The Trial

[Queen Susan the Gentle]

She went through the door but stopped just beyond it. "I'll not go without my lord." She told him using the words she knew he didn't much like.

[King Caspian X]

"Who's that?" Caspian inquired. "Surely not I." He smiled at her. He wouldn't be moving an inch until she called him by his name, or one of his names. "I'll not go until my lady calls for me."

[Queen Susan the Gentle]

She faked a sniffle and looked away, "If my lord won't come with me then I'll have to go alone. I'll miss my perfect lord, but if he denies me his company there's," She sniffled again, "nothing I can do."

[King Caspian X]

A little smile played over his lips. "I'll be happy to join you in his place!" Caspian offered. "As a gentleman, it would be so discourteous to let a wonderful and beauteous lady such as yourself to wander off on her lonesome, would it not?" he gave her a little wink. "Surely I could dry those tears that you lord has presented you with."

[Queen Susan the Gentle]

"perhaps you could," She said in a tone that seemed as though she was only thinking it over. "But my lord has had his share of hardships at my cause. Who would I be to grant him another by wandering off with you without his say?"

[King Caspian X]

"I'm quite sure that he wouldn't object." Caspian told her in a flirt-like tone. He stepped towards her and slipped his hand around her waist gently. "C'mon." he whispered, his hot breath catching the cold air and creating a cloud of steam that might tickle her neck. "Just a little stroll. I don't bite."

[Queen Susan the Gentle]

"No," She said almost sternly, "It might not be much, but I won't wander off with another man other with my lord again. I wouldn't mind if it was with other people, but I won't go alone in the forest with a man I don't know. If my lord were here I would gladly let you accompany me."

[King Caspian X]

"What if I were to tell you that you don't have a choice?" he asked her, adding a playful, sexy, dark tone to his voice. Caspian took her by the hand and twirled her around as if they had been dancing. "Come on, Pretty Girl, stroll with me. We'll have you back before your lord notices." He grinned slyly. "Come on, it'll be fun."

[Queen Susan the Gentle]

she knew he was only playing with her, but her mind wouldn't let her believe it. After he spun her she stepped away, her hands shaking a little. She knew more than she understood his intentions that he would sooner or later understand why she wouldn't stand beside him. The image of Lamont alone with her in the forest, keeping her there and not giving her a choice, returned to her mind.

[King Caspian X]

Caspian knew the look on her face quite well by now. He had taught himself to learn it whenever it came. To his dismay, it always crossed her face often. He quickly gave in to his play and hugged her tightly and kissed the top of her head. "This is me." he told her. "Not him. You're okay." he whispered softly. He took her hand again. "Come on." he said. "Let's go to our place." She always seemed to be safer there, if even for a little while, from her thoughts that dwelled over their enemy.

[Queen Susan the Gentle]

she let him hold her for a long while savoring the feeling she had every time he did. she returned his kiss and wrapped her arms around him as she did. "we can go now."

[King Caspian X]

"Alright, my love." he said, placing his hand strongly on her waist to support her, so that she wouldn't have to let go of him as they walked. He rubbed her arm comfortingly and looked up to the forest, where their tree lay hidden. Trying to distract her from her thoughts of Lamont, his hand wandered to her belly. "How's the baby doing?" he asked her. Their child was always a good subject changer. Both of them were excited for it, especially because this time it had been planned, and her choice. And this time, the baby was his. But Caspian still loved both of his children the same. He always would. Galen was his little buddy already. Galen was his son, too.

[Queen Susan the Gentle]

"He's still so small," She told him stepping over a root, "you can't rush him. In a few months I can tell you something. But for now be patient."

[King Caspian X]

"I know he's still tiny." Caspian laughed. "I can barely see him in your belly. But always want to know about him, you know that. It's impossible for a father to be patient, so you'll have to be patient with me." Caspian held back a branch for her so that she wouldn't have to duck to get under it.

His mind wandered back to when she had been pregnant with Galen, and it brought a smile to his face. There were many stories that his life had brought. Funny, sad, happy, nervous, everything. Caspian could remember, that day in Cair Paravel, when Susan had weepingly told him that she was pregnant. He remembered his offer to be the father of her child. It had been before they had married. He remembered fighting to save her from the dragon. He remembered the first time that he had felt the three little children beneath her skin. He remembered the time when everybody wanted to touch her belly. He remembered when the two lives of his daughters had been taken by Lamont's blade, and how reluctant she had been to tell him. Days had gone by before she had done so. He remembered Galen's first few moments of life, and most of all he remembered the smile on Susan's face and in her eyes when she held her son.

He kissed the top of her head. "We're in for another adventure." he told her.

[Queen Susan the Gentle]

"Everuthing with you is an adventure." She told him. Even he could say it was ture. Everything they had done together had been a wonderous adventure as he said. but she did wonder what her child would be like. she had dreams with the both of them having several children, all of them loving them. Once she dreamed that the youngest of them was sick, but that was worst of them.