A/N: So after reading the reviews I found it interesting that a handful of you are hoping that Caspian is lying to Susan about being in love with someone else so she can move on. I haven't thought about that. lol. but very interesting. This "woman" has nothing to do with being Ramandu's Daughter btw. I won't say anymore accept that I love reading all your reviews. I've been having a hard time connecting to the Internet, so for the most part I've been writing and writing and not procrastinating as much (lol). So expect the next chapter within a few days, but again it all depends on your responses. R&R. Enjoy.

Chapter 11

Susan remains completely numb and speechless, unable to move from where she stood as she continues staring broken-heartedly at Caspian, causing him to look away. Peter, Edmund and Lucy wait anxiously for some response as their eyes follow their sister worriedly across the room. "Oh…" she finally manages to say after a moment of uncomfortable silence as Susan finally averts from his gaze and slowly walks over to the fireplace, feeling ill at ease. Caspian follows.

"I would like for you to meet her." He says as she stops and looks over her shoulder.

She weakly smiles in return, "I wish I could…"

On the opposite end of the room, Peter turns to Edmund and lightly nudges on his shoulder. "I thought Caspian didn't have anyone back in Narnia." He whispers quietly.

"I didn't know." Edmund hisses back as they return their attention back to them. After a long pause, Susan solemnly lowers her eyes.

"I didn't mean to hurt you." He mumbles softly as she could feel the warmth of his breath gently brushing against her delicate skin causing her to tremble. Susan slightly parts her lips as she slowly meets his genuine gaze. "Don't think for a second that I have not cared and long for you, Queen Susan." He says truthfully as his eyes soften. "Because I have, and it took me two years to finally let you go." She closes her eyes, simply nodding her head and fighting back the tears as his words continue to cut her open. "And then I met her," he says with a sincere smile, "and my life became whole again."

Susan studies him carefully—the way he spoke and how his eyes sparkled as he speaks of her, and it simply broke her heart to see how completely happy he is. It is not that she didn't want him to be happy because all she wants more than anything is for him to be well and content with life, but it's the fact that she isn't able to provide him the happiness that saddens her.

"She seems like a very nice person." Susan responds with a half-smile not just out of courtesy but because she truly meant it. She figured the woman must be someone really special for Caspian to fall in love with. "And I wish to return to Narnia to meet her."

Silence fell upon them once again as a gust of wind swiftly enters the room. The room stood still for a moment as the fire suddenly went out. A gasp escapes from Lucy's lips as they stood in the middle of the room in complete darkness. A few seconds have passed as the wind gradually begins to pick up speed causing the others to panic. Peter immediately shuts the door behind as they all exchange terrifying looks.

"Where is it coming from?!" Susan exclaims as the wind nearly knocked her over, only to be saved by Caspian whose steady hand rests on her lower back for support.

"I don't know!" Peter yells back, the wind knocking a glass nearby as it shattered into pieces on the wooden floor. They all look around the room in horror disbelief as the strength of the wind aggressively pulls apart the picture frames off the walls and crashing down the furniture around them. Peter's eyes open wide as he turns to the others who are looking back at him for immediate answers. "Everyone hold on!" He grabs Edmund and Lucy at arm's reach as he wraps his arms around them, using his entire body as protection. Meanwhile, on the other side of the room, Caspian surprises Susan as he pulls her towards him and securely wraps his arms around her.

"Hold on to me, Queen Susan!" He says loudly without question as she nods her head and snakes her arms around him. "Everything will be okay." Caspian reassures her, staring deep into her worried eyes as they stood only a few inches away from each other. "Trust me." She stares at him with his hair blowing wildly in the wind as their eyes meet in a long glance.

"What's happening?!" Lucy screams frantically as they watch the wind tear every inch of the house apart bit by bit.

"It's alright, Lu." Peter tightens his hold around her as the wind suddenly tore the roof off to reveal the clear blue sky. The door bust open causing the others to look anxiously in the direction as the hinges begin to come off.

"I'm so scared." Susan mumbled with her face buried in his chest as she could feel Caspian hold onto her tightly.

Everything appears to be happening so fast as the five stood bravely against the wind. Soon after, the walls of the house start to collapse—the wind engulfing everything that surrounds them until there is nothing left in the room. They open their eyes as they begin to see a small glimpse of a forest through the fierce wind causing them to look on in amazement.

What is left of the house is now gone as the wind finally comes to a stop. Susan couldn't believe her eyes as she slowly releases from Caspian's hold and took in their surroundings where everything was so green and lively—the trees standing tall, flowers blooming vibrantly in all sorts of colors and birds chirping happily nearby. The place looked all too familiar and they automatically knew where they are. Susan looks to where Peter stood as he looks back at her in disbelief.

"How is this even possible?" She mutters softly as the others join them in a circle. She looks from Caspian to Edmund as her eyes finally fell on Lucy. "I thought we couldn't come back."

The young one purses her lips. "Perhaps we're here because we all wanted to."

The others exchange looks as silence lingers in the air. Moments later their thoughts were interrupted as a light sob broke through causing the others to look around cautiously. "Did you hear that?" Peter asks as they all nodded their heads in unison. The weeping continues on as Caspian begins to follow it.

"I think it's coming from over here."

He walks towards the darkest part of the forest, completely filled with tall trees that covered the afternoon, blazing sun. The others follow him not too far behind as the weeping grew louder at every step of the way. Suddenly Caspian stops dead in his tracks as he signals the others to stand back and hide behind the trees.

"What is it?" Edmund whispers.

Caspian gestures them to stay quiet, putting his finger to his lips, as he carefully sticks his head out behind the tree and spots a woman with auburn long hair weeping silently. He shifts his gaze over to the horse tied up to the nearest tree who he recognizes to be Destria. His eyes immediately sprung open in surprise as he turns back to the woman and held his breath.

"Annabelle," he mumbles softly as the weeping abruptly stops. The Pevensies exchange looks as Caspian steps out from behind the tree. A sudden gasp escapes from her lips as she slowly turns around to face him.

"Caspian?" She spoke weakly. Their eyes meet in a long glance as a smile appear in the corner of his lips. He slowly approaches her. "Is it really you?" She whispers breathlessly while taking a step back.

"Yes." Caspian responds with a genuine smile. "It's really me."

"No." She shakes her head in disbelief. "You're a ghost."

He furrows his eyebrows in bewilderment. "I'm alive, Annabelle."

"Please," she retorts causing him to stop a few feet away from her, "stay where you are."

She looks past him as the Pevensies begin to appear behind the trees. Caspian could see the fear in her eyes as she took out a sword from behind. He stops, raising his hands up defensively. "Annabelle, please. They are not a threat to you, nor am I."

She turns back to him, her eyes filled with tears and utter confusion. "You're dead, Caspian. It's been two months." She chokes on her words. "How is this even possible?"

He lightly chuckles in response. "It's a really long story."

Her hazel nut eyes soften as she slowly lowers her sword. She then begins to carefully walk up to Caspian, reaching over him until her fingers touched his face. Her eyes widen as a light gasp escapes from her lips. "You're real."

He smiles as he gently cups her cheeks with both hands and stares deeply into her eyes. "I missed you so much."

Peter, Edmund and Lucy all exchange concerned looks as they all peer at Susan from the corner of their eyes and notice her sadly looking away.

"Oh, Caspian!" Annabelle fell into his arms as tears of joy begin to fill her eyes. "I prayed every night for you to come back to me—to all of us."

The two broke apart, still in each other's arms as he brushes a tear off from below her eyes. Annabelle weakly smiles at him as he gently lifts her chin up and pull her in for a sweet kiss.

"Ugh," Edmund scoffs while looking away in disgust, "gross!" Peter rolls his eyes at him.

A single tear left Susan's sad eyes as she quickly uses her free hand to wipe it off. She takes a deep and shaky breath, putting on a smile for their sake and also for her own.

Annabelle breaks the kiss as they part and stare at each other longingly once again. She studies Caspian carefully, staring down at his wardrobe with mere curiosity. He smirks. "It's a school uniform the girls and boys wear in London."

Annabelle furrows her eyebrows. "London?" She looks past him and notice the four standing in the background all wearing similar uniforms. Annabelle turns back to Caspian. "Who are they?" She whispers as he smiles excitedly and takes her hand.

"They're coming." Lucy whispers to her siblings as the two begin walking towards them hand in hand.

As they approach, Peter and Edmund slightly part their lips as their eyes immediately fell on the woman. She had light skin with auburn straight hair that went past her shoulders. Her eyes are hazel nut with perfect shaped lips and nose. She was simply captivating and beautiful; radiant as soon as she stepped out into the sun. It is no wonder Caspian fell in love with her.

"Annabelle," Caspian starts off smiling as they stood before them. "I want you to meet the Kings and Queens of old." She looks up at him in astonishment before turning to the Pevensies admiringly. "High King Peter, King Edmund, Queen Lucy and," Caspian trails off as he meets her beautiful blue eyes, "Queen Susan. Everyone, this is Annabelle."

"Hello," the Pevensie children greeted warmly in unison.

Her eyes widen in disbelief, "Wow," was all Annabelle could say as she remains utterly speechless in their presence. "It's nice to finally meet you all." She says with a genuine smile as she bows respectively before them. She then rises up, staring at each and every one of them until her eyes fell on Susan. Her gaze was very gentle, but quite intimidating as Annabelle pushed the thought aside and continues. "I never thought I would see this day. You're uh…" she trails off choosing her words carefully while glancing over at the others, "younger than I expect you all to be."

Edmund grins. "Yeah well, we get that a lot."

There is a moment of silence as Caspian peers at Susan from the corner of his eye, trying to read her thoughts carefully as she continues avoiding his gaze. "Well, now that you're all here perhaps we should head back." Annabelle spoke, getting everyone's attention with all eyes on her. "Aslan would very much like to see you all."

"Who has been taking over Narnia?" Peter asks curiously as Annabelle turns to him.

"Aslan himself, your majesty." She responds. "He's been in search for a new king. But now that Caspian has return," Annabelle pauses in mid-sentenced as she squeezes his hand and smiles happily at him, "there is no need for that anymore."

Susan nods her head. "Then take us to him." She finally says after a period of keeping quiet as all eyes suddenly turn to her.

Without another word, Annabelle begins leading the way.

A/N: Okay, so no cliffhanger this time. lol. Again, please don't forget to review. Your thoughts on Annabelle...your predictions...whatever. Keep them coming. ;)