Just a thanks to everyone out there, you guys are the best. And also thanks for staying with me, I am having a family crisis right now and I haven't felt up to writing. But enough about my personal life here's the news for this chapter.
I've started to make some trailers for the different books of this story. So they're on YouTube so search under A Change of Heart Narnia Fan fiction, and you'll find it. And if you see only one movie this year, you have to check out Get Smart; I've seen it twice and still laughed every time.
And every now and then I'll name a chapter after a chapter in the actual Chronicles of Narnia series. I'll tell you when one is, and then if you guess which book it's from you get a little preview of the next chapter. And sometimes I'll alter the title so that if say the original chapter was called How Shasta Set Out On His Travels,I'll alter it to become How Caspian Set Out On His Travels or How Susan Set Out On Her Travels. This will apply to all books, except in Book 2, 4 and 7 which will be The Voyage of Dawn Treader, The Sliver Chair and The Last Battle respectively. But there will be times where I change the title or replace it with another in those books. And don't worry, I will tell you when that happens. So brush up on your chapter names, for in about 2 or 3 chapters the first one will be used.
And finally, a couple days ago I bought that giant book that contains all the books of Narnia in it and the timeline that they're selling now. You know the one that has the poster for the movie Prince Caspian as a cover. Anyways, I was brushing up on The Sliver Chair a couple nights ago and I realised, I've misspelt the name of the future prince (no Rillian will NOT become prince). I've been spelling it Rillian, when it's actually Rilian. So I apologize, and I will continue to spell it Rillian for the knight but it will be Rilian for the prince.
And lastly this chapter again is just filler so you guys understand exactly what Susan and Caspian's relationships (as a pair and separately) will be. Then there'll be no filler for the rest of the book (except for maybe a chapter or two). So this chapter is the last slow one of this book.
Now enjoy this next chapter of A Change of Heart, The Queen Returns.
A Change of Heart
Book #1 - The Queen Returns
Chapter 10
A Year Of Beginnings
Dedicated to NIkki for the 175th review
July, the best month in Narnia in Susan's opinion, rolled around and it was as enjoyable as always. Things were fresh, sunny and joyful and she wasn't just talking about the weather. Narnia was at peace and nothing was interrupting that. It was a strange thing for Susan, but still it was a good thing.
She and Caspian had much more free time to spend together. Of course that was when she wasn't fixing laws, rebuilding Cair Paravel, helping citizens, overseeing tribute payment, enjoying free time by herself or practising her sword fighting with Rillian.
But what surprised her most was, she realised she hadn't really been thinking about her siblings a lot. She realised this one day when Rillian had shown her a technique that Peter had used during his duel with Miraz. She hadn't though of them in almost two weeks previous that day. It was then that Susan remembered that after a while when she was in Narnia before, she and her siblings had forgotten all about their family and home back in London. And this thought scared her more than anything.
So she came up with an idea to help stop that. Every week she would write a letter. One week it would be to Lucy and Edmund and the next to Peter. The reason she wrote letters to both Lucy and Edmund, while Peter got one just for him was because of the age difference. She tended to keep the light, happy and funny things in the letter for her younger siblings, while Peter's letter was a different tone altogether.
She would write everything she felt, the good things and the bad. So would put in important events and her fears. She would tell him everything, including the things she couldn't bring herself to tell even Caspian. It was different with Peter because he wasn't the younger ones who had to be brought down to earth and be protected. Instead he was her older brother, her protector, her bringer down to earth, her supporter and her friend. There was just something different in her relationship with Peter than the others. It was a bond that was hard to explain and understand. But those who do have that bond know exactly what it is and understand completely.
It was at these times when she wrote the letters that she would really remember that her family was far away from her, and unable to even read what she wrote to them. This scared her so much that she hid her fear and guilt from everyone.
That is except for two people, Caspian, obviously, and surprisingly she found she could confide in Rillian.
"You're getting better at this." Rillian told Susan one day as they were sparring. "You almost got me that time."
"Well it's all thanks to your teaching." Susan said as she blocked a blow. "So where did you learn?"
"My father taught me a bit."
"Your father?"
"Yeah, he taught me until he died."
"You've never talked about your family before." Susan pointed out as she attempted to strike Rillian.
Rillian blocked it, shrugged and asked offhandedly, "What's there to talk about? I was my parents' only child, my mother died while giving birth to me. My father supported King Caspian IX and Caspian the Xth, Miraz had him killed and I was forced to join Miraz's army. I didn't give even the slightest effort there, and occasionally attacked my own side during battle and saving the other side. Then I was forced to support Karminel and the rest you know. Nothing really exciting, my family's history pales in comparison to your family's story."
"Well, who's family doesn't?" Susan smirked. "Do you miss them?"
"Well, I never knew my mother so I don't really miss her, but I do sometimes miss my father." Rillian admitted. "What about you? It must be hard knowing they're alive, but not knowing if they're well, happy or miss you."
"I know they miss me, and I miss them, but I'm passed the stage where I doubt my choice. I know I'm meant to be here, and that they aren't. Anyways, it's not like I'll never see them again, Aslan said I would. But it's hard not knowing when I'll see them again, I just have to trust Aslan." Susan confessed.
Suddenly they heard someone cleared their throat and they turned to see Caspian having just entered the area.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt." Caspian apologized.
"Oh don't worry, we were just finishing up." Rillian said. "Susan, keep practising your form this week."
"Ok." Susan nodded. Then she turned to Caspian and said, "I'll be a minute, I have to put the things away."
"Ok." Caspian responded.
Then he gazed after Susan as she walked away and started to put things away. Caspian momentarily glanced to Rillian, standing beside him, only to realise that Rillian was also staring at Susan.
Rillian sensed that the king was watching him, and turned to the jealous Caspian.
As if reading the young king's mind, gave a short laugh and said amused, "I wouldn't even dream of it."
Caspian understanding, but double checking to make sure they were on the same page, asked, "Dream of what?"
"Dream of making any advance on Susan whatsoever. You can trust me on that one."
"Can I really?" Caspian came back in a threatening voice.
"Yes you can, now look. I won't deny it; Susan is a very beautiful girl, strong, smart, funny, sophisticated, loving, gentle, kind, brave, honest, loyal and true." Rillian admitted listing off the good things about Susan. "But trust me, I am in NO way whatsoever attracted to Susan in the way you are. No offence. Anyway I like her in a more of friend brotherly type way."
It took Caspian a while to completely trust Rillian and Susan alone, but after about a month Caspian saw that their relationship was really turning into a brother sister type relationship. After this Caspian started to enjoy Rillian company and after and few months they too entered a brotherly type relationship.
About a week after that fencing lesson Susan convinced Caspian to talk about their relationship, and where it was going. They discovered that they both someday wanted to get married and have kids and wanted to take time before that. But they didn't talk about the marriage and kids they wanted to be with each other, for they felt awkward discussing that sort of thing with each other. But who could blame them; they had only known each other for a couple months and were only 16 and 17.
As these three relationships developed and improved, so did Susan's sword skills. She was making amazing progress, though she had to admit she still preferred the bow and arrow.
In fact she got so good that one day in March Susan challenged Caspian to spar against her.
The match was pretty even, but that's considering that Caspian was talking it easy on her. Actually Rillian found the match pretty amusing.
The match didn't take long, about 5 minutes in Susan tripped Caspian.
"I win." Susan gloated.
"Actually."Caspian said.
He suddenly grabbed her ankle, causing her to fall backward, rolled on top of her and said, "I win."
Susan smiled and said, "Alright you win."
"You're not so bad for a beginner." Caspian admitted.
It was only then that they became aware the the awkward position they were in. One wrong move and Susan wouldn't exactly be "innocent" anymore. Neither of them paid any attention to Rillian about foot away from them, they only focused on each other.
Caspian's breath slowed, while Susan's speed up, they were lost in each others eyes.
The same thing ran through their heads.
A part one of them was saying; Come on! Do it! Just one little motion and you'll feel the phenomenal sensation! Don't be afraid of the consequences! Just look in those eyes! You know you're not the only one here who wants it!
But logic was telling them; Don't do it! You can't risk it!
But they weren't the one who made the decision in the end.
"If you two are done, then perhaps you should get up." Rillian suggested loudly to snap them but into reality.
That year in Narnia really didn't have much else to it, so I won't waste your time to tell you anything else. But there are things you have to know before we go on.
The first thing was that Caspian and Susan never did say I love you that year, they said they weren't ready. Although everyone else knew that they did love each other, they just didn't want to be the first to say it, in fear that the other wouldn't say it in return.
The second thing was that Susan didn't get to visit her family that year, though one could understand Aslan's reason. Susan needed to get used to the idea of being without them, as well as the fact that it would be too soon in England for Susan to show up.
The last thing was that Susan never stopped writing the letters to her siblings. So as the year went by she ended up having a bunch of letters and no room to put them. So she got a beautifully made medium size chest and put all her letters and everything that reminded her of her siblings into it and stored it under her bed. She was unaware that one day, when she was in the greatest state of despair she would ever be in her life, this chest would become her saving grace.
But that's another story.
This is the last time I am going to say this. The thing that's below and appears every chapter, is always who do you want the next chapter to START with.
Next Chapter: Caspian, Susan, Rillian, Caspian and Susan, Caspian and Rillian or Susan and Rillian?
Thank goodness this chapter's over, it was torture to write. It took almost a month to get through.
Read and Review.
On last thing, please stop bashing Rillian in your reviews, his intentions are strictly honourable. Give him a chance and you'll learn to love him.