Disclaimer-I do not own LOTR or Narnia.
Sorry for the long wait. Life gets in the way of writing. So, in case you didn't realize it yet, the majority of this story will be in Susan's POV. I feel like she is a really underappreciated character and she is, after all, my favorite. I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Peter and Susan followed Strider and the old, graying man, that they hadn't quite identified for sure, down a long corridor. Neither knew where they were going or what would happen to them once they got there but what they did know is that they were together and no longer alone in this strange, new world.
Susan was quiet as they walked, studying the man with the walking stick. He looked aged and worn yet he acted like a man half is age. The girl suddenly felt her brother's hand on her shoulder.
She looked over and up at him with questioning eyes.
"Are you alright, Sue?" He asked.
His sister raised an eyebrow at him. "What do you mean?"
The blond haired boy pursed his lips and nodded in the general direction of Strider. "On my way in I heard two elves talking of that man. He came in with a wounded...what did he call it? A hobbit? And an unconscious girl. I am assuming he was meaning you."
"And why would you assume it would be me, Peter?" Susan questioned.
Her brother tilted his head to her and raised an eyebrow. "Must I remind you of our last visit to Narnia? When you almost fell off of Aslan's How and plummeted to your death? Or when you and Lucy were riding through the woods to go find Aslan and you stayed behind to take care of the Telmarines so she could escape? If it wasn't for Prince Casp-"
The look of complete terror that flashed onto Susan's face caused Peter to stop midsentence. He felt like an idiot. He knew that the mention of Caspian was painful for his little sister and he almost opened up those bloody wounds that she had been working hard to close for the past few months now.
Peter gave Susan a sympathetic smile and another squeeze of her shoulder. "But it was you, wasn't it?"
The brunette nodded unenthusiastically. "I am fine, Peter, you needn't worry about me."
Peter smiled and they both continued on in silence, trailing behind the two older men. They continued on like this for some time until they came upon large, looming double doors. The graying man pushed the white doors open with surprising strength and hobbled in followed closely by Strider, Susan, and Peter.
The two Pevensies stopped just inside the entrance of the room that seemed to be a study as Strider and the other man went over to address another man, whom Susan assumed to be an elf, and announce their presence.
The elf had long brown hair and stood tall, like most other elves Susan had met. The eldest of the men whispered something in a foreign language that sounded like complete gibberish to the human teenagers.
The elf's eyes widened suddenly at the man's words before he nodded slowly and looked in Peter and Susan's direction. He studied the two of them as he started to make his way over to them.
Susan could sense Peter tensing up next to her and she put a reassuring hand on his arm to silently tell him that it was okay.
The elf stopped a few feet in front of the two of them but continued to stare. A moment passed before he took a deep breath and finally spoke. "So you are the ones who were sent to save us?"
Peter's eyebrows furrowed up in confusion. He had no idea what this man was talking about. To his surprise, his sister spoke.
"That is what I have been told, my lord." She said in a calm, collected voice.
Peter's head shot over so he could look at his sister, then back at the man. What was going on here?
The brunette elf nodded slowly yet again. "Where do you hail from?"
"From Narnia by way of England," Susan responded.
"Though, I am sure, you have not heard of either of these countries, My Lord," Peter elaborated.
The elf tilted his head to the boy. "What is your name, young man?"
Susan rolled her eyes at the very long speech that Peter was sure to go into about his name. Sure enough, Peter puffed out his chest slightly and tried to stand a little taller than his already large frame.
"My name is High King Peter the Magnificent of Narnia, Emperor of the Lone Islands, Lord of Cair Paravel, and Knight of the most Noble Order of the Lion." He said in a proud voice.
Susan sighed. "You probably could have stopped after the High King part." She whispered to her brother.
The boy pursed his lips and set her with a narrow eyed glance before looking back at the elf. "And might I have the honor of knowing your name, My Lord?"
The elf nodded. "I am Lord Elrond of Rivendell." He looked over at Susan. "And this most be Queen Susan the Gentle as my daughter has informed me."
Susan curtsied ever so slightly in greeting.
Lord Elrond bowed gracefully to the queen in return. The elf looked over the siblings once more before turning back to the two men. "Gandelf, I cannot deny that these two are the ones the prophecy spoke of."
The elderly man, whom they now knew to be Gandelf the Grey, shook his head furiously. "That is impossible! They are mere children! How can they possibly be the Great Defenders of our world?" He shouted in a deep, angered voice.
Susan's face fell slightly but she took the insult with grace and poise. But unlike his sister, Peter could not let this go lightly. "We are not children! At least, we weren't always. We are royalty, sir, and I expect to be treated as such."
Gandelf looked at Peter with questioning eyes before walking over to stand in front of him. "How old are you, boy?"
Peter looked back at Susan, who nodded encouragingly at him, for a second before addressing the elderly man. "I am nineteen." He said lowly, almost spitting out the number.
Susan knew how much Peter resented being a child again. Before they left Narnia the first time he was around the age of thirty. As he had grown older he also gained respect from his peers and subjects. Once they came back to England where they were once again young children he could not stand it. Their bodies might have gone back in time but their minds surely had not.
Gandelf shook his head. "You are just a lad. You cannot possibly be this Great Defender, neither can your sister who looks to be even younger than you." The elderly man looked over Peter's shoulder at Susan who stood with her shoulders back and her head raised high, every inch a royal. He shook his head yet again. What would a young queen know of war and weapons?
"Gandelf, though I cannot say anything about King Peter, I have seen Queen Susan fight with both a bow and sword, and she did so nobly. There is not one doubt in my mind that she is the woman we have waited to come." Strider said before looking in Peter's direction. "And if King Peter is anything like his sister described then he is also the one to defend our world."
Susan smiled at Strider for his kind words of defense.
"But-" Gandelf began, before being cut off by the short, gentle girl.
"Sir," Susan said, stepping up to stand next to Peter. "I do not mean to question the matter of your trust but...if you so easily entrusted the ring of power in the hands of four small, rather naïve, hobbits then why is it so hard for you to trust the facts that we were brought here to help you and Middle Earth?"
Gandelf stared at her with narrowed eyes for what felt like a generation for the queen but finally his face softened and he smiled slightly. "Because it is hard to except the fact that this world stands on the brink of destruction, my young Queen." He paused. "I am sorry for doubting you both."
Susan smiled and nodded while Peter stepped up to the graying man and held out his hand. "That is alright, my friend, we get that reaction quite often believe it or not."
The two men and elf smiled at the young man. They all were quiet for a moment before Peter suddenly broke the silence. "Now that that is all sorted can someone please tell me what is going on?"
Susan covered her mouth to hide the chuckle that threatened to break through. Clearly, there was ever more explaining to do than she thought.
Susan was standing by the railing in the garden she had sat in earlier with Strider and the four hobbits. It had been several hours since her and Peter parted ways after their meeting with Strider, Lord Elrond, and Gandelf.
Peter was completely perplexed by the story of the ring along with the prophecy that was written about his sister and himself. After all of this information was poured down upon him, he wished to take some rest. He had been traveling for several days now which contributed to his exhaustion.
He promised to meet Susan later so the two of them could have dinner together and catch up on their stories and experiences so far in Middle Earth until the ball that would take place for Lord Elrond's guests.
So now Susan had nothing but time to waste until dusk fell.
She had been watching as men, elves, and dwarves arrived in small groups, all coming to attend the council meeting held by Lord Elrond.
Susan sighed as the last group of men filed through the front gates and they were finally closed for the day.
How many men had shown up to discover the fate of this one little ring? Susan did not understand how such a small, unsubstantial trinket could carry with it such power and destruction. The queen shook her head and pushed herself up from the railing. She had decided that she was going to go find Peter.
The girl turned around and froze suddenly when she saw the least likely of persons. From across the garden stood the man that Strider had identified as Legolas Greenleaf. Now, this in it's self would not have been strange to Susan but the thing that startled her was that he was looking back at her with big blue eyes that matched the pair she possessed.
They two's eyes stayed locked for a moment before Susan felt the need to break her gaze. Feeling the need to leave the garden immediately, Susan quickly turned and walked out of the garden through the nearest corridor.
The girl was slightly out of breath before she stopped her hasty retreat. She slowed to a brisk walk and reluctantly let her thoughts drift back to the elf. Who was he and why did he feel the need to stare at her?
The last person who stared at Susan like that was Caspian and that-
Susan halted mid-step. No, this could not be happening, not again.
Could it be possible that what happened with Caspian could be repeating with this Legolas character? No, it couldn't and Susan knew why: because she would not let it.
Like the lady she was brought up to be, Susan cleared her throat, straightened her clothes, and pulled herself back together. Her momentary lapse into the past had affected her slightly but now that she was going to be in the company of others at dinner she would have to act like the queen she was.
Susan went back to following the corridors that led to Peter's room, hoping that her brother could give her a familiar piece of mind that she had been sorely lacking for two weeks now.
Peter was in his chambers getting ready for dinner and then, later, the ball that would be held for those who came to decide the fate of the one ring.
The blond king threw on a light blue tunic that the elves had graciously given to him. He had just managed to get the shirt over his head when a knock sounded at his door. Peter rolled his eyes at the sound. It must have been Susan.
He walked over to the door and grabbed hold of the door knob. "Sue, I thought I told you that I would-"
The door swung open to reveal that it was not Susan who had come for him, but Boromir.
"Boromir! What are you doing here?" Peter asked, stunned to see his new friend.
Boromir looked at Peter with skeptical eyes. "I am going to ask you a question and you are going to answer it truthfully, do you understand?"
Boromir's words were venomous and strangely unlike him.
Peter raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms. "Alright."
Boromir nodded. "Who are you?"
The blond boy's face fell at the question. So Boromir had indeed learned of his lies? Peter knew that his untruths would catch up with him eventually but this seemed too soon. He had not had time to prepare a proper explanation for his actions.
The king sighed, knowing that he had to just tell the raw truth and deal with the consequences like a gentleman would. "My name is Peter and I am the king of a country that is not of this Middle Earth." He paused. "I realize that you probably do not believe the last bit but it's the truth."
Boromir did not response back quickly. Instead, the man narrowed his eyes. "You did not lose your memory at all, did you?"
Peter sighed and shook his head. "I am sorry that I lied to you. You were my host and it was wrong of me to do so but I just did not think you would believe my story. I thought you would have declared me insane and thrown me out of your city and then where would I have gone?"
Boromir shook his head a moment later. "You have showed great disrespect for me by keeping these secrets from me," The man said.
Peter nodded. "I know and for that I apologize."
The room went silent as the man of Gondor rubbed the stubble on his chin, pacing thoughtfully. Peter assumed the man was deciding what to think of him. In truth, they had become very good friends and this is clearly why Peter's betrayal had affected Boromir's ego so.
"Do not lie to me again." Boromir finally spoke the strong warning.
Peter just gave him one firm nod in response.
The men stood in silence for a moment awkwardly. Neither wanted to be the first one to speak. Peter because he felt guilty for lying to his friend and Boromir because his pride would not allow it.
Thankfully, they were both saved by the small woman who stood knocking in Peter's doorway.
"I'm sorry," Susan said. "I hope I am not interrupting anything." She looked from one man to the other with a small, closed-lipped smile spread across her lovely face.
Both stared at her for a moment before turning to look at each other.
Boromir gave Peter a friendly smile, silently saying that he was forgiven, before going over to Susan. The man of Gondor took her petite hand in his own and pressed his lips gently on her knuckles. "You must be Queen Susan?"
The girl smiled again and nodded.
"I have heard of you." The man stated.
Susan shot a glance at her brother. "Oh? Nothing horrid, I trust?"
Boromir chuckled, catching the look she had just given Peter. "No, your husband has not-"
"Husband!?" Both siblings cried out in surprise.
Boromir looked from Peter to Susan and back again. "The two of you are not married then?"
"Of course not! Why on earth would you think that?" Peter exclaimed.
The man from Gondor shook his head before answering. "I just assumed that since you were the king and queen of your country that you were married."
Susan looked at the man and smiled gently. "It was an honest mistake, my lord. You see, Peter and I are brother and sister. We ruled Narnia together, along with our younger siblings. I know it is not conventional for running a kingdom but..." Susan trailed off, thinking how abnormal all of this must have sounded to the man.
Indeed, soon enough, Boromir's brow furrowed up. "This Narnia of yours sounds like the strangest of places."
Susan chuckled. "That it is, but nonetheless Narnia is home."
Boromir nodded and the three lapsed into a small silence.
Susan always appreciated peace and quiet but when it turned awkward, as it had just then, she felt uneasy. Trying to defuse the situation, she decided to speak again. "Are the two of you ready for dinner? I just came here to tell Peter how starved I am and wanted to see if he would join me." She turned to Boromir. "You are more than welcome to join us, if you wish, my lord."
The man smiled. "Thank you but no. I have already promised some old friends that I would dine with them tonight. I shall take my leave." He turned to Peter and bowed his head slightly. "King Peter."
The blonde boy nodded back in response. "Boromir."
The man of Gonder then went over to Susan and took her hand in his yet again, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. "It was a pleasure to meet you, my queen."
Susan smiled. "And I you, Lord Boromir."
With one last nod, the man passed Susan, walked out the door, and disappeared into the hallway.
"He was a descent sort, wasn't he?" She said to her brother.
Peter just shrugged. "Haven't completely figured him out yet. But he has been a good friend these last couple of weeks."
"Yeah, I have made a couple of those myself." Susan added, smiling at the thought of those four little hobbits.
Peter nodded and walked over to her. He stood next to her and extended his arm for his sister to take. "Why don't you tell me about them over dinner?"
Susan chuckled. "Alright."
The brunette girl linked her arm with her brother's and the next second they were off to the dinning area. They walked at a steady pace, linked arm and arm as they used to when strolling through the gardens at Cair Paravel many moons ago.
It was only a matter of minutes before they found themselves in the dining hall.
Susan thought it was beautifully decorated. Round wooden tables, the color of ash, were spread gracefully around the room. Several chairs stood around the tables to allow six or seven people to eat together. The room was airy and light and elegant. Susan smiled. The more she saw of Rivendell the more she fell in love with it.
"Where shall we sit?" Peter asked.
Susan looked around the room, trying to find an open table. She was just about to suggest one when she heard her name being called out.
"Susan! Susan!"
The girl looked around, searching for the source of the voice. She looked around and saw Pippin running toward her followed closely by Merry.
"You know these children?" Peter asked, eying the two boys.
Susan chuckled. "Peter, look closer."
The blonde boy raised an eye brow at her before turning back to the approaching children. They must have been around three feet tall, around the age of four was his guess, but as he gave them a closer look he noticed that they had stubble growing on their faces. The boy was taken aback. These were not children at all; they were men.
"Susan!" Pippin called again as he then Merry came to a halt in front of her. The shortest of the hobbits smiled up at Susan. It took him a second to realize that someone was even standing next to her.
Pippin gave Peter a once over and frowned. "And who are you?"
The blond boy raised an eyebrow at the clearly infatuated hobbit who viewed him as a threat.
"Oh, Pippin, Merry, this is my brother, Peter. Peter, this is Merry and Pippin." A pause. "Strider was right when he said that we would find him here." Susan said, quickly defusing the situation. For a minute even, she was worried that Pippin would try to strike Peter.
At Susan's words, Pippin's jealousy faded and he began smiling happily again. "Oh, well it is a pleasure to meet you." Pippin held out his little hand. Peter excepted the gesture and shook his hand firmly.
"And I you." Peter said before releasing Pippin's hand to take hold of Merry's.
Pippin nodded to him.
"Well, would you like to sit with us for a bite to eat before this grand party?" Merry asked the siblings politely.
Susan raised one brown eyebrow at them. "The two of you? Eat only a bite?" She began to laugh. "I clearly remember it was your stomaches that almost got us killed on Weathertop."
Peter looked at his sister with wide eyes. What was Weathertop and who tried to kill them? He was about to say something when Pippin cut in. "We are growing boys- I mean,men! We needed our food and as I recall no one was killed."
It was Merry's turn to laugh. "Are you dimmer than usual, Pip? Frodo was stabbed with a poisonous blade and Susan almost died of blood loss!"
Peter's eyes grew even wider. "Okay, what are the three of you talking about?"
Susan looked over at her brother, almost forgetting that he was there. She sighed. "Why don't we take a seat first? This is quite a long story."
Peter chuckled once. "Yes, it seems we shall be in for a lot of those in Middle Earth."
Susan shook her head and rolled her blue eyes before following Pippin and Merry back to their table where a night full of stories was to take place, and that was even before the ball started. She sighed again as her mind reluctantly went back to an image of a certain elf with long blonde hair who would surely be at this ball.
Susan pursed her lips as she willed the thought from her mind. She knew that tonight would be interesting.
I hope you liked it! Let me know what you think please! Thanks for reading!