Disclaimer: The Chronicles of Narnia and its characters belong to C.S. Lewis. I don't own anything. Anything! (Well, maybe Ben... =P)

This story is the English version of my fanfic Amor e Salvação, which was originally written in Portuguese (id: 5938940). Two good friends of mine have shown me their interest in reading my Suspian stories, so I decided to translate them. This is the first one. :)

Hope you enjoy! :D

Chapter 1 - In Aslan's Country

Life seemed perfect now. There were no wars, no evil, no conflicts, there were no storms. The days were always sunny, the nights were always starry, and the weather was always pleasant.

Caspian watched closely Peter, Edmund and Lucy's happiness. They were now being rewarded for everything they had done for Narnia. Lucy was always smiling. Her confused expression was adorable when she remembered that Digory and Polly were middle-aged people in London – they were in Aslan's Country as well and they didn't appear to be much older than Peter now.

There were also Eustace and Jill, who helped save Caspian's son, Rilian, from the hands of the Lady of the Green Kirtle and centuries later helped Tirian, the last of his ancestry. Now they also reaped the fruits of their good deeds in Aslan's Country, enjoying an eternal happiness, as well as Caspian. However, happiness was not complete to him.

One day, Caspian decided to talk to Aslan in search for answers.

"Aslan..."

"Yes, son? I can see that something worries you."

"Aslan... Why Susan is not here with her siblings?"

"Caspian, haven't you noticed why they are here? Peter, Edmund, Lucy, Eustace, Jill, Digory, Polly... All of them were in a train crash in London... But Susan wasn't. She is still alive out there."

"She's alive... I see... And they are dead... and so am I..."

"I'd rather not to call it death... Life goes on at different levels, and this here is just one of them. This is our real life, Caspian, the place we always return to when we finish our journey in imperfect worlds, such as Earth."

"I understand, but... how is Susan now? She has lost all her family, she is completely alone... My heart aches at the thought that she might be suffering..."

"And she is... Susan lost faith, Caspian. She became futile, caring only about the superficiality of material life. She denied Narnia and disregarded everything she had learned. Now she is suffering the consequences of her mistakes. She needs to go through this another important lesson."

"In part it's my fault, isn't it...?"

"Do not blame yourself, Caspian. Everything happened as it should have happened. But it was Susan's choice to turn against me instead of having faith and believing that everything would be fine. In the end everything is solved, and it would be true for both of you as well. But each one chooses its own path, and I cannot interfere in anyone's free will."

Caspian said nothing. Aslan's words echoed in his mind and he couldn't stop thinking about Susan's fate. He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't even noticed Lilliandil, the daughter of Ramandu, who witnessed the entire dialogue and now watched him silently.

Later that day, Caspian was watching the stars when Lilliandil approached.

"Caspian..."

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"I... I heard your talk with Aslan today...", she said, sitting next to him.

"Did you hear it...?"

"I know you are suffering, Caspian... And I want you to know that I will support you, whatever is your decision. I know you always loved Queen Susan..."

"Lilli, I..."

"Caspian, listen to me: it was not a complaint, not at all. You made me happy, you loved me as much as you could, I am sure of that... But I know your love for me could never be compared to your love for her."

"Please, forgive me..."

"No need to apologize, Caspian... Our time together was enough and I am very grateful for all the love, friendship and respect you have devoted to me, and also for the beautiful son you gave me. You no longer have any obligation to me. I guess it's time for you to search for your true happiness."

"But how? I feel bad for wishing Susan to be here... because it means I want her to die! I cannot be that selfish..."

"What if you went to Susan? What if you went to London to help her?"

"Would it be possible?"

"I think everything is possible for the Deep Magic, Caspian. Ask Aslan. I don't believe he would deny help to someone who have done so much for Narnia. After all, once a queen of Narnia, always a queen... She certainly still has her merits. And I know one thing for sure: there's no one better than you to save her", Lilliandil concluded, smiling.

"Thank you...", he replied, grateful for the attitude of the Star's daughter. "You were a great partner during our years together, always supporting me as a wife and as a queen, not to mention the wonderful mother you were to Rilian. I am very grateful for everything you have done for me."

Lilliandil smiled and touched tenderly Caspian's shoulder, in a gesture of support and friendship.

On the next day, Caspian looked for Aslan again and talked about his conversation with Lilliandil and about his intentions towards helping Susan.

"If this is your desire, Caspian, I will concede it. Although Susan has denied Narnia, I could never refuse to help her, especially if it's your wish. You have done grand things for Narnia. You were a great king, a great leader. You will always have your place in my country, but if your happiness is not complete here, you have every right to search for it. And if your search for happiness can result in Susan's salvation, all I can do is allow and bless your decision."

"Thank you, Aslan, thank you very much!"

"But you'll have to start from the beginning..."

"From the beginning? What do you mean?"

"You will be born, will go through childhood, will grow up, and when the time comes, you will meet Susan."

"But... When I find her she will be much older... Won't it be too late to help her? Not that I don't respect your decision Aslan, but I think she needs help now."

"Would you mind finding her older?"

"No, never... I love her and I would do anything for her, no matter how many decades separate us. To tell the truth, centuries already separate us... and I never forgot her."

"Your love for her is true Caspian, and I'm glad to know that. But don't you worry, that is not what I have in mind for you. Deep Magic acts beyond time and space. You will not be born at the present time. I will send you to the year of Peter's birth, or a little earlier, maybe. You will be born into a noble family which will love you and educate you. Meanwhile, you will not remember Narnia – at least not as something real – neither the reason that led you to that world. But you will always have a strong feeling in your heart, a feeling that a noble mission awaits you. When the time comes, you will meet Susan and then you will have back your memories. Maybe it will not happen immediately, but you will certainly remember everything, and it will be as if you've never forgotten."

"And how will I find her if I won't remember her?"

"Deep Magic is perfect, and I will always be here for it to be fulfilled. Deep Magic will make sure your paths will cross. I'm letting you go to Earth for you to get to Susan and save her from darkness, save her from herself... But I have to warn you: it's up to her to recognize and accept that help, she has her free will after all. Things might not be easy. Are you prepared?"

"I am, Aslan. I will do the possible and the impossible to help her. I will not fail, nor give up my mission. Never."

"So, let it be..."

Then Aslan opened a portal into a nearby tree, similar to that one that led the Pevensies back to London after Caspian's coronation. Aslan was giving him some more instructions when Peter, Edmund and Lucy approached.

Lucy walked over Caspian and hugged him tight.

"Thank you for wanting to save my sister, Caspian!"

"Oh, Lucy ... I'll do everything for her, be sure of that."

"Thank you for what you are willing to do, Caspian ...", Peter said. "It's very noble of you to give up the tranquility of Aslan's Country to face a world so inconstant and imperfect as Earth..."

"I know I will face many difficulties, but I love Susan, you know that... I have always loved her. I cannot be truly happy knowing that she is suffering."

"Good luck, Caspian", Edmund said, friendly tapping his shoulder. "I have faith in you."

"Thank you, Edmund. Thank you all. Until one day..."

Having said that, Caspian entered the portal without any hesitation, and disappeared.

It was the beginning of a completely new life in a completely new world.

That's it, guys! I hope you liked this first chapter.

Although it's a translation of an already existing story (the Portuguese version is now on its fourth chapter), it doesn't mean it's closed for suggestions. I intend to keep the main plot and most of the original events, but I will surely take all the opinions into consideration when translating the next chapters and make some new additions to the story.

One more thing: I'm not a native English speaker, so if the translation gets weird at some point, or if something is not clear, please let me now! I tried to do my best, but who knows... Just PM me and I will correct the mess. =P

Now... Reviews, please! :)