A/N: Welcome back to another chapter! Hope you enjoy, and that you can forgive me for not being able to update sooner.
Soundtracks:
The Black Forest – Trobar de Morte
Tundra – Jeremy Soule
A Way of Life – Hans Zimmer
The moon shone bright this night, as the company of royals and their now two faithful followers, Caine and Rhea slept under the stars. A bonfire danced lightly in the middle of sleeping bodies, keeping them warm as they rested. The horses were bound nearby, their feet resting, heads hung low, with tails flicking lightly.
Peter, Edmund, Caspian and Susan, along with Caine and Rhea all slept. Rhea was a light sleeper, and awoke every hour or so for no reason other than uneasiness.
Again, she turned onto her back, her eyes tiredly gazing upon the sky, taking in the sight of the star-littered sky. It was a beautiful night with the silent wind and cloud-free sky. She wondered briefly if the Valiant Queen was looking upon the same moon this very moment, making her heart drop at the thought.
The Telmarine guard lolled her head to the side and looked to her companions she was bound to protect; King Edmund and Caine snored lightly as they slept on their backs. King Peter, wonderful King Peter, looked as peaceful as he ever had, lying on his side, resting his head upon his arm. The light from the flames flickered across his face, his porcelain skin, his dark blonde locks and dark eyelashes. High cheekbones cast shadow across his face along with his chizled jaw, and it made him look older than his mere twenty-three years of age. Her gaze locked upon his being for a moment before her gaze flickered to her High King and friend. Caspian slept halfway onto his stomach, his head resting peacefully on his arm. She could tell he slept lightly, for she barely saw his back rise up and down.
Susan, her very own Queen, slept contently across the bonfire. Resting on her side, she had tucked her knees against her stomach, and her elbows tucked in to her front to keep warm. Her hands lay crossed, her head resting upon them - her bow and quiver right by her side.
Assured they were all well, she looked back towards the sky to count the millions of bright stars.
She hadn't noticed it before, but one of those millions of stars stirred in the sky, growing bigger as if it descended from the sky.
Furrowing her brows, Rhea stood up and never looked away from the strange sight. The dot was indeed coming closer, and in their very direction.
"Caine!" she hissed, kicking his thigh harshly. He snorted.
"Whuh..." he mumbled as he roused slightly. He dragged a hand through his curly hair. He dragged a hand through his curly hair.
"Get up, we may have trouble," she alerted him, and he too noticed the bright light.
"Boys, get up!" Susan's voice called behind the guards. She had awoken from Rhea's call. She shook Peter awake, who looked tiredly into the sky, confused by the sudden bright light.
"Caspian... Do you think it's-" Edmund began with a smile as both he and Caspian got onto their feet as they had awoke from the ruckus.
"It can't imagine anyone else other than her." Caspian replied quickly as he looked expectantly into the sky.
"What are you talking about?" Peter said as Susan still knelt by his side.
Before either could reply, a sharp light manifested itself before them. The horses stirred nervously by the trees at the sudden light.
The light diminished, and the vision of a young woman with icy pale skin and long, wavy locks of golden, silky hair came to vision. The white, sleeveless dress danced around her as she took two steps forward. A friendly smile with thin lips grazed her face.
"Liliandil..!" Edmund spoke as he took a step forward to greet her.
"Greeting, my Kings. It's been some time," she replied as she stepped elegantly their way and shared gazes with both Edmund and Caspian. She then looked towards Susan and Peter, who looked as confused as everyone else.
"And greetings to you, my Queen Susan, and King Peter. To meet you in person is beyond an honour," she said with a smile.
"You're a star?" Susan asked from her place between her oldest brother and Caspian, her mouth slightly open at the sight; she had read of them, of course, but never had she thought she would see one in person. Liliandil grinned light-heartedly at the same question Caspian had asked her two years ago.
"Yes."
"You helped my brother and Caspian, didn't you?" Peter asked, slightly put off by the sight of a star. Liliandil shrugged lightly with bare shoulders, shooting him a coy smile.
"I merely guided them in the right path, the rest was resolved by the whole crew on the Dawn Treader and the Boy-turned-Dragon." Liliandil replied, her voice coated with relief.
Susan and Peter shared amazed gazes.
"Forgive me for appearing only just now, but I must be quick. There is little time, and much to be resolved," Liliandil said, her smile now gone. Instead, fear and distress shadowed her beautiful face. She took two strides towards Caspian, her gaze flickering between faces.
The royals shared expectant gazes between them, now feeling uneasy.
"You need to find the two last pieces of the artefacts. The third relic shall be found in the Capital of Tashbaan. Go there, and the rest will appear in time. Now go! I shall be on the sky, guiding your way through the desert," Liliandil spoke, watching as the faces of the royals changed in anticipation.
"In Calormen, are you sure?" Edmund asked. How she had gotten this information was beyond him. But, she was indeed a creature of magic, so it wasn't all that improbable that she knew of these recent events.
"Yes! Now, you must hurry!" she said as she turned to walk away. Once she found the place where she ascended, she turned to them.
"Good luck, all of you. I shall be watching you."
Before anyone could protest or ask any questions, Liliandil disappeared and vanished, a bright beam of light flying into the sky at the speed of light.
They all looked to the sky to see the bright star in the colour of blue shimmered on the sky, becoming their path towards their destination.
The royals all looked towards Caspian, who looked down towards the ground for a few seconds in thought. He clenched his jaw, sighed sharply and turned towards his company.
"Assemble the gear, and extinguish that fire. We must go." Caspian barked as he walked towards the horses to get them ready. The leftover work was easily done for, and by the hour, they had all mounted their steeds, and set off into a fresh trot. The forest path and marshes were luckily lit up by the moonlight, along with the beams from the blue star – the sound of hooves and panting horses, creaking leather and chiming metal called into the silent night.
. . .
By the next morning, the company had ascended a hill by the north of Anvard and its bordering forests.
The company was tired, as were the horses, and the steeds now walked on idly along the grasslands, their hooves dragging along the dry, tall grass. It was warmer here, warmer than has ever been since the Pevensies' return.
The sun now stood high; it had done so for a while. Looking up to the sky, Caspian was sure it had reached noon. He led the company, with Caine and Peter behind him.
They rode on until they company reached the top of a sandy hill – now crossing into Calormene territory, the royals halted one by one at the top, looking outwards the Great Desert.
Caspian sighed on top of Destrier's back, and looked to his right once Peter, Caine and Rhea appeared by his side. They halted their horses too.
Edmund and Susan lingered by his left, they too looking outwards the golden, sandy dunes of the Calormene desert.
"Calormen..." Rhea muttered. She fought by Caspian's side when they had defeated the Calormene army two years ago. She looked upon the land in remorse.
"It'll take us a day and a night's ride to cross it if we ride hard, your Majesties." Caine noted.
Once a moment of silence had crossed, a "right then" sounded to Caspian's left, and they all watched as Susan rode downwards the sand-covered slope. Her horse slid here and there, but got down safe and sound. Susan halted and turned around in the saddle once down the slope.
"It'll be far too hot to cross any deserts now! I suggest we find shelter and let the horses rest until late afternoon," Susan called back as she looked up towards her male company.
Peter, Rhea, Caine and Edmund all looked expectantly towards Caspian, who wasn't aware of their gazes. Breaking away his own gaze from Susan, he felt the weight of the company's eyes, and looked from face to face - they looked as if they all agreed. To speak the truth, some sleep would be most appreciated by now after riding through most of the night. Caspian cleared his throat.
"Well, you heard her," he replied and clicked his own steed going. He executed the slope with ease, and rode past Susan once on the ground. They shared a long gaze, which did not go unnoticed by the rest as they followed him. Susan turned her horse and followed the leader of the company.
. . .
The party had found a cave in between the crags of the red rocks nearby the desert; a shallow one, but its location secluded. It made do for shelter for some short hours. The horses rested with their heads low by a formation of dead shrubs, and they were tied to a log. They stood in the shadow of the formation of rocks, tails swishing lightly.
Inside the cave, Peter, Edmund, Caspian and Caine was sleeping soundly, resting upon a mix of saddle pads, coats, blankets and vests - Anything to keep them comfortable. Edmund used his saddle as a pillow, but didn't sleep soundly. The reason to that could have been more his brother's fault than the saddle. Peter managed to sleep very well on his balled-up vest and coat, and snored comfortably with his arm resting over his eyes, much to Edmund's irritation.
Just some feet away, Susan was sitting by the entrance of the cave, keeping watch. She fiddled with her bow, cleaned her daggers and investigated a stone and its different colours on the floor for a couple of hours until movement behind her alerted her.
Rhea approached her with a small yawn, sword and axe at her hips.
"You go on and get some rest, my Queen..." she whispered with a small smile as she made a small stretch.
Susan looked up at her, shot her a grateful smile, and scrambled up to her feet before making her way deeper inside the cave. The cave was small, and four men certainly did take a lot of room, not to mention their weapons and gear.
Rhea had slept uncomfortable beside Edmund, who had now rolled over and taken up that space as well. Great. Thanks, little brother, she thought to herself, but nevertheless, let him sleep.
Furrowing her brows, Susan realized that the only place she would sleep remotely comfortable would be beside Peter and... Caspian. Sighing in defeat, she walked over, and crawled in between them. Peter now slept with his back against Caspian's left, and the Telmarine King himself slept silently with his right arm behind his head. His coat lay underneath him to spare him from the cold stone floor.
Peter didn't move a snoring muscle as she crawled beside him and laid down and tried not to wake either of them. She didn't realize it, but Caspian did in fact notice her small form sneaking in beside them - he had never been asleep.
She made herself comfortable beside them, sighed silently, and tried to sleep. It was safe and warm between them.
Her eyes stung with little rest, and she wanted to sleep, but her head raced with thoughts and worries.
Susan worried for her baby sister. She worried for her friends and family, for Narnia and the world as they knew it. She also worried for Caspian, especially for him. How she had hurt him, and what danger he was in back in court. She felt remorse too, and hated herself for what she had done to him. It was the right thing to do, and yet, her heart hurt more than it ever had.
Caspian shifted beside her, and looked through lidded eyes that she didn't blink even blink at his movement. She merely looked between her long black eyelashes into space, into the wall behind them as she rested her head on her bent elbow.
Wanting her to sleep, needing her to get some rest, Caspian moved further, snaked an arm over her back, and pulled her side against his front. She stirred at this, but relaxed once he rested his head above hers. She stiffened for only a moment, but soon gave in. She didn't want to fight right now, and accepted his comforting touch. She accepted his closeness, and found strength in it. She tucked her face in against his neck and felt his short beard against her cheek and jaw. A small tear escaped the corner of her eye.
"Sleep..." Caspian's soft whisper brushed past her ear. She sighed in defeat.
"It's alright..." he hummed soothingly against her as he held her close.
After a while, he felt her breathing even out, and she slept soundly. Sighing once, Caspian brushed his lips against her forehead before dropping his head down on the make-shift pillow and rested his chin on the crown of her hair.
Caspian had a few hours of blissful sleep himself that afternoon.
A/N: Didn't expect to see Liliandil again, did you? I hope it was a nice element of surprise.
Also, there have been several requests of fluff, and I certainly hope this will do for now!
Take care, and till the next time,
Dragon
