After she was taken

[King Caspian X]

Caspian took both her hands in his and turned to face her. "Susan." he said. "It is not your fault. Aslan merely stated that you would not returning to Narnia. He did not banish you from these lands." The King's voice was not as soft as before, but not angry either. It was much reflecting his emotions to her plan of leaving. "And you will be able to appologize to your sister. We will find her, but we can't do that without your help. Susan, I don't give a damn if that monster comes for me, because If it's the last thing I do, I'll kill it."

Okay, so maybe his voice did hold a bit of anger. But not at Susan, but at the monster and the thought of her leaving. But now his voice softend more as he spoke. "Darling, you can't go. If the beast catches you alone then the same thing will happen to you that happend to your sister. And I will follow you wherever you go. And Narnia will have two Rulers instead of five." Caspian sighed and looked into her eyes. "I love you too, Susan."

[Queen Susan the Gentle]

Susan almost stopped. She had never hear him say he loved her before. It gave her joy beyond measure, yet it hurt her deeply. He would not leave her no matter how she tried. He would not face truth though it was right in front of him. There was no way for him to help her or himself if he stayed beside her where she truly wanted him. If she would leave perhaps there was a chance of his survival like there should be. If she left Narnia entirely perhaps Aslan would be furious no more and return Lucy to safety. But she could never live with herself if he died protecting her. And how could he expect her to enjoy watching as he died?

"If it does come after me I might be able to save Lucy from the inside. I can be with her and together we can escape from whatever this thing is. At least I would be able to see if it truly is Aslan."

[King Caspian X]

"But it's not Aslan." said Caspian. "Don't you think that if Aslan had been upset with you, that he would have taken you? Susan, you were there when Lucy was attacked. If it was the Lion, he would have attacked you." The King shook his head. "And what good will it do Narnia if both of the Queens are held hostage by... by... whatever this thing is that we're dealing with? Then what? No. If you want to get within the walls of the enemy and help Lucy, then we can send a spy or a decoy. I don't want to lose you, too." There was no doubt that the man was troubled by what she had told him. He didn't want her to go. Caspian knew that Susan was strong, but could she really take on this monster by herself, or with Lucy? What if Lucy was injured? So many things could go wrong, and Caspian's deep worry shown on his face.

[Queen Susan the Gentle]

This time she could not move. Her eyes locked with his and the amount of worry scared her. The argument was taking neither of them anywhere and, if anything, it was tearing them farther apart then they needed. for the first time she heard a sound. It was the sound of a dumb bird that could not speak, but still it's voice was comforting.

"I am sorry. It was wrong of me to behave the way I did. I should trust Aslan to do what he knows is best, even if it scares me." She stopped for a moment to lean into his chest hoping he would wrap his strong arms around her as he always did. "But can you promise me that you will not die to protect me. I do not think you will accomplish much, for without you I cannot live."

[King Caspian X]

Caspian did as she hoped he would and said, "There is no need for you to be sorry." he smiled at her, hoping strongly that she would smile back at him. The King's heart fell into his ribcage as she asked for his promise. He truly didn't know how to respond. If Susan was ever in danger, he would protect her. Even if it killed him. It was his wish and instinct. But if she would die after he was gone, then what? Caspian was stuck. He could not promise such a thing to Susan. So he said to her, "If I die to protect you, I hope that you honor my life by living. I pray that you grow old, and die in peace surrounded by Peter and Edmund and Lucy and grandchildren." The King knew that that wasn't what she wanted to hear, but he hoped that she wouldn't push him for his promise.

[Queen Susan the Gentle]

His response was not what she was looking for. Yes, it gave her thoughts that before now she had not thought of and would not speak of. But, would their be a chance to have children; and if there was could their be grandchildren as well? But at the moment this did not matter and she pushed it aside knowing the thought would return eventually.

"I still ask for your word. I am sorry but I must have it before I go on. You cannot die because of me and I will spare you the pain of my death by your actions. If I can feel this horrible because Lucy is missing, not even dead, I cannot imagine what I would feel if you were to leave me. Make this vow, I beg you."

She spoke understanding her words, but not realizing she was saying until they had already passed her lips. Her mind had managed to almost fade as she spoke. But when it returned she found that tears were beginning once more. She closed her eyes and looked away to hide them.

[King Caspian X]

"Susan, I cannot. I will always save you from any trouble that you stumble into. The best word I can give is that I will do my best to survive the obstacles that cross my path." The dumb little bird was still sitting in the tree, staring at them and singing once in a while. Caspian wondered what it could be thinking as it eavsdropped on their conversation. But he also wondered what it was doing here. All of the other animals had left the area. "And you must have my word before you go where?" inquired the King. He didn't want to make her cry, but Caspian couldn't make a promise that he couldn't keep either. "Are you alright?" he asked her when she turned her face away from him.

[Queen Susan the Gentle]

A stupid question, she thought knowing better than to speak these words of course I'm not all right. My sister is gone, probably dead, and you tell me you will willingly die as well. I should have never spoken tonight to begin with. I should have never come here. as she said these things to herself her tears came more and more until she could no longer hold them in and they streamed freely down her face. Once more her eyes began to become red and her cheeks stung from wiping them.

But when she looked up at the one holding her she wanted to very much to stop crying. To know what passed thought his mind would mean the world to her. To have him touch her would probably stop her crying for a moment. But in his eyes was not the love she searched for, but worry and fear. This she could not take and tore herself from him only to run as fast as her legs could carry her away from this place.

[King Caspian X]

Oh great, Caspian! Now look what you've done! he yelled at himself silently. "Susan!" he called after her, running quickly and trying desperately to catch up. "Where are you going?" he called, but no response was given to him. This made him run faster as his heart pounded in his chest so loudly that he could hear it in his ears. Had he said something wrong? "Wait, Susan!" he yelled. The both of them were fast, but she ran from him like a rabbit. Did she even want to be caught? Where was she running to? Was she running from him?

[Queen Susan the Gentle]

She ran. She would hear his voice and refuse to come. She went onward until she could no longer see the forest's end. After a while she couldn't hear his voice, but then again he may be following her.

After what could have been five minutes as well as five hours she could no longer force herself to stand, much less run. She collapsed on her hands and knees with her head dropped. For a long time she wanted to cry, but it seemed she had run out of tears.

When she looked up she saw the amber eyes of a dragon watching her through the darkness. Behind it there was the ruffe of feathers, and then it was gone.

[King Caspian X]

Caspian eventually caught up with her, breathing heavily. "Susan!" he breathed. The King sat down next to her, exhausted. He didn't say anything else. He felt terrible. Why had she run from him? Caspian couldn't do anything else but think this over and over in his head. The man looked around him, noticing how dark it was, even though it must have been only about six or seven o'clock. 'Where are we?' he mouthed silently as he searched for a match in his pocket.

[Queen Susan the Gentle]

"I . . . don't . . . know." she panted she hadn't looked around her and the eyes she had seen and the wings she had heard . . . She didn't know what to make of it. "Did you see that?"

[King Caspian X]

"See what?" he asked her. Caspian still couldn't find a match. With the lack of light, it was colder in this part of the woods. He thought about leading them back towards the castle, but which way was back? The King found no match in his pocket and was disappointed. He wasn't very good at starting a fire with sticks. A soft chuckle escaped his lips, though there was nothing amusing about the situation and he was quite nervous, it was more of an attempt to force himself to calm down and think. The lighting here was horrible, and Caspian could only see the things that were close to him like Susan and a few trees. But beyond that was only darkness. "I can't see anything." he said aloud. But he was thankful that aside from their breathing, it was quiet. The King hoped that that meant no animals were in this area either, but he could have been wrong.

[Queen Susan the Gentle]

Susan could barely see Caspian through the darkness. He had not seen what she had, had not hear it growl. At least he wouldn't have another thing to worry about besides the fact that the two of them were completly and utterly lost in a forest that could last for miles in every direction. But she could never hope to keep her body from shaking due to a combination of fear and exaustion. It was not long before she attempted to stand. As she did her head swam and she felt as though she would be sick. Trees that were still were now racing around her head. And then she could just barely feel as her face crashed with the soil and darkness consumed her entirely so that not even her screaming thoughts could be heard.

[King Caspian X]

"Susan!" cried Caspian. He scrambled to his feet to help her up, but she wouldn't stand on her own. So he laid her back down on the ground softly. The King listend to her heart beat. At least she was still alive and breathing. "Susan wake up." Caspian pleaded, shaking her shoulder gently. He took off his cloak and laid it over her. "D**n this lighting." he cursed under his breath. Caspian looked at her face, but there was no cut or blood that he could see. He sat beside her and ran his fingers through her hair as his eyes flicked from side to side, gazing in all dark directions and searching for anything that might be hiding past the shadows. It felt odd to him, as if he was being watched by forest itself. The King shivvered. He wanted to get back to the castle as soon as possible. Caspian was hungry, and he knew that Susan would probably be thirsty when she woke up. But which way was the castle? He kept asking himself that as he looked around in a circle, not being able to imagine those familiar stone walls in any direction his eyes passed. They needed a map.