Author's Note: Yet another inspired fic. SusanCaspian mode gets me fics. I changed a couple of things...so they would fit the plot. Hopefully, i will be able to finish it, and I won't keep you guys waiting too long for updates. :) Oh, and i quoted some of the first part from the book (all their dialogues, and some sentences), feel free to check it out.
This is pretty much where Prince Caspian ended...
Disclaimer: I do not own the Chronicles of Narnia, or Susan, or Prince Caspian. I just don't.
--
There they were, standing in the elevated platform before their people, who looked up to them with respect and courtesy.
Beside the Kings and Queens was the door. It was formed of two intertwined trees that had a little opening in between them, just big enough to fit one man.
In all its regality, the Door was, somewhat, comforting to the siblings, since they knew that beyond those intertwining trees was their home-- in England.
King Peter had his head high, as if saying that he was going to leave Narnia forever with his dignity. He was determined to face what was ahead of him, and he did not plan to worry if anything got in his way-- he was high king, after all, and he knew quite well that Aslan had a purpose as to why he and his sister were not to come back to their Kingdom.
Queen Susan was the one who pondered on that moment the most. The lingering taste of Caspian's lips were still on hers, and she could not bare to remind herself that she would have to make the lingering taste last for until the day she dies. It was not only that. She took one look at the majestic Lion beside them, and couldn't quite understand how it is that she was going to have to move on without his aid—after all that He'd done for them.
Queen Lucy and King Edmund were not ones to worry--they were, after all, still children, and they both still had the opportunity to return to the magical place. They had smiles on their lips when they stood before the people.
"Come on," Peter said, making Susan jump lightly. She'd not expected her brother to speak up at that moment. "Our time's up."
"What do you mean?" asked Edmund, scratching the back of his head.
Susan was about to give a smart comment, but quickly shoved the thought to the back of her mind. This was not the time to be sarcastic. "This way," she said, a little solemnity in her voice. She understood clearly what Peter meant. "Back into the trees. We've got to change."
"Change what?" asked Lucy, fickle-minded as ever. Her little cliches never ran out.
"Our clothes, of course," said Susan, finally; her motherly side picking up quite fast. "Nice fools we'd look on the platform of an English station in these." She motioned to her emerald gown, and nodded to her sibling's clothes.
"But our other things are at Caspian's castle," said Edmund, a flicker of panic rising to his eyes. He was not too excited to get embarassed in front of everyone in the train station-- he simply hated it when people laughed at him.
"No, they're not," said Peter. He could hear Edmund's sigh of relief in the backround as he reassured them. "They're all here. They were brought down in bundles this morning. It's all arranged."
Lucy's voice perked up in the background as their feet made crunching noises against the grass. "Was that what Aslan was talking to you and Susan about this morning?"
"Yes - that and other things," said Peter, his face very solemn. He paused for a while before he continued to explain. "I can't tell it to you all. There were things he wanted to say to Su and me because we're not coming back to Narnia."
Susan had her head bowed at that time, to hide the tears that threatened to fall from her eyes.
"Never?" cried Edmund and Lucy. Both their eyes flickered from Susan to Peter, begging for them to explain.
"Oh, you two are...At least, from what he said," Peter said, feeling the need to smile to ease the tense air. "I'm pretty sure he means you to get back some day. But not Su and me. He says we're getting too old." He chuckled at the last sentence.
"Oh, Peter," said Lucy. "What awful bad luck. Can you bear it?"
"Well, I think I can," said Peter. "It's all rather different from what I thought. You'll understand when it comes to your last time. But, quick, here are our things."
Peter motioned to clothes, and they all began to change back into their school uniforms. It took quite a while, considering that it wasn't, at all, easy to change from regal clothes to uniforms in the middle of the wood.
They quickly returned to the place of gathering in front of the Door in their uniforms. Some gasped at the unformality of the earth clothes, and some snickered at their Majesties.
Susan cast a quick glance to Caspian, who studied her clothes intenstely, then lifted his gaze to meet hers. She nodded a goodbye to his direction, and then put a hand on Peter's shoulder.
Edmund grasped into Susan's shoulder, and Lucy held on to Edmund's.
The Pevensie children took one deep breath, and one by one, they stepped into the Door.
Susan watched as Peter disappeared in front of her, and she felt a fleeting feeling of butterflies in her gut as she took one look back--at the people, at Aslan, and at Caspian-- then stepped into the Door.
She held her breath and closed her eyes, readying herself for the heavy stench of English subways and old rotten beggars. She braced herself to be blown away by the gust of wind the train often brought when you stood right in front of it.
She opened her eyes, and smiled, as she let out her breath.
There, in front of her, was a vast land of green grass, with fluttering birds and butterflies, and beyond it were mountains and hills, and rocky valleys. She stood, gape-mouthed at the spectacular view. It didn't give her the feeling of comfort that grassy fields and pretty butterflies often brought-- it was, somehow, sad. It was not, at all, home.
She felt like she was lost, as she searched, in front of her, for her brother, to whom she was holding on to before stepping into the door.
Tears formed at the bottom ofher eyes, and they could have almost spilled out if not for the voices behind her. There were whispers, and sniggers, and gasps of disbelief.
It was then that she took the opportunity to turn around, and face those who, so cordially, talked behind her back, literally.
There was, also, the Door, which stood between them, hollow and empty, and not at all promising a comfortable trip back home.
Before her were Telmarines, and Narnians; then there was Caspian, who looked back with sympathy; then there was Aslan, who looked indifferent--like he knew it was going to happen.
She finally found the power to move her legs, and run toward the mass of people, toward Caspian, and toward Aslan, tears falling from her eyes. She proceeded to a halt in front of the Great Lion.
"Aslan, I-I don't undertand..." she began.
"Which is why, Queen Susan," Aslan began, his voice regal, as always. "You are still here."
--
Author's Note: How'd you guys like it so far? I'm readying the second chapter, and I will post as soon as possible.