So Close, And Still So Far

Serena stood limp in the boys arms, bewilderment written on her now flushed face. Susan...? She repeated slowly in her head. What's he talking about?

Over the boy's broad shoulder, she could see that some of the creatures had gathered around them, smiling and whispering to each other.

"It's Queen Susan," she heard one creature whisper.

"She's returned!" Another one said.

All the while, the strange boy held Serena in his strong arms before pulling away and holding her at arms length, a mixture of emotions painted on his handsome face.

"What are you doing here? I thought you were not coming back to Narnia," the boy stated, his hands still on Serena's shoulders. He furrowed his brow slightly as he looked into her eyes, but shrugged it off quickly.

Serena cocked her head to the side slightly, gazing up at the boy with questioning eyes.

"Narnia?" She asked furrowing her brow. "What's that? Who are you?"

The boy raised his dark eyebrows slightly before dropping his arms to his sides.

He gazed at her and asked softly, "You do not remember?"

"Remember wh-what?" Serena said, stuttering as her shoulders quivered from the cold. "And who's Susan?"

The boy's brown eyes widened as he stared down at Serena.

"My lord," Trumpkin said softly, causing Serena and the boy to look over at him. "I don't think it's her."

The boy turned his gaze back to Serena as he examined her closely. It has to be her, he thought. She looked exactly as he remembered. Her raven hair fell just past her shoulders, although it flowed halfway down her back the last time he had seen her. Her pale skin and slender frame was just as he remembered. And although her deep sea eyes had changed from the pale blue they had been when he had last gazed into them, she was the vision of the beautiful Queen Susan he had kept so clearly in his mind since their bitter farewell a year prior.

As he gazed at Serena, the confused and unknowing look on her face confirmed Trumpkin's statement. She does not remember me, he thought sadly.

Serena noticed the boy's warm expression suddenly harden, and his strong jaw tensed.

"I am King Caspian, the Tenth," he said in his Spanish accent, his voice ringing with authority. "What is your name and how did you come to Narnia?"

Serena, still shivering on account of her soaking wet state, asked the question she had been dying to ask since Caspian first spoke.

"Who is this Susan person you all keep mentioning? My name in Serena Pendragon, and what-" she paused to sneeze into her hand. "-on earth in Narnia?"

"If I may be so bold my liege," a new voice spoke causing Serena to look around for the source of the voice. "Perhaps we should allow the girl to change into some dry clothes and discuss the matter afterward."

Serena followed Caspian's gaze down to a badger who was the source of the voice. A talking badger? She thought as she stared down at the animal.

"Of course, Trufflehunter," Caspian answered. "Please show her to the cabins and find something suitable for her to wear." He shifted his gaze back over to Serena.

She looked up at him, her mouth ajar, too shocked to speak.

"Come along dear," the badger called Trufflehunter said as he grabbed Serena's hand and began to guide her through the ship.

She tried her best to ignore the piercing stares of the creatures on board, but she couldn't help but glace up every couple of seconds, only to lock eyes with one of the creatures, causing her to shift her gaze to the floor once again.

After what seemed like forever, Trufflehunter led Serena into a large cabin. As the badger began to rummage through a large chest, Serena clutched her jacket closer to her shivering body and examined her surroundings. This must be the King's cabin, she thought as her green eyes scanned the room.

There was a large bed in the corner of the room and a red and gold tapestry with a lion on it hung from the wall. There was a table with various maps and navigation devices spread out on it in front of a large window which overlooked the vast blue ocean.

"Here you go dear. This looks like it will fit you," a kind voice said from behind Serena.

She turned around and looked down at the badger, who held a folded piece of light purple material up to Serena. She merely stared back down at him.

"You don't like it?" he said apologetically. "I'm sorry, I'm sure we can find something else that will fit you." He started back toward the chest.

"No! I'm sorry, it's not that," Serena said, taking the dress from Trufflehunter. "It's just that... I'm not really used to seeing talking badgers." She shifted her weight from foot to foot, slightly embarrassed.

Trufflehunter chuckled softly. "That's quite understandable, dear. But I do believe we haven't been properly introduced. My name is Trufflehunter," the badger said with a smile.

"Pleased to meet you Trufflehunter," Serena replied with a smile of her own. "I'm Serena Pendragon." She extended her hand for him to shake.

Trufflehunter merely stared at her outstretched hand before shrugging his furry shoulders and heading for the door. "I'll let you get changed," Trufflehunter said, waving over his shoulder. "Call me if you need anything." He shut the door behind him with a small thunk.

Still puzzled by Trufflehunter's handshake ignorance, Serena slipped off her wet clothes and pulled on the lilac dress. It fit perfectly. Maybe too perfectly, she thought as she gazed at herself in the mirror that hung on the wall. It was almost as if the dress was made for her.

Serena shrugged it off and opened the cabin door, smoothing out her dress gently. She was greeted by a smiling Trufflehunter, who stood just outside the cabin door.

"You look lovely Serena," he said. "Just like her..." he muttered the last part too quietly for Serena to hear.

She blushed slightly and a small smile grew on her face. "Thanks," she said as they emerged from the cabin and onto the deck.

The wind blew Serena's dark hair about her face and she noticed that the ship had once again set sail. She tucked loose strand of hair behind her ear and walked through the ship with Trufflehunter, over to where Caspian and Trumpkin were standing. Why do they keep staring at me? Serena thought as the creatures on the ship continued to stop and gawk when she passed. Maybe it has something to do with this Susan person they kept mentioning.

"I'm telling you sire, it's not her," Trumpkin said to Caspian for at least the fourth time. "She wouldn't have forgotten her own name. And her eyes have changed. You can't change your eyes!"

"But how can that be?" Caspian replied, pacing around the deck. "She looks exactly like..." he trailed off and stopped mid-pace as his gaze fell on Serena, who was walking toward them with Trufflehunter at her side.

Caspian continued to stare at Serena. She looked exactly like Susan, wearing the very same dress that Susan wore when she and Caspian first met.

Serena and Trufflehunter came to a stop in front of Caspian as he continued to gaze at Serena. Her green-eyed gaze fell on Caspian, before she averted her eyes and shifted her weight to her other foot. Exactly what Susan did.

Trumpkin cleared his throat loudly, ripping Caspian from his thoughts. He scratched the back of his head awkwardly before speaking to Serena. "We will be landing ashore shortly. I hope that you will accompany Trumpkin and I to explore the island." Caspian glanced down at Serena, who smiled slightly.

"Of course, your majesty," she said, inclining her head slightly downward.

"Please," Caspian responded with a small smile of his own. "Call me Caspian."

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"So this is Narnia?" Serena said referring to the ground she was walking on.

"Yes, the entire country is called Narnia," Trumpkin responded gruffly, hoisting up his bow as it slid off his shoulder.

Trumpkin, Serena and Caspian were walking through the forested area of the island, discussing how Serena came to Narnia and filling her in on all the things about it. It was then that she found out that Trumpkin was a dwarf. A dwarf. Oh my goodness, Serena thought in wonder. I'm in a magical land! A big smile spread across her and she looked up at the tall, green trees that almost hid the sky from view.

"What are you smiling about?" Caspian asked, noticing the big goofy grin plastered on Serena's face.

She continued to smile. "It's just that, less than two hours ago I was in England heading off to America, and now I'm in a magical land surrounded by dwarves and kings," she said, giggling. "It's so exciting!"

Caspian couldn't help but grin at her, even Trumpkin couldn't hide his small smile.

They continued walking in a comfortable silence, until Serena let out a terrified squeal, causing Caspian and Trumpkin to whip their heads in her direction, their hands on the hilt of their swords. The ground beneath Serena had given way to reveal a deep hole, at least five feet in diameter. She would have fallen right in had Caspian not grabbed her around the waist and pulled her to sturdy ground.

"Thanks," Serena said softly as Caspian released her. He could practically hear her rapid heartbeat as Trumpkin examined the hole.

The three of them peeked over the side of the hole and into the dark abyss. Suddenly, three pairs of red eyes ignited in the darkness, before a loud roar rumbled the ground beneath them.

"Run!" Trumpkin said before turning around and bolting in the direction they came in, his long beard flowing behind him.

"Come on!" Caspian yelled urgently as the roaring increased in volume and the ground shook violently.

He grabbed Serena's hand and pulled her after him, following Trumpkin's lead. Serena's eyes were wide as she ran with Caspian, the loud roars turning into low growls. She whipped her head around and caught a glimpse of three monstrous looking creatures emerging from the hole. They looked like miniature gorillas, no more than four feet tall, minus the fur. Their wart covered skin looked slimy and their red eyes glowed with fury. The largest creature let out a menacing howl before all three creatures charged after them.

"Wha-what are they?" Serena screamed breathlessly as she, Caspian and Trumpkin sprinted through the forest, the creatures hot on their trail.

"I do not know!" Caspian yelled back, still pulling Serena alongside him.

Out of no where, Trumpkin tripped and fell with a grunt, spilling his bow and arrows all over the forest floor.

"Trumpkin!" Caspian and Serena screamed running to his side.

"Are you alright?" Caspian asked as he pulled Trumpkin to his feet, shooting a glance at the approaching monsters every second or so.

Trumpkin merely grunted. "You two run for it, I'll hold them off," he said and before Caspian or Serena could stop him, he drew his sword and ran towards the snarling creatures.

"Trumpkin, no!" Serena screamed starting after him, before Caspian grabbed her arm and pulled her behind him, as if to protect her from the approaching danger.

Caspian and Serena watched in horror as the creature in front threw Trumpkin aside like a used tissue and continued towards them. Oh no, Serena thought, adrenaline pumping through her body and her heart beating painfully in her chest.

Caspian tensed and drew his sword. "Serena, run for the ship. I will take care of them," he said turning around and looking deeply into Serena's wide, green eyes.

"But-" she started.

"Go!" Caspian cut her off and advanced forward. He broke into a run before Serena could stop him, halting about 15 feet away from her. Caspian stood, sword draw, awaiting the terrifying monster that ran towards him, the other two not far behind.

Serena gasped, frozen on the spot as the first creature lunged at Caspian. "Caspian!" She screamed in terror as it knocked the young king to the ground. It let out an ear piercing screech and lay motionless on top of Caspian, the end of a sword sticking out of it's back.

Serena sighed in relief as Caspian sat up, until she saw him struggling to push the monster off of himself.

Panic hit her like a hammer to a nail as the other two creatures, no 15 yards away charged full speed at Caspian, who lay trapped beneath the first monster's slimy body.

Serena whorled around, desperately trying to find some way to help Caspian. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Trumpkin's bow, arrows scattered around it. I've never used a bow in my life, Serena thought before shaking it out of her head. But I have to do something! Sheer determination covered her crippling fear as she snatched up Trumpkin's bow as well as an arrow.

A jolt ran through Serena's body as she fitted the arrow onto the string of the bow, her hands shaking violently. Whoa, she gasped as she pulled the arrow back and held it at eye level. She felt as if her eyesight had suddenly become more precise, her arms slowly ceased their shaking giving her a steadier aim on the monster, now only eight feet away from Caspian. Serena's eyes squinted in concentration as she took her stance. She felt as though she had been an archer all her life, even though she knew she'd never even seen a real bow, other than in movies.

Serena took her final aim on the monster closest to Caspian, now a mere three feet away from him. Please work, she prayed silently before releasing the arrow with a small twang.

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Caspian gaped up at the creature in shock as it let out an agonizing scream and collapsed in a crumpled heap at his feet, an arrow protruding from its chest.

Still half-trapped under the first monster, he whipped his head around to look behind him. Caspian caught sight of Serena, poised with Trumpkin's fallen bow, aiming another arrow at the third creature before releasing it with grace, striking it in the heart.

At that moment, as he stared up at Serena, Caspian knew. The way she held her position a few seconds after firing an arrow. The way she pursed her red lips and creased her brow in concentration. Even in a different colour, her eyes held the same blazing look as she took aim on her target. It is her... Caspian thought in disbelief as he continued to stare open-mouthed at Serena.

Whether she knew it or not, this green-eyed girl was Queen Susan.