CHAPTER TWO

"Susan?" Lucy repeated confusedly. "No, Caspian, it's me. It's Lucy?"

He looked more closely at her face. "Lucy? You look so much your sister. What are you doing back in Narnia?"

Lucy shrugged, "I was hoping you could tell me. How long have I been away this time?"

"Nearly five years." Caspian answered. "How long has it been for you?"

"Nearly seven years. What's happening?" Lucy questioned.

Caspian held up his left hand to her questioning. He turned to addressed the counsel members. "Lords of Narnia, may I present to you Queen Lucy of the Old." He looked back to Lucy. "Lucy, these are the Lords and Counsel Members of my Kingdom."

Grabbing the end of her short rob, that only came to her knees, Lucy attempted a small curtsy. "Hello." She said with a small wave to the side while her face reddened with a blush. It was than that Caspian noticed what Lucy was wearing and blushed right alongside with her. "Um, I shall have a room prepared for you." He stated with a quick snap, as a maid entered the room. "I'll come as soon as the meeting is over, and we can catch up on the years you have missed."

Lucy nodded and left with the maid. They walked to the southern tower which lead to a large room. A four post bed sat in the middle with silk black and grey sheets, black curtains hung from the rim. Two windows rested on either side of the bed, with a book shelf lining one wall and an giant armoire on the other.

"It's lovely." Lucy said walking around the room.

"It was his majesties room, before his coronation." The maid explained.

Lucy looked at her. "This was Caspian's room?"

The maid nodded as she reached for the door, "I'll bring you some of Queen Lilian's old clothes. I'm sure you are just her size."

Lucy nodded, "Thank you." She waited until the maid shut the door before she flopped backwards onto the bed. 'This was Caspian's room.' She thought in wonder. Rolling over she pressed her face into the fluffy pillows and inhaled deeply several times. "It even smells like him." She murmured. The scent of the sea, the forest, and his musty soap mixed all together in one Caspian scent. It was a smell that she remembered ever so slightly. One that haunted her sweetest of dreams.

Lucy sat up in bed as a gentle knock sounded on her door. "Come in." She granted.

The maid entered hold a cluster of dresses. "Queen Lilian was about your size when she was younger. These dresses will do for now but I'll see if I can dig up more."

Lucy held up one of the dresses. "It's so beautiful, but, who is Queen Lilian?"

The maid placed the remaining dresses on the bed seldomly. "Queen Lilian was the Kings' mother."

"HUH?" Lucy said in disbelief as she turned to look at the small woman with her head bowed. "These were Caspian's mothers?" She placed the dress she was holding on top of the others. "Maybe I shouldn't be wearing these. Do you, possibly have something else? Perhaps some of my own clothes?"

The maid looked at her in confusion. "We could have some garments made but that may take a few days."

"That's perfect." Lucy said interrupting. "Until than I shall be happy in a pair of pants, and a shirt, if you could get those for me."

"A mans' clothing?" The maid asked in shock. When Lucy nodded enthusiastically, she simply bowed. "As you wish, my Lady."

Lucy watched her leave for a second time, she walked to the window and gazed down at the grassy valley below, the sun was its highest in the sky. Once the maid returned carrying her requested clothing and a pair of long black boots, which were polished to perfection, mirroring everything it could see. Lucy took pleasure in dressing in the white shirt that was neatly tucked into her skin tight black velvet pants. Wrapping cotton around her feet, the Narnian form of socks, Lucy slide them into the knee high leather boots.

Walking to the armoire she opened it to find a full length mirror on the back of the door, as well as some forgotten clothing items. Pulling a long red silken sash from its place in a small shelf, Lucy watched her reflection as she wrapped the sash around her waist twice before tying it off. She was still admiring herself when a light tapping came to the door.

Thinking it was the maid again she called out, "Come in."

Caspian entered to see Lucy pulling her hair now curly hair to the side and wrapping a string of leather around it. "How does it feel to be back in Narnia?"

Lucy smiled at him in the mirror before turning and facing him, "Words cant even begin to describe how happy I am to be home."

"Home?" Caspian asked. "Do you not feel that your home is in your own time?"

Lucy shook her head. Caspian watched as a strain of hair curled along her left side as it sprung free from the string. "England has never felt like home. Even before Narnia." Lucy could see the pitiful look Caspian had sent her way. Quick to change the subject, she asked, "Could I fetch my things from the ruins?"

Caspian pulled Lucy's dagger and flask from behind his back. "These wont do?"

Lucy smiled as she took the offering of her age old items. "Thank you, Caspian, but I was hoping that I could gain my own clothes and other items from the vault."

Caspian nodded. "I will meet you at the corrals as soon as you're ready." He opened his mouth, as if to say something more, but simple shrugged and left the room.

Lucy waited to see if he would return before she hooked her dagger onto her sash on her left hip, and attached the flask on her right. She gazed at herself into the mirror, turning to one side than the other, admiring her complexion she hurried out of her room and out the back of the castle.

The corrals were a fair walk from the castle, where large wooden post stuck up from the ground in a gigantic circle. Held together by three longer boards that were nailed evenly from post to post. The three corrals were connected to an enormous stone barn with wooden chapel roof.

In front of the corral on the left, in a half circle, were seven royal guards mounted on their brown stallions. In the center was Caspian, holding the reins of two magnificent horses. A pure white mare with a long flowing mane, and a large black stallion. As Lucy approached Caspian held out both reins to her.

"Choose one." He said simply.

Lucy raised an eye brow to him. "Is this a trick question?" She asked looking to the black stallion. "I already know Sir Reginald is your horse and stubbornly refuse to allow anyone else besides you, Caspian, to ride him."

Caspain's head fell back as he released a bellow of laughter. "You remember well, Lucy of the Old."

Lucy's mouth gapped. "I'm not as old as you think. Old enough to be considered a woman, yet younger enough to whip you in another lesson."

"I let you win the last time our swords clashed." Caspian chuckled.

"We shall see, for one of these days we shall have a rematch. It will be than, my king, that you will have to admit that I have become better than yourself." Lucy teased as she walked to the mare lightly petting her neck.

Caspian bowed, "As you wish, High Queen of Narnia."

Lucy turn her head from him to hide the blush that crept over her cheeks. "And what is your name, my beauty?" She asked.

"Theodora, your majesty." The horse replied.

"Would you be so kind as to carry me to the Castle that lies in Ruins along the eastern shore?" Lucy asked still petting the mare's long neck.

"It would be an honor." Theodora answered.

Lucy smiled as she mounted along side Caspian. Looking at the seven men who were to accompany her, as well as glancing at Caspian, she raised her voice and called out. "To the Castle that lies in Ruins. Hee-ya!"

A/N:

I am soooo Sorry that this second chapter has taken so long. But I lost the cord for my computer and barely found it this week. I promise updates will be more sooner. Thank you for reading, please Review!