Disclaimer: Full rights of The Chronicles of Narnia and it's characters lie with C.S. Lewis and Disney. No copyright infringement is intended.

The Horn and the Tree

The soup looked delicious as always. Being the King of Narnia, Caspian had himself well looked after. Three of the best cooks in Narnia jumped at every occasion to prepare lavish banquets for their King whenever he had guests to entertain. But on evenings like this, when he sat alone in the dining hall, Caspian had no need for exceptional meals. Trufflehunters’ soup, according to the Badger’s family recipe, seemed as delicious to Caspian as a richly stuffed turkey; it reminded him of the day his old life had changed forever. The day he had blown the horn. The day he had called them. Her.

The ivory horn hung from his belt, and Caspian let his fingers travel from the rich carvings at the mouthpiece, to the sharp fangs of the lion’s roar, impressive even in silence. Then he pulled away his hand again. So many times he had thought of it; to blow the horn again. To call them back; the Kings and Queens of old. Most specifically the Gentle Queen. But Caspian never did. The words of both his beloved professor and Queen Susan himself stayed his hand. “Do not use it, except at your greatest need.” “I’m afraid that’s just it. We’re not coming back.” Caspian listened to the Queens voice in his head, over and over, until her words were “I’m not coming back.” And Caspian knew the words were true. She wasn’t coming back. Not even if he blew the horn. Still, the horn remained a temptation. A temptation that he fought every single day since they’d left. A temptation that he chose to carry around with him everywhere; the only reminder of Queen Susan he had left.

From the corner of his eye, Caspian saw Trufflehunter enter the room. Not wanting to seem ungrateful, Caspian shook himself out of his daydream and continued eating his soup. By the time the caring badger had reached the table, the cup was empty and Trufflehunter seemed satisfied.

“I’m going to take a walk. I will be back before nightfall.” Caspian broke the silence, and Trufflehunter nodded and proceeded to clear the table.

Caspian rose stiffly and strode out of the dining hall, Queen Susan’s horn hitting his leg with every step he took. If he had looked back, he would have seen Truffelhunter watching him leave, a concerned look on the badger’s face.

Caspian’s stroll took him through the Castle flower gardens and down the sandy slope that took him to the beach. This is where they had arrived the second time, according to Lucy. Caspian smiled as he remembered the young Queen’s enthusiasm when she told him all about the train station that had unexepctedly morphed into a cave. Though Caspian failed to understand what a train station was, the story fascinated him and walked through the white sand towards the cave, half expecting to see a wondrous world where large carriages without horses transported many people across the tracks. But the cave was empty. Nothing was to be found there, no proof of their appearance had lingered. Footsteps had been wiped away by the wind and the sea. Caspian trailed the stone wall. Could there really be a different world behind this rock? A world where time went by slower, where things were so very different from here? It seemed impossible, and yet it was true. Caspian itself had seen the age, wisdom and experience in the eyes of the youthful Kings and Queens.

Leaving the cave, Caspian walked up a grassy hill until he reached his final destination. The tree, looking out over the sea, it’s branches forming an invisible portal to an invisible world. Seven people had disappeared in mid air a little over four months ago. The cool wind blew on his face gently as Caspian raised his head to look at it’s mighty green crown. What would happen if he walked closer? Would he disappear in mid air like the other had done; only to appear in a new world? Caspian curiously took a step closer to the tree trunk, standing on the very spot where the Great Lion had stood that day. A temptation, stronger even than the ivory horn, drew him nearer. What would happen to Narnia if he stepped through? Narnia would have no king. How much time would have pass while he was there? Would the Narnians be able to fend for themselves? Or would the magical Kingdom fall to despair, like it had done when the Kings and Queens of Old left Narnia for the first time? “Narnia was never right, except when a Son of Adam was King.” King Edmund had told him of that day; the day they had stumbled on the portal by accident, never intending to leave Narnia behind, and not able to return until they were called. They hadn’t meant to abandon Narnia. Could Caspian abandon Narnia? Could he leave and knowingly leave behind his people? Caspian sighed. He knew the answer. He was King of Narnia, ruler of the Lone Islands, keeper of the peace between the Narnians and the Telmarines. He could not abandon his people.

Caspian did not look back at the tree as he slowly made his way back to the castle, which was colored crimson in the light of the setting sun.

Susan examined her clothes. Everything was still the same. They were dressed impeccable, like they had been when they’d left. Peter’s blouse was no longer torn, but neatly tucked into his pants. Unlike their clothes, the Pevensie children had changed a lot. All three of her siblings looked around them confused, lost now that they were suddenly back into their own world. A world where there were no talking lions, where there were no grand swordfights. Where they weren’t Kings and Queens, but simply four orphaned siblings making their way back home after a schoolday.

Susan closed her eyes and tuned out the noise made by the train carriage. Images of a beautiful wilderness swam before here eyes; memories that were only a few minutes old for her, but weeks old for Narnia. Susan wondered briefly how much time had passed in Narnia since they had left. Considering the fact 1300 years Narnian years had passed while they had been gone only a year, it was possible to calculate… Then again, Susan had a feeling time in Narnia wasn’t predictable enough to be calculated like that. Pushing away her confusing time-related thoughts, Susan focussed instead on the images that swam before her. Magnificent moss covered trees, blossom dancing on the wind, talking mice, a handsome face with kind eyes…

Susan blinked and the face disappeared. She had worked hard not to dwell on Caspian. She had not allowed herself to feel, first because she was too proud to acknowledge such feelings, later because there were more pressing matters that required her full attention, and finally because the knew that their time of departure was arriving soon. But was there any harm now? Susan looked at her siblings. All three of them were staring into space, lost in a world that now only existed in their memories. Susan closed her eyes, and warmth filled her when Caspian’s face greeted her. He pulled up a corner of his mouth in a lopsided grin, as if he was happy not to be pushed from her memories for once. Susan drank in the details of his appearance; his dark hair that fell casually around his face, the shape of his nose, the warmth of his eyes… She saw him more clearly now than she had ever seen him before, mainly because she now allowed herself to see him properly. She could even recall the slight accent that he spoke with, the smell of him she had caught when she’d sat on the back of his horse, the faint pressure of his lips on hers.

Susan bit her lip, recalling each memory as well as she could, and wishing she was still there. She had been ready to leave, yes. But not wiling.

The face faded when Susan suddenly felt a small tug on her sleeve. Forcing her eyes open, she saw Lucy looking at her with eyes that held more depth and understanding than cold be expected of a twelve year old girl. “Susan, are you and Peter really not going back gain?”

Susan’s mouth formed a small smile, and she tried t keep the regret out of her voice as she replied. “I don’t think so Lucy. I think my time for adventures has passed.”

A/N: I wrote this in an attempt to clear my mind, and I decided to put it up here for you to read. I'm not sure if I'll continue this fic. I've got some vague ideas, but no plotline, so it might simply stay a one-shot. Please bear in mind that this ficlet is not beta-ed, and English is not my native language; Forgive me my mistakes. You're welcome to point them out though; it's never late to learn. :)

Also know that this is a movie-verse fic. I have never read the book. I have heard that Susan's character is different in the books. I will continue to write her the way the movies introduced her.

Finally, I'd like to re-assure the people who've got me on author alert because of my other fics; Supermen is not on hiatus, and will continue. As soon as I can start thinking about other things than Narnia, I will continue writing. I am planning to finish it before the summer is over.

Let me know what you're thinking!

maaikefluffy (AKA Fluffy One)