Part IV


The lunch went well, and Caspian was pleased to see how Lucy's eyes lit up at the sight of shy little Rillian.

"He's beautiful." she had gasped, just before taking the small child into her arms. "Just like his father." she added, gliding her fingers through the boys' dark hair.

"But he has his mother's eyes." Caspian had informed her.

The child was quiet, but like all innocence he had found himself quite content near Lucy's side.

After their lunch Caspian had offered to give Lucy a tour of the garden while the nanny watched Prince Rillian play by the pond.

"Look at the roses Lucy, they are in full bloom." he said, his finger tips resting gently on the bottom of the peach-red petals.

"They are incredible." she said smiling.

He walked her on through the garden, through it's stone pathways that were kept hidden within the maze of rose bushes.

"Rillian is more wonderful than I had imagined." Lucy said with a gleam in her eye.

"Thank you."

"I know you must be so proud of him."

"Very proud."

"Caspian,"

"Yes?"

"Why didn't you name him Caspian XI, not that I don't love Rillian, but how come you gave your son a different name? You come from a long line of Caspians."

"It is what his mother wanted to call him. And I agreed that it was time to start a new name for our bloodline."

"Oh. Well it's a very beautiful name for a boy."

"I agree."

"Caspian,"

Her arm was tucked into his with her other hand draped loosely on his arm. When she spoke his name he looked at her; his eyes warmer than the sun, darker than the night; yet, she could see the golden hint of brown that shined each time the light of day found it.

"What is it, Lucy?" he asked, reminding her that she had wanted to ask him something besides admiring the regal glow in his eyes. It was something that she had finally become mature enough to notice.

"I know you do not like to speak of it but, all I want to know is what kind of person your Queen was."

Lucy didn't want to dive into the tragic day she died or how it happened, nor did Caspian. So, she tried to dive into the good memories.

"I had this garden made for her. It was a Birthday gift from me to her." he sighed.

"I can still see her long golden hair flying behind her…when I brought her back we use to play in the fields like children. We would laugh and if I caught her, she would let me kiss her."

"What was her name?" Lucy questioned.

"Aurora." he replied. "She wouldn't tell me though, until after I married her. Oh Lucy, she was so gentle. She had a glow about her that no other had. She was smart with her own opinions, but she held captive the innocence of a lamb."

"She must have been pure of heart."

"She was. She loved little Rillian so much. Sometimes she would bring him to bed, afraid that he may wake from a nightmare and she wouldn't be there to comfort him. I couldn't ask for a more wonderful family."

She was seeing the change in his face, the happiness leaving his voice. It was time to move on to a better subject, a subject that didn't lead to poisonous bites.

"Susan has moved away." she said.

"Moved?"

"In our world. She moved to another country called America, across the sea. She's been gone for a while."

"Have you heard from her?"

"Oh yes. She writes, calls when she can. She said that she met an American soldier."

"Soldier?"

"She said he was very wonderful."

"I am glad to know that she is happy. Your sister was a very noble girl."

"Well she's a woman now."

"I'm sure she is…she was my first real crush." he laughed a little.

"I haven't forgotten the kiss between the two of you." Lucy chuckled.

"Indeed. That was the last time I saw her or Peter."

"And the voyage was the last time Edmund and I saw you."

There was a length of silence between them with only the sound of their clad feet clacking against the stone path and the birds fluttering and chirping back and two in the bush.

"Lucy," his words were like purring against her ears.

"Hmmm?" she looked up at him.

"What if you do not return to your home? Do you think you could be happy here in Narnia, with Rillian and I?"

The question frightened her so bad. Even as much as she loved Narnia and had longed to return, she wasn't sure if she could adjust to the possibility of never seeing her family again. It made her stomach turn into a knot.

"I…I do not know." she sighed.

"I know you are afraid of never seeing your siblings, but maybe they are yet to join you here."

"I doubt that, Caspian." she replied matter-of-factly.

"Why?"

"Because they've all grown up faster than I. Edmund is caught up in his girlfriend's web, Susan is in America and will probably get married… Peter is so busy now that I barely even see him. Sometimes I feel like I've been left behind, still trying to hang on to my childhood…what little I have left at the age of seventeen."

"I see." he said solemnly.

"But Lucy, there must be some reason why you are here, even if you are without your siblings. Can you not remember how you got back into Narnia?"

"No. Like I told Miss Rumple; the last thing I remembered was being at school and getting in a argument with some friends, telling a rude boy to get lost and then the next thing I know I end up in a field…and the rest is history."

Caspian was quiet for a while and Lucy suspected that he was in deep thought, perhaps trying to sort out some way that he could help her.

"I wonder…" he spoke at length. "if Aslan may have an answer."

"Aslan? But however will we find him?"

"I suppose, in his country…Ah! It makes sense not! You being here like this. I just don't understand it; but we will worry of this later, I am just glad that you are here."

"Me too." she said, though she was concerned more than anything.

"Lucy!" he gasped.

She had stumbled over her own dress when it became caught in a crack, and Caspian had stopped her fall by grabbing her rib cage and pulling her up.

"OUCH!" she wailed, wincing at his touch.

"What is wrong?" he asked with concern.

"My side…it pains me so."

Caspian took his hand away, wondering how her side could be hurting her.

She leaned herself against an archway, wanting to hold her aching side but unable to bring her hands to the excruciating pain that it brought her.

"Lucy? What is wrong with you? Did you fall by some chance?"

"No. I would have remembered that. I noticed it being a bit sore but now it feels almost broken…Oh Caspian, it takes my breath away!" she explained between her gasping.

"Lucy, let me fetch a nurse."

"No, I'm fine." but before she could take another step, she fell to her knees, moaning in pain.

"You are not fine!" he argued, taking her up in his arms. "I will carry you."

She draped her left arm over the back of his neck and he seemed so strong to her now, so caring and protective. It made her respect him.

TO BE CONTINUED…


Author's Notes:

Okay, this chapter was a bit short but the next oe will be pretty long. I've got some new mysteries building up in my head so be patient guys! lol. Oh yeah, how do you guys like the name I gave Ramandu's daughter? Does it sound promising or does anyone have a better suggestion?