Disclaimer: Yeah, I still don't own anything.
A/N: Again, wow! Your support has been amazing, you guys. Thank you! Now, before I get this chapter going I wanted to let everyone that Lilliandil will have a much larger role to play in the story from here onward, and knowing me, the love triangle between her, Susan and Caspian will become more intense with every new chapter. But, unlike many other Susan/Caspian/Ramandu's daughter love triangle fanfics, I didn't want to see the girls hating each other and constantly fighting over Caspian. Instead, I've decided to watch them bond and become friends while Caspian is caught between them, starting with this chapter. :D Anyways, I really hope it was worth the wait and I'll try to update faster next time.
Happy reading!
Chapter Four: The Ugly Truth
After not getting much sleep the night before, Susan woke up to clear blue, sunny skies the following morning. The guards and servants who didn't already know about the Gentle Queen's return were quite shocked, but all welcomed her with warmth and kindness. It was wonderful to be back in Narnia again, to be back with Caspian, Trumpkin, Trufflehunter, and the rest of her Narnian friends, to be back in the one place she and her siblings truly considered home. But meeting Lilliandil and noticing Caspian's obvious affections toward this new girl made her realized how much had changed since she left. And while she wasn't entirely happy by this, she wasn't angry by her presence either. After all, it wasn't Lilliandil's fault that the handsome king had feelings for her too.
"Do you also have feelings for Lilliandil?"
Caspian was a stone while she waited for him to respond. He couldn't breathe a word to her, let alone speak. His silence spoke volumes, though. Susan now knew her first instinct about the pair was true. And he couldn't deny it—not when she could see the truth so clearly in his eyes. He was in love with her. It was a different kind of love, but he loved Lilliandil nonetheless. The only question that remained unanswered was why Aslan decided to send them to Caspian in the first place.
"Why didn't you tell me about this before?"
"There is no excuse for not telling you the truth sooner, Your Majesty. I was just swept away with so many emotions after I had been told you were back in Narnia. I didn't want it to be another dream, so I allowed my…desires get the best of me instead of being honest with you and telling you that I was beginning to fall for someone else."
"Beginning to fall? You mean, you just met her?"
He nodded, "While I was sailing through the Lone Islands with your younger siblings. Edmund was quite taken with her as well."
Giving him a small smile, she wondered, "Are you trying to get yourself out of trouble by informing me that my brother fancied her too?"
"Of course not," he chuckled. "I may be a fool at times, but I am not that big of a fool."
"You're not a fool, Caspian. You just met someone else since I've been away. It was bound to eventually happen anyway."
"But I didn't want it happen like this, my love," he spoke out passionately, taking her into his strong arms. "Not when I've finally got you back in my life again."
"You don't know how happy it makes me feel to hear you say that…" she softly replied, putting on a brave face for him before whispering, "…but we both know I won't stay here forever."
Walking through the castle's long corridors and wide archways, Susan soon came across a small courtyard where Lilliandil was standing, silently watching a blue jay bathe itself in a ceramic birdbath. She was currently dressed in long, sky blue dress with silver embroidery and her hair was partially braided. And although she looked quite content, the Gentle Queen decided to visit her for a little bit and make sure she was indeed feeling better. Making sure not to disturb her while she was busy watching the little bird clean itself, she remained quiet. When the blue jay was finished a few moments later, he flapped his small wings and flew away. Upon his departure, the former Star turned around to leave the courtyard, only to be startled when she found Susan standing right in front of her.
"High Queen Susan," Lilliandil gasped, placing a hand over her heart. "Oh, forgive me. I did not know you were there."
"No, it's my fault. I didn't mean to scare you. I just wanted to know how you were feeling today."
"Still adjusting, but I am feeling much better now. Thank you for asking, Your Majesty."
"There's no need for formalities, Lilliandil. You can call me Susan."
"Of course, Your Maje—Susan."
"Caspian was really worried about you last night before we found you in the woods."
"I did not mean to worry him, but I must admit I am a little curious as to how he knew I was out there."
Giving her a coy smile, the brunette replied, "You're not the only one."
His decision to tell Susan and Lilliandil the truth should have been an easy one. So why was he so conflicted? Why was the fear of their reactions once they knew the truth torturing him so? He wanted to be forthright, to come clean about Aslan's decision to send them his way, but Caspian couldn't help but be afraid. What if they hated him for it? He knew he shouldn't allow "what-ifs" to haunt him like this, that he shouldn't borrow trouble and automatically assume they'll be cross with him. But Caspian couldn't help but feel this way, especially when he cared for both women so very much. He couldn't bear it if they loathed him for creating a situation where they had absolutely no input whatsoever.
Susan had been gone for three years and she had accepted the fact she was never coming back to Narnia. She and Peter had learned everything they could in the magical land last time they were here. They were too old to ever return, just as Lucy and Edmund were now, too. Yet here she was again. And Lilliandil…. How could he let Aslan rip her from the sky and take away the light from her enchanted form without her approval? Neither Susan nor Lilliandil deserved to be treated like some prize to be won, or be placed in a contest to win his heart. But they did deserve the truth, for he could never truly lie to either one of them, no matter how awful the outcome may be.
"If you do not mind me asking, Susan," Lilliandil said while the two sat on a marble bench and ate a late breakfast together in the courtyard, which included warm biscuits with strawberry jam and apple spice wine. "I have always wondered what it was like to live in Narnia during the Golden Age."
"Like living in a dream," the Gentle Queen smiled, thinking fondly of the good memories she made with her siblings during their fifteen-year reign. "The trees were always dancing, and the fauns were always laughing and making beautiful music. Peter and I would take Edmund and Lucy down to the beach at least once every week, and we would all play in the water until we were so soaked we'd have to spend half the day in the sun to completely dry off. We went riding through the woods together all the time. We formed strong alliances with the neighboring countries. And we used to always say that bringing peace to Narnia was the greatest thing we ever did with our lives."
"Was High King Peter really as magnificent as the legends say he is?"
"Yes," Susan nodded with a cherry smile on her face. "He was everything Aslan said he would be and more. Peter never made a command decision without the rest of our opinions, including Mr. Tumnus and the Beavers. He protected us like a father would protect his children. Like everyone else, though, my brother had his faults too. He was incredibly stubborn and arrogant at times. He always had this competitive streak in him, especially when it came to playing in the tournaments. But there was no one better to lead Narnia. He was an amazing king."
"Was it true he would scare off every emissary that came to Cair Paravel who spoke for a prince or king seeking your hand in marriage?"
"With his sword if necessary," she admitted quietly, her cheeks turning a light shade of pink from being embarrassed. "I had many suitors who wanted to court me during our reign, and while that never pleased Peter, I think his biggest fear was that they were only using me for political gain."
"But you never did get married, did you?"
"No, because I didn't love any of them. My mother always taught me that you needed to be in love when you got married."
"It sounds like your mother is a very wise woman."
"What about your family? Where are your mother and father?"
"I have never met my mother, but I have lived with my father for most of my life on his island."
"And what was it like growing up there?"
"Paradise, my Queen," the Star beamed, briefly resting her hand on top of Susan's. "The island had gentle hills covering the entire terrain, with slopes that almost felt like pillows whenever you took a step. The smell of jasmine, lavender, and lilacs filled the air, and birds were always chirping. And every morning before dawn, my father and I would sing a song he taught me as a little girl to help the Southern Sun rise."
"It sounds beautiful, Lilliandil."
"Until the evil from Dark Island started corrupting all goodness throughout the Lone Islands and the rest of Narnia, it was, Your Majesty. It really was."
"I only wish I had been here sooner to help Caspian and my younger siblings defeat the evil."
"So why are you here now?"
She had her guesses, but until she knew for sure, the Gentle Queen refused to worry herself or Lilliandil.
"I don't know…"
After Caspian had been informed of Susan and Lilliandil's whereabouts from Trufflehunter, surprised to learn that they were eating breakfast together in one of the courtyards, the nervous king made his way through the castle until he finally reached his destination. The girls were giggling over something humorous as he came over to them, so deep in conversation that they didn't even hear him walk across the grass until he stood right in front of them. When this happened, they looked up with smiles on their faces, happy and clearly enjoying one another's company.
"Good morning, Your Majesty," Lilliandil greeted him first.
"Morning, Caspian," Susan added.
In spite of the fact that he had feelings for both of them, it still amazed Caspian how different his feelings for them were. While Lilliandil's presence always left him in a dreamlike trance, Susan tantalized him, seduced him, with every graceful move she made. But when he knew naiads would easily surrender their sacred place in nature to be just as beautiful, quick-witted and kind as Susan and Lilliandil, it shouldn't surprise anyone that he fell for them both.
Yet, no matter how much Caspian understood that this needed to be done, the very thought that he was about to wipe the beautiful smiles off their faces was already crushing his spirit and breaking his heart into pieces. Aslan would tell him it's right decision, though. And for that, Caspian would find the strength to tell Susan and Lilliandil the truth about why they're residing in his kingdom.
"May I speak with you both for a few moments?"
"Yes," the girls said together in unison.
"Thank you," he nodded his head nervously, taking a brief pause before moving forward. "I know you both have been wondering why you were brought here and how I knew you were coming."
Susan shifted her weight on the marble bench to face Caspian more properly, while she and Lilliandil continued to listen to him.
"I have been struggling over whether or not I should tell you the truth ever since I found out you were here, but I ultimately realized that I couldn't keep secrets from either of you, which is why I've decided to come to you now."
As another few moments of stillness passed between the trio, neither woman pressed Caspian to spit the truth out. They could both sense his unease and conflicted thoughts about being honest, the pressure building up more with every passing second he let go by in silence.
"The truth is…I have been torn by feelings for both of you ever since I returned home and my people demanded that it was time I settle down and choose someone to become my queen. Aslan knew all this, so he decided that the only way I could choose between you was to bring you both here. He asked that I spend time with you, and that when I eventually knew which one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, she will become my future queen while the other returns home with no memory of what's happened."
"Aslan brought us here so that you could choose between me and High Queen Susan?" Lilliandil asked, a look of shock written across her facial features.
"Yes."
Bowing his head in shame for what he had helped cause, Caspian half-expected at least one of the girls to slap him across the face or yell at him in outrage until dusk, when Susan said the very last thing he expected to hear.
"Choose Lilliandil."
Snapping his head up to stare at her in disbelief, "What?"
"I want you to choose Lilliandil."
A/N: You know, if I wasn't such a cruel person when it came to my writing, I probably wouldn't have left things here. But I am, so I did! Lol! XD
Please review!