Susan drifted in and out of consciousness for nearly three days. When she woke up, she felt drained and lightheaded from having slept for so long. She looked around the room and sat up slowly, recognizing that she was in a house that seemed to be made out of a hollowed out tree. Lucy walked around the corner, "Sue! How are you feeling?"
"Thirsty..." she croaked.
Lucy quickly fetched her sister a large goblet of water and plate of food, "Here."
"Thanks Luce...wait a second...where am I? How long was I out for?" Susan said as she tried to stand, but wobbled a bit and plopped back down onto the bed.
Lucy chewed on her bottom lip, "Well...I can tell you you've been out for three days, but I can't tell you where we are...Peter said-"
Susan slammed her fist down on the mattress at the mention of his name, "Peter! He did this! What happened to the Narnians? Where is Caspian?"
Lucy looked down, "Some made it to the many safehouses they have set up within the forests...but Caspian had the rest rounded up and sent to camps. He's not harming them, but he refuses to let them go until you are returned to him."
Susan tried to stand again, but held her head and sat back down instead, "Peter...I am going to kill him! Where is he?"
Before Lucy could speak up, Peter and Edmund entered the house. Susan eyed them both angrily as she took a large gulp of water, "We barely escaped ourselves...Sue...I know you're mad-"
"You don't know a bloody thing! I am beyond mad at this point, Peter. You drugged me, then have me taken against my will away from the man I love...and now our people are being held prisoner?" she yelled.
Peter held up a hand in his defense, "Susan...I had to do it to protect you."
"Protect me? I can handle myself! You are supposed to be protecting our people! This is just like before! Declaring war and so eager to risk the lives of your people all to prove you can be a valiant big brother!"
Silence fell in the room. They all knew what Susan meant by "before". Susan had plead with Peter to explore more diplomatic options with Rabadash when he was trying to force her into marriage, but Peter refused. She felt he jumped to war all too quickly and hated the thought of her people dying for her.
Peter shook his head, "Susan...it is my job to protect you and I knew you needed to be protected from him. It's like you don't have good judgement around him!"
Susan took a step forward, pointing an accusing finger at him, "No! You're afraid! You're afraid I will start a life here and I'll be able to stay and you won't...and we can't have that can we? If Peter has to go back, we all have to go back!"
Edmund, who had been silent the whole time, spoke up quickly, "It's the way he looks at you! Alright? I saw it, Peter saw it...even Lucy saw it. He's obsessed, Susan. You're both too young to handle the type of relationship he wants from you. "
Susan looked at her siblings and shook her head, "Who says so? This is Narnia...not Finchley, or have you forgotten that? Here, we're not too young to drink wine, wield swords or rule kingdoms! Who are you to say that Caspian and I are too young to love each other?"
Lucy gave her brothers a pleading look. It was obvious they had just lost her as an ally. Edmund and Peter shook their heads as Peter spoke up, "I'm sorry Susan...but this is what's best. Hopefully Aslan will appear before Caspian finds you and we'll be sent back before he can dig his hooks deeper into you."
Susan rushed forward, "Peter! You are putting our people at risk!"
He turned back to her, "They are in agreement with me Susan..."
"Then I am a prisoner of my own family...my own subjects?" she squeaked, trying not to sound panicked.
Peter and Edmund looked at each other, then exited the room.
Susan cried on the bed as Lucy attempted to comfort her, "Aslan will know what's best Susan...you'lll see...it will all work out."
Susan attempted to escape a handful of times, but was found by Glenstorm or Morndingdew before she got far. She didn't even know where she was or which direction she should be traveling in. Since she was unconscious on the journey there, she didn't know how far away the house was away from the How, so she could be anywhere in Narnia. The centaurs who guarded them refused to tell her where she was and Lucy avoided the question, not wanting to bear the wrath of her brothers by being responsible for her sister's escape.
A few red dwarves and fauns came through their clearing in need of supplies, which they received and were promptly sent on their way. Peter claimed it was best to split up and not stay in one place for too long.
Two weeks after she was kidnapped by her family, they were taken to another safe house hidden deep within the forest. Susan attempted to gain her bearings, but it was no use. Even in all her years as queen of Narnia, the country was too large to memorize every corner. The vast forests stretched for thousands of miles and there was no telling exactly where she was...she just knew they were heading south. She felt a panic well within her as a thought crossed her mind...were they going to cross the border into Archenland?
Caspian had barely slept, eaten or drank since she was taken away from him. He relived the moment when he returned to the How with a group of soldiers, ready to claim her as his queen and make the triumphant march back to the castle with her at his side.
He immediately noticed that the Narnian forces had thinned considerably and all fires had been extinguished. Peter and Edmund were found near a secret passageway on their horses.
Caspian glared at them, "Where is she! Where is my queen?"
Peter looked down at him, "We took her away Caspian...you need to learn how to live your life without her."
Caspian clenched his teeth and shouted, "Never!" But it was too late. Peter and Edmund were galloping away.
Caspian and his soldiers couldn't follow, they had left their horses in the Telmarine camp. The young king turned back to his soldiers, "Round up every Narnian you can find but do not harm them...send word back to the General and have him set up prisoner camps. Send for the best trackers in the land! I will not rest until I have found her."
Caspian trembled slightly as he clung to the torn dress she left in his chambers the day he helped her escape from the castle. He brought the dress to his nose and inhaled deeply, taking in her scent.
A knock on the door snatched him back to reality as he stuffed the dress into a nearby trunk, "Enter."
General Glozelle opened the door and bowed, "Your highness, the trackers believe the queen is being taken south into Archenland."
Caspian clenched his fist tight, then yanked out a piece of parchment. He began to write quickly, "Send a messenger to Anvard...tell them to be sure that King Nain receives this." Caspian pressed the royal seal to the envelope and handed it to Glozelle, who promptly left.
Caspian went back to the trunk and pulled Susan's dress back out, hugging it tightly to his chest, "Soon my love...soon you will be returned to me."
The Pevensies parted ways with Glenstorm and Morningdew for reasons unknown to Susan, until she remembered that Archenland was a kingdom of only men. They weren't used to centaurs and the other mythical creatures of Narnia.
After crossing over the border of Archenland, the Pevensies camped out in the woods, with Peter keeping a close eye on Susan, but there was no need. Even if she did escape, she couldn't make it two nights in the forests by herself. The siblings camped in an abandoned barn for a few nights, then rented rooms in an inn in a small settlement just across the border for a week before receiving directions to the next and only town over, Anvard. They remained silent and kept to themselves wherever they went, hiding any sign that they were royalty or Narnian.
Susan had caught Peter and Edmund arguing over whether they should go to King Nain. Archenland and Narnia were extremely close allies during the Golden Age and Peter was sure they would be better off staying at the castle. Edmund wanted them to take their chances in the wilderness, but soon, both brothers agreed they needed to return to some form of civilization when Susan's health started to fail.
She began refusing food and growing faint after walking for just a couple of hours. Lucy wasn't any better either. Since they had to leave their horses on the other side of the Winding Arrow River, they had to walk ever since crossing the border. Poor Lucy had blisters on her feet and scrapes up and down her legs caused by the sharp branches and pointy rocks they had to brave during their journey.
The decision was made...they would go to Anvard.
As the Pevensies approached Anvard, a group of soldiers surrounded them, "State your business!"
"I am High King Peter of Narnia and these are my siblings, Queen Susan, Queen Lucy and King Edmund. We are friends of your land and were hoping to have an audience with your King."
Another soldier leaned over and whispered into the officer's ear. His scowl turned into a pleasant smile, "Ah...the Narnian Kings and Queens of Old...you are most welcome here."
An hour later, Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy were entering the main hall of the castle. They bowed respectfully when they approached the throne of King Nain, who rose and bowed in return, "It is a privilege and an honor to have you grace my kingdom with your presence. I will have rooms made for you and baths drawn...then we will have a great feast."
Susan found it odd that the King never asked why they were there or why Kings and Queens had arrived in his court looking dirty and wearing clothes fit for commoners. After they were set up in their rooms, she let herself sink into her bath and fought back another wave of nausea. She looked forward to actually sleeping in a real bed. The month they spent on the run had taken a toll on her body. Even though her brothers were great at providing food and finding shelter, she hadn't felt the desire to eat much and couldn't seem to get enough sleep.
She soaked in the bath water and breathed in deeply as her eyes opened...roses and vanilla...the same scent Caspian ordered placed in her baths when she was his captive.
Thanks for the reviews guys! Keep em comin'!
Everyone who has reviewed since last night wants a Suspian baby, sooo... :-)
