Chapter 5-Home Sweet Castle…Sort Of
The remainder of the train ride home was silent as Caspian looked around with fascination. It had gotten to the point where Peter had to whisper to him not to stare at the lady sitting across from them because it was considered rude.
"But she was doing it too." Caspian replied.
"I don't care. Just avert your eyes." Peter said through clenched teeth. He didn't want to sound mean to the prince, for in his eyes, that's still what he was to him. He just felt he ought to respect people even when people didn't respect him. Even though Peter had gotten into fights that way, he wouldn't allow it of Caspian.
The next stop, he led the prince off the train and they headed out the station toward the Pevensie household. Peter was nervous and had no idea what would happen if everyone found out that Caspian was to stay with them. He figured Edmund and Lucy would be thrilled, but Susan would probably become agitated at him being there when she thought she would never see him again. Peter was overjoyed personally, for more reasons than one, but acted as if Caspian were any ordinary person coming to stay with him. Still, he was hesitant at letting the others know of his arrival. His selfish side wanted him all to himself, but Peter knew that would never go over well, especially with Caspian, who he guessed (even thought he didn't say it aloud) still had feelings for his sister.
When they reached the street his house was on, Caspian suddenly asked a question Peter could have gone the rest of the day without having to answer.
"So, how's Susan?"
Peter couldn't help but sigh. "She's okay I guess. She's moved on with her life…knowing that she isn't to return, of course."
"Ah." Caspian said. "And is she…uh…that is, is she with someone?"
Peter sensed the anxiety in the prince's voice, but that didn't keep him from uttering, "yes, she is actually."
Peter saw out of the corner of his eye that Caspian looked upset at this information. He then murmured, "Oh…I see."
Peter almost felt bad that he had answered the question so harshly. He had seen that kiss they shared and he wanted to erase that memory from his mind, but no matter how often he thought about Caspian, the idea of Susan standing there with him always washed over him like a tidal wave. How he hated his sister sometimes.
"I'm sorry." He said, almost out of the blue. Caspian looked up as Peter said this. Peter elaborated, "I know you must have cared for her," but I care for you too, "I imagine it's difficult." Very difficult. "But she's moved on now and so should you." With that in mind, please say 'I love you'.
Caspian nodded and then turned to Peter as they stopped outside of a small townhouse. Suddenly, he hugged the blond boy who was quite surprised, especially since they were still outside, but he had no objections with it. Caspian then whispered, "Thank you, Peter. I'm sorry you have to suffer through my tears. Many of my people have not seen me cry like this."
He's crying? Peter suddenly felt guilty as he patted his back in a brotherly sort of fashion and hesitated from rubbing the prince's back. But it's so tempting! Peter resisted though, seeing the state that Caspian was in—and it wasn't something anyone else should see. And adding a coat of romance wasn't going to aid his sorrow…at least not at the moment.
As they broke the embrace, Peter noticed that Caspian glanced at him oddly. Was it that strange to hug a man? Peter thought. But Caspian's expression soon died away as Peter introduced him to the Pevensie home. Caspian took in the location and turning to Peter, asked, "This is it?"
Peter seemed slightly alarmed at the question, but remembered that in Narnia, he had used to live in a palace. And Caspian was used to big, spacious castles. I just hope he isn't claustrophobic, Peter thought.
"Well, I know it's not a castle, but it's just as spacious." Peter told him, leading him up the stairs.
"Are all homes in England like this?" Caspian asked.
"Um, no." Peter said, stopping right outside the door. "They vary. Some are smaller, some larger. Then there's Buckingham Palace, where the queen lives."
"You mean there are multiple kingdoms in this England?" Caspian asked curiously.
Peter didn't answer right away, trying to figure out the best way to get Caspian into the house without anyone spotting him. Cracking the door open a little, the eldest Pevensie glanced around the hallway. When he saw no one coming, he ushered Caspian inside. Caspian was about to repeat his question, but Peter hushed him up, asking him to be very quiet. Caspian complied and Peter led him upstairs quietly. As he looked around a corner to see if anyone was coming, he heard his name being called from downstairs. It was Susan.
"Peter?"
Damn! He cursed silently. At the sound of her voice, Caspian turned, apparently wanting to see her, but Peter wouldn't let him. Instinctively, he grabbed Caspian's wrist and dragged him down the hall and opening his door, he found that Edmund wasn't there. Excellent! He thought. Pulling Caspian into the room with him, he closed the door and firmly locked it.
Caspian regarded him oddly, "Peter, why are we—"
"Shhh!" Peter hissed. "You have to stay here. No one is ready to see you just yet."
"What do you mean?" Caspian asked, whispering.
Peter brought Caspian as far away from the door as possible as he said, "Look, I know you want to see everyone, but you have to wait. If they see you now, they'll…" Peter didn't have a good enough reason for keeping Caspian's presence hidden from the others. His only true reasoning was that he wanted Caspian to stay longer. Why did he have to go at all? He didn't have to go. Edmund and Lucy could wait to go back to Narnia. As long as he was with Caspian, he was happy.
Caspian brought him out of his thoughts. "What?"
Peter blinked, realizing he had been spacing out and said, "sorry, I guess…Caspian, when we left for home two weeks—sorry, years ago, I was sort of homesick. I wanted to go back to Narnia so badly, but I couldn't 'cause I'm too old now. I suppose my time was right in leaving, but even though I said that we had to go, I didn't want to leave…knowing that—"
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
Peter turned to the door with malcontent. I was so close to telling Caspian, then someone just had to knock right then.
"Hey, Pete?" It was Edmund. "You in there?"
Peter heard the handle jiggle a little as Edmund tried opening the door but couldn't because it was locked. Putting a finger to his lips, Peter advised Caspian to be quiet as he opened up the closet door and urged Caspian inside. The prince went in without delay and closing the closet door, Peter hurried over to unlock the door.
"Hey, what's the big idea of locking the door?" Edmund questioned him, coming into the room.
"Sorry," Peter said, looking for his bag of schoolbooks and shoving it onto his bed. "I was working on a project and I didn't want to be disturbed."
Edmund looked at him skeptically. "I thought you just got home."
Peter spattered. "I did, and I started on work right away."
Edmund made a doubtful noise as he stretched out on his own bed with a book in hand. "Right, right." Suddenly, Edmund closed the book he was reading as he looked over at his brother. "Oh, by the way, Susan was looking for you."
"Was she?" Peter said, almost intentionally in a wrenching tone.
"Yeah." Edmund said vaguely as he opened up his book again.
It seemed Peter had no alternative. Sighing, he got up from the bed, exchanged one last look with the closet door, and headed out the room, hoping that Caspian would stay hidden.