Susan clenched her stomach as Erlian finally released her. He laughed once he sat back down. She wiped the tears away from her eyes for she can see her reaction caused an unwanted scene; many of the commoners stared at her other than their food and also Caspian too could not leave his eyes off her.

"Sit, wife. The lion is about to be served to our fellow guests. As my wife, show the courtesy to sit down and taste the kill your own husband caught."

She breathed hard that made her bosoms heave as she swallowed her tears as hard she can manage. Her hand released from her stomach. With little strength she has left, she turned her heels to face her husband but avoided her eyes away from his.

"Forgive me, husband..I'm afraid I have no appetite. If I see the presence of m-meat right now, I will displease you with a sickening temptation to relief myself. My stomach feels unwell and must not be fed no more. I'd like to be excused to our tent, husband. An early rest will do me good for tomorrow morning."

"The night is still young, Susan. Tis rude to excuse yourself far so early in an event like this."

"I told you..Your Grace. I am not good company right now. I need rest."

A smile slowly curved on his dangerous mouth. It shouts out the beautiful victory that he has conquered by destroying the one hope that Susan and, of course, her fellow family and people had depended on for freedom. He extended his arm out and thrust it around her waist. Her teeth clenched tightly as he pulled her body closer to the point his cheek touched her hip.

"If your condition is that serious, then by all means, return to our tent. But I have worked so hard to kill that damn lion, I would hate you to miss the very taste of it."

"Erlian." She quietly hissed.

He tightened his grasp on her waist that made her even more angry. She wanted to break free. But all she could do is stand still and accept her husband's actions.

"One bite. Then you could return."

"..No."

He snapped his fingers that signaled one of the male servants to attend to him. The servant speed walked toward the table where Erlian is sitting with a neatly sliced meat from the very flesh of Aslan. He lowered his head as he placed the plate on the table. Erlian signaled him to leave with a nod of his head. As the servant left, Erlian grabbed his silverware, Susan watched his every move in horror, he pierced the sharp ends of the fork on to a slice of the meat. Before he lifted his arm to feed his wife the piece of meat, Susan turned her head.

"Look at me, wife."

"Drop your fork, damn it."

"I won't. Turn your head back around and taste it."

Susan did not respond. At that point, Erlian pushed his chair out and in a quick move, he pulled Susan down until she landed straight on his lap.

You son-of-a-bitch.

The piece of meat on the fork is now close to her own lips. She closed her lips tightly and dodged as Erlian tried to shove it into her mouth. He laughed wickedly to show everyone this is all a joke, a simple play time between husband and wife. But it did not fool anyone for Susan's tears and struggle to be free from him made his so-called playful efforts useless.

Caspian gripped onto the fabric of the tablecloth. His eyes remained straight ahead at the pitiful Susan. He knows very well of her distress and unhealthy astonishment. But with Erlian, no one, not even himself, could stop him. At the hunt, Caspian knew his cousin will create an excellent cruel recipe for disaster the minute Erlian suddenly showed up with a bloody lion's head on his hand – grabbing it by the roots of its golden hair.

Erlian realized now the attention he and Susan has created. So he stopped. Susan relaxed a bit but refused to leave her lips loosen.

"Susan," he whispered, pressing his cheek against her own. "Look around you. You see these fucking people, they will be your life and torture for the very last days of your living years. You appear to have embraced disobedience toward me I cannot tolerate that, despite the fact you are legally my own wife, there's always a clever chance to embrace a proper change instead."

"I am no toy that you can ru- "

Erlian took a handful grip of the skin of her side close to her rib-cage that made her wince in pain. He squeezed it hard and slowly released it after a long moment.

"Don't speak when I'm talking. Have you already forgotten that lesson? Tsk tsk. My dear Susan, your punishment will most definitely be more brutal than you expected now."

"No.."

"Shut up..Open your fucking mouth and chew on this glorifying shit you once bowed down to."

"No. I won't do it."

"You just love breaking rules, don't you, Susan? Alright. Don't eat it. But your refusal will cost you a life. Maybe your brother or that rebellious little sister of yours."

No. Not them. You can't touch them. Don't you dare...

"I've seen your sister, only the face, of course. It was at the garden at the household your siblings were recovering in. When I had you in my arms, she saw me. She looked at me straight in the eyes and raised a dagger, or a sword, I think, closer for me to see. A nosy child she is. She was hiding behind a few bushes the whole time. But just the way she looked at me, I never seen such determination and anger from a youth like that."

"You can't touch my family. Your father promised me their next future all depends on my decision."

"I am not breaking my father's promise, love. Because, technically, I did give you a decision. Either do everything I say, or disobey me and allow your families to be finished by my command. Isn't that generous enough?"

Her trembling hands grabbed the fork from his hand. He kissed her cheek and whispered harsh encouraging words for her to consume the flesh of her king, her friend. Slowly she inched the fork closer to her mouth, her closed lips shaking. At last as the meat now neared close enough, the only thing she has to do now is remove it from the spikes of the silver tool with her mouth.

"What are you waiting for, wife? Eat it. Now. Before I change my mind of excusing you early to our tent."

Susan's eyes closed. With painful effort, she forced her shaking mouth to open. Hot tears burned her cheeks as the meat got into her mouth. Erlian rewarded her with several kisses on her neck as she chewed on the meat. But she only felt more sick from the taste as he pulled her closer to his torso.

"Well done. See? That wasn't so bad, now was it?"

She could not swallow the meat. She just could not. But Erlian refused to release her, giving her the firm message that she will not be released if she does not swallow it right before his eyes. After a painful effort of chewing on the meat, she opened her eyes as her throat started the process of sliding the meat down to the entrance of the pit of her stomach.

Erlian kissed her straight on the mouth that felt like burning coal marking a pig's flesh. She winced and opened her eyes wide as his hands groped her breast, squeezing each one tightly in pleasure. She moaned from the pain that misunderstood everyone that she's satisfied with her husband's intimate actions. But in reality, she wanted to scream and breathe rightfully with her mouth instead of her clogged nose from crying so much.

Caspian's grip on the table cloth loosened. A small, yet effective pain hit him in the heart. Caspian is not one who chooses the idea of abusing the power he inherited by birth, or embrace the sensational feeling of being above everyone else. But on the other hand, he is heartbroken to see another woman, a victim, to feel something and enjoy the company of a man like Erlian who appreciated his title and power too much for a human. He has seen what his cousin is capable of and Erlian's desires are clearly incompatible with his own. Just like what had happened to Clara. Caspian could only feel worry for Susan's life that can be most likely eliminated by his cousin's hands.

Erlian's mouth released Susan's at last, leaving hers red and wet. She breathed in a gush of air at that point. But she almost jumped as he crushed his lips against hers again, biting on her lower lip hard, after another quick kiss.

"I wish to be excused now..husband."

His hands gave a final squeeze on each of her breasts before letting her go. She practically ran once she was set free, lifting her skirt to her ankles. When she reached inside the tent, she felt a little relieved that her two servants are not in inside.

Quickly, she searched for the spittoon. Underneath the hammock sits the golden spittoon. She grabbed it, and kneeled before it. She laid her hands on the center of her stomach and pushed with much pressure as she hovered closer to the mouth of the spittoon. Nothing happened. She tried again, only squeezing her stomach harder for it to flatten till the process reached to success. Her head lowered closer to the mouth of the spittoon, she coughed hard to the point her plumped veins appeared on her neck. With much effort she continued, and at last, she vomited. She closed her eyes from the unpleasant sight.

After a long moment, she finished. She opened her eyes only to look down at the mouth of the spittoon, exposing a great deal of an unpleasant color of orange from the puke and..blood. Susan smeared her fingertips on her chin and lifted them up to her eyes to still. They're dripping with blood.

She wiped her hands with her skirt and wiped her mouth.

The cheers and loud conversations from outside deafened her ears. She kicked the spittoon over and closed her legs closer to her chest as she embraced them with her arms. Her forehead rested on her knees as she tried her very best to mediate.

Aslan is now gone..What have I done? Just why did I had to make that stupid deal with Jadis? This would have never happened if I made that decision.

She screamed with her teeth gritted tightly together. Madly she rocked back and forth as her voice silenced. Truly there is no way out of this now. For whatever hope lies to Narnia is only a peaceful death.

It's over. What is the point of living? With Aslan gone, Narnia is officially in doom.

Her harsh rocking softened to a slow movement. She breathed in deeply, remembering the delicious taste of the generous air God has offered with no cost or a bargain. Then, as she breathed in enough, she held in her breath, closing the use of her mouth and her nostrils.

Dying sounds fair and just. I'm tired of being their toy. And I do not want any of us to be toyed by them no more. Our lives, including mine, are already at stake. So why bother to keep them living? Why not stop? It's still not too late to give up now. After all, torture is a long punishment. I have failed to save Narnia. I even failed to keep my family safe. As once a promised queen and a trusted sibling, death seems to be my only reward for my failure.

Two hands grabbed Susan's arms that forced her rocking to stop. Then a voice called as those hands pulled her onto the stranger's lap.

"Susan? Susan, what's the matter?"

She released her effort of holding her breath and breathed in heavily. Her face that's almost blue now recovered slowly to its original, natural color.

"C-Caspian. What are you doing here?"

He looked down at the blood stains on her skirt and then at her ill body. She shook her head after catching his obvious emotions of concern and appalled shock.

"Susan, why is there blood on your dress?"

"Don't worry, I'm not wounded. I..I just didn't feel too well. I'm sorry it smells terrible in here. I just made a disgusting mess on the rug."

He nodded. His eyes wandered off to a specific spot on the rug, a small pool of Susan's puke still pouring bits of digested food from the mouth of the spittoon she knocked over. His attention returned back to her pale, damp face. She closed her eyes as he touched her cheek.

"You don't look too well."

"I'm fine. You..You shouldn't be here. My husband will be mad if he find out you're alone with me. Just leave me be, alright? I need to be alone. And the last thing I need is to hear another of Erlian's lectures."

"I'm not leaving you."

"You must."

She pulled away from him and tried to crawl away from his grasp. But he was too strong.

"Susan, I cannot bear to see you like this. I know how Erlian is, Susan. You don't have to put on a brave face for me. It's obvious of how he mistreats you."

"He's my husband. It doesn't bloody matter if he hits me or threatens me or even force me that he has a right to have me on his own bed. Because you know why? No one gives a damn about what could happen to me."

"I care," he responded in a firm tone.

Susan has battled for survival in the Telmarine palace for awhile. The mistreatments she receives and the unbreakable imprisonment she must embrace has always suffocated her. But never has she, in a long while, heard such comforting words that came from a true, trusted person.

Her eyes glued to his. The determination he carries, however, frightens her for she fears his involvement with her – anyone that'll help her only has one future, a short walk to the block.

"You can't care about me, Caspian."

"Susan."

"No, Caspian. Please, you can't. I-I've been too st-stupid of not thinking things more carefully. Whatever I do or whoever I'm with affects the future of my family."

"I can still help."

"You have no idea of how much you mean to me and to the Narnians. You may not know at all...But..But I need you to hate me, abhor my presence, and side with Erlian."

"I will never do that. Susan, I –"

She laid a finger on his lips, silencing him. "I don't want you to get hurt because of me. The closer you are with me the more dangerous your life becomes..You've been by far the most kindest person of all, Caspian. But you must stop being like that for me. Remember, I am the enemy. And you are a Telmarine. That'll never change."

"It doesn't matter." He took her hand from his mouth, lightly squeezing it in his grasp. "Regardless of who we are or which side we are born to, I am still going to help you. I swear it, I will protect you."

"Please, Caspian you can't. You said it yourself, Erlian's greatest weakness is jealousy. Isn't it obvious of what he'll do to both of us if he finds out you are helping me? Your support will be mistaken by false feelings you carry for me, which anyone, even the council, will believe is true."

"False feelings? What if they don't have to be a complete lie but the truth?"

The pain in her throat throbbed like a heartbeat. It didn't bother her much but only on what he said. She blinked a few times, thinking over and over if she heard him say something completely different. But no matter how many times she thought it over in her head, the longer the silence stretched in the very room.

"I beg your pardon? I think a difficulty of hearing is a side effect if you vomit too harshly."

"I'm sure there are a few side effects after a short bleeding from the throat. But I assure you, your ears are just fine."

She gulped hard that made her wince from the sharp blade-like pain from her throat. "Caspian, you're not serious are you?..Y-You hardly know me."

"A man doesn't need a year or two to firmly realize the woman he has feelings for. I agree that my feelings may not be strong to love, more like care. But over the following month I couldn't stop myself from feeling this strange desire to protect you, to be near you."

Disappointment hit her straight in the heart that swept away her hopes of a new future according to his confession. "Caspian, that is not close to love, you are right. Instead, it is something called pity. You are far different from the rest of the Telmarines here. You let your heart feel something like a real human being. But that emotion you feel is nothing close to love, or a liking."

"I know it is not love. But it is an obvious mystery. Because whenever I see you, I feel a little flutter in my heart, right here." He guided her hand to the center of his chest, holding it there. "When Erlian is not present, I enjoy the freedom to smile and look at to your eyes without him interrupting us and taking you away from me. My heart raises whenever you smile, almost the beat resembles the beating of a drum. Can you feel it?"

She nodded. Her mouth fell dry and her hand that rested on his chest trembled. She can't help herself to feel this anxious yet exciting feeling. After all, for a young girl who has rejected a few single boys during her years in high school it is not surprising that she cannot be strong enough to be near a boy finally like this for the first time, not to mention touching his own warm chest.

"You're right on many things. One, the danger of Narnians and your family. Two, your own life if you walk away from being this 'foreign puppet'. And lastly three, I could get myself in grave danger by just being near you. However, there is a way for all those problems to resolve by one solution."

"And what is that?"

"I have to be king of this land."


~ "Erlian needs just a little charm from you that way he can take you to where the Narnians are." He smoothed a lock of hair gently with his finger that made Susan blush. "Keep your hair down when you play the game. He likes girls with long hair."

"I'll keep in mind of that. But do you really think he'll take me there."

"Erlian loves torture. How could he resist the option to torment you by making you witness that devilish place? Your people needs to see you are alive first. The next plan is to get them out. A war is no war with no army after all." He dropped his hand back to his side and claimed one of her hands. "But be careful. This deception must go absolutely perfectly. One mistake, then you're through. It would be unbearable to have him hurt you again, Susan."

"Thank you, Caspian."

"I should be thanking you for your courage in this involvement. Until then. Just rest for now. I'll have your servants return to clean the mess."

She nodded.

He lifted her hand to his lips and planted a long kiss on her knuckles before releasing it. She gave him a tired smile as he left.

Maybe the future might end the same way. Only resolved differently.

She turned around to head to her hammock. The entrance of the tent suddenly opened again. Susan smiled, guessing its Caspian.

"Back so soon, Ca- "

A large hand covered her mouth and held her body firmly with a long, muscular arm. The person is not Caspian, but is a man and an intruder. He wears a brown cloak that covers his body from his foot to his shoulders, and a hood covered over his head; its shadow darkening his face but a sight of his long beard is shown.

Susan's heart almost burst from this immediate capture. She screamed through his hand that's blocking her mouth but her senses dulled from a peculiar smell from the palm of the man's hand. Her eyes blurred and her muscles hit to the point of being paralyzed as the man carried her up in his arms and rushed out of the tent.

Apologies for the delay. But I hope you enjoy this. And try to guess who this mysterious kidnapper could be.

Review if you hate it or love it! See ya :)