Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the fresh ideas that Lewis did not come up with… and besides, if I did own it, Susan would have definitely stayed with Caspian in the movie and book.
A/N: Sorry it took so long. There was my graduation, all of my friends open houses to attend and going to work too. Hope y'all enjoy!
The sky is almost the same blue, but they're darker.
"How could have this happened?"
I can't keep thinking about it…I need to concentrate on the problem we have right now…
"Why would it be the giants? It's those rebels that have been giving us trouble!"
. . . there are no words to describe them.
"Some form of action must be taken immediately! We need to wage war!"
Caspian the Tenth, King of Telmar and Narina started to massage his temples. He was getting a headache from all of this bickering and arguing going on between the Telemarine council members. It had been like this for a few days, ever since the attack on Hernaldo's group of solders. They were attacked near the northern border of Narnia. Suspicion was on the Giants; one of Caspian informants told him of activity within the Wild Lands of the North that might spell trouble later on. On top of that, Caspian also had to deal with rebel groups who didn't like the union between Telmar and Narnia. Several wagons that were filled with weapons, food, and clothing were attacked and pillaged. Though the rebels were not considered a major threat, they attacked Telemarines and Narnians and sometimes left them for dead.
As Caspian gazed around the sunlit hall, he saw eight men occupying the seats that ran horizontally in the hall. There were at least ten more seats vacant, men either murdered at the command of his uncle or living on different lands, all whom were faithful to Caspian's father even after his death. It was going to be hard to find a right course of action, simply because most of the councilors were loyal to Miraz and one year with Caspian as a ruler still hadn't smoothed anything over.
"Council members please I understand your concerns but shouting them out will not make it better," pacified Caspian, getting up from the seat at the end of the room, which seated the head of the council and King of Telmar. Compared to all the rest of the lords who wore finely made robes, he felt a bit underdressed wearing a simple white blouse with a blue vest a simple pair of black pants. He walked towards the center of the room and addressed them all "Yes something must be done, but until we gain more information there is little we can do."
"Are you suggesting that we sit back and just wait for this to come to our people?" cried Arihaz a senior councilor.
"No, but we can't wage war. Fighting isn't always the answer. Let's strengthen the patrols and keep weathered eyes open. As I said we can't do more until more information can be gathered on exactly what we may be dealing with," said Caspian firmly and with a determined gleam.
"It's those Narnians that are softening your head boy!" snarled Ateri, a very faithful lord to Miraz who never recognized Caspian as his king. He always tried to find fault in anything Caspian said or did, stirring up trouble in the council. "Maybe it was them that attacked us and you willed it! They are a barbaric and-"
"I would never jeopardize my people and if you took the chance to meet with the Narnian ambassadors maybe you wouldn't thinks so little of them!" cried Caspian feeling frustrated once again.
This produced more arguments within the chamber and did not help Caspian's throbbing headache at all. Just as he was about to calm the men down again, another voice joined from the doorway quieting even Ateri's voice.
"He hasn't had you men thrown out or killed for speaking against him as Miraz would have done now has he?" Doctor Cornelius walked slowly into the chamber with his dark purple robe swishing behind him, speaking with wisdom and a bit of the humor he was known for. "You all owe your allegiances to him because of birth and Aslan deemed him worthy of not only ruling Telmar but Narnia as well. Caspian is right to wait for more information for we do not know what the greater evil is. We may go to war with one enemy and be left vulnerable to the stronger one."
Though his words made sense to the men, it did little to appease their minds. Each lord glanced at another and nodded their heads. It seemed they would have to approve this course… for now. Ateri still was not satisfied at this proposal. There appeared a dangerous glint in his eyes making Caspian cautious of him.
"Thank you my lords. If we can start as soon as men can be sent then please see it done. I shall take my leave." Caspian exited out of the room, holding the door for Cornelius, and then closed it. He stared walking up the hall with the Doctor at his side.
Cornelius was not just a doctor, but also a professor and a tutor to Caspian. If any had entered his room, they would believe themselves to be lost in a small library. Though his room was connected to his "small library" he spent less time in it than with his books. Cornelius loved to read and to learn, so over the years he collected many books and taught what he knew to Caspian even the once forbidden history and tales of Narnia.
"Thank you professor, it might have turned for the worst in there if it hadn't been for you," said Caspian as he and Cornelius ascended the stairs.
"Give it time Caspian, it will be hard to show them you're even more capable than Miraz, but I believe that you will help us overcome whatever battles may be ahead." At the top of the stairs they turned left and headed for Caspian's room. "You've fought other battles before and come out on victorious."
They stopped at the door. "I'm afraid of failing not only Telmar, but Narnia as well. They trust me to be able to help them get their old lives back and to keep the peace between the Telemarines and them." Worry was written all over Caspian.
Cornelius placed a hand on Caspian's shoulder as a sign of reassurance. "Aslan did not simply choose you as king from defeating Miraz. He knew that you are worthy to be king. Have no fear. Rest, for we do not know what will happen tomorrow. Good night Caspian, my liege." Cornelius smiled and left Caspian.
As Cornelius disappeared, Caspian opened and closed the door to his bedroom. He sighed and slowly turned to face his room. He headed over to the window and next to the window was his mirrored dresser and up on his dresser slept Orla, his pet falcon. She was a beautiful bird and very loyal, sadly more so than the lords he just met with.
Gazing out the window, he saw people shifting in the streets getting ready to end another day. A city was nestled into the stone castle. It was a beautiful site, not what Cair Paravel use to be but it was home. He hoped to rebuild Cair Paravel to its former glory and eventually live in it, but it would never be completed if the rebels continued to attack and steal from their supplies. Now Caspian might have to worry about giants from the north from what his informants have told him. The giants were only loyal to the White Witch and without her they are only loyal to themselves. If they did decide to call battle, then it would become a problem.
As twilight became night, it was too dark to see anything. Caspian turned away from the view and saw at the far end his canopy bed where he would have been dead by multiple crossbow arrows but luckily Doctor Cornelius had warned him in time. He owed his life to that man, not only for saving his life but for believing in Caspian too.
With that thought in mind he spied an ivory horn with intricate carvings weaved through out. It laid on his stand, next to his bed where every night as he went to bed and every morning when he woke up, plagued his mind. When Susan left that day, it felt as if part of Caspian disappeared through the two trees. For days Caspian wandered through the halls and the courtyard, seeing something that wasn't there. All the recent attacks kept Caspian grounded but asking him to completely forget Susan was like asking him never to breathe again. It was impossible, but he would have to deal with it somehow. She was never coming back as Aslan foretold. Besides as she said, it would have never worked out between them, with her being 1300 years older than him and coming form an entirely different world.
Running a hand through is black locks Caspian sighed at that disheartened thought and slowly undressed and dressed for the night. Tomorrow might bring better news for his kingdoms. As his eyes drifted asleep, a blue-eyed and brown haired beauty flitted through his subconscious and into his dreams.