'Su!' Lucy cried as water gushed around their feet, from the painting that was seemingly harmless just a minute ago.
Susan ran as fast as she could, considering there was water up to her waist, to reach her younger sister and held her tight as the water slowly engulfed them.
Although Susan was terrified she was also ecstatic, she couldn't believe she was going back! Maybe Caspian would still be alive. Aslan said that she couldn't return didn't he? Would she have to leave again?
But she soon realised the water was creeping up her neck and so she took her last breath before she went under. For a few hideous seconds Susan thought she was drowning, her head was light and she needed air. After what seemed to be ages, but in actual fact was a few seconds, Susan's legs began to kick ferociously against the water, fighting to get to the surface. The air that entered her lungs was almost intoxicating, and for a moment she stayed there, eyes closed allowing her sore lungs to take greedy gulps of the much needed oxygen. But her revere was broken and her eyes flew open when she heard a desperate shout.
'Swim!' was the only word that came out of Peter before he began to swim furiously away from the ship. And too her horror she saw a great ship looming over them.
'Susan, swim' Lucy cried, but Susan needed no more persuasion.
They stopped swimming when they saw four figures dive off the ship, in an attempt to retrieve them from the sea.
Susan felt strong arms wrap around her waist holding her securely and she turned around only to fall into chocolate orbs.
Once they were all on ship the wind whipped around them turning their skin to ice, but none of them noticed, they were all staring at the face of Susan's rescuer.
'Caspian! You're alive' squealed Lucy as she threw herself at the Telmarine king, without hesitation.
Caspian chuckled and hugged her back all the while staring at Susan, drinking on the sight of her, standing there. The intensity of his gaze made Susan blush, but she dared not look away, unless he vanish before her eyes
When Lucy pulled away Caspian unwillingly broke his gaze and looked at them all, puzzled.
'I never thought I'd see you two again' he directed at Peter and Susan.
'Neither did we, but it's great to be back all the same.' Peter said clapping Caspian on the back whereas Susan just slushed even more and tried unsuccessfully to look away from his face. His defined cheekbones framed his face wonderfully. His eyes were lovely and strong, the kind of eyes you'd see in an angel, the kind you could lose yourself in. His hair was wet and wavy perhaps a bit longer and his eyebrows the same colour as his hair where raised in disbelief. He was a bit taller and broader than last time making her thoughts drift away from suitable. He had an air about him he almost fitted in with the sailors around him, he looked ordinary, almost. He was most defiantly a king. He had matured; he had a beard which suited him, although she is not sure whether she prefers it. Susan noticed that he had gained muscle, it was pretty obvious as he was shirtless she nearly gasped and mentally slapped herself as she realised what she was thinking about.
Meanwhile Caspian's gaze drifted back to Susan he was taking in everything about Susan she was dripping wet her hair beginning to curl in the wind. Her thick eyelashes framed her beautiful cerulean blue eyes. Her lips were slightly swollen from the sea water and he could not help but realise how tempting they looked. Caspian noticed how her wet clothes clung to her accentuating every part of her body and with the style of dress he could see her creamy skin.
'Sorry to break up the lovebirds but its freezing!' said Edmund
Susan snapped her head towards Edmund and glared at him.
But as if to prove Edmunds point a strong gust of wind buffeted across the deck of the ship and made Susan shiver, Caspian immediately apologized and took them down to his room where he threw the boys some of his clothes and turned to the girls.
'Sorry we weren't expecting girls so all I can give you are my clothes' Caspian said as he handed them over and hurried out giving them some privacy.
Once Caspian left they began to modify the clothes as Susan was good with a needle she made the trousers the right length and put belts round their middles to make the shirts more feminine, what not show off a little especially with Caspian outside. And when they finished both of them were told to go to Caspian's study.
As soon as Susan saw Caspian again her heart started to pump furiously, he still had that effect on her, surely this must be more than just a school girl crush as her friend(of sorts) had called it, but she composed her face and instead of asking everything she wanted to she settled for asking how long it had been since they left.
'Three years' Caspian told her.
Three years? So much could have happened in that time, she wouldn't blame him if he no longer cared for her. He could have found a queen in that time.
And as if she could read her sisters mind, Lucy asked 'And have you found a queen'
'No' replied Caspian turning his gaze towards Susan who felt relief wash over her as she looked at him mesmerised by his dark eyes until she snapped back to reality when Edmund asked what they were doing on the Dawn Treader.
'Rescuing the seven lords of Narnia whom Miraz banished' Caspian answered for the second time unwillingly ripping his gaze away from Susan's.
Suddenly Lucy shrieked 'My cordial and dagger!' making everyone else jump round to see their gifts too (Susan's at the front, it was securely nestled in its own display.) Caspian handed these things out and his hand lingering on Susan's for a fraction of a second longer than necessary relishing the feel of her skin, the contact made Susan shiver.
Inside Susan was fighting within herself could she let herself fall for him more? Or should she shut him out knowing she only had so much time in Narnia?
When the meeting had finished Susan asked whether there might be something to drink and all four agreed thinking about their parched throats as Drinian led them to the stores compartment and gave them some water Caspian followed wanting to talk with Susan to find out whether she still had feelings for him because he defiantly knew he did.
Susan drank slowly hoping she might be able to talk to Caspian. She needed to tell him how she felt she couldn't leave Narnia again without knowing if he loved her too.
'My Queen I hope-'but he didn't get any further as Susan's lips rapidly descended onto his, all ideas of a rational conversation had immediately flown out of her head the moment he opened him mouth. He instantly returned the kiss. As they broke apart Caspian enveloped her into a bear hug like the one they shared just before she left and whispered.
'I will never let you go again'
'I believe you but…..it would be nice to breath' Susan gasped and he let her go.
They both descended into fits of laughter in each other's arms until 'Land Ho' hurried them up on deck.