Serenade Chapter 2

A/N: Here again with another Chapter. I had to basically rewrite everything because I wasn't happy with the first few chapters. It just wasn't working for me. So I came up with something else. Hopefully you'll like it? I won't really have a schedule, just because I don't want to promise something and not follow through. But I will keep this story going until it is finished! Please tell me what you think!

I do not own anything, the book or the characters or the movie!

Cast

Caspian- 48 "Ben Barnes"

Susan-23 "Anna Popplewell"

Rillian- 25 "Bradley James"

Susan woke to the loud sounds of metal hitting metal, the sharp cries of battle and the sound of a horn. A horn Susan knew very well. It was her horn! Susan sat up quickly, scramming to her feet and without much thought ran to the sounds of her horn's call. The mid afternoon light seeping through the trees, she had awoken in a meadow. She was in Narnia again! Was it Caspian who called? Her mind quickly filling of the dark haired King. Was he still alive?

Susan shook herself, now was not the time to be thinking about the King. As she moved closer, Susan felt the ground shake and for a brief moment Susan thought there was an earthquake. But fortune wasn't on her side because soon enough she had reached a clearing and once she stepped out she was witness to a battle. Giants. Giants flooded the area, at least 15-20 of them. However, Susan also saw Narnians and Men fighting side by side against the onslaught of enemies.

Without even hesitating, Susan ran into the fray, bending down swiftly to grab a bow and arrows off of a dead faun. She could feel her blood fill with fire as she turned once again stepped into her role as Queen Susan, the Gentle. Notching an arrow, she took aim at a bald headed giant left eye and after a second she let the arrow fly. Through the air her arrow flew true and plunged itself into the giants eye.

After releasing an angry roar, the large beast stumbled a few steps before buckling onto its knees and falling down hard. A cheer erupted from the warriors fighting, but she also heard the furious bellows of the other giants. Susan didn't wait, notching another arrow before letting it sore. She wasn't so lucky this time. Only managing to hit the beast on it's crooked nose. Still the beast screamed it's dissatisfaction, swinging it's club down and hitting a few men, causing them to fly around the area.

"NO!" Furious, Susan ran forward, her nimble fingers grabbing out three arrow and placing them in her string. She stopped a few paces away, arching her back and tacking aim. The ugly red faced beast saw her and ran straight for her. Susan took a deep breath, calming her nerves as she released her arrows. She watched as each one made there mark, one in the beast mouth, the other in it's cheek and the last landing in the corner of its eye.

Susan dodged left as the beast pummeled through. Damn. She thought angrily, her hand reaching back to grab another arrow. The fat, big nosed giant stumbled before righting itself and turned to sneer at her. Stoic and still, Susan held her ground. Pulling back her right arm as her pointer and middle finger grasped the end of her arrow.

"Come, you ugly fool." She seethed, Susan never really liked these beast. Yes, a few had at one point been on their side during the White Witch's war, but soon they had turned on the Kings and Queens. Which had lead to a 3 year war before the Giants finally retreated to the north.

Peter, Edmond, Lucy and herself had all went off and fought during this time, but they couldn't leave Cair Paravel vulnerable. So it was usually The Gentle Queen who was being left behind most of the time. She had fought many times with The High King, but he had usually been able to rein in her fury. Telling her she was the best one to leave in charge and that he and the others would be back soon.

This had caused her great distress and worry over her siblings health and well being. She knew Lucy would be safe and away from most of the battles since she was the head of the medical team. As for Edmond and Peter? She knew they'd be in the thick of the battle. With Edmund fighting with two blades and Peter with Rhindon and his shield.

Shaking herself back to the present, she watched as the beast beat its chest, like some gorilla. She watched with disgust and some humor. The stupid oaf.

The giant seemed to sense her mockery and it bared its rotten teeth at her, readying itself for the attack. Susan readied herself as well, her posture tight and buzzing with energy. She never let on how much she enjoyed the fight. Her title was The Gentle after all.

The beast took one step back, bending forward into a running position. Ah, so it planned on rushing her and trampling her. How lovely. She couldn't wait anymore and Susan began firing arrow after arrow. The beast howled in pain as he was hailed with her arrows.

Raising one fat arm to protect itself, the giant took off right towards her. But before it reached her, tree branches stuck themselves up from the ground and tripped the giant. As the beast came down with a wail, Susan watched in fascinated horror as Narnians piled onto the beast and plunging their swords into its neck.

Blood spurted up and sprayed itself all over the warriors, but they didn't seem to care. They kept plunging their weapons in, until the beast moved no more.

"Don't just stand there, Lass." Susan turned her head sharply and caught the eyes of a dark haired centaur. He was dressed in all body armor, two swords strapped to his waist and wearing a silver medieval helmet on. He reminded her of Oreius with the way his face was structured and his chestnut covered coat. "Lass, what in blazes are you wearing?!"

Susan looked down at herself and blushed, she was still wearing her loose fitted maroon dress. Unfortunately, it was now cut up in certain places and was spotted with some blood. "Now's not the time to be questioning my choice of dress." She answered sharply, as another giant fell 20 feet away.

"Aye, I can't argue with that, but I will need an answer later." The Centaur warned, before taking off in the direction of another giant. Annoyed Susan went in the opposite direction and began to fight with a group of dwarf archers. They didn't question her, but did give her a quick once over with raised eyebrows.

She had started shouting orders at them, falling back into her role of being the head of her archer core. Surprisingly the dwarves had listened and followed her command efficiently. Susan had never used her voice so much in many years and knew she'd sound rough in the morning. If she lived to see another morning, she thought ruefully. Stop it, Aslan didn't bring you back just for you just to die!

"NOW!" She boomed with a strong command, the arrows made a loud whooshing noise as they took flight and plunging into a 15 ft giant. Her now crew of archers gave shouts of joy as the tall beast fell with a loud thud, shaking the ground.

Regrettably, they didn't see another beast coming up from behind them before it was too late. With a roar of triumph the beast stomped down hard on the group of archers. Susan fell to the side unharmed, but she felt the splatter of warm blood now coating her small form. With a shriek of unadulterated rage, Susan stood and jabbed the metal end of her bow into the giants ankle hard.

While she had drawn blood, she knew it wasn't enough to harm the giant much and before she knew it, she was flying through the air. Susan landed hard on her back and for a moment she couldn't breath. Her lungs winded from the fall, trying to catch air but she couldn't. Panic ran through her, both hands coming up to clutch her throat. Finally her lungs relaxed and Susan sucked in air.

Her respite was brief before she felt a large hand surround her and life her up. Hysteria and fear, filled her as she remembered the sight from long ago of a poor leopard squeezed to death before Edmund could reach her. Susan forced herself to calm down as she looked 18 feet down.

"Drop her!" A voice commanded harshly, Susan looked over and saw a man with dirty blond hair on a black stallion. It was as if he filled the whole clearing, his presence oozed power, grace and respect. His sharp ocean blue eyes narrowed as he stared up at the giant without any fear. He was steadfast in his position in front of the beast expectantly. "I won't warn you again, filth! Now!"

"Puny Son of Adam. You are weak!" The giant snickered and Susan let out a scream of pain. The beast hand had squeezed her tight, causing a few of her bones to whine at the pressure. "No match for, Org!" Susan cried out again as she felt some of her bones pop. Her lungs burning again, longing for air.

The man was quiet but she could see, even from a distance, his eyes were swimming with hate and wrath. Susan couldn't wait for this stand off, she could barely even breath. With one last ditch effort she reached her left hand back and grabbed an arrow. This Org fellow was too busy watching the man to see her raise her hand high and dive her arrow deep in.

It was as if time slowed down.

All of the sudden, the tight hand of the giant released her and then she heard the blonde shout a command. Susan felt the rush of air as she fell and she shut her eyes tight, waiting for the impact.

When she did make impact, it wasn't as painful as she thought but that was because someone had caught her. Susan opened her eyes wide and met ocean blue ones.

"It's okay. I've got you," The man whispered as he rode away with her, Susan looked up at her savior in surprise. Her body was sitting bridal style in his open legs both arms moved around him in support. Susan looked away from the man to see what had happened and she really wished she hadn't.

The giant was now without a head, from the looks of it, a tree had done the job with its roots. Many bodies littered the open clearing, reminding her of her and her siblings first battle in Narnia. Fortunately all the giants were killed off but it had taken some sacrifice.

This was were her gentle heart came in. While she fought with joy and readiness as any warrior. The Gentle Queen could never withstand the loss of her people. Tears were now forming in her eyes and she had to look away. Instead favoring the man's neck.

He said nothing, but held her tighter as they rode on. He smelled of the woods and rain, but he was also currently smelling of sweat and blood. Susan pulled away to look up at the man, studying his features and she felt a blush come on. This man was very handsome. He had a strong square jaw, with a straight narrow nose, thick eyebrows and slightly angled ocean blue eyes. His hair dirty blond, unruly and dirty from todays activities. His jaw covered in a 5 o'clock shadow, his neck was thick and his Adam apple was oddly appealing to her eyes.

Susan darted her eyes away, feeling embarrassed and ashamed of herself. Had she not been thinking of Caspian earlier? Was she so easily swayed by good looks? Of course not! This man had just saved her, it was normal to feel a bit of awe for ones savior.

"Miss, I want to let you know I and my soldiers mean no harm. We are going to my camp, I don't know how you got so far north but we are currently near Giant territory and I advice you to stay with us... At least, until we head back to Telmar castle. Which is a 2 week ride away from here." He finished, his eyes forward on the trail, one hand on his reins and the other shifting his hold of her so he could hold her better.

"You trust me to stay in your camp? You don't even know me." She said in surprise, her teeth worrying at her lower lip. "Or know my name!"

"I saw you fight on our side. I saw your rage and pain as my soldiers fall, like they were your own. I saw your courage and strength. Also Remus told me of you." He finished, slowing down as they reached the outer fringes of the camp. How had he managed to see so much of her during a battle?

Susan's glanced at her surroundings, the camp was very similar to the ones she had seen when she first saw Aslan's camp. "Who is Remus?"

"He's the Centaur you spoke to." The man, greeted a few soldiers but didn't stop until they reached the middle of the camp. This was huge! Even lager than Aslan's camp. They must be in the middle of a war with the giants again. Was that why the horn had called her? Susan sighed, now feeling exhausted. She had been through a whole ordeal, first losing her Ian and then Amy... Oh Amy! Susan thought back to the accident, anxiety coursing through her. She had barely been able to spare a thought for the older woman.

"Miss... Miss?" Susan snapped back to reality, as the man lowered both of them to the ground. Her cheeks were hot again as she realized he was still holding her.

"Sorry! I ju-" She sniffed, her arms pushing him away and he let her, gently placing her back on her feet. Susan took several steps away, trying to compose herself. "Sorry."

"It's fine, here. you can have my tent for the night while I arrange one for yourself." Rubbing the back of his neck and he gestured to the tent in front of them. It was large, deep maroon with gold leaves as a pattern wrapping around it.

"I don't understand, why are you giving me so much! You don't know me! I don't even know you!" She knew this man held high rank in the army, she knew this man was intelligent. So why would he trust her!?

"You came when I called." He said simply, eyes watching her every movement. Susan couldn't help but gasp at his words and her eyes moved to his waist where her horn had sat.

"My-" She stopped herself, knowing once she said it, it could never be unsaid. She wasn't sure if she could let this man know who she was. He had saved her and he also had the trust of the Narnians, but Susan still couldn't help but have her prejudices against men, due to her time in her reign. A part of her still felt that Narnia belonged only to Narnians, but Caspian was different and she couldn't think ill of every man. But a part of her was still angry at the Telmarines invasion.

"Your horn. I know." He then gave her a small smile and Susan glanced up, eyes widening in incredulity. "I'd recognize you anywhere, Queen Susan of Narnia. Your portrait is up in Telmar castle, in the great hall in fact. Along with ones of your siblings, although they are in the Library. King Caspian the X made sure you and your families memory never faded." He gave her a genuine smile this time, running a hand through his dirty hair. "Though the painting is beautiful, it could never hold a candle to the real thing." He said softly, ocean eyes meeting ice.

Susan was at a loss for words, so many emotions ran through her. Caspian had commissioned paintings of all of her siblings and her. Also the fact that she was in plain view of the hall. She knew he was married, did his wife mind a portrait painting in Susan in her home? Stop it, Susan. He was doing it just to be kind and, and- Wait, what had this man said? 'it could never hold a candle to the real thing'. Her cheeks might as well stay red for the rest of her days.

"Thank you... I am humbled by your words." ' I am humbled by your words', is that all she could say!? Susan had to look away, her body fidgeting on the spot. She was not some young school girl anymore! Feeling fed up with herself, Susan straightened up. "You know so much about me, but you haven't told me who you are yet. So please tell me your name."

He bowed, with one hand on his heart and the other tucked behind his back. His long hair falling over his face, hiding the cheeky smile she knew was there. He really did have a lovely smile. "My name is Rilian. I am the General of the Narnian Army."

So... What'd you think? Please review! xo