Chapter 1

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Posted on 12/23/2015

Word Count: 1978

"We'll go."

Those words pierced Caspian in ways he never believed he would feel again. One second, he had regained a family with the kings and queens, found a love, and in the next it was once more torn from him. His eyes widened, fear showing in them as he looked up at Peter, silently praying that he was wrong. He looked at the shocked faces of Edmund and Lucy, they had no idea what was happening, just as him. And then there was Susan, beautiful Susan. Her eyes were filled with pain and heartbreak, and any hope Caspian had plummeted.

"We will?" Edmund asked, confusion and worry echoing through. Caspian could hear curious conversations starting up from the citizens behind him, but he truly didn't care. All he could do was look at the kings and queens in front of him.

"Come on. Our time's up." Peter said to his siblings, and Caspian couldn't help but flinch a little. It wasn't fair, they should have many more years in Narnia, with him. As if sensing Caspian's worry, Peter walked over to him and gave a brief, half-hearted smile of encouragement. Slowly he drew Rhindon, and held it out for Caspian. "After all, we're not really needed here anymore."

Caspian wanted to scream at him, at them all, but it was if his words failed him. Of course they were needed, all of Narnia needed them…he needed them. Not only were they rulers, but they were his friends and some of the only people he truly trusted. They couldn't possibly leave, he didn't think he could bare it, but still he took the sword.

"I will look after it until your return." His voice was hoarse, and the words barely came out. They were more for him than for the high king, as a way to convince himself that he was not losing them. But as always, life chose to be cruel to Caspian.

"I'm afraid that's just it." Susan's voice pierced the air, though it was spoken barely over a whisper. As Caspian looked up, he could see unshed tears in her eyes, tears she was obviously trying to hold back and keep to herself. Tears she didn't want him to see. "We're not coming back."

It was if the whole world lost its sound, and its colour. With those four small words, Caspian felt as though everything was ripped away from him. He could see Lucy's lips tremble as she spoke to her siblings and the great lion, but no sound reached his ears. Nothing reached him at all, nothing but those four words repeated on a loop.

And then she was walking towards him, her bright blue eyes unusually dull and tired. He focused on nothing but her, because at that moment she was all there was. Perhaps he didn't love her, perhaps he did. The truth was Caspian couldn't remember what love was, but he did know that he didn't want to see a future without her standing by his side. And so as she reached him, Caspian felt his already damaged heart shatter.

"I'm glad I came back." Her voice was quiet, but he heard it loud and clear. He heard her pain and her loss, but above all, he heard her longing for what could have been.

"I wish we had more time together."

"It would never have worked anyway."

Her words rushed over him and Caspian felt worry and pain. Was this somehow her way of saying she did not feel the same? Some way of claiming that they were never meant to be?

"Why not?" He kept his words short and to the point, not knowing when his voice wold stop coming at all, but knowing it was soon.

"I am 1300 years older than you."

Caspian wanted to yell at her, calling out how he didn't care, how it didn't matter. How no matter what she claimed, none of it would change his feelings for her, and the feelings he prayed she felt back, but all he could do was stare at her with pain as she turned to leave him.

But she hesitated, and Caspian had to hold in any hope that she wanted nothing more than to stay. He couldn't even think that they shared feelings, worried that if the thought got in his head, it would hurt more when she left. Millions of thoughts swarmed his head, but it quickly emptied as Susan turned to him, kissing him in front of everyone.

In Caspian's mind, he knew that the crowd gasped. He knew that her siblings and Aslan were watching, and their behavior would be most likely be considered inappropriate, but frankly Caspian couldn't care less. He was holding her and she was holding him. In those few seconds where their lips connected their souls, Caspian felt like he could have lived a lifetime of bliss.

As their lips parted, Caspian became all too aware that she was truly leaving, and he would lose her for good. Now he knew she felt the same, knew she cared, and knew he couldn't bear to let her go. And so without thinking, he pulled Susan into his embrace, holding her as if she were his lifeline in a storm filled sea. He tried to tell her everything he could not speak in their embrace. How he cared about her, how he would never live a day without thinking of her, and how she was his best friend. In the embrace he tried to let her know how special she was, let her know that there would never be someone as precious as she.

But they had to let go, continue on, and so they did. With weeping hearts, and tears threatening to be shed, Susan backed away from him and walked to her siblings, each with different expressions on their faces, but pain in their eyes. With one final look at Aslan, the four turned to leave, and Caspian wanted so badly to float away, never having to witness their final goodbye, at least until Aslan's country of course.

No one spoke, no one made a move, no one seemed to be able to control their pain for a minute. No one except for a tiny little boy in the audience. The brown haired, silver eyed boy raced up to the royals, calling for them to stay, and as the words left his mouth, it was like the trance was broken.

Suddenly the whole crowd was shouting. Old Narnians and Telmarines alike cried for their kings and queens to stay, shouting the words hidden in Caspian's heart.

The kings and queens had stopped, looking both confused and hopeful as they stared at the great lion, but Aslan's attention was on the boy.

"What is your name, son of Adam?" Aslan asked, his voice kind and compassionate towards the boy, and the crowd quickly quiets for him.

The little boy seemed to realize how many people were looking at him, and blushed nervously in front of Aslan. Caspian couldn't blame him; it was an honor to be noticed by the king of kings.

"Blake, sir."

"Blake," Aslan repeated kindly to the boy, moving closer, trying to be as calming as possibly. "Please Blake, why is it that you want the kings and queens to stay? There is nothing left for them to learn in this world."

Blake looked at Alsan with confusion for a minute, before he opened his mouth and spoke words Caspian wasn't expecting.

"But they haven't learned everything, sir." Blake spoke questioningly. "Nobody learns everything, there are always questions. My mommy says it's the people who think they know all that have the most to learn. And what the kings and queens have already learned, they can teach. Sir, please don't make them leave." Blake rambled, pleading to the great lion with words far beyond his age. "I want to learn from them. I want them to stay and help us as they are supposed to."

Caspian didn't know what to say to the boy, Blake, but he couldn't be happier that someone had something to Aslan. No one spoke, and Caspian liked to think that it was because everyone was just as unsure as he was. But the great lion raised his head and looked throughout the crowd, and Caspian swore he saw a glimmer of something in his eyes.

"I would love for the kings and queens to stay here, in Narnia, in their home." Aslan cried, and the square erupted in cheering, Blake running quickly back to his mother who was chastising him for running off and Speaking to Aslan in such a way. Caspian wanted to rush off to his friends, cheer like the rest, but all of the kings and queens looked at each other, and all five knew Aslan was not finished. And with a single word, once again he silenced the masses "…but…"

"But?" Caspian asked, finally finding his voice again, moving towards the great lion in confusion. Aslan simply looked at him and smiled, filling Caspian with the hope that perhaps things would turn out the way they were supposed to.

"But, it is not my decision. The choice lies on the Narnian King's shoulders." Aslan spoke, and Caspian felt like his head was spinning. "King Caspian, do you wish for the kings and queens of old to stay?"

It took Caspian a minute to fully understand what Aslan was saying. He was getting the choice, as if there was a chance that he would send them away? He didn't even have to think on an answer, his mouth spoke before his mind even grasped the situation. "Yes."

Lucy was the first to reach him. She barreled into him, hugging him with strength that a twelve year old girl shouldn't have, and refused to let him go for what felt like hours. Of course, Caspian didn't mind. Lucy had quickly become like a little sister to him, and Caspian held her back just as tightly.

Next came Edmund. He pulled Caspian in for a one armed hug, thanking him for letting them stay, and smirking in his trademark way. That should have been enough of a hint. "What about a feast? And a ball? After all, there really is much to celebrate." Edmund shouted, clapping Caspian on the back, and the crowd had decided it before Caspian even spoke.

Peter came next, and once again Caspian was pulled into a one armed hug. He could feel a slight bit of tension from the high king, most likely from what had just happened between Caspian and his little sister, but there was no hostility between them. Peter thanked him the same way he would Edmund, like a brother, and that was something Caspian had only ever dreamed of.

Finally, was Susan, who seemed almost nervous to approach, like it was all a fragile dream and one wrong move would shatter the whole world. But his chocolate brown eyes met her deep blue, and he could see her melt. When they hugged, it was nothing but happiness and comfort. Neither spoke of their kiss and the possibilities the future held, but both were thinking of it. As they pulled apart, Caspian smiled at the queen, who was trying once again to keep back tears, this time happy. "I suppose we should head back; we do have a celebration to get ready for."

Susan laughed, Lucy giggled, Peter smiled, and Edmund looked like he wanted to shout out in glee. Caspian looked at them, his family, and could practically feel his heart swell. He never could have imagined this, they were staying, it was a dream come true. And so the five monarchs returned to the castle, each in their own thoughts of potential futures.

Caspian really did have to thank Blake.

AN: Hey guys, so my name is JJ and I'm total Suspian trash. I realized lately that there isn't enough love for this ship, so automatically I set out to change that. While I haven't read the books, I do know everything that happens in them, and I plan on following them slightly, but not much. I plan on making a series called "The Lost Chronicles" in which We Remain is the first book. I will be posting every Wednesday, and I have the first few chapters pre-written. That being said, I hope you enjoy, and please feel free to send me a review :)