Susan swept along the corridor, heading towards her bedchamber, with a happy spring in her step. It had been several months since she'd gotten to go pleasure riding and even longer since she'd enjoyed sisterly companionship with Lucy, so she genuinely looked forward to tomorrow. The Beavers invitation for them to come for tea had come so unexpectedly, they were nearly beside themselves with excitement.
"My, you're happy!" Nary gushed, as Susan entered the room, "How wonderful! Can you tell about it?"
"Yes, indeed!" Susan replied, her face flushed and eyes glowing," I get to spend the whole day riding with Lucy tomorrow. Neither of us have plans and the Beavers asked us to tea! Can you imagine it? I can scarcely believe it—a whole day!"
"Well, I certainly hope nothing happens tonight that hinders you're plans." Nary replied, "That is unusual for both of you have free time. I'm glad though, the two of you go full tilt all the time."
Susan sighed, "Yes, but such is our lives." She fell into a chair and Nary began letting her hair down.
Later, after a wonderfully soothing soak in a hot bath, Susan was sufficiently tired enough to sleep. She climbed into bed, fluffed her pillow, and lit the tall green candle on her nightstand. Then she slipped under her cream-colored comforter and picked up Swanwhite's diary; this one bound in emerald green cloth, with two interlocking golden rings sewn into it. They reminded her of wedding rings.
She read.
What a delightful day it has been! It started off grandly and got even better, due to the completely unexpected arrival of a dear old friend—one whom my queenly duties have kept me from visiting since I took the throne all those years ago. I could scarcely believe it when my old childhood friend, whom I met during a summer spent on the Lone Islands, showed up at the Cair. I was even more surprised to find that she has two lovely teenage daughters! Although, why should I be surprised that she has grown up and is raising a family of her own? I must admit, I feel a longing to start a family when I see her two lovely girls, but Aslan hasn't sent along the right man yet…so I wait. This surprise has made me consider how interesting it is when the Lion works out the unexpected surprises that He gives us. I had thought that today would be just another day of queenly duties with nothing special going on, and now I have a dear friend to catch up with for the next few days!
Susan closed the diary, laid it on her nightstand, and wrapped her arms around her pillow. A happy smile crossed her face as she thought about how similar her life was to Swanwhite's life. "Unexpected surprises indeed," she murmured, before falling asleep.
Celeste and Diamond, Lucy's snowy white mare, pawed the hard cold ground and snorted, the crisp early spring air making them frisky. Their mistresses paid them no heed, but finished up with their perpetrations and mounted. The two mares pulled on their bits all the way as the queens rode them through the yard and out the gate.
"My, oh my, Diamond wants to run," Lucy said, laughing as her mare playfully shied and snorted at a clump of snow that still lingered in the cold morning.
Susan laughed too, keeping a taunt hold of Celeste's reins as she adjusted the quiver of arrows on her back.
Both sisters were armed with their old Christmas gifts, and they traveled without escorts, wanting to keep things simple. Their personal guards had been less than thrilled with this arrangement, but in the end, they'd bowed to their Queens wishes and stayed home. The girls felt badly that their faithful guardians felt badly, but they couldn't resist the temptation of traveling as freely as possible.
"I believe Celeste would favor a run as well," Susan answered, "Shall we let them?"
"I can't think of why not! How about a race?" Lucy pressed Diamond into a run, calling back, "How about to that tree?"
"Hey!" Susan called, laughing, "No fair!"
Lucy was still laughing as she and Diamond narrowly beat Susan and Celeste to the still bare ash tree. The younger queen pulled her mare up, her cheeks rosy and her laugher coming on the steam of her breath. She said, "Then you get to pick the next finish line."
Susan's smile sparkled mischievously as she urged Celeste to run again, calling over her shoulder, "How about those bushes?"
"Right behind you!" Lucy called, "Hey, wait."
This time, after pulling up laughing, Susan said, "I suppose it's not really racing if we're just going to take turns picking a finish line and beating each other."
"No, I suppose you're right, but it was fun while it lasted."
"What shall we do now?" Lucy continued.
"I don't suppose we need to do anything," Susan replied, looking around, "The Beavers aren't expecting us until teatime and the morning is still young. We have time for whatever we like."
"Then we ride on," Lucy acknowledged.
They soon came across Narnians going about their morning routines. All of them had a happy bounce in their step and some whistled a tune as they worked. Although busy with their routines, all the creatures insisted on chatting with their Queens, and the sisters were only too happy to oblige. Eventually, however, it was time to move on.
"I love the mornings!" Lucy rejoiced, still relishing their conversations, "I love how happy everyone is this time of year!"
"You love anytime of the day or night," Susan laughed, then added, more seriously, "I can't imagine what one hundred years of Winter was like, but I bet having Spring come each year is still a thrill for them—even after all the years we've been here."
"Yes, that's one thing that we didn't experienced, isn't it?" Lucy replied, "One hundred years of bitter cold and bleak nights—made all the worse because Aslan wasn't here. I can't begin to imagine." She paused, then added, "I'd still be rejoicing years afterward too!"
"As would I!" Susan agreed.
They rode on, taking in the sights of their kingdom and enjoying the crisp air until, at last, they came to the Beaver's dam. Smoke curled above an iron pipe extending from the roof and the golden glow of a lantern radiated inside, welcoming the chilled but happy visitors as they dismounted and tied their reins in the trees.
They eagerly came to the edge of the pond, still covered in ice, but stopped short on the bank.
"The ice looks rather thin, wouldn't you say?" Susan asked.
"It does indeed," Lucy agreed, "Shall we hail them and go through the back entrance?" Then, mischievously, she added, "Or are you up for a swim?"
Susan chuckled at her sister's humor, saying, "Oh, I think the back sounds like just the thing. I don't want to ride home in a wet dress."
"That wouldn't be wise," Lucy agreed, "Our brothers might think we'd lost our minds."
"I not sure they don't think that already sometimes."
"We do have a lot of fun, don't we?"
"That we do."
Just then, Mr. Beaver's head popped out of the door and he waved them around. "I've opened the back tunnel, your majesties." He called, "Come around—the ice is mighty thin."
"Thank you, Mr. Beaver," Susan answered for them both while Lucy flashed a beautiful smile and waved. The girls turned, scurried up a steep path, and slid, feet first, into the cold tunnel. Then they hurried through the passage and were soon wrapped in the warmth of the little dam and the warmth of their dear friends' embrace.
"Oh, oh, it's been far too long since we've joined you for tea," Lucy sighed deeply, inhaling the delightful aroma's of Mrs. Beaver's cooking.
"I must agree," Susan joined in, "We are remiss in not visiting more often."
"Nonsense, my dears," Mrs. Beaver pushed aside such talk, rubbing her paws in delight, her cheeks glowing, "Your loyal duties keep you and they must, of course. We're only honored that you've made the trip when you could."
"But come, come, sit down and warm yourselves!" Mr. Beaver admonished, pulling two chairs towards the blazing fireplace, "You must be stiff as boards from riding all the way from Cair in the cold. Mrs. Beaver, is the tea ready?"
"In a minute, Mr. Beaver. In a minute," she admonished.
"Thank you," Susan said, laughing gaily, as she and Lucy swept into their seats. "But, I must say, the chilly air is refreshing and Celeste has such an easy gait and, of course, we ride quite often, so I'm not stiff."
"I'm not stiff either," Lucy said, her eyes twinkling in the firelight, "but I'm always up for a wonderful time with my dear friends. Su and I haven't had strictly sister time in ages and Diamond has a gait sent from Aslan's County itself, so the ride was absolutely wonderful."
"We're so glad that coming to see us isn't a bother to you." Mrs. Beaver said.
"Oh, no!" both sisters cried in unison, looking horrified, "Parish the thought, Mrs. Beaver!"
Mrs. Beaver humbly bowed her head, respecting her queens' admonishment, then suddenly, the tea kettle whistled and she scurried over to attend to it. Not many minutes passed before they were enjoying cinnamon tea and blackberry preserves, spread over steamy biscuits.
Suddenly, without warning, a large chuck of driftwood, brightly blazing with fire, tore through one window and out another, shattering glass and covering the dam in soot, smoke and debris. Moments later, it exploded on the ice like a bomb.
Thankfully, its quick passage through the dam had left little damage, and the four occupants, sat frozen in shock for less than a second. The queens, although not expecting to be attacked, took immediate defensive measures. They swept their two friends up and vacated the area of the dam that windows rendered exposed, grabbing they're weapons as they moved. Instinctively, they headed for the door leading to the tunnel, but when Lucy pulled it open, smoke and heat blasted into the dam.
"Great Lion," she gasped, "Who's doing this?"
"Whoever they are, they're not going to be happy once we get out of here," Susan growled, her eyes roaming for a place to exit. She found and focused on the water entrance asking, "Who's up for swimming?"
"Rather that than burning," Lucy replied cheerfully.
The two Queens slipped off their shoes and Lucy used her dagger to cut away the pieces of their dresses that might hinder a quick rise to the surface. While she busily attended to this, Susan gave instructions to the Beavers.
"We'll need to raise an alarm," she explained, "We'll cut our mares free and they'll go home. That will raise alarm! in the meantime, because help can't arrive from the Cair before dark, Mr. Beaver, you must go to Mr. Tumnus and ask him to help—he's the closest, after all."
She continued, "I wish we knew who was attacking and what their numbers are, but, of course, we'll know soon enough. Lucy and I will surface first—no, no, Mr. Beaver, don't object—Lu and I can handle things here."
"Oh my yes, Mr. Beaver," she replied, when he raised his paw, already knowing his question "You may, by all means, tell any friends you find who are able to fight."
She turned to Mrs. Beaver, "I'm afraid, you'll have to stay near us, Mrs. Beaver, but do please be careful!"
"Oh, yes, my dears, yes," Mrs. Beaver murmured, rubbing her paws nervously, "Though, I'll miss this old dam."
"We'll rebuild, Mrs. Beaver," her husband consoled her, patting her shoulder.
"Ready now," Lucy said, rising from her knees and sheathing her dagger, "I wonder what's happening out there?" She looked around, eyes narrowed, "We haven't had another attack."
Maybe they think the house is empty," Mrs. Beaver suggested, hopefully.
"I hope not," Lucy muttered, "They may move on and do more damage—or worse—if they think that. I can't wait to get my hands on them—whoever them is."
"It won't be long now," Susan said, as she opened the trap door and looked down at the icy water "Remember, we must surface together, Lu."
"I'm ready."
Both Queens slid though the opening together, creating a large swirl of bubbles that they swam blindly through till they reached the surface ice less than a minute later. Lucy, her dagger already back in her hand, used the pummel to punch a hole in the thin ice, and both queens pried away the hunks with their bare hands.
"Not a sign of anyone." Lucy said, breathing hard, once they surfaced. With effort, she hauled herself onto the bank. Though she body shivered, her eyes blazed, "We should get the horses and have a look around."
Susan, also freezing, hauled herself out next, and the Beavers weren't far behind; the same disappointment and fury that shone in her sister's eyes was reflected on Susan's face, but when she spoke, she was entirely under control.
"No, we stick to the plan—we don't want to start improving right away, do we? We'll have to do that soon enough if any other attacks come. Mr. Beaver, are you ready?"
"Ready, willing and able, your majesty," he answered.
"Then let the Lion travel with you," Susan replied, nodding.
"Good luck, dear," Mrs. Beaver murmured, as Lucy kissed his wet furry head.
She whispered, "Aslan keep you safe."
"I'll be back shortly," he assured them, "With help." Then he was gone, shuffling quickly into the low brush.
Susan and Lucy didn't waste time watching him, but quickly shuttled Mrs. Beaver to cover behind a small snow bank. Then Lucy, drawing her dagger, made a swift run to where their mares were tied. She slashed their reins and quietly sent them running, knowing that they would flee towards the Cair and praying that someone swift might see them running loose and either go for the kings or try to locate them.
Susan, meanwhile, surveyed the area. She couldn't see anything unusual, which both maddened and sickened her—they were obviously dealing with professionals. How long might they hold out against this unknown foe? Then she spotted five unknown chargers, tied in the low branches of a birch tree, and a smile crept across her face.
"Nice try," she murmured to her unseen foe, "But I do believe you've made a mistake. It will cost you."
"What will cost who?" Lucy whispered, having slid noiselessly back to their shelter.
Susan didn't turn, but nodded towards the horses and Lucy's face split into a sly grin.
"Ahh," she purred, "So we're going to even the odds, are we?"
"I think it's only fair," Susan replied, "We forgo our horses—they should forgo theirs."
"It's only fair," Lucy agreed. Rising silently, she whispered, "Be back in a jiffy."
She dashed silently, like a wraith, through the snow and trees and had nearly finished her chore when suddenly a pair of strong hands came from nowhere. One hooked around her waist, the other clamping over her month before she could scream. It would have been a dreadful thing had not Lucy, with a nanosecond to spare, raised the arm that held her dagger, narrowly keeping it from being pinned to her body. She then, without a shred of remorse, chomped her teeth into the man's large hand.
"Ow—why you," he snarled, more surprised than hurt.
Instinctively pulling his hand away, he allowed Lucy to whirl like a fighting tiger, slamming the pommel of her dagger into the side of his head—he dropped like a stone. Without thinking, Lucy finished slashing the reins and sent the horses scattering. Then, just before dashing back to the shelter, she glanced down at her attacker and froze in surprise.
He was a Telmarine Army officer!
She stared, open mouthed, for several seconds, trying to comprehend such an offence. Narnia was at peace with Telmar! She could only wonder why they'd crossed the border and hopped that the criminals were simply rogues. Then, suddenly remembering herself, she whirled around and dashed for the shelter.
Again, before she was halfway back, another pair of unseen arms reached out and took hold of her. This man, also wearing the uniform of the Telmarine Army, hissed into her ear as he started dragging her behind a tree. "I saw what you did to my partner, Queen Lucy. Do not consider the same move against me."
"Let go of me, you creep," Lucy snarled, withering furiously in his strong hold, "You're going to pay for this!"
"Well actually," the Telmarine, continued, speaking patiently, as if lecturing a student, "I'm of the opinion that you will pay—or, more precisely, your brothers will pay—for the return of their dear sisters." He grinned at her.
"What are you doing here?" Lucy demanded, unwilling to admit defeat, even as she failed to loosen his grip.
"You'll see soon enough, your majesty," the Telmarine answered, completely unruffled by her fury.
Suddenly, a loud ear-piercing scream reverberated from the air above them. Both Lucy and her attacker instinctively looked up and what they saw brought a relieved smile to Lucy's face and a look of frozen horror to her assailant. A Peregrine Falcon, spotting the attack from above, had launched into a steep dive, talons outstretched. Too late, the Telmarine thought to cover his eyes and the bird hit him with the force of a cannonball, driving him backwards into the trees. When the Falcon finally let up, the man was dead, his face unrecognizable.
"Good afternoon, your majesty" the Falcon said, bowing "My name is Freewing."
"Thanks," Lucy replied, "I needed that."
*~0~*
Susan, meanwhile, was having difficulties of her own. With Mrs. Beaver safely tucked into a hole under the roots of a tree, the Queen's eyes roamed across the pond and into the dark recesses of the forest, only lingering for a moment on the smoldering debris left by the bomb.
The fact that she couldn't find anything else unusual maddened her to no end. Our foes are definitely professionals, she thought. The fact made her stomach turn. What if Mr. Beaver doesn't get through? What if Celeste and Diamond are cut down before someone finds them? What if, what if, what if?
Then, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted the silhouette of a large man. She whirled around, aimed an arrow, and fired, in one fluid movement. The big man dropped like a stone, then the next moments happened quickly.
Apparently, another man was standing just behind the one Susan felled, and when he saw his partner drop, he made the mistake of grabbing for the body, while letting out a cry of surprise, instead of shooting back. He soon joined his partner on the ground. Susan smiled, feeling a small measure of satisfaction at having caught two killers off their guard and making them pay. She sensed blood in the water now and was relieved that the odds against Lucy and herself had diminished greatly.
"Where do you suppose, Mr. Beaver is?" Mrs. Beaver asked worriedly.
Susan glanced at her her, "I don't know," she answered truthfully, "We can only hope that Mr. Tumnus sent him to alert others, or perhaps, he's gone to do that on his own—it won't due to worry, Mrs. Beaver—aghh"
Her scream was cut short as a large hand encircled her mouth, but in the next instant, the butt of Susan's bow struck the fifth Telmarine officer in his gut.
"Ahh, the pretty lady got distracted, did—oph"
His face turned purple with pain and his grip on relaxed. Susan bolted forward, praying that if she ran, he would follow her instead of hurting Mrs. Beaver. She figured she was bigger prey.
She smiled with relief as she heard the man charging after her and began searching for a place to whirl around and shove an arrow through him. Then with some surprise, she heard the Telmarine shout, followed by a heavy thud on the ground. She spun around, already prepared to fire a third shot.
It was not necessary.
The Queen let out a deep sigh at the sight of her attacker lying sprawled on the ground, his legs tangled in the roots of a birch tree, and a Dryad, named Lightshade, looking down at him with stern displeasure.
"We do not take kindly to having our Queens mistreated," its voice moaned, as if its tree was riding out a hurricane. The Telmarine stared back in terror.
Susan approached, keeping an arrow leveled at the big man, her expression as frosty as winter. She paused briefly to greet and thank Lightshade, then gave her attention to her foe. At noting his Telmarine officer's uniform, her eyes narrowed.
"What is the meaning of this?" she said furiously.
"You'll see soon enough, Queen Susan," the man spoke as if he didn't have a care in the world, "You'll see."
"No, you'll tell me now," she replied coldly.
"I don't believe I will, your majesty—I don't see any need too."
"You're hardly in a position to have such a viewpoint," Susan snapped icily. She poised her arrow just above his Adam's apple.
The big man laughed. "Is that it, your majesty?" he asked, "Talk or be killed—why, if I'm killed, then I surely can't talk—no, you won't kill me."
"Do what the Queen asks," Mr. Tumnus' welcome voice came suddenly, along with the blade of his sword.
The Telmarine only laughed again. "No," he replied.
"Oh good—you've got the fifth one," Lucy said, walking up from behind the Telmarine, having seen the two others that Susan shot, with Freewing hopping along a pace or two behind. "Freewing here settled another one that I was scrapping with—his timely intervention did the trick."
"You accounted for only four," Susan remarked.
"Oh, the other one is napping. He was grouchy, so I made him take a nap." She held up her dagger, showing the slightly bloody pommel.
"Is he unguarded?" Susan asked.
"Currently, yes—but firmly tied."
"I'll go, your majesty," Mr. Tumnus said, before Susan could ask.
"Thank you, Mr. Tumnus—I'm sure Lu, Lightshade, Freewing, and I can handle this one."
The Telmarine laughed in response and put a finger over his lips to indicate how much information they would get from him. Susan felt like making him take a nap.
It was well after dark, with the Queens sitting around a roaring fire, when the limbs of an overhanging tree suddenly shook violently and Onca and Concolor dropped from above, before anyone could react. At the sight of two unknown men, bound and gagged, the queen's personal guards laid their ears flat and snarled, their tails lashing back and forth in anger.
"Oh, Onca!"
"Concolor!"
Both Queens' voices' rang with excitement and relief at seeing their faithful guards.
"Are your majesties hurt?" the Cats asked, as they eyed their respective mistresses with pained expressions.
Susan and Lucy, rising together, came forward to comfort them. No one knows the words that were spoken between the two pairs but, in the end, the Cats were pacified and the two Queens used what was left of their skirts to dry their eyes.
"Where are Peter and Edmund?" Susan, at last, inquired.
"Not far back by now, your majesty," Onca replied, "They gave the two of us leave to range ahead of the group and find you first."
"The group?" Lucy asked, "How many are coming?"
Concolor's whiskers twitched with mirth. "Enough," he replied.
"Enough for what?" Lucy asked suspiciously.
"Enough to protect the Kings favorite sisters from we could only guess what."
"Oh brother!" Susan laughed, "And to think we captured or killed all the foes already."
"How did you come to be alerted?" Lucy asked.
"An Eagle recognized your mares by Crystalline Pool," Concolor answered, "They looked like they'd been running hard, so when he didn't see your majesties, he
came full speed to the Cair—I'm not sure what his name is, but I'm sure the Kings know."
Then, suddenly, as if on cue, there was great rustling of underbrush and several Hounds bounded into their midst. Less than a minute later, the low branches of the trees bent away and Aherin and Ajax bolted into the camp, with Peter and Edmund shielding their faces from the higher branches. They were abruptly followed by half a dozen Centaurs and Fauns.
"Oh, that is the last time Ajax does that," Edmund spat, before realizing where they were.
"If you didn't let him play so much, then he wouldn't do it," Peter replied, also unaware they'd reached their destination.
"Peter."
"Edmund."
"Your majesties."
The Queens and Cats greeted the startled Kings.
"Oh, you're here," Peter's voice rang with delight, but was thick with emotion, as he and Edmund dismounted.
They came to stand in front of their sisters so that, in the firelight, they'd be able to see them well. Their sisters were notorious for putting aside their own injuries in favor of tending others or simply getting their jobs done.
"They look alright," Edmund said, talking to Peter. He asked the girls, "Are you alright?"
"We're fine," Susan answered for them.
"That's quite the company you've brought, brothers," Lucy said, nodding to the Beasts that now ringed the campsite.
"We just can't be too careful when it comes to you girls, you know." Peter replied, looking relieved, "What happened?"
The girls gave a quick rundown of the afternoon's events, then pointed to the two glowering Telmarines.
The brothers approached the two survivors and took up position on either side, staring down at them with blazing expressions.
Peter led off, saying, "You know what I simply can't abide, brother?"
"What's that, Pete?" Edmund replied, playing alone.
"I just can't abide at hearing word that our sisters and friends got attacked by wretched scum!"
"I can certainly understand your point, brother," Edmund said, crossing his arms. If looks could kill there would be two more dead Telmarines. "It's just fortunate that our royal house is constantly being underestimated by the scum in this world."
"Yes, I've never really understood that." Peter replied, "Everyone knows that our realm is under the protection of the Lion, but, for the life of me, I can't figure out why some still insist on attacking us." Then he added, "As the judge in our realm, brother, I defer to you on what should be done with our prisoners—what say you?"
Edmund scowled, giving the two big Telmarines a hard stare before replying. "We won't do what they deserve, of course," he answered, "Load them up and we'll take them and their dead friends back to the Cair—perhaps some time in Edmund's Inquisition Room will make them want to chat."
It was mid-morning when the royal party trudged through the gates. The Kings and Queens, thankful that the grooms had insisted on taking care of their horses, immediately headed into the castle. All but Edmund headed for their beds. The Just King wanted to start softening up the detainees.
Susan was bone-weary and stiff from being wet and cold as she made her way to her room. However, the sight in front of her door stopped her in her tracks. Curiously, she picked up a vase full of delicate glass roses and read the note attached.
No flower could be more beautiful than a rose, nor no woman as beautiful as you. Love always. Your secret admirer.
Author's Notes: Ah, a cliff-hanger for you! I love a good cliff hanger. They drive me nuts, so I thought I'd put one in.
This chapter came from a few different ideas. First off, rthstewart, a new follower of this story, suggested that I should do a chapter that shows Susan doing something to help her situation, as opposed to simply waiting for Aslan to deliver her (or all of them). Granted, this was in a review for chapter 3 and the Pevensies have grown up and matured since then, but the idea stayed with me. My next inspiration came because I wanted to do some chapters with a Susan/one other sibling theme. This was, obviously, Susan/Lucy; the other chapters will come a bit later—I have a cliff-hanger to settle, after all. My third influence is that I've been reading a rather interesting series by the author Clive Cussler, and the main character inspired the quirky sayings.
To Raina: Once again, I'm delighted to hear from you! I was once an anonymous review, just like you, and several people wrote me like this, and now, we're good friends (albeit online). Yes, I agree about Susan! She's a lovely enigma, isn't she? Maybe "enigma" isn't the right word, but I've always thought a lot of her. I'm pretty similar to her too.
To Tiny Teddy: I must apologize if I didn't thank you for the reviews on my other stories! I'm glad you're enjoying them and this one too! I do love to use all the siblings together, but I thought it would be more realistic to have some chapters where they're not all together. Alas, my embroidery time has taken a hit lately, as I've been busy with other things, but I'm currently ready to get back into it.