Memories
Serena dropped her arm to her side and relaxed her stance, holding Trumpkin's bow tightly as her fear finally caught up with her. She stared at the scene infront of her, green eyes wide. The three gorilla-looking creatures were all dead, one was still ontop of Caspian and the other two lay just at his feet, slain by her.
Oh my gosh... Serena allowed Trumpkin's bow to fall from her trembling hand and onto the forest floor with a small clatter. Her expressionless face soon clouded over with shocked confusion as she fully grasped what had just happened. How did I do that?! She thought, staggering back slightly as the previous events came back to her. Her fear, her determination, the creatures, Trumpkin's bow, the sensation that ran through her body as soon as she touched the smooth wood—Serena gasped as she remembered why she had picked up the bow in the first place.
"Caspian!" She yelled, running to where he still lay beneath the dead beast, watching her every move.
Caspian watched as Serena ran towards him, concern written on her beautiful face. This proves everything, he thought in wonder. Serena is Susan, she has to be.
"Caspian, are you alright?" Serena asked breathlessly as she knelt down beside him.
"I am... fine," he answered slowly, his brown eyes never leaving Serena's. "But," he added as an after thought. "I would be better if you would help me get this thing off." He nodded his head at the monster, still motionless on the lower half of his body.
"Oh right!" Serena said, slightly flustered. She stood up quickly and helped Caspian heave the slimy beast off of his legs.
Serena helped Caspian to his feet before going insane with worry and bombarding him with questions.
"Are you alright? Are you hurt?" She asked hysterically, circling around Caspian as she searched for cuts or bruises. All the while, Caspian stared down at her, his dark eyebrows raised. "Did that... thing break anything? Please say something!"
Serena stopped infront of Caspian and looked at him with pleading eyes. He looked down at her before breaking into a fit of laughter.
Relief washed over her pale face before she knitted her brows in confusion as he continued to laugh.
"What is so funny?" Serena asked, placing her hands on her hips.
"Nothing," Caspian gasped between laughs. "You just care a lot."
Serena's expression softened as her face flushed slightly. She dropped her arms to her sides, a small smile playing on her lips. "Are you sure you're alright?" She asked Caspian once again, cocking her head to the side.
"I told you, I am fine," Caspian had stopped laughing by then, and his expression became serious as he looked deeply into Serena's green eyes. "Thanks to you."
She averted her eyes and gazed off into the distance, a mixture of emotions on her face. All of a sudden, her sea-green eyes grew wide and she gasped dramatically.
"Trumpkin!" Serena screamed as she sprinted past Caspian and over to where the beast has chucked the dwarf.
Caspian swiftly pulled his sword out of the dead creature's belly before bolting after Serena.
Trumpkin lay face down on the forest floor, his sword lying a couple of feet away from him. Serena ran over and knelt down beside him, Caspian right on her heels.
He stood beside her as she flipped Trumpkin onto his back. "Trumpkin?" She said quietly, her voice cracking. The dwarf still remained motionless.
Trumpkin's eyes were closed, his mouth hung open slightly and there was a peaceful expression on his pink face, as well as a cut on his head, which was bleeding profusely. Caspian knelt beside Serena, who hung her head allowing her raven hair to hide her face from Caspian's view. He reached out and gently tucked some of Serena's hair behind her ear causing her to look over at him. Caspian's gaze softened as he looked at Serena, her green eyes now swimming with tears. I've seen that look before, Caspian thought as he gazed down at Serena, she up at him, the hopeless look in her eyes the same even in a different colour. And I know exactly where...
Their minor trance was interuppted by a quiet coughing infront of them. Serena whipped her head in the dwarf's direction.
Trumpkin sat up slowly, shaking his sore head. He looked up and saw Caspian and Serena looking down at him, relief painted on their faces.
"What are you lot staring at?" He said gruffly, eying Serena's glossy eyes and Caspian's small smile.
"Oh Trumpkin!" Serena cried as she threw her arms around that dwarf's neck.
"Erm..." Trumpkin said, his pink face growing pinker. He glanced over Serena's shoulder at Caspian, who chuckled softly, knowing all too well about the dwarf's awkward nature.
"I'm so glad you're okay!" Serena said as she released Trumpkin, her tears gone and her face glowing with happiness. "We thought you were dead!"
Trumpkin grunted and stood up.
"You clearly aren't used to this sort of thing," he grumbled, brushing dirt off of his stubby arms. He stopped and froze suddenly, then whorled around to face Serena and Caspian
"What happened? Where are the beasts?" His eyes searched frantically before his gaze fell on the three dead creatures twenty feet away from them, two with arrows protruding from their chests. Trumpkin felt on his back for his bow and arrows, and when he didn't find them, he turned to look at Caspian.
Caspian merely shook his head in response. Trumpkin's beady eyes grew wide as he shifted his gaze to Serena. She looked from Trumpkin to Caspian, then back again. What's going on? She thought, feeling uncomfortable under their intense stares.
"Aslan's mane..." Trumpkin whispered softly.
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"I told you, I don't know how I did it," Serena said to Trumpkin as the three of them walked back to the ship. "It just sort of... happened."
"Queen Susan was a master archer," Trumpkin pressed on. "And you look exactly like Queen Susan, there has to be more to this than meets the eye."
"All I know is that as soon as I picked up the bow," she continued. "my senses sort of sharpened, and I felt like I had been an archer my entire life. Then I just sort of aimed and fired," Serena finished shrugging her shoulders.
Caspian walked silently behind them, lost is his own world. She has never used a bow in her life, he thought, repeating what Serena had said to them. Yet her aim was perfect... her stance strong... that can only mean one thing...
"My lord?" Trumpkin's husky voice ripped Caspian from his thoughts. "We've arrived."
Just as he said, they had emerged from the forest and onto the beach once again. The large red and gold ship lay infront of them, the crew bustling around and shouting orders to eachother.
"My liege? I come bearing important news!" said a voice Serena didn't recognize. She looked around, trying to find its source.
"It's about the Kings and Queens of Old," the voice continued.
Learning from her last experience, Serena looked down and locked eyes with a mouse. She let out a surprised squeak and grabbed Caspian's arm, staring down at the mouse with an astonished expression.
"So sorry to have startled you my lady," the mouse said before bowing with flourish. "I will be sure not to next time."
Serena continued to gawk at the small creature before her, too shocked for words. A badger is one thing, but a mouse?
"Serena," Caspian's deep voice spoke from beside her. She looked at him, her expression not changing. "Meet Reepicheep, one of Narnia's most noble knights."
"Thank you my lord," Reepicheep said, bowing once again. "Now my King, about the Kings and Queens of Old—"
"Caspian! Trumpkin!" A gleeful voice rang from behind Reepicheep.
Running towards them was a small girl with shoulder length brown hair who looked to be about eleven or twelve years old, wearing a long red and blue dress as well as a big smile. A tall boy came strolling behind her, about the same height as Serena if not a bit taller, who looked to be about fourteen or fifteen.
Serena, realizing that she was still clutching Caspian's arm rather tightly, let go of him, her pale face flushing slightly as the little girl gave Caspian a flying hug.
"They're back," finished Reepicheep, a bit too late, a big smile plastered on his furry face.
"Lucy," Caspian said as he gave the little girl a brotherly hug. "It is so good to see you!"
"Trumpkin!" The girl named Lucy cried as she let go of Caspian and flug herself at the dwarf. "I've missed you so much!"
To Serena's, as well as everyone's surprise, Trumpkin hugged the girl back, looking overjoyed. Everyone knew Trumpkin hated when people showed too much emotion towards him, so this random display of emotion towards Lucy shocked them all into silence.
"What are you all staring at?" Trumpkin asked grumpily, his expression changing to one of annoyance.
Lucy giggled. "Oh Trumpkin, you're exactly the same aren't you?" She said as the brown haired boy came and stood beside her. Trumpkin rolled his eyes and looked away, crossing his arms.
Caspian turned to the boy and smiled. "It is good to have you back Edmund."
"It's good to be back Caspian, I mean King Caspian," he said, bowing dramatically, a smirk on his face. Lucy giggled and joined in, before she caught sight of Serena, who was standing behind Caspian.
Her jaw dropped and she froze mid-curtsy. Edmund followed Lucy's gaze to Serena and did a complete double take.
Caspian cleared his throat as the two of them continued to stare. "Edmund, Lucy. This is Serena," Caspian announced, gesturing towards her.
Serena shifted her weight and looked at the ground. "Umm, hi," she said looking up briefly only to meet their open-mouthed stares.
Lucy was the first to recover herself. She took a couple of steps toward Serena and tilted her head to the side. "You look exactly like my sister!" She exclaimed while Edmund still stood gawking at Serena. "Oh, well except for you eyes..."
Serena chuckled softly. "So I've heard," she said glancing at Caspian before looking back at Lucy with a small smile.
Lucy giggled again, a look of wonder still on her face. "I'm Lucy Pevensie, and that's my brother Edmund." Upon hearing his name, Edmund snapped out of his trance and gave Serena a small wave.
"Pleased to meet you, Lucy, Edmund," Serena responded. "I'm Serena Pendragon," she continued extending her hand for Lucy to shake.
The little girl smile and shook Serena's hand. "At least some people know what a handshake is," Serena laughed before glancing at Trufflehunter, who had waddled over and now stood beside Reepicheep.
Lucy laughed, her face glowing with joy. "I know what you mean."
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Night fell before Serena knew it. She had spent most of the afternoon with Lucy and Trumpkin, who Serena noticed were very close. Lucy was a sweet girl who seemed to always have a smile on her face. Serena hadn't seen much of Edmund after their awkward greeting, but she had soon forgotten about him while she was with Lucy and Trumpkin. Serena had listened intently as they reminised about old times.
Wow, Serena had thought in wonder as Lucy told her about how she and her siblings had ruled over Narnia during the Golden Age 1300 years ago (Narnian time), and how they had fought the Telmarines a year before in order to gain peace between the Telmarines and the Narnians, as well as to restore Caspian to his rightful throne. This little girl is a queen! She's been to multiple battles, and she's not even twelve years old!
These wonderful thoughts of Narnia floated around Serena's head as she and Lucy began to doze off to sleep. Caspian had insisted that they stay in his cabin, and he and Edmund sleep in the quartermaster's cabin. In the end, Serena and Lucy reluctantly agreed, and now they lay side by side on Caspian's large bed.
I can't believe this is really happening! Serena thought as she stared at the wooden ceiling. It all seems so unreal... especially this Susan girl...
"Lucy, are you awake?" Serena whispered into the darkness.
"Hmmm," she heard Lucy reply softly.
Serena sat up and faced her. "What was Susan like?"
Lucy sat up as well and turned toward her, the moonlight streaming through the window illuminating her face.
"Well, she was a queen like me, but I guess you already knew that..." Lucy trailed off, her expression turning grave and serious. When she spoke again her tone had completely changed.
"She doesn't believe in Narnia anymore," Lucy whispered slowly, sadly. "Even though she was there with us, she ruled over Narnia with us for years... she still says that Narnia was all just a game we used to play."
Lucy shifted her position and continued. "You know, even though you look almost exactly like Susan, from what I've seen, you're nothing like her," she observed.
Serena tilted her head to the side, a curious look on her face. "How so?"
"Well," Lucy said as she gazed out the window. "Susan was always close-minded. If I ever told her about something she didn't see with her own eyes, she would never believe me." Lucy looked back at Serena. "And judging by how well you're taking coming to Narnia, I would say that you aren't close-minded at all."
Serena paused before asking curiously, "Did something happen between her and Caspian?"
Lucy looked at her questioningly. "What do you mean?"
Serena breifly explained what had happened when she was first brought to Caspian earlier that day. The look of happiness in his brown eyes before he had pulled her into his strong arms. The look of shock—even disappointment on his face when he found out that she wasn't Susan.
Lucy was silent for a couple of seconds. "Well, I guess you could say Caspian was in love with Susan," Lucy said causing Serena's sea-green eyes to widen in realization. "But Susan, and my brother Peter, can never return to Narnia."
"That makes sense..." Serena spoke quietly, before lying back down on the bed.
Lucy left Serena to her thoughts and lay back down beside her and drifted off to sleep.
Caspian was in love with Susan, Serena repeated in her head as she stared into the darkness. He must have been so sad when she left...
I wonder what Caspian is thinking about right now, Serena thought before falling into a deep sleep.
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Caspian stood alone in the moonlight, his long brown hair blowing in the light ocean breeze. How long he stood there he didn't know, for he had lost himself in his thoughts.
A year earlier, when the Kings and Queens of Old left Narnia once again, Queen Susan had taken something that didn't belong to her, Caspian's heart. She had told him that she was never returning to Narnia, but he never truly to gave up hope. They shared their first and last bitter-sweet kiss, then Queen Susan walked away from Caspian forever.
Not a day went by where he didn't think of her. The expressionless look on her beautiful face as she turned her back on him haunted Caspian's every waking moment. Then Serena came, the splitting image of the woman forever occupying his thoughts. They seemed so different, especially with Serena's emerald eyes, but Serena's perfect marksmanship and shocking resemblance to Susan made it even harder for Caspian to believe that they were two different people.
He clenched his fists and leaned against the railing as the ship continued to sail into the night. He thought back to the day the Kings and Queens had left, the day of his private meeting with his professor.
"Caspian," Dr. Cornelius had said softly to him as he stood on his balcony, staring at the starlit sky. "You know that High King Peter and Queen Susan will never return to Narnia."
Caspian clenched his jaw and hung his head before whispering, "I know."
Dr. Cornelius walked up to Caspian and lay a hand on his broad shoulder. "I fear you are meant to have this, my King," he said pushing a small piece of paper into Caspian's hand.
Caspian looked down at the paper curiously. "What is this?"
"It is a part of a prophecy, and I have reason to believe it has something to do with you," with that, Dr. Cornelius turned around and walked away, leaving Caspian staring after him, a confused look painted on his handsome face.
He slowly unfolded the paper and read the small paragraph written on it.
Caspian snapped out of his thoughts as the ship sailed over a large wave. He returned his thoughts to that night with the professor. It makes perfect sense, he thought, running a hand through his dark hair as he puzzled over Serena and her purpose in Narnia. She has to be Susan... doesn't she?
He repeated the verse of the prophecy in his head.
So a body shall follow the spirit as told,
Then return to Narnia a Queen of Old.