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Chapter Two
They were walking for a bit, but nothing was happening.
"Do you suppose no one lives here?" Susan asked.
"We haven't actually gone that far," the Doctor said.
"Maybe there's someone inland?" she suggested. "All I can see ahead right now is sand."
"Want to head west, then?"
"Of course."
Then naturally, Susan's still bare feet found a rock or two. "Ouch!"
"Why didn't you bring any shoes?" the Doctor asked.
"I didn't think to," she admitted. "Guess I'll just keep an eye out for stuff then."
As they had been walking, Susan had begun to get that feeling she'd get each time she arrived in Narnia for the first time, that one that made you stronger, made you stand taller. It was starting to confuse her that somewhere else could make her feel that way, and she was sure that the Doctor had noticed her unease about it.
Finally, he asked her, "Alright, what's wrong?"
"Nothing's… wrong… exactly," she told him. "I've just got this feeling that I've only ever associated with one place before. A kind of refreshing and strengthening feeling."
"Hmm, I've noticed that," he said. "It feels young. Like this world hasn't been here all that long. At least, compared to every other place in the universe. It's almost as if it's only been here a couple thousand years or so. Actually, two thousand three hundred years, give or take a few."
Susan glanced at him. "You don't like it," she stated.
"Planets generally take longer than that to reach this point," the Doctor told her matter of factly. "But then, it's not like I claim to know everything," Susan coughed deliberately at that, which he ignored, "and finding something like this, well," he grinned at her. "It's just one of the reasons I travel so much."
Susan smiled at that, then took a better look around. The area was lightly wooded, with some hills not far off, and denser woods in the other direction. This place made her think of Narnia so much, she could almost recognise where they were. If they were in Narnia, she would hazard a guess that they were somewhere north of Cair Paravel, making the island they'd seen, Galma.
But it was impossible, right? Yet, after all this time of travelling with the Doctor, hadn't she seen a lot of things that she hadn't thought possible? Even with all the time she'd spent in a magical kingdom, alien worlds and peoples had opened up a whole new level of what was and wasn't possible for her.
"Did you hear that?" the Doctor asked, interrupting her thoughts. "Sounds like horses. A lot of them."
Susan listened, and she could indeed hear the thundering of hooves, but too heavy for a horse. A centaur though… The Doctor ducked behind a tree, pulling Susan with him.
"We're hiding?" she asked, surprised.
"I just want to see what we're dealing with first," he told her. "I'm not so sure that's horses."
"Sounds like centaurs," she told him.
"There are several races I've met that resemble centaurs," the Doctor said. "I kind of hope this won't be one of the nastier ones."
A moment later, several centaurs crested a hill, and Susan saw that they looked exactly as she remembered the ones from Narnia. Nostalgia overwhelmed her as she watched them gallop their way.
"Well, they definitely look like the definition of centaurs," the Doctor remarked, then looked down to her. "Should we go and introduce ourselves, then?"
Susan nodded. "Make sure you're as non-threatening as possible," she told him. "I don't think we need a repeat of Gariden 4."
The Doctor quirked an eyebrow at her, and they stepped out from behind their tree. They were spotted immediately.
"Hello there!" the Doctor called. "Lovely day for a jaunt through the countryside, isn't it?"
One of them came over, and said, "Greetings, traveller."
The Doctor gave Susan a 'look', then said, "Greetings. I don't suppose you can tell us where we are, good sir?"
"This is the outer edge of Owlwood, north of the King's castle," the centaur said, and Susan slightly stiffened at the name of the wood as the other centaurs came closer. "How is it, traveller, that you do not know that?"
"Oh, we're from quite far away," the Doctor said. "New to the area."
Susan was still focused on that name. Owlwood. That was the name of the woods north of Cair Paravel. In Narnia. But how could that be? Surely it was a coincidence? The other centaurs reached them, and one of them came forward to speak to the one who'd approached them.
"Who are these two, Terreth?" a voice asked, and it was familiar to Susan's ears.
"Two travellers, Glenstorm," Terreth said, and that name cemented it for her. "I was about to ask them their names."
"I'm the Doctor," the Time Lord in question spoke up then. "Pleased to meet you. And this is…"
"Queen Susan," Glenstorm said as Susan deliberately stepped into his line of sight, and he bowed. "It is a privilege to see you again."
The Doctor gave her what was probably his equivalent of a gape as Susan curtsied to the centaurs. "It is good to see you also, Glenstorm," she said. "How has Narnia fared since I've been gone?"
"It has fared well, your Majesty," he told her. "There is peace now after two and a half years, and the King prepares to go on a journey eastward to find his father's lost Lords."
That was when Edmund, Lucy and Eustace joined them, Susan knew. She took in a deep breath, then looked over to the Doctor. His brow was raised as he glanced between her and the centaurs.
"Queen Susan?" he asked.
"I told you about Narnia," she reminded him.
"You did," he said. "Even though you were so sure that you wouldn't be able to return."
"Well, Aslan did say I couldn't come back."
"And yet here we are."
"How did you come here, your Majesty?" Glenstorm asked. "There has been nothing of your return in the stars."
"It's a bit of a long story," Susan began, then said, "Maybe it would be best to hold this conversation elsewhere?"
Glenstorm thought a moment, then nodded. "We will head back to Cair Paravel," he said. "The two of you may ride upon our backs, as we have no swifter method to convey you there."
Susan turned to the Doctor and gave him a warning look. "It is a great honour to be offered this," she told him.
"Oh, I'm sure," he said, then bowed slightly to Glenstorm. "I am honoured, good sir."
Glenstorm indicated for one of the others to come forward for the Doctor to mount, then offered his services to Susan. Terreth helped her up, since her dress was unlikely to allow for a smooth hop up.
"Make sure to hold on tight, Doctor," she said. "And whatever you do, don't pull at their hair."
"You're the boss here," the Doctor saluted, and held on to leather straps the centaur he was on was wearing.
"Let's go," Glenstorm ordered, then said to Susan, "King Caspian is sure to be pleased to see you, your Majesty."
Susan's breath caught at the mention of that name, but before she could say anything, they were off.
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