Chapter 3

Susan lay in her bed. She stopped crying and shivering. She felt numb. The only thing she could do was pray to Aslan in hope that he would help guide her brothers and Caspian in rescuing her. She knew that if help didn't come soon she will die of infection. She also knew deep down that she had to keep her faith in Aslan because he will help in some way in the end. She prayed to Aslan over and over again. At the same time she was preparing herself for what Miraz was going to do to her next.

Peter was sharpening his sword in his tent with Edmund. They were both getting ready to go back to the Telmarine castle to save their sister.

Caspian entered their tent and addressed them both.

"High King Peter, King Edmund, I would like to join you in your rescue of Queen Susan," Caspian asked.

"Caspian we planned on doing this by ourselves. We need you to stay here just in case something goes wrong. You need to lead the army against Miraz," Peter explained.

"I know what you want me to do but what I need to do is go with you. I know the castle so well that if something was to go wrong we can change our plan and I can help."

"That's a very good reason but I don't think that is the real reason you want to go," Edmund said with one eyebrow raised.

"Well actually…"

"You like Susan! Don't you?"

"Uhm… I… Yes," Caspian confessed.

The three boys were quiet for a minute.

"Let me make this clear. If you go with us, you don't ruin it by going after Miraz unexpectedly. All we do is get Susan and get out as quickly as possible so nobody else dies," Peter explained.

"Okay. I understand. Simply get in and get out. So you are letting me join you right?"

"I guess so. But just remember that I lead this mission and my word is final," Peter said sternly.

"Of course High King Peter," Caspian started to exit the King's tent.

"And Caspian?"

"Yes?"

"It's Peter, just Peter and just Edmund. No need for formalities."

"Yes High… Peter. Thank You."

"Be ready in an hour and a half."

"Yes." With that Caspian left the two Kings to contemplate Caspian's Confession of his feelings for Susan. They also wondered if Susan felt the same way.

Susan dreamed of Caspian that night. She didn't want to admit it but she felt something when she was around him. She had many suitors when they last ruled over Narnia. She also had many guys falling for her in England but she never felt anything like she did when she was near Caspian. Of course she had no idea if he felt the same. Being in this predicament made her think about what could be between them. She even told herself that if she saw him again she will tell him about her feelings for him. She didn't want something to happen and regret never telling him. She didn't even care if he said he didn't feel the same. At least she would have it on her conscious.

All she could see when she closed her eyes was Prince Caspian staring at her and looking absolutely gorgeous and rugged. She had never seen anyone so handsome in all her life. She only hoped that she would be able to see him again. Her thoughts were interrupted by the cell door banging open.

"Miraz wants to see you again," the guard barked at her.

Susan gently got up and followed the guard to the same room she was last in when Miraz hurt her. She was ready for whatever he threw at her and she will not give up any information. The guards sat her in a chair this time and tied her hands behind her back. She had to wait again for Miraz to show up.

Finally Miraz arrived and he looked pretty happy.

"What has gotten you so happy," Susan asked.

"Well we are so close to finding your camp. The bridge is almost done and soon we will be at your camps doorsteps ready to attack."

"You should probably take in to fact that my brothers are smart and strong and with Caspian on our side you have no chance."

"On the contrary, I think I do have a chance because I have the greatest bargaining chip."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes. You!"

"You should know that my brothers are going to rescue me. You won't be able to use me as a bargaining chip."

"Oh you think you are going to be rescued. Your brothers will never be able to infiltrate my castle. Security has been increased since you and your brothers last infiltrated my castle. Your chance of being rescued is zero to none."

"You just wait. My brothers will find a way. They would never give up and they will kill you for what you did to me."

"Oh then they are going to hate me even more after this."

Miraz backhanded her. Her head snapped to the side and she winced in pain.

"You can forget about being rescued because the next time you see your darling siblings and your sweet Caspian will be in the afterlife."

He hit her again but this time on the other cheek.

"I want you to tell me everything about your camp."

"Even if my brothers don't come for me I will never tell you anything. The Narnians will win this battle no matter what happens to me."

"Why do you think that?"

"Because we have one thing that you will never have."

"What's that?"

"Faith in Aslan!"

"A fairytale. He is just a myth."

"Maybe to you but I never lose faith in Him."

"Well he isn't here to save you, huh?"

"You just wait and see."

"Let see if he will let his darling Queen suffer this."

A guard approached with something in his hands. Susan couldn't quit see it though. He set it in the fire that was in a little cove in the wall. Miraz took out his knife and cut the sleeves off Susan's dress. Her chest guard had been removed earlier. After a minute the guard took the iron stoker out of the fire and handed it to Miraz.

"We shall see how much faith you have in Aslan after this."

Miraz put the hot end of the stoker onto the side of Susan's arm. Susna was able to stifle her scream as she gripped the chair.

He kept branding her skin with the hot stoker. Tears stained her face. He had branded her six times three places on each arm and then he moved to her legs. He had to re-heat the iron though. As the stoker was in the fire he moved her skirt up so that it was just past mid-thigh. Susan protested and squirmed around in the chair. He took the hot stoker and branded each leg three times as well.

"If the scars on your back wasn't good enough then these burns will always remind you of the time that Aslan didn't come to save you."

Susan was so tired of crying she didn't answer back.

"Throw her back into her cell and don't give her food until I say so."

The guards untied her and grabbed her arms. She cried out in pain when they touched her burns. They ignored her moans of pain and dragged her back to the cell. They tossed her onto the bed and left her onto the bed and left her there as she cried herself to sleep. She dreamed of her family again and what it would be like when they came for her.