oh my God the last chapter. I think I am going to cry. this thing has been my obsession for the last several months. But don't worry, the story is not over. Look for my sequel that should hopefully be up very soon. Without further ado, the Last Chapter.
Four Weeks Later
"Good morning everyone!" Lucy chirped cheerfully skipping into the dining room one chilly October Sunday morning and bounced over to her usual place between Susan and Edmund. From behind she wrapped her arms around her youngest big brother who stiffened but patted her arm a tad awkwardly. Lucy kissed her big sister on the cheek and plopped down in her chair and loaded her plate with biscuits, sausage, eggs and pancakes. Susan reached up and brushed a stray lock from her face, her fingertips resting briefly on a long white scar on her forearm. His face flashed in front of her for a moment and her whole body tensed and irratation flicked through her as a tear pricked in the corner of her eye. She gritted her teeth. She was fine. Rabadash was dead. She was okay. "How do you feel today Su?"
The oldest queen snapped her self back into reality and smiled. "Great. I can finally eat something without wanting to vomit!" she said with strained enthusiasm, piling eggs, sausage, a muffin and half a slice of toast onto her plate, tossing the other half of the toast onto her big brothers plate with a smile. In a sudden wave of affection Peter stretched across her plate and grabbed her hand in his with a smile .
Susan cocked her head humorously and arched an eyebrow. "What?"
Peter laughed and squeezed her hand, his green eyes caring and mischievous. "I love you,"
She grinned "I love you too." Susan leaned over her plate and kissed her big brother's cheek playfully. He laughed and ruffled her hair. The Gentle Queen swatted his shoulder and made a big show of throwing her wavy hair into a messy bun only to have Edmund grin impishly and pull the tie out of her hair, sending two feet of shiny brown curls tumbling down her back in soft waves. Lucy laughed asSusan stuck her tongue out at her brother and lobbed a bite of her muffin at his face. They all smiled and were filled with an instant wave of warmth at their sisters happiness.
The two and a half weeks right after the incident had been hell for everyone, nothing but nightmares and fights and tears but it seemed that right after that morning after Peter and Edmund caught Susan and Caspian, everything had started to get brighter. Susan stopped flinching and wincing at every touch and started smiling again. She stopped waking up in the middle of the night screaming although she was still plagued with horrible nightmares and excruciating flashbacks but then she would see her family smiling down at her and she could relax just a little. As long as she was with them, she knew she was safe.
Susan jumped and then smiled as a pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist from behind and soft warm lips pressed against her cheek. Normally, that tender little touch would have sent her trembling and crying but in Caspian's arms she just felt so safe and loved and protected. "Good morning love," a heavy Hispanic accent whispered into her hair and her heart fluttered. She twisted her head and kissed Caspian's temple, her whole body aching with love.
"Good morning,'' she replied with a smile and warmth flooded over her as Caspian's smile widened at the sound of her voice. "You sure slept late dear,'' she said teasingly as Caspian nodded and took his place on Peter's other side. His lips quirked up in a half smile. He expected Peter to be slightly weary of him since the incident but things had been so much better between them since their talk in the middle of the night. His smile widened and his heart started beating very fast at the memory of the moment Peter gave him permission to marry his sister. Caspian had been spending quite a bit of time with Edmund and Peter lately ever since Edmund informed him that in their world it was customary for a man to give the woman he loves a ring when asking her to marry him. As a sort of bribe, they had said.
Seeing as Peter really tried not to think about Susan getting married, (even if it was to Mr. Perfect) most of his time setting about getting a ring was spent with Edmund. The youngest king quite vividly remembered a day in the park where Susan had talked quite vehemently about how much she loved her mother's wedding ring and hoped someday to wear it on her own finger. It had been Caspian's idea to first go to Trumpkin, considering his skill with this sort of thing being a dwarf, and have Edmund recall as clearly as he could the design of his mother's ring for Trumpkin to recreate. Trumpkin had teased the young Telmarine for quite some time about being such a pansy but secretly he was thouroughly flattered and touched that the two kings had come to him with something so personal and sentimental for the young queen. He quite cared for the the oldest queen and had missed her very much though he would never admit it out loud.
Breakfast passed peacefully, except for the occasional airborne bit of toast or muffin that flew across the table at Edmund's face after a particularly rude remark. Nothing out of the ordinary.
Hours later at about midday the five royals were outside on the farthest corner of the garden, enjoying the beautiful day. This was their absolute favorite part of the castle. It remained completely unchanged from the Golden Age which is perhaphs the reason the four Pevensie's were so attached to it. The gray stone wall was crumbling and fallen, ivy and roses climbing up the wall and spiraling across the stone. The remains of a once beautiful now rose covered wishing well stood proudly in the corner, 'aging gracefully' as Lucy liked to put it. The old stone bench was still standing to their amazement although grass and ivy was beginning to crawl up the sides and curl around the arm of the chairs. This one little corner held so many memories; Susan's very first secret kiss (silly Peter was still under the impression that Caspian was the only man she had ever kissed), a day spent with the beavers, several picnics and squabbles. It was their very last piece of the true Golden Age that they had been apart of. The Golden Age where they had been adults and lived and loved and ruled.
And so sat the five royals around the rose bushes and wishing well in the heat of the day, simply enjoying each others company. Caspian smiled to himself as he cracked his eyes open and looked around at his hopefully soon to be family. Lucy was sitting a few feet away from the rest of the family, absently weaving a daisy chain for Peter. Caspian himself was sharing the bench with Peter who was sitting sideways on the bench with his back leaned lazily against the arm rest and his bent legs pressing against the side of Caspian's thighs. Susan was perched comfortably on the grass in front of the bench, her back rested gently against Caspian's shins, her head resting on his knees. Edmund, who was hit with an uncharacteristic wave of love for his older sister was sprawled lazily on the grass with his head on Susan lap, thoroughly enjoying the softness of her skirts and loving the way she stroked his dark hair.
Usually Edmund tended to shy from any physical contact but Susan was different. She had this certain air about her that just sent him craving her touch. She was so sweet and comforting and motherly and they had been through so much together. She listened to all his problems no matter how dumb they were, always was there to talk and never went away. He didn't tell her nearly enough, probably only twice or three times in his whole life, but he loved her so very much. He loved all of his family so very much. Those four marvelous, wonderful, funny, random, crazy people were his whole life. He really needed to tell them more often how much they meant to him...
Edmund sighed happily and snuggled his head into the soft skirts of her dress, causing her blue eyes to sparkle and dance. "My my Edmund, someone is feeling awful lovey dovey today," she said with a teasing smile. He gently swatted at her cheek with a lazy hand. "Oh shut up. This dress is so soft...'' he said lazily closing his eyes and eyebody laughed. Peter leaned over as far as the bench would allow and ruffled his brothers hair. "Don't enjoy it too much Ed. She is our sister..." Peter said and Edmund smacked him upside the head and Susan blushed, causing everyone to giggle and laugh.
Caspian idly played with Susan's soft hair, braiding and twirling and twisting it into silly shapes. Peter snorted. "Man Cas, Narnia sure loves a king that can braid," he said with a low whistle and Susan smacked his knee. ''Be nice. At least he didn't cut off almost eight inches of my hair when I was asleep!" she said mutinously and Lucy and Edmund burst out laughing til tears rolled down their cheeks while Caspian smiled questioningly. Peter huffed and stood up indignantly. "I was drunk! I didn't mean to cut that much off! I was still mad at you for eating the last fruit tartlet!" he explained indignantly and Caspian joined in their hysterical laughter.
"Oh dear Peter, even when you are not drunk you really don't think before you do anything do you?"Lucy said from her spot rolling on the floor laughing.
"I was considering cutting a few inches off anyway but you could have at least cut it in a straight line!" Susan said with fake fury. Peter's eyes widened. "I was drunk! I couldn't even walk straight let alone cut in a straight line! You'll lucky I didn't cut your head off!" he said indignantly and Susan burst out laughing and nudged Edmund so she could stand up with slight help from Caspian. She pinched Peter's cheek mockingly. "It's all right Pete, I know you don't think things through, even when you are not intoxicated,'' she said gently and Peter stuck his tongue out at her, mumbling under his breath. The five rulers grudginly stood up and stretched, the sun making them sleepy.
Mindlessly, Caspian reached into his jacket pocket for the sixtieth time that day and rolled his fingers over a small velvet box containing the ring he hoped to give Susan tonight. His heart pounded and thumped at the mere thought of it. He was so wonderfully excited by the delightful thought of finally asking Susan to marry him after so many nights. He had newanted so badly to ask her weeks ago but of course he was no fool and proposing too soon after the incident could ruin everything. He was most anxious about her not being ready even though he knew that she loved him and trusted him and did not fear him in any way. He felt like a little boy on Christmas morning he was so anxious and excited and absolutely could not wait for the perfect moment.
The smooth feeling of the velvet box beneath his fingertips sent a wave of overwhelming excitement coursing through his veins. His whole entire body prickled with excitement and anticipation. The thought of spending the rest of his life with Susan was so wonderful his brain could not even comprehend it. But the thought of that perfect moment made his legs turn into jelly. He wanted it to be so perfect and each moment waiting was so agonizing. He was just existing every moment she wasn't with him. She trully put the color inside of his world and he wanted every second of his life to be spent by her side.
"Caspian? Darling? Caspian dear?" Susan sweet voice wonderfully close to his ear brought him back to reality and he smiled. "What's that you are so interested in love? You have been fiddling with it all morning,''she said and started to reach into his pocket. He started to panic. This could totally ruin everything if she saw the ring.
Peter, seeing Caspian's panic walked up behind Susan and gently threw her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and carried her over to the grass, both of them laughing and screaming. Very gently as not to hurt her (she was still quite fragile and sore) he put her down quickly on the grass and carefully sat on her stomach and began to tickle her mercilessly, grinning like a fool. Totally shocked, Susan started laughing hysterically, louder and longer than Caspian had ever heard anyone laugh. Tears were pouring down her red face and she was laughing so hard no sound was coming out. She was gasping and spluttering and choking on her laughter. The Gentl Queen squirmed and thrashed and giggled and batted at Peter but he only continued to tickle his baby sister mercilessly.
Edmund and Lucy started laughing along with Peter and hopped up from their spots in the grass and joined Peter in tickling Susan. Caspian himself was laughing so hard (mostly with relief) that he himself was finding breathing quite difficult. He hadn't heard her laugh for so long and the wonderful sound was music to his ears. Poor Susan was out numbered three to one and they certainly were not planning on stopping the tickle fight anytime soon. Perhaphs he should help her...Nah.
His only thought in that perfect moment that if this was what forever would be like, he wanted it to start right now.
Caspian paced furiously in the family room of the Cair, his stomach churning and his head reeling. Edmund groaned. "Would you knock it off? She is going to say yes. Especially after she sees a replica of Mum's wedding ring. Now stop pacing you're making me sick!" he moaned. Lucy clapped her hands and squealed. "Oh the ring! I completely forgot about the ring! Let me see it!" she said excitedly and Caspian absently pulled the ring out of his pocket and handed it to the delighted queen. She opened the box and squealed, tears brimming her shining eyes.
"Oh Caspian it's beautiful! Oh it's just like Mum's. She is going to cry!" she said excitedly and Caspians face paled, causing the two kings to snicker.
"You really think she is going to cry?" he said in a small voice, looking terrified.
Lucy's eyes widened and she patted Caspian's arm reasurringly. "Oh no no no not like that! Happy cry! Happy cry! It is very beautiful and she is going to absolutely love it." she hugged Caspian around the waist.
"She is going to say yes. She loves you very, very much. Goodness she would say yes if you proposed in a trailer park!"
Caspian's brow furrowed and he frowned. "What's a trailer park?"
Peter snorted but then patted Caspian's shoulder a tad ruefully and pulled him in for a hug."She's going to say yes. Now go,"
Caspian's heart was beating so fast it just sounded like one continuous hum as he walked through the palace hallways numbly. Why would she say yes to him? He was nothing special. And she was perfect. Why on earth would she want him? There were a million guys out there just like him and yet he felt bold enough to ask her to marry him. Him out of ten million people. What was so special about him compared to her?
"Could I help ya with som'thin boy? Ya look awful lost," a grumpy voice called dauntingly from down the hall and Caspian immediately recognized Trumpkin. He smiled shakily. "Have you seen Susan? I am going to ask her but I don't where she is," he said anxiously looking around as if Susan was just going to jump out of no where and Trumpkin laughed tauntingly.
"Yer finally gonna ask 'er eh? Whatever ya do don't give her a whole big emotional speech like a ruddy pansy. Just sit her down and give 'er the ring." he said gruffly and Caspian raised an eyebrow at him. "It's a good thing you're pretty Trumpkin."
"There you are love, I have been looking all over you" Caspian said nervously in an extremely relieved tone, stooping down and gently brushing his lips against Susan's, pouring out his love to her.
She had never looked so beautiful to him in his whole life. She was sitting in the garden, on the grass near the same bench she had been sitting (crying, actually) on when they had had their first kiss since their latest return. They both smiled ridiculously at the memory. That moment was so perfect. The sun was just setting and the soft wind was blowing her hair across her face, her eyes lost in memories. He plucked a white rose, as they were her favorite, of a nearby bush and gently drooped into her lap silently, his eyes shining with his love for her.
She smiled up at him and brushed a strand of stray hair from his beautiful, beautiful eyes. He slid down behind her on the soft grass, settling himself behind her and arranging her so she was settled between his bent legs. Susan sighed happily and closed her eyes, drinking in his scent as he wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder, pulling her as close as he possibly could so her head rested on his chest. The closeness made his heart tingle and spin, although he was close to trembling with nerves. He loved her so...
He kissed her bare shoulder softly and nestled his face in her hair. She laughed and twisted to kiss his forehead. "You are the strongest person I have ever met." he said, his voice dripping with affection. She furrowed her brow playfully. "Oh? And why is that darling?" she said with playful curiousity. He sighed.
"After all you have been through in the last few weeks," he traced a fading bruise on her neck and she shivered, ''and yet you still find it within yourself to let me hold you like this. You have been hurt so deeply by a man and yet you still open your heart to love," he said in a tone of utter admiration. He didn't need to look at her to see she was close to tears. "Why?" he said in a quiet whisper and she sighed thoughtfully and paused.
"Because I know that you're different. I know that you would never force me into doing something like that," she trembled violently and a tear slid down her cheek. Caspian snuggled up to her and whiped it away with his thumb, waiting patiently for her to contine.
"Because I love you. And I know that you love me. And when life gives you something so beyond anything you ever dreamed of, it is not reasonable to shy from it because of something horrible beyond anything you could ever imagine," she said in a very small voice and Caspian felt his heart twist and turn.
He wrapped his arms tighter around her, smothering her in his strong arms and inhaling her sweet smell. "I think that is the wisest thing I have ever heard." he whispered into her hair and she relaxed in his arms just a bit.
Caspian felt the corner of the small velvet box in his jacket pocket poke him and his heart started thumping and his palms started sweating profusely. He couldn't even contain his excitement. "Susan you are the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me. Before, I had nothing. But you have given me everything. A family, love, a life. When I am around you, everything is sharp and bright and vived and colorful and beautiful. Everything is dull and unfocused and without you near me and I am just existing until I can see you again. I love you, so so much. My life is nothing without you," he pulled the box out of his pocket with a shaking hand.
"Susan I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I promise to love you forever. I want to wake up next to you every morning. I want to raise my children with you. I want to grow old with you by my side. I want to spend every second of forever with you. But there is one thing I want you to do for me," he whispered shakily;he couldn't stand this anticipation.
Susan's heart had started to beat very quickly and world was beginning to spin. She felt as if Caspian's arms were not wrapped oh so wonderfully around her shw would melt or float away. Was he...? No, it-it couldn't be..?
"Oh. And what's that?" she whispered although she was pretty sure she knew the answer. Trying desperately to keep a steady hand, he held the tiny velvet box out in front of her and flipped the tiny lid open, revealing a shiny gold band with a large diamond in the middle of a small row of very tiny, delicate diamonds.
"Marry me."
Ow my god. It is actually over. I can't believe it. Sorry for the slight cliffy but i really couldn't imagine it ending it any other way. I promise I will make up for it in the sequel. This chapter was hopelessly fluffy but i hope it was not a disappointing ending. Thank you so very much to all of you who reviewed. I love you all. Unitl Chapter One.