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Chapter 2: A queen
Caspian followed Cornelius into his study, and placed the books on an overcrowded desk.
Doctor Cornelius offered Caspian a seat, and paced around his study, his hands clasped behind his back. His small feet made horrible shuffling sounds on the floor, and many times he looked like he was going to begin speaking, but suddenly came up with a new thought, and closed his mouth.
After several moments of this, Caspian had enough. "Professor?"
Cornelius looked up as if he suddenly remembered that Caspian was in the room, and was watching him intently. "Ah, yes." He said, and walked over to Caspian, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I have taught you many things, some from books, others not."
Caspian turned his head and cocked a brow. His tutor, who had once saved his life looked almost as anxious and nervous as he did that fateful night. Caspian jumped to his feet, his hands going immediately to the saber at his side. He looked around the room for any foreign shadows, listened hard for any rogue noises. "What is wrong?"
Doctor Cornelius chuckled and placed his hands on the king's to stop him from unsheathing his sword. "Nothing that takes violent action, my dear boy, it is simply that I must tell you something that I have yet the words to say."
Caspian knitted his brows and continued to stare at him.
"Your father," Cornelius finally began, "did not rule by himself."
"Of course not, he had my mother…" Even as Caspian said the words, realization dawned on him, and Cornelius simply nodded. "You want me to marry?" He asked.
"I think it is time you took a Queen, yes." Cornelius replied.
Caspian sunk into the chair. A queen. Yes, he knew that someday this would come but this soon? "Who am I to marry?" The question tumbled out of him before he could stop himself.
Cornelius patted him on the back. "That is not for me to say. But I would like to hear the cries of little princes and princesses in the near future." He smiled and turned to the window. In the moonlight he saw the outline of Aslan in the courtyard, his head turned toward his window. "But first, I believe Aslan wants a word."
"Aslan?" The king asked, "I haven't seen him since…"
"Since the Kings and Queens of old left us. Yes, I do remember."
Caspian's thoughts brought him back to the young gentle queen, the only human girl he had known, for however brief a time. She had told him she was not to return, and he had been truly hurt by that. She had fought alongside him in battle, a warrior, yet still a queen, yet still a woman, and Caspian wasn't sure he'd meet another like her. Their only kiss was a memento he would keep with him forever, the way she brushed her lips against his, the way her delicate hand caressed his face. It was a goodbye kiss, a kiss of gratitude for saving her life, a kiss of sorrow that their young romance had been cut short. If he had known it would be their first and only, he would have given into his temptation much sooner.
"Aslan waits for you in the courtyard, my boy." Cornelius's voice snapped Caspian out of his thoughts, and Caspian gave a nod. He turned, and left the room, the sweet taste of Susan still on his mind.