The Trial

[Kioh]

"Don't be scared." said Kioh. "I heard something, as if a creature was flying through the air with feathered wings. But they're gone now. No one knows of this cabin, nor would they be able to find it if they did. You're safe." the elf told her. But he bolted the door just to be certain. Kioh wouldn't let anything happen to her.

[Queen Susan the Gentle]

She went to him and held his hand still unsure if he could feel it. "I was afraid that you would be dead by the time I reached you. But I'm here now."

[King Caspian X]

"I'm alive." he said, closing his hand around hers.

The nurse placed both hands over his chest and began beating firmly against his heart. "When I tell you," she said, speaking to Susan, "Tilt his head back and blow into his mouth as hard as you can. We have to get his lungs to expand."

Caspian couldn't hear any of this. He could only feel the violent blows against his body, and hope that it Lamont had not returned in his moment of weakness.

[Queen Susan the Gentle]

susan nodded as she heard her orders. She held Caspian's head with her free hand already keeping it tilted. At the nurse's command she put her mouth around his mouth and breathed in for as long as she could hoping she was doing as she should.

[King Caspian X]

Caspian was forced to lie still in confusion as the old woman, or at least he hoped it was the old woman, beating on his chest, and his wife blowing into his mouth. "Susan... please tell me that's you on my lips..." he thought. He'd have to wash his mouth out with soap if it was anyone else.

[Queen Susan the Gentle]

"It is," she thought when she pulled back for only a moment to breath for herself. when the nurse nodded she went back. "I wouldn't let anyone else try it. Even before you die you're still mine and no one elses."

[King Caspian X]

"Good." he thought, because he couldn't do anything more. But whatever they were doing was beginning to work. He felt his lungs begin to shake, before expanding and allowing him to breathe. The air brought oxygen back into his blood, and his heart, though slowly, began to start again. Caspian's eyes opened to see Susan's face directly in front of him. He lifted his arms and pulled her down, kissing her.

[Queen Susan the Gentle]

Susan almost pulled his arm away not wanting him to drain his strength with a kiss. But she could feel his breath now. He was alive now. She kissed him back opening her eyes to see color returning to his face. When she closed them again she felt two happy tears fall from her face. "Baby's gonna have a daddy." She thought hoping they were still connected even though the threat had passed.

[King Caspian X]

"I know." he thought back to her, only breaking their kiss once he sat up. He needed to breathe for now. Kissing, as badly as he wanted to kiss her, would have to come later. Caspian leaned against the bed, just taking a moment to inhale and exhale.

"Gave us quite a bit of a scare." said the nurse. "You've got your father's blood, it seems." she told him.

[Queen Susan the Gentle]

"That and his mother's," She knew all too well that it was the demon blood that made him strong enough to survive as much as he did. She did not kiss him because he pulled away but she wanted too. Never before had she been so scared.

[King Caspian X]

Caspian nodded, still not speaking for a while. When he was finally satisfied that his heart would not fail him again, he said, "Thank you, for you help."

"It is my pleasure and duty." replied the nurse.

"What caused it?" asked the King, curiously. He knew very well that heart attacks were deep within the Royal blood. The stresses and pressure of ruling millions of people built up over the generations, until heart attacks became a common thing for the throne. But what had caused his?

"Could have been a number of things." she said. "Stress, fear, or any emotion to an extremity. It may have just simply been your background, but the list goes on."

Caspian nodded again. "Thank you." he said. "I'd like to talk to my wife alone for a moment, please."

The nurse got up and left the room, stopping to pick up the unconscious Nicole and take her with her. The other boy would have to follow on his own two feet.

[Queen Susan the Gentle]

When the others were gone she stayed on her knees her head lowered as if she was facing punishment. She had done this many times when she lived with Lamont, kneeling like a servant. She never would have done it before but he told her himself that he was a telmerian king, that he was like his uncle and that made him like Lamont. for the first time when she was alone with him she was afraid. All the nightmares of him coming for her, nightmares he told her were lies, could be coming true. She had fought with him, defied him, disrespected and denied him. He had every reason and right as a king, as her lord, as her husband, and as the father of her child, to punish her.

[King Caspian X]

Caspian sighed when he saw her actions. "Darling, what are you doing?" he asked her. "Get off the floor. You are not a dog." His voice was gentle, and he took her by the arms and carefully helped her to stand, before sitting her down on the edge of the bed. Then it was he who knelt at her feet. He looked up at her. "You were right." he said. "You were right, and I'm sorry. I am an awful King. I have good intentions for my country, but everything I do seems to go wrong. I don't deserve to be the King of Telmar. Or Narnia. I am a weak man. If I had died just now, I would have left you and my Kingdom unprotected. Narnia deserves a better ruler than one that could die at any second from a weakness in his background. My family would have been in danger. Not that it's any different. Countless times I have tried my hardest to protect you, and countless times you have slipped into the hands of my cousin. He has raped you, beat you, tortured you, and I stood by as helpless as a fish without water. I am a foolish man. Every decision I make seems to bring our downfall against the demons. Every choice I choose seems to be wrong. I didn't listen to you when you told me not to kill Katrina. I didn't care about what you thought. I thought that it was the best for my family. For my Kingdom. That was all that mattered." He took a breath. "But I was wrong. It was wrong of me not to listen to you. I am a terrible husband. You should be ashamed of me. I break down and cry at your feet like a child in front of our people. What image is that for them to see? I am a bad father. If I cannot even protect my own family and country as is, how am I to protect my sons? How am I to ensure their future? They must be strong. The must be good thinkers. They must love. How am I to teach them so many things if I am caught up in all of this war? How am I to teach them that hitting girls is wrong, if I myself am attempting to burn one at the stake?" Caspian sighed. "And what about our marriage? I love you. With all my heart, I do. I'd die without you. But you can't possibly be pleased with our marriage. I barely even get a chance to see you anymore. Either I am in a meeting or doing important things with the army, or you are captured and it is my fault because I couldn't save you. How can I please an entire nation if I cannot even please my own wife?" he turned his head away from her. "I know that you're mad at me. I don't blame you. And I don't blame you if you leave me, like you did before. I'd understand. How can you possibly love such an awful man?"

[Queen Susan the Gentle]

Susan smiled happy that she wasn't punished, but when he talked she almost cried. "No," She told him and threw her arms around him, "You're not a bad king or husband or father. You're young, we both are. Neither of us should have expected to fight a war and be married and have children at the same time without having so many problems that come with it. We've already been through what happened at Dark Isle wasn't your fault. Besides, if you were there something tells me it would be worse. He would have came after you too. He would have attacked you and if he won he would have still kept you conscience. He would have had you watch. He hurt me to hurt you, remember, and it would have been better for him if you came. At least you never had to see what he did." she knew she was crying, the memory always comming back with each word she said. She knew her body wanted to tremble, but she wouldn't let it. "Things are better the way they are. We are going to fight and both of us are going to make bad choices. but it dosn't matter as long as we get through."

[King Caspian X]

He held her, letting her tears fall. "But I am." he said. "Look at me. I nearly killed a woman today. Out of pure hatred. What example is that for my children? And I didn't listen to you. And all of Narnia watched as I broke down like an infant. It would shatter their hopes to see a crying King. And what's worse, I almost left them. If I had died, I could not have protected them. How can you still love me after I've done all of these things wrong? I am undeserving of your love. And I am undeserving of this crown." He reached up to his head and pulled off the golden band, setting it on the bed. "Narnia needs a better leader than me."