AN:Hi again. I hope you like this chapter, I've tried to put a bit of everyone in it and move the action on a bit. Please review.

Disclaimer: Oops. I haven't done this in a while - I own nothing of Narnia!

Susan paced the length of the tent and back. Her two ever present, Telmarine guards watching her every move.

What had she done?

Susan sat on the camp bed and covered her face with her hands, she took a deep breath trying to calm herself.

What had she done?

She had not agreed to marry Miraz.

But she had not refused him either.

What had she done? What about Caspian? She had started to have feelings for him. She was honest enough to admit that, if only to herself. But she had repressed those feelings as she had feared that she would be sent back to England, leaving her with a shattered heart. And yet now, she was considering accepting his uncle. How could she reconcile that? How could she explain that to Caspian?

What had she done?

She had bought them some time. That was what she had done. She had told Miraz that she would have to consult with her siblings before submitting to any marriage and he had, reluctantly agreed. He had already discovered through his scouts, that the Narnians were based at Aslan's How and consented to take her there so that she could talk to her family. He had said that in any case he would need time to divorce his current wife Prunaprisma (which was permitted for members of Royalty under Telmarine law) and that he could use the time to prepare the documents required.

Susan had not deluded herself that any alliance between herself and Miraz would be anything but a purely political tool, but that he could discard his first wife so callously and she just after giving birth, did not bode well.

And … she had not counted on him bringing his entire army with him!

What had she done?

Susan started pacing again, almost colliding with one of the guards who had been standing close behind her, watching her as she sat on the bed.

"Where is he?"

"I don't know Pete."

"First; he refused to follow instructions during the raid, then; the White Witch, now this!"

Peter was fuming and Edmund was of little mind to dissuade him or to disagree with him. Caspian was missing. He had disappeared during the night without telling anyone where he had gone. And worse – they could not go out to find him as their scouts had reported that Miraz was approaching with his army.

While Peter was careful to never speak any word of censure to or about Caspian in front of his people, he showed no such restraint in privacy in the company of his family. Edmund was also using the opportunity to vent about Caspian's behaviour.

"To leave without word … without consulting us … he acts as if there are no consequences to his actions … and such a man … no boy … expects to be made King of Narnia?"

At this last statement there was a muffled noise from the corner of the room. Something akin to a cross between a growl and a choked exclamation. It was Lupa, who had appointed himself Edmund and Tess's personal guard and shadowed them constantly.

Edmund turned to the wolf with a raised brow and quizzical expression.

"You have something to say Lupa?" he asked.

Lupa lowered his muzzle, attempting not to look Edmund in the eye.

"No, Your Majesty." He murmured.

"Lupa" Edmund said gently. "Did you know that, besides guarding us, our original guards often advised us and provided their input on many matters. If they had something of import to say, they said it."

Tess came up and looped her arm through Edmund's.

"And one of the original Lupa's favourite things about Edmund was that Edmund always listened, and he did not grow angry" she said. "Even if he disagreed."

Lupa looked to Edmund for confirmation and he nodded smiling reassuringly at the wolf.

"It is just this" Lupa started. "Why would Caspian, a Telmarine, be King of Narnia? Surely, now that Your Majesties are back …"

Edmund sighed. He had been thinking about this a lot since their first night back in Narnia at Cair Paravel.

"We are not sure what it is that Aslan intended when he brought us back here." He explained.

"Aslan told us that we are to help Caspian and we know that he has stated his intention of being King of Narnia."

"But if Your Majesties are here. How would Caspian be King?" questioned Lupa.

"That's just it" answered Edmund. "If we are here! Aslan sent us away once before."

Tess slipped her hand into her husband's, rubbing the back of his comfortingly with her thumb.

Lupa looked thoughtfully between the Monarchs but said no more. Edmund regarded the wolf. It was clear that Lupa knew something. He had admitted as much when he said that he would reveal his mission to them in the presence of Aslan.

But where was Aslan? When would he come? Tess had become separated from Lucy and did not know if her sister-in-law had reached the Lion. Edmund was sure that Lucy had reached Aslan and that he would help in whatever manner he could, but when and how was anyone's guess. In the meantime, they had to decide what to do now.

Edmund was not sure that they would even have decided to go after Caspian given his recent behaviour, they had more things to worry about. Like Susan. The scouts had reported that Miraz and his army were on the way and that The Gentle Queen rode at Miraz's side. While it was a relief to hear that Susan was alive and seemingly unhurt, it did not bode well that Miraz had brought her with him. There did not seem to be any hope of rescuing Susan either, as she was heavily guarded at all times. Yes … they had enough to worry about! Peter exchanged a worried look with his brother.

Damn Caspian … where was he?

The previous night …

Caspian crept stealthily towards the Telmarine castle. He was convinced that he would be able to creep in and find Susan. Having lived at the castle for years he knew all its secret ways. The cliff below the castle was riddled with caves and passages and Caspian knew them all well. He found the secret entrance to the passages and made his way upwards.

Caspian stepped out from the secret passage which led to the back of his wardrobe in his room. He would have to be careful if he wanted to reach the dungeons which would surely be where Miraz had Queen Susan imprisoned. The thought of Susan chained and injured or worse in the dungeons filled Caspian with dread. She had to be alive, he could not lose her now, not just when he had found her. He had felt Susan pushing him away in recent days, but he was convinced that it was just because she was scared, as scared as he of losing what they had just begun to discover. Caspian vowed to himself that if, no when he found Susan and they escaped, he would tell her exactly how he felt about her.

Creeping down the dark corridors of his childhood home, Caspian tried to push aside the dread, the fear growing in his chest that he might be too late, that Susan might already be dead. No, he told himself firmly, she had to be alive, he would have felt it if she had died. Gathering his resolve Caspian continued through the near deserted castle. Everyone except the night guard was asleep and even they did not expect an enemy inside of the castle. Since the attack by the Narnians, the guards now watched the sky as well as the ground. They were confident that no one could now enter the castle without detection and so the guard inside the castle was sparse. Caspian was able to slip past what guards there were without detection.

As he made his way stealthily down the stone steps towards the dungeons, Caspian thought he heard a soft step behind him. Turning quickly, he peered up the dim stairwell that he had just descended but could see nothing. Deciding that it was just his imagination, Caspian continued until he reached the dungeons. They were deserted. There was no one in them. Susan was not there. His heart sinking but determined not to give up, Caspian made to turn to search the rest of the castle, but stiffened and froze when he felt a sword point at his back.

"Turn around!" a familiar voice ordered.

His eyes widening, Caspian slowly turned, the sword point travelling around his torso to the front as he did so. His captor raised the sword so that the tip was pointed at his heart.

"Hello Nephew."

AN: Another Cliffhanger - think I'm getting addicted to them - please review