The Return (Open to all)

[Queen Susan the Gentle]

She let herself sit on the rock beside the river, it’s thin layer of moss cushioning her body. The small waterfall was a continuous dull roar that covered the sounds of the small animals that scampered about. The soft, still cold, wind carried with it the scent of late-winter blossoms reminding her that spring was still to come and was not a long way off. Her body was wrapped in the towel she had brought. She was dry and dressed after her bath with Galen, but it was still to cold for her to take it off. Her dripping wet hair offered no comfort against the cold. The river itself had been cold enough, the curse of winter freezing her bones the moment she let herself fall into it. It had been so cold that Galen cried when he first was lowered into it. But now he was wrapped in his own warm towel and dry as his mother if not warmer. The little boy rested on her now growing stomach. For the first time she could actually see the little bump forming inside her. But to Caspian’s disappointment, there was nothing that could be felt just yet. But on the rock, beside the river, in the cold wind, was where she chose to stay. She felt horrible leaving Caspian alone like she did with no message or note to tell him she was safe. It didn’t matter, she planned to be done and back to him before he realized she was gone. She wanted no more than to give him the pleasure of waking up to the scent of a clean Susan. But she would take a moment’s rest before returning. As she held her son she remembered how much Caspian had enjoyed her singing, and how he encouraged it for their son. The song she chose to sing wasn’t necessarily a children’s song, and the play she heard it from couldn’t be any farther away from what she wanted her son to hear. But the opening song for the play she didn’t mind her son hearing, she enjoyed it, though it did make her a little homesick.

I have sailed the world
beheld its wonders
from the Dardanelles,
to the mountains of Peru,
But there's no place like London!

[Lamont]

He was the only one to hear her song, more beautiful than the original singer. He came to where she sat silently, knowing she would not know he was there until he made himself known. He knew how he would do this and stepped behind her. He did not touch her as he wanted to but only looked down. She seemed so much smaller than he remembered.

No there’s no place like London!

He sang the part of the elder man in the demonic play. He now played the part of the cruel and bloodthirsty barber and looked back at his role enjoying his title as demon. Cotnar would have taken offence to a human taking the name but he would not. He took pride in it. After all he looked so different now that he could be a demon to her after all

[Queen Susan the Gentle]

She heard the voice of the man she despised and her head spun to meet him. The towel fell from around her as she stood to back away, but she knew the river would keep her from going too far as she wished she could. But when she looked up to meet the man who forcefully gave her the child in her arms now she could not think it was him. His skin was to dark, as if he had spent all these month’s he was missing in the desert letting the sun bake him until he was as golden brown as one of her mother’s muffins. His hair was too long, to long to have grown out in only a few months at least, though it was still the same shade of eternal darkness. He was too tall and she could see no possible way he could have gone from being almost the same height as her to being a head taller. But what scared her most was the most obvious of the changes: His body. Every visible inch of his skin was muscle. There was no flaw in his new iron build. Now even Caspian seemed weak in comparison. This could not be the same boy, but the voice had given him away. She knew the voice. She feared the voice. “No,” She said taking another step back and shaking her head, “you’re not here. You’re gone, you’re dead.” She didn’t want to say anything more to provoke him. She didn’t want him to reach to her.

[Lamont]

“Ah, but I am, my precious Susan.” He laughed at the sheer horror on her face at the sight of him. He saw her this afraid only twice: On the Dark Isle and when he killed two of her three children. Caspian, her knight and only protection, was gone and he would not come. It was far to early and he would sleep for at least an hour more. It would be more than enough time for him. He stepped forward towards her continuing the song she sung for no other reason than to force her to hear his voice, to know that her nightmare had returned.

There's a whole in the world like a great black pit
and the vermin of the world inhabit it
and its morals aren't worth what a pin can spit
and it goes by the name of London.
At the top of the hole sit the privileged few
Making mock of the vermin in the lonely zoo
turning beauty to filth and greed...
I too have sailed the world and seen its wonders,
for the cruelty of men is as wondrous as Peru
but there's no place like London!

He laughed as he ended, “Where is your Caspian, Gentle Queen. I was sure that by now you’d know better than to go anywhere without him.” He stepped towards her, reaching for her. There was no where for her to run, and even if she could she wouldn’t get far. Already he savored the fear in her eyes before his finger’s touched the bare skin of her arm. When he held her his grip tightened and he pulled her closer whispering, “I thought you would have learned.”

[Queen Susan the Gentle]

She screamed when he pulled her close. She pushed against him in an attempt to free herself, but could not. How could he be back? How could he look so different? How many months had she spent in peace with Caspian without him? Why did he come back now of all times? He was still the same boy. No matter how he changed he would still be the same terrifying boy who stole Caspian’s fighting ability in the forest and her virginity in the Dark Isle. Already she was beginning to relive the horrible moment – or was it an hour – in her mind and she knew history may repeat itself if she did not find a way to break free or send for Caspian. Aslan might come or wake him from the castle and lead him here. But no one has seen Aslan, he seemed to stay in his country now watching Lucy and her children. Lucy. When Aslan was gone before she used the trees to reach Peter and Edmund and tell them of Aslan’s death and the battle the white witch was planning. She could use them now. Already she braced herself for whatever blow Lamont would give her for trying to find help and screamed to the trees all around her. “One of you, any one, listen to me now! Caspian sleeps in the castle, find him now! Find him I beg you and lead him here!” At first only a wind seemed to answer her, but she knew that the wind carried the petals of the tre people going to find Caspian. He would be here soon.

[Lamont]

“A bold move.” Lamont dragged her close to his body breathing in the scent of her skin, the scent of her hair. The river had truly cleansed her and his every sharp sense knew it. Though he could catch the fresh scent of the spring waters above most he could still notice the intoxicating fragrance of wildflowers all through her hair. There was no scent of dirt, no scent of blood, and, above all, no scent of Caspian. “It’s a shame he’ll come to late.” The sun was rising. The world was awakening. But he would be gone before anyone could find either one of them. little Galen would be in his control again and he would have his wife back. Caspian would not interfere again with his work. At least not this time.

[Queen Susan the Gentle]

She shuddered as he pulled her close enough that her steadily growing stomach touched him. For an instant fear stole her ability to breath. ”Make him talk” Something in her mind told her, a voice she had thankfully not heard in a long time, ”Distract him until Caspian comes.” For once she would not argue. Summoning all her strength to speak she looked up at him, “Where were you all these months?” she asked realizing she had let her voice broke just a little.

[Lamont]

He laughed at the untamed fear in her voice as he forced her closer. Ignoring the cries she would make he wrenched the child from her arms and set it to rest in a bed of ferns and moss. It cried, but he didn’t care for the moment. With him out of the way he could manipulate her mind so much easier. With another much smaller laugh and a smile forming on his face he took the arm that separated her from her child and wrapped it around her waist. When he pulled her close he let her dress rub against a certain place with the intention of bringing back her memories. For a moment he exhaled, the feel of Susan’s body against him tempting him to go further. He was stronger now, he had no reason not to overpower her, let her relive the horrors of the dark Isle. If anything it would be punishment for carrying Caspian’s child. Maybe, just once, he could go off his original plan and have a little fun with her. But now she was asking questions, questions he didn’t feel like answering. In response, to remind her of her place when she was around him, He crushed his body against hers, his arms tight enough around her that there was no room for her to escape. Even through her clothes he could feel the warmth of her skin and, again, he was tempted.

[Queen Susan the Gentle]

The world around her was shaking, not swimming like she was dizzy, just shaking as if an earthquake was passing through. With his arms around her she tried in vain to break free but he was too strong. He was always to strong. The instant he touched her memories and nightmares Caspian had seemed to chase away returned and she closed her eyes refusing to look at the monster that hurt her. Where was Caspian? When her eyes closed the world did not steady. She could still feel the world shaking, yet the ground did not move. After a moment she realized that the world wasn’t shaking: It was her. The world eventually was dark as she closed her eyes trying desperately to force the image of his face away, but she could still see him behind her eyelids and the world shook harder. How could he leave for so long and come back looking so different and still want the same things of her? Where was Caspian?

[Lamont]

He laughed at her fear of him. She trembled at his touch. Her scent was continuing to flow through him, begging him practically, to go further. Maybe just this once he could try. He wouldn’t know. he was supposed to be waiting for Caspian. And when he did come the old friend would take care of Caspian once and for all. But then, maybe he could have a little more fun, in a different way. Anything to get his mind off her body was welcome. Though he enjoyed it when it happened it was incredibly distracting otherwise. He lifted his head away from her and looked to the trees. “I have her now,” He said, “She won’t be leaving anytime soon. Perhaps you’d like a word with your murderer.”

[Cotnar]

The man swung from the trees at Lamont’s words. It was out of the original plan, but this seemed fun enough. Even he could smell her fear. Much to Lamont’s complaints he dragged Queen Susan from his arms by her hair and held her throat tight with his arm. She wouldn’t leave unless she wanted to choke herself to death. With the hand that didn’t hold her prisoner he held an arrow over her heart, The wood of the shaft was dark yet perfect in every way, straight and flawless. But the fletches was what made it noticeable. Each of the three rounded fletches was red. Red as blood, red as the sky when the sun sets, and read as the lion on King Peter’s shield. He knew she would recognize this arrow instantily, and he would have his fun. “Remember me.” He taunted, “I can’t imagine you wouldn’t. You killed me.”

[Queen Susan the Gentle]

“No,” Her eyes widened with more fear than it had when she saw Lamont. The arrow was hers and the voice, though it lied, was the voice of a dead nightmare: The voice of Lamont’s father. The last thing they needed was the already power-hungry and now revenge –thirsty monster that was now her uncle as well as Caspian’s “You’re dead,” She almost stuttered as she spoke, barely managing to control her own voice. “I didn’t kill you, but you are dead.”

[Cotnar]

“Oh yes you did, Gentle Queen,” He mocked her title, “You shot me in the back after my little fight with Peter. You killed me. And now I can have my vengeance.” He looked up to his son “How much time?”

[Lamont]

The boy watched as his father gave fear he wished he could have shown her. His hands balled into tight fists as he held her captive. He wanted to do it. But when his father asked he answered. “Prince Caspian should not be far. She told the trees to find him, tell him to come for her. He’ll run through the forest following the trees faster than any of his horses could have and come straight to us,” He drew his sword and turned away looking to the trees, “where I’ll be waiting.”

[Queen Susan the Gentle]

Susan struggled against her captor. She had been a fool, calling Caspian here like they wanted her to. She had to make him see to turn back and fast. But the trees already left to deliver her message, to bring him here, there was no one to help her this time. On an any case, no one to help him. With all the weak strength she could muster she fought to free her throat. The arrow poised against her heart was no threat to her. Not yet. She knew the fiends well enough to know they would at least wait until Caspian was close enough to watch her die. She still had some time.