Ok, the scene in the Stable between Caspian and Susan is just them being playful, there not really sure how to act around each other yet, so this is them, just trying to flirt sort of in a weird way.
Aha and yes we get to see who the hooded man is! The man that betrayed Caspian and set free the white witch, although I think it's pretty obvious, I have dropped a few hints.
Note: I am terrible sorry for thenext chapter, it's a bit, belch! So to make up for it, I'm going to upload two chapter tomorrow! Enjoy
This Chapter is dedicated to mysupermanwill, hope I got your name right, thank you for all the reviews!
Chapter Twelve: Traitor Reveled
Caspian could hardly wait for the ride that afternoon, he could barley focus on his task through out the day, preferring to leave them to Edmund and Peter who didn't seem to mind, they were mainly Narnian problems anyway, and Caspian felt they were more than capable of handling.
"Where do you think we'll ride to this afternoon?" asked Lucy as she and Susan entered the stable, "I don't know, does it really matter?" asked Susan as she opened the door to Shadowfare's stall, the straw crunching under her feet, "Maybe we'll hunt a stag for dinner?" asked Lucy as she walked into Prancer's stall, "No, remember what happened last time?" said Susan laughing as she fed Shadowfare some oats, Lucy laughed, remembering the time they had all hunted for a stag and had found the lantern, the memory still fresh in there minds.
"Hello" called Edmund as he entered the stall with Peter and Caspian, "Hello, we were just thinking of where we would ride to today" said Lucy as she brushed Prancer, "Oh and what did you decide?" asked Peter walking into the stall that held Andrew, "we're still working on that" called Susan as she brushed Shadowfare.
Caspian opened the door to Destier's stall, it was next to Susan's horse Shadowfare.
"The Horse you ride Queen Susan, I have herd he is the King of All horses" said Caspian playing coy as he brushed Destier, "Yes, he came to me in the forest, he's been my friend through many dangers" said Susan rubbing the top of Shadowfare's head, "Does he mind being tamed?" asked Caspian, looking over at her from behind his shoulder, "I don't think so, but then again, I don't think he's tame at all" said Susan smiling and looking up at Caspian playfully, "He's very tame around you I've noticed" said Caspian leaning against the barrier that was between his stall and Susan's, "Most things are" said Susan playfully going over to the barrier and leaning on it to Caspian's left.
"Well I suppose that's how you became Queen Susan the gentle" said Caspian looking into Susan's eyes, "Maybe" said Susan smiling and looking into Caspian's eyes, "How did you sleep last night?" asked Caspian coyly, "Very wetly, what about you? Did you sleep?" asked Susan edging closer to him, "not a moment" said Caspian edging closer to her, she smiled at him, knowing that the kiss they had shared last night was playing freshly in their minds, "Hope you don't fall asleep and slide off your horse" said Susan walking back to Shadowfare and grabbing his reins to lead him out of the stall, "No, I'm fully rested" said Caspian grabbing Destier's reins walking out of the stall with him, and meeting Susan in the isle, there eyes locking.
"Are we ready to go?" asked Susan blushing and looking away from Caspian and down the hall, "I think so" said Lucy leading Prancer out of her stall, "I think we're just waiting for Peter" said Edmund leading Phillip out of his stall, "Did everyone grab there weapons?" asked Peter Coming out of the stall leading Andrew, "Yes" said Edmund strapping his axe to his saddle, Lucy looked down at her belt, she had bough her knives and The Eternal Light, Susan had bought her bow and arrows, Caspian his sword and Susan's horn.
"I just want to be prepared; the Witch may still have other plans" said Peter, "Pete" whined Edmund, "Oh Peter" said Lucy, "He's right, I mean there was ice in the west of Narnia, we should be taken caution, we wouldn't anyone to get hurt" said Caspian looking about the group, but his eyes lingered on Susan, "Come one, lets go" said Susan leading Shadowfare out of the stables, "Lucy! Why don't you hold on to Susan's horn?" asked Caspian giving it to Lucy, "Why?" asked Lucy, "Because Susan would never except it, and you shadow her ever step, I don't want anything happening to her, or you, and Peter and Edmund can look after themselves" said Caspian making sure Edmund, Peter and Susan were well out of ear-shot, "But Susan gave it to you" said Lucy, "I know, but, you hold onto it for a little you can give it back to me later" said Caspian, "alright, but you know Susan can look after herself as well" said Lucy pointedly walking down the isle, "I know" said Caspian following Lucy out of the stables, thinking how devastated he'd be if anything was to happen to any of them.
The Pevensie's and Caspian galloped out of the castle, across the field and towards the Narnian forest.
The rode in the Order of Peter, Lucy, Edmund, Susan then Caspian bringing up the rear.
"Come on Caspian keep up!" called Susan cheekily as she galloped into the forest after Edmund, Caspian smiled and followed her in, they rode through the forest.
Caspian couldn't help but notice how at home Susan seemed, her emerald dress seemed to blend in with the Narnian forest, she bounced along in rhythm with Shadowfare's strides her braid bouncing as she did so, she looked so graceful atop the mighty steed, Caspian couldn't help but be in awe of her.
"Low Branch!" called Peter, one by one they all ducked the branch as it came near them.
The rode into a clearing and they dismounted, "Lets give the horses a rest" said Peter, grabbing Andrews reins and tying them to a tree, "don't suppose anyone bought anything to eat?" asked Edmund, Lucy threw Edmund a sandwich she had hidden in her saddle bag, and sat down, "Where's mine?" asked Peter in mock aghast, Lucy threw him a sandwich that he had failed to see she was hold, she then bit into her own.
Caspian dismounted Destier and pulled his reins over his head so he could lead him, he looked around, Lucy, Edmund and Peter were all sitting in a circle, but where was Susan?
Caspian looked to his left and saw Susan standing with Shadowfare at the edge of the clearing, she looked up at Caspian then turned her head and headed into the forest, leading Shadowfare after her.
Caspian looked towards Peter, Edmund and Lucy, they were in deep convocation.
Caspian followed Susan into the forest, seeing only glimpses of her through the trees.
Susan stopped beside the river, the silver water rushing through the rocks, even though it wasn't nightfall the canopy of trees had made the forest very dark, she let Shadowfare's reins fall to the ground so that he could drink from the river.
"What are you doing walking off alone?" asked Caspian entering the clearing beside the river with Destier following behind, "I could ask you the same thing" said Susan turning around to face him, "Looking for you" said Caspian walking closer to the river, "Shadowfare wanted a drink" said Susan, nodding down at the horse, "Right" said Caspian letting Destier drink from the stream and stepping closer to Susan.
"Are we doing this in secret?" asked Caspian voicing what he had been going over in his head all day, "No, Lucy saw us last night, and she told Edmund and Peter, we all talked about it this morning in the garden, while you were in Chamber Duty" said Susan smiling slightly, "really?" asked Caspian, "yes, I had no idea, my little sister is quite the genius" said Susan raising her eye brows, "Oh and what did you all decide?" asked Caspian with interest, "That it would be perfectly acceptable for you to court me" said Susan smiling, "That is wonderful news" said Caspian taking a step closer to Susan, he was close enough now that he could easily bend down and kiss her.
"Has anyone seen Susan?" asked Edmund looking around, "She said she was going to the stream for water" said Lucy, "Where's Caspian?" asked Peter looking around, "He went with her" said Lucy simply biting into her sandwich, "Why!" asked Peter standing up, "Sit down Pete" said Edmund pulling Peter to sit down, "we agreed this morning about them, don't go and break them up because your older Male ego is kicking in" said Lucy, Peter sat down but kept glancing at the spot where he was sure Susan had exited the clearing.
Lucy felt a cold wind behind her "Lucy" she heard something whisper, Lucy spun around then got up, "what is it Lu?" asked Edmund, "Sh!" said Lucy walking about the clearing, Peter and Edmund got up and followed Lucy around the clearing, a wind blew, blowing the leaves and petals off the ground, the petals formed into a face and body, "Queen Lucy, King Edmund, King Peter you must leave" said the tree spirit in a voice that echoed and sounded like many voices overlapping each other, "The White Bear is coming to trap The Horse to draw in The Wolf, The Eagle, The Lion and The Fox" said the spirit, "what do you mean?" asked Lucy, "go! Before it is too late" said the tree spirit, it then disappeared.
"What does that mean?" asked Peter "I have no idea what she just said" whined Edmund, Lucy turned back to her brothers, her face consorted with concentration, "no, it's a riddle, they always talk like that" said Lucy biting her nail as she walked, "Well in riddles you always concentrate on the names of things, so what did she say? A Wolf, A Horse, A Eagle, A Lion, A Fox and A White Bear?" asked Peter "A Horse, well that's Susan, that's her sign" said Lucy, "and the wolf must be Caspian" said Edmund, "The Fox is you Ed, that your sign" said Peter pointing at Edmund, "And the Lion is you and the Eagle's Lucy" said Edmund "Who's the White Bear?" asked Lucy, "The White Witch!" gasped Peter, as he did an arrow was fired from a crossbow that just missed his head. Peter looked up, a dozen Telmarine soldiers and goblins entered the clearing.
Susan looked up at Caspian, he was looking down at her, the same way he had at the fireworks, Susan brought her hand up to his face and tucked a stray hair behind his ear, Caspian's spine tingled at her touch, he moved his hand to grab the hand that lay limply at Susan's side, he grasped it and brought it up to their face level, entwining his fingers with hers, he pulled her hand back so she had to walk forward, he then sat it on his shoulder.
Susan leaned into kiss him but before she could a horn was blown, a horn that rang like bells in Susan's ears making them vibrate.
"Lucy!" said Caspian fear gripping his throat, they immediately broke away from each other and mounted their horses to get back to camp.
Peter stabbed his sword into a Telmarine soldier's chest.
Edmund swung his axe, cutting off a goblin's head, the blood shooting out and staining Edmunds clothes.
Lucy screamed as she was thrown to the ground, the goblin raised his axe, he was about to bring it crashing down when an arrow with red feathers struck him in the chest, Lucy looked up, Caspian and Susan had just rode into the clearing.
Susan ran over to Lucy and helped her up, "Ready the horses!" gasped Susan, Lucy nodded, the fear showing in her eyes as she ran over to Phillip, Andrew, Prancer, Destier and Shadowfare.
Edmund swung his axe upwards, it hit the Telmarine solider in the middle of his groin, the solider squealed like a pig and fell to his knees, "No! I have to live!" he said throwing his hands up at Edmund, but he took no mercy "Trust me with out those you wont want to!" said Edmund looking down at where he had just struck the solider, he swung his axe cutting off his head. Edmund then spotted Lucy who was mounting Prancer, Edmund ran over to the horses and mounted Phillip.
Peter struck his sword into a goblin, and goblin jumped on his back biting him hard in the neck, Peter felt the sting on venom going into his neck.
Susan Saw Peter go crashing to the ground with a goblin on his back, she stabbed the arrow she was holding into a approaching goblin, then spun her bow punching it into a soldiers head, she knocked the arrow to her bow and loosed it, it hit the goblin square in the back who roared with pain.
Peter rolled over so he was lying down on his back on the ground he then thrust his sword upwards killing the goblin, "Peter!" screamed Lucy, Peter got up and ran over to Andrew ignoring the pain.
Susan knocked another arrow and shot it at the three goblins that were running at her, she didn't notice the Telmarine solider creeping up behind her his sword raised above his head.
Susan heard and snarl behind her, she turned around and gasped, but Shadowfare kicked at him with all his might, sending the solider flying across the clearing, "thanks Shadowfare" said Susan jumping onto the horses back.
Caspian swung his sword cutting off a soldier's leg, the solider fell to the ground howling in pan, blood oozing out of his leg as if it was trying to reach the other half of his leg that lay three feet from him, Caspian stood over him and stabbed the sword into his chest, "Caspian!" yelled Susan, Caspian looked up and saw they had all mounted there horses, he then ran to Destier and mounted him as soon as he did, they all spurred there horses and the galloped through the forest.
A man rode into the clearing accompanied by twelve Telmarine soldiers; he lifted off his hood to reveal the face of Adam, the head of Caspian's Guard.
"They went that way, hurry!" snarled Adam spurring his horse forward.
The Pevensie's rode through the forest along the path, then Peter stopped there was a fork in the path, "Peter Which way?" asked Lucy, Peter grabbed his compass from his belt and held it towards the path, the needle spun around before it stopped and pointed to the left path in the fork, "That way!" gasped Peter spurring Andrew.
They rode until they came to the edge of the forest for which they continued up the hill.
Peter's vision began to blur, the goblin's poison was taking effect, he couldn't keep his eyes open, the pain in his neck was consuming him, his chest felt heavy, he closed his eyes, and slid off his horse, crashing to the ground.
Everyone bough there horses to a screeching halt, Lucy ran over to Peter, so did Edmund, Caspian and Susan.
"What's wrong with him?" asked Edmund, "I don't know I cant see!" said Susan looking up at the sky which had now darkened, and was filling up with stars, Lucy looked around desperately, it was hopeless, she felt a tear roll down her cheek, her faith was draining, she then remembered the words of Farther Christmas, "the Eternal Light, may it be a light for you when all others go out" a smile spread across her face, there was hope left in her yet, she pulled the bottle out from her belt and shook it, it immediately began to glow.
She ran over to Peter and shined it on his body, there was blood oozing from his neck that surrounded a wound that was purple, "That's goblins poison! The same stuff that was in your bowl and on your scare" said Lucy looking up at Caspian, "What's it do?" asked Caspian, "it paralyzes all the senses so you cant move, see, or speak, it works it's way through the body until it reaches your heart" said Susan pressing her hands to Peter's neck to stop the bleeding, "Is he going to die?" choked Edmund, "No, not it we can stop the bleeding and get him Lucy cordial, keep watch!" said Susan, Caspian grabbed Edmund to his feet knowing the young king was feeling helpless.
Caspian looked over the hill he could see twelve Telmarine riders coming closer, "Caspian!" shouted the lead rider, Caspian knew that voice, that was the voice. They were after him! He looked back to Susan and Lucy.
"We need to split up!" said Caspian, as Susan tied a rag around Peter's neck, "What!" asked Susan looking up, "Don't argue just do it" said Caspian looking away from her back towards the riders who were drawing closer, "Fine, Lucy ride with Peter on Shadowfare, he'll lead you back to Temar" said Susan as Caspian and Edmund lifted Peter onto Shadowfare, "What about you?" asked Lucy as Susan lifted her onto Shadowfare in front of Peter so she could grab the reins, "I'll ride Andrew now go!" said Susan, Lucy looked back at them as Shadowfare galloped away from the group.
"Edmund you go to Telmar via the west" said Caspian, "Right, see you there" said Edmund mounting Phillip, and galloping away.
"I'll ride for the north and draw them to me, you ride to the east" said Caspian walking over to Andrew, "I don't like this plan" said Susan standing by Andrew not wanting to leave Caspian, "ride to the east, I'll be fine" said Caspian "I don't believe you" said Susan in a half whisper for her voice was choking as she blinked back tears, "I believed you would come back and you have, I couldn't bare the thought of losing you again, not when I can save you" said Caspian leaning into Susan, "Alright" said Susan breathing deeply, Caspian grabbed Susan around her hip and pulled her into him, he kissed her as if all the air was leaving his lungs, if he died he wanted her to be the last thing on his lips, she rapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back with the same passion begging him to stay alive, Caspian broke away and lifted her onto Andrew his eyes never leaving hers "now go!" said Caspian slapping Andrew's rump urging the horse to keep her safe.
Susan's last look to Caspian before Andrew galloped away said so may thing's she wanted to say, she wanted to say that she loved him, but all too soon her eyes were torn away from his, and she rode away into the night.
Caspian mounted Destier and rode straight through the pack of riders, but the didn't seem to notice him they rode straight past him.
They were heading straight to Susan, without a moments hesitation he spurred Destier and chased after them.
Adam saw Queen Susan riding away through the eastern hills, "Circle around the bottom and cut her off!" called Adam, three Telmarine soldiers nodded and turned onto a different path, Adam spurred his grey horse onwards.
Caspian spurred Destier onwards, he took out his sword from his belt and swung it to the solider that was riding next to him, he swung it and cut off the soldiers head.
Caspian looked up, a solider had over taken the leader and was almost riding side by side with Susan, and Caspian felt a sharp pain in his heart.
Susan looked to the side, the majority of the riders were at least ten meters behind her, but a rider broken free of the pack and was closing in on her fast.
Susan grabbed her bow and an arrow from her back pack, she dropped the reins and knocked the arrow, the rider was almost level with her, she loosed the arrow and it hit the rider in his chest, he then slid of his horse.
Susan placed her arrow on her back, grabbed the reins and slapped them against Andrew's neck urging him to go faster.
Caspian rode faster and Faster cutting down any soldier that was in his reach.
Adam could tell that Caspian was gaining on him, he had killed six soldiers that only left him, two soldiers and the three that he had sent to cut them off, which would be happening very soon.
Caspian was almost level with the front rider, he swung his sword and cut the back legs of the rider riding next to the hooded rider, then horse dropped its back legs causing the rider to fly forward and hit the ground head first, his neck snapping with a spine tingling crack.
Susan turned around the three riders were almost level with her, she urged Andrew forward. She could see Caspian riding behind them.
Caspian pulled Destier in front of the two remaining riders, the lead rider pulled his horse up throwing his head back, his hood falling and exposing his face, "Adam!" choked Caspian, refusing to believe what he was seeing, Adam was his friend! How could he betray him? He couldn't have! Then a rush of thoughts came streaming into Caspian's head.
Adam hadn't been there the night Caspian had heard about the ice, Adam hadn't been there the day the Witch's Army attacked, he hadn't been there when Caspian had asked for a search party to investigate the ice.
The Caspian felt his heart stop and his breath caught, he had seen him kiss Susan, he knew how he felt about her.
Susan turned around Caspian had stopped the two horses that were behind her, one of the person's on the horse was Adam, what was Adam doing there? Thought Susan
Then all of a sudden three Horses pulled in front of her.
Susan gasped as Andrew reared up on his back legs, Susan was usually a good rider, but she wasn't prepared for him to rear and she lost her balance, she was thrown backwards, she felt onto the ground and grunted, she had hit her temple on a rock, the pain went shooting through her head, then black.
Caspian turned around he saw Susan lying on the ground motionless, a Telmarine solider stood over her his sword pointed at her.
"Move Caspian, and she dies" said Adam, "Why?" asked Caspian feeling something curl up inside of his stomach that made him shiver, "Because she isn't fit to rule Narnia and You are not fit to Rule Telmar, you are not fit to rule anything, your both just stupid children" said Adam the jealously and hate spitting through every word he said.
Caspian watched as they tied Susan to Andrew's back, "Oh and tell King Edmund that an old friend says Hi" said Adam, as he did a Solider rode up behind Caspian and hit him on the head with the hilt of his sword, and Caspian saw no more, "Good Night, Boy King" said Adam spitting on the ground near Destier's feet, he then rode off with what was left of his troop into the Narnia forest.
