STUPID WRITERS BLOCK!! HOW I DESPISE THEE!
Really, guys, I'm trying here. It's taking me forever to write even the shortest of chapters!! GAHHH!! Do not worry though; this story will never be abandoned, though I have to say that the next chapter won't be out like, tomorrow unless my stupid block goes away. Honestly, this barrier is so bad I think I need meds for it.
Besides that, the chapter will be out quickly as usual, just not as fast as the first couple were. Never fear good people, its coming. I'd appreciated it if you kept up the encouragement though; good reviews always motivate me to crank out another chapter. You review, you get a story.
As usual, R&Rx2 (that still isn't old, right?)
Disclaimer: Go eat some pizza instead. Please.
Edmund needed to restrain both himself and Peter from colliding with Caspian and breaking his every limb after Susan stormed from the room. He gripped Peter's arm firmly, his eyes wild with anger and surprise at Caspian's statement.
"You are not fit for the journey. Perhaps you should stay and tend to the wounded as the usual practice of females."
His accusation wounded even Edmund's pride. Peter slacked a bit under Edmund's hold, but he refused to let him go until they left the room. Silence remained hovering above the shocked heads of everyone present, and Caspian removed his hand from his cheek and gazed at it, as though he were expecting it to be bleeding. He took a glance at Lucy, and was startled. How could such a venomous look come from such a small person?
Lucy, shaking her head and keeping her glare definite, strode past him swiftly, purposefully knocking into his side. Edmund pursed his lips and allowed Peter to walk in front of him as they followed their younger sister, keeping his eyes on Peter's tense back.
He got nervous when the two of them approached Caspian. Peter halted in his walking and turned his head to glare at the Prince with large, cold eyes. Edmund had never seen Peter this angry before, especially at someone who was considered another member of the family as Caspian was. Still, he could understand Peter's anger, and though he shared it, he was positive that no one wanted a demonstration. So, he pushed Peter forward, stumbling him into a walk and followed without even giving Caspian the satisfaction of a look.
…
Susan stood outside in the bleak break of daylight. Her hair was caught in the wind as it flew behind her back; away form her pale, tear-stained face. She took a deep breath and ran a hand through her hair, the silky texture cool on her fingertips. Above her, the clouds were grey and puffy, the kind that were so common back in London…back home.
Susan's eyes became refocused when she heard Lucy call her name from behind her. Hurriedly, she wiped at her cheeks and turned around, her emerald dress swishing as she turned to face her family. Lucy ran to her and wrapped her arms around Susan's waist. Edmund walked to her and placed a hand delicately on her shoulder. Peter stood back. He needed to talk to Susan alone.
Lucy and Edmund knew there wasn't much to say to Susan when she was like this; all sad looking but with a fake smile. They couldn't do much with words, but they opened their arms to her and said everything with a smile, which was always what Susan wanted most from them as comfort. Lucy released her arms and looked at Susan's encouraging smile. Susan was truly her idol now. Edmund smirked down at Lucy before grabbing her hand and pulling her away from the oldest Pevensie children. It was moments like this that only Peter could catch and comfort Susan properly. Not that Edmund and Lucy were incapable of making her feel better, but Peter had more experience with what she was going through.
In one moment, her older brother shifted from annoying, cocky boy to a loving protector and she was in his arms, crying. Peter calmly smoothed down her hair, claming her down almost in an instant.
"Sshh…shhh." He soothed, whispering into her ear. Susan's cried subsided and she leant against her brother's chest, taking deep breaths and mentally scolding herself for acting so out of line.
"It's alright, Su." He said, pulling away and gazing into his sister's eyes, watery and blue like an ocean. She shook her head and held back a sob.
"I…I d-didn't m-m-mean to…to just, s-slap him l-l-like th-that!" She cried, burying her face in Peter's shoulder, letting the floodgates open up again and tears came spilling down her cheeks. Peter gave a soft chuckle.
"In all justice, I think he deserved it, Su." He said, smiling. Susan shook her head, but he could tell she too was grinning.
"He didn't mean it..I-I just o-over-reacted." She concluded, wiping at her eyes. "I'm sick of crying because of this place." She said whiningly. Peter furrowed his brow and released her from his arms, a confused and worried expression playing on his lips.
"Narnia?" He asked, leaning down to look her in the eyes. Susan scoffed and continued to wipe at her baby blues.
"You're happy to be here, aren't you?" Peter asked, afraid of the answer. He didn't want Susan to become one of those stuck-up girls at school that didn't believe in fairytales, especially since she was the Queen in such a story. For once in their lives, he didn't know how to comfort Susan. The realization made him shiver.
"Yes, but…but wh-who knows knows…how long…w-we'll be here th-this time!" Susan said, coming to tears almost instantly, and Peter felt an icy hand clamp on his heart. Susan was right; they had no way of knowing when London would suck them back into its dreary days. It would probably hurt just as much as last time. Peter winced.
"Why don't we go inside?" Peter suggested, growing fearful of what was to come for him and Susan. Susan nodded lamely, leaning on her brother's chest as he guided her back into the How. The moment they were inside, the rain began to fall.
…..
Some would call it over-protective, but Edmund called it brotherly love. He stood almost as a guard outside Susan's chambers in case Caspian showed up. His eyes were dark and warning, and he was sure that if Caspian did somehow show his face, he wouldn't be able to restrain himself from ripping open Caspian's face.
Caspian, of course, suspected this kind of defensive behavior from Edmund. He'd peek around the corner every so often and spy on the young king, planning a strategy to get inside the room.
"Lucy!" He called once he was away from Edmund. The youngest Pevensie turned with a smile, until her eyes landed on him.
"Oh. It's you." Her tone was oddly bitter, and her eyes clouded over. "What do you want?" She asked coldly, crossing her arms and glaring at him. Caspian shrank back; afraid of the suddenly mighty ten-year-old. She was ten, right?
"I need your help." He asked desperately. Lucy cocked an eyebrow, her glare remaining intact.
"With what? Are there some wounded soldiers that need tending to as the 'usual practice of females'? She asked putting her hands up in quotations with abundant sarcasm. Caspian took a deep, frustrated breath and sighed.
"I'm sorry about what I said, Queen Lucy. It was not meant to cause distress." He explained, placing his hands out in front him. Lucy narrowed her eyes, but dropped her arms behind her.
"Technically, I'm not the one you should be apologizing to." She said quietly. Caspian nodded, becoming a bit more hopeful.
"Yes, I know, and that's why I need your help." He said, taking her aside towards the wall. All the anger had been replaced by anxious curiosity as Lucy looked up at his face, waiting for his plan.
"I need you to distract Edmund." He said. Lucy smiled.
"That's it?" She asked, the smile getting bigger. Caspian nodded eagerly, knowing her had her hooked. Lucy nodded excitedly. This was going to be a fun assignment.
Lucy positioned herself down the hallway while Caspian his behind a broken down column. He waited in silence for Lucy's distraction, and suddenly, she screamed.
"EDMUND!" She shrieked, and he could hear her knocking down various things along with a low growl. She must have enlisted Bear's help for this. Caspian thought to himself, an amused smile playing onto his lips.
Soon enough, Edmund came sprinting around the corner with wild eyes, his sword already shaking in his hand.
"EDMUUUND!" Lucy screamed again, and Bear could be heard roaring.
"I'm coming Lu!" Edmund called back desperately, running off towards his little sister and past Caspian's hiding spot. Caspian's victorious smile crept onto his face before he could stop it, and he happily pumped his fist in the air in a very boyish manner.
Quietly, he creeped up from behind his spot and walked over to Susan's door, giving it one small knock before gently turning the knob and entering.
"Susan?" He called, not wanting to startle her. He looked around the room; the bed was neatly made with emerald blankets, the trunk was clean and dust-less. Than his eyes traveled to the floor, where they widened.
"SUSAN!" He screamed, running to where she lay unconscious on the ground.