Part Eleven

A few months later, Susan stood aboard the ship that she herself had named, the magnificent, old-Narnia styled Dawn Treader. She smiled a little at all the secret references – to Aslan, treading softly through forests or along the beach at sunrise; to herself and Lucy, that terrible morning that dawned so drear with misery after Aslan's sacrifice; to Caspian, that morning of his coronation, when she'd seen him, unbeknownst to the young king-to-be, from her window, as she, too, had awoken early – the day she had left Narnia for what she thought would be the last time.

Beside her, Peter nudged her. "Penny for them."

"Just thinking how glad I am to be here," she smiled, watching Caspian as he checked that all preparations were made.

"I have to say, I'm looking forward to this trip… all those places that we used to know and love. Ah, Terebinthia…" he smiled. "I always liked the place, you know."

Susan laughed. "Well, it's about time they had a visit from their King, don't you think?"

"Certainly. Though as well as looking for the seven lords, I suspect Caspian also wants an excuse to show off his pretty young queen to his whole realm. Good taste, Caspian has."

She gave an unladylike snort of derision. "Flatterer."

He just laughed. "Mark my words, Su, he wants to show you off to the world. And well he might – you turned down countless other suitors, after all, back in the Golden Age."

"Well, none of them was the right one."

"No," he agreed amiably. "None of them was Caspian, and therefore, not right for you."

Coming up to them that moment, the man in question raised an amused eyebrow. "Who's not right for you?"

"Anyone who isn't you, apparently, so my regal brother tells me," teased Susan.

"Indeed! Well, I always defer to my kingly brother-in-law's greater knowledge and wisdom, as you know, so he must, surely, be correct."

The small family laughed together, Caspian pulling Susan to his side, and kissing the top of her head. "Are we ready?" asked Peter.

"Yes, all is ready." He nodded, and the ship drew away from its moorings with the grace and elegance of a swan in the first light of day.

The visit to Terebinthia was sadly impossible due to sickness there, much to the monarchs' disappointment, so the ship set sail again for the Lone Islands. One morning, Susan was roused from her sleep by a commotion on board, and, throwing on her clothes, rushed onto deck, almost colliding with Peter.

Caspian had been on deck some time; in time, indeed, to welcome the newcomers who had just been dragged aboard, soaked through, and two of them looking not a bit dejected. The smallest had thrown her arms around Caspian's neck, hugging him tightly. Susan nudged Peter. "Isn't she cute when she does that?" she whispered.

Peter chuckled, watching, waiting for the party to notice their arrival.

Caspian, catching sight of them, and grinning at Susan, murmured something to the girl, who immediately spun around, and threw herself into her sister's arms. "Oh, Su! It's true, you are in Narnia!"

Laughing, Susan hugged her, ignoring the fact that her clothes were now soaking. "Didn't I tell you so?"

Peter stood back, still in the shadows a little, watching with amusement, until Lucy noticed him as well. "Peter! Oh, this is wonderful!" she said, almost dancing round them in delight. She looked back to where Edmund was giving the thoroughly dejected-looking Eustace a good talking-to. "Oh, poor Ed… I should go and help…"

Peter shook his head. "No, you stay here and catch up on the girl-talk with Su. I'll help Ed deal with Useless."

Soon enough, they were all in dry clothes (Lucy giggling helplessly in one of Susan's dresses, which was far too long for her), and Caspian was arranging accommodation. "King Edmund, would you mind sharing a cabin with your noble cousin? There is only one spare guest cabin aboard. High King," he said, a little nervously, "If I might prevail upon you to allow me to share your cabin, so that the young queens might take the royal cabin?"

Peter rolled his eyes. "Caspian, you're my brother-in-law. How many times have I told you to do away with formalities, and call me Peter? And yes, of course you can share my cabin."

Eustace muttered something, but Edmund kicked him. "Of course I'll share with my 'noble' cousin, Caspian," he said, with a glare at Eustace.

"Why does she get the best cabin?" whined Eustace.

"She is a queen of Narnia, noble lord," rebuked Caspian, "and even Queen Lucy and my wife must share a cabin, while I share with the High King. If any have cause to complain, surely, my wife and I should be they, as we must be separated; yet you see that my wife makes no complaint, and I willingly give up my cabin for the use of my most dear sister-queen."

Peter hid a smile; Caspian's pride when he said 'my wife' was all too obvious, and he found it rather endearing to hear him refer to Lucy as his 'most dear sister-queen'. He'd forgotten how fond he and Lucy were of each other, and was glad to see that their affection was undimmed by time and separation. He remembered Caspian once admitting that he had longed for brothers and sisters of his own, and was glad that Lucy had adopted him so willingly as a super-numerary brother.

Lucy smiled amiably at Caspian. "I don't mind sharing with Peter or Edmund, Caspian," she said. "It wouldn't be the first time. After all, we all slept on the floor at Aslan's How on campaign. And I wouldn't want to rob you of your wife," she teased, eyes dancing merrily.

Caspian glanced at Peter, who nodded imperceptibly. "Very well then, Queen Lucy; it shall be as you say. I will have another bunk made up in your brother's cabin for you, and I will see if a screen can be found for you to dress behind."

"She can use mine," said Susan. "After all, it's not like I need to hide from you, is it?"

Edmund was amused to see that Caspian blushed slightly, despite Susan's practical tone. Obviously, it wasn't the practicality of the suggestion that appealed to him. "As you wish."