Chapter 23
She couldn't breathe as she gazed into the honey brown eyes of this one man. Why won't he do something? Smile, blink, look away, anything!
Vaguely she was aware of Eustace leading her down the marble staircase where the guest seemed to disappear as Caspian and she were drawn together like magnets. They were the only two people in the vase room. He stood waiting for her at the base of the stairs in black britches, a white shirt and jacket, and shined leather knee high boots. He looked glorious, and he was offering his hand to her.
"Queen Lucy," he bowed, "may I have the honor of your first dance?"
Say something.
When she remained silent in her state of panic, Eustace offered her gloved hand towards the King. "Allow me to answer for her."
Lucys' heart stalled as one of Caspians' hands encircled her left hip while his right hand cupped her own. Faintly the music started up and Lucy found herself spun into a Waltz. Song after song Caspian led her around the dance floor. Together they laughed. Stepping closer with each new musical interlude.
"Are you happy to be back, my Queen?"
"I am always glad to return to Narnia, my King."
Slowly Caspians' right fingers intertwined with her own. "Only Narnia?"
Lucy's smile faded, "Caspian, we have just accomplished a great task. My time here may soon be at its end. I don't know how long I will be allowed to stay."
"What does Aslan have to say about this?"
Lucy shrugged, "I have yet to see him on this journey. I'm terrified that once he does show himself it will by my ending." Her voice quivered as she tried to swallow her pain. She didn't want to leave Narnia. Not yet at least.
Caspian pulled Lucy tighter against his body, "Than we should make the most of the time we have left."
"MY KING!" came a screech. Caspian and Lucy paused to see Camberlin leading Ulisia towards them. "Caspian perhaps you should let Lucys' poor feet rest. Don't worry dear, no one paid much attention to you fumbling your way across the floor. Good thing you had a perfect leader. My king should you not dance with your bride?"
Camberlin pulled Lucy to his side while he shoved his daughter towards Caspian. "Worry not, I shall be delighted to dance with the Queen." Before anyone could protest Camberlin twisted Lucy away into a fox trot. "You are very light on your feet, my dear."
"I could say the same for you, my lord."
He laughed before his face settled into a serious expression, "While you were away, I took liberties into my own hands."
"My lord?" Lucy asked cautiously.
"The wedding," he informed her, "Ulisia and I have seen to all the details. They shall be wed in two days' time." Lucy's good humor of the night faded as icy shivers ran down her spin. "We, of course, will be honored if you would grace us with your presence." At Lucy's sour expression a wicked grin spread across his face. "After all," Camberlin stopped and turned Lucy so that she could observe Caspian and Ulisia dancing. "It's not every day a HIGH Queen can bear witness to a Kings' nuptials."
Suddenly feeling ill Lucy hurried from the room with a whispered, "Excuse me."
Once freed from the ballroom Lucy ran. Nor paying attention to where she was heading, nor did she care. The only though processing from her mind was that she needed to run. Needed to escape. She broke through a tower door and found the end of her flight. The lookout post tower was tall, overseeing the entire southern horizon, a wide forest that gave way to cliffs and speak of distance oceans.
She didn't know how she was going to sit by and watch Caspian marry that woman. It would break her after everything they went through. Yet, were could she go? This wasn't her time, and until Aslan appears she was stuck in Narnia. But did she really want to return to London? Her family wasn't there, they all abandoned her for America. Yes, they would miss her, but surely one of them will know where she went. Then the thought struck her. She did have a home here in Narnia.
"Lucy?" Gasping she spun around to see Caspian emerge from the shadows. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm leaving." She informed him.
"What?"
Raising her head she spoke louder, "I'm leaving." Gazing into his eyes brought tears to her own. What if this was the last time she ever gazed upon his face.
Caspians own face looked sorrowful. "Why?"
Lucy shook her head. She knew she shouldn't confess yet the words broke from her pressed lips. "I cannot stay here and watch you marry her. I can't and I won't, Caspian. Please don't ask it of me. I can't. It would kill me."
Caspian rushed up and embraced a hysterical Lucy. "Shhh, Lucy, look at me. Lucy…" He took firm hold of her weeping face firmly so that she was forced to look into her eyes. "Look at me! Where will you go?"
"Home."
"You've seen Aslan?"
Lucy shook her head. "No, not London. Cair Paravel. I don't want her in my castle, Caspian. It's my castle. That's where I'm going. I'm going home."
She wanted him to protest. To object. To start sprouting Shakespeare. Anything than just standing there looking at her with that blank stare. What she wasn't expecting was for Caspian to move away from her.
He stood somewhat ridged, with his hands resting gently at his side. Just staring at her. Taking a deep breath he spoke in a low tone. "Do you trust me?"
It wasn't what Lucy was begging to hear, "What?"
Caspian's voice took a rougher tone, "Do you trust me?"
"Yes." She answered without hesitation.
Caspian gave a brief nod, "Than trust me to do what's right for my kingdom, and for me. Go to Cair Paravel, take as many men as you need. It should be completed by now."
"Caspian?"
He continued as if he hadn't heard Lucy, "Make a life there. One as far away from Telmarine as possible." He turned from her and started back into the doorway. Pausing once again in the shadows. "All I ask is that you forget about this place, and everyone in it."
Lucy stood frozen as Caspian disappeared into the darkness of the tower. Listening as his booted footsteps faded down the winding stone stair case. It was too much. She slide onto the cobble stone walkway and cried.
That was exactly how Eustace found her twenty minutes later. Gathering her into his arms, Eustace held her tightly. "Come on, Luc. Let's go pack."
