All characters and character likenesses are copyright of C.S. Lewis and everyone affiliated with him and his estate. I only own parts of the plot and any miscellaneous characters I may introduce.
This is a heavily alternative universe based on the Chronicles of Narnia series, and I do not intend to offend any purists out there. Again, I own only parts of the plot.
Sorry about the gap between updates. Life and work have been getting crazy lately.
'Return to Gold' – Chapter 13 – Aslan's Decision
Lucy woke early the next morning, well before the light of the sun burst forth from the ocean. She lay on her side, one of Caspian's biceps pillowing her head. He was snuggled against her back, his other arm draped low over her waist. She was so warm, wrapped in the arms of the man she loved, surrounded by a peace that was deeper and more comfortable than anything she had ever felt, save from when she was with Aslan. Lucy could see herself waking up to the comfort of a life with Caspian for the rest of her life.
Please Aslan, don't separate me and my family from Narnia. This is our true home, the one place where we belong. Our destiny is here, especially mine. I'm meant to live Caspian, to live and rule with him, to have his children. We are to restore the Old ways and the faith of your people in you.
With a soft sigh, behind her Caspian stirred awake. Lazily he drew her closer to him, hugging her tight to his body, more of his heat seeping into her, making her almost uncomfortably hot. He nuzzled his face into the back of her neck, making a shiver race though her, wanting to move away and press closer at the same time. A stray though flitted through her mind; if what she felt now was alluring, what would it feel like to make love to him? It was a heady thought, making more waves fissure through her body.
"It's early, go back to sleep." Caspian's voice was rough and deep, breath close.
"I didn't know I woke you."
"I felt the change in your breathing." Another tremor raced through her, noting the intimacy of his words and actions.
"Sorry."
"Don't be." Feeling him shift Lucy lifted her head, letting him pull his arm back to his side. She rolled onto her back as he propped himself up on his elbow, gazing down at her with warm sleepy eyes. "We are already tuning to each other, just as it should be. Poetry again."
Lucy laughed as she shook her head, loving the fact that he opened himself up and spoke the truth. That and the face that he made at himself, discomforted but not disgusted at his flowery words. Caspian chuckled, using his fingers to trace the contours of her face, the atmosphere turning serious.
"You are so beautiful." His words were soft, the barest realization of the thoughts going through his mind. Fire and lightning were left in the wake of his rough fingertips, tugging on her heart and body. "I want you in my life Lucy, and more than just a friend. I wish –"
Lucy gently placed her finger against his lips. He pursed his lips, kissing her finger, eyes solemn and deep. Love bubbled inside her, threatening to spill out of her in tears and words.
"We should see what Aslan has decided before we go any further." She cupped his cheek, feeling the rough bite of his heard as well as the softness of his skin. "I don't want us promising things we can't keep."
"You are right." Caspian sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed. "I should leave and let you get refreshed. I will send a maid to help you."
"Caspian." Lucy jumped out of the bed and moved to wrap her arms around his waist. "I love you. Nothing will change that."
"I love you too, Lucy-mine." He rested his cheek against the top of her head briefly before letting her go. "I will see you shortly."
Lucy watched her heart go with him, her dashingly dark Prince who would be King.
Caspian, after having found a young maid to gather up three other servants to see to the Kings and Queens' needs, he stalked to his room, needing to be alone for a few moments. He had been ready to pledge his life to Lucy's when she had stopped him, to tie himself forever to the youngest Old Queen.
"I wish you would be my wife, Lucy Pevensie, be my Queen." Those words whispered to his empty rooms tore though Caspian. Red pain ripped though him, bringing him to his knees, letting all the emotions he had kept bottled up flowing out. Sobs shook his body as he bowed his head, pulling at his hair. He should have felt relieved that Miraz was gone, but all he felt was pain and the longing for a family. Hot tears burned his cheeks as his lungs struggled for breath.
"Be at peace, my King." Warmth and comfort slid around the young man making him raise his head. Before him stood Aslan, golden eyes soft and liquid. The Great Cat lowered his head and breathed his breath onto Caspian, washing way the worst of his pain.
"How can I?" Caspian remained kneeling, but now he sat up tall. "You are ripping away what little happiness and hope I have found. I have no family, I have never known love, but Lucy and her siblings offer me both as well as the hope for a brighter future for the kingdom. Without them, without Lucy, I am no King."
"You are wrong, young one." Aslan stepped closer, whiskers brushing Caspian's damp cheeks. "You are more than capable for the future that awaits you. Lucy has faith in you, as do I. Having them return to their world would not take away your ability to rule."
Cold fear gripped Caspian, stealing his breath and making his heart pound.
"They are leaving?"
Aslan sighed, closing his eyes. Minutes passed as Caspian waited, barely breathing, praying as hard as he could that they would not be ripped away from him.
"I have not yet decided." Aslan faded away before Caspian could react to the lion's words. Staring at the spot the true King of Narnia had stood, Caspian felt hope bloom in him, delicate and fresh.
Caspian barely remembered washing and dressing, mind spinning with the possibilities of what the future could hold. Even breakfast, a loud and lively affair held in the long main hall for all of the fighters didn't impact Caspian. Beside him Lucy sat as quiet as he was, her family telling everyone that they were still exhausted from the battle. It was true in a way, he still felt drained, but being near Lucy was helping replenish his energy.
Once breakfast was over, Caspian was able to pull himself out of his own mind to attend the business at hand, dealing with the remaining Telmarines.
"I say we give them a choice." Peter spoke softly. "Offer them the chance to live here in peace, or return to Telmar."
"That is the fairest thing we can offer them." Susan nodded.
"What say you Aslan?" Edmund asked the lion as he padded up to the five royals, silent on his paws.
"They are not from Telmar, King Edmund." Caspian looked sharply at the cat.
"What do you mean?" Caspian asked, feeling that he already knew the answer.
"They are from our Kings and Queens world."
"You mean there were others that have crossed over?" Lucy sounded disappointed, and Caspian took her hand, trying to reassure her. Aslan saw her return his hold, eyes unreadable.
"Call a meeting, my King." Aslan instructed Caspian.
"You can either stay peacefully here in Narnia, or Aslan can return you to the land of our forefathers." Caspian stood on the same balcony as they had the night before, backed by the majestic tree that shaded Lucy and her family where they stood off to the side. He stood tall in his blue green tunic and buff pants, dark hair rippling in the breeze. Lucy was dressed in darker shades of blue green, the color more turquoise than ocean as his were.
"It has been generations since we left Telmar." One man spoke up.
"Caspian was not referring to Telmar." Aslan spoke up. "Your forefathers were ocean traders and brigands from another world, the world of our Kings and Queens."
At first Lucy couldn't believe others had crossed over. Sure, Professor Kirk had crossed over, but then he seemed like the type of person Aslan would let into Narnia. She was surprised to learn that He had let pirates into Narnia. The she realized that if the first 'Telmarines' hadn't crossed over, then she and Caspian never would have met and fallen in love.
Lucy felt that time was running short as she watched nearly all of the Spanish skinned people step through the door that had been revealed through the roots of the tree behind Caspian. Everything in her screamed for her to get as far away from the door between the worlds as possible, fancying that she could feel the world of her birth pulling at her, trying to suck her back in. England and the rest of the world held no appeal to her, all the magic that may have been there having died long, long ago. She knew that if she were forced to return, she would fall into depression worse than the disappointment that she had felt for the past year.
Once the Telmarines had stepped through, Aslan turned His attention to Lucy and her family. She felt the need to act, to confront the Great Cat. Boldly she approached Caspian who held out his hand to her, able to read her thoughts in her eyes.
"I have decided Aslan, whether you have or not." She told him, twining her fingers through Caspian's. "I am staying with Caspian."
"Lucy!" Susan sounded scandalized, but Lucy didn't care.
"Leave her be Su." Peter told her. The oldest of the four moved to stand beside Lucy and Caspian. "While my reasons my reasons are different, I have also decided to stay."
Love and hope filled Lucy as Edmund also moved to stand with them, leaving Susan standing by herself in the shade. Lucy wasn't sure if it was a trick of the light or her imagination, but she thought she saw relief and guilt flash across her beloved sister's face. It was in that moment that Lucy knew that she and her sister had grown far apart. They were still family, nothing would change that, but they were no longer as close as they once were.
"I can't stay." Susan slowly moved out of the shade, revealing a pale face and eyes, as if she were a shadow of who she once was. She looked as she did back in England, without the life and luster that Narnia instilled in everyone who stayed there very long. She seemed out of place in the magical world, dull in even the magical light of the Narnian sun.
"I don't belong here." She told them, only a hint of sadness in her eyes. "I belong in the real world, not some fantasy."
"This is real, Susan, or have you forgotten the Narnians that were lost in battle?" Edmund asked coolly, ever still the Just.
"I haven't forgotten." Susan shook her head. "But this is not out world, we don't belong here. England is our home."
Beside him Caspian felt Lucy slide closer. Wordlessly he removed his hand from hers and wrapped it around her shoulders, offering her all the support he could. It appeared that Susan wanted to return to her world. He could feel the disappointment from not only Lucy but Peter and Edmund as well.
"Enough." Aslan spoke softly but firmly. He joined their group, tail swishing and eyes observant.
"Is this your decision?" He asked them all. "The three of you stay here for all time while Susan returns to England to live out the rest of her life."
"Yes." There was no hesitation in the three of the siblings that wanted to stay while Susan remained silent. Caspian was astounded to see that the group was so willing to break apart, to let one of their own leave them forever without a fight at all. Aslan looked between the four siblings and Caspian, ears flicking back and forth, tension beginning to coil in his gut.
"Very well." The Lion sighed, looking into the eyes of each of them in turn. "But once the magic fades, there is no going back. Susan will return to England, never to return to Narnia. The three of you will never be able to cross back over. You will not be reunited until you join me in my country. Is that clear?"
"Yes, it is." Susan said resolutely, but something in Caspian whispered that even then Susan wouldn't be there, having moved far beyond the reach of Aslan and Narnia.
"Then I bless you in your journey, my child. Say your goodbyes and then step through."
Susan hugged each of her siblings woodenly, and Caspian could tell that the three of them knew that they would never see Susan again. They seemed resigned to the fact that the black haired queen had changed beyond all reasoning. Caspian didn't offer a hug, and neither did Susan. There were no tears shed, all of them knowing that there was no way to change the outcome.
"I love you all." Susan told them finally as she stepped back. "I always will, but I don't belong here. I will never forget you."
Caspian felt Lucy hide her face against him, not wanting her sister to see her tears and not wanting to watch Susan walk away from the world that she loved forever. Susan, taking a deep breath, turned and walked calmly through the doorway, never looking back. Caspian stroked a hand down Lucy's back.
"Thank you Aslan." Caspian bowed his head to the cat, Peter and Edmund following suit. Lucy simply turned her head and smiled at Him. Aslan simply smiled before turning to close the doorway completely. He looked to the Kings who both smiled and nodded to him. Caspian returned their nod and laid his head on top of Lucy's, knowing that the future was nothing but bright and full of hope.