Sparks Fly: A Suspian Story

Chapter 15

[On the first day of the last week of April, Peter and Susan left for Ireland to write their next book. The months passed and as always, Peter and Susan returned for Christmas and New Year's Eve but then left again to finish their work. A day before Carina's birthday, they returned to England, and their book was published by the end of February. Their book was a huge success just like their other books and Carina was now five years old. Soon enough, when their birthdays rolled around, Maisie and Adeline turned five years old too. Peter, Elizabeth, Susan, and Angeline were 23 years old, Edmund was 21 years old, and Lucy was sixteen years old. It was the year 1948 and for a while, a new issue had struck out between the United States, Russia, and each of their allies. A few months passed and Peter and Susan left for México to write their next book. They were there for some time but like the other times, they returned for Christmas and New Year's Eve. Unfortunately, they had to miss Carina's birthday because they were still really busy, which made Carina really sad since it was the first time that her mum and uncle would miss her birthday. She decided that she didn't want a party but she understood that it was her mum's and uncle's job. A couple of months passed, by then it was the third week of April, and the year was 1949. Peter and Susan had just returned to England from their trip to México and all three little girls were six years old. Little Carina found herself in her mother's bedroom on the floor reading her mother's diary in secret. it was as if Susan's voice literally came out of the diary entry]
Carina: "Carina is such a courageous little girl for her age, she's very kind and caring, and very intelligent and logical. however, she's imaginative and strong-willed, she reminds me of myself when I was her age, and she also reminds me of you every day. It's been difficult raising her by myself and it has been more difficult raising her from afar especially since I have to leave her behind with my family so much because of how much I travel for my job. Of course, I know that I'm not alone, I've got my siblings and friends helping me, but she needs a parental figure as well. She needs her father, she needs you, Caspian. How I miss you, my love, there isn't a single day that I don't think about you". So that's my daddy's name, Caspian, but that's the name of the King of Narnia from the stories that Auntie Lucy told me. Could it really exist? Could Narnia be a real magical realm?
(Carina hears someone coming and quickly hides the diary under the bed. Just then Elizabeth comes into the room)
Elizabeth: Sweetie, what are you doing in your mother's bedroom?
Carina: I-I, I just wanted to see if mummy had any photographs of my daddy, Auntie Lizzie. Can't you tell me something about him?
Elizabeth: O-Oh, no, sweetheart, I can't, it's not my place. The separation was extremely hard for your mother and father and it's best if you forget about that subject
Carina: But Aunty Lizzy, it's not fair-
Elizabeth: That's enough, Carina, please, Uncle, Peter, and your mother have just arrived from México. Maisie, Adeline, and everyone else is outside the manor, now come on, your mother is dying to see you
(She leaves the bedroom and thinks that Carina is following her)
Carina: Ugh! If no one is going to tell me more about my father then I'm gonna find out myself
(She leaves the bedroom and goes to the spare room to find the wardrobe)
{In the gardens of Professor Kirke's house}
Susan: Lizzy, where's Carina?
Elizabeth: I thought she was following me, she was in your bedroom, Sue, what is taking her so long?
Mrs.Macready: I'll go fetch her
Peter: Thank you, Mrs.Macready
(Mrs.Macready leaves and goes back inside the manor)
{Inside the wardrobe in the spare room}
[Carina had gone into the spare room leaving the door slightly open. She went inside the wooden wardrobe with the door ajar and went past the coats all the way to the back. Suddenly, she found herself in front of a forest. She walked towards the lit-up lamppost that had leaves and vines around its post]
Carina: It's real, Narnia is real, I really am inside Narnia. Aunty Lucy was right, my mummy said Narnia was just a fairytale, but why would she lie to me? That means that Caspian is my daddy, King Caspian is my father, and I need to find him
(She hears the thunderous sound of many horses coming her way and suddenly she sees five soldiers and a dwarf on horses in Narnian armor alongside two centaurs)
Glenstorm: Who are you, young child, and what are you doing in the land of Narnia? Are you lost?
Carina: A, A centaur, you're a real centaur
Glenstorm: Well of course I am, but you still haven't answered my question. You look like a younger version of one of the queens of old
Carina: I'm looking for my father, his name is Caspian
Trumpkin: Beards and Bedsteads, you must be Carina Sophia Pevensie
Carina: I am, that's my name, my mummy is Susan Pevensie
Glenstorm: She is the king's daughter, come with us, we'll take you to our king
(He extends his hand, Carina takes his hand, he sits her behind him, and everyone rides off back to palace Cair Paravel)
{Outside of Narnia inside the spare room}
Mrs.Macready: Carina! Are you in here, child? Where are...you, oh no, no, no, no
(She realizes that Carina may have gone inside the wardrobe since the doors were slightly opened and she runs away)
{Outside the manor in the back gardens}
(Mrs. Macready runs out breathless)
Susan: Mrs.Macready, where is my daughter?
Mrs.Macready: Susan, dear, I can't find her, but I did see the wardrobe's doors slightly opened along with the spare room's doors. I'm positive that she went inside the wardrobe
Peter, Elizabeth, Susan, Edmund, Angeline, & Lucy: WHAT?!!
Maisie & Adeline: Narnia is real?!
Susan: N-No, it's just a fairytale
Lucy: Don't lie to them, you know very well that Narnia is real
Susan: Ugh! Lucy this is all your fault!
Lucy: How is this my fault, Susan!?
Susan: I asked you not to tell my daughter any Narnian stories and you went behind my back and told her anyway not only her but Maisie and Adeline as well
Elizabeth: Girls, go inside with Mrs.Macready
Maisie/Adeline: Yes, mummy/Yes, Aunty Lizzy
(The girls go inside the manor with Mrs.Macready)
Lucy: All three of them have the rights to those stories; they need to know that Narnia is a real country in a magical realm, Carina is the main heir to the Narnian throne because Caspian is the high king now. Carina was born in Scotland, yes, but she's half British, half Telmarine, and all Narnian. Maisie and Adeline are two of the heirs to the Narnian throne as well
Peter: She's just like you when you were that age, Susan. Logical, imaginative, very intelligent, and she's just like Caspian, adventurous and strong-willed. She's just like both of you, very courageous, she's got both of your spirits
Susan: I know, Peter, that's what I'm afraid of. Lucy, Carina is a six-year-old child running around in a country that she's never been in. If something happens to my little girl, I will never forgive you
Lucy: The problem with you, Susan, is that you're afraid to face your past
Susan: You know what-
Edmund: Alright! That's enough, both of you! This isn't helping Carina, let's just go find her. The portal has opened once again and we're wasting time
Susan: No, I'm going to look for her. She's my daughter, my responsibility
(She runs inside and upstairs to the spare room. Once she's there, she goes inside the wardrobe, past the coats, and back to a world that she never thought she'd see again)
{Inside the wardrobe in Narnia}
Susan: Narnia, my real home, after six long years I'm back. Oh, Great Aslan, protect my little Cari, let no harm come to her
(She runs due North to go find her daughter)
{In the palace courtyard past the second gates, outside the doors of the palace)
[King Caspian had gone out of his study to go see if his last group of troops were back from their watch. The third group had arrived, and Carina was able to get down by herself and ran to her father]
Carina: Daddy!!
(She ran to her father and hugged his legs)
Caspian: Uh, Daddy? Sweetheart, may I inquire as to who you are and why have you called me that?
(Carina pulls away and looks up at her father. Caspian gets a good look into her eyes and lets out a gasp)
Caspian: Carina?
Trumpkin: Yes, it is her, my liege, we found her by the lamppost
Caspian: The lamppost? By the wardrobe? That means the portal opened once again
Carina: You're my father? Caspian?
Caspian: Yes, I am, you're Carina Sophia Pevensie, aren't you?
Carina: Yes, that's my name, Susan Pevensie is my mummy
Caspian: Oh, my sunshine
[He picks up his daughter in his arms giving her the biggest and strongest bear hug that a father could give his only child. He proceeds to twirl her around making her laugh and giggle. He then places her on his hip]
Caspian: Wait a minute, if you're here then where is your mother?
Carina: Ummm
Caspian: Carinaaa, does your mother know you're here?
Carina: Mummy just got back from México with Uncle Peter. She's back at Professor Kirke's house
Caspian: México? Your old world really is much bigger than I could have ever imagined. So, you mean to tell me that you came out here by yourself and without telling anyone where you were going?
Carina: Uhhh, I love you, Daddy
Caspian: Nu-uh, nice try, that won't work on me, Carina. Young lady, do you have any idea of just how much trouble you're in? Your mother must be worried sick
Carina: But daddy, mummy said that Narnia was just a fairytale, but Aunty Lucy said that it was real, and she always told Maisie, Adeline, and me stories. Mummy lied to me, and I wanted to meet you
Caspian: Carina, I've waited very patiently for this moment too, ever since I learned of your existence, I desperately wanted to meet you face to face as well, but this wasn't the right way. Your mother must have a good explanation for not telling you the truth, at least I hope so. However, she never does things without a good reason, she loves you with all her heart, and what you did was wrong. I am extremely overjoyed to see you in person though
(Carina gives him a big smile)
Caspian: Trumpkin, send a griffin to scour the area of the western woods, I imagine Queen Susan won't take long to get here, we'll wait for her in the gardens. The rest of you may return to your duties
Trumpkin and the others: Yes, sire!
(They all go do as their told)
Caspian: As I said, we'll go wait for her in the gardens
Carina: Yes, daddy
[She nuzzles into his embrace making Caspian smile. They walk inside their palace as father and daughter towards the gardens to wait for Susan who was still the only love of Caspian's life. As instructed, the griffin picked up Susan at the western woods and took her to Castle Cair Paravel]
{In the royal gardens}
Caspian: So, I imagine that your mother is courting someone, right?
Carina: No, mummy isn't with anyone, Daddy, she still loves you, I read it in her diary, that's how I came by your name. Do you still love mummy?
Caspian: Yes, sweetheart, your mother will always be the only one for me, throughout all this time there hasn't been a single moment that I don't think about her or how much I love and miss her
(Just then, they heard footsteps behind them. They turned around and saw Susan running up to them)
Susan: Carina!
Carina: Mummy!
(They run to each other and embrace one another in a tight hug. Caspian goes up to them and Susan and Carina pull away)
Susan: Young lady, you are in so much trouble, you don't go off on your own just like that without telling anyone where you're going, something could have happened to you, thank Aslan that our troops ran into you. You know better
Carina: I'm sorry, mummy, but I wanted to meet my dad for so long now. Why did you lie to me about Narnia?
Susan: We'll talk about that later, right now is not the time, we'll get back to it
Caspian: Susan
Susan: Hello, Caspian, it's been a while
Caspian: Yes, it has, too long in fact
(He caressed her cheek softly and Susan leaned into his touch)
Caspian: You're as beautiful as the day I lost you, I've missed you
(Susan lays her hand on his hand that was still on her cheek)
Susan: I've missed you as well, Caspian
(Carina hugs her parents' legs, Caspian and Susan pull away smiling, and Caspian places their daughter on his hip)
Caspian: How about we take a carriage ride as a family and show our daughter our beloved kingdom?
Carina: Yes, please, mummy, please
Susan: I'd love to
[Caspian wraps his other arm around Susan's shoulders while she wraps her arm around his waist, and they walk away together with their beloved little girl as a joyful family]
{With the family in the royal garden}
[The family was in the royal garden, which was filled with all kinds of flora. Flor De Mayo, Jacarandas, Honeysuckles and Freesias, and Jasmines. All sorts of Lillies, Marigolds, and Magnolias. Loads of different colored roses, there were fountains, states, and a great maze made of bushes]
Susan: You reconstructed Cair Paravel
Caspian: Of course, it was the least I could do. This palace meant a lot to you and your siblings, I wanted to rebuild it for you and the others. I made it the official palace
Susan: And the Telmarine Palace?
Caspian: I turned it into a school. I remember how you told me that in your old world, London, children go to an actual school or go to a boarding school. Since a school has never existed in Narnia, I thought that I should start the first one. Turn a place that was once filled with crimes and dark memories into a place full of knowledge and happiness.
Susan: I think it's wonderful, thank you
Caspian: Of course, anything for you, and you know, your siblings
Susan: R-right, of course, the garden is beautiful
Caspian: Thank you, I'm glad you like it. I remember how you told me that you love roses and Carina got that from you. Lucy told me that it's her favorite flower
Susan: That's right, it is
Carina: Can we go riding now?
Caspian: Of course, sweetie, how about you ride your horse, Mommy can ride on her horse, Shasta, and I will ride on Destrier
Carina: Yeayy! Ok
[Caspian, Susan, and little Carina leave the royal garden and head to the stables. The stableman settles Caspian's horse, Destrier, Susan's horse, Shasta, and their six-year-old offspring white Andalusian mare who had no name yet]
Caspian: This mare is for you, sweetie, one of the many gifts that I want to give you for not being able to be a part of your life for the first six years.
Carina: Thank you, Daddy, she's so pretty
Caspian: You're welcome, baby girl, I'm glad you like her, what are you going to name her?
Carina: Mhmm, Starlight
Susan: Great name, my little star
Carina: Thanks, mummy
[Caspian puts Carina on her horse, he helps Susan get on Shasta, and finally, he gets on Destrier. The royal family then leave the stables, then the main gates of palace Cair Paravel, and head to the village]
{With the Pevensies}
Angeline: Ok, Mrs. Macready and Professor Kirke took Maisie and Adeline out to the park and I told MJ that tomorrow we'd tell them the truth
(She sits beside Edmund)
Elizabeth: Do you guys think that Cari made it to Cair Paravel? Do you think that she's with Caspian, now? And what about Susan, do you think she's with them too?
Peter: Sweetheart, calm down, I'm sure both Carina and Susan are out of harm's way. I do hope that Caspian has found them by now, I wouldn't want the nightfall to reach them, and I wouldn't like for them to be wandering around the woods by themselves
Edmund: Guys, they'll be fine, if Caspian isn't with Cari, then I'm positive that Susan has already reached her. Susan knows her way around the western woods and can take very good care of herself and Carina
Angeline: Ed's right, we're worried about nothing, they're ok
Lucy: I wonder if Aslan knew that Cari was going to try to meet Caspian in whatever way possible. That she would always want to find out if Narnia was real or not
Edmund: Blood calls blood, Lucy, somehow, someway, I knew that eventually, Carina and Caspian would meet personally. However, you shouldn't have told those stories to the girls
Lucy: You too?
Edmund: Lucy, Susan didn't want you telling Narnian stories to the girls once she and Pete dropped off the girls here. You should have respected that
Elizabeth: When I tucked them in at night and they asked for one of your stories, I thought you were telling them fairytales like the ones Su and I would tell them when we were traveling, not Narnian stories. I would have stopped you too
Lucy: Are you kidding me right now? They have a right to those stories, it's their birthright. Pete, and Lizzy, you should have told those stories to MJ, Susan should have told Carina those stories too, and Ed and Angie, you both should have told those stories to Adeline too. I'm not at fault here, you all are
Peter: Oh, shut up, Lucy, we each decide how to raise our daughters, what stories to tell them, and what stories not to tell them. Don't be so hard on us and don't be so hard on Susan either. You know that it was hard for her to leave Narnia.
Lucy: Yeah, it was hard on all of us, Peter, not just Susan
Angeline: It was hard on all of you, yes, but it was the most difficult for Susan, Lucy, you know that she fell in love with Caspian, you know she left her heart back in Narnia six years ago, it stayed with Caspian, and when she found out that she was pregnant with his child, things got even more difficult for her.
Elizabeth: Angie's right, Lucy, she was a rollercoaster of emotions like any pregnant woman would be. She was overjoyed of having Caspian's child, she was happy that she would become a mother, but she was also scared, we were scared. Susan, Angie, and I were only seventeen when we got pregnant, and we were just starting college with Pete.
Peter: Yeah, we had no idea how to be parents, we were very young, and Susan had us to help her, and we had her, but she needed Caspian by her side. She needed Carina's father. Do you have any idea how hard it was for Susan to feel when Carina was kicking in her womb and not having Caspian beside her? Do you know how hard it is to hear Susan cry herself to sleep every single night since Cari was born because of how much she misses Caspian and how much she loves him?
Lucy: Ok, ok, you've made your point, I was hard on her. If your mission was to make me feel bad, then congratulations, you got it
Peter: Sorry, Lucy, but it's the truth, and you needed to hear it
Lucy: Yeah, I know, I just hope that whenever Susan and Caspian meet again, everything will run smoothly, for Cari's sake
Edmund: We do too, Lu, the only thing we can do is wish for the best. I hope that there isn't another separation because it'll be extremely difficult for Cari to say goodbye to her father after barely meeting him and spending very little time with him, and don't even get me started on Susan and Caspian because it'll be difficult for them to say goodbye to each other once again
[The others agree with him nodding their heads and then decide to go to the park to meet up with Mrs. Macready, Professor Kirke, and little Maisie and Adeline]
{Outside the walls and gates of the palace of Cair Paravel with the royal family}
[Caspian, Susan, and Carina were on their own horse. As they were riding through the village, town, and marketplaces, their people were waving at them, clapping and cheering for them, and tossing rose petals at them. The royal family waved back smiling due to the amount of love and respect that their citizens had for them. They had been traveling through town, through the dancing lawn, and up to the cherry tree. Afterwards, they went back to the palace and put their horses back in their pens. Caspian gave them a full tour of the new and improved Cair Paravel. Later, Carina started learning with her mother the sport of archery with a bow and arrows. She practiced with Susan for an hour and then practiced with her father the sport of sparing but instead of a steel sword, they used long wooden sticks, so there wouldn't be an accident. After an hour, they each took a bath and changed into simple Narnian clothing. They then went to the dining room for some dinner]
{In the dining room}
[It was a beautifully decorated feasting room. It had a great, long, and dark-colored brown oak table with chairs all around it that seated loads of people. By the ceiling hung two silver circle light fixtures that instead of lights had six candles, on the right side of the door, hanging on the wall there was a long and large painting of Cair Paravel and its surrounding gardens, and on the table, it had three lit up candelabras. Behind them was a big fireplace and it had the metal covering in front of the blazing and glowing orange and red flames of the fire that radiated heat and light warmth. The fire emitted comforting, crackling, snapping, and sizzling sounds. A small group of musicians starts playing soft, serene, and soothing Narnian melodies. The servants then came out with three plates that held the first course. The royal family was served each a plate of hot fettuccini pasta that had Alfredo sauce all over it and was paired with soft and warm buttered bread rolls. Susan and Caspian both had a glass goblet of the finest red wine that Narnia served while Carina had a glass goblet of apple juice. After their first course, they each had a perfectly seasoned, well-done, delicious sirloin steak accompanied by roasted potatoes, and for dessert, they each had a slice of jumble berry pie. It was a delicious, flaky, and warm pie made of the best and sweetest blackberries, strawberries, and raspberries. After their dinner, the family took another slow walk through the royal garden and through the maze to digest their dinner. After a long hour and a half, they went back inside the palace, and Caspian led Susan and Carina into Carina's bedroom]
{Inside Carina's bedroom}
[Carina's bedroom was a beautiful master bedroom. Its wooden floors were pristine and spotless, her doors were made of dark oak wood, she had two great and big wardrobes one for her clothes and one for her shoes, and her walls had paintings of trees, mountains, flowers, and cute woodland animals. She had two large windows with curtains that opened to the balcony where she could walk out and see everything and a nice big, comfortable, and soft bed that had curtains around it, her sheets and pillowcases were made of the finest silk. Around her bedroom, she had a changing curtain station, two big stands that had at least ten candles, two little tables that each had a small candelabra, which held five to seven candles, and a simple chandelier that held eight candles. She had a big bathroom with everything she could ever need, and her room was filled with gifts for her age]
Carina: Daddy, I love my bedroom, it's so pretty, are all these gifts for me?
Caspian: Yes, my sunshine, for all the years that I missed being by your side watching you grow up, but we can open them in the morning, right now it's time for bed
Carina: But I'm not sleepy
(She lets out a yawn and rubs her eyes)
Susan: Your yawning says otherwise, sweetheart, besides, it's past your bedtime, young lady, and little princesses need their beauty sleep
Carina: But I want to stay up with you and daddy
Caspian: Cari, your mommy and I have a lot that we need to talk about but how about tomorrow we go to Aslan's camp, you might even get to meet the great Aslan
Carina: Really, Daddy? Wow, ok, I'm going to bed, I'm going to sleep
Caspian: I'll wait outside
Susan: Alright
[Caspian leaves the room while Susan helps Carina change into her nightgown. Susan lets Caspian back in and both, she and Caspian, tuck their daughter into bed. Susan sings Carina to sleep]

[Caspian and Susan kiss their daughter's forehead, Caspian closes and locks her windows, and Caspian and Susan blow out every candle before exiting Carina's bedroom. They close her doors and walk to the garden]
{In the garden}
[The tall lampposts around the garden were lit up giving the garden light, the soft summer yet cool breeze was slightly blowing around, and the waxing crescent moon shone above them]
Caspian: She does look just like you, she's got your hair and chin, and her eyes are still a mix of blue and green. I guess she really did get a mix of both of us
Susan: Yeah, but she's got your nose, lips, and both of our spirits
(They sit on a stone bench)
Caspian: Susan, why did you tell her that Narnia was just a fairytale? Narnia is your home
(Susan lets out a sigh)
Susan: Lucy was right
Caspian: About what?
Susan: I was afraid to face my past, the reason why I didn't tell her anything about Narnia was because I didn't want her to suffer, and I too didn't want to suffer anymore either. It was so difficult for me when I left Narnia and could never come back again
Caspian: Well, it was hard for me too, Susan, I had to say goodbye to the woman I fell in love with, forever
Susan: Caspian-
Caspian: Did you even tell our daughter about me before she figured it out herself?
Susan: Of course, I did, how could you doubt that, Caspian? When she was in my womb and when she was born, I told her how much her father would have loved her, how much he would have played with her, and how much he would make her laugh. When she started asking questions about her father, it was a hard topic for me to talk about. She asked if you didn't want her, if you didn't love her, if you didn't love me, if you didn't love us, but I shot down those concerns immediately, Caspian
Caspian: I'm sorry, it's just that when she told me that you told her that Narnia was just a fairytale, it did upset me
Susan: I know, it was wrong, I shouldn't have lied to her, I should have told her the truth from the very beginning. I don't blame you for having doubts about if I told Cari about you, but I did. From the very first moment that she first asked about her father, I told her the immediate truth. She, of course, asked what you looked like. I told her that her father had dark brown almost raven-black hair, a pair of piercing brown eyes, a princely smile, and a proud cleft chin. I told her that her father was the bravest, the noblest, the kindest, the strongest, and the most handsome man I have ever laid eyes on
(Caspian chuckled)
Caspian: Susan, I have never stopped loving you, despite the years that we've been separated. After your departure, for the past three years, you were the only person I thought about. I could barely sleep or eat. You will always be the only one for me, you will always be the love of my life, and nothing or no one can or will ever change that
Susan: Caspian, there wasn't a single day that I didn't think about you, I love you too, I always have, and I always will. You're the only man in my heart, and I will love you until my dying breath
Caspian: As will I, Susan
[They lean in closing their eyes and share a soft and loving kiss. Above them, the moon lit up the sky more and the stars have never sparkled and adorned the night sky even more than during this special and magical night in the kingdom of Narnia]