Serenade

Chapter 1

AN: Well here I am trying to make a go of writing a story. Hopefully you guys will like it? This story is going to be a bit different because I am ignoring most of the events in 'The Silver Chair', while also keeping the events of 'The Last battle' happening to the Pevensie siblings. Also the ages will be different. Along with changing certain events, like Caspian marrying at 22 and having Rillian right away. This story will have different POV's.

I don't own The books or characters! C.S Lewis does!

Cast

Caspian- 48 "Ben Barnes"

Susan-23 "Anna Popplewell

Rillian- 25 "Bradley James"

Susan had always been the most logical person out of all of her siblings, she was quick to call out things that didn't make since. Like when her siblings kept bringing up a game they played as children and acted as if it was real. Narnia, they had called it and acted as if everything they played as children were fact. Peter had said they were Kings and Queens of this land. That they'd saved Narnia from an evil witch and that they had reigned for 15 years.

She had scoffed whenever it was brought up, but her siblings seemed to just ignore her. They had spent many evenings just talking about Narnia, Susan was even shocked to see the Professor join in on these late night gathering.

Oh, how she missed those evenings... about 2 year ago she had lost all of her family and friends. She coped as best as she could, but it was hard, especially when she had to be the one to identify them. Her breath caught, as she remembered their broken bodies and lifeless eyes. Susan shook her head, dispelling the images.

She was okay. She was fine. She was safe and... she was very alone. Again she shook her head, as if to deny the feelings of loneliness and despair.

Quickly pushing away her negative thoughts, she made herself up, fixing her hair and putting on make up. After she was done she went over to her wardrobe that she had inherited from Professor Kirke. It was a beautiful gift and Susan couldn't find it in her heart to give it away. She almost did in the beginning, her grief drove her half mad and seeing the wardrobe only brought up many sorrowful memories of her siblings playing around it. They had went up to the attic where the wardrobe was and played Narnia.

Sighing, she ran her hands over the beautiful mahogany wood with intricate design carved onto it. She couldn't explain the feeling that came over her when the accident happened, it had felt like a great wave hit her. Her soul crying out at the missing pieces to her now ripped soul.

The bond they shared as siblings had run deep and Susan knew she wasn't the same anymore. Yes, she could put on a façade and act happy, but she knew she wasn't. It was all fake.

Again, pushing away her melancholy thoughts, she grabbed a deep maroon loose fitting dress with black roses on the dress and put it on. She once again examined herself with a grimace. She remembered how Jill and Lucy went on and on about Susan only caring about her appearance, which was true but it wasn't the only thing she cared about.

It wasn't her fault that their parents sent her to a school where the requirements was to act, look and think like a lady. Was she supposed to be a social outcast? Did they know how hard peer pressure was? Was she supposed to remain a child forever?

Huffing, she felt her annoyance raise but was quickly subsided. She'd give her right arm to just have another row with her siblings. At least she could see them, hear their voice, to see their eyes light up with indignation. Anything to replace the last time she had seen their eyes.

She moved down the stairs and out into the warm crisp afternoon air of her little two story cottage home. She had been able to buy the place after selling her parents house, being unable to stomach living there. There were too many memories associated with the house.

Susan turned to lock the door, before starting her journey to the hospital where she volunteered. She had been doing it for some time now, it helped combat the loneliness. It also made her feel needed, like she had purpose and wasn't just existing till she died.

Over the hill, her eyes first landed on the large statues at the entrance to the hospital. Two majestic lions stood guard, made of bronze and ivory. Susan had often ran her hand over the hard metal of the lions mane, finding great comfort in the creature.

"Hello, Amy." She greeted warmly, stopping at the receptionist desk and smiled down at the older blonde heavy set woman, who greeted her warmly in return. Susan then went over to the shelf that held all sorts of books and picked out one before moving back over to Amy.

"Hello, Susan. Back to see our Veterans and read them a story?" The older woman asked, looking at the younger one with a little disapproval shining in her warm honey brown eyes. "Tsk, still so skinny. Susan you should really come over to mine. I already feed 5, what's one more?" Susan just smiled and shook her head. "Susan it really is no bother."

"Thank you, Amy. I'll have to take up your offer sometime." She didn't really want to go, but Susan knew Amy was just trying to look out for her. She just didn't know how she'd handle being around a family again. "Who can I see today?" Changing the subject on to a different topic and the older woman knew it, but decided not to protest.

"I believe you should see Christian. Poor Lad, I don't know how much more time he has. Burns all over," Shaking her head as she looked down at her chart. Susan bit her lower lip, eyes lowering to the ground as anxiety filled her.

Her mind flashing back to when she first caught a glimpse of Christian or Ian to her, unconscious and wrapped tightly up in bandages. His small whimpers of pain, even in sleep, tore at her bleeding heart. She had already been reading to another Veteran at the time, but well into the night, Susan found herself by his side. Reading to him and then after she was done reading. Susan ended up talking about her siblings and the games they used to play.

For some odd reason, Susan didn't mind telling him the stories, Lucy would go on and on about. She could also recall some of the stories herself, like when she and her brother Edmund had to escape a dangerous castle. Even when he woke up, his evening dust eyes would just stare at her and listen to her tales. Susan felt like she knew those warm eyes from somewhere, but where Susan hadn't a clue. Unfortunately, he was unable to talk when he first arrived, his mouth covered in salve and bandages with only a small hole to let soup like food slip pass.

When he was finally was able to talk his voice sounded rough and husky, due to smoke inhalation. Susan didn't mind though, she liked the sound of his voice and just gave him a warm smile when he had apologized. He had then told her she had a beautiful smile, causing the young woman to blush. A feat no man had been able to make her do in a long, long time. It was all in vein... her small little crush.

It was sad to say, his is condition had only gotten worse due to an infection. She had been barred from seeing him for a couple of weeks, but Amy said she could see him? Maybe he wasn't that bad as Amy seemed to think.

"Well, its a good thing... Isn't it? If I can see him?" Tilting her head to the side, feeling her long curly rose brown hair cascade down her right side and stopping at her hips.

Amy sighed in regret as she looked at the young beautiful woman before her and shook her head. "No, Susan. His body isn't responding to the medication and his fever hasn't broken. I shouldn't let you see him, but he keeps asking for you and... Susan." The brunette finally let her eyes meet brown ones as they both filled with tears. "He truly doesn't have long. Go." Amy gestured down the hall to his room.

Taking a deep breathe, Susan glided down the hall, back up right and head held high, like royalty. She wouldn't let Ian see her broken... was he even lucid enough to realize she was there? 'Never mind that', she thought while she entered his room.

"Finally..." A rough voice met her and Susan swiftly shut the door, rushing to him. His labored breathing, caused Susan distress as she sat beside him and laid a palm over his chest. Trying to help soothe his breathing but to no avail. "Su... tell me a... a.. St...ory." He panted, dark eyes wildly looking over her face as if trying to memorize every last detail of her face. While Susan's eyes never left his, she listened to his request and started her story.

This story was by far her favorite and it all began with a young handsome prince. He had eyes as dark as the night, long wavy chestnut hair and was tall with broad shoulders. Susan was animated as she relayed how she and her siblings had helped the young prince fight for his throne and help him gain trust in your citizens. He listened, his breathing never slowed and her hand never left his chest. While her other one went to grasp the hand that wasn't covered with bandages and he clung to her. As she finished her story, she felt sadness seep into her as she told Ian about her kiss to the prince and how she had to leave him.

"Sad." He coughed, his body spasming with pain and she helpless as she watch the dying man. He was Peter's age and probably was just as handsome as him. Susan eyes began to sting, unwanted tears climbing to the surface.

"Thank you...maybe.. well meet again... in this country you talk about" He whispered, his eyes slowly drifted close and his scared hand tightening over her. "Gentle... Queen," his grip than grew slack as he gave one more shallow breath and then he was gone.

Susan's eyes were wide as she heard his last words, tears rapidly spilling down her cheeks. What had he said?! Ho- How had he known? She had never told him her title, just that she was a queen. Susan stopped short as she realized that he too, believed in her stories... but were they stories?

Susan doubled over, both hands clutching her head as unwelcome memories began to race through her mind. The wardrobe was a portal, it had taken her and her sibling to Narnia! They have met talking animals, met father Christmas, fought wars and became Kings and Queens! 'Oh, Aslan, I'm so sorry!' Her mind screamed, for forgiveness, that she was brokenhearted and didn't know how to handle the grief. She was weak!

As her sobs turned louder, she saw a nurse rush in and soon was taken out of the room. She didn't hear Amy's approach, until she felt herself being wrapped up in the bigger woman's arms. She let herself cry on her shoulder.

"There, there love." Amy cooed, stroking the young woman's hair and sitting with her in a private room. Amy looked at the woman, trying to asses if she was strong enough to handle this gift but Amy took a chance. "Susan, he had no family. So no one to collect his things, not that he had much." The older woman stopped as she heard Susan whimper again, he was just as alone as she was and now he was gone. "But he did say to me when I last saw him. He wanted you to have this."

Susan opened her eyes, looking down at a neckless in Amy's offered hand and Susan felt her heart clinch. It was a simple gold neckless but had an Italian horn charm. Those necklaces were known to ward off evil spirits and give one good luck. Susan tentatively reached out, gently taking the neckless and placed it over her head. Her heart still bleeding at yet another loss in her young life.

"Come on, let me take you home." Amy wrapped her arm around Susan's shoulder and helped her to her car. Ignoring Susan's protest as she placed her in the front seat beside her. "Now, now. It's much too late to walk home without something bad happening to a beautiful girl like you." Susan said nothing, what could she say? It was late and the street were dangerous in some areas.

As they drove, Amy started to tell Susan about her youngest child. Trying to help Susan get her mind off her grief. They were almost to Susan's, when a particular wet patch of the road caught Amy off guard and she swerved into the oncoming traffic. Amy and Susan both screamed as they made impact. Insurmountable pain flooded through Susan for a brief second, then nothing more.

AN: And here we go! I know hospitals didn't really have private rooms so lets just pretend. Please review!