Chapter 7 – Always, No Matter What

Disclaimer: I own this (empty) box of Kleenex on my desk. Pretty soon, however, I will not own it, seeing as how I am about to throw it away and it will belong to the Land of the Dumpsters. I also, by the way, do not own Narnia.

Author's Note: It is so scary to me how old the Pevensies are getting! Ahhh!

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Narnia – July, Year 1007

-During the time in which Peter was 20, Susan was 19, Edmund was 17, and Lucy was 15.

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While Susan loved her older brother very much, he was getting quite tiresome.

Susan was nineteen, and it was about time that she started thinking about her future. And men were shaping up to be quite a large part of that future – she wanted to marry, and have children! However, Peter would have none of it. He scared away every suitor of hers; glared at any man who asked her to dance.

So Susan had, quite politely she thought, asked him to leave her alone and stay out of her business and stop ruining her life. She thought that that would take care of it.

Before now, she had only been meeting Danequiss in the dead of night in one of the more forgotten of the courtyards. Vines snaked up the stone walls and benches, and the flowerbed was overgrown and choked with weeds. She had chosen the strange place and late time because she figured that Peter would never find them there.

But after she had announced to Peter that she would have no more of his nosy interfering in her love life, she figured that she and Danequiss could come out in the open. She was mistaken.

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Susan laughed. "Danequiss, you're just ever so hilarious!" she said, fluttering her eyelashes slightly.

"Why, thank you, my dear," he replied in a charming manner, spooning some of the second-course soup into his mouth.

As their first more public date, Susan and Danequiss were enjoying a feast of a supper together. It took place at a small table that had been set up for their purpose on the sand at the beach. Chefs and waiters from the kitchen were there to serve them, constantly bringing down the next courses from the castle. Danequiss was actually the one who had decided on the beach setting, and Susan thought that it was very romantic.

They were just starting on the third course when Peter showed up.

"Susan, come with me immediately. And as for you…" he glanced at Danequiss, "go home. You are dismissed. You shall not see my sister again, so do not come calling for her." Danequiss glared angrily, watching as Peter grabbed Susan by the arm and marched her up the hill from the beach to the castle.

Once inside, Susan was dragged into Peter's private study.

"Sit," Peter said, motioning to a chair.

"Peter, really!" Susan protested, but decided to take a seat, as the look on Peter's face was quite stern.

"Now then. Su, I have you told a thousand times that—"

"Yes, yes, I know! That I am much too young to be dating and a whole lot of other nonsense. Well, Peter, I will not let you control my love life anymore! It is really none of your business – I am an adult. If I want to court Danequiss, or anyone else for that matter, I will. It will be my decision and you will not have a choice in it. Now would you please stop making all of my suitors hate me?" Susan said, trying not to cry.

"Su…" Peter said, taking a seat next to her.

"No, Peter. I don't want to hear whatever you have got to say."

"Susan, I'm just trying to protect you."

"Well, it is working way too well. You are much too overprotective for your own good – and for mine, as well, as far as that matter goes."

Peter sighed and was silent for a moment. Susan wanted to know what he was thinking; she hated how quiet he was being. It irritated her when Peter was so calm and collected while she was so upset. Finally, Peter spoke.

"Su, I'm sorry."

"What?" Susan asked. She had not been expecting Peter to apologize; she had been bracing herself for something more along the lines of a reprimand, or a command to stop courting Danequiss.

"I said that I'm sorry. I really should try to stay as uninvolved as possible in your love life. It's just that you're my baby sister, Su… I just wanted to protect you. I don't want anyone to ever hurt you, and that includes hurting your heart. I just hadn't quite realized, until now, that by trying to keep you from getting hurt, I was hurting you myself…"

"You were hurting me? Whatever do you mean by that, Peter?"

"Su, you're the kind of person who loves to be in the spotlight, who revels in attention. And that certainly isn't a bad thing!" he added, as Susan frowned and crossed her arms. "I always wished I was more like you. It would certainly make being the High King of Narnia much easier if I could handle so much attention as well as you do. And so, by taking you away from all your suitors, men that were willing to give you that attention that you want and deserve, I was hurting you. I was keeping you from what you wanted. And I'm sorry for that."

"Oh, Peter…" Susan said, leaning over to hug her older brother. "Thank you."

"Every time I saw you with a man, the first thing that would come to my mind is that he wasn't good enough for you, that he didn't deserve you. I couldn't let my baby sister court a man that I thought wasn't worthy of my Susan."

Susan smiled a little. It was nice to know that her brother cared for her so much, that he would watch out for her so carefully.

His arms still around Susan, Peter continued, "You're allowed to see that Danequiss fellow. And anyone else that you please, as well. I won't meddle in your relationships anymore. I promise. I'm going to support all your decisions from now on, always, no matter what."

Susan smiled a bit, and then said, "Actually, Peter… I think you're right. Danequiss isn't the one; he isn't right for me... I think he's a bit too excessive for my personality… A bit too immoderate…"

"Susan, I didn't mean to make you—"

"I know, Peter. You've just made me realize that I need to wait for the really special men, rather than just courting anyone who will give me attention. I would have never figured that out on my own, and I might have ended up in an unhappy marriage because of it. So thank you, Peter."

Peter smiled. "You're welcome, Susan."

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The next day, Susan asked for Danequiss to meet her in the courtyard. He arrived a few minutes after she did, and she beckoned for him to sit next to her on a stone bench by a large flowerbed.

"Danequiss…" Susan began slowly. "I… I, er… I really don't know how to say this…" At that moment, Susan realized that Danequiss already knew that she was about to end their courtship. She had seen a quick look pass across his face… Something she couldn't quite describe. She didn't know if it was hurt, or pain, or anger, or even fury. But whatever it was, she didn't like it.

She continued quickly, so as to get things over with and leave Danequiss to himself. She wasn't quite sure what emotions that that look on his face had been, but she knew she didn't want to be with him when those feelings came spewing out.

"Danequiss, you are a really wonderful man, kind and funny and clever, but I just don't think that you are quite the man for me," she said. She knew that Danequiss was far too extreme for her. For one, he very was quick to get angry. His personality was much too radical for her gentle temperament. "So, Danequiss… That is why I think it is time to end our relationship. I don't believe I can court you anymore… I apologize for having to do this to you." Susan stood to leave, but felt a hand grab her wrist tightly before she could go any farther.

"Susan," Danequiss said, standing up. His voice was calm, but filled with rage. A quiet, cold sort of anger that Susan knew could heat up any moment. "You really don't want to do this, do you?" He grabbed her by the shoulders and held her firmly. Susan looked down at her feet.

"I – I… I have to, Danequiss… I'm really sorry …"

"Look at me!" he shouted, and she snapped her head up to face him, quivering with fear. "Now then," he said, quite calmly again. "I asked, you really don't want to do this, now do you? You don't, Susan. You do not want to end this relationship with me."

"I…" Susan didn't know what to say. She knew that agreeing with the man was the only way she would be released, but she also knew that keeping her relationship with Danequiss would be dangerous, and lying to him even more so.

"It's your brother who is making you do this. It is all Peter's fault, isn't it, Susan?" He gripped her shoulders tighter.

Abruptly, Susan felt that the emotional pressure was lifted. She knew what to say, all of the sudden. Danequiss had made his fatal error in blaming everything on Peter.

"Let go of me!" she shrieked. "It's not Peter's fault! The fault is on you, Danequiss! You are a controlling, abusive—"

"I'll take it from here." Susan was interrupted mid-shout by a familiar voice from behind her. Peter!

She tried to whirl around to see him, but she was still under the tight grasp of Danequiss.

"Let go of her, Danequiss," Peter said calmly, stepping sideways so that he was in Susan's line of vision. He was now standing next to Danequiss, sword drawn, to Susan's surprise.

"Now, really!" she squeaked nervously. "Peter, I don't think that swords are necessary to solve this—"

"You don't, dear sister? Because I do," she heard Edmund say from somewhere behind her, before he stepped into sight, his sword drawn as well.

"Ed, I told you to stay in your room—" Peter growled.

"Well, Peter, I didn't want to miss out on all the fun," Edmund said sarcastically.

Danequiss's eyes were moving back and forth between Susan and her brothers. It was clear that he was trying to decide if he should let go of Susan to duel with Peter and Edmund or keep his hold on her.

"Two against one? Where is your honor, Kings of Narnia? Have you no valiance?" Danequiss said, buying time.

"They do now!" the voice of Lucy piped in, and she joined her brothers. She had her bow out, an arrow drawn.

" 'They do now'? Whatever does this silly little girl mean?" Danequiss asked rudely.

"If they had no valiance before, they do now," Lucy answered calmly. Because Queen Lucy the Valiant has arrived, Susan thought to herself, and she couldn't help but smile, despite the situation.

"It would not be very just to fight three on one, now would it, King Edmund?" Danequiss asked.

"I am willing to forget my title for the moment to save my sister from your unworthy clutches, Sir Danequiss," Edmund replied.

"So what shall it be, Danequiss? You may either surrender, give up my sister, and leave Narnia forever, or we will be forced to take matters into our own hands…" Peter said, the silver blade of his sword flashing in the sunlight. "Which would you prefer?"

Danequiss knew that he was defeated. Glaring, he dropped his hold on Susan.

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The moment she was released, Susan rushed to Lucy. She snatched the bow from Lucy's hands before the younger girl even knew what was happening. Susan pulled an arrow across the string quickly and held it there, pointed directly at Danequiss's heart.

She could feel the adrenaline rushing through her veins.

This is a very un-Susan like thing to do, she thought.

But I want to do it so badly, she fought with herself.

Her hand holding the arrow shook.

Should I do it? Can I do it? Would I be able to live this down?

She felt a hand on her shoulder. A gentle hand, very unlike Danequiss's.

"Susan, drop the bow." It was Edmund.

But I don't want to drop it. He hurt me. I want to hurt him too.

"He surrendered, Su. Don't do something that you're going to regret."

Maybe Edmund is right. Or maybe he isn't. Maybe it would feel good to hurt Danequiss.

"Susan, put it down."

What am I thinking? How could it ever feel 'good' to hurt anyone?

"Susan…" she heard Lucy pleading.

That was when she realized something. Danequiss really had given up. He was just standing in front of her, waiting for her to decide his fate. She even thought she saw his hands quaking a bit, as if he was frightened. She hadn't realized Danequiss knew how to be frightened.

She removed the arrow from the bow. Bow and arrow clattered to the stone ground of the courtyard. Danequiss slumped down to a sitting position on the stone bench.

"Thank you, Susan," was all he managed to say, his voice shaking.

She turned around and left the courtyard without another word. She kept walking until she was inside the castle, up the stairs, and into her room. And then she curled up on her bed and cried.

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About fifteen minutes later, her siblings joined her in her bedroom. Susan had stopped crying. She was just lying there, staring at the wall.

"Susan," Lucy said gently, climbing up next to Susan on the bed. Lucy sat next to her older sister and stroked her hair the way that Susan used to do for her when she was upset or frightened.

Peter and Edmund sat down on the edge of the bed.

"It's alright, Su," Edmund said. Peter just smiled softly.

This was all Susan needed to start crying again. Only this time, she was crying and laughing at the same time – she was happy. Her siblings were there with her, and they loved her, and everything was alright, as Edmund had said. She knew that they would take good care of her.

After all, King Edmund the Just, her little brother, would always be with her, through good times and bad. And he was even willing to 'forget about' his title to help her.

Queen Lucy the Valiant, her baby sister, would always be with her, even if all she needed was a smile and to have her hair stroked.

And King Peter the Magnificent, her protective older brother, would always be with her, and he would always support her, no matter what.

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Author's Note: Love it? Hate it? Let me know, if you please!

To the anonymous reviewers: Apiegirl, Samantha (who reviewed twice, unless there are two Samanthas… Yay!), and Undomiel2007, thank you soooo much!

This chapter is dedicated to Alabelle, who not only gave me the idea for this chapter (which I changed up a bit and then used), but is also one of my bestest friends in the whole wide world and will always be, no matter what. ;)