A/N: Sorry that this has taken a while to get out - I've found it quite hard to write. I'm trying to have all the characters interact with each other and tying myself up in knots - hope it came out ok. Let me know what you think.

Susan sat in her room in the house of the Calmorene ambassador to the Lone Islands.

After the Prince had discovered who she was she had been moved from the slave quarters to a much more sumptuous room, which was worryingly close to the Prince of Calormen's quarters. Susan would have preferred to stay in the slaves quarters. At least there she was not alone. At least there she was not so heavily guarded and there might have been some chance of escape. Once the effects of the truth drug had worn off Susan had been appalled that she had given herself away to the Prince. Any chance that she would have had to escape had been drastically reduced now that the Calormenes were aware of who she really was. Although Prince Rasheen had assured her that she was not a prisoner but an honoured guest. Susan snorted, she knew what the Calormene's idea of a 'guest' was.

Susan's mind drifted back to the last time she was 'guest' of a Calormene Prince. Voices echoed to her from the past …

… "There's the rub, sister. I do not think we shall find it easy to leave Tashbaan. While the Prince had hope that you would take him, we were honoured guests. But by the Lion's Mane, I think that as soon as he has your flat denial, we shall be no better than prisoners."

… "Do you mean he would make me his wife by force?"

… "That's my fear, Susan. Wife: or slave, which is worse."

… "And let the message be worded as graciously as the Queen can contrive without pledging her honour: so as to give the Prince a hope that she is weakening."

…. Susan shuddered. When she had sent the message, Prince Rabadash had come to her, emboldened by her words which encouraged him to think that she would succumb to his charms. Edmund and Peridan had left to go to their ship to prepare for their escape, Tumnus was entertaining Prince Cor and so she had been left alone. Alone to face the Prince and convince him that she was considering becoming his wife …

And now she was alone once more, alone with a Calormene Prince. How much like his ancestor was this Prince Rasheen? What did he want of her?

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Edmund and Peter had arrived back to the Dawn Treader with their news. Some, but not all of the slaves were willing to fight for them, to help them rescue Susan. However many had refused, had said that they would not fight on the same side as he who had been instrumental in their capture and slavery.

Caspian … the 'Slaver King' as they had named him.

Caspian fought down the rage that arose in him when he heard their words. His first impulse was to order the slaves recaptured and punished. But … that was the old Caspian. He had sworn to himself that he would change and he must play by new rules now. Rules where he allowed his people to make their own decisions and not punish them even if they went against his wishes. However he could not help turning his face away from the two Kings and muttering to himself under his breath.

"They do not understand … I was being merciful … slavery was the kinder option!"

"No Your Majesty … it was not!"

The voice, coming from behind Caspian startled him and made him jump, he had not see Lord Glozelle approach. Indeed the former General of Miraz's army had appeared to be avoiding him thus far. But not anymore. Not now.

When Caspian did not answer him, Lord Glozelle gestured towards the more deserted prow of the ship.

"Can we talk Your Majesty?"

"Of Course My Lord!" Caspian replied, even though it was the last thing he wanted to do.

Caspian followed the Telmarine Lord to the front of the ship. He gathered his courage and asked.

"What did you mean when you said that slavery was not the kinder option … the alternative was to kill you all."

Glozelle regarded his King Solemnly.

"There can be dignity in death, but none in slavery.

The pain of death is over in an instant, the pain of slavery starts anew every day.

There is hope that after death, one moves on to a better place. In slavery there is no hope.

Slavery is not the kinder option. It is not merciful. Many slaves prayed for death so that they might be delivered from the daily misery that was their lives as slaves.

You did not decide to make them slaves to be kind.

You did not make them slaves because you were being merciful to them.

The only reason you made them slaves to save your own conscience the weight of the guilt of their deaths."

Glozelle, although he had been becoming increasingly animated as he spoke seemed afraid to meet Caspian's gaze, but as he finished he looked into his King's eyes, his own eyes wet with emotion.

Caspian was speechless, all these years he had made excuses for himself, told himself that he had been merciful in sending people into slavery rather than having them killed. And he had not understood, had not even tried to understand what misery he had sold his people, his own country-men into. He sank to his knees in front of the General, much to Glozelle's astonishment.

"You are right. I did not understand … and I am sorry, although I do not ask for your forgiveness, nor for the forgiveness of any of my people … but please, allow me the opportunity to prove my fitness to be your King once more."

Lord Glozelle stood above his King his face tight with emotion, his thoughts conflicted. He had been in this position before, had stood above Miraz as he knelt after High King Peter had defeated him in single combat, knelt before his nephew. Glozelle had been ready to kill Miraz if Caspian had not. In a way Caspian had saved him from the burden of that murder.

Glozelle relaxed his grip on the knife that he held behind his back, the knife that he had intended to use on Caspian, to stab him as he had intended to stab Miraz three years ago. The knife he had intended to use to end the life of yet another Telmarine Dictator.

"Fine' he grated out. "Prove it!" and with that he walked away leaving his King kneeling alone on the deck of the ship.

Caspian knelt motionless for a while considering the Lord's words. The weight of them bending his back and pressing down on his head.

"Caspian … have you seen Lucy?" Edmund's voice came from behind him.

"Wait … why are you kneeling on the deck?"

Caspian opened his mouth to reply, but was saved answering by Peter's voice calling.

"Edmund, it's alright, she's back, she's here!"

Caspian followed Edmund back to the central deck. Everyone was standing around Lucy. Lucy, who was dressed as a Calormene slave girl.

Peter looked as if he was ready to murder someone.

"Let me get this straight" he was saying.

"You snuck off the boat approximately two hours ago."

He cast a murderous gaze around the sailors and Narnian's assembled.

"And nobody even noticed!"

Everyone suddenly found somewhere else to look, anywhere that wasn't the enraged glare of the High King.

"Then you stole a slaves outfit and infiltrated the house of the Calormene ambassador … is that about right?"

Lucy nodded, not looking the least bit guilty or cowed by her older brother.

"Actually, I didn't steal the outfit, Cordelia gave it to me, she's one of the slaves that Caspian freed. Did you know she …"

"Lucy" Edmund interrupted gently before Peter could explode again. "Did you see Susan? Where you able to get anywhere near her?"

Lucy's expression turned downcast.

"I'm afraid not. I did try to get to her, but she's not with the other slaves, somehow they've found out who she is and they have her in a separate part of the house near the Prince and she is heavily guarded. And Peter, Edmund …"

Lucy looked at her brothers with dread in her eyes.

"The Prince intends to make her his wife. They sail for Calormen in the morning!"

Caspian's ears started ringing, Susan … his Susan … she was going to be … she would be forced to …

"Breath Caspian" It was Edmund running a soothing hand down his back. Caspian looked gratefully at the young King. He did not deserve comfort from Edmund, if anything Edmund should be blaming him for this.

Edmund looked around at the despondent faces of his family and the crew.

"Don't worry" he told them. "This all fits in perfectly with my plan!"

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Susan stood, listening to Prince Rasheen as he outlined his plans for her. He had summoned her to his presence and launched into a speech without so much as asking her how she was or trying to get to know her or even asking her to sit down.

"And then when we have returned to Tashbaan and my father the Tisroc, may he live for ever, and you are more suitably attired we shall be married in the Temple of Tash and …"

Susan looked at the Prince with active dislike. He was vain and shallow, dressed and perfumed in the finest clothes, jewels and perfumes that Calormen had to offer. He reminded her somewhat of Rabadash's father who had looked like nothing so much as a bejewelled cushion rather than a King. He did not even try as Rabadash had to make himself agreeable to her, to even pretend some affection or regard for her. All he seemed interested in was his own wishes and desires.

"Are you not forgetting something Prince Rasheen?" Susan interjected.

The Prince stopped mid-sentence and looked at her with a profoundly shocked expression on his face, apparently surprised that she, a mere woman had dared to interrupt him.

"And what is that?" he snapped at her.

Susan raised her eyebrow at the self-absorbed young Prince.

"Your Majesty!'

"Pardon?"

"What is that, Your Majesty" Susan supplied. "That is the correct way to address a Queen. I am afraid your education is sadly lacking if it has not included the correct way to address your superiors."

Prince Rasheeh spluttered at her audacity. The Calormene ambassador who was also in attendance seemed at a loss as to what to say. After some moments the enraged Prince seemed to gather himself.

"What is that, Your Majesty." He said, his sneer removing any respect that the words themselves might have implied.

"Why you forgot to ask me if I agreed to marry you." Susan replied coolly. "I shall save you the trouble, my answer is no!"

As the Prince spluttered with rage. Susan neared him and walked around him in a circle as if to view him from all angles.

"A peacock" she announced calmly.

"W … What?" growled the enraged Prince.

Susan regarded the Prince with an arch look.

"I said, 'a peacock.' Aslan turned Rabadash into a donkey, because after all, he behaved rather stupidly … I believe for you … a peacock would be apt."

And with that she turned on her heel and marched out of the room. She had made her decision. She would not encourage this Prince, she would not make herself pretend to like him to keep herself safe. She would be true to herself. She was Queen Susan the Gentle of Narnia, the archer Queen and she was no man's slave!

A/N: That's it for now. Myself Susan and Lucy are all agreed, they will not be pawns, they are Queens, the most powerful pieces on the board. Hope you like it - please review.