okay so i know i deleted that winter chapter because of the whole review thing but when i started to try and write the next chapter, the whole timeline thing as far as the plot goes was totally messed up so i decided to add back in the original chapter six as chapter six and this chapter as well. I feel totally stupid but i feel that leaving it was the right decision all along and it is going to work out so much better with the timeline and stuff so yeah. I am SO SO SO SO SO SO sorry for being so confusing but i hope you like this chapter! you would not believe how hard i worked on it. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: i only own the plot and OCs.
T'was the week before Christmas and all through the palace, no a creature was stirring, not even a Mouse. The stockings were hung by the fireplace with care in hopes that Father Christmas soon would be there.
King Edmund was sprawled and nestled in his bed while visions of Turkish Delight danced through his head.
King Caspian slept so soundly in his bed curled against Queen Susan all cuddled and snug in their bed, his chin rested on her head.
And Lu in her kerchief and Pete in his cap had just settled their brains for a long winters nap. When down in the kitchens there arose such a clatter. The kings sprang from their beds to see what was the matter. Away to the stairway they flew like a flash, tore down the hallway and barreled in like a slash.
The moon on the top of the new-baked cakes gave the luster of hunger to the kings below. When what to their wanderings appear but a miniature pie and eight tiny cakes, with the frosting so sweet and thin and they knew in a moment it must be for them.
More rapid than eagles three courses they came, and they whistled and shouted and called them by name….
"Caspian. Caspian love, it's time to get up dear. Come on sweet, wake up. It's almost Christmas Eve and we still haven't gotten anything for Peter. Or the Professor. Or Lucy."
Susan sighed and shook her husband gently. Only the very top of his dark head peeked out from the covers. Poor Susan had had to get up and find more covers in the middle of the night he had hogged all the blankets so. He batted at her hand groggily and pulled the covers over his head. "Five more minutes…"
She sighed. His favorite excuse. The Gentle Queen ruffled his hair and threw back the covers and put on her warmest robe. "Come on darling, get up. We have to get presents today."
At the word 'presents' two big dark eyes peeked out over the edge of the covers. "Well in that case…"
He very reluctantly pulled back the covers and then yelped, curling up into an even tighter ball under the covers when the cold hit. He seemed rather determined not to leave his warm little nest. His wife laughed and tossed his warmest things on top of him. "Now come on love, you know we have to. I'll let you lick the spoon when Lu and I make Christmas cookies…" she coaxed and he shot out of the bed.
"Promise?"
She laughed.
"Cross my heart."
The city was beautiful this time of year. Everything covered in light layers of snow. Children running down the streets playing, older couples shopping for their grandchildren, toddlers enjoying their first snowball fights, the scent of Christmas goodies wafting through every door. Caspian grinned massively as a little Telmarine boy and a tiny faun girl came ran right passed him and Susan, laughing and squealing. He couldn't wait to have kids of his own someday.
He lifted his foot to take another step and Susan put a hand on his chest. "Wait! Don't move," she said and bent down and pulled something wet and soft from under his boot. She smiled and wiped the snow off of the curious object. It was a little rag doll. Memories seemed to flood behind her eyes and she clutched the little doll to her heart, smiling softly as she scanned the crowd in the streets. Her eyes lit up and she grabbed Caspian's hand. "This way love," she breathed and began leading them through the streets, weaving around merry couples and jolly old men playing with their grandchildren.
She glanced back at Caspian with a smile and dropped his hand, gliding over to a little Telmarine girl sitting on the corner crying. The Gentle Queen knelt down the snow and touched the girl's knee lightly.
"Excuse me love. Is this yours?" she said in a very maternal way and Caspian couldn't help but think how lovely she looked around children. What a perfect mother she would make…
The little girl looked up shyly and then her sad face lit up. "Patty!" she squealed, snatching the doll from Susan's hand and hugging it tightly to her chest. The lovely twinkling sound that was his wife's laugh reached the air and Caspian's heart threatened to melt.
"I thought she might be yours. She is very pretty. Did your mommy make it for you?" she asked and the little girl nodded enthusiastically as she rocked her doll in her arms. Susan jumped slightly when the little girl launched herself into Susan' arms, squeezing the air out of the Queen's lungs. "Thank you! Thank you thank you thank you!" the little girl said in her adorable toddler talk. Susan laughed and hugged the little girl back. Finally the little girl let go and Susan rose to her feet.
"My mommy made me a doll just like Patty once. What is your name sweetie?"
"Freya."
Susan smiled with genuine interest. The little girl looked down at her shoes and shuffled back and forth.
"You're pretty." She said sweetly and Susan laughed again and touched the little girl's nose.
"Not half as pretty as you." Freya's eyes absolutely lit up and her pink little creeks spread into a smile, showing off her adorable dimples.
"Thank you your Mrs. Majesty Queen," she said shyly with a wobbly curtsy. Susan threw her head back and laughed at her new title. Caspian walked up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders and kissed her cheek. His wife's smile widened and Freya giggled.
"I think I just may have to start calling you that from now on my love," he said as he moved his arms down to wrap around her waist from behind. She blushed prettily and folded her hands over his. Caspian smiled when she sighed happily and leaned against his warm chest. She turned to Freya with a smile on her face.
"I am afraid we have to go now Freya. We have our own Christmas shopping to do," she said with a glance over her shoulder at her husband. The toddler's eyes clouded slightly and she frowned and tugged at Susan's skirt.
''Please don't go. You have to stay and play with us!'' the little girl said, pulling the classic puppy dog face. Susan looked down at her little face and couldn't say no.
"Well….I suppose we could stay for a little while..." she said softly and Freya clapped her hands and hugged Susan's legs over her soft skirts. Caspian rested his chin on her shoulder.
"Actually my love I have a few presents of my own I need to get. Why don't I come and find you in a few minutes, yeah?"
She kissed his throat. "Alright love. Have fun." Caspian knelt down and kissed the little girls hand. "It is very nice to meet you Freya. I hope I will be seeing you again soon," he said warmly and Freya blushed prettily and bobbed a clumsy courtesy. And Susan stared after Caspian perhaps a moment too long. He was so good with children and he would make a wonderful daddy someday…
"Come on Mrs. Majesty, come on and play," Freya said sweetly, grabbing Susan's hand and leading her over to a large cluster of perhaps fifteen little boys and girls playing in the snow. The little girls as well as the little boys were instantly drawn to the beautiful tall lady in the pretty clothes with the rosy cheeks and dark hair. Within moments several little faun and Telmarine girls were grabbing onto Susan and leading her over to a fountain in the middle of the square, all babbling and laughing and squealing excitedly about the queen. In a matter of second Susan was perched on the edge of the fountain with over a dozen little ones clustering at her feet, all talking and laughing.
"Tell us a story!" a little faun boy called out and was immediately answered by squeals and nods and fervent pleading. She smiled a bit nervously.
''Alright then. What would you like to hear about?"
"King Peter!"
"Defeating the White Witch!"
"Aslan!"
"Your world!"
"Your first visit to Narnia!"
And then once voice sounded above all the others and Susan's heart gave a little flutter.
"Tell us about how you fell in love with King Caspian!"
"YEAH! Tell us about how you fell in love with Mr. King Caspian Sir!"
Susan giggled at the little boys name for her husband and began her story.
"Well… where do I begin?"
"When did you first realize you were in love with King Caspian?" a very shy Telmarine girl in the very back of the little cluster squeaked nervously. This little girl reminded Susan so much of her herself that she smiled and beckoned the little girl closer. Her eyes widened and she stutter stepped forward, looking down at her shoes. Susan leaned forward and grabbed both of the shy little Telmarine's hands in hers.
"That is a very good question sweetheart. You are so pretty honey, what is your name?"
"A-Aradnia, your majesty," she mumbled, blushing horribly.
Susan slipped her finger over the Aradnia's chin and tilted it up to look at her. "Aradnia. What a pretty name for such a pretty little girl," she said maternally and Aradnia smiled. Susan brought the little girl a bit closer to her and pulled the toddler on her lap. Aradnia, she could tell, was extraordinarily shy and so Susan settled the little one on her lap and thought hard for a moment.
"I really don't think there was a moment where I fell in love with him. And as hard as I try I can't pinpoint the exact moment I knew. I really can't explain it. One day I looked at him and I just…knew.'' She said, feeling like one of the romance novels she used to read back in England (don't ask her why).
All of the little girls sighed and the little boys all scrunched up their noses.
"But it was almost too late. The day I looked at him and I just knew was the day we left. Before some of you were even born I am sure. We almost never even got the chance…" she whispered painfully. She swallowed hard and laughed strangely.
"And then…and then we did get the chance. And now everything is…wonderful. Being in love…there really are not any words that can even come close. I can't think of one off the top of my head it's just, amazing,'' she said, twirling the ring on her finger.
Nearly an hour later and Susan's heart was so full of love for her husband she felt she just might explode. Re telling all those memories to those kids just sent so much love crashing over her she almost couldn't speak for a few moments. Caspian was just so perfect for her. She really couldn't even fathom the amount of love she felt every time she looked at him. He was so amazing. There was nothing she loved more than her husband. Nothing. Every day spent with him was the best day of her life.
"Amazing huh? You wouldn't be talking about me now would you love?" Caspian said walking up to the massive crowd of kids ambushing his wife. He really did love children. There were no secrets with them. And he loved that.
Susan shook her head. "You forgot 'modest' dear." She giggled and Caspian took the seat next to her on the bench, putting down all of his shopping bags and putting an arm around his wife's shoulders. Aradnia smiled shyly at the handsome king and he returned the smile.
"It looks like you have made some friends my queen." He leaned in closer and whispered in her ear: "You look lovely around so many children my lady. Perhaps we could make your loveliness more permanent yes?" he whispered cheekily in her ear. She rolled her eyes at him.
"We'll talk later," she whispered through a smile and he grinned like a fool.
"Mr. King Caspian Sir, when did you fig'r out you loved Mrs. Queen Susan?" a little faun girl piped up, catching Caspian off guard. He blinked in surprise and then grinned. He looked at her thoughtfully.
"From the moment I saw her. That second I set eyes on her I knew. Maybe I didn't know it then but the second she disappeared into that portal; it was like my heart was being thrown out of me. I would not wish that kind of pain on my worst enemy," he said with a faraway look in his eye.
He focused back on the kids. "Boys, when you find love, don't you ever let her go, don't you ever let her go. And if you love someone; you should tell her. Just do it, just tell her. Even if you are afraid she does not love you back, just tell her. Because no one should ever have to live with knowing you didn't tell her when you should have." He said, ending in almost a whisper. The little children stared at him with wide eyes, their mouths hanging open. He narrowed his eyes when he spotted a particularly ancy little boy. The little curly haired boy jumped up out of the blue.
"I love you Mrs. Queen Susan Your Majesty M'am!" he shouted and Susan was completely taken aback but laughed anyway.
"Why thank you Griffith! Aren't you just a little sweetheart," she said kindly, stretching over Aradnia and kissing the little boy on the cheek. He blushed and giggled bashfully and Caspian couldn't help but laugh.
Griffith smiled and sat back down, still smiling. Susan hugged Aradnia close to her and then pulled back to set the adorable little girl on her feet. She stood up and pulled her husband up.
"Well I think that is enough storytelling for today. You will all have to come visit me at Cair Paravel someday. It would be quite the treat for Queen Lucy and I to spend the afternoon with all of you. My husband and I have some Christmas shopping for my family, if you will excuse us. I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and I am sure Father Christmas will be visiting you all very soon," she said kindly, taking hold of Caspian's hand and leading him down the street, wiggling her fingers at their adoring fans.
Caspian couldn't help but smile like an idiot as he looked down at his wife, snowflakes tangling in her hair and her cheeks rosy from the cold, her breath billowing around her in an icy cloud. Caspian loved this. He loved just walking down the street with his wife; no council meetings, no laws, no audiences, just him and his love. They were just two newlyweds walking Christmas shopping for their family. Occasionally someone would bow or kiss and shake their hands or call out wishes for a merry Christmas but otherwise they were just two normal people enjoying the magic that is Christmas. Susan twined her free hand through Caspian's and moved a bit closer so she was brushing up against him. Warmth flooded through his whole body when she reached up and kissed the side of his neck. And as he sat there, all he could think was that he didn't ever want this to end. He wanted her, all of her, everyday for the rest of her life. He wanted her to love him so much that she couldn't even fathom leaving his side for even one moment. Because every dream, every happy thought, every smile, every good feeling was her. Before her, he had nothing. And she gave him everything. She gave him love. She gave him a family she gave him a life. And he would give her everything he had and more until his last breath.
Lucy loved decorating the tree.
She loved the way the pine needles filled the common room with their fresh smell and the crackling of the fire before it. She loved the way the ornaments shone and sparkled between the green boughs and how lovely the carefully wrapped packages looked beneath the green bristles. But most of all, she loved what it symbolized. She loved what the little ornaments and shiny balls and baubles symbolized. The two things she loved more than anything; her family and her country.
It had truly been one of the happiest moments of her life when the Professor had come forth with a large, dusty box on the day of Susan and Caspian's wedding. Her sister had been married on November the seventh so Christmas had been very far away but the Professor told the happy couple he simply could not wait. The professor loved Caspian like a son but had given the gift mostly to 'welcome Susan to the family' as Peter put it.
Lucy still felt a wonderful bubble of excitement in the pit of her stomach thinking about when Susan had lifted the lid of the strange little box and had nearly smudged Lucy's beautiful cosmetic masterpiece with her tears. Inside the box was nearly all of the family's Christmas decorations from the Golden Age. The Pevensie's couldn't believe it. It was truly a miracle they had survived thirteen hundred years. And now Lucy squealed and laughed and bounced as she carefully lifted every memory out of their careful wrappings.
Tears ran unchecked down her face as delicately pulled out a small faun flute ornament from the careful wrapping. She still misses Mr. Tumnus every day; he was her very best friend in the entire worlds. Susan smiled and patted her sister on the back as Lucy hung the little figurine proudly in the very center of the tree. Every little ornament and glass ball brought so many memories back that Susan thought she just might explode. Edmund himself was having trouble seeing straight after all of the flashbacks that danced before his eyes.
But nevertheless, as painful as some of those memories were, decorating the tree was almost Lucy's favorite part of Christmas and this one was Particularly special as it was Caspian's very first Christmas ever.
And he loved every second of it. From the snowball fights to the cookie baking to the tree decorating to the mistletoe, everything was amazing. He loved every second of this. His love for his family shattered every perception of love he ever thought possible.
"ITS CHRISTMAS! Su, Peter, Caspian, Ed wake up!WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP! Its Christmas its Christmas its Christmas, time to get up! Eddie wake up!Wake up wake up wake up wake up!" Lucy shouted merrily, barely able to contain her excitement. She squealed and giggled and laughed as she ran up and down the hallway, banging on doors and yelling at her lazy brothers.
Innocent little Lucy burst into her sister and husband's bedroom without even thinking to knock and barreled onto their bed, succeeding in nearly giving Caspian a cardiac attack.
"Merry Christmas! Wake up my little lovebirds wake up!Come on Caspian get up, Susan made cookies and-and the tree is all sparkling and there is a huge fire in the common room waiting for you!'' she coaxed, impatiently shaking the motionless lump she assumed was her oldest brother. Only several tufts of unruly dark hair peeked out of the covers. Lucy went back and forth between shaking her sister and the still motionless lump that was King Caspian. Susan sighed in mock irritation.
"Alright alright I'm up, I'm up. Caspian love, wake up now. Come on dear, it's Christmas morning!" she added but was only answered with a low grumble.
Lucy stood up on the middle of the bed and sighed dramatically. "Okay Caspian, you asked for it," she said solemnly as she began jumping mercilessly on her brother-in-law. Susan laughed as she got out of the warm bed and pulled on her warmest shirt and robe. The entire room seemed to be rocking with the force of Lucy's jumping on the bed. It was only until Peter and Edmund came in to investigate the holdup and started joining Lucy in jumping on the bed that Caspian finally poked his head out of the covers, throwing his hands up in surrender.
"Olright olright you win!I'm up I'm up just knock it off with all the bloody bouncing! You bloody monkeys, I'm coming!" he snapped sarcastically.
Finally, the four Pevensies managed to drag a groggily excited Caspian into the family room where he immediately flopped onto the couch. Susan took her spot next to him, snuggling against his chest. Edmund made a beeline for the carpet in front of the fire and Peter sank into his favorite armchair gratefully. "Would you like to pass out presents Lu?" Peter asked the bouncing ball of energy with a smile. She nodded fervently.
"Yay! It's my turn this year! Hmmm lets see, which one first. Ummmm oh this one! It's so pretty! Here we go….to Peter from Edmund…aww how sweet!" Lucy gushed when she looked up from reading the tag. Edmund snickered at the uneasy look on Peter's face and, making Peter stick his tongue out and Susan grin.
"Wow its heavy, thanks Ed," he said as he began tearing at the wrapping paper. He opened the lid and smiled when he pulled out a small leather bound book about Telmarine war strategy and battle moves and ancient sword maneuvers. Peter's eyes lit up.
"Wow, that's really cool! Thanks Ed; I can't wait to read it. After what a terror Su was I'm glad mum decided to have another," he joked and the family laughed when Susan winged a pillow at her brother.
Lucy clapped her hands once, "Alrighty, next is to Caspian from..oh yay me!" she squealed, still bouncing up and down as she placed the package on Caspian's lap and perched herself next to him, jiggling the whole couch.
'Why thank you Lu!"
He smiled and laughed as he pulled out a warm long sleeved shirt Lucy knitted all by herself in a dark grey with a wonderful embroidery of a scarlet lion on the chest, almost identical to the one on Peter's shield. Caspian was utterly touched by this and hugged Lucy until her ribs threatened to give out.
"Oh thank you little sister I love it! Thank you so much. Merry Christmas little Lu!" he gushed, pulling the warm shirt over his head. I t fit just right.
"Your most certainly welcome brother o'mine." She giggled as she grabbed a second box from under the tree, showing glitter dust through he hair.
"Okay from Caspian to…Edmund!'
"Oh FINALLY!" Edmund growled greedily outstretching his hand in a melodramatic gesture of greed.
He tore at the paper and the smile dropped off of his face and was replaced with utter shock as he pulled out a shiny sword that he recognized immediately. He was utterly speechless as he ran his hand across the smooth flat side of the blade.
"Oh man…how-how- did you find it? I can't believe it; I never thought I'd find this thing again! Thank you Caspian, thank you so much!" he said happily and then did something Caspian never expected.
Edmund got up and hugged him.
Caspian blinked but hugged him back enthusiastically. 'I actually tripped over the hilt believe it or not. The blade was sticking in the ground about four feet in but just the very tip was sticking out; knocked me flat on my back. Before the Dawn Treader I was um, fixing it up, you know, for when you came back.'' He said quietly and Edmund was touched.
"Aww that was so sweet of you Caspian! This one is from Susan to ..me! Oh thank you su!"
Lucy squealed an d laughed when she opened the two brand new dresses that were waiting for her. She ran over to the couch and kissed her sister on the cheek. "Thanks so much Su, I love you!"
"I love you too Lu. I thought you might like some dresses that were not too long for you" she said impishly.
They royal family spent the entire morning opening presents and laughing and teasing and eating cookies. There were so many presents Caspian couldn't even begin to keep track and his head was spinning form all the wonderful things he received on his very first presents. There were presents to everyone from everyone and each one was so unique and so special that by mid morning Caspian's heart was a big puddle of molten wax. But by far the most special present was the very last one laying under the tree.
Lucy handed it to Susan exuberantly, still bouncing like a kangaroo.
Susan smiled and turned over the tag. "To Su from Edmund' she read and flashed a smile at her brother.
"Thank you Edmund!"
Her eyes widened to the size of dinner plates and blatant shock shone on her face as she gingerly picked up a small sky blue leather book with a carving of Susan's bow and horn on the cover. Caspian peered over her shoulder curiously. She gasped and tears were running slowly down her face. Edmund was smiling like he had just won the lottery.
"Oh Edmund…..oh thank you. Oh Aslan I lost this day before we left the first time….oh thank you Ed. How on earth did you find it…thank you, thank you so very much…" she whispered, opening the little book with trembling fingers, revealing faded looping words in a familiar hand. Lucy gasped and even Peter could not hide his surprise. She looked at her brother will tear filled eyes and rushed over to him, squeezing the life out of him in a bone cracking hug. He stiffened for just a moment and then relaxed against her, rocking her back and forth. "Merry Christmas Su," he whispered into her hair.
Caspian was very confused and could not hide his curiosity any longer.
"What is it?" he asked sheepishly and Susan laughed and pulled back from Edmund.
"It's my journal. From the Golden Age. I lost it days before we heard about the stag…I don't know how you managed to find it,'' she said to Edmund and he waggled his eyebrows.
"I have my ways," he smirked as he pulled her in for another hug.
"Merry Christmas Family. I love you all!"
so there you have it! a very Pevensie Christmas. hope you all like it and R&R. i had a heck of a time coming up with gifts so i hope you all like them!