Note: This fic is an alternative ending to The Horse and His Boy. I'm picking up near the end of the book so it might be hard to follow if you haven't read that book. This takes place fourteen years after the events in the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. I borrowed a few minor characters and other things from the movie. Some other minor characters such as Prince Galen, Sir Brynn, Lady Deidre, Lady Nola, Eol the Eagle, Ravenstorm the Centaur and his children are made up and I have used them in several fics.
The book belongs to C.S. Lewis and the movie to Walden.
Queen Susan reclined in the large sunken bath and thought that the only thing she really liked about the Calormen Empire was the baths.
A short time ago, they had arrived at a dock outside of Tashbaan. This bath house near the dock seemed to exist for the sole purpose of allowing members of the royal family and noble Tarkaans to refresh themselves and make themselves look proper before being paraded through the streets of Tashbaan. Susan normally would have enjoyed such a luxury after time on a ship but she was definitely not looking forward to arriving at Tashbaan or being gawked at by the Calormenes.
She tried to relax in the hot water but she was worried. In part, she was still stunned that Rabadash had actually kidnapped her without her brothers being able to stop him. Peter and Edmund had always kept her from harm. In fact, she had difficulty thinking of any dangerous situation she had faced without one of her brothers nearby. She could always depend on them.
Of course, there was also Aslan. She assumed Aslan would protect them and not allow any great harm to happen to her family. She had thought He would stop this kidnapping, rescue her the same way He had arranged to rescue Edmund from the White Witch or stopped the White Witch from killing Peter or brought all the stone statues back to life. He wouldn't abandon her. As the days went by, Susan did begin to lose her confidence. Not her confidence in Aslan Himself but her confidence that she understood His plan.
Susan found herself obsessing over Aslan's words at the coronation: "the Radiant Southern Sun." Some ballots referred to her "Queen of the South". She assumed it was a reference to the warmth of her personality –she was kind and gentle and welcoming to all who came to court. She had developed the quickest friendship with their Archenlander neighbors to the south. Perhaps Aslan knew that she would be a good diplomat reaching out to neighbors. In the last few hours, she had begun to wonder if there was a deeper meaning. Did Aslan know this would happen? Did he know she would be brought to Tashbaan as a captive, that Rabadash would force her to marry him? Did "Radiant Southern Sun" and "Queen of the South" really mean that she was fated to rule Calormen at Rabadash's side?
Of course, she wouldn't be ruling at Rabadash's side. Women in Calormen had no power or prestige besides being trophies for their husbands. She had noticed during her visit to Tashbaan that women had very little freedom. Noblewomen spent a lot of time indoors and when they left the house it was in company of many servants and soldiers. Queen Susan, however, was used to a great deal of freedom.
As a queen, she had responsibilities and Peter seldom questioned her decisions once she accepted responsibility for a problem. There were times when Peter made a decision she had to follow but it was rare that he actually ordered her to do something. It was usually a discussion, a compromise or she would simply agree to make him happy.
On a personal level, she had freedom take a ride on her horse or go for a swim in the ocean whenever she felt like it. But she had a deeper freedom that these women lacked. She would make her own decision about who could court her, if to marry and who to marry. Peter hadn't been happy about her decision to allow Rabadash to court her. But Peter allowed her to make her own decisions and respected her judgment. Usually it was sound judgment.
Susan's musings were interrupted by the door opening. A slave girl in her late teens entered carrying garments and a box. Behind the door, Susan could see the backs of two soldiers. She was being well guarded.
She smiled at the slave girl and asked "Have you seen my ladies? Can you ask if they may join me?"
Susan was determined to make sure that Deidre and Nola were safe. She had to come up with a reason to have them sent to her. The slave girl looked nervous and curtsied in the Calormen fashion.
"I do not know, my lady" said the slave girl. "I was told to bring these garments in and to assist you in dressing. I do not know anything else."
The slave girl held out a very large fluffy towel for Susan. The queen sighed and got out of the bath. The slave girl combed her hair and rubbed it dry.
"Do you know how to braid hair?" asked the queen.
The slave girl shook her head.
"I must insist that you have my ladies attend me. They can fix my hair" said Susan.
The slave girl answered "Let me help you dress, Queen Susan, and then I will ask if your ladies can come fix your hair."
She held out Calormen garments. It was a blue dress with several layers of gauze over a darker blue silk and a matching cloak. The slave girl used a gold sash to belt it. She then held out a gold headpiece and blue veil.
Susan shook her head and said "I need to have my hair fixed first. Please send for Lady Nola and Lady Deidre."
The girl seemed walked to the door. Susan was hopeful that this might work. She hadn't seen Nola and Deidre in three days and was very nervous about their safety.
The slave girl had left the box in the room. Susan opened it and was stunned by the beautiful gold and sapphire necklace, earrings and bracelets. The sapphires were very high quality. She put the jewelry on and looked at herself in the mirror. It was impressive jewelry and rather heavy. These earrings hurt! She took them off but left on the necklace and bracelets. Whatever happened, she might as well look like a queen.
The door opened and Nola and Deidre entered with the slave girl. Both ladies were also wearing Calormen dresses. Susan embraced them both.
"Have you been treated well?" asked the queen.
"Don't worry about us, your Majesty. It is your safety that is important" said Lady Nola as she stepped back to look at Susan more carefully. "Madam, has Prince Rabadash done any harm to you?" asked Nola.
"No. We had an argument and I have not seen him since" replied Susan. "I think he will come to see me soon. I am going to try to negotiate to have the two of you sent home to Narnia."
"Your Majesty, we cannot leave you" replied Lady Deidre.
Susan replied: "Dearest Deidre, your family was one of the first human families to return to Narnia. You have served us well and I have loved you as if you were my own little sister. I will not allow you to come to harm in Calormen. Nola, you have been a wonderful companion, ever since Brynn brought you to court but I will not have your faithful friendship re-paid by separating you from your husband. Selfishly, I will miss you but it will be better if I do not have to worry about your safety."
"Dearest lady, rescue will come soon. Do not act hastily" whispered Nola as she glanced over at the slave girl who most likely was also a spy.
"I had hope of rescue, but I can not imagine what my brother the High King can do now that we have arrived at Tashbaan. Narnia does not have the forces to attack this city and I do not want anyone else to die for my foolishness. I am haunted by those who died at Cair Paravel as well as the many that died at Anvard. I keep seeing King Edmund with blood on his face and imagine my sister Queen Lucy with an arrow in her arm. I don't want anyone else to come to harm. I have to make sure the two of you are safe" said Susan firmly.
The beautiful young queen added: "If there is a future price to pay for my bad judgment, it should only be paid by me. Now, I do not want to be paraded through Tashbaan with my hair a mess. Dear friends, help me to get ready."
Shortly, there was the sound of knocking on the door. The slave girl went to answer it and returned saying "Queen Susan, Prince Rabadash is ready for you to join him. The soldiers will escort you."
Susan stood up and took a quick look in the mirror. The blue dress was lovely. Some of her hair was pulled back in braids that were pinned to the back of her head; the rest of her hair fell loose down her back and past her hips. She had ignored the gold headpiece and veil sent by Rabadash and put her Narnian golden flower crown on top of her head. She did wear the necklace and bracelets of gold and sapphires. She looked a bit pale but beautiful.
She held her head up as she left the room followed by Nola and Deidre. Prince Rabadash, along with several Tarkaans and advisors, was waiting down the hall in a small entry room.
"Calormen fashion becomes you, Queen Susan. I hope you are feeling refreshed after the journey" said Prince Rabadash. Although the words were pleasant, his voice was cold.
The prince spoke as casually as if she was his guest instead of being kidnapped. The look in his brown eyes was possessive as he gazed at the young queen. Susan bit back a hasty response and just smiled and nodded her head.
"I hoping Madam, now that we arrived home, your behavior will be improved. I expect my future wife to be obedient. Before we depart for the palace, there is a matter to take care of. Please join me, Madam" said Rabadash motioning to a nearby table with a letter.
Rabadash picked up a letter and handed it to Susan saying "Please sign this Madam."
Susan read the letter quickly and then looked at Rabadash without any expression on her beautiful face. She looked at the letter again and then put it back on the table.
"If you please, your Highness, I would request that my ladies be allowed to return to Narnia" said Susan. "Then I would be glad to sign the letter."
Rabadash smiled and replied "I will allow your ladies to leave after they have witnessed our wedding."
Susan asked "May I add a sentence at the bottom of the letter? It will ensure that my royal brother knows that the letter reflects my wishes. I would also like to request that the High King send an escort for Lady Nola and Lady Deidre to return to Narnia."
Rabadash said: "You may add what you wish but it will only get sent if I approve."
Susan sat down at the table. The letter was written by a poet in the high Calormene fashion. Peter would know at one glance that she did not dictate this letter. The letter professed her great love for Rabadash and her desire to remain in Calormen. Peter would believe neither. She dipped the quill into the ink and carefully wrote a sentence knowing that Peter would recognize her writing. He might disagree with the sentiment but he would know it was her wish. Susan then wrote that Prince Rabadash had agreed to let Nola and Deidre return to Narnia and that Peter should send a suitable escort to ensure the ladies returned safely. She then carefully signed the letter and handed it to Rabadash. He glanced at it and looked at her scornfully.
"Madam, you have a soft heart which is why a woman should never rule a country" said the Calormen Prince as he handed the letter to a waiting messenger. "Come, Queen Susan, it is time to enter Tashbaan, your new home."