Fortune's Game
Caspian had left her bed when the sun rose and the stars disappeared from the sky. He kissed Susan passionately and thoroughly before he dressed and slipped back through the secret passage way. She slept until the servants entered the room, ready to clean her chamber. She dressed and exited her room, feeling deliciously sore. She smiled to herself as she was overly aware that she could still feel his weight between her thighs and the taste him on her lips.
She joined her siblings, Laniru, and Caspian in the dining hall and found herself unable to meet Caspian's eyes. It was not that she was ashamed; she was afraid that, if she met his gaze, an incriminating blush would touch her skin and betray her thoughts and feelings. Their joining last night was all that she had expected it to be; passionate and a bit frantic. Their desire finally fulfilled.
After a feast of a breakfast, Susan excused herself to go walk among the lush gardens near the edge of the woods that surrounded the castle. The garden was beautiful and filled with roses and other various colorful flowers. She leaned over and inhaled their sweet scent and she was not surprised when she saw Caspian approaching, for she recognized the sounds of his footsteps. Susan straightened and a smile spread across her lips as her lover took her into his arms.
If an outsider were to happen by, the hug would look innocent, like he was simply comforting her as a gentleman would. But Susan felt him growing hard as he held her close and she trembled in response.
"I have missed your touch, my love." He murmured against her ear.
"I have too, my dearest." She responded, sighing lightly, "How were you able to follow me without your wife beside you?"
"I merely expressed my concern that you looked saddened this morning and my need of wanting to comfort my dearest friend."
They parted and chuckled at the word. Their friendship would be stressed from now on, to lower any suspicions that could grow. Caspian offered her his arm and she took it. They walked a little further into the garden, away from any eyes that could see them. In the middle of the garden, secluded from the world, Caspian tilted her chin up and kissed her softly. The kiss was gentle; not wanting to warrant any bruises or tell-tale signs of a deeper kiss.
"How am I supposed to be around you and not be with you like this?" Susan murmured quietly.
"I will go mad," Caspian agreed, his fingers trailing along her cheek, "but it must be this way."
Susan nodded in agreement. "Will you come tonight?"
"I cannot keep myself away." He assured her, "And no one can stop me."
Their conversation ceased as voices grew near. They moved so they stood side by side, their eyes on the flowers instead of each other. Peter and Laniru rounded the corner and the Queen called out to them. There was a concerned look in her eyes, but a merry smile on her lips.
"Are you feeling alright, Queen Susan?"
"I am better now, your highness." Susan inclined her head in greeting.
Susan moved to them, taking her brother's arm as the Queen took Caspian's. Peter looked down at her, a slight frown on his face. She smiled at him in hopes of reassurance. His worried look dissipated and a smile lit his face. Relieved, Susan focused on playing her part; a perfect, prim Queen. Though, on the inside, she longed to be in Caspian's arms. Lucy appeared through the maze of hedges, smiling radiantly.
"I fancy going to the beach, will any of you join me?" She asked the group.
"That sounds lovely." Susan grinning at her sister, "Will Edmund be joining us?"
"I'm not sure; I think he's off practicing sword-fighting. Again."
"I give him credit." Caspian said with a laugh, "His dedication pays off, his skill bests everyone."
No one could disagree with that statement. Edmund's skill was unparallel to any other soldier. The Kings and Queens headed to the stables with high spirits; talking and laughing cheerfully.
The beautiful blue waters sparkled like sapphires in the sun when they arrived at the beach. Lucy and Susan dismounted first, kicking off their satin slippers and dashing to the water's edge. Susan lifted the hem of her skirt slightly and smiled at the feeling of the velvety sand beneath her toes. The water was cool, but refreshing given the warm temperature of the day. Lucy was beside her and giggled as she skipped along the shore line, she did not even bother to lift the hem of her dress.
"I miss my bathing suit." Lucy mused out loud.
"A bathing suit?" Caspian's brows furrowed, "What is that?"
He sat on a blanket a few feet away from them, accompanied by Peter and Laniru, and watched the Queens frolic with the tide.
"A bathing suit is an article of clothing that girls wear to go swimming in." Susan answered.
"It's made of a stretchy material and it covers you from here," Lucy continued, her right hand coming up to just below her collar bone, "to here," her left hand reaching her mid thigh.
"That sounds scandalous." Laniru observed.
"Not really." Lucy replied, shrugging slightly, "It covers you properly."
Susan giggled and found herself missing her modern clothes. The moment lasted only briefly; she gasped as water splashed across her face. Lucy's giggled. She looked at her younger sister and a playful smile burst across her face.
"You're going to get it!" she declared.
Lucy took off running, giggling like mad. Susan dashed after her, laughing as she went. It felt wonderful to act like a young woman instead of a Queen. Queens did not chase each other like little children. They don't have affairs either. The logical part of her brain whispered treacherously in the back of her mind.
As the sun set, the Kings and Queens mounted their horses and returned to the castle. Susan retired to her room, her body tired with the heat and the excitement from the day. She undressed, slipped on a simple chemise, and went to her vanity. As she sat on the cushioned bench, she looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her face was tinted pink from the sun and freckles trailed along her hairline.
With a soft sigh, she undid her hair from its styled form and let it fall down her back like a cascading curtain. She picked up her hair brush and held it in her hand, feeling the density of the marble handle. Her mind kept wandering back to its logic as she began to brush her hair with gentle strokes of the bristles. She thought about her reign during the Golden Era, as it was now known. She had been a proper Queen then; doing everything by the book. Her logic and rationalizing gave her the reputation of being her fair and good.
She paused, stopping the brush mid-stroke. Her eyes focused again on her reflection. She was no longer that woman. Susan continued the brush through the rest of her hair and let her mind continue as well. With Caspian as the acting Ruling King and Laniru, the Ruling Queen, she had no part to play in the going-ons of Narnia. Her reign was long from over. This was Caspian's part of the story. Where she could once rule, she was now just a Queen in title.
A Queen of Hearts, the words trickled through her thoughts. Yes, she was the Queen of Hearts; of Caspian's heart and of her own. Her heart is what ruled her now. She was his mistress, his lover. Even though her logic knew that it was wrong—that she was betraying the Queen Laniru and the sanctity of her marriage to Caspian—her heart didn't care. She was in love with Caspian and if this was the only way she could be with him, then so be it.
The harshness of that reality even sounded hard to her, but in the end, she wouldn't change what she had done. Love was a force that she could not deny or argue against. It was stronger than her logic and sharper than any other of her senses. It was her undoing as Queen Susan, the Gentle. For the Gentle Queen of old had vanished thirteen hundred years ago and now in her place was The Queen of Hearts.
She was so lost in her thoughts she didn't even notice Caspian's reflection in her mirror until he stood close behind her. She met his eyes in the mirror and she smiled at him. Susan halted her ministrations and set the brush down. She turned to face him, her hair brushing against her waist.
She watched as his eyes traveled down her body and she felt an almost smug smile touch her lips. It brought her great satisfaction that he could be so aroused by the mere sight of her. He crossed the space between and stopped in front of her. Caspian offered his hands to her and she placed her palms in his. He helped her to her feet and pulled her against him, leaving no spaces between their bodies.
She lifted her face and tilted her head to kiss him, but he pulled back with a smile on his face.
"Not yet." He said softly, "I have something for you."
"Hmm?" Susan murmured, "What's that?"
Caspian reached into one of his pockets and pulled out a small box. He opened it to reveal a ring. It had been one she had worn during the Golden Age; a white-gold band with a butterfly shaped design encrusted with pink sapphires. It sparkled and shined like the day she had received it. Her eyes flew to his, and found them lit with happiness.
"Caspian? How did you find this?"
"You'd be surprised how many things we found when we rebuilt Cair Paravel."
Her eyes went wide. "You rebuilt Cair Paravel?"
He nodded. "After you all left, I wanted to do something in your family's honor. Rebuilding your castle was the least I could do."
Susan embraced him tightly and placed a kiss against his lips. He kissed her back, slowly and deliberately. He grinned at her when they parted.
"Do you like it?"
He removed the ring from the box and took her right hand. He slipped the ring on her fourth finger, his hand lingering in hers.
"It was my favorite. It still is my favorite…" Susan trailed off, "I love you, Caspian."
"And I love you, Susan." He kissed the corner of her mouth.
They embraced once more, their lips meeting in a lingering kiss. They moved in harmony to the bed and fell back upon it. They took their time; kisses slowed, hands lingered and caressed. They undressed each other, savoring each tie, each lace, and each button. Their clothes ended up in a mixed pile beside the bed.
Susan found herself unable to stop herself from rolling her hips against him. Caspian growled in response, rumbling low in his throat. He slid inside of her, drawing a noise from her lips. Their eyes met, lips tilting into knowing smiles before they met in a small kiss. When her body adjusted to him, Caspian began to move.
Their tempo was slow and steady unlike their coupling the previous night. This time was more intimate, more romantic. They made love until just before dawn, until exhaustion wore down on them both. They lay, tangled in the lush sheets. Susan's loose hair was fanned across Caspian's chest as her head rested on his abdomen. His head rested on her pillows, his hands tunneled in her thick hair. Their skin was damp with sweat, their breaths shallow pants.
As dawn approached, Caspian sighed deeply. Susan sat up, not bothering to pull the sheet with her. She looked out the window, eyes scanning the brightening sky and sighed as well.
"I wish you didn't have to go." She murmured to Caspian.
"I wish that too." He replied, sitting up.
He leaned over and kissed her before getting out of bed. Susan watched him as he dressed, her lips tilting down into a small pout. Caspian laughed softly and swooped down, kissing her once more.
"Until tonight." He murmured before exiting through the secret passageway.
Time passed. Leaves turned from green to crisp yellows, reds, and oranges. The secret was safe, despite the passing months, and lust made Caspian and Susan bolder. They occasionally moved from Susan's room to various places outside and inside the castle. It was that boldness that was the beginning of their unraveling.
Peter noticed that Susan, despite all her claims of being happy in Narnia, slipped away more and more, and isolated herself from everyone else. Even now, as they sat in the professor's study, she excused herself and left the room.
With Susan gone, Lucy and Edmund both left soon after, their attentions calling them elsewhere. Lucy went off to the seamstress that was making her a new gown and Edmund went off to discuss strategies of protection for the castle city with the general.
When Caspian, too, excused himself after being heralded by a page, Peter noted that he was left alone with the only Queen that had not excused herself. Laniru smiled at him and suggested a walk in the orchard. He offered her his arm and she took it. It was this stolen time that Peter allowed himself to reflect on his feelings for Laniru.
In the months that had passed, he had found himself slowly falling under her spell. Her beauty astounded him, for she was far more beautiful than any other woman he had laid eyes on. She was deeply kind, always smiling and speaking with such grace. She mesmerized him. And he found himself falling for her.
The sun was warm on the castle grounds, but the autumn air was crisp. Laniru shivered as the breeze picked up. Peter wrapped his arm around hers and inhaled her unique scent of rain and of summer and found himself wanting to kiss her. But he quickly shut away that urge, for he would never act upon it.
"Do you want me to get your wrap?" he asked her.
"If you wouldn't mind," Laniru's blue eyes met his and they were filled with warmth, "I believe I left it in the library last night."
He nodded and lifted her hand to his mouth, brushing a light, courtier's kiss upon it. Peter moved swiftly into the castle and took a short cut to the library. When he reached the door, he heard an odd noise. He opened the side door to the library slowly. The King peaked inside and saw a sight he wished he could erase from his memory.
On the floor, a woman was straddling Caspian's lap, her dark hair loose around her waist. Her skirt, bunched in Caspian's fists, was up around her mid thigh. Caspian's lips were on her neck as the woman's head tilted back, her eyes closed in ecstasy. Peter quickly backtracked and closing the door silently. Bile rose in his throat and anger coursed through him as he digested what he just saw.
Caspian was having an affair with Susan. He stalked through the castle, disgusted and bitter, internally debating what his next move should be.
