Story: One Must Always Expect the Unexpected

Author: The Evil Pink Squirrel of Doom

Summery: Susan falls in love with someone who had been right at her side since entering Aslan camp. However, there are many difficulties for a gentle queen and a centaur general. Susan/Oreius.

Disclaimer: I own nothing, but if I put on my ruby slippers, and click my heels three times, click…click….click…damn I got nothing, it all still belongs to the god known as C.S. Lewis, and Disney, who seem to own all.

Author's Note: Sorry it took so long for me to update, my computer deleted the next two chapters of this story, the next one of 'What You Leave Behind', and two thesis papers. The papers had to be re-written first of course, I hope to have the next chapter of 'What You Leave Behind' up sometime tomomrow. Thanks for all the reviews, you guys are great. As to several comments on my using 'modern' terminology. I only use it when trying to be funny, or with Susan's dresses. Never do my characters say it, or think it. It's just there to make it easier for me to convay what the feeling or apperence is. Susan's dress would be much less conservitive, she is in a different culture, and a tropical one at think. Think like she is in Madagascar, the Carribean, Hawaii,or Indonesia,that's the idea I'm going for. Once more, thanks for the reviews.

A War of Words

Oreius walked slowly towards the Great Hall, beside him walked Queen Susan. His hand was held up at his side

up and lying upon it was her much smaller one. The centaur glanced down at the queen, she had on a ruby dress

that tied around the back to her neck and culminated in a V at the bottom of her breast. The dress clung to her

upper body, and pooled around her feet, which were covered in simple ruby red slim heeled shoes. She had also

put her hair up in a tight bun, while he had waited outside of her chambers for her to change. It had taken them

nearly thirty minutes to reach the palace from the beach, and another ten for him to reach the queens

bedchamber.

Once there, He had been prepared to leave her to change, and make her own way to dinner, so she would not have the

embarrassment of showing up on his arm. Yet, when he had mentioned he was about to take his leave of her, she

had smiled sweetly at him, a completely different smile then the one she had given the prince. It was then her soft

eyes had gazed up at him, and he'd felt his heart nearly stop.

"General, I would be honored if you would please escort me to the Great Hall, I realize you have a prior

engagement, and fully understand if you must leave right off to find your companion for this evening." The look of

displeasure and sadness was more then he could take, against his better intentions, he had agreed to stay. It had felt

like an eternity, knowing she was in her chambers changing her attire. He'd remained in the hall, not trusting

himself to wait her returning within her parlor, especially so soon after her body had been wrapped around his

large equestrian back. Meanwhile, his mind had been left to recall how close he had felt to the queen, her light

form perched upon his strong back. He'd always enjoyed racing along the lands of Narnia, but nothing compared to

the feeling of Queen Susan's soft hands gripping at him tightly, legs bent slightly and running along his side. At

some point, he'd forced himself to stop his wandering mind, and regained control of his traitorous body.

A control he felt he was quickly losing. He craned his neck to one side slightly as he walked; mentally he chided

himself for his once more wandering thoughts. The large centaur felt the queen begin to slow down; he followed

her movements, and felt a dreadful sense of lose when her hand dropped from his. Lowering his own hand, he

looked out over the people milling about and spotted her reason. Only twenty feet away was Nicolette and she

was quickly approaching them, her eyes seemed tightly locked on Susan.

"General, I thank you for your help in that ghastly situation." Susan turned to face the centaur; her heart was

beating painfully in her chest. She wanted to throw her arms around him and beg him to take her back to her

room. She watched as the general bowed solemnly muttering an answer, which was lost within the boisterous

shouting of a servant announcing dinner. She smiled one last time at him before he turned and walked off,

approaching her competition. 'Competition, since when do I consider a head advisor competition.' Susan shook her

head as she began to approach the head table, and the numerous dignitaries that were already seated and preparing

to eat their meals.


"Ah, Queen Susan of Narnia, we were beginning to wonder were you may have been hiding. Please sit down and

join us." Susan smiled as she approached the large king, who greatly resembled the paintings of King Henry the

eight. The older man was nothing like the cruel king who he unknowingly resembled. King Livonia was perhaps

one of the most kind and understanding monarchs she had ever met discounting her siblings. He seemed to accept

unlike his only son, that the world did not completely revolve around royals, although he did seem to believe they

were chosen to lead, and that others should be forced to follow.

"I must say I was slightly worried when my son arrived at dinner alone. I have come to expect your lovely self

beside his form, upon reaching each meal." The question of why she turned down the pompous prince went

unasked, but Susan knew it was best to simply answer the question prior to the king asking it out right. She

glanced down to where the 'lesser' as many in the high royal court of Trigan called them, sat. Quickly she was

able to pick out many members of her delegation, and then pick out Oreius, who was unsurprisingly seated close

to the hind, Nicolette. He appeared to be deeply involved in conversation with her and several of Trigans best

warriors. He was seated on the long couch like chair mad specifically for quadruped species such as him. Susan

swiftly returned her attention to the King and host.

"I'm sorry King Livonia, Prince Racine. Unfortunately, my people were worried about how I was faring in this

beautiful paradise. The general of my nation just wished to make sure I was comfortable and there was nothing he

would need to send for. I regret to say that my brothers were most prudent that I am kept safe and happy upon

this voyage. It is both a blessing and a curse to have such caring brothers. Anyhow, it would not do my family well

if I was to refuse a request for my arm to dinner from my nation's greatest war hero, and a favored member of

the court. Especially when that war hero is High King Peter, the magnificents top advisor." She stopped, took a

slight breath, and looked down at the soup sitting in front of her. Quietly she lifted her spoon and began to eat.

With any luck, the other nobles would not bother her while she was eating. She allowed her mind to drift to

fantasies based on what had occurred only an hour earlier on the beach. She thought of several different endings,

which could have come about. She smiled softly to herself, as she began to feel aroused. The soup was suddenly to

warm, but she forced herself to continue eating the sweet flavored concoction.

After a short while, Prince Racine grasped onto what the young queen was doing and decided it was time to drag

her back into conversation. He smiled roguishly at one of the countesses sitting nearby, and lured her into a

conversation pertaining to several trips she had taken over the seas, including one nearly six years before as the

Trigan Islands representative at a certain high kings wedding.

"It truly was a banquet like none other I'd ever attended my prince, why any who wed into the royalty of Narnia

will be truly blessed. The bride, I believe she was Princess Mariska of Hidenland. She's called the Princess

Consort to the High Crown of Narnia, in proper circles though." The young blonde haired women took a sip of her

red wine and smiled playfully back up at the prince, who returned the look with a half smirk.

"Queen Susan, how is it that your brother High King Peter the magnificent wed six years ago, and yet although

you have had several well to do suitors all of whom are extremely highly sought after, yet you have not wed?"

Susan nearly choked on the grilled fish she was carefully eating. Slowly she swallowed the bite in her mouth, and

turned to the prince.

"Were I come from Prince Racine, love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get, it's what you are

expected to give -- which is everything. I have yet to find the male to whom I am prepared to give everything."

Racine turned to look over at the rest of those seated close by.

"Why Queen Susan, dear sweet young Susan, you look for perfect love." Susan felt her cheeks turn red and glanced

down at the table across the way. Oreius sat, smiling and laughing with those who were is equals. Nicolette sat at

his arm, apparently intrigued by all that the general said. Susan knew she was now in a battle of wits with the

prince beside her. It was also important however that she did not allow the words that were about to be

exchanged injure the tentative bonds that she had won with King Livonia.

"Perfect love is rare, Prince Racine. It is rare indeed - for to be a lover will require that you continually have the

subtlety of the very wise, the flexibility of the child, the sensitivity of the artist, the understanding of the

philosopher, the acceptance of the saint, the tolerance of the scholar and the fortitude of the certain. I do not

search for perfect love, but if I find it along the way, I will be most fortunate in this world. My brother the High

King was fortunate enough to find this kind of love all on his own. I can only hope that the one whom I love will

feel the same towards me, I will be greatly blessed." She stopped and once more found herself looking towards her

nations general. It was only at that moment she realized that the whole hall was silent, and looking at her.

"Love Queen Susan, how can one love when in our lives we are but taken from them so often. The love of which

you speak is not the love of a mother for a child, but the love of a man and a woman. On the battlefield, a male is

gone from his wife, and often times those feelings can be transferred to another….female. It is of our best interest

to marry not for love, but for duty, well when one weds for duty then nothing can hurt a marriage, in which one

does not love." He smirked at her, and she shivered, is was a cold and calculating move on his part. She

straightened her shoulders and for a moment met eyes with Oreius. She licked her lips, and tried to convey her

feelings to him in that moment. Her eyes shifted to the prince so she could properly challenge his comment.

"It is often said where I come from in Spare Oom, absence is to love what wind is to fire; it extinguishes the

small, it enkindles the great. When I wed, I plan to wed for at least an amazing spark, if not a full blown flame."

She felt herself flush, when she glanced back towards the general. His eyebrows where raised, and he appeared to

be somewhat taken back at her choice of words.

"Love makes a person crazy, they don't think when they love, they make all choices based on there lover, and

those irrelevant feelings." The prince stopped to take a breath, but Susan found it a perfect moment to intervene.

"There is a thin line between love and hate, an even thinner one between love and insanity. It is odd how different

the two strongest feelings we feel are, and yet how utterly similar. We will die because of hatred, and we will die

for love. Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength; loving someone deeply gives you courage, where as

deep hatred will give you courage, but unlike the courage of love, hatred's courage usually gives out just when you

need it the most, and often times after it is too late to change it's consequences." Racine was taken back by the

young Queens words. His eyes glanced around the hall at all those looking and listening to the conversation. His

plan had been to embarrass the young Narnian queen, so she would see that as a woman she was fragile, and needy

of a strong man to take care of her. A man who would see such things would not happen again.

"Perhaps my son simply fears love young Queen Susan. I can tell you now that I loved his mother greatly prior to

her passing. I will admit however, it, unlike your brother's love for his wife, my love for my queen was a learned

affair, over years of trials and tribulations." Susan smiled at the king, her eyes remaining on the others close by.

She could feel everyone's eyes boring into her, especially Oreius's. She nodded at the king in agreement and then

for spite at the Prince, finished her impassioned speech with a few simply words.

"To fear love is to fear life, and those who fear life are already three parts dead, although it is not just enough to

not fear love, for one does not need to fear love not to express it. Looking back, I have this to regret, that too

often when I loved, I did not say so." She smiled one last time; she glanced around the hall and landed her gaze on

the centaur general one last time.

"In the absence of love, there is nothing worth fighting for. Although a very small degree of hope, is enough to

allow the birth of love, even if it is at the foot of battle, be it a battle for a world, or the battle for family." The

king was obviously pleased by this; he expressed an intent want to meet with young queen before breakfast the

next morning. Susan almost shyly thanked the king for his kind words, and accepted his invitation. Prince Racine

sat in his seat brewing over what had just happened. A female had just bested him; a female who spoke of love like

it was something everyone should have. He snorted, and looked down at the desert being placed before him. Love

was not something that one should have, to love is to appear weak, and weak was not something he was. Although,

the young Narnian queen would still make a lovely trophy for him to cart about to formal functions, and she

appeared to be strong enough to bare children. Yes, his plan would still work; unfortunately, he would not be able

to speak to his father before the treaty was signed from what he had just seen.

As dinner ended Susan watched Oreius leave the room, the young hind advisor on his arm. She felt her heart

collapse at the apparent shoving off she was getting from him. She turned and began to leave on her own, when a

young faun, a member of the crew aboard the Splendor approached her. His eyes were downcast, and it was easy

to see the young creature was very nervous.

"General Oreius is forced to send his regrets your majesty. He'll be unable to accompany you away from the

palace this evening. Nicolette, head advisor to the crown of Trigan wishes for his help regarding a few strategic

matters on there borders, and he will be held up in a meeting withseveral Triganese warriorstill late. Though,

he wishes for me to tell you to have a good evening, and please not to leave the castle, he fears that you may be in

danger." The faun looked up for a moment. " He says, there, that you have a reason for not going any place with

the prince." He looked up startled for a moment as the queen chuckled slightly.

"Thank you, you may return to your work, I do plan on setting sail for our homeland in a couple days." She turned

and began to walk elegantly away, a smile plastered on her face. The general cared enough to give her a reason

not to go anywhere with the prince, and wished her a good evening, there was work he could not get out of, work

with a reason beside spending time the hind.


Just after Brunch the next morning, Susan approached Oreius near the gardens. Upon seeing her, he bowed

slightly, and she smiled softly up at him. He nodded his head in response, and Susan felt her heart fly at the

innocent action.

"General, I have spoken to King Livonia; we will be setting sail midday tomorrow. I would be elated if you would

please speak to the captain for me. I will sign the treaty at noon, so he can have the proper, what was it her called

it papers notified. I agreed and felt these arrangements give you the time needed to make any necessary

arrangements with the royal families head advisor." The gentle queen could have sworn she saw the large centaur

smirked at her. She shook her head slightly, trying to regain her composure at the thought. She glanced at his

massive equestrian back and was taken back to her thoughts during dinner. Suddenly her thin, black a-line gowned

felt very warm, and she could swear she felt blush creeping up her cheeks. If Oreius noticed this, he did not say

anything that could embarrass the queen in such an open setting. There were still numerous creatures milling

about, some even still finishing there breakfast.

"You mean Nicolette, my queen? I believe all necessary arrangements have been met. I take it that you shall sign

the treaty this evening?" Oreius was not completely sure what Queen Susan meant by 'necessary arrangements',

but there none he knew of, that he had to take care of, not for a few months at least. A military partnership would

not become a question for six months after the trading treaty was signed.

"General, there is to be a ball this evening, to celebrate the partnership of Narnia and The Trigan Islands. I'm

required to be escorted by Prince Racine, although I fear he may have another meaning for this evening festivities.

I do hope however that I will be able to have at least one dance with my sovereignties greatest war hero?" Oreius

furred his brows together and stared for a moment at the queen, completely taken away by her direct question. In

addition, centaurs were not known for the good dancing, they normally just stood off to the side and enjoyed the

company.

"Of course your majesty, a dance if certainly yours if you wish it?" Susan felt like she had just been kicked in the

gut. Of course, she wished it; she would never have asked if she did not wish his presence with her. Perhaps he

did not wish to spend time with her; perhaps she had been to forward when requesting he escort her to dinner the

night prior. Her thoughts were only momentary as the general offered her his arm.

"A walk to discuss the voyage home, my queen" She smiled brilliantly up at him, and gratefully took the offered

arm. Together then began to walk further into the gardens, and away from all those who stood behind them,

watching the interactions.

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