A/N: Couldn't stop writing this chapter! I had to up the rating on the story due to this chapter…some violence in this chapter and some swearing, but nothing too graphic (I don't think…).

Disclaimer: If I owned Chronicles of Narnia, I wouldn't have the student loan debts I have. (read: I don't own Chronicles of Narnia, I don't make money from this. I am merely a fan.)

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"Susan? Sue, wake up."

"Wha'?"

"What are you doing on the floor?" Eustace helped Susan stand up. She stumbled slightly so Eustace picked her up and returned her to her bed once again.

"I thought I heard something last night, so I went to the window to check on it." Susan snuggled deeper under her covers.

"What sort of sound?" Eustace sat n the edge of the bed.

"My horn." She said simply. When he didn't reply, she continued, "it was the strangest thing yesterday, after I accepted David's proposal I thought I saw…"

"Saw…?" Eustace raised his eyebrows in anticipation.

"There was a loud crash of plates and glasses and I thought I saw Caspian." Susan confessed. "But I was obviously mistaken. That thought must have crept back into my head last night causing me to dream of hearing my horn."

"David's downstairs by the way. Should I bring him up?" Eustace stroked Susan's right hand softly. She didn't reply straight away. He could see the wheels turning in her head.

"Not right now, Cousin. Tell him to return after supper. He and I do need to talk." Susan closed her eyes and sighed.

"Very well, Sue. I'll be right back." Eustace left the room, quietly closing the door behind him.

Susan tried to figure out the chain of events of how she ended up on the floor. She knew she heard her horn, but why was she still in England? Why wasn't she in Narnia? Why did she have to deal with David?

Moments later, Eustace returned as promised.

"Would you like something to eat? Beatrice made some delicious waffles this morning." Eustace hoped she would eat something to help settle the hangover.

"That sounds good." Susan agreed. Eustace nodded and left once again. "Oh Aslan, what is going on?" She wished and hoped for answers but knew it would be up to her to figure it out.

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As promised, David returned later that day after suppertime. Susan was in the lounge reading Jane Eyre. When David was close enough, he swiped the book from her soft grip and leered at her.

"Why would you not allow me up this morning? Something to hide?" David stood up straight and crossed his arms. His normal proper suit and tie looking askew.

"Something to hide?" Susan tried to maintain control over her anger and lightly folded her hands into the lap of her red skirt. "I was feeling ill this morning, David. I had to rest." Susan defended herself.

"Perhaps." David rocked on his feet and clasped his hands behind his back now.

Susan picked up her book that David had set on the table next to her. She was in no mood to handle David like she thought she would. She was still confused about him due to the letters. Susan placed the book back on the table and took on the offensive side.

"Where were you all day?" Susan waited to hear a lie.

"At the office, of course." David answered after a moment of fumbling over his words.

"Looking like that? On a Sunday?" Susan rose to her bare feet and straightened her blouse and skirt.

David hesitated at Susan's observation. He noticed she was fidgeting with the engagement ring on her finger and wondered what had gotten into her.

"And what have you been doing all day? Parading around in your skirt and red lipstick?" David scoffed and went to pour himself a drink.

"I do not wear red lipstick, unlike the whores downtown." Susan was getting to the point of her fury.

"So," David laughed through his nose. "Now we get to it." He downed his drink and held the glass, looking right through it as if he were looking for answers or a clue.

Susan swallowed hard and prepared for a battle. She searched the room for a possible weapon if need be. Next to the fireplace was a set of tools…and a poker.

"So you admit it then? You enjoy the company of those whores?" The word dripped from Susan's tongue leaving a foul taste in her mouth. She was sad and upset but would not allow the tears to fall. She refused to show weakness.

"Yes." David said clearly. "I pay them and they…kindly repay me." David smirked. "In fact, yes, I was just there today because my fiancé was too 'ill' to see me."

"I was ill and do you know why?" Susan's hands were balling up into fists. "I found out last night about your activities." She couldn't bring herself to say any more of those disgusting words.

"Who told you?" David looked over at her. He was still holding his glass in his right hand. Susan shook her head and started to back away slowly. "Who?" David yelled this time and threw his glass at her.

Refusing to show any weakness, she allowed the glass to hit her hip and then hearing it shatter on the floor. She bit the inside of her cheek but did not cry.

"Was it your idiot cousin?" David stalked towards her now. Susan then realized the drink he just had was not his first of the day. He reeked of whiskey, gin, and women.

"I have my ways, David." Susan's voice grew deeper with tension. He was closing in on her, backing her up to the fireplace. "It was not Eustace."

Once David was right up against her, he grabbed her by the throat. She fought back, trying to pry his hand off her neck with one hand and using the other hand to reach for the poker.

"I don't think so, Suzy Q." David reached over and grabbed the poker for himself. "This is what you wanted, isn't it?" He laughed. "Foolish girl. You think your life can be like those of the girls in your books…in your stories?"

Susan's eyes closed as she tried to get air into her lungs. With no other choice, Susan rallied as much strength as she could and brought her left knee in contact with David's groin causing him to double over in pain and on to his knees. As she tried to move out of his reach, he quickly grabbed her leg and brought her tumbling down to the floor, banging her head on the end table in the process.

"Stupid, ignorant woman. You need to learn your place in this relationship and in this world." He smacked her across her right cheek making her wince but still not cry. "I want you to cry, Suzy Q. That would bring me more joy than anything right now." He slapped her left cheek this time. It stung, but she kept her composure.

As he prepared to punch her this time, she remembered some moves her brothers had taught her. She thought quickly and blocked the oncoming punch. Using his weight, she rolled him on to his back punched him in his stomach, knocking the wind out of him.

As Susan stood up and prepared to run out the front door, it opened. Eustace entered the house all smiles until he saw his cousin. He rushed over to her and took a quick survey of the situation. He walked over to David and brought him up by his collar.

"You are to never come near my cousin again!" Eustace ordered the airless man in his grasp. Eustace tossed David into a chair and left the room and back to Susan across the hall in the study. He quickly phoned the police insisting an officer be there promptly.

"That bitch will never marry! No man will want her." David heaved from his seat.

"Where's my bow and arrows when I need them?" Susan sighed, applying ice to her hip where the glass had struck her.

Moments later, officers gathered in the foyer and lounge. David was in handcuffs and held firmly by an officer. Statements were taken from everyone and the police left with David in the back of a police car.

"Come Cousin, let's tend to those wounds, shall we?" Eustace spoke softly to Susan as she watched the cars pull away from the house. She finally allowed tears to fall.

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Eustace's private physician just left the house. Eustace had called him the moment Susan calmed down. She was resting on the couch in the lounge now with a mask of ice on her face and an ice pack on her hip. Her nose was broken, cheeks were black and blue, one eye was swollen shut, she had a bum on her head, and hip was bruised.

The doctor left some painkillers for her, instructing Eustace carefully so he does not give her an overdose. However, since Susan's stubbornness flowed over into the refusal of the pain medication he didn't see that as an issue.

Eustace watched Susan from the doorframe. He was very thankful he returned home when he did or else Susan may have been in a worse state than she was.

"I know you're there, Eustace. Just come in and talk to me." Susan spoke from under her mask.

Eustace silently walked farther into the room and sat in the chair near the foot of the couch.

"I'm sorry I wasn't here when he returned, Susan." Eustace hung his head.

"Things always happen for a reason."

"You sound like Aslan." Eustace smiled. "Shall I help you up to bed?"

"No, I'll manage." Susan shook her head and stood up. She limped up to her bedroom while Eustace watched from the bottom of the stairs. He turned into the study when he heard her bedroom door click closed.

In a bit of frustration, Susan threw the ice packs on her vanity causing some of her perfume bottles and brushes to clang and fall over.

"Why am I so helpless in this world? I'm a queen for crying out loud! I've fought in battles." Susan limped over to her bed and picked up her nightgown. Changing took more time than normal and she realized she had a bruise on her leg where David had grabbed her.

Once she was changed, she pulled her hair back into a single braid down her back. She slipped under her covers, neglecting to return the ice packs to her injuries.

"If only I could be back in Narnia again. Back in Caspian's arms." Susan's eyes fluttered closed. "Back to…my…love…" her voice trailed off and she was fast asleep.

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Susan woke up half way through the night. Her arms and legs felt tingly but she chalked it up to being the result of the medicine wearing off. She rolled on to her back and opened her eyes.

"This is not my room." Susan observed the high stone ceiling and noticed the difference in the mattress. "This is a dream."

"Wha' makes ya say tha'?" A deep, gruff voice startled Susan. She now sat up, wincing in pain as she did so. "Lay back down, yer majesty."

"Trumpkin?" Susan did as she was told as it hurt too much not to lie down. "I knew it…David actually killed me."

"You are alive and as well as could be expected, Dear One." A smoother voice cut through the room.

"Aslan…" Susan whispered. She heard his footsteps come closer to the bed. She wished she could see better but it was still night.

"Dear One, why do you think so little of yourself?" Aslan was now sitting next to Susan's bed.

"I couldn't stop David. He was stronger than I." Tears trickled out of Susan's eyes. "I tried."

"Yes, you did try. And you bravely did so." Aslan commented. "You have nothing to be ashamed of, Susan. Your siblings are proud of your bravery."

"They are?" Susan's voice filled with hope.

"Why do you wish to return to Narnia?" Aslan questioned her heart's deepest desire.

"There is nothing in England left for me. I belong in Narnia." She confessed. There was no point in hiding, denying, or lying. "I've missed Caspian as well."

"Do ya love 'im?" Trumpkin questioned in haste. Aslan gave him a low growl and he backed off.

"I think perhaps I did…and it could have grown if we were permitted." Susan answered Trumpkin's hasty question.

"Sleep now, Dear One. Things are now in motion for a big change." Aslan stood on all four legs now and walked into the darkness.

Susan lay back on the satin pillows and snuggled under the covers a little more.

"Why can't He ever just come out and say what's going on? Why is He always so…cryptic?" Susan thought aloud as she dozed off to sleep in this dream world.

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A/N #1: Okay, so here ends chapter 3. Please, REVIEW...reviews inspire me to keep writing, and they make me smile.
A/N #2: I am back in school full time; and the summer classes are condensed so please do not be angry when there is a slightly longer wait for chapters now.

A/N #3: I try to post the chapters as soon as they are done. I do my best to proof them; however, if you notice errors, do not hesitate to inform me (but in a constructive way). I am only human.
A/N #4: Follow me on twitter to stay updated with all my writing antics and to read teasers! (The link is my homepage on my profile.)