Caspian couldn't sleep, missing his friends too much; especially Lucy. It had only been a few hours since he saw her last, but to Caspian it seemed like eternity. Reepicheep, Edmund, Lucy and Eustace were all gone from this world, not a single one of them to come back. His heart had left with Lucy, leaving him empty and cold. He could still feel her presence in his cabin, making him long for her return. But, alas, Lucy would no longer be able to enter Narnia again, at least, not in his lifetime. Restlessly he strode upon deck, trying to dispel the disquiet inside him, the roaring silence that deafened him. Yet Lucy lingered on the prow deck as well(is that what its called?), the two of them having spent several sleepless nights side by side, growing steadily closer.
'Oh Aslan, why did she have to go? Don't you know how much I love her?' Caspian hung his head, remembering every moment he had spent with Lucy on the voyage east. The memories were like thin, filmy cobwebs that clung to every nook and cranny of his mind, haunting his every move. Her luminescent smiles, tinkling laughter, charming innocence, hidden wisdom and, most of all, the calming affect her presence had on his strained and weary soul. Lucy could have been his Queen, writing another chapter in Narnian history. 'How I wish Lucy was here.' A tear trickled down Caspian's cheek to darken his linen shirt where it landed, his already shattered heart breaking a little more.
*Caspian. Caspian.* A deep voice echoed through the blackness of the night, disturbing the flat velvet of the atmosphere. The air rippled with magic, and Caspian took several steps to the side, knowing that the Great Lion would need ample space. Aslan shimmered into being beside Caspian, all gold and glory. Feeling more vulnerable and lost than he had in years, Caspian threw himself at the Great Lion, burying his face in the surprisingly soft mane. *What troubles you so?*
"Lucy's gone." Caspian's voice was raw and guttural, breaking in several places. "The only one I love is gone." Pain washed over him anew, threatening to drown him in endless agony. Even the scent of Aslan didn't calm Caspian down, and usually the Lion's presence made the young king feel relaxed, but Caspian wasn't relaxing.
*What of Ramandu's daughter?* the Great Lion asked.
"She was merely a passing fancy, a momentary glance." Caspian spoke honestly, voice muffled but Aslans' mane. "If given the opportunity I would choose Lucy."
*Are you certain, young Caspian? How can you be sure that what you feel for Lucy now is nothing but momentary feelings that will fade over time?*
Caspian pulled away from Aslan, hurt by the lions' words. But even as Caspian searched his feelings he knew Aslan did not intentionally speak harshly, only saying what was necessary. His feelings toward Lucy were more than a simple want or joy, but a complex spider web of emotions, all tangled and fine. He spoke his thoughts aloud:
"Lucy is beautiful, more beautiful than Ramandu's daughter. Ramandu's daughter is a pretty face, but Lucy, Lucy has a depth of character that the resting star's daughter does not. Lucy is so many contradictions in one person that you can't help but like her, even love her. She has such a pure innocence, but she is wealthy in her wisdom from having lived so long here in Narnia. She can see into a person's soul, openly revealing herself in the process. She makes me feel whole, more secure in my role as king and in my life. I love her."
*Those are simply words my young king.* Aslan licked Caspians' face, drying the young man's tears. *You shall have three tests, then all will be right.* The Great Lion began to fade into nothingness.
"How will I know when I am to be tested?" Caspian called frantically, wanting his answer before the Ruler of All disappeared.
*You will know.* and with that Aslan dissolved into the darkness.
* * *
Lucy sighed from where she sat on the window seat of the room she and Edmund shared while they were at Eustace's. Edmund and Eustace were off somewhere, doing whatever it was boys did, leaving Lucy in a limbo like solitude to go over her thoughts and emotions. She was mourning the loss of a love that had barely been found before it was ripped away. 'Caspian, how I miss you so.'
Caspian had grown up quite a bit since the week or so since Lucy had been in Narnia last. Tall and golden, strong and gentle, charismatic and noble. Caspian was everything any girl could wish for. In her deepest of hearts Lucy knew that she would outlive the present Narnian king buy a thousand lifetimes. She shrunk away from that thought, choosing instead to plead to Aslan for guidance. Surely the Great Lion wouldn't come between love, would he?
Being brave Lucy held back the tears that threatened to overwhelm her, but she wouldn't give in to the despair. She had once been a Queen of Narnia, and knows first hand that fate is unchanging. As much as people liked to think that they controlled their lives, they really didn't. A person's presence and reason was predetermined ages before they were born. Like a puppet with little or no control over who and what they are people are strung along as toys for the Higher Powers in an attempt for them to amuse themselves. Lucy sighed. Her world has long forgotten the magic that pulses all around, turning a blind eye to the truth. She ached for Narnia, the world of magic realized.
And yet Lucy could still see Caspian as she had last saw him, the day her heart and soul had been shattered. Resplendent in maroon and gold with black trimming, his golden hair shining in the unnaturally bright sunlight like a beacon in the darkness, guiding her toward the only man she could ever love. Tears glittered in is eyes like diamonds as he spoke of how their parting was too soon, sounding so much like the young, lost boy that he was and in some ways still is. Lucy knew why she loved Caspian so deeply. She felt as if she could soothe all his hurts, calm his battered soul. He was even tempered and ever loyal, physically and mentally strong, willing to listen to advice and weigh options fully, and was one of the most beautiful men she had ever laid her eyes on. Caspian was a good king, and an even better man.
Lucy longed for the day she would find a man as eloquent and as wise as Caspian in her own world. They just don't make them like that anymore, but Lucy doubted they ever made any like Caspian in her world to begin with. She sighed heavily. 'Oh Caspian, if only we had another chance, if only I had told you I loved you.'
Bone weary Lucy moved to her bed, wanting nothing more than to be back in Narnia. Closing her eyes Lucy sank into Oblivion.
'Oh Aslan, why did she have to go? Don't you know how much I love her?' Caspian hung his head, remembering every moment he had spent with Lucy on the voyage east. The memories were like thin, filmy cobwebs that clung to every nook and cranny of his mind, haunting his every move. Her luminescent smiles, tinkling laughter, charming innocence, hidden wisdom and, most of all, the calming affect her presence had on his strained and weary soul. Lucy could have been his Queen, writing another chapter in Narnian history. 'How I wish Lucy was here.' A tear trickled down Caspian's cheek to darken his linen shirt where it landed, his already shattered heart breaking a little more.
*Caspian. Caspian.* A deep voice echoed through the blackness of the night, disturbing the flat velvet of the atmosphere. The air rippled with magic, and Caspian took several steps to the side, knowing that the Great Lion would need ample space. Aslan shimmered into being beside Caspian, all gold and glory. Feeling more vulnerable and lost than he had in years, Caspian threw himself at the Great Lion, burying his face in the surprisingly soft mane. *What troubles you so?*
"Lucy's gone." Caspian's voice was raw and guttural, breaking in several places. "The only one I love is gone." Pain washed over him anew, threatening to drown him in endless agony. Even the scent of Aslan didn't calm Caspian down, and usually the Lion's presence made the young king feel relaxed, but Caspian wasn't relaxing.
*What of Ramandu's daughter?* the Great Lion asked.
"She was merely a passing fancy, a momentary glance." Caspian spoke honestly, voice muffled but Aslans' mane. "If given the opportunity I would choose Lucy."
*Are you certain, young Caspian? How can you be sure that what you feel for Lucy now is nothing but momentary feelings that will fade over time?*
Caspian pulled away from Aslan, hurt by the lions' words. But even as Caspian searched his feelings he knew Aslan did not intentionally speak harshly, only saying what was necessary. His feelings toward Lucy were more than a simple want or joy, but a complex spider web of emotions, all tangled and fine. He spoke his thoughts aloud:
"Lucy is beautiful, more beautiful than Ramandu's daughter. Ramandu's daughter is a pretty face, but Lucy, Lucy has a depth of character that the resting star's daughter does not. Lucy is so many contradictions in one person that you can't help but like her, even love her. She has such a pure innocence, but she is wealthy in her wisdom from having lived so long here in Narnia. She can see into a person's soul, openly revealing herself in the process. She makes me feel whole, more secure in my role as king and in my life. I love her."
*Those are simply words my young king.* Aslan licked Caspians' face, drying the young man's tears. *You shall have three tests, then all will be right.* The Great Lion began to fade into nothingness.
"How will I know when I am to be tested?" Caspian called frantically, wanting his answer before the Ruler of All disappeared.
*You will know.* and with that Aslan dissolved into the darkness.
* * *
Lucy sighed from where she sat on the window seat of the room she and Edmund shared while they were at Eustace's. Edmund and Eustace were off somewhere, doing whatever it was boys did, leaving Lucy in a limbo like solitude to go over her thoughts and emotions. She was mourning the loss of a love that had barely been found before it was ripped away. 'Caspian, how I miss you so.'
Caspian had grown up quite a bit since the week or so since Lucy had been in Narnia last. Tall and golden, strong and gentle, charismatic and noble. Caspian was everything any girl could wish for. In her deepest of hearts Lucy knew that she would outlive the present Narnian king buy a thousand lifetimes. She shrunk away from that thought, choosing instead to plead to Aslan for guidance. Surely the Great Lion wouldn't come between love, would he?
Being brave Lucy held back the tears that threatened to overwhelm her, but she wouldn't give in to the despair. She had once been a Queen of Narnia, and knows first hand that fate is unchanging. As much as people liked to think that they controlled their lives, they really didn't. A person's presence and reason was predetermined ages before they were born. Like a puppet with little or no control over who and what they are people are strung along as toys for the Higher Powers in an attempt for them to amuse themselves. Lucy sighed. Her world has long forgotten the magic that pulses all around, turning a blind eye to the truth. She ached for Narnia, the world of magic realized.
And yet Lucy could still see Caspian as she had last saw him, the day her heart and soul had been shattered. Resplendent in maroon and gold with black trimming, his golden hair shining in the unnaturally bright sunlight like a beacon in the darkness, guiding her toward the only man she could ever love. Tears glittered in is eyes like diamonds as he spoke of how their parting was too soon, sounding so much like the young, lost boy that he was and in some ways still is. Lucy knew why she loved Caspian so deeply. She felt as if she could soothe all his hurts, calm his battered soul. He was even tempered and ever loyal, physically and mentally strong, willing to listen to advice and weigh options fully, and was one of the most beautiful men she had ever laid her eyes on. Caspian was a good king, and an even better man.
Lucy longed for the day she would find a man as eloquent and as wise as Caspian in her own world. They just don't make them like that anymore, but Lucy doubted they ever made any like Caspian in her world to begin with. She sighed heavily. 'Oh Caspian, if only we had another chance, if only I had told you I loved you.'
Bone weary Lucy moved to her bed, wanting nothing more than to be back in Narnia. Closing her eyes Lucy sank into Oblivion.