A/N: "And another one down, another one down, another one bites the dust!" Or, you know, just... new chapter. Yay?

Have fun reading!

Chapter 11:

As she went to knock, she noticed that the door was left open a crack. She heard Caspian and Edmund talking inside. It seemed Caspian wasn't so confident in finding the other lords anymore now that they'd gotten so far. She heard Edmund reassure him.

"They were tempted," Edmund said. "And they faltered."

"And we almost did too."

Shaking her head, Susan pushed open the door. "The operative word there being almost," she said, softly closing the door behind her. "Everyone falters, Caspian. The important part is getting back up after you've fallen and trying again. And you have plenty of people by your side to help you back up."

Edmund, with a wry smile, turned to his sister. "Well said, Su," he told her. "I'll go see if I can help on decks."

Susan had to stop herself from glaring when her brother winked as he passed by her. Honestly, little brothers could be so annoying. But she pushed that aside and turned back to Caspian, who had gotten up from his seat at the table. "I just came to tell you that Eustace is now dragging to ship and that we're making good time. I'm sure we'll reach Ramandu's island soon."

He sighed and stepped closer, catching her hand in his. "Is it completely awful that there's a part of me that doesn't want to reach the island?" he said quietly, looking down at their intertwined fingers.

"If it is, that would make me just as awful," she whispered. She'd been trying so hard not to think too much about what reaching the island and finding the last of the lost lords would mean for her. Aslan would show up, and she'd have to go back home. She couldn't find it in herself to regret the closeness she now shared with Caspian, but the pain she could already feel inside her chest was crushing. What would she do when she got back to England?

Caspian's other hand came to rest on the back of her neck as he rested his forehead against hers. It was such a simple gesture, but so intimate at the same time. "I wish we didn't have to part," he whispered.

Susan's own hands had found their way to his chest, and felt the rhythm of his heartbeat under her fingers. "I can't stay here," she breathed. "And I can picture you in England even less. I don't know what you'd do there… You wouldn't be a king, and that… it's what you were born to be."

Caspian pulled back just enough to look her in the eyes. "As were you."

Shaking her head, Susan pulled him closer once more, this time resting her head on his chest as he tightened his arms around her. "No. There's this saying in England that goes something like this; 'Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them'. I think I fit into the latter category. It might have been my destiny, but I could have done something else, too. But you are a King. It was what you are meant to do, and I believe anything else would feel empty."

"It might not with you by my side," he murmured.

This time, Susan pulled back all the way, breaking all physical contact. "No," she said shaking her head. "You can't say something like that. Not ever. No matter how much you care for me, Caspian, if you were to give all this up, you would resent me for it in the end."

"Then what do you want me to say?" he said, clearly frustrated. "You keep pointing out how this is inevitably going to end, that we can't be together. But I'm-"

They were interrupted by a knock on the door. Before Caspian could go on arguing, Susan answered it.

"Begging your pardon, your majesties, but land's been sighted," Drinian said once the door was opened.

"We'll be right up, Drinian," Susan replied, to which the First Mate bowed, and then left. She turned back to Caspian. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, but I don't know what else to say. If, for a moment, I forget what is going to happen when this adventure is over… my heart couldn't take it. I've been trying to prepare myself for it. I understand that hearing me say that is painful for you, but it's the only way I know to keep at least a part of my heart alive," she said quietly, before turning on her heel and following Drinian out.

Much as she dreaded it, she knew this wouldn't be their last conversation on the subject…

/*/

The island was beautiful. Waterfalls, exotic flowers and and some ancient ruins gave the place an almost fairy tale like quality. Susan, however couldn't help but feel watched. She kept looking over her shoulder until Caspian, who'd been walking close by, gently took hold of her hand and squeezed. She looked up into his earnest brown eyes and knew the gesture to be both an apology and a reassurance.

Sending him a smile back before reclaiming her hand, Susan turned her attention back to the entrancing environment around them. They followed the only clear path up towards the ruins. It painfully reminded her of the ruins of Cair Paravel they'd discovered the last time they arrived in Narnia, but she pushed that thought aside. As they passed underneath the roots of an enormous tree, the party found themselves in what appeared to be a dining hall. An ornate, stone table was set for a dozen people, and, strangely enough, all the food looked fresh.

Tavros immediately reached for an apple, only to be stopped by Drinian. "Wait," the first mate said quietly, putting a hand on the minotaur's chest to stop him. Susan nodded at the man, agreeing that the food should probably not be touched for the moment.

Suddenly, Edmund gasped, and Susan whirled around, and arrow already nocked on her bow. Three figures sat at the far end of the table, though there was no food in front of them, and they were covered in dry vines. It looked like they'd been there for ages. Lowering her bow, but not putting the arrow away just yet, Susan stepped closer to investigate, along with Caspian. Edmund and Lucy did the same on the other side of the table.

"Lord Revillian," Caspian said, the tip of his sword pointed at the signet ring one of the figures wore. He moved aside some of the vines to look at the second figure's hands. "Lord Mavramorn. Lord Argoz," he said, looking at each of the remaining figures in turn.

Lucy had walked around to the figure sitting at the head of the table, and now moved his grey hair aside to get a better look at his face; But she cried out suddenly, pulling back her hand.

"He's breathing," Caspian muttered incredulously as he leaned closer for a better look.

"So are they," said Edmund, shining his torch at the man closest to him - Lord Argoz. "They're under a spell."

"How-?" Susan started, but was quickly interrupted.

"It's the food!" Caspian cried out, whirling around to look at the settings on the table. Tavros, who had once again reached for an apple, quickly withdrew his hand.

Edmund, meanwhile, was removing some more of the vines. "Hey! It's the stone knife!" he said, pointing his torch. "This is Aslan's table!"

"The swords," Caspian murmured, pulling out Lord Revillion's blade. Susan put her arrow back in her quiver and took Lord Mavramorn's sword, as Edmund did the same for Lord Argoz's. "Here, put them on the table!"

One by one, the swords were laid down on the table, including the one Edmund had been using, and the two they'd found on Dragon's Island. "That's six," Edmund said unhelpfully. "We're still missing one."

But then, the swords glowed blue, reflecting the light of the Blue Star that had suddenly increased in strength, until it looked more like dawn than midnight.

"Look, it's moving!" Lucy exclaimed, and everyone watched as the star descended to the island, transforming into a woman as she landed. A very beautiful woman. A very beautiful woman whom none of the men seemed to be able to stop staring at.

"Travellers of Narnia, welcome," she said. She glowed a gentle blue, and exuded an air of grace and regality that made it exceedingly clear that she was a higher being. Next to her, Susan felt like a vagrant. Regardless, they all felt inclined to bow before such a majestic figure.

"Arise," the figure said with a kind smile. "Are you not hungry?"

"Who are you?" Edmund asked, a touch of reverence in his voice. Susan only just managed to keep from rolling her eyes at her brother.

"I am Lilliandil," the figure responded, "daughter or Ramandu. I am your guide," she said, a twinkle of mischief in her eye.

Edmund glanced at Susan, and they, along with Caspian and Lucy approached. "You're a star," Caspian surmised. Even he seemed impressed with the Lady, and Susan couldn't help but feel a little annoyed at the fact.

"You are most beautiful," Edmund muttered, unable to keep his eyes off her.

"If it is a distraction for you, I can change forms," Lilliandil said, looking genuinely worried.

For a moment, Susan's annoyance dissipated. Then, both Kings exclaimed "No!" and Susan shot Caspian a glare. At least he had the decency to look sheepish.

Lilliandil smiled innocently, and Susan suspected that humans were strange to her. "Please," the star said, "the food is for you." She raised her arms and lit the candles on the table with a wave of her hands. "There is enough for all who are welcome at Aslan's table. Always. Help yourselves," she said enthusiastically.

But before the men could reach for the food, Susan stepped forward. "Wait! What happened to those men?" she asked, gesturing to the three Lords.

Lilliandil looked sad. "Those men were half mad when they arrived at our shores. They were threatening violence upon each other, which is forbidden at the table of Aslan. So they were sent to sleep," she explained.

"Will they ever wake?" Lucy asked, though Susan was more curious as to who had put them to sleep in the first place.

"When all is put right," the star answered with a soft smile and a nod. "Come. There is little time," she said, gesturing for the monarchs to follow her. Caspian nodded as Drinian, who let the men finally dig into the food. Susan quelled her own hunger for the time being. They had more important things to worry about.

Lilliandil glided over the forest floor as she led them towards a cliff edge, that was made to look like a balcony. "The magician Coriakin told you of Dark Island?" she asked, her eyes fixed in the distance.

As Susan and the others joined her, they could see dark shadows move, a weak, sickly green light shining from within. There was no doubt that this was Dark Island.

"Before long, the evil will be unstoppable," Lilliandil said.

"Coriakin said to break its spell, we lay the seven swords at Aslan's table," Caspian said.

The star turned to face him. "He speaks the truth."

"But we only found six," Edmund pointed out, frowning. "If the last sword isn't here…" he trailed off, his eyes landing on the shadowclad island in the distance.

Lilliandil nodded regretfully. "It is in there," she confirmed. "You will need great courage."

Everyone turned to stare at the ominous island. The last Lord must have sailed there thinking to defeat the evil on his own…

"You mustn't waste time," Lilliandil said urgently. "Good luck, champions of Narnia." And with that, the light that surrounded her intensified until she turned back into a star and shot upwards into the sky.

"Right," Caspian said, tearing his eyes from the ever diminishing light. "We'll eat and rest until morning. We'll sail for Dark Island an hour after dawn."

/*/

The group turned back to join the men at Aslan's table, more subdued now than before.

Lucy's hand slipped into Susan's, squeezing gently. "It'll be alright, won't it?" she asked quietly.

Susan pulled her hand free to put her arm over her sister's shoulders. "We've faced worse odds. All we have to do is find a sword and bring it back here. I'm not going to pretend it won't be dangerous, and I'm not even entirely sure what we'll face in there... "

"But we can face it together?" Lucy finished with a grin.

"Exactly." Smiling, Susan wrapped her little sister in a hug. "Together."

A/N: Ooooh, getting really close to the ending now! Let me know your thoughts! On whatever, I mean, if you feel the need to tell me that you're dreaming about pizza, you're welcome to share! Or, you know, whatever it is normal people think about on a daily basis. Because I'm sure all of you read this chapter and the first thing that popped into your head when you finished was 'hmmm, pizza...' Well, I guess it might be now, since I brought it up... And I'm babbling. While typing. I'm in a weird mood...

Feel free to ignore that last paragraph and just leave me a review, guys and gals!