"Are you telling me Erlian is..."

Caspian took both her hands with his own. He nodded his head to her unfinished question. "I still don't believe it to be true, Susan. But I have seen her with my own eyes - I put my life on it that she is no woman."

"This..is all too overwhelming. Why didn't you tell me this sooner?"

"At that time, I feared that information would put grave danger to Erlian's life. You were never left alone, dear Susan, there was always someone watching. I could not risk it."

"How does that information put danger to his life? Is it wrong for a man to love the same sex? It is no crime."

She paused for a moment. This was the first time she ever defended her own husband. Just the words that escaped from her mouth seem foreign and strange, yet..right.

"Uncle never approved of this change Erlian went through."

"You mean Miraz knew of this all this time?"

"Yes."

"How about his mother? Does she know?"

He shook his head.

"Is there no end to secrets in this dysfunctional family, Caspian?"

"It's only getting started, my love. I have seen Erlian before, since he was a young boy to a man. I was certain there was nothing about him. I have seen him court fair ladies who caught his eye. But that stopped since I turned the age of sixteen. He started to attend to brothels almost every night before I go to bed. One time I followed him, I was concerned for he was drunk and not properly dressed. He walked into the brothel and I followed. That was the night I saw a woman in his arms. But I soon found out, since the night - exactly as the story professor told you - in that library she was Clara."

"When did Miraz find out about..her?"

"I do not know. But after I discovered the secret Clara has been hiding, I thought back to the morning when uncle brought in the executioner in the morning of her execution. He ordered the man to cancel any flogging, for he wanted her clothed at all times and wishes her body to be burned right after her head is removed."

"When did you discover she was a man?"

"The day before her death."

Susan gasped. "Caspian, why didn't you tell Erlian this sooner?"

"I was planning to. But the next day, the professor informed me Erlian murdered her - I was too late to tell him on time. When I told him the truth, he was in denial, he never believed me. Our relationship from then on was difficult for a few years. But we managed to endure each other when we're present in the same room..It's disappointing that now I know his efforts were all a deceiving game, he always wanted me gone, never wanted me as family."

Susan embraced her arms around his waist and pulled him in. "It all makes sense now. Oh God, I'm so sorry, Caspian I'm sorry."

His hand went to the nape of her neck. In a quiet voice he hushed her and kissed her head. "Hush, Susan. There's no need for apologies."

"But I doubted you. I thought..I thought so low of you that you could have been with a prostitute. I-I know you better, I can't believe I would allow myself to believe that."

"Shh..We're together now. Do not be drawn to the past. We will make it together."

Tears rolled down from her eyes. Her hand grabbed a handful of the back of his shirt and tightened it tightly.

If only you knew..I already said my goodbyes. How can I do it again when the time comes?

~ General Glozelle entered Erlian's tent. Erlian rose from his hammock once he saw the general.

"Ah, general. What news do you have for me?"

"Sire, the men found her."

Erlian smirked and started his way out of the tent. Strangely, the general paced ahead of him from behind.

"Where is my lovely wife?"

"Sire, I must explain before you see her."

"What is there to explain about, general? My wife is back. That is all that matters for the mean time."

"Sire. A physician tended to her needs and he reported that..that she may had been touched."

Erlian froze in place. "Did she confess that she was raped?"

"She refuses to speak. The physician reports it is trauma. I am certain she would not speak to you either, Your Highness."

"I am her damn husband! She will do exactly as I say, like a good wife should behave."

"Your Highness."

"Leave me. Round up the men, train them or whatever there is you do. I need to see her for myself."

~ The physician turned his back from Susan. She remained seated in the chair one of the soldiers brought in earlier.

She rehearsed mentally over and over of what she has to do the minute Erlian walks in. If she makes one mistake, everything will go to flames. Everything most go as planned - the freedom of her family depends on her performance for the next three following days.

The physician turned back around and kept an appropriate distance away from her. "My final question is this, my lady. When was the last time you bled?"

She did not respond nor look at his eyes.

"You have responded with a only a shake of a head or a nod. But this answer I must know by number. Please cooperate with me, my lady. I must know in order for me to continue with this examination."

Suddenly, Erlian came right in through the closed entrance. The physician turned to face him and bowed his head low.

"Your Highness."

Erlian walked pass him and kneeled in front of Susan. "Excellent work, old man. Now leave us. I wish to be alone with my wife."

"With all due respect, Your Highness, I am not finished with my examination and I strictly recommended to the general to have no one disturb me."

"I am you to be your future king. You will do as I tell you to."

"But, your highness, surely you are concerned over her health, are you not? My examination is very - "

"I will not repeat myself. If you don't do as I say, I will have one of my men drag you out of here."

The physician nodded. "Forgive me, sir. I did not mean any disrespect. Excuse me."

Once the physician left, Susan and Erlian were at last alone together.

He held both her hands and quickly examined her. She was clean and covered with only a shift on and a thin wrap. A few beads of water from her damp hair dripped to her lap.

He smiled as his eyes looked up at her. But Susan gave him no smile or seemed relieved to be under his protection again.

He gave her a kiss on her lips, surprisingly gently compared to his violent kisses he given her before. She cringed from the hard texture of his short beard.

How can you kiss me if you cannot love a woman? Stop forcing yourself.

"I'm relieved to have you back."

She still held her tongue.

"So it's true from the general's report. You do not speak. Come now, wife, speak to me." He closed his eyes and brushed his lips softly against hers. "Give me a sweet word from your own voice, my love. Speak."

It's time. Cry. Cry your eyes out.

Her lips quivered and Erlian's smile dropped for he can feel her trembling. Hot tears pooled her eyes and fell down from her cheeks. He took both her face and wiped each teardrop with the tip of his thumb.

"What is it that you're not telling me?"

"..Erlian."

He pecked her lips and leaned his face closer to hers, allowing their temples to touch. "Yes, beautiful wife. At last you speak."

"I never thought of you so much in my life. What took you so?" She lied.

"It was a challenge to have you found. Thank the gods I found you. Now tell me, have you been touched or not? I wish to know, dear wife."

"I can trust you?"

"Of course, we are united by law, my dearest wife. There should be no secrets between us. Tell me."

He embraced her in his arms. But there is a dark mask casted upon his face, far from the look a true husband wears who's understanding and kind. It was obvious it would be dangerous for whatever happens to Susan if she lies that she had been raped.

"I was in my tent last night when you gave me permission to be excused. But someone came in without me noticing and I was sedated by force. I don't know how long I've been incautious but it was awhile. When I opened my eyes I found myself bounded in a dark cave. And my kidnapper approached me and whispered vile things of what will happen to me if I scream or cry for help. I wept all night and only hoped you'll come and rescue me.

"By morning, I managed to take a dagger from his belt while he slept and I freed myself with it. I ran like the wind, looking for any signs of smoke or footprints on the dirt. But I've seen none or heard a single footstep other than my own. I was so desperate and tired I just surrendered myself to the ground. A few hours later, your men found me."

"You have not been touched then. Thank the gods that is true."

"I don't know if it is true."

His hand went to her neck, holding by the nape of her neck in a tight grip. She gritted her teeth and continued with her weak, distressed character.

"E-Erlian, that hurts."

"Oh dear wife, keep your lips sealed. You have not been touched. You confessed that is true. That is all that matters."

"But it is still a mystery -"

He squeezed his hand on her neck again that made her squeal from between her gritted teeth. "Shh..It is not. Let us not speak of this no more. You're safe now. That's all that matters."

~ Aslan touched the heart of the tree and laid a light kiss on its bark. Caspian took a step back as its roots started to wiggle and remove themselves from the soft earth. The tree was alive.

It turned its form and bowed towards its king.

"Do not bow, my dear friend. I ask for your forgiveness for not waking you sooner. You have hidden yourself in this forest - asleep in this barbaric life for so long."

Flowers started to bloom automatically from its crooked branches. The petals from each one removed from the heart of the flower and gathered around until it formed a body of a woman.

"My king, I wish for no forgiveness. I am honored to have been awaken by your command. Is there a request you wish for me to fulfill?"

"Yes. Your rulers have returned to Narnia. There will be war, however. There are trespassers in our land that I have no choice but to eliminate. I need you to go find the three rulers immediately and warn them they will be rescued within the next three days."

"Three, my king? What happened to the other?"

"She has a different mission to fulfill. Now go, my good friend, there is little time."

"As you wish, Your Majesty."

With that, the petals traveled away along with the wind in search for the three Penvensies.

Caspian watched in awe as the petals flew away until disappearance. "Was that real? My professor taught me the trees never waken for nearly hundreds of years."

"They were aware their existence will go to extinction if your people discovered they were alive. It was a camouflage for them to remain in ground. But now they will be rest for them."

"They will surely fight with us, won't they, sir?"

"No, Son of Adam, they will fight for Narnia."

~ Lucy positioned herself properly on the ground. She raised her arm in a lower angle from the length of her elbow, gripping tightly onto the holt of her dagger. Then, with one try, she darted her dagger straight to the wall. It hit perfectly through the center of a drawn circle - a small circle she drew herself with dirt.

"Bingo."

The flower petals of the tree at last found her. They entered the room between the bars of her window. As it formed themselves to the shape of a woman, Lucy walked toward the wall to retrieve her dagger. She grabbed the holt and pulled the dagger out. But she paused when she saw a shadow appear on the wall. She slowly turned around with her hand ready with the dagger. But a smile curved on her face, full of triumpth as she saw the flowers.

"Do not be alarmed, my queen. I have come here to deliver a message."

Lucy placed a finger on her lips. "There are guards outside. You must keep your voice down or else they will hear you."

The lady of the flowers lowered her voice as she said. "My words will be quick, my queen. Aslan is alive."

"I knew it. What has he told you?"

"He has told me to inform you that you will be set free within three days. Prepare yourself, my queen, and warn the others that are imprisoned here."

"I will. But what about my sister? What about Susan? Is she alive?"

"She's very much alive but I have no knowledge what has become of her. Only that she is the middle of another mission to fulfill."

"Another mission? You mean she is not with Aslan? That can't be. Aslan will never allow that."

"I have no further answers to your questions, my queen. Forgive me."

"No need for forgiveness, there is a war coming, isn't there?"

"Yes. Are you prepared for battle, my queen?"

Lucy clenched tightly to the holt of her dagger. A smirk crept on her mouth, her eyes darkening with an evil yet excited spirit. "I've been born to be ready. Tell Aslan I miss him dearly and to spare one man in the battlefield for he must die by my hands."

"Who is that, my queen?"

"The man my sister was forced to marry."

Sorry I haven't updated. I hope you like this because it took me awhile to type this down. So review and tell me if you hate or like it. And thank you for those who followed me and added this fanfiction to their favorite list. I am very flattered because you see, I really doubted that anyone would read this but I'm glad I was wrong.