Susan Pevensie

"Destiny is not a matter of chance; but a matter of choice." – William Jennings Bryant

Susan awoke in the middle of the night, after a terrible nightmare in which a giant lion had torn Bobby away from her. Shaken by the visions, Susan went downstairs to get a drink of water...

...only to find her brother Edmund already there.

"Oh... Edmund," Susan said, surprised. Edmund looked up at his sister, and grinned.

"Couldn't sleep?" he asked. Susan let out a deep breath, taking a seat beside her brother.

"I keep having these horrible nightmares..." she confessed.

"About Bobby?" Edmund wondered. Susan looked up at Edmund's face to see his expression. To her surprise, he didn't look angry.

"Yes. Bobby and... well, I can't say for sure, it's been so long, but... I think it might be Aslan," Susan almost whispered. Edmund stared at his sister sadly.

"I haven't heard you say his name since we were children," he remarked. Susan sighed.

"I know. I can't even say it any more without feeling... wrong inside," she said. "I've betrayed him, Edmund."

"Impossible. What have you done to betray Aslan?" Edmund asked.

"Oh, plenty," Susan snorted. "I've denied him. I've lied about remembering. I feel ashamed whenever I think, or speak, of Narnia at all. I've lost my faith. I... I've listened to fears."

"Everyone slips, Susan," Edmund stated.

"I'm afraid I've fallen," Susan admitted. Edmund reached out, taking his sister's hand.

"You've done nothing wrong," he insisted. "I don't care what the rest of them say. Bobby's always been a friend of ours, and I can't see what's wrong with you falling in love with him." Tears streamed down Susan's cheeks as she leapt up and hugged Edmund tightly.

"Oh Edmund!" she cried into his shoulder. Edmund hushed her, patting her back.

"Shh. It's all right, Su," he assured her. Susan pulled away, staring at her younger brother.

"You're so wise, Ed... and so just," she said. "You really are a king." Edmund grinned.

"You know I'd do anything for you, Su," he assured her. "Just like with Prince Rabadash, and the Calormenes. Do you remember?"

"It's like a dream," Susan said softly. "But I remember."

Susan and Edmund sat together in the dark kitchen for a while, just holding hands, and enjoying the peace it gave them.

"Well... we'd better get to sleep. The sun's going to rise in a few hours, and the Professor will be here before we know it."

Edmund walked Susan up to her room, where they hugged one last time.

"Thank you, Edmund."

"We'll all get back again, Susan. Don't worry."

The next morning was a complete frenzy. Professor Diggory Kirke arrived, the old professor in whose house the children had first discovered Narnia. The children had to gather all their belongings for school, and prepare for the long train ride they would be taking.

When that morning came, everyone piled into two taxi cars, all their luggage in tow. Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy were in one cab, their parents and Professor Kirke in another. Barely anyone spoke the entire ride, as Peter and Susan were still in a row, and Susan would not even look at Lucy.

They all boarded the train together, Peter and Lucy sitting side-by-side, and Susan staying right by Edmund.

About a half hour into the train ride, the children noticed the train beginning to pick up speed.

"Does the train seem to be going quicker than usual?" Lucy asked, glancing out the window cautiously.

"I'm sure this is ordinary," Peter replied. Though he didn't appear too sure.

Suddenly there was a horrible screech. The train jerked forward, then backwards, then began rocking frantically. Baggage was tumbling onto the children, as all the lights around them shattered and blew out. The children were screaming, and frantically grabbing for each other, as bits of glass scratched them all over, and large suitcases and bags tumbled onto their heads.

"Peter! Susan!" Lucy shrieked.

"Take my hand, Lucy!" Peter called. Suddenly the lamp flew off the ceiling, crashing down on top of both Peter and Lucy.

"NO!" Susan screamed. "Peter! Lucy!"

She tried to reach her siblings, but the train jerked back again, and Susan flew into the opposite wall.

"Susan!" She could heard Edmund calling her name.

"Edmund!" she called. "EDMUND!"

She grasped her brother's hand for a quick moment... before the wall of the car came crashing in on them.

"SUSAN!"