Story: What you Leave Behind…
Author: The Evil Pink Squirrel of Doom
Summery: The time has come for Oreius, to recall Queen Susan, and the first time she ever expressed her love for him.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, can you imagine the royalties if I did.
Author's Note: The Red Wings won last night, God Bless Kirk Maltby, I knew there was a reason I had his jersey, anyhow this chapter is dedicated to him. Thanks to all of you who review, you really make me want to write more. Special thanks to Morohtar, who has been betaing these chapters for me.
It was the Best of Times, Now it's the Worst of Times
Oreius sat on the thick plush rug, before the fire, his human back leaning against the ornate couch. He had
removed off his leather tunic, armor, and the swords, he had worsen out earlier whilst searching for the
royal family with Tumnus and the rest of Narnias army.
In his hand he held a small glass of whiskey. He was swirling it around in his hand, watching it through the
slightly distorted glass. He was thinking of his beautiful gentle wife, she light frame had felt perched upon
his large equestrian back, as he galloped through the forest, or as he walked slowly towards their quarters
to put the queen to rest, after she had sprained her ankle while dancing at Queen Lucy's wedding ball.
The general thought of how she used to complain when he'd lead the troops to war, or leave in the
middle of dinner with High King Peter when an ambassador from another land showed up to ask for help
in some nation. How she required herself to be allowed in the camp, while the troops prepared for battle,
often surprising him, wearing nothing at all in his tent, her long hair falling over her shoulders. Her soft
voice begging him to promise he'd come back to her and the twins, as he held her once more before
leaving for the battle field. She always hated the seemingly constant struggle to keep peace in their world,
and how he would leave for battle on a moments notice prior to their official courtship.
It had been during one such occasion, which her feelings for him had finally come out. Although there had
been a couple incidents that one could interpret as romantic between the two of them, he had always
forced his mind to think before his heart, saying the young queen was just thankful for his friendship and
help during the Great War of Fire and Ice. He, himself had never expected the gentle queen to tell him
what his long horse like ears had longed to hear since she first stood in front of him, her brother baring a
sword from Father Christmas demanding to see Aslan. Slowly, he allowed himself to become immersed in
the memory.
Flashback
Oreius left the meeting with the kings and queens of Narnia intent on going to prepare himself to leave with the troops,
and King Edmund at sunrise the next morning, with any luck, and by putting the small dwarfs on centaur backs, they
should be able to meet up with General Norbacca and the troops from Havenland, at the Hinter Pass, within two moons
time.
He entered his chambers and removed his large leather covering, and swords. He was stretching, his long, muscular arms
high over his back, and considering taking a bath prior to this evenings dinner with the troops when Queen Susan, had
simply entered his chambers, barged in, would of more then likely been the correct wording he guessed. It was quite
unusual for the Queen to do anything of the sort, the few times she had sought him out in his quarters, she had knocked,
then had shyly asked him to please come to library down the hall. Yet, this time he thought something must be gravely
wrong for the monarch to come into his rooms at all, let alone without even a knock. Her hair was down, and her face
flushed as if she had ran nearly the whole way to his rooms. She had been stunning, and it had taken all his power not
to lift her into his strong arms, through her on his large bed, and ravish her. He had been cut from his thoughts, when
the young queen had began to speak.
"Why? Why must this happen yet again? I cannot take it general." Oreius had been vastly confused by what the queen
was saying. Just an hour before she had been sitting in her chair looking over plans with himself and her siblings,
agreeing with what was being said, and nodding, apparently bored by the proceedings.
"Your majesty, if I may, the Havenlands supply our people with numerous different types of cures, ones that can not grow
here within the borders of your gracious kingdom." He had been prepared to offer more of a explanation when she began
to speak once more.
"It's not that, I don't think this war is unnecessary General Oreius. I do understand these matters, although my brother's
seem to feel otherwise. There is no desert in Narnia, in which several plants required to treat disease are located, blah,
blah, blah." She had then turned towards him, her lips had been quivering, he had noticed then, her tall, slender, poised
body appeared to by shaking slightly.
"I don't understand why, you, must leave… Oreius." The centaur had frozen at the sound of her voice, his heart had
been overjoyed by the apparent meaning of her words, and the way she had said his name, his title noticeably dropped.
His head however forced him to think about what she was saying, it could mean nothing, perhaps just a mistake on her
part. Although the gentle, perfect Queen did not make mistakes.
"I'm afraid your majesty, I do not understand what you mean?" One moment the women had been at least five feet before
his form, the next moment she was pressed up against him. Her lips had felt warm, soft, and inviting as she reached up
and pulled his head down to hers. She had opened her mouth, inviting his tongue to battle with hers, and grasped at his
long hair with one hand, whilst the other had run over the space on his back where man met beast. It had driven him
insane, he had to stop this his mind screamed, it wasn't proper, he wasn't properly attired, they were all alone his bed
only an open door away. Although this would not be the first time he had felt the companionship of a female, he was
sure the queen had never held a man in her bed, and had never been in the bed of a male, let alone a large centaur such
as himself. He still had never felt the passionate, loving want for a female that was now coursing through is veins. He
felt himself beginning to allow his large form to show his need in a most drastic way, all it would have taken is the right
angle for her to have seen. After only a few moments of the glorious torment Oreius had forced himself to break the kiss.
Tenderly he moved the queen off her tip-toes, and far enough away she was standing at arms length.
"Queen Susan, I am enormously flattered, however I must…" That was when he had seen it, the tears which had began
to fall along her cheeks, her body gasping, as she tried to cover up her horror. Abruptly she pulled away from him, she
cast her eyes towards the tiled floor, her small hands smoothing out her forest green dress, the same hands that had
brought so much pleasure moments before.
"I'm so sorry general. That was very forward of me, I understand if you didn't want me too, it was all my fault. I prey
you are not courting someone, for I may of offended you both. You keep your own life so private."
"My Queen, I fear it is I who have caused…" He was stopped mid-sentence as the queen interrupted his line of thought,
her normally confident voice wavered, her tears streaming down her face, leaving salty tracks along her cheeks, and her
lips.
"No, it is my fault, I am sorely put out with all that is going on, and the thoughts that you were to leave.. me… again
General Oreius, that this time there may be a beast which defeats your powerful, skilled sword. That this time you may
never return home, all that talk of this being perhaps the greatest battle since we all fought Jadis. Now, I realize however
the mistake of my directness was not a fault you deserve, once more I am sorry, and hope I may not to have damaged any
relations you may be carrying in your heart on the battle field." Slowly he had made to put his arms around her, to hold
her warm female body close to his, and help to quell her fears, of rejection. A rejection that was not actually there. He
longed to tell her it was her perfect face, thoughts of her body, and voice which brought him home after each campaign.
Except the queen once again pulled away from him, mumbling about not being able to handle it, he had noticed that she
was moving closer to the door which led to his bed, and then his mind had quickly and unfortunately returned to
thoughts of her naked, with his body towering over her. She swung around quickly and realized where she was moving,
she then let out a slight hiccup. He froze in his spot, he now felt rejection bubbling in him. His mind screaming the
glorious, elegant queen had come to her senses, that he was a monster, a beast, not fit for a queen like many of the
princes and kings that had come to attempt to court her in the past. That was when he had heard it, the words he had
hoped to someday hear came tumbling from her lips. Lips that were presently covered in salty tears.
"I love you General, I've tried not to, there are numerous reasons I shouldn't, I do comprehend those facts. But I do love
you Oreius, General Oreius, I'm sorry, I shall never speak of it again, so as not to trouble you." The queen of Narnia
had then run out the doors of his chambers and down the hall. He had attempted to follow, but had been stopped by
King Peter, who took him aside for a discussion regarding the queen who had just taken off towards the other side of Cair
Paravel.
End Flashback
Grimacing he was taken from his memory, as he had begun to go over the conversation with his High
King, how difficult it had been to explain that he had not been refusing King Peters sister's love, but quite
the opposite, he had been to close to letting the fears of not coming home and never feeling all of her
overtake him. The king had been confused when Susan ran past him in tears, as he approached the
generals chambers. Of all the beast and men in Narnia the High King had been the only one to know of his
love for the gentle queen before that day. Oreius froze, the large beast slowly turned around as his
sensitive ears heard something behind him.
Small hooves click on the stone floor, as Prince Gavyn approached his father. The much smaller, thinner
centaurs jade eyes were tired, and droopy. Oreius couldn't help but smile at the Brunette haired prince.
"Where Mummy?" the small voice asked, it sounded almost like a whisper in the large sitting room.
Oreius, felt tears sting the sides of his eyes for what was not the first time that night, let alone week.
"Come here little one, I need to tell you a story." The small body pranced quickly over to the superior
form. His eyes still tired, seemed to light up with prospect of a story from the elder centaur. Once near
his father, his form laid down and curled up close to the elder beast, like one would see a young colt, do
to a mother horse. Oreius slowly took a deep breath.
"Where is Riordan?"
"Still sleeping, why is there something wrong father?"
"No, it's just so rare to see you without your brother close by son, that's all." The small child nodded his
head in perfect acceptance of his father's reasoning. In reality of course, Oreius was thinking about what it
would be like to lose one, if not both of his young sons also, like there mother. He smiled wistfully as
memories of birthday parties, and playing in the fields with the boys and their cousins flew through his
head. Forcing a smile at his first born he took a sip of his drink.
"There once was a very proud warrior, and he lived in a land of ice. Now at this same time a great lion
returned and made this warrior the general of his army, an army which would save the land with the help
of two sons of Adam and two daughter of Eve. When the humans arrived the warrior saw the most
stunning female ever. She stood with her siblings, as her older brother demanded of the warrior, to see
the great lion. For they had come to ask for the lions help in rescuing their brother, a traitor, although by
mere accident. The women stood strong, steadfast, and courageous. At first she wanted help in collecting
her younger brother so her family could return home. But she soon came to realize that the creatures of
Narnia needed her help. Although it wasn't until after the great battle that she finally changed her steadfast
belief that they should return to their homeland, known as.."
"Spare Oom, just like Uncle Tumnus says." Oreius turned his head once more to see the younger of the
twins coming towards him, clutching tightly a stuffed lion, (a gift from King Peter and Princess Mariska
for his first birthday) to his chest. His hair was blond, and fur a striking white, in contrast to his brother
and fathers fur. The small colt curled into his father, beside his brother and cuddled down. His large
brown eyes staring up at the elder centaur, pleading with his father to go on with the tale.
"Yes Riordan, the land known as Spare Oom, now this beautiful women, she held a horn that can call for
help, and help is guaranteed to come. She was also a exceptionally skilled archer, better then even the
best centaur female, and she stole away the heart of this great warrior, before she had even taken her
crown upon her head….although my young princes it would be years before she ever found out. As time
past she and her siblings…" Oreuis continued the story, after he finished, he continued to hold the small
colts close. It wasn't till both of his sons where fast asleep, that he carefully and skillfully moved them
each into there parents gigantic bed, before laying down himself, and letting the tears finally, quietly flow.
Please Su, please come home.
I beg of you to please come home, I need you, Gavyn needs you, Riordan needs you. I can't do this all
alone.
Mrs. Beaver is getting to old to chase around a bunch of fauns, humans, and the twins.
I'll never even lead another army, if you'll just come home my love, my queen, the mother of my sons,
the mother of my princes, the only one I've ever loved.
Please come home, I need you here, what if we are expecting another little one?
You'll need the great care our healers can instill, and Mrs. Beaver's watchful eye.
I knew I should have gone out with you all as you searched for that stag, please gentle one, please come
back to me and our boys.
What if it is my fault your all gone?
Till death I promised my High King, on the battle field so long ago, "Are you with me?" he'd asked, "Till the death" was my response.
Till the death I will await your return, till the death I will defend my High Kings throne, and my queens
heart.
Till the death I will stand with my High King, just as I did so many times on the field of battle.
I will defend my homeland, my family, and the four thrones.
Long will my heart belong to you, my fair and gentle queen, my wife, the mother of my young sons.
Long Live King Peter, the Magnificent.
Long Live Queen Lucy, the Valiant.
Long Live King Edmund, the Just.
Long Live Queen Susan, the Gentle, the one who owns my heart.
Long may you all reign upon this great kingdom.
Long may the great lion, Aslan, protect us all.
Long may Cair Paravel stand.
Long may Narnia Remain.
PLEASE REVIEW! It only takes a moment and makes my whole day brighter. But, no flames please. I just deal with that kind of stuff at work all day and can't take it here at home.