The Ties that Bind
Sequel to Long Ever After
Author's Note: Here it is! Next chapters will be longer!
The little girl squealed and ran around the garden, stopping now and again to see if her parents were in hot pursuit. Her brown ringlets danced against her tan skin as she wobbled along. It was a beautiful day in Narnia, the sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and Eva's cries carried on the wind.
"Gotcha!" Caspian cried, and with a dive, snatched the little girl in his arms.
Susan was footsteps behind him, and grinned when she saw he had grabbed her.
Eva squealed again, and tried to wiggle free of her father, but Susan bent down and picked her up. "I think Edmund has been teaching her how to avoid us."
Caspian laughed and got to his feet. "I am certain he has."
He wrapped his arm around Susan's shoulders and she wrapped her free arm around his waist and they began walking back to the castle.
It had been three years since the pair had married, and they had welcomed the birth of Princess Eva two years ago. Susan was ecstatic to be a mother, and she knew that Caspian was just as happy to have become a father. She was incredibly happy. Susan wasn't sure she could ever be this happy, but everything seemed to be perfect. Suddenly, and out of nowhere, she felt a horrible chill go up her spine. She stopped walking, a frown on her face.
"Susan, are you alright?" Caspian asked.
She looked around. She knew that feeling. It was the same she had just before going into battle.
"I just had the oddest sensation…" She whispered.
"Shall I fetch the physician?"
"No, no, I'm fine." She paused, but still, "Caspian, Miraz is dead, isn't he?"
Caspian slowly nodded. "Yes, for years now."
Susan wrapped both arms around Eva, holding the little girl tight to her chest.. "I just…"
"Please tell me what is wrong."
"I just have the feeling that something bad is about to happen."
Caspian wrapped both arms around his wife and child. "I would never let anything bad happen to you or Eva. Not while there is breath in my lungs and strength in my body."
Susan held onto him tightly. "I know." She still felt the uneasiness, but she didn't want to worry him any further. "Come on, we'll be late for the meeting with Peter."
The three of them walked inside, leaving the daylight behind.
XXX
Far across the shores, at the far end of Narnia, the land was closed in thick ice. The ocean was frozen, the trees were sealed inside a sheet of ice. As was a young man with hate in his eyes and fire in his heart. It was a place where no one dare ventured, it was a place that children spoke of around campfires. But after the invasion of the Telmarine's and Aslan's return, the sun was out and shining. And it began to melt the ice. Soon, after a long winter, he would be free.