sorry Roxxi, I didn't get the case of the letters right!) and all the others who have been regular reviewers of my other stories. I really, really appreciate your help and support. I mean it!
Long Live Narnia,
-SashaWPevensie