The month of June passed quickly after the night of Caspian's party. Susan and Lucy's squeals of happiness could be heard echoing through the halls of the castle when Aubrey told them of hers and Peter's engagement. A team of workers was sent the following morning to the castle of Cair Paravel, reconstruction was to begin immediately so that everything would be ready for a late October wedding.
It was a warm August afternoon that Susan was walking through the halls of the castle, Talitha at her side. The two were chatting amiably about some town gossip.
"And then Susa said the poor girls husband grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and tossed him from the house," she was saying. Susan chuckled at her story.
"Poor girl, but serves her right. I can't imagine how the other bloke is feeling, seeing the woman he loves wrapped up in the arms of another man." Talitha nodded her head in agreement. The two continued down the corridor in silence.
"Tali," Susan called gently. "I've been thinking,"
"That's never a good sign," the young maid joked. Susan nudged her with her shoulder.
"Really," the Queen insisted. "I've been thinking about Cair. I want you to come with us when we move there, and not just as a castle maid. I'd love to have you as my maid servant." Susan said the last part quietly. She felt weird asking this girl to be her personal servant, it made her feel . . . wrong. Talitha's eyes were swimming with unshed tears. She turned to Susan and wrapped her into a bone crushing hug.
"I would love to!" she said happily. "To be a Queen's maid servant is a very high honor and my family will be proud. Don't think any less of yourself, because I know you are," she regarded Susan with a stern look, causing the young Queen to smile. They stopped in front of the doors to the kitchens.
"I must leave you here Susan. I promised Cook I'd help prepare dinner." The two girls embraced in a friendly hug.
"Tell Susa hello for me and that I must push back tea by an hour. Lucy, Aubrey and I are going to town to look over some flower arrangements for the wedding." Tali nodded her head, and with a final smile slipped through the large mahogany doors of the kitchen.
Susan continued her walk through the halls. Thanks to Talitha and her friend Susa, Susan was able to better maneuver herself around the many halls. She passed servants and Lords, all of whom she nodded her head too. She entered the hallway leading to her room and decided to grab the book she had been reading the night before. Maybe she would sit on the garden wall and read until dinner. She was walking down the hall once more, this time with her book in hand, when she stumbled across an open door. Peering inside, she saw Caspian once again sitting in Alida's room. With a small sigh, she gently pushed open the large door.
"We must stop meeting like this," she whispered quietly and chuckled when Caspian jumped.
"Hello Susan," he muttered quietly.
"If you would like to be alone I don't mind . . ." she gestured to the open door behind her.
"No, no please. You don't have to leave." He patted the side of the bed he was sitting on. "Actually I'd enjoy some company." Susan nodded and settled herself in the spot next to Caspian.
"What brings you down this end of the hallway?" he asked after a few moments of silence. Susan held up the book that was gently resting in her lap.
"I found this book in the library a few days ago and thought I'd head to the garden and read. This was the quickest way there." Caspian smiled.
"I see you are becoming better acquainted with the castle."
"With the help of Tali and Susa of course." She said with a smile. Caspian nodded his head.
"Not that I mind, but why are you hear again?" Susan asked gently. She was worried for him.
"It's her birthday." He whispered. Susan nodded her head silently and reached for his hand. Their fingers laced and Susan smiled, thinking about how perfect his hand felt in her own. They sat there in silence, Susan not knowing what to say and Caspian not much in a talking mood.
"I miss her." Caspian said after what felt like hours of silence. Susan squeezed his hand in a comforting manner.
"I wish there was something I could say or do to cheer you up," Susan said. "I wish I could say I know how you feel, but I don't. I can't even, no, I don't even want to imagine how I would feel if it was one of my siblings. I'm sorry, that was very insensitive of me." Caspian chuckled.
"Not insensitive, just honest." He told her with a smile, one that Susan felt was contagious for she could feel herself smiling. Caspian stared into her crystal blue eyes. They were so like the sea, and how he could just get lost in them. Before he knew what he was doing, he leaned in and captured her lips in a gentle kiss. Quickly his mind snapped back to reality and he pulled away. He looked down at the ground in shame, missing the look of bliss on Susan's face.
"I'm so sorry. I never shoul . . ." But before he could finish, Susan leaned forward and kissed him. She had wanted to do it for ages but had been too afraid. She didn't know if right now was the best time but something in her gut was telling her to go for it. She smiled against his lips when she felt him kiss back. After what felt like days, they pulled apart. Susan couldn't cover up the goofy smile on her face even if she wanted to.
"Wow." Caspian whispered.
"Wow." Susan agreed. They stared at each other, goofy smiles reflected on their faces.
"I didn't know . . . " Caspian began.
" . . . That you felt that way." Susan finished for him. They smiled. They sat in the room until the sun began to set, neither saying a word, just basking in the bliss that surrounded them.
Just before dinner, more screams could be heard echoing around the halls. Lucy and Aubrey jumped around Susan's room in joy after she told them of hers and Caspian's kiss. Peter looked up with a questioning look. Shrugging his shoulders he returned to the letter he was reading. He looked up again when he heard a soft knock on his door.
Caspian stood in the hallway outside of Peter's door, wringing his hands nervously. It was no secret how protective the light haired King was of his siblings, especially his sisters. Caspian was not looking forward to the young mans reaction but knew he was doing the right thing.
"Enter," Peter called from somewhere in his room. With a deep, steadying breath Caspian pushed open the door. He found Peter sitting at the desk located just below his window, a letter in hand.
"Evening, Caspian." Peter said when he saw who was at the door. Caspian nodded his head. Peter chuckled at how nervous the poor bloke looked.
"Would you like to sit?" he asked, gesturing to a chair off to the right.
Not when standing gives me a better chance to run, Caspian thought to himself, but took the seat Peter was gesturing to. The two men stared at one another for a moment.
"So what do I owe this pleasure?" Peter asked.
"I want to court your sister," Caspian said quickly, wanting to get this over with as quickly as possible.
"Certainly not Lucy, I hope," Peter said with a small smile. Caspian stared at him open-mouthed.
"N-n-no, what?" Caspian asked, his eyebrows scrunched up in confusion.
Peter chuckled. "Let's just make this short, it's not really a conversation I want to have, but you have my permission." A smile slowly formed on Caspian's face as Peter's words sunk in. Caspian stood up and enveloped the younger man in a hug. Peter laughed.
"What do you say we head down to dinner?" Peter asked. Caspian nodded in agreement.
"And besides, Susan would kill me if I said no," Peter said as they walked down the hall.
The rest of August passed with not much incident. Caspian and Susan could be seen walking through town or around the castle, hand in hand. And when they thought no one was looking, they stole small kisses from one another. Before long, the milder September air settled around the castle. Aubrey and Peter were sitting on one of the low garden walls, watching people mill about.
"Have I told you how proud of you I am?" Aubrey asked, kissing Peter's cheek.
"What for this time?" he said with a cheeky smile. Aubrey nudged him gently with her shoulder.
"For being . . . well, for not being you, regarding Susan and Caspian." She said, sticking her tongue out at him. Peter kissed her lips.
"Well it's not like I could have stopped them," he said seriously. "I don't want to lose her but it's either this or . . ." Aubrey nodded her head. Susan never would have forgiven him had he said no.
"You're not losing her, Pete." Peter smiled.
"That's what she told me the night of Caspian's party."
"You still have Lucy." Aubrey offered.
"Yeah, but for how long?" Peter asked. Aubrey saw sadness flash through his eyes.
"I don't think you'll have to worry about her for a while." She said with a smile.
Before anyone realized, September had faded into October. As planned, the reconstruction of Cair Paravel was finished within the first week. The Telmarine castle was buzzing with the packing for the move that was to take place at the end of the week. Once again, Caspian was in Alida's room. Susan watched as he gently folded her things and packed her belongings.
"Are you sure this is wise?" he asked her. Susan nodded her head. "But what if she comes back and finds us gone and all of her stuff missing."
"She's a smart girl. She'll know we've gone to Cair." Caspian nodded his head and continued packing.
The move from the Telmarine castle to Cair Paravel was a long one. It was at least a four days ride, but with the whole town following, it took at least an extra two days.
Lucy fell back onto her new bed with a sigh. Cair Paravel had been her favorite place in Narnia. She finally felt like she was home. She sat up and looked around her bright room. The sun was falling through the wide doors that led to her personal balcony. Her eyes scanned over the soft pine furniture. Her four poster bed, the dresser in the corner and the vanity mirror next to the bed. It was much nicer to look at than the hard and dark mahogany from the Telmarine castle. It was good to be home.
A/N: Sorry again (I feel like I say that a lot) for the long wait. It's just . . . school is such a nightmare this semester. I literally have no time for anything. I apologize for any mistakes, grammar or otherwise, in this chapter. I kinda just typed it and didn't read over it. I just wanted to get it posted before I (once again) ran out of time. So I just beg you, please don't hate me.
I also want to thank everyone for the reviews I've gotten, they really do keep it going. So I'm going to be that annoying author that begs for reviews. I just want to know how I'm doing and if you guys are liking what I'm writing.
So to sum this up, I don't know when I'll get another chance to update. It may not be until I start Christmas break later in December. I'll I have to say is I'm thankful for lazy Sunday's and a break in homework and projects, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to write this chapter.
So please Read and Review! I really appreciate it! =). Oh! And thanks for sticking with me and this story.