Disclaimer: I do not own anything of C.S. Lewis's except those that I created on my own.
A/N: I would like to thank my editor for butchering my story so I could make it better for you guys' eyes….if that sounded right. A good chunk of the things she said were in the back of my mind. I just wasn't sure if I was right….
"I wish we had more time together."
Brushing her dark brown hair out of her eyes, Susan Pevensie, The Gentle and Old Queen of Narnia sat in her Literature class staring through the window into the cloudless sky, as her professor lectured on something possible important from Shakespeare. The lesson didn't enter her thoughts at all, just as many didn't for the past month that had gone by since her return to London. Only he was present and all she could think about.
"I wish we had more time together."
Feeling a swell of sadness climb up, Susan stayed within her thoughts.
I wish we did have more time together. I wish I could see him again, but I can't go back. Even if I could, too much time has probably passed in Narnia…he probably has moved even if he still is alive at this point.
Susan sighed, trying to push her thoughts away and concentrate on the now, the logical and more reasonable parts of her life. She was the second eldest, the one who maintained control during the evacuation. If she couldn't control this, this, whatever it was, then she didn't know what she was going to do. Pushing her mind back to the present she tried to concentrate on what her professor was saying now. Looking around, she saw her fellow classmates sitting in the organized rows of desks, all wearing the same school uniform. Despite being a Queen, in London she was a just a simple girl going to school.
"Okay students, on our next lesson tomorrow, I want you to be prepared to discuss on the likelihood of Edward DeVeire being the actually author rather than William Shakespeare," said the professor. "Class dismissed."
Sighing at herself for missing what could have been an important topic, Susan remained in her seat for a time and then slowly got out of the desk. At the end of another school day, Susan placed her books in her bag and slung it onto her shoulder, heading out through the door and into the crowded hallway. It was almost like the classroom, organized and everything and everyone looked the same. Nothing stood out as it did in Narnia. In Narnia, there was color everywhere and everything in it was different. No talking animals or plants could be found anywhere either.
Walking towards the entryway, Susan spotted her younger sister, Lucy, waiting for her. She then headed towards Lucy catching snippets of conversation on the way. Conversations that used to seem so fascinating, now silly to Susan, who faced battles these … girls have never seen.
"Mr. Hennison's class is always so boring."
"Ugh, I know and the workload he gives us everyday Hailey, is enough to want to bang my head against my desk."
"Alice, when are you going to ask John out? He might be taken."
"I'll get around to it when I do."
"So how did you do in archery today, Elizabeth?"
"Ah, I could have done better, but I haven't got quite the handle on it yet"
Susan stopped, blindsided by a memory from the simple mention of archery.
Susan went to each warrior, showing the correct hand position for the crossbow. Being the only expert archer available to teach before Miraz's army descended upon them, she was to instruct and lead fellow archers as best and fast as she could. Luckily it was a nice, sunny day that was perfect for their training.
"Anyone with the bow, hold the bow in the left hand with the arrow rest up, and the bowstring against the inside of the left right angles to the bowstring." Susan went to a dwarf and showed an example of what she wanted. "Draw the arrow toward the bowstring until the string sits firmly."
"Those with the crossbow place your left hand directly below the crossbow with your right hand holding the tail. Make sure you're fingers are on the trigger and for both the bow and crossbow that you're firmly grasping or you might not have an accurate shot," Susan said, trying to convey the importance on getting it right the first time during battle. "When I give the signals, load or set the arrow into position, aim and fire."
"Excuse me your highness, but I'm not sure I have the proper technique."
Susan turned at the deep, accented voice and saw brown eyes looking back at her own blues ones and with a knowing smile on her face, Susan started to head towards the end of the line. A prince if she ever saw or read of one, Prince Caspian X was a handsome man, with almost shoulder-length, dark brown hair. He was smirking slightly as he held the crossbow in his hands oddly, as if to show he had no idea what he was doing. His eyes made their way to the lavender dress she was wearing, but as she neared, they looked right back into her eyes again. A fluttering feeling went through her body.
"Shouldn't the Prince of Telmar know how to handle a crossbow? Or were you thinking of Narnian folktales when you were taught this?" Susan asked with a small, teasing smile.
Caspian smirked right back. "Of course I was taught how to handle a crossbow, but since you're a Queen of Old, I thought that you could help me improve my skills that may end up saving my life one day."
"Well, it's never too late to learn something new. Your left hand needs to go here and you need to move you right hand a little farther up on the tail… there. The crossbow should be little more at eye level too." As she moved his hands, Susan failed to notice Caspian's gaze slide to her face.
"Now aim and fire."
Caspian shifted his eyes and concentrated on the center of the target. He pressed the trigger, and hit dead center with the arrow with accurate precision. He lowered the
"Now that wasn't so hard. With constant practice, I think you can be a fine bowman yet your highness."
Caspian feigned a frustrated look. "Never as good as you, and please address me as Caspian, if I may call you Susan?"
Susan smiled. "If you insist."
"I do." Caspian shifted, hesitating as he thought of his next words. "Susan, I wanted to apologize for what happened back with the White Witch. I don't know what you think of me now but I assure-"
"I don't blame you or think any less of you, Caspian, if that's what you mean," interrupted Susan putting her hand gently on his arm. "The same thing happened to Edmund the last time my family was here, but we did not lose him or you to her, and I understand it was with the intention of helping out the Narnian army."
"Thank you Susan, I'm happy that you said that," replied Caspian, "Now I wonder if you can show me your skill with a bow and arrow," gesturing toward her bow on the ground.
Nodding, Susan picked up her bow and fitted an arrow through. It was her favorite bow, handcrafted wood, with sharp ends made out of bones for close rage attacks. Eyeing the center target she took careful aim and released. The arrow sliced through the air and-
"Susan? Hey Susan what's wrong?"
Susan snapped out of the memory, seeing hundreds of female students passing her by and not Narnian warriors or…or Caspian standing right next to her. When she looked down at what she was wearing, it was not the lavender dress but the grey skirt, white blouse with a red jacket, and a red and gold tie matching the school's colors.
"Susan, what's the matter? Is everything alright?" asked Lucy concerned.
Sad that she was back in England, Susan put on a smile and looked into Lucy's eyes. She didn't want to trouble Lucy with a problem that could never be truly fixed.
"Sorry Lucy, I thought I forgot something in one of my classes but I have it," Susan said with her fake smile still in place.
"Are you sure Susan?" questioned Lucy, suspicion all over her face.
"Yes, now come on or we'll be late meeting Peter and Edmund at the subway station." Without another word, Susan grabbed Lucy's hand and started to make way to the station.
Lucy knew something had to be going on with Susan. It had been months since their return from Narnia and Susan hadn't been normal and as enthusiastic defining anything at all as she normally did. Though of course who ever really came back they way they used to be before stepping foot in Narnia. Something else was off ever since…maybe that's what was bothering Susan. Lucy would never know until she asked and Lucy had to help her sister some how.
"Is it him Susan? Is this about Caspian?"
Susan stopped all together at the edge of the street and dropped Lucy's hand. She looked down at her sister and wondered what to tell her.
"Why would it be about him Lu?" Susan feigned another smile.
"Oh come off it, I'm not stupid you know. And I did see you kiss him for what felt like forever," said Lucy while rolling her eyes.
Susan's cheeks colored slightly but she smiled apologetically, "I know Lucy, it's just…it's just I don't know what I'm feeling about all this. And that I know I will never know because Aslan said that I will never go back. Ever."
"Everybody makes mistakes, maybe Aslan even, and maybe you'll see Prince Caspian again."
"Look I appreciate what you're trying to do, but when has Aslan ever been wrong," said a frustrated Susan. "I can't keep getting my hopes up, it hurts too much. So please just drop it, Lucy."
Turning away as if trying to turn away from her problems. Susan walked into the street failing to pay attention to her surroundings.
"Susan, watch out!"
And then came the darkness.
