A/N: Long chapter – pure fluff. Angst to follow. Read and enjoy!

Chapter 4

Susan let her hair down for the fourth time and sighed.

"It looks fine Susan," Lucy said patiently, sitting with scores and scores of palace records, annals and Narnian history books strewn across the large four-poster bed.

"It looks…" Susan paused then took out some gold pins crafted into iconic suns from her hair. She had found the pins, unchanged from Cair Paravel. As Susan the Gentle, her symbol had been and were the southern suns and Susan had decided on those accessories since on her way to confront Caspian, she needed all the advantage she could get. One look in his brown eyes would stop her speechless, a state she rarely was, Susan would add.

"Do you want Magilde to do your hair?" Lucy asked rather studiously. She had on the bridge of her nose the wire glasses that belonged to the professor, Caspian's tutor. She glanced at her sister with a rather imperious look on her face that caused Susan, even in her nervous state to at least twitch the corners of her lips.

"Oh, by the way Lu, if you're looking for the Islands, they're on page four hundred and twenty one." Susan said silkily. She then decisively pulled all the pins out of her hair and watched her brown locks tumble over her shoulder. Susan heard Lucy give a quick gasp as she hurriedly flicked through to the page in the thick tome she was holding in her lap. "You're right," Lucy said rather breathlessly. The pretentious glasses fell off her nose and Susan ended up laughing downright. She stood up from the dressing table and sat gently down next to Lucy, glancing at the yellowing pages, "Why do you need to know about the Islands?" she asked quietly, her ice blue eyes skimming the familiar page.

Lucy wrenched the book away from her sight, "You would have known if you came to the meeting we had in the library." She retorted, suppressing the urge to childishly stick out her tongue. "I didn't want to," Susan said firmly, "And you did tell Caspian -"

" – that you were unwell," Lucy recited grudgingly. Susan opened her mouth to ask Lucy in addition but expertly covered it up. Guessing what her older sister was about to ask, Lucy, although very gleeful internally decided she would not be so cruel as to deny her older sibling the king's response. "He was very worried," Lucy revealed slowly, carefully watching Susan's face.

Susan's face did not change so Lucy hurried on, eager for Susan's reaction. "He started asking me ALL these questions that you didn't prepare me for. I didn't know what to say so I was honest and said I didn't know too much." She glanced at Susan's face, which just seemed pensive as she stared at page four hundred and twenty one.

"He wanted to see you immediately but I said you wanted to be left alone." Lucy's brows furrowed as she saw still saw Susan's detachment. "He wanted to send his physicians Susan!"

"There is the island that nightmares come true," Susan suddenly muttered, a glow from the lantern lighting something in her eyes, "and the woods in the beyond…" she brought a hand and flipped a page. "and there's Aslan's…" she looked up from the page to see Lucy's stony expression. "What?"

Lucy exhaled loudly, "I can't believe you." She said. "You have selective hearing or something."

Susan shrugged, "Well, if it's important, tell me later will you. It's sundown now and I'll have to be on the terrace."

"What I've been saying," Lucy stressed, "if you have been listening is that Caspian was really worried and he's probably wondering if you're coming because you told me to tell him you were sick plus he hadn't seen you for the rest of the day."

"That's the point," Susan said, checking one last time in the mirror. She had on an evening gown that was rather plain but looked fluid and accentuated her figure. It was a dark green, similar to the first dress she had worn in Narnia.

"You look fine," Lucy reassured her. Susan just smiled grimly, "Well, thanks Lu. I'll see you in a bit."

Susan turned around to leave but she heard Lucy say lastly, "Good luck," to which Susan smiled privately. The door closed softly behind her and Susan could see that the castle deserted. The soft silk slippers made no noise on the smooth stone floor so Susan carefully made her way to a watch tower and gradually ascended. She crossed the guards' room and in the silent upper chamber where the sunset was starting to pierce into the settling gloom and through the glassless windows, Susan put her hand on the last wooden-paneled door and opened it.

She gave a small gasp in surprise as she saw that the terrace was covered with plump white doves and as soon as she had fully pushed the door away from her, all the doves took flight from the terrace. A cloud of white plumes rose in the air and with fluttering of the wings, flew streamlined through the darkening sky towards the sunset. The sight took Susan's breath away and she rushed to the edge of the portico to catch a longer glimpse of them as the birds rose together before gliding effortlessly and gracefully away from her touch. Then she saw that a silver dove was still perched on the edge, something red tied to its leg. Susan immediately freed the red silk ribbon with parchment tied to it from the bird and the bird blinked innocently before taking after its white friends.

The flock of birds taking off gave Susan a strange sense of freedom and the sunset gave the scene a magical backdrop. She almost felt like waving to the fast disappearing silver dove, a little lagged from the white arrow flying through the sky and also thanking it for carrying the message it was burdened with. Then Susan's attention was turned to the parchment and she tentatively unrolled it and read on the parchment in neat, flowing script: Don't turn around. She then felt strong arms encircle her waist and his lips touch her hair. "You came," Caspian said quietly.

Susan took an intake of breath, her back to him and gave an inaudible sigh of pleasure. She momentarily closed her eyes, the smell of oak and clean soap that she was familiar with having her head buried in Caspian's back relaxed her senses and she felt so secure within those arms, she almost forgot that she needed to give him a response. "Yes, I got your message," she managed rather crisply although relishing the way his hold on her strengthened and she unconsciously placed her hands on top of his where it rested, securing her waist.

"Are you feeling better?" he asked quietly, his lips moving sensuously on top of her head. "I was so worried."

Susan felt her anger awake at these words as she took a step forward and broke his embrace. She turned around and was momentarily stunned into silence. Until then, Susan had not realised how much she had missed him. His arms still outstretched and in mid-air from the embrace and his dark eyes kindling so much kindness was now sparking confusion and hope. She wanted to run into his arms at the expression on his face in that moment so strongly that Susan had to take in a deep breath. He maybe looked innocent and hurt but he had deceived her and when she thought of the voyage that Caspian was meant to go on, she could still manage to have some strength in her legs so that they did not buckle. Aslan forbid, she really wanted him to hold her again.

"Then why didn't you come to see me?" she shot back icily, wanting to take a step back for her own sake when Caspian lowered his arms. His eyes were bright and firm, "A decision I regretted for the whole day."

He took a step closer and Susan took a step back, certain that if she did not maintain this distance then there was the danger that she would fall into his lean but muscled arms and rest against his firm chest.

"All I could think about was seeing you again." There was such strength in his voice and his words that Susan wanted so much to believe it. She had thought that she had known him so well, that with everything they had been through that there was a strong foundation of trust and dependency but she couldn't be fooled by the eyes, the way his god-given locks were being ruffled in the wind or the way his hands were trying to reach her.

"Really? How about the voyage you're going on to find the lords," Susan managed in her stoniest tone. She dug her heels in and then brushed roughly past him, making for the open door, trying to pretend that what Caspian had arranged with the white doves had not affected her in the least way. "Have a good journey," Even as she forced herself to avoid looking at him, her mind was screaming her to stop, to stay longer with him and for the moment up on the terrace to last forever. The lanterns were being lit all around in the palaces and the light was so golden and mellow, like rich honey that the picture with Caspian in it seemed like a dream. A really good dream and Susan did not want it to end – but she had to leave.

She felt a gentle but firm grip on her wrist and was so surprised that she was knocked off balance. Caspian spun her around and drew her right into his chest. His arms encircled her and rested on her shoulders, which he rubbed and Susan suddenly realised that she was chilled. She had not expected the night air to be so cold. She unexpectedly shivered but then the thought completely left her mind when she felt Caspian's lips on her neck, gently caressing the hollow of her neck to trail a line of kisses down to her collar bone. Susan's face heated at once and tried to pull away but Caspian held tighter and whispered in her ear, "You're coming with me."

"What?" Susan, in her need to register the information without having tingling sensations on her neck, managed to break from his hold and this time Caspian let her go, an amused smile on his face. "You're coming with me," he repeated, smiling a little. At Susan's not amused face Caspian said tenderly, "I was supposed to tell you in the library but I'm glad you took the time to feel better."

"But Peter, Edmund, Lucy…?" Susan began.

"They're coming with us, your majesty." He said sincerely. Susan suddenly felt very foolish but Caspian was done teasing her, "May I kiss you now?"

Susan couldn't help but tinge a little pink although thankfully, in the dimmer light Caspian would not have seen. "I guess so," she said tentatively.

Even as she spoke, Caspian had covered the distance between them in a stride and had a hand cup the side of Susan's face to direct her face to his. He lowered his lips that met Susan's in an instant and Susan let go of all her senses as she opened her mouth, eager to taste Caspian more. Exploring the deep caverns of his mouth, she could savour the trace of hot cocoa and the heat that was being generated. Caspian had been pleasantly surprised but at Susan's nudging, he had let her gingerly explore him.

It took a short while before Caspian reciprocated, their eyes closed as they were intent on using this one sense to domineer all of their senses. As Caspian leaned in deeper, his other hand that had rested on Susan's arms came up to support Susan's other cheek so he held her face in his hands and dipped his head further in smooth motions.

Caspian was skilled. His mouth worked sumptuously against Susan's own with much friction and contact that he often teased or dug deeper but Susan was the first to break away, if rather quickly. Her breathing was ragged and she took in large gulps of air whilst fanning her face. Caspian couldn't help himself but burst into laughter at the sight. Susan herself started to laugh as she avoided his eyes, somewhat embarrassed but Caspian took her hands away from her face, "But I wanted to take you somewhere else tonight - if you're not too sleepy." He added.

"I'm not sleepy," Susan said, finally meeting his eyes to which he beamed.

"Come on," he drew her after him by the hands but then when they approached the steps, made Susan go first, hands protectively on her waist guiding her down the first few before he followed. When they entered the guards' room that was now deserted as the guards were on night watch below, Caspian suddenly hurried forwards and pushed aside with his foot, a rug of Aslan covering almost the entire floor. It had dulled with the years so much that it looked like a part of the stone grey floor although Susan can see and also know from the way her nose itched that it was just the accumulation of dust on dark red and gold embroidery.

That was however when she saw a dark wooden trapdoor hidden underneath the rug with a lock that had rusted through. Caspian brought a finger to his lips as Susan almost exclaimed aloud. She had not expected a secret exit from the guards' room. Caspian gave her a secretive smile before he pushed the door opened that hardly squeaked, suggesting that it wasn't the first time the door had been used and Caspian slid out of her sight. Susan quickly followed.

They were in a tunnel and Susan was glad she had brought along Lucy's dagger that she had tucked under her dress. She put a hand on the hilt and Caspian, quickly noticed this too. His eyes widened, "That wasn't for me was it?" he asked, indicating the dagger. Susan smirked, "Perhaps not, but I came prepared."

The tunnel was very steep and if it wasn't for the torches that Caspian lit on his way than it was a very dank and damp but the tunnel soon gradually started to slant upwards and Caspian, finding in the sparse light, Susan's hand, pushed open another trap door over their heads. He snuffed the torch and levered himself up. He then helped Susan out of the tunnel. Susan immediately looked around and saw that they were in the outskirts of a forest, in a glade. There was a layer of soil and grass on top of the trap door. As Caspian let it fall back in place, it was completely disguised.

"The professor designed it, soon after our battle there. What do you think?" Caspian explained as Susan saw a village of the seaside near, just nestled past a few more trees and downhill.

"I think it's wonderful," she said honestly, "but wow, that tunnel covered a lot of distance."

Caspian took her hand once more but then took a start. "You're freezing," he said rather matter-of-factly.

"No, I'm al -"

But Caspian had already started to unclasp his cloak and draped the warm woollen garment over Susan's shoulders. Caspian had already warmed it up so Susan felt her teeth stop chattering instantly. "I can't, I don't, you - " although relishing the newly-acquired comfort, Susan was fumbling with the clasp to give it back to Caspian but he stilled her hands with his own, "My mistake – I didn't tell you we were going near the sea. It's colder here."

Susan gave him a grateful if a little apologetic smile but Caspian had already started to guide her down to the village. The crisp night air and pungent night fragrances released by certain plants stimulated Susan to race Caspian down the hill and soon they reached a charming little local pub called 'The Clam'. Caspian must have known that Susan had missed dinner because he ordered a meal for her, who again refused initially but her grumbling stomach gave her away. Spearing a piece of chicken he had cut for her, he force fed her until Susan finally obliged, soon also enjoying nicely matured oak mead.

Caspian had starting to talk freely with the local men. The men, again in the poor lighting, not knowing that they were speaking to their king, was loud and honest with him. They gossiped and talked to him about their daily problems and how good it would be if a representative from their town could get into the council. Caspian took it all seriously but also humoured them separately, which Susan looked on with a smile. After she had finished her food, she realised that Caspian's complexion looked more healthy and golden. Perhaps it was to do with the mead or the firelight but she herself could not stop herself from smiling.

From the pub, it was only a short walk until they reached the sandy shores and further along, wharves and docks. Susan took off her shoes and let her toes curl into the sand. She suddenly laughed as she sat down, collapsing on the sand. Caspian sat down next to her as Susan started to intently draw something in the sand. The water was jet black and turbulent, the salty breeze refreshing and calming. Caspian just stared out into the water, absorbing the scene in when Susan finished whatever she had been intently writing with her finger. Caspian cocked his head to the side. It read Caspian with a love heart and Caspian had a quizzical look on his face.

"It's what usually people do," Susan explained, her face slightly pink from the mead and her voice in a more lax manner, "When they're you know," she took a pause and inhaled the sea air, "seeing each other."

Caspian stared at it intently before he said earnestly, "You forgot your name," and added Susan next to the Caspian.

"You're not meant to take it literally," Susan joked.

"And if you draw it in the sand, it will get washed away." Caspian said.

Susan gave a laugh, pushed him to the side and took off down the shore. Caspian, momentarily thrown back caught up to her in a manner of seconds. "Well, actually – I wanted to show you something."

"Wasn't it the sea?" Susan asked slowly as Caspian continued to walk steadily towards the docks were there was most notably a framework of a ship that was almost completed.

"And the sea, yes." Caspian admitted, "but I wanted to show you the ship." He gestured to the ship that was almost completed. Susan gave a startled exclaim and approached it, looking more carefully and attentively. The ship looked similar to the ones Susan and the Pevensies had constructed and sailed on when they had been in the peak of their reign. It was not as luxurious but it looked more functional and modeled after the Pevensies ships as well as the Telmarines' that looked more sturdy. Susan rested a hand against the side of the ship that was almost completed and this time could not believe the wording that was almost finished. 'Queen Susan' in gold lettering was almost totally filled out.

"There is a second part to this," Caspian replied as Susan turned around in shock. "But I can't show you the second part until the ship is finished."

"When did you - ?" Susan asked breathlessly.

"The ship had been a project of my father's but since I needed it completed, I redesigned a few things and I wanted to show you the ship that would take me to the Islands. What do you think?"

"I think -" Susan took a deep breath to calm her racing nerves, " – it's beautiful," she said in flat-out honesty.

"Like you," Caspian countered in equal sincerity, "It is tradition good fortune for a ship to have a lady's name."

Susan kept staring at the ship; everything was carved perfectly, although unfinished. The design was truly a work of art. "Caspian, I don't know what to -" but an old man had loitered over in a strange gait. He had a long, tangled silver beard, knobbly knees and a seaman's cap perched precariously on top of his balding head. In his hands, he was tying up a long length of rope but he recognized Caspian and Susan immediately. "Ah sire," the man bent down on one knee to which Caspian quickly set him upright. "My lady," the man again prostrated himself before Susan, which she felt immensely uncomfortable. "Please," Susan had to help him straighten up again before the man started to talk with ease to the king.

"Sire, you're showing her majesty the ship?" he asked in an all-knowing way. Caspian nodded as they gazed up at the towering rest of the ship. "You've met?" Susan asked hesitantly. Caspian gave a start, "Oh yes, this is Mr Cruz. He is the master overseeing this program." Mr Cruz gave an honoured bow and Susan gave a nod in understanding. Caspian then said, "You're prompt as usually Mr Cruz. Do you have an easel, a piece of paper and something I can draw with?"

As if they had already planned this beforehand, Mr Cruz gave another bow before he scurried off with an 'of course'. Susan gave Caspian a questioning stare. "You only have to pose for me once, I promise." Caspian replied rather sheepishly.

"Pose?" Susan asked, a little apprehensive, "For a portrait or something?"

"Not exac -"

"Here you are, your highness." Mr Cruz had produced a rather rickety easel that had attached to it with what looked like a large paper clip and a piece of paper. He had also brought a piece of charcoal and a bucket he turned upside down for Susan to sit on. "I'll be in my house, sire." Mr Cruz motioned to a cottage that was not far off, "After you've done the sketches, if you could just slip it under the door and perhaps leave the easel and things next to the cottage, I'll start seeing to them tomorrow."

"Thank you," Caspian said, "And goodnight."

Mr Cruz gave a few more bows in gratitude before he retired into his house. Now that Caspian had a piece of charcoal in his hand and something to draw on, Susan felt suddenly excited. "What do I do?" she asked, "Do I just sit here?"

Caspian nodded, "Yes, like that."

Susan fixed him with her light-coloured eyes, trying to remain as still as possible. She had her hands clasped in front with her hair bellowing behind her because of the sea breeze. Caspian would stare intently at Susan's face then at the paper, a picture of utter concentration. It only took him a few strokes however, as he finished in a couple of minutes of hard contemplation.

"Finished?" Susan asked eagerly. The posing had been relatively easy and she wanted to see how she looked on paper. When she came behind Caspian's shoulder, she saw that he truly had artist talent. "You've done this before," she accused, smiling. She had suspected that when he had grasped the charcoal stump with too much ease and it had taken him a good deal less strokes or smudging out with his finger but Caspian looked pleasantly surprised, "I haven't but I don't think I've really done the eyes right."

Susan stared at herself outlined in black lines on the paper. She had known instantly that it resembled her enormously but she had thought that she looked much too pretty on paper. She was about to voice her opinion but then another thought crossed her mind at the same time, "What is this for?" she asked as Caspian unclipped the paper and started to carry the easel back to Mr Cruz's house. Susan helped with the bucket.

"The figure mast," Caspian replied easily and almost matter-of-factly.

Susan could have frozen again in surprise but her legs continued to work as they dropped the equipment off at Mr Cruz's.

"The ship's really going to be called Queen Susan isn't it?" Susan suddenly asked after they propped the things at the side of the house and stopped momentarily.

"Yes," Caspian replied.

"And it's really going to look like me too isn't it?" Susan asked quietly, looking up at Caspian's dark, handsome eyes.

Caspian started to slide his hands up and down Susan's arms soothingly.

"No one's ever done anything like this for me before," Susan managed, Caspian just smiled understandingly before Susan caught him in a bone-crushing hug. Caspian laughed in surprise but patted her on the back, "It will be a beautiful figure mast."

Susan withdrew to look at Caspian's face clearly in the soft darkness and Caspian smiled at her before leaning in for another kiss. It was short and sweet before Caspian brushed a stray strand of hair from Susan's cheeks before he gave a snort of laughter.

"What is it?" Susan asked, giggling then drew her hand up to her face to then see her fingertips a deep black from the charcoal.

"My mistake," Caspian said, clearly amused. Susan mockingly pushed him and they ended up tumbling and turning back on the sand, where there was still Caspian and Susan etched in the sand.

"I wonder when the tide would come in and wash it away," Susan mused as they sat close enough that their toes tickled the water.

"You're not meant to take it literally though," Caspian repeated Susan's words to which Susan replied "mmhm."

Caspian had laid back with his arms support him and Susan had laid her head on his chest, listening quietly to his heartbeat. Then after a few minutes of stroking her silky hair, Caspian knew that she had fallen asleep. He looked up at the dark indigo sky embedded with stars and thought that he should have also told Susan to look up at the sky, before he also nodded off to sleep.

A/N: Alright, here's the deal people. To make me smile I want feedback on BOTH chap 3 and 4 from each username even though I kinda updated the fourth one in the space of less than 24hrs of the last one and I know it's easy to just click through and say everything in the last review. I'm being greedy but that would encourage me to update faster ;) if ya know what I mean. :D you guys are awesumm