Chapter 2

Sorry this is late. Just that my Suspian inspiration died for the couple of weeks. I tried...I can't say I really like this Chapter but more Susan/Caspian, on request. This kinda gets angsty later so just warning yas.. but still read and review..thank yoU!

P.S - Right, I know FF net now has ways of getting yourself a beta. but I like old-fashioned way of asking people to beta, err preferably the people who actually read my story and are interested and who supports the pairing yadayadayada...so yes, can i have a beta who will be willing to read over this one and edit it and etc? thanks... well, enough with me.. :)

Bright sunlight filtered through clear panes of crystal and settled gently on the heavy velvet that had slipped off from Lucy's shoulders to settle around her stomach. She awoke, stirring gently and slightly rubbing her arms against the cold of the stone castle that started to seep in through her thin night gown. She rubbed a hand carelessly over her gritty eyes and impatiently brushed the stray strands of hair away from her face. She couldn't help but yawn in satisfaction after a good night's sleep. She peered at her sister, sleeping soundly next to her and quirked an eyebrow. The sunlight glittered on her cheeks and sparks of gold remained there. Lucy took a closer look and saw newly shed, wet drops upon her face as well as the old that had smudged and dried and slid because of the contours of her face. Lucy was slightly fascinated as she reached out a hand to gently smudge the golden glitter on her sister's pale face and saw them disperse. Whilst Lucy concentrated hard on her task, she felt her sister starting to wake. Susan buried her face into her pillow, "Five more minutes, mother." She grumbled as she pulled herself away from Lucy's hand.

Lucy could not help but giggle, "We're in Narnia still, silly." She whispered softly. She gave her sister's shoulder a hard shake. Susan turned her head and opened one eye blearily. It was still clouded from fragments of her dream. She closed them before opening them again. "Lucy," she groaned. Susan sighed and with a slight stretch, propped herself onto her elbows. The warm rays were flooding the room now in wonderful shades of gold. "Good morning," Lucy still added with a giggle. Susan herself could not help but smile, "Good morning to you too." Her elbows gave way in fatigue as her head hit the pillow again. "Don't go back to sleep again!" Lucy protested, dragging her sister's pillow from under her head. Susan flopped, boneless, on the bed then laughed. "That hurt," she moaned.

"Well, it's time for breakfast and you've slept enough." Lucy spoke firmly. She bounced off the bed and dragged the thick rugs with her halfway onto the floor. "It's cold," Susan rolled away from Lucy, trying to hold onto the warm velvets as if her complaint was justification enough.

"You've been sleeping for ages." Lucy commanded, she had already skipped along the luscious fur rugs and were taking out a simple red brocaded gown to slip into. "The boys would have been up with the sun-rise." Susan rested her feet on the polished stone tiles and could not help the chill creeping up her spine, "This feels odd." She murmured slowly as she glanced at Lucy, already tightening the stomacher of her dress.

Lucy was looking around for the water basin that the Narnians had somehow refilled in the wee hours of the morning but paused as she risked a look at her sister through the looking glass. "Well, we were supposed to have left yesterday."

Lucy gave her sister a moment to register this. She could literally hear Susan's brain processing the information to unlock all the jarring memories of the night before. The cobwebs of sleep lingering disappeared at once. "Oh," Susan finally said. The events of last night had reappeared, freshly in her mind. Lucy saw Susan's lowered head and the dejection in her sister's voice but chuckled, "What are you sounding so sorrowful for? You get to spend at least a day more with Caspian." She teased. Immediately, Susan's head snapped up and a pillow filled with down, missed Lucy's head narrowly. "Don't get so smart now Lucy," Susan reprimanded half jokingly and half sincerely, "That's not half the reason why I didn't leave yesterday."

"Oh really?" Lucy raised a skeptical brow as Susan stood up. "What's the reason then?"

Susan ignored her younger sibling. She gathered her hair in her hand and slung it over her right shoulder, "I, just, wasn't ready." Susan put simply if rather lamely, after a prolonged delay because she felt she ought to have said something. Lucy only gave an all-knowing smile to which Susan told her at once to wipe off from her face. Lucy ducked from Susan's reach and ran for the door. Lucy's vivacious laughter bounced off the lovely white stone of the spiral staircase that she pattered down with bare feet and Susan immediately ran after her, having hastily thrown on a pale blue gown she had worn before casually. Her face was cold from the water having been thrown on; washing away the tears of a nightmare she could not remember.

Following Lucy's giggling, Susan came down towards the hallway and she saw the hem of Lucy's red dress disappear between grand, black, steel gates that closed with a loud thud. Susan rushed forwards and pushed the double doors with all her might. She tumbled into the council chamber and the coronation hall after Lucy. Where the many lords of the Telmarines should be sitting however, she spied Edmund occupying a seat as well as Peter. Caspian was at the head, looking pensive in his beautifully embroidered shirt and Lucy saw the surprised look of her brothers and the King before laughing gaily. Susan stopped behind Lucy as her younger sister, under the immense, suspended chandelier, gave a formal curtsey to Caspian. Edmund and Peter burst into laughter, not being able to help themselves. "Stop the nonsense Lu," Peter advised after he chuckled, "We were discussing some serious things then."

"Without us, I might add," Lucy responded crossly. "You couldn't possibly talk about anything serious without Susan and myself." She demanded.

Caspian's lip twitched into a smile, "My apologies," he replied, rich with his Spanish accent. He gestured towards Susan, who had not truly been ready for the sight before her.

To put more accurately, Susan had never thought she could have the luxury where she was able to stare and have the picture of Caspian dominate her mind. She had seen him in battle and even in the calm after the storm was over, but she had never dreamt that her mind could have been filled completely with one whole picture. No figments of wars or her siblings, and definitely none of the life she had back in England lingered in her vision. All she saw was Caspian sitting on his throne, casually handsome. The crown on his head was gone but instead the sunlight glorified his dark, chestnut-coloured glossy locks. His expressive eyes that were mild yet passionate, guarded but open, bright, dark, piercing and amiable all at the same time had a special light kindled in its depths. And with an inaudible intake of breath, Susan realized, it was a glow only reserved when directed towards her.

She checked herself and dropped a curtsey also. It was done in order to wrench her gaze from him. The beautiful hall and tricks of the light may be overwhelming her, she deduced. She looked up but purposefully faced Edmund, "Where are the other lords?" she asked. She made a move to sit down on a seat that was empty next to Lucy but she couldn't help but risk another look at the young King, at the head of the hall. She could have kicked herself when she saw those eyes still locked upon her. "Caspian's dismissed them for now." Edmund had replied promptly. "Peter thinks that assembling a new council would be best. You know, not just the Telmarine lords but the Narnian chiefs." Edmund looked intently at his sister as he saw that she was not responding. "Susan?" he asked, a little annoyed. Susan spun sharply to face her brother before sitting down, "Yes?"

Edmund gave her a strange look but continued, "I think it's a good idea too. Even some of the Telmarine lords should be kept out of this hall, that's my thought." Edmund paused, "Caspian said he had a look at some of the records last night and he knows around seven lords who were faithful to his father. They're exiled but he could always bring them back."

Susan thought carefully.

"What do you think?" Edmund asked. Susan nodded slowly, "It's a good idea." Now she was forced to look at Caspian and was startled to find him smiling. A serene sparkle of amusement remained in those orbs as she addressed him. "It shouldn't just be the old lords being considered for the council but you should also connect with your people more. From them, choose new representatives that would swear loyalty to you and only you." Susan knew as the heir to the throne, Caspian would have limited knowledge even of his own people beyond the castle walls and with the war he had waged against his people with the Narnians, no matter whether it was the right thing to do, it would not have been well received. She had seen the people leave to the other world the other day and she guessed that some had still left without their scrutiny during the night. The rest, Susan believed Caspian should make himself familiar with his subjects. Caspian nodded, "I would like to know my people better. I will then know their troubles and what they hope from me."

"I've sent a message to the centaurs," Peter spoke, "They're onto getting the rest of the Narnians in hiding to come out." He then recalled something else, "Soon you'll have Reepicheep, Trumpkin, Glenstorm and those who have helped us coming to share this hall with us. We'll need their help; there is so much to do before we are to leave tonight."

"What?" Susan sharply saw Lucy exclaim and swallowed what she was about to say, deep down into her chest.

"Lu," Peter started gently, "We had this discussion yesterday." He gave her a gentle look and said in explanation, "We can't stay forever."

Lucy screwed up her face, "But Aslan said -"

"I agree with Pete on this one," Edmund interjected quickly. "We do have to get back eventually."

Lucy opened her mouth, "Yeah, eventually. Aslan said we weren't ready to leave."

"Lucy, not here, not now." Peter said finitely but Lucy was not ready to back down, "Do you remember what happened the last time we didn't listen to Aslan?"

"Aslan didn't show himself to me!" Peter suddenly thundered, his face intent. "And I am not going to risk what I have at home when I'm not needed anymore."

There was an awful, stretched silence before Lucy stood up onto her feet, "You don't deserve to come back," she whispered. She ran out of the hall and caused the doors to slam behind her.

The harsh sound reverberated around the chamber before Susan found herself sighing, "Well done Peter, very well done." She muttered sarcastically. Peter did not answer her but Susan saw Caspian standing up, "I'll see if Glenstorm is on his way," he walked down the stairs from his throne and hurriedly reached for the doors, the atmosphere tense and awkward for him. The sound of his boots clicking on the floor stopped abruptly however as he turned, one of his hands still on the black iron. "But before I leave, I'd just like to say one thing. Whatever you may think, you are needed here." His dark eyes pierced Susan through the core, "All of you," he shifted his gaze to Peter, then Edmund before fixating them on Susan again before he made his way out the door.

This left Edmund to also abruptly stand up, "I'll check on Lucy." He said after an awkward shrug. The door had banged twice as Caspian and Edmund quickly left the hall. Susan felt tired and too exhausted to feel any anger, "Peter," she started, her voice controlled. "You didn't have to go off at Lucy."

Peter leant his head back on the lord's seat, he was occupying. He let out a slow breath, "No, I didn't."

"Then what's been bothering you, Peter?" Susan asked, earnestly, turning to her brother. Radiant Narnian sunlight was streaming in from behind the throne to illuminate the hall. Susan remained silent as Peter kept staring at the intricate ceiling, a masterpiece of Telmarine design. "It's just that – I know I've got the right reasons," Peter started, frustrated. Susan stared at him then nodded. The original plan was to have left Narnia. It was the sensible thing to do. Once they continued to stay, there were no boundaries or limits. Caspian needed their help now but when would it ever stop? Caspian needed subjects not co-rulers as it wasn't going to do him very good. Either he would become too dependent or there would most likely be friction regarding leadership that would in turn, escalate into something big. That in itself wasn't uncommon.

"But I can't do this by myself, Su." Peter returned Susan's earnest stare upon herself. "I need your help, if we're going to return. And the longer we put it off; it's going to get harder." Susan found she could not avoid Peter's stare.

"Is it hard…?" Susan trailed off.

"God Susan!" Peter exclaimed, suddenly, "Of course it's hard. I'm not exactly dying to leave - "

Susan was taken aback, "But I thought -"

"I'm a king here. A high king. I get treated like I know what I'm doing. Back home, what do I have?" he paused, his face slightly coloured in pain, "I get treated like a kid. I was only able to put up with it because the Professor told us that we would return again but now Aslan's gone and told us we can't come back." He swallowed and sunk back into his seat, "It's hard for me too,"

"I had no idea," Susan muttered, putting a hand onto Peter's arm. Peter covered hers with his own, "You like him a lot, don't you?" he suddenly asked, his eyes very comforting.

"Yes," Susan answered, she could taste the truthfulness of the statement and felt relieved. This was the reason she had not seen the sense or the logic. She had been too drunk on his kiss but now, Peter had set it right. They were to leave tonight and there would be something really wrong with her if she didn't leave this time round. It was a chance to set things right.

"I do wish you two had more time together," Peter confessed, "He's a good person," he paused, "and a good king."

"I know you wish me well," Susan felt herself smiling as she saw the tension leave her brother. Peter had been high king longer than he had been a child, now, he was talking to his sister as a brother rather than the high king and Susan felt grateful for that. "But I needed time to think."

Peter gave a nod of agreement, "And what did you think?"

"I think you're right Peter but I thought about it and I want a chance," Susan sighed and clasped his hand tightly, getting his undivided attention, "Please? I just want more time."

Peter's eyebrows rose then he exhaled the air he had gathered in his cheeks, "You know, he doesn't really deserve you."

Susan felt herself beaming.

"No, it's true," Peter replied, in an almost amused way.

She swiped at his arm, "Don't be like that."

Peter got up from his chair, "Well, you were starting to scare me, talking about him so seriously." In mock fright, he took a step backwards.

Susan giggled, "He's a bit like you, you know."

"Heaven forbid," Peter could not keep the laughter out of his voice, "I wasn't that green was I?"

"You were worse," Susan reminded him relentlessly, enjoying it, "At least he was trained as the heir to the throne. You were Peter Pevensie from Finchley."

Peter grinned, "I hate it when you're right. I've been rather judgmental, haven't I?"

Susan smirked as Peter backed out the door, "Well then, I'll be looking for this love of yours, Queen Susan the Gentle," Peter addressed teasing, "so that he doesn't get into trouble without us," he gave a deep bow.

"Hey, he's not really my - " Susan hastened to say, rather indignantly but Peter had already left.

Susan had wandered near the stables. She was looking for Caspian; rather, she wanted to run into him and she had a strange feeling that she might find him there. The smell of fresh hay tickled her nose as she slipped into the royal stables and saw the thoroughbreds in their stalls, contentedly neighing as she walked past them, running her hand over their muzzles. She had just come from the kitchens where she had found Lucy and Edmund being treated royally by the cooks. Edmund had found Lucy in the kitchen, given a treat by the cooks because she had been weeping. When he saw her and the food, Edmund had decided to join her for breakfast and from then on had been purposefully flicking cream on Lucy's nose with his spoon to which Lucy almost emptied out her entire bowl on his head. Susan had found them just in time to stop her and when Edmund had asked Susan to join them, she discovered she wasn't too hungry so she just picked out an apple from the breakfast table before making her way to the stables. She stopped in front of a brown mare, who was sniffing heartily and shoving its nose into the fold of her dress where she had it. With a smile, Susan took it out and held it to the horse to immediately munch on.

She was stroking its silky head and craning her head around for Destrier, the beautiful black stallion that had served Caspian when the doors to the stable burst open. The young king stood there with his riding cloak on and when he saw Susan by the mare, he smiled, "I was looking for you," he stated, before he strode forwards. Susan felt her heart starting to pump loudly, "For what?"

Caspian took her by the hands then led her to Destrier, whom he immediately started to saddle. He turned around in surprise, "Haven't you heard?" Susan gave him a puzzled look to which he smiled again. "Glenstorm has divided us into parties to awaken trees that did not hear Aslan's roar." He finished tightening the buckles and the straps of the saddle before he levered himself up. Destrier took an impatient step forwards before Caspian looked down at Susan confused, "You're coming with me," he explained as she continued to look at him, not having moved an inch.

She laughed as he offered her an arm to hoist her onto the saddle behind him and both took off into the open through the doors that had been thrown open by Caspian's entrance. Susan held him close, winding her arms around his waist and resting her head on his back. She could feel Caspian grinning as Destrier's hoofs thundered on the white stone and galloped for the palace gates and for the drawbridge. She felt the wind in her hair and the gentle morning breeze. The drawbridge was already down and the gate, already raised. Destrier shot past the guards who were standing with attention and soon the large castle behind them no longer loomed over them as they made their way through the cobblestone streets of the Telmarine villages.

Her long brown hair whipping in her face, Susan gazed at the picturesque houses and the lovely flowers growing in the streets before the parade painted itself in her mind. She had been behind Caspian, but she still remembered it so clearly. He was on a white horse with an immaculate coat. It had been his coronation parade and he had been wearing his crown, a hand raised to greet the people with the gentle yet sincere modesty of Caspian. "I remember the people here," she yelled, above the rush of the wind, "they were waving at you and everyone was – happy." Susan saw a flicker of movement and thought that Caspian had quickly turned his head to look at her. "Were they?"

Susan felt euphoria spreading through her body to the tip of her toes. She had missed riding with him and holding onto him. "I should know, I was there." She said in mock indignation but she knew she was smiling wider than she had ever before. Whenever he spoke, she could feel it vibrating in his chest and it in turn tickled her cheek that was pressed onto his back. The cobblestones were now fading away to a dirt trail that disappeared into tall grass as Destrier rode on. Susan saw a few young children, awake in the early hour; playing in the fields. When they saw them riding past, they stopped whatever they were doing to wave at them. Caspian waved back and so did she, "I told you," she whispered as the children grew smaller behind them still.

"How can you be so sure?" Caspian asked, his voice wistful. "I mean, be so certain." Susan knew she was beaming when she detected his admiring tone. She didn't voice the answer out loud, but she was certain because until the present, she had got to know Caspian so well, that it has become her intuition. They had been riding for a while now and although they did not speak much, Susan knew that somehow they understood each other even without words and it was just very different but nice to ride without much care, very different to the last time she was on horseback with Caspian. When they entered the forests, the trees bowed and swayed before parting for them. Susan spared a glance at Caspian's face and saw that he was impressed; impressed with the change he had helped bring on the forest. The forest was not silent ominously nor was it oppressed. The glade that Destrier cantered into was full of whispering, mixed with the sound of rustling leaves and soft exclamations of the trees.

"We've heard the news," A large plume of pink petals danced in the wind to form an image of a woman who was waving elegantly at the two on the horse. Susan had seen these forms of trees for a while so she was not startled but when Caspian dismounted from Destrier and the wind carried the woman closer towards him, he took a step back in surprise and shocked fascination. Susan reached for his hand instinctively and drew him nearer towards her. "Aslan has told us that you have decided to stay for longer and aid us," the woman spoke softly yet her voice carried across the glade and further where the trees shook their leaves in agreement and support. "Yes I'm glad I had a chance to stay a little longer," Susan replied, smiling fondly at the lady.

"We have been sent by the centaur Glenstorm," Caspian began, "For the trees that are still silent. We were hoping you could give us directions." The lady faced Caspian then gave a bow, "King Caspian. We are honoured."

"No, please." Caspian tried to stop her in mid-bow but the lady smiled serenely, "King Caspian, we would be honoured."

Susan squeezed Caspian's hand before she mounted Destrier first, trying hard not to laugh at him when he seemed surprised, "Come on," she said brightly as the lady started to move very quickly with the wind carrying her. Caspian gave her a bemused smile before mounting after her and under Susan's guide on the reins, Destrier shot after the trail of petals the lady was leaving behind. It was harder than riding on the roads or the plains of grass. Susan swerved around large boulders and trees as the terrain became more rugged. Within moments, Susan found that they were in a part of the forest that was silent, and although it did not possess any sinister airs, Susan found that she was still unused to the stillness of the forest deep. "This is the place," The lady whispered. "We did try to speak to them but Aslan wished for you to try."

"Thank you," Susan levered herself down and thanked the lady, who immediately dispersed with an intake of breath. "Is this our part in the Shuddering Woods?" Susan asked, taking a step around a large, gnarled trunk. "Yes, I believe." Caspian also looked around, "High King Peter and King Edmund went to Owlwood."

Susan nodded. "It really is silent here," She started to make her way towards an old beech tree, wondering at the stark difference between the lively glade and the part of the forest she was currently in. "Wait," Caspian called as she gradually disappeared from view. Caspian quickly tied Destrier to a tree and made a move to follow after her when he heard a high-pitched shriek that he immediately knew was Susan's to be followed by scuffling, then muted silence.

"Susan!" Caspian promptly sprinted through the trees, where he had last seen Susan but found that he could not see her anywhere. He desperately called for her again before he heard a low groan close to him. He turned around towards the source of the sound when he heard Susan abruptly scream, "Caspian, no!" and Caspian saw Susan, lying on the bottom of a ditch where the flimsy layer of bark and leaves had given away from under her to have sent her sprawling. He did not have another second to think as he was sent, pitching downwards after her, and after much tumbling, landed on top of her. Leaves were flying and so did specks of dirt. As Caspian took a moment to register the fall, he heard Susan laugh under him and saw her swipe at the golden leaves that had become woven in his hair. It was then that he realized, the awkward positioning they were in and found himself grinning with the silliness of the situation.

"I was really worried," Caspian murmured after he tried to stop himself smiling. "Well, I think I've sprained an ankle," Susan replied, her own laughter dancing in her eyes. The laughter died down when Caspian did not reply for a moment. "What is it?" Susan asked. Caspian met her squarely in the eyes and Susan started to drown in those dark depths. After prolonged silence, he started rather hesitantly, "I've been meaning to say, I was really glad when you stayed." He seemed to be mulling over what he wished to voice, "But - You're staying to only leave again."

Susan continued to stare at him.

"And I never thought we could have spent more time together," he added slowly, "but now, I don't want to let you," he paused as he saw Susan's thick lips part, "I don't want to let you go," his eyes became fixed on her lush lips and when he finished, he lowered his head, his eyes closing as he caught her lips with his.

It was different to her first kiss, it was not desperate for a last connection. It was very mellow. The sensation was tingling and the forest was beautiful. She thought she saw the nearby beech tree sigh and stir but that was just at the corner of her eyes. She did not see much of anything as her haunting blue locked with his brown and did not move. She realised they had parted but he leaned in for more and Susan thought she was drowning in warm water, in happiness. She had realised she had been laughing more than usual, smiling more than usual. Maybe she wasn't so used to such happiness and such light-headedness. Ever since her father was called to serve in the army, ever since she had to keep the family together, ever since she had to save Narnia...but now, she was happy and she didn't want to be anything otherwise. He made her happy, Caspian made her forget and remember. She knew now that he made her happy and there would be no-one else.

Gold was spearing the red and brown leaves that cushioned the forest floor and moss green were also tinged with a golden glow. The whole forest seemed to reflect how she was feeling at the moment. The feeling was so complete that she believed it to be infectious and when a slight breeze stirred the leaves to a slight rustle in the otherwise still forest, she realised that she had been right. "Look," she whispered as Caspian leant back from pinning her down and stared around. The breeze was becoming stronger and the red, yellow and gold of the dry leaves were starting to dance in front of them. "It's coming alive," Caspian muttered in awe and saw Susan turn her clear blue eyes upon him and suddenly furrow her brows in thought.

"Come on," she said mischievously as she started to run from him. "Where are you going?" he called after her, still leaning back on the warm forest floor. "I think I know how to get them to talk to us." She approached a tree with a very large trunk and seemed to wrap her arms around it. Caspian stared after her, puzzled. "What are you doing?"

Susan laughed as she realised how stupid she looked, "Oh be quiet," she joked, "Just come here and try to touch my hand." Caspian's look held an amused light, "Alright," he approached the tree she was hugging and tried to reach for her hand as he encircled the tree. "How is this going to help?" he asked, the amused spark growing into a definite light. Susan reached for his hand but couldn't grasp it. She fell back and scrutinised the tree, "This tree is ancient."

"And this helps?" Caspian asked, his smile still quizzical.

Susan gave him an indulgent smile, "No, I just wanted to get to know it. I didn't think it would talk to us if we seemed like strangers."

"Oh, so you wanted to find how old it was."

"Yeah, I knew it was thick but I just wanted to know how thick. Since we don't meet even when we try to reach, I think it's very old." She stood there, running a hand across the bark, "Actually I think I know exactly how old."

"You do?"

"Yes, it's thirteen hundred years old." The corner of Susan's mouth twitched upwards when Caspian replied in mock sincerity, "Like you?"

"I think I know this tree." Susan closed her eyes and leant a cheek against the rough bark. "Please," she mumured, not knowing what to expect, "Sir," she enquired up into the branches as nothing stirred.

Caspian waited patiently but still nothing happened. Susan sighed, "I suppose, it doesn't remember me."

"Remember?" a soft, whispery voice filled the air and Susan looked around hurriedly but the leaves, swaying high above in the branches were making the sound. The voice sounded weary, "That is all we do nowadays, standing here still, for almost one and a half millennia. "

"It worked," Caspian, breathed. He looked at the branches that were starting to shake in laughter and stared in wonderment, "I don't believe it."

Susan just smiled, "It worked. Let's wake all the other trees."

It looked odd, but it was effective. Physical contact with the trees as well as the emotional seemed to be reaching out to them. Every time Susan felt Caspian's larger, stronger hands grip her own, she knew the tree was too young for her to have known it. If it was a young tree, it was harder to wake as they seemed to have been born, silent. After a while of running around and quite often had a few scares when she thought she had lost Caspian in the forest and vice versa, she heard her stomach growl.

"Are you hungry?" Caspian asked, as they crouched around exposed roots of a rather rugged tree. Susan nodded reluctantly, "Are you?" Caspian looked intently at how the light fell in the part of the forest, "I think it's time we had something to eat."

"Did you pack anything?" Susan asked rather hopefully but Caspian looked stunned, "I...didn't," he realised confused.

"Did you forget?" Susan asked, thoroughly bemused as she saw his shocked face.

"I...didn't think about it," Caspian muttered, the smile on his face showed that he was laughing at himself.

Susan openly laughed at him, "So, Destrier's not carrying anything?"

Caspian shook his head. Susan laughed then thought for a moment, "There's a lot of apples in Cair Paravel,"

"That's quite far from here," Caspian mused. He looked around as Susan continued to be pensive. Her stomach decidedly refused to help her any further. Caspian saw her lean forward and cover her stomach with her arms to stop it from growling. That was before he spotted mushrooms growing from the moist, fertile soil where the roots had become exposed.

"Look! Mushrooms!" he announced in triumph. "Wait," Susan called as Caspian leaned forwards to have a closer look at them. He realised that it didn't have special colours or a malicious odour, that was good signs that it wasn't poisonous.

"It might be poisonous," Susan called as she scrambled after him. Caspian examined the ground around the mushrooms and pulled one up. He examined it and smiled.

"Well?" Susan asked when he remained silent. Caspian gave a sheepish grin, "I don't know."

Susan took the mushroom from him seriously and worried about taking the first bite. That was before Caspian threw himself forwards and bit the top part of the mushroom. "Caspian!" she said indignantly, she held his face in her hands and directed him to look at her properly, "How do you feel? Are you feeling dizzy? Ill?"

Caspian suddenly groaned and became limp in her arms but Susan laughed when she saw him peeking from lowered lids. She threw him aside, "Stop it." she tried to reprimand crossly but when she saw him sit up and eat the rest of the mushroom, she could not resist, "So...you're feeling fine? It's alright?"

Caspian cocked his head to one side, "I can't really tell. It's a little..." he searched around for the correct word, "...tasteless,"

"I'm really hungry," Susan said as if it didn't matter but Caspian had stood up and was searching for rocks.

"What are you doing?"

Caspian found two small rocks and was mounting a flatter slab on top of it. The slab was very thin and he precariously balanced it on the other two rocks. He cleared out a dirt ring around dry grass beneath the slab and stood back, looking for more rocks. "Cooking," he said simply when Susan continued to stare. "Cooking?" Susan asked, she looked at the mounted rock and gave him a skeptical look, "It's a bit primitive isn't it?" she laughed when Caspian found two flint-like rocks and started rubbing them against each other. Susan waited patiently and thought she could smell something burning but saw no spark land in the small circle of leaves under the slab of rock nor a fire, which she believed Caspian was trying to create.

Susan sighed after a while and reached for a band she had around her waist that she always carried with her and found what she was looking for. She a few matches that she had got from the cook before when she was down at the kitchen. She had not thought much about them then but now she was glad that she tucked whatever little thing she had found with her. "Do you need these?" she asked gently and Caspian saw the little row of matches she was holding out and took them from her with a grateful smile. "You had matches?"

Susan just nodded as he soon got a fire going. Seeing what he wanted to do, she pulled out all the mushrooms she could find and gathered them in the front of her dress, holding the first layer of her gown like a pouch to carry them. Caspian took a mushroom and pulled them apart evenly so they were thinner and easier to cook. Susan followed his example and laid the cut mushrooms on the slab and to her amazement, saw them brown and smelt a delicious smell rise.

"It smells good," she admitted as her stomach grumbled louder than before. Caspian took a nearby twig and snapped it in half so that one end of the twig was sharp. He speared a mushroom on one and offered it to Susan. Susan clamped her teeth around the mushroom, pulled it off and chewed whilst Caspian watched. She swallowed after chewing it slowly and puffing her cheeks as it was hot. Caspian enquired with just a raised eyebrow. "It's nice," she smiled and Caspian speared another and handed the twig over to her, "I always wanted to do this." he said.

"Cook?" Susan asked, surprised.

Caspian looked around at the trees and saw them mutter and talk, observing the pair like a new specimen, not that talking and moving trees were strange at all. "No. Well, being in the forest."

Susan tapped Caspian on the shoulder and he speared a mushroom for her to eat again. "It's really nice." Susan commented as she brought a hand to her mouth.

"Yes, I think so too." Caspian skewered a few mushroom slices on the sharpened twig and started to bite them all at once. Susan, who saw that he was nearly eating all of them, leapt in and started attacking the mushrooms as well with her mouth. Caspian started to hold the twig away from her tauntingly but in the end, had let her have all of it anyway.

"I think your highnesses, should get going." A gruff voice suddenly spoke and Caspian and Susan saw that the rather rugged tree that they were sitting under was starting to use its roots to urge the pair to their feet. "There are still other trees to wake,"

Susan saw that it was right of course. Caspian stamped on the dying fire and Susan made him wait patiently with her so that the rocks had cooled down before they let the rocks out of their sight. Susan was taking no chance with fires.

"Let's go," When Susan touched the slab and found it only warm, she stood up and brushed the front of her dress down. Caspian stood up with her but Susan realised that he was looking at her. "What?" she asked, her face turning a little pink. "Nothing," he just smiled internally, "Let's go," he repeated, going further into the forest. Susan hurried after him, starting to laugh as he started to run faster and away from her reach. "Wait,"

Meanwhile in Owlwood forest, Edmund and Peter looked up at the silent, foreboding trees. "So," Edmund asked Peter after a stretched, prolonged silence. "How do we exactly wake them?"

Show you'd just like to expect more from me by clicking the nice button that says review. I really don't mind if you just put a smiley face in it, but I just want the support. Thanks guys!

- noeru K