Full chapter title: There's A Place Out There For Us
"Caspian, you're still awake? What are you doing up?"
"I'm alright, Susan. I'm just looking over these maps of the sea."
"Come to bed."
"I won't be able to sleep. Aslan said it himself. My ancestors were seafarers and pirates. I should explore the sea. I'm a king of Narnia and Emperor of the Lone Islands, and I haven't even been to the Lone Islands yet."
"To get to the Lone Islands, we would have to go past Terebinthia. It's hardly safe for any of us to go anywhere near Terebinthia, let alone you."
Susan sat down on Caspian's lap, wanting to steady the weight of her second pregnancy.
"I know why it's not safe for you, and Peter, Edmund, Lucy, Kayla, and the children."
"It would be like when Aslan died on the Stone Table, the way Kayla reacted. She threw up so violently that it knocked her unconscious. We would all react like that if we get too close to Terebinthia."
"It would be safe for me to go to the Lone Islands, and past Terebinthia, wouldn't it?"
"Yes, because you're not the Narnian king my dear cousin Conláed would want to harm. That would be Edmund and Peter."
"Just speaking out of curiosity, what would happen if you, Lucy, Peter, or Edmund were to go past Terebinthia? Just past it, not to it."
"Conláed would sense we were there, especially if Kayla was there. He would most likely think that we were there to take the throne from him."
"You know, I would never put you in danger if I can prevent it."
"I know that. Like when I was dangling from the how during the battle against Miraz."
"Peter and I could honestly only stand there. I wanted to run over there to catch you if you fell, but Peter wouldn't let me."
"Because if the stones of the how fell on both of us, then what would happen? We needed you to stay alive."
Caspian placed his hand on her belly and felt their baby kick at his gesture. The baby never really moved at anyone else's hand, not even Susan's hand. Only ever for Caspian.
"What do you think this one will be?"
"I didn't have the mother's instinct last time, but it was even said I would be a disgrace to you if our first child was a girl."
"I remember."
"The funny thing about that is, it's what comes from the father that determines the gender. So all those times king Henry VIII of England blamed his first and second wife for not giving him a son, it was truly his fault. His daughter Elizabeth was everything he wanted in a son."
"I was just happy to finally have the chance to be a father, and I was happy that you and Rilian both made it through safely. And I've been wanting a daughter that I can spoil like the princess she is."
"Then you better hope you gave me one."
Just then, the doors to their chamber opened, and little Rilian walked in.
"Rilian, what are you doing awake?"
"I sneaked past my nursemaid because I want to sleep next to my Mama and my Papa and my baby sister."
"You think it's a girl too, Rilian?"
"I hope so. I want a baby sister."
"Well, come on. Let's all climb into bed."
Caspian helped Susan get underneath the covers comfortably and even opened the windows in case she got hot during the night, while Rilian waited by the fireplace for his father.
"Can you tell me a story, Mama?"
"What story do you want to hear?"
"How about I tell you a story, Rilian, while your mother gets some rest. She needs it."
"Alright, Papa. Go to sleep, Mama."
"I will my baby boy."
"I'm not a baby anymore, Mama."
"You will always be my baby boy, Rilian. Even when you are old and grey."
Susan kissed Rilian and Caspian both goodnight again and turned to fall asleep.
"What is the story, Papa?"
"The story of how I met your mother. I had expected the kings and queens of Narnia to be older than they were."
"What about Uncle Ivar and Aunt Kayla?"
"The same thing with them. They are a king and queen as well."
"Of Ettinsmoor and Terebinthia."
"That is correct, my boy. It was your Aunt Kayla who brought you out of your Mama's tummy and into this world."
"I heard, I heard Mama had a hard time bringing me here."
"She did. The midwives were scared to deliver you but Kayla stepped in. I was in the room when the midwives didn't want me to be in there, but Kayla threw them out. I was right there comforting your mother while she leaned against me."
"And Mama is better now."
"Yes, she is. But when I met the kings and queens of old, I noticed they were around my age. I looked at each one, still not believing that these six children were the kings and queens of old. My eyes last landed on your mother, and I knew she was Queen Susan the Gentle. Professor Cornelius had told me she was a queen of great beauty. I looked at her, and thought to myself the stories were not detailed enough about her beauty, let alone her fierceness."
"Who is the fiercest queen of Narnia, Papa?"
"That my boy is a very hard question to answer. They are all three very fierce and all three very brave. They have all three led armies into battle. I think their bravery is in the blood, as it is in your."
"My blood Papa?"
"Yes. You are the first great-grandchild of Aslan, and your Mama is carrying his second great-grandchild."
"But Mama said that all of Aslan's children died, didn't they, Papa?"
"Five out of six our gone Rilian. Your Aunt Kayla remains."
"I hope to meet his other children someday."
"This whole family will one day, Rilian. We all will."
Rilian curled into his father's lap as Caspian rocked his son to sleep. Just six years ago, it never even came across his mind that he would ever be a father, let alone be married, let alone be a king of Narnia, let alone be alive. Caspian then carried Rilian to the bed and tucked him in between himself and Susan, and kissed all three of them goodnight. His son, his unborn child, and his wife.