I've Been Waiting So Long
Word spread fast that Queen Susan had returned to Narnia along with her brother and in the company of two Telmarines. When they were alone Susan explained everything that had happened to Peter, leaving out the parts about her and Caspian. After she clarified several times that Caspian meant to fight Miraz for his kingdom and give the Narnians back their land, Peter agreed not to send Caspian away. For the next three days Susan and Peter spent all their time together, talking about everything that had been happening since they both returned to Narnia, and both expressing their concerns as to the whereabouts of Edmund and Lucy.
Peter explained that he had gone to the bathroom while at Jacob's house and when he looked in the mirror he had seen himself the way he had looked as a king of Narnia, and when he had gotten closer he had fallen through the mirror and into Narnia. At first he had been confused as to what had happened, but then he realized where he was and he was overjoyed, but he wondered how it was that he had come alone. He walked for days, leaving both markings knowing that if Susan, Edmund or Lucy saw them they would know that he had left them, until finally he had found the Narnians who had instantly recognized him. They had told him everything that had happened since they left, and Peter had sworn revenge on the Telmarines for causing such pain to his people. He had been overjoyed to receive his sword, but had become concerned when Susan told him that Lucy and Edmund had been at Cair Paravel as well, before her, Caspian and the Doctor had gotten there, and she admitted that she believed that that was where they had arrived. Peter had calmed down when she told him that their chests had been emptied of all the possessions that they owned that could be useful if ever encountering a Telmarine, but he was still concerned about them wandering about Narnia alone.
On the third night in the Narnian city, Susan noticed that Peter seemed to want to speak to her alone, so after they had eaten dinner along with Caspian, the Doctor, Trumpkin, Nikabrik, Trufflehunter and Reepicheep and everyone else had retired to their dormitories Susan had followed Peter into his room.
"Susan, you travelled with Caspian for eight days, am I right?" he asked. Susan bit her lip. She had been expecting this conversation.
"Yes, that's right" she said, trying to remain calm.
"And the Narnians only joined you on your seventh day of journey, correct?"
"Yes"
"So did you two not… click, or something? Because you seem extremely hostile to each other for two people that spent seven days with basically only each other for company"
"No, we got along great, we just got into a bit of a tiff is all" she said, trying not to burst into tears. Not talking to Caspian had been much more difficult than she had initially expected, and she had expected it to be difficult.
"A bit of a tiff? Susan, I haven't seen you two exchange a word since you arrived here, and when you got here you had obviously been crying. Susan, what happened?"
"Nothing happened…"
"Don't lie to me Susan"
Susan sat on his bed and put her head in her hands. She could feel the tears welling up in her eyes as she told Peter everything, about every conversation they had, about how he made her feel, about how their hands fit perfectly together… and about how he had basically confessed his feelings to her and she had had to reject him because she knew she would have to go back to England. By the time she finished she was bawling, and Peter was hugging her and comforting her in a way that only a brother could.
"It's not your fault… he must know how badly you want to stay here forever. Honestly Susan, I want to stay here forever too. If I had the choice I would choose Narnia over England hands down, but the way things are at the moment I don't really think we have the choice"
"That's what I told him" she mumbled.
After a few seconds of silent embrace Peter kissed her head.
"Why don't you go for a walk?" he suggested, "The fauns play beautiful music at night"
She nodded, wiping the tears from her cheeks and eyes, leaving her brother.
The Narnian city was deserted at night, except for the fauns who all sat by the door of their houses and played their music and even though every faun played a different tune they all mixed together perfectly to form the most beautiful music that Susan had ever heard. She found a lone tree and sat under it, letting the sound of the music surround her.
"Your majesty" she heard the Doctor as he sat down beside her.
"Doctor" she nodded courteously. She had asked the Doctor time and time again to call her Susan, but he refused.
"Is there… something on your mind, your highness?" he asked. Susan bit her lip, remembering how many times Caspian had asked her a similar question and she forced herself not to cry.
"Doctor… is there a way that my brother and I could… remain in Narnia? As in not return to England?"
The Doctor thought about her question.
"I do not know" he answered truthfully, "Perhaps"
"Please explain" urged Susan.
"The Telmarines" he started, "Their origins do not simply date back to Telmar. They are sons of Adam and daughters of Ever, the same way you and your siblings. They also came from your world, and yet managed to remain in ours"
"So there must be a way" she said hopefully.
"Only Aslan knows" he said. Susan sighed.
"Aslan… I had expected him to show up by now" she admitted.
"And why is that my queen?"
"Well, last time we were here…"
"Ah yes, but things never happen the same way twice" he answered, cutting her off.
"That sounds like something Aslan would say" she mumbled.
They sat in silence for a few seconds, both consumed in their own thoughts.
"I must leave you, your majesty, but if I may say something else?"
"Please"
"There is a fabulous tailor here. Might I suggest a change of attire?"
"Thank you" answered Susan, knowing she had been wearing the same outfit for over ten days. There were mud stains and rips all over it, and she wondered how her mother would react if she saw her uniform in its current state.
"Good night my queen"
"Good night Doctor"
xxx
The next few nights Susan wandered the Narnian city, discovering many secret hideouts and the best places to enjoy the faun's music. The tailor had made for her the most beautiful dresses she had ever seen, and she was in constant fear of tearing them or getting them dirty. Since she was no longer talking to Caspian she spent most of her days with Peter, but when he met with Caspian to discuss ways to proceed with their attack plan, she would wander the city alone, taking every thing in.
On the seventh night of her stay in the city Peter joined her on her nightly expedition, wanting to know what it was exactly that she did when she was alone. They settled in a small opening between the trees only a few metres away from the city, the place that Susan had deemed the most private place to listen to the music.
"Do you think we have a chance of winning?" asked Susan. Peter sighed.
"Yes, I believe we do. The Telmarines will never see a Narnian attack coming, they believe we are extinct. With Caspian and myself leading our troops we have a very slight chance of failure"
"I hope we find Edmund and Lucy before we go off" mumbled Susan.
"As do I" agreed her brother, "But the chances of that happening are extremely slim. We are lucky to have found each other!"
"You are lucky to have found the Narnians" said Susan, and Peter nodded.
"Indeed"
They sat in comfortable silence for several minutes, Susan laying her head on his shoulder.
"I've been waiting so long for this" whispered Peter.
"For what?" asked Susan.
"This. Our return to Narnia."
"So have I" said Susan, "But I would not have been had I known how difficult it would be to leave"
"Let's not speak of leaving" said Peter, "We do not want to get in a… tiff, like you and Caspian did"
"Let's not speak of Caspian either" said Susan sternly, "Every time I hear his name my heart skips a beat, and I do not like it. It is killing me not to speak to him and I wish I had the courage to approach him and apologize"
"Alright" said Peter.
"How long were you here before we arrived?"
"Only a day"
"And yet you were already their leader as if you had been here forever"
"It was quite strange, at first they thought I was a Telmarine. I was of course confused as to why they would think me as such, for when we lived here there were no Telmarines in Narnia. When I cleared up that I was no Telmarine but Peter Pevensie, High King of Narnia they instantly proclaimed me their leader"
"And they believed you just like that?" asked Susan, remembering how Reepicheep, Trumpkin, Trufflehunter and Nikabrik had instantly believed she was Queen Susan when she had told them her name.
"Indeed. They said they had been expecting me for quite some time, but were confused as to who had summoned us"
"Caspian" mumbled Susan.
"Yes. It makes sense now"
"We should be getting to bed soon" said Susan, guessing that they would not be able to avoid the two subjects that they were desperately trying to ignore for much longer. Peter nodded and helped her too her feet. They walked in silence, listening to the music that the fauns played. Every night it was different, and every night it seemed more beautiful than the last.
"Good night Susan" said Peter when they reached their quarters. Susan nodded and quickly changed into her night gown and curled up in her soft bed, wanting the constant thoughts of Caspian to finally cease once and for all.