Caspian X woke up again. This time, a curse escaped his lips.
"Why must you torment me so, Aslan?" he cried.
In the stillness of the night, it was as if he heard Him say, "To test you. Patience, young King."
Caspian could not take it anymore. He missed Susan so much, and Aslan was testing his faith. He just had to believe. And he told himself he would do it for Susan.
In another world, a young woman was staring out the window of her dormitory. The sky lit up with lightning, and the resounding boom of thunder shook the whole place. Raindrops splatted furiously everywhere.
Susan stood in front of the window. She put both her palms on the glass. As lightning flashed, she saw her own reflection. Flushed cheeks, red eyes and nose. For an instant, she thought she saw herself wearing her Narnian robes, in her reflection. No, it can't be, she thought. Narnia doesn't exist. And for a moment, the vision disappeared, and she was wearing her pajamas.
She sighed a sigh of relief and satisfaction. But all was not over. The vision had vanished into thin air, only to be replaced by another. This time, of a man.
"Caspian," Susan whispered in shock.
For awhile, it seemed as if the window pane did not exist. Caspian reached out to touch her hand. He locked his fingers into hers, and leaned in to kiss her. She pulled away, and she removed her hand from the moist glass, as if it had just stung her. Fresh tears escaped her eyes, as she closed them.
"Why must you torment me so, Aslan?" she breathed, and returned to bed. She had a lot of catching up to do, both with her lessons and sleep. She buried herself underneath the sheets.
It was a Friday. Friday was the day when students were allowed to go home. Susan was thankful it was a Friday. That meant that she and Lucy could go home. Both Pevensies did not have one single friend at school, ever since they arrived, three months ago. Oh, how she missed Narnia! How she missed Aslan! But most of all, how she missed the King who ruled her heart--Caspian!
Peter and Edmund were at the gate, at the appointed time, to take Susan and Lucy home.
Both brothers saw that things had taken a turn for the worst.
"Me thinks she doth weep too much," Edmund joked, and Peter nudged him.
The ride home was a silent one. No one talked on the way home. Edmund was much too affected by his older sister's mood to talk, and perhaps Peter was brooding over something else. Was Susan still thinking of Caspian? Was that the reason she was silent? She hadn't been her usual self, ever since they had left Narnia. She had left her heart behind, and she knew that she and Peter could no longer go back. Perhaps, she was anticipating her mother's lectures. Lucy was too sleepy to talk. And even if she wasn't sleepy, she wouldn't know what to say to comfort her sister. And so, they sat in silence.
Caspian X was ready the next morning, as Aslan waited for him. The two trees that served as a portal to England stood waiting. Just as Caspian was about to enter, Aslan gave him His parting words, "Remember, Caspian. You have a duty. A responsibility to your people. I trust you will see to it."
"I will," Caspian said. And with that, he entered the portal and vanished.
The young king emerged through a mirror. He found himself in a strange room.
"This must be Queen Susan's world. England," he thought, looking around in amazement. He caught sight of his clothes. He was still wearing his Narnian garb. The thought of not fitting in gave him quite a shock. At that same moment, two people emerged from door. One was a woman in her mid-twenties, and the other a man in his late forties.
"Ah! You must be the new actor," the man said, shaking his hand, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Sir James. I am to direct the play."
"I'm miss Molly," the woman said, "I see you have gotten into your costume already. And it is quite a perfect fit, as I see."
"Yes, quite," Caspian said, pretending, "But I haven't quite mastered my lines yet."
"Oh, not to worry, young man," the fat man said with a chuckle, "You'll learn it in time. I'm sorry, we haven't been quite properly introduced. You are--"
"Mr. Prince," he said, smiling, thankful that he was able to find a way to blend in well, "Caspian Prince."
"Very well, then, Mr. Prince. Are you ready to read your lines?"
"Quite so, sir. But I am afraid I have to go, as I have a pressing engagement. I shall study my lines at home."
"Very well," said the fat man, smiling, bidding him adieu.
Caspian ran into streets, elliciting strange looks from the public. Of course! He had forgotten he was still dressed in Narnian garb. People were looking at him, and at each other. He could hear them whisper, but he did not care, right now. He wanted to see his love. He wanted to see Susan. A passerby hurled insults at him. In Narnia, he could have his head for that. But now, he was telling himself to bear with it, for the moment. He was not the King, here. Another man came to his defense and said, "Can't you see he's an actor?"
Then, the man turned to look at him.
"Where are you headed, boy?"
"I'm of to see the Pevensies," he answered.
"Ah, you chose good connections," the man said with a laugh, then added, "Why on Earth are you dressed as a prince?"
"As you have deduced correctly, sir, I am an actor."
"Ah! I thought as much. I saw you exit the theatre. But why did you not leave your costume backstage?"
"As I am poor, sir, I have no money to buy new clothes. I left my clothes, somewhere, and when I was to get it back again, a thief had stolen it. I have been travelling and sleeping in these. I managed to convince our director."
"Come, come. I have some clothes that will soothe you best. And you shall have tea with me."
"But my engagement at the Pevensies--"
"Pooh, boy! You can't see the Pevensies in those! Come. After that, you may go to the Pevensies."
"My gratitude and my apologies, sir. You are most kind," Caspian said, with a bow.
"What relation have you to the Pevensies, by the way, if you don't mind me asking?"
"I ask for their daughter's hand in marriage. The Pevensie children are friends of mine."
"Young Susan Pevensie? You don't say," the old man said with a laugh, "Why, she's barely seventeen years of age!"
"She has taken my heart and has not returned it," Caspian said, with a thought.
He dined at the man's house, had a hot bath prepared for him, and was given a new set of clothes. He wore one, packed the others in a suitcase, thanked the old man, and left. As it turned out, he reminded the old man of his son who had died in the war. After leaving the man's house, Caspian asked around for Susan. Some pointed him to the boarding school that she and Lucy attended. He crossed the street, and in a minute was standing in front of the gate. He picked up a pepple, and hurled it at a window.
He called, "Susan! Susan! Psst!"
The caretaker of St. Magdalene's approached the gate.
"Shoo! Go away, boy! What do you want?"
"I am looking for Ms. Susan Pevensie. Does she live here?"
"No, go away!" caretaker replied gruffly.
One of the teachers at the boarding school heard the commotion, and approached.
"Whatever is the matter, here?"
"Ma'am, this man is asking for a Ms. Susan Pevensie."
"I'm sorry, but Ms. Pevensie has gone home. We let the students go home every Friday. You might find her at her house. Just mention Pevensie, and they will point you in the direction of the Pevensie residence."
"Thank you, ma'am!" Caspian said, with a graceful courtly bow, and ran off. At last, he was to see Susan.