A/N: To answer several people's question: 8 years have passed in both England and Narnian…courtesy of Aslan and the Deep Magics.
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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Susan left her cabin in search of Trumpkin. She put on her cloak as it was now well into the night. Most of the crew were asleep already. Susan wandered the deck, searching from bow to stern.
"Your grace!"
"Tumnus how are you?" Susan asked with a kind smile.
"Very well, thank you. Is there anything I may help you with, your grace?" Tumnus looked at Susan with eagerness.
"Have you seen Trumpkin?"
"Yes, your grace. He headed to bed. I can help you though!"
"It's okay, Tumnus. Thank you. As you were." Susan patted the faun on the shoulder and headed up to the navigation deck.
She was startled to see Caspian up there alone. She figured he had gone to bed when she was with her siblings. He was deep in thought over the map, but he did not look like he was looking at the map at all. Susan studied his features; his hair was pulled back completely now, and an ivory shirt peeked out from under his cloak. He stood with both sides on either side of the map on the table. Susan waited a moment before making her presence known.
"Caspian," Susan finally spoke when she heard him sniffle. He turned his head but that was all. Then when he saw her standing there, he turned completely, walked over to her, and hugged her. "Are you all right?"
"I thought you would have returned with your brothers and sister." Caspian admitted, burring his head in her hair.
"I'm still here, Caspian." Susan returned his hug. Her arms slinked around his waist, and she held on tight. She never wanted to let go.
"I'm glad you stayed." Caspian whispered in her ear. His hot breath sent shivers down her spine. "Are you cold, Susan?"
"No, Caspian. I'm just happy to still be here as well." Susan looked up at the sky. Her movement caused Caspian to look up as well. "I've never seen stars like that one before."
Caspian looked in the particular direction she was looking. He saw it too: the bright blue star. He was not ready to give up his time with Susan just yet, but seeing the star told him that Liliandil was close.
"That's Liliandil, Susan." Caspian informed her. Susan's eyes grew sad and she sighed. "She'll be here soon." Caspian was now looking at Susan. He watched her scan the heavens but always returning her glance back to the blue star.
Susan looked up into his brown eyes. She could stay lost in those eyes for the rest of her life. She brought her right hand to he cheek, caressing it, taking in the memory of his features. Her thumb grazed over his lips, and his breath hitched in his throat.
"Susan…" Caspian whispered.
"Shhh." Susan hushed him. She wanted to savor this moment. And before Caspian realized it, she was kissing him. Caspian, caught off guard, took a moment to respond, but did so passionately. However, Susan cut the kiss short. "I will wait for Liliandil with you." She tried to keep things low key. She moved to the side of the ship and leaned against the railing, looking out at the sea.
Caspian joined her to her left. "Why did you stay, Susan?" His voice was huskier than normal between his accent and the night air.
"To ensure Liliandil's safe return. And possibly help her; I'm a queen after all, and if she is to be yours, she may want some pointers." Susan did not completely confess her entire plan.
Silence overtook the queen and king. However, Susan gave in to a soft chuckle. Caspian peered at her out of the corner of his eyes.
"I'm just remembering when I borrowed Destrier with Lucy." Susan smiled, answering his unspoken question.
"I don't know why you laugh about it. You were upset with me."
"Yes, well, you nearly gave in to Jadis. I could not forgive you that easily, especially since Peter, Edmund, Lucy, and I just defeated her…or at least it seemed like we just defeated her. But you quickly redeemed yourself." She smiled at the memory of him hoisting her up to sit behind him on the horse.
"You can be very stubborn, Susan. I don't know why you just wouldn't take me with you." Caspian chuckled.
Silence fell upon them once more. Susan occasionally looked at him out of the corner of her eyes; he continued to do the same.
"I've missed you, Susan. Eight years have gone by and not a night has gone by where I don't have a dream without you." Caspian had to say something; he had to say what was on his mind and in his heart. "It's a shame that you were not able to stay. This situation could have been entirely different."
"We can't focus on the 'could have been' situations. We can only live in the present and prepare for our future. The past is what makes us who we are. I'm grateful to be here…now…" Susan turned her head to look at him.
"That is very wise, Susan." Caspian sighed. "But as with most things, it is easier said than done."
"Clouds are rolling in. I can smell the storm approaching. Liliandil will be here momentarily if she is to be here before the storm." Susan pointed out. Caspian nodded, not able to find words.
Moments later, a bright light floated down from the sky and landed on the main deck. Caspian and Susan walked down the stairs from the navigation deck to meet her and welcome her aboard.
"Welcome aboard the Dawn Treader, Liliandil." Caspian took her right hand and kissed her knuckles.
"Thank you, Caspian." Liliandil smiled. Then she turned her attention to Susan. Liliandil hid her disapproval of Susan's presence very well. "Hello again, your highness." She curtsied.
"Liliandil," Susan gave a slight nod of her head in greeting the star. "I guess I will turn in now that you have arrived safely. Goodnight." She smiled at the mismatched couple and headed to her cabin.
Susan hung her cloak on a hook on the wall, and she changed into a nightgown. She wished she could have slept in Caspian's shirt again, but the purple, short-sleeved nightgown was equally comfortable. She grabbed a golden brush from the dresser and brushed out her long brown locks.
"This is my cabin, so feel free to knock on my door anytime. And down this way is your cabin."
"And where is her highness' cabin?"
"Is that really your concern?" Silence. "It's this one here." Silence. Footsteps.
Susan heard Caspian giving Liliandil a quick tour. She could only imagine what occurred in the silence between his question and reply. Liliandil was not happy that Susan was staying so close to Caspian. Then they walked away and she heard nothing more on the matter. She continued brushing her hair and ended by braiding it. Just as she finished, she heard presumably Caspian walking back toward his room and entering it. As she was about to get into bed, a knock came to her door.
"Who is it?" Susan inquired.
"Liliandil, your majesty."
Susan's stomach formed in knots. This was not something she was prepared for yet: a one-on-one conversation with Liliandil.
"You may come in." Susan announced. She tried to keep a straight face while in the presence of Caspian's fiancée. "How may I help you?"
Before answering, Liliandil closed the door and sat next to Susan on the bed. Susan was taken aback by this action as she had not given Liliandil an indication that it was okay to do so, nor did she ask permission. Susan felt very uncomfortable. She was not fighting on her terms, though she did have home field advantage in a way.
"Your majesty, I am very aware of the feeling between you and King Caspian." Liliandil confessed. "I think your journey out here with him was an admirable attempt at trying to win him over…and me as well." A smug smile came across her glowing lips. "However, do not forget that I am a star. While I was in the heavens, I was able to watch everything that occurred…out in the open at least."
Susan was thankful she had already blown out all of the candles until she remembered that Liliandil was lighting up the whole cabin.
"What is your point, Liliandil? I am very tired and would like to sleep soon." Susan tried to keep her patience, as Aslan would have liked.
"I hope my father does not have to make good on his threat, your majesty. I think we could get along very well if you were to keep to your promise to him."
"Are you jealous, Liliandil?" Susan asked with a smug tone.
"I am not sure, your majesty. Many of these emotions are new to me. Stars have no need for such things, you know."
"But you know you love Caspian?"
"I think so."
"How about my brother, Edmund? What did you think of him when you met?"
"Edmund was brave and kind. I could see his protective nature." Liliandil smiled as she recalled meeting Edmund. He was more forceful and determined to discover what had happened to the lords of Telmar. He was very well spoken.
Susan noticed her expression changed from how she looked when talking about Caspian. Moreover, she used this to her advantage to gain the higher ground.
"He is brave and protective. He is also kind and loving and smart." Susan bragged. Liliandil listened intently. "I remember how Lucy described the moment to me in a letter once."
Liliandil's expression changed once more. "I think I've made my point, your majesty. Goodnight." And with that, she left the cabin.
"Boy, for a star who hasn't experienced human emotions, she sure does express a great deal of them." And with that final thought, Susan drifted off to sleep.
Susan woke up from her dreamless sleep due to the ruckus the storm was causing and Trumpkin knocking on her door for the past 30 minutes.
Susan quickly dressed her black dress. It reached to her mid-calf, as it would be impractical to wear a normal traveling dress that she would risk tripping over or ripping. She put on her cloak and headed out to help the crewmembers control the ship.
Rain was coming down at an angle once more. The wind was awful. Waves crashed up over the bow.
"Trumpkin! Where is Caspian?" Susan had to yell to be heard over the storm.
"With Liliandil! She is not accustomed to being on a ship during a storm!" Trumpkin shouted in reply. He look annoyed by this but kept those feelings inside. Susan rolled her eyes and looked around making sure the crew was doing as they were supposed to. She looked up at the navigation deck; Rhince was having a difficult time with the wheel. Susan dashed up the stairs and grabbed the other side of the steering wheel and helped Rhince keep it steady.
Lightning lit up the ship constantly. Susan began to fear for lightning strikes to cause a fire. The ship floated up and down large waves. Susan's cloak was soaked through, as well as her clothes. She kept a firm grip on the spokes of the steering wheel, which required all of her strength.
"Rhince, go help with the line over there! That's too much for those two to handle alone. I have the wheel." Susan commanded. 'Blast, where is Caspian?' Susan maintained her hold and kept the wheel steady.
What seemed like hours later, the storm calmed down. In actuality, it only last an hour and a half. However, another storm was imminent. Susan watched as the crew tied things back into place.
"Make sure everything is doubly secure! There are more storms to come yet!" Susa shouted from her position behind the wheel. The waters were still rough and splashing over the sides of the boat, soaking Susan and the crew more and more. She removed her cloak and threw it on the bench behind her. As she held the ship on its course, Caspian emerged from below decks. He talked with various Narnians and sent Tumnus below deck. He was talking to Trumpkin when he looked up at the Navigation deck. Susan stared back at him with an annoyed look all over her face. He rushed up to talk to her.
"Susan, why are you steering?"
"Because Rhince needed to help the other crewmembers during the storm. Speaking of which, another one is on the way, so you better get back down to Liliandil." Susan scoffed.
"I sent Tumnus down there to be with her." Caspian explained.
"Is she okay?"
"She'll be fine." Caspian sat down on the wet bench behind Susan.
Rhince took his place back on the navigation deck and Susan went down to inspect the damage from the morning's storm.
"He screwed up again, didn't he?" Trumpkin whispered to Susan when she approached the bow where he stood.
"He didn't screw up, DLF. He did what he thought was right. I've been through worse storms aboard ships before."
"So what's your plan?" Trumpkin looked up at the queen.
"Just prove to be the better match for Caspian. I want to avoid Ramandu's threat, so I'll have to be cautious." Susan figured a better idea would come to her once they reached home. "I saw my siblings, by the way."
Trumpkin wasn't sure how to react. "Here? Or a dream?"
"Both. Seeing them again was really comforting; and they gave me their blessings to pursue Caspian and stay here. And as Lucy left, she asked me to tell you how much she misses her DLF and to give you this," and then Susan bent down and hugged him. A few seconds into the embrace, the rain began to fall once more.
"These storms are really getting old," Trumpkin sighed and ran off to his post.
Susan tried to find the energy to help the crew, but at that moment, she felt a deep wave of exhaustion overtake her. The clouds grew darker as the rain came down harder. Dizziness caused Susan to grip on to the wet railing. The ship was once again bobbing up and down ferociously in the waves.
Susan saw Caspian and Trumpkin rush over to her, but it was too late. Susan fell over the side of the ship after it violently glided down a large wave.
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A/N #1: Okay, so here ends chapter 10. Please, REVIEW...reviews inspire me to keep writing, and they make me smile.
A/N #2: How did the reviewers from chapter 9 like their teaser? Yes, you heard that right; those who reviewed the previous chapter received a short teaser! It was mainly b/c I knew this chapter would be posted later than the others due to school commitments.
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.)