Hi guys! This is chapter 2! I am really excited about this chapter, the main plot really kicks off from here. Review if you feel really bad for Caspian in this chapter, I sure do. I am also really excited about this because there is going to be Suspian in this chapter, not as much as in the future but this is the first chapter with Suspian! Okay, then I will end the author's note here, sorry if am boring you! Enjoy!
~Susan~
Sighing she slid on her chainmail armor, she didn't want to wear it but then again you could never be too prepared. Finally, she slid some fruit into the small space on the side of her quiver, she also added a flask of water just to be safe.
"Susan!" She heard Ed shout "We're about to leave, are you ready?" She sighed.
"As ready as I'll ever be."
"That's good." Pete said, "Guys remember, these are Telmarines, they are harsh and cruel. Do not expect them to treat their prisoners well." He grimly finished. She and Ed nodded, Lu had decided to stay behind and catch up with the Narnians and they had all agreed, 12 year old Lucy wouldn't do very well on a stealth mission.
"Let's head out." Ed replied. Their plan was to ride griffins to the Telmarine Castle, then they would carefully sneak in and find their way down to the dungeons and if Caspian was strong enough they would break him out right then, if not they would wait till he had regained some of his strength and then break him out. The frosty air hit her the second she stepped out of the protection of the trees.
"Over here, your majesty." Her griffon called, she turned to the flying beast and smiled, the griffon was an adolescent female who looked around 30 which was relatively young for a griffon who lived to 100 easily. She climbed up onto Rainfeathers back and she lifted off the ground on her huge silent wings, Susan wrapped her arms around her neck and Rainfeather easily glided over to a higher altitude. Just seconds later Pete and Ed flew up on their griffons, Nightlifter and Windtalon, all of them were griffon spies, trained to be absolutely silent while flying on their mighty, sure wings.
They arrived at the castle just 10 minutes later, another reason why they took griffons, the trip that would take more than an hour on horseback barely took 10 minutes on a griffon. The griffons landed silently on the largest roof, and they all dismounted just as silently. Making sure that they all didn't make a single sound she Pete, and Ed crept down the tower and carefully snuck into the palace. After looking for what seemed like ages but was really 10 minutes they found the guard with all the keys, as fast as a viper she grabbed, notched, and fired an arrow immediately immobilizing but not killing him, Ed grabbed the keys and they continued their silent raid. At last, Pete found a dark staircase that blended in with the wall; wasting no time they practically ran down the cold stairs, nearly twisting her ankle in the process.
"Prince Caspian?" Pete whispered, the boy whom she assumed to be Caspian struggled into a sitting position, right away she felt sorry for him and knew that he was lacking food and water,
"Yes? And who are you?" He rasped quietly. Pete unsheathed Rhindon and smiled proudly in the darkness as she assumed he would do. Wait... now that she realized it this cell was in total darkness, and by that she meant literally pitch black! The poor prince probably hadn't seen light in days. Ed being Ed must have figured that out as well for he pulled out his flashlight and turned it on, Caspian winced at the light and covered his eyes with his cuffed hands. Through his thin sleeves she saw burn marks on his arms, her stomach flipped,
"Are you all right?" She asked tentatively,
"No." He replied bitterly, "Who are you?" He asked again with a threat in his voice, she suppressed a smile and gestured to Rhindon. His eyes widened and he took his hand off his face,
"High King Peter..." He breathed,
"In the flesh!" Ed replied all too cheerfully. Caspian smiled as well. Somewhere deep down she had a funny feeling that these two would become good friends. Suddenly he started coughing violently, so violently in fact that his body started shaking, all humor from that situation was instantly gone and the monarchs all moved closer to him,
"Caspian," Ed started slowly, "How long have you been here and how have they been treating you?"
"I have been in here for 2 weeks, this is the 17th day, and as to how they have been treating me... I think you can guess." He trailed off.
"Caspian, when was the last time you had water or food?" She asked gently,
"They gave me water the day before yesterday. I get water every other day, sometimes every third if they so conveniently forget." He replied bitterly,
"And when do they give you food?" She asked nervously, she gently placed her hand on his arm afraid of the answer, he dropped his head and stared at the ground,
"They don't." He mumbled. She gasped loudly, and her eyes widened from shock, she knew that Telmarines treated their prisoners badly but this took bad to an extremely different level, she looked at Peter, and even he looked horrified. She felt so bad that she almost didn't hear the approaching loud footsteps,
"Guys! Someones coming, Ed turn of your torch, guys, hide in the shadows!" She hissed running to the far end of the cave herself.
"Well 'my Prince,'" A mocking voice came from the staircase, two boys that looked about 18 walked toward Caspian smirking, "Ha! I bet your is glad Miraz let us bring a lantern down here." The one holding the lantern placed it on the ground and advanced toward Caspian,
"Go away, Jackson." Caspian replied,
"You wish Caspian, you wish." The other guard said. "Miraz is tiring of your stubbornness, if he doesn't have answers by the end of this week there are more brutal ways we can get answers out of you." Susan felt sick to the stomach and swallowed hard, she knew exactly what he meant by that
"Do to me what you want Ryker, I won't tell you." He said firmly,
"Tell us now you brat!" Jackson shouted. He lifted Caspian off the ground by his shirt holding him in the air.
"Never." He said coldly. Jackson threw him to the floor and kicked him in the torso, she inhaled sharply and she knew that Caspian was also holding back a cry of pain.
"Ryker give him his water and let's go." He said coldly,
"Oh but Jackson," Ryker started, "Didn't we give him water yesterday?" He asked,
"Your right! You know what to do." Jackson's voice changed entirely during his sentence. Ryker tossed the cup of water and it splashed all over Caspian's tunic, armor and chest, they both laughed loudly and Caspian turned his head away. Even though she hardly knew Caspian she felt horrible for him! Everyone deserved to be treated like a human and that was certainly not how he was being treated.
"Are you sure you won't tell us Caspian?" Jackson asked once more, She saw Caspian glare at him which was a no.
"Oh but are you sure Caspian? Will this change your mind?" Ryker asked, he pulled out a loaf of bread from behind him and brandished it cruelly in front of Caspian, she could almost see his resolve completely crumble but then he glanced in her direction and caught her eyes for a brief second.
"Well 'Prince Caspian', still sure you don't want the bread? Doesn't it just smell delicious?" Ryker asked shoving the loaf of bread into his face, Caspian pressed his head even harder against the stone wall if that were possible trying to get the tempting bread away from him. Her stomach twisted is pity as they laughed and split the bread between them each eating a piece in front of him. They finally finished and Ryker kicked Caspian in the the stomach causing Jackson to laugh.
"Come on Ryker, let's go." Jackson said still laughing. They continued laughing and walked away, as soon as their footsteps faded away they emerged from the shadows and Ed switched on his torch once more. She wasted no time and quickly crouched down next to Caspian who was leaning against the wall breathing hard clutching his torso,
"I am so sorry." She whispered and placed her arm on his shoulder,
"It's fine Queen Susan, I'm used to it by now." He whispered back, then she remembered the fruit she packed incase something like this happened, she swung off her quiver as fast as she could and pulled out the fruit and water,
"Here Caspian, I actually thought something like this might happen so I brought this." She quietly said passing him the flask of water and the fruit she packed, he looked at her in shock and then shocked her more by dropping the fruit in his lap and pulling her into a tight hug, she couldn't help but smile and hugged him back,
"I'm sorry Queen Susan, I shouldn't hav-" He stuttered, his cheeks bright red.
"It's fine. It's not as if I don't understand your situation. Also call me Susan I'm not a fan of titles especially among other royals." She reassured him, looking thankful he bit into the sugary peach and sighed in relief. Just then Pete and Ed came over,
"Susan come here, we need to discuss something," Pete said. She stood up and walked over to them,
"Susan, we can't break him out today, he's too weak." Pete started,
"He has the will power though," Susan argued, she felt bad, there was no denying it. And beneath that there was something else, something she had never felt before that was special about him...
"I agree with her Pete, besides we can't just leave him here!" Ed replied, snapping her out of her thoughts
"And we won't leave him here, this is what I was thinking, we can break him out in a couple of days, everyday one of us can bring him food and water than by the end of this week we can break him out."
"No Peter," She argued, "I mean we can't leave him alone, he has been alone in the dark for 2 whole weeks. It would be cruel to leave him alone here!"
"Then here's what we'll do, you stay with him till tomorrow midnight, then I will come with food and water and stay with him till the next midnight, then Pete will go, then you again Su and that same night we will help him escape. How does that sound?" Ed asked,
"I like that plan." She said
"Same here. So it's settled, that's what we'll do."
"Great! I vote Susan tells him," Ed started mischievously, "Seems as if they have a connection, well; at least it seems like he's fond of you."
"Edmund!" She exclaimed and Pete's face turned red, "It is nothing like that, now shut up." She smiled. She went over to Caspian and explained the plan anyway.
"I promise Caspian, you'll never be alone again, not while we're around." She vowed.
~Caspian~
"I promise Caspian. You will never be alone, not while we're around." She vowed. He forced a smile onto his face, he didn't doubt her just... didn't fully believe her. He had heard the tales of her many, many, many many suitors. And her very overprotective brothers. What made him so lucky that she would like him? He was just an ordinary person. If she did happen to like him it would be out of pity anyways. Susan sat next to him,
"I'm so sorry I don't have anything else for you, I should have brought more food." She said softly.
"You don't have to have brought more, I am just thankful that you brought this." He replied, not wanting her to feel bad. She smiled sadly but then her face lit up, she unpinned the cloak around her shoulders and draped it across his upper body. "Thanks." He whispered. She nodded,
"Of course." Then Susan hesitated, "Caspian, don't you have any siblings? Any friends? Anyone who can help you?"
"No. I was a only child, my parents the king and queen of Telmar died one night when I was 5, the council decided to make the decisions till I was old enough which, was supposed to be a few weeks ago but Miraz's wife Prunaprismia give birth to a son, Miraz's heir so he sent guards to kill me. The council doesn't know I am here. No one does really. And even if they did know they wouldn't do anything about it. I have no one but my professer."
"Your professer?" She wondered out loud,
"Ever since the death of my parents he looked over me and taught me about Narnia and the Ancient Narnians."
"Thats why you were able to recognize Peter!" She said in a awed tone and he grinned,
"Yep, though I am pretty positive that anyone could recognize your brother at first sight." He replied with a smile.
"Actually you'd be surprised. During the golden age Pete, Ed, Lu and I were going to Calormen for a meeting, and the Tisroc thought that we were intruders so he pointed his sword at Peter's neck and said that he'd be put to dead for trespassing on Calormen territory. You should have seen the look on his face when Peter told him that we were the Kings and Queens of Narnia!" Susan started to laugh. He couldn't help but notice how sweet her laugh was and he smiled.
"Well, most people could recognize your brother at first sight." He amended, and she giggled.
"Again. You'd be surprised."
"Is that so, my lady? I do fear that you would be the one surprised." He replied in a mock serious tone.
"Oh? Well, my ever-so-extravagant prince. I do not fear that I shall be surprised, instead that you will be taken away by shock." Susan said, playing along.
"Perhaps I shall be, my queen." He laughed.
For hours, that was all they did. Sit and talk, and talk and talk. Neither remembered the last time they sat and just got to talk. Eventually time took it's toll on the young pair and Susan drifted off to sleep, resting her head on Caspian's shoulder. Caspian didn't mind at all and was in fact, was overjoyed at the fact that the beautiful, sweet, caring young queen, actually liked him. Caspian did remain awake longer then the Queen of Old, who was peacefully sleeping next to him. Also overjoyed that the charming, sweet young prince liked her. Caspian did drift off to sleep eventually, sleeping just as peacefully as the queen did. It was the best rest they both had in over 13 years.
~Susan~
Susan woke up with a jolt as a hand shook her awake.
"Susan! Wake up! Miraz is coming, hurry get up, get up, get up!" Hearing the urgency in his voice she quickly stood the thought of sleep gone from her head.
"What? Ed?!" She asked startled,
"Miraz is coming hurry we need to hide!" He explained, she lifted her head and suddenly she could hear footsteps nodded and turned to a sleeping Caspian,
"Caspian," She whispered, "Caspian wake up!" She said shaking him awake,
"5 more minutes..." He muttered,
"Susan come on! We have to hide now!" She nodded and turned back to Caspian,
"Wake up Caspian!" Still he didn't wake up saying only,
"5 more minutes." Growing more anxious as the footsteps were growing closer by the second she tried one last time.
"Caspian, you need to wake up right now." Nothing.
"Susan! Come on!" Edmund whisper yelled, she ran to the dark corner where he was waiting and pulled out her bow, "Susan, what are you doing?" But she wasn't focusing on him anymore, instead she focused on her bow, already having notched an arrow she prepared to shoot. The second Miraz entered the cell she let it fly. But Miraz somehow saw it coming.
"Now that won't be necessary, my queen." Her eyes widened in shock but she didn't say anything. "Oh there is no point hiding from me. The same goes to you King Edmund." She glared at him and both she and Edmund stepped out of the shadows.
"How did you know we were here Miraz?" She asked coldly.
"I saw your brother come down here and I heard you speaking with my prisoner earlier."
"He is not your prisoner. He is your prince and you should be respecting him." She shot back.
"Whatever. He is my prisoner now, and it is not as if you can do anything about that."
"Actually. Yes there is." Then Edmund attacked Miraz. Literally. Unsheathing his sword he launched an attack on Miraz and within seconds Miraz was beat.
"It seems I have underestimated your skills King Edmund."
"It seems you have." Ed replied. Then he knocked Miraz out.
"We need to go now. And by now I mean now." She said seriously.
"Okay you wake up Caspian, I will find the key."
She nodded and Ed grinned as he ran off in search of the key; and she stepped over to Caspian, who was still sleeping cluelessly against the stone wall, not that she could blame him, this was probably the first time he slept well in weeks. Little did she know...
"Caspian, you need to wake up now, there's been a slight change of plans, we are breaking you out now." When he still did not move she sighed in frustration, "Caspian! Wake up!"
"5 more minutes..." He breathed,
"No Caspian, as much as I would love to let you sleep I just can't do that right now."
"5 more minutes," He insisted and shifted positions.
"Caspian! Do not make me slap you because I will if you make me!" Finally, after that sentence, he sleepily opened his eyes,
"That most definitely won't be necessary Susan," He said groggily, "What is it?"
"There has been a slight change of plans, we are breaking you out now."
"What?!" He exclaimed all sleep gone from his eyes replaced with alertness.
"Yes, now do you see why I wanted you to wake up? Also one more thing..." She gestured to the body of Miraz who was still knocked out.
"What! Did you-" She cut him off knowing what he was about to say.
"No, a few minutes ago Ed came to take my place but Miraz saw him, they got into a short fight and Ed knocked him out. Which is why we need to get you out of here now."
"Oh. Um Susan, there is something I might have not mentioned," He added nervously,
"Caspian... what is it?" She asked in a warning tone,
"Ummm a couple days ago when Jackson and Ryker were here, they did something to me." He paused, "And my leg might be broken." She sighed and looked at him sympathetically,
"Don't worry Caspian. We will do everything in our power to make sure that you get out of here safely and without more injuries." He smiled at her and their eyes met for the second time. They moved closer to each other, still looking into the others eyes.
"Hey Su I got the keys!" Ed shouted happily, snapping them out of their trance and sending them both careening backward.
"Perfect!" She said stammered, her face burning. Ed handed her the key and she unlocked the chains on his arms and legs.
"Ed one more thing, he can't walk, his leg is broken, we need to help him." He nodded and they helped him stand up. Taking painfully slow steps they clawed their way up all the dark dungeon steps and soon made it to the roof where Nightlifter was waiting for them,
"Is that-"
"Yes it is, now come on, we need to leave now, I can hear them behind us" Edmund said urgently, she nodded and Ed helped Caspian up on the Griffion, then he went and lastly she climbed on.
"Nightlifter, do you think you can carry all three of us back?"
"Yes your majesty, though I fear I won't be able to get very far."
"That's alright Nightlifter, Aslan's how is close," Ed replied. Nightlifter nodded and started to beat his great wings. For a few seconds they only hovered above the ground but then he beat his wings harder and soon they were soaring above the castle courtyard."
"The prisoner is getting away!"
"Stop them!" The Telmarine army shouted below them, she glanced down and saw over 500 men marching out the gate behind them
"Oh no." That was all she managed to say before a cluster of arrows shot into the sky, Nightlifter screeched and beat his wings faster, another cluster of arrows broke into the sky one only missing his wing by an inch. He spiraled in the air diving at the same time. What she hoped to be the last array of arrows launched forward, but this time luck wasn't on their side. The last arrow hit Nightlifters wing throwing him into a violent spiral, she could no longer hold on and let go of Ed's back; then she was falling, falling through the crisp air, At least they are making it out alive. Thank you Aslan.
"Susan!" She heard her little brother yell, then she hit the ground and everything went black.
blackonyx19- Thank you, I am doing my best to keep updating but I had a very bad grade in algebra 1 and since I am double jumping if I didn't get it up I would have to drop down and there is NO WAY I am doing that, so yeah. Thank you for the review, I greatly appreciate it!
arthiaanada- Thank you for the review, I hope you enjoy reading this, let me know through private PMs if you have any ideas for the plot, ( I am asking you to PM because I don't want to ruin the plot for anyone else) Thank you so much!
-firevein