"Are…are you sure? You do not have to agree because of my poor attitude towards you," for the first time in many years Charles was flustered by a woman. Lucy's hand left his arms and inched towards his face, her touch felt cool yet warm as she cupped his cheek. Oh how he wanted to capture her rosy lips but his nephews glare stopped him.

"I want to marry you Charles." A smile touched his lips.

Caspian cleared his throat, "Yes, well, you only just recovered Lucy, your still not feeling good, we understand- "

"Oh stop it Caspian. I know precisely what I'm saying, couldn't you be happy for us?" Lucy perked her eyebrow at him as if to challenge him but she greatly underestimated her opponent. Caspian crossed his arms as he looked at the both of them.

"No. Now I told you once before Lucy, I would never let this marriage happen and I intended go through with that."

"You think just because you fancy yourself in love with my sister you feel as though you have an obligation to take care of me Caspian? You listen to me Caspian. I've put up with everything since I've been here, if it was anyone else they would suffocated you in your sleep already but seeing how I'm such a generous person, I've forgiven you. But don't you go destroying my happiness for your selfish gain."

At a moments glance you may have though Caspian was hurt but he did what he knows best and mask his emotions before it go the best of him. A look of sheer loathing crossed his features but with a devilish smirk, he uncrossed his arms.

"Take note of this my men!" He said loudly to be heard by everyone. His crewmen stopped as he spoke. "I, Prince Caspian, have decided, only two days shy of the completeion of my journey, to take a wife. Her name is Lucy Pevensie and she shall be the most beautfuil Queen."

A collective gasp passed through the air even by Charles. She felt cold as Charles, with his head bowed slightly, move away from her.

"Charles?"

He looked sadly at her, "I'm sorry milady."

"I can't believe this Caspian, you have no right-"

"I very much do so."

Lucy looked at Charles, "We don't have to listen to him Charles, you and I can married." Lucy knew it was a futile attempt and it was proven as he shook his headly slowly.

"If royalty chooses whomever they want, it is done. I have no say in the matter. Believe me Lucy, I would love to marry you but not with the chance of me losing my profession."

She looked frantically over at Caspian, "You wont make him give up being a healer, would you?"

He dipped his head, "If he gets in my way, that's the least of his worries."

"I became a physician to help people Lucy and it would be a betrayal if I stop…you must understand, they need me…"

Lucy went to hold Charles's hand but she moved away, she was hurt by his sudden onset of avoidance. She searched his face for the truth, that he was only saying it for a front that they will as soon as the sunsets, ditch the ship and run off and get married but she saw no glimmer of hope.

She cleared her throat as she straightened her body, "I see. When are we to be married, my Prince?"

"In a matter of two weeks."

In two weeks Lucy would lose her maiden name. In two weeks she will have to his share his bed. In two weeks she will be tied to Narnia. So this was Aslan had in mind.

"Are you mad?"

Lucy sighed, "No."

Caspian looked over at her as he took off his tunic. Lucy blushed.

"Come now, we are to be married soon, no need to be so shy."

"You don't have to carry on with that. I know you motive and I believe a 'thank you,' is in order. I guess I was acting like a foolish girl thinking she was loved. If Charles supposedly loved me, then he would have fought for me…" She shrunk back as Caspian bent down in front of her. He grabbed one of her hands and a shot of electrcity coursed through her.

"I have every intention to marry you, Lucy."

Everything went still after he said that. She was only aware of her heartbeat and his eyes. Like with his uncle, she was searching them for the truth but curse him, he was genuine.

"And Susan?"

The concentration broke and his grip on her tightened, "Like you said, I need to move on. I've grown tired waiting for her."

"Will it be a happy one?"

"Huh?"

"Will it be a happy marriage?" She asked with caution. Caspian smiled while stroking her cheek with one lone finger.

"It depends on how we make it."

Charles left the ship at the previous port and Lucy was not there to say her goodbyes. It pained her to see that she was fooled by a man, she had always laughed pitifully at girls who depend their lives on men, doting after their aftershave and expensive suits. Caspian on the otherhand seemed delighted to his uncle leave.

But as she layed there that night on Caspians bed (with Caspian, after Lucy kicked him off the bed, literally, on the floor) it finally dawned upon her the situation she was in. She was going to marry Caspian and there wasn't a thing she could do. Her eyes flickered towards Caspian's snoring body. He looked less threatening like this, almost vulnerable.

There was no denying Caspian still wanted Susan. Lucy knew she was the second chance, that if Susan were to appear, with her arms wide open, Caspian would gladly take her. Then Lucy thought back to her older, more beautful sister and envied the life she was having now. Back home where she belongs, with a man she loves and who adores her, with an elaborate wedding in process and Lucy felt the tears prickle at the corner of her eyes. She was here suffering as Susan absent-mindely went along with her life.

No matter how strong Lucy had made herself out to be, she was still a young girl waiting to be cherished by someone. She sincerely hoped life with Caspian would be as she envisioned. As if to prove to herself, she reached down and gently rocked Caspian.

"Caspian?" She whispered in the night.

"…hm?"

"Do you love me?"

"Of course I do," Lucy smiled as she tugged the blankets around her.

"I'll always love you, Susan."

The next two days passed quickly and hour by hour, Lucy was dreading the moment they will arrive to his kingdom. Caspian seemed less crankier and the crewmen were all smiles and laughs yet only Lucy watched solemly on the sidelines.

She caught Caspian signing a document on the other side of the ship, with her heart at her throat, she approached him.

"Please don't do this."

Caspian snorted, "You act as if I am sentencing you to death."

"No…I…I don't want to be in union with anyone just yet. Can't we wait?" She looked at his with pleading eyes but he ignored her.

"Better sooner than later, Lucy," he said.

"I'm not pretty."

"Eye of the beholder."

"I can't cook."

"I have servants."

"I can't clean."

"I have maids."

"I can't give speeches."

"I have political advisors."

"I won't make love with you."

Caspian dropped his quill and with one hand stroking his beard, he watched her with his dark eyes. She squirmed under his gaze and looked down.

"I don't consider making love with you, we'll have sex instead."

She sputtered, "That's the same thing!"

"Is it?" He went back to the parchment.

Lucy stormed away from him and in a fit of furry she slammed her fist on the railing. It must have been all of her adrenaline that kept the pain away because later that night she will nurse her hand in agony.

Muttering to her herself, she paced around in Caspian's room. "…listened to everything you say…took everything….forgived you…took me away from home…almost raped me!"

Even with everything that happened between Caspian and her, she couldn't bring herself to really cancel the wedding. Whenever she thought of her in a white dress with Caspian at her side, she would find herself in a fit of laughter. It all seemed too ludicrous.

"George…not now!" Susan pushed her flirtatious fiance off of her and fixed her bloude.

"Then when Susan? Why do you insist on looking so appetizing?"

Laughing, she stood up, "first of all, I'd appreciate it if you didn't make me out to be some kind of entrée, second, I can't help it, third, quit groping my breasts!"

George groaned and splayed his arm over his head, "Fine. I guess I'll turn in for the night. G'night love." He reached over and planted a soft kiss on her lips before turning off his light and turning away.

Susan sighed, George tried this every other night and truthfully, Susan didn't mind. She turned off her light and pushed her curvy body against his backside. George groaned but didn't turn around. She placed her cheek on his upper back and closed her eyes.

"Hello Susan."

It took a few seconds for her eyes to adjust but then she realized it was raining yet she wasn't drenched. Oddly, she was still in bed but with George completely gone. Cautiously she stepped out of her bed and stood in front of it.

"What's going on?"

Aslan shook his head and unrolled his large pink tongue and stuck it out under the rain. Susan looked at him in bewilderment. Aslan closed his mouth and peered at her.

"This is Lucy's mind."

At the mention of her sisters name, Susan lit up, it had been awhile since she last talked to her baby sister. Last she heard, Lucy was finishing up school and in the process of enrolling herself in a college under the English program, she wanted to be a writer, it suited her.

Susan held her hand out, waiting for it be hit by droplets of rain but an invisible shield was reflecting them. Frowning she turned her focus on Aslan.

"Why does Lucy's mind look like a rainy day in Narnia?"

Aslan was now pawing the ground. Some animalisitc behavours were hard to control as it seems. "Each tree, rock, and grass are metaphors for Lucy's life, each a symbol. "

"What of the rain?"

"It seems as though you sister is in distress."

"What? Lucy? What's wrong? Where is she?" She was in defensive mode as she looked around her.

"She's fine. Only jitters. That is not the point to why I brought you here. I have an important mission for you Susan. But not now, I will come back soon and you shall be prepared."

"But what if I am not? I have a wedding to plan for, I can't just leave my life and come back now-"

"It is for Lucy's sake."

"Lucy is a grown girl, I'm sure, like you said, she is fine. Now if you don't mind, I'd like to go back to bed to my fiance." Susan said fiercly yet a small pit at the bottom of her stomach was scared. However, Aslan only bowed.

"Back to bed you go then."