A/N: Ok, I know it's been awhile since I last updated and I'm sorry. I got pretty busy all of a sudden and was suffering a bit from writer's block till I saw the trailer of the new Narnia film, and it simply got me motivated to finish this story, which I will!...eventually (lol). With that said, thanks for those who have been reviewing and reading. Enjoy!

Chapter 20

"I still love you, Queen Susan."

"You're making a mistake, Caspian."

"You are willing to give up someone who you can be with forever for someone you can never be with…and never have?"

"She'll never come back!"

"NO!" Caspian's eyes sprung open as he sits up on the bed, panting heavily and wiping the sweat off his forehead. He looks out the pane windows where the vibrant moon cast a faint light in the room as he spots his Aunt Prunaprismia sleeping on a wooden chair at the foot of the bed as she has done for the past few nights. Another night of endless nightmares and sleepless nights continues to elude him from getting any rest as a deep sigh escapes from his trembling lips.

"A bad dream?"

A voice breaks through the silence, slightly startling the King, as he immediately turns to his Aunt's direction who has suddenly waken up from her sleep. Prunaprismia gracefully rises from the wooden chair and takes a seat on his bedside, staring at Caspian worriedly. He nods, his heavy breaths slowly subsiding as he replays the horrid dream in his head. "Is it Queen Susan?" She asks as the sound of her name made him slightly wince in hurt. Prunaprismia notice and immediately regrets speaking her name. "My apologies, your majesty."

"No, it's alright." Caspian responds as he runs a free hand through his slightly damped hair. "It's alright."

His female companion purses her lips. "Did you want to talk about it?"

He sighs as his eyes remain fixated on the sheets that keep him warm every night. "I'm just afraid she'll never wake up." His aunt could hear the pain in his quavering voice as she places a comforting hand on his shoulder. "It's been a month now, and I can't bear to see her so lifeless."

"I know, my King. But the important thing is that she is still breathing and that there is still hope that our Queen will wake up."

"If she ever wakes up…" Caspian says despondently with a deep sigh causing his aunt to match the sad expression on his face. He frowns, "I'm sorry. I know I should never stop believing."

Prunaprismia weakly smiles, "You shouldn't apologize. You're in love, Caspian. She means the world to you."

He nods as his sad gaze meets with the woman who he always looked up to as a mother. Despite the unfortunate situation they were in that continues to haunt him during the day and night, he felt a sense of relief to have family during the time he needed them the most. They provided him strength during a moment of weakness and hope when he has none of it. "We've been apart for too long." Caspian continues on sadly, "I don't want to lose her again."

"And you won't." She says positively as a smile crept over her lips. "Queen Susan is still here."

He sighs deeply. "For now…"

Hours have gone by as the sun begins to slowly rise to take its place in the distant horizon. Light begins to seep through the curtains of the windows, making King Peter's eyes flutter open. As he adjusted his eyes to the morning light, Peter continues to lie down on his bed staring aimlessly at the ceiling when suddenly an abrupt knock on the door allowed him to break from his deep thoughts. Peter looks up as General Glozelle enters the room.

"Pardon me, your Majesty. But the soldiers have returned from the woods with Gladis," he pauses to catch his breath, "and Aslan has returned."

It didn't take very long for Peter to wash up and put on fresh clothes that the servants have prepared for him as he immediately rushes to the courtyard where he was later joined by his siblings Edmund and Lucy.

"Where's Caspian?" Peter asks curiously as soon as he notice he was nowhere in sight.

"He's with Susan." Queen Lucy responds when all of a sudden the great Lion approaches them, signaling the other soldiers to disperse and let the Kings and Queen of Narnia be. As soon as the courtyard was cleared, Peter, Edmund and Lucy turn their gazes over to Aslan and bow to their king.

"Where's Gladis?"

"We heard she's been captured."

"Yes," Aslan finally spoke as the brisk wind gently brushes his mane. "And it's all over now. No one is to ever speak of her. She is no longer a part of Narnia."

The Kings and Queen of old finally sigh in relief, but they all knew that the worst isn't completely over. "What about Susan?" Edmund asks worriedly as their hopeful eyes turn to Aslan, desperately searching for answers. The great Lion unnoticeably avert from their gazes, releasing a deep and rather apprehensive breath.

"Gladis' magic is very powerful, even I alone cannot reverse what has been done." He responds straightforwardly. "I will do whatever I can to bring your sister back. But it is up to Susan if she wishes to return or not."

"And she will right?" Peter retorts as desperation become evident in his voice. "I mean…Susan will wake up." There is a moment of silence as Aslan lowers his head causing the others to wrinkle their foreheads in bewilderment. "Aslan?"

"Yes," he responds with a low grunt, "however as soon as Susan wakes up, she will no longer be in Narnia." Their eyes widen in unexpected surprise, "And that includes all of you."

Aslan looks past the Pevensie children as he spots King Caspian staring at him in mere disbelief.

A/N: Don't forget to leave a review. There will be one or two more chapters after this one. =)