Disclaimer: If I owned Chronicles of Narnia, I wouldn't have the student loan debts I have. (read: I don't own Chronicles of Narnia, I don't make money from this. I am merely a fan.)
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"Caspian?" Susan looked at him with weary eyes. His cheeks were red; he ran his hands through his hair. He breathed heavily through his nose, his nostrils flared, and he closed his eyes tight. Susan walked over to him and put her right hand on his left shoulder. "Caspian. Look at me."
Caspian slowly opened his eyes and met her ocean blue ones. She noticed he too was on the verge of tears.
"You cannot leave again. Not now that you've just returned." Caspian whispered. He pulled Susan into a tight embrace.
"Maybe that's why I was allowed. To have a proper goodbye." Susan reasoned.
"Perhaps." Caspian's hands found their way into Susan's hair. He breathed in her scent. Before he had a chance to think, he kissed Susan's exposed shoulder. He kissed it three times before pulling back.
Susan and Caspian stared into each other's eyes, both trying to get a read on the other's thoughts. Susan brought her hand from Caspian's shoulder to his cheek. He closed his eyes, relishing in the touch. After a few moments of the silence, Susan backed away from a calmed down Caspian. She propped herself up against the desk that stood opposite the bed.
Caspian opened his eyes when the warmth of Susan's touch ceased to grace his skin. He looked over to Susan then to the door. He stood up straight, no longer leaning against the wall, and walked toward the door. However, he stopped half way.
Susan watched him move, and her heart sank when she saw him head to the door. Then she was confused when he stopped.
Caspian turned and walked to Susan; he was in front of her in two big steps. Before she had time to protest, Caspian cupped her neck and brought his lips down to hers. Susan did not back away from his kiss this time. She snaked her arms around his neck and brought her body right up against his. Caspian's other arm worked its way around Susan's waist.
Caspian wished to deepen the kiss and Susan willfully allowed him. She worked her right hand up into his hair. In the heat of the moment, Susan let a soft moan leave her throat. This sent Caspian in a whirl and he let go a little growl and held her tighter.
"Susan," Trumpkin knocked on the door. "Are you ready to talk?"
Susan and Caspian pulled apart at Trumpkin's interruption. Susan resumed her seat on her bed, and Caspian took her place against the desk.
"Come in, Trumpkin." Susan spoke, never taking her eyes off of Caspian.
"Susan, we can…oh, hello, Caspian." Trumpkin was slightly startled to see Caspian in the gentle queen's cabin and then noticed their deep flushed cheeks. "My apologies for interrupting, your majesties." He smiled and winked and Susan, causing her flush to turn to a deep blush reaching from her neck to her cheeks.
"Yes, well, I should go prepare a cabin for Liliandil seeing as this one was to be her's." Caspian headed to the door once more.
"I can change rooms, Caspian." Susan offered.
"Nonsense. This cabin is meant for a queen. I will find another." Caspian bowed out, leaving Trumpkin and Susan alone.
"I don't think she'll be happy with me being right across the hall from him." Susan noted to Trumpkin.
"Well, I for one hope this match between Liliandil and Caspian doesn't work out." He admitted. "She is not suited to be a queen."
"Trumpkin!" Susan gasped at his blunt declaration. "You shouldn't say such things about your future queen."
"I'm sorry, Susan." Trumpkin sighed. "But we should, you, maybe plan something."
"I don't know if I can anymore, DLF. I want to fight for him, but Ramandu said there would be grave consequences if I didn't stay out of the way…emphasis on grave." Susan's tone sounded defeated.
"Your majesty, you have fought and lead battles and wars. This should be simple." Trumpkin replied.
"Has Liliandil ever dueled before?" Susan randomly asked.
"Not that I know of. Stars are supposed to be pacifists."
This answer both upset and pleased Susan. On the one hand, that was something Susan had to her advantage. On the other hand, Caspian would be more likely to spend all his time making sure she was safe. But on the other hand, Susan would be able to fight shoulder-to-shoulder with him again.
Susan recalled the battle against Miraz. Caspian always seemed impressed with the way Susan could handle herself. But when she nearly fell from the wall of Aslan's How, the most scared looked came across his face, it matched that of Peter's right next to him. When she landed on her feet, she met his eyes and relief washed away the fright. Susan smiled at the memory.
Then another one popped into her mind. The moment right before she kissed him.
"I wish we had more time together." Caspian spoke softly.
"It never would have work out anyway." She said and he looked confused. "I am 1,300 years older than you." She smiled and started to walk away. But before joining her brothers and sister, she turned back and kissed Caspian. The broke apart, smiled meekly at each other, and she was gone.
"I will fight for him, Trumpkin. I refuse to back down again…But…"
"But what, Susan?"
"What about my family?" That would always be the one thing holding her back in England. "I will figure out something, DLF. However, right now, I am exhausted. Today has been so draining." Susan said with a yawn.
"Very well Susan. I will help you no matter what. Goodnight." Trumpkin left the room.
Susan was tempted to go to Caspian's room and pick up where they were interrupted. But she wasn't lying when she said how tired she was. She didn't bother changing or getting under the covers; she had enough energy to scoot up her bed and put her head on her pillows.
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"Susan, where have you been?" Peter looked cross. "You were supposed to go to the market with Lu."
"Sorry, Peter. I was in Narnia." Susan frowned. "Caspian is going to marry Liliandil."
"But he can't!" Edmund chimed in as he entered the dining room.
"Aren't you two supposed to be on your way to the office?" Susan said, noticing that they were still in their robes, Peter in blue and Edmund in green.
"It's Saturday, silly." Lucy joined them at the table.
"Really? The time change is more in sync…odd." Susan said more to herself than the others.
"Time change?" Lucy's expression went from sleepy to confused.
"She was in Narnia." Peter answered the unspoken question.
"Oh Susan! How lucky! What happened while you were there?" Lucy's face lit up like a ray of sunshine.
"I helped Caspian find Liliandil." One question still remained unspoken, until Susan finally spoke, "but how did I get back? We were on the Dawn Treader."
The four of them looked at each other with confusion.
"Perhaps Aslan thought it best to send you home without making much of a scene." Edmund rationalized.
"I wish we could all return…either for good or just whenever we wanted. I could never choose between staying here with my family or remaining in Narnia without you lot." Susan commented. She smiled a small smile to all of them.
"I think we all wish that, Sue." Peter replied.
Susan stood from the table and walked over to the large window that over looked their back yard. It was spacious and wooded. Clouds began to roll over the sun.
"I love you all so much." Susan said without turning around.
"Gentle Queen."
"Aslan!" Susan turned and gasped. Her family was gone and the Great Lion stood where the table used to be.
"Susan, you have a noble heart and a gentle spirit. It pains me to see you in the condition that you are in." Aslan walked over to Susan and joined her in looking out the window once more. "You cannot live in two places, my child. But there are things set in motion that will help you."
"Aslan, I don't understand." Susan confessed.
"Patience, gentle queen. You shall understand soon. I promise." Aslan spoke then disappeared as quickly and mysteriously as he appeared.
"I'm a gentle queen, not a patient one." She sighed.
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Susan's eyes fluttered open when she heard knocking on her door.
"Who is it?" Susan yawned.
"Caspian."
"Come in." Susan didn't have the energy to sit up, so she remained laying in bed. "Something I can help you with, your highness?" Susan's eyes remained closed.
"I just came to check on you…your majesty." Caspian replied. He took notice of Susan's appearance. She was laying on top of her covers, and she was still wearing her dress.
"So is there something I can help you with, Caspian?" A voice from the chair in the corner inquired.
"Edmund?" Susan and Caspian both asked in unison.
"Seriously, Caspian, why are you in here with our sister?"
"Peter? What are you doing on the floor?" Susan laughed.
"No clue," he answered with a smile.
"Looks like it's a party in here."
"Lucy?" Susan was ecstatic to see her family. She hugged Lucy, who was on the bed with her.
"Your majesties," Caspian bowed to them. "I did not know you were all going to be here."
"Neither did we," Lucy laughed.
Susan remembered her dream and what Aslan said before he disappeared. He had brought them all to Narnia to help Susan in any way necessary. She was very pleased with this; she no longer felt like the burden was on her shoulders alone.
"I wonder how long we're staying this time." Edmund pondered aloud.
"I should leave you to allow you all to catch up." Caspian took his leave, however, he did not wonder far.
"How did this happen?" Susan asked them.
"No clue. One minute we're eating breakfast then the next we're all here." Edmund answered.
This reminded Susan of her dream again. 'Oh Aslan…' Susan smiled.
"It is so wonderful see you all," Susan had tears streaming down her cheeks now.
"What's wrong, Sue?" Peter asked. The brothers joined their sisters on the bed, and they all sat in a circle.
"Caspian is going to marry Liliandil." Susan answered.
"The star?" Lucy and Edmund looked at each other and smirked after their unison questioning. And all Susan could do was nod.
"Tell us everything, please, Susan." Peter begged.
Susan did just that, right down to Ramandu's "grave consequences."
"You have to fight for him, Susan." Lucy pleaded.
"But that would mean I'd have to leave all of you for good." Susan's voice cracked.
"Susan, you haven't been happy since returning from Narnia eight years ago. And we only want you to be happy. Knowing that would be possible by you staying here, we would support it, wouldn't we?" Lucy looked at Edmund and Peter who both nodded enthusiastically in agreement.
"Really Sue…you have our blessing! Now fight for him!" Edmund got excited, he only hoped he could stay long enough to watch the battle.
Susan smiled eagerly, happy to have their blessings. "Thank you." She started crying again, but this time, happy, determined tears.
"My Children."
"Aslan!" They all greeted him eagerly, even though he only appeared in the mirror next to the bed.
"You do not have long; I only allowed you to return to comfort Susan." Aslan informed the siblings. "You three are her greatest source of strength. Though she is brave and strong, her spirit cried out for you three."
"When will we have to return, Aslan?" Lucy never wanted to leave Narnia.
"Soon, dear one." Aslan regretfully informed. "But know that there is always a possibility for you to return."
"But…" Peter started then thought better of it. The only answer they would receive from Aslan would be another riddle.
"Now, say your farewells and know it's not a good-bye." Aslan instructed.
With renewed hope, Edmund, Peter, and Lucy hugged their sister who would remain in Narnia for a while longer. Aslan then opened a portal in the mirror to allow the departing Pevensie siblings a way back to the mansion. Susan was alone in the room once more.
"Thank you, Aslan." Susan said to the mirror where Aslan once occupied.
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A/N #1: Okay, so here ends chapter 9. Please, REVIEW...reviews inspire me to keep writing, and they make me smile.
A/N #2: How did the reviewers from chapter 8 like their teaser? Yes, you heard that right; those who reviewed the previous chapter received a short teaser! Call it incentive, call it bribery…I'll do whatever I can (within reason) for reviews.
A/N #3: I try to post the chapters as soon as they're done. I do my best to proof them; however, if you notice errors, don't hesitate to inform me (but in a constructive way). I am only human.
A/N #4: Follow me on twitter to stay updated with all my writing antics! (And fyi, next chapter is already in the works…as usual.)