Susan Was Always First

Birthday Celebration

"There you are!" Lucy's voice echoed down the shadowed corridors, her face flushed from running in her gown. "We had though you'd tried to sneak away from the party!"

Susan was standing near one of the many doors that opened to a balcony, staring off into the sky. The moon was only the tiniest of slivers, a grin shining down on her. But was it mocking her or encouraging her, she did not know. Turning back towards her sister, the woman chuckled, shaking her head. "I just needed to freshen up. I'll be right back in."

After leaving her birthday party early and being away for nearly twenty minutes, Lucy and Caspian had set off to find the eldest Queen. Susan had been excusing herself from parties and feasts more and more often as of the past two months, always claiming she was freshening up, and it was starting to cause concern among her family.

The younger brunette raised a brow at her sister, crossing her arms across the bodice of her red ballgown. "Su... You've been sneaking off a lot lately and I can't help but to wonder if-"

"There you are!" A voice called as someone rounded the corner. "I was beginning to worry."

Susan's face lit up at the sound of the second voice, and Lucy just shook her head with a smile. Her sister and Caspian had been married for seven years, yet he and Susan still acted as if they were newlyweds. Knowing Caspian would be motivation enough for Susan to return, Lucy left the two alone, her question from earlier still in the back of her mind.

"There's no need to worry," Susan entwined her hand with Caspian's when he reached her and smiled up at him. "I just needed to freshen up."

Caspian pulled their entwined hands to his lips and brushed them across her knuckles. "Then, darling, we had best get back to the party. It is in your honor, after all."

"I still don't understand why turning twenty-five is such a big deal." Susan reached up to fix the blue rose clip that held her hair back and then smoothed her blue gown with her free hand. "We could have just celebrated as a family instead of holding such a large celebration."

Caspian laughed quietly. "You've never complained about parties before, love. Is all the excitement becoming too much for you in your old age?"

Susan smiled. "If I'm becoming old, then what does that make you?"

"Still thirteen-hundred years younger then you."

Susan laughed with him, and still laughing the two reentered the ballroom. Peter and Edmund were immediately by their side.

"Finally you've decided to grace us with your presence once again, birthday girl!" Edmund teased.

Peter, on the other hand, was more concerned. "Is everything alright, Su?"

"I'm fine, Peter." Susan smiled at her brother, which was enough to convince him she was okay. He dipped his head and went back to speaking with a group of lords he got on well with.

"Would you care for something to drink?" Caspian asked his wife.

"Water would be lovely."

Caspian brushed his lips across her hand once again before untangling his from hers. As the elder dark haired king made his way across the room, the younger remained at his sister's side.

"Su," Edmund's face was split with a wide grin. "You know I've already figured it out, right?"

Susan raised a brow. "And what is it you've figured out?"

"You're not drinking alcohol, you need to 'freshen up' after you eat... You're pregnant, aren't you?"

"Shhh!" Susan shushed her brother quickly, eyes darting around. "Keep your voice down."

Edmund's grin widened. "So I am right!"

"Yes, you are." Susan said, her voice measured. "But I haven't told Caspian yet. I just want to make sure everything is okay before I tell everyone."

"Oh..." Edmund noticed the change of her voice, sometimes forgetting that his sister had already carried and lost a child in the earliest stages. "Yes, I can understand that." Then, wishing to brighten the mood again, he smiled widely. "So how far along are you?"

"I'm just entering my fourth month." Edmund's grin was contagious, and therefore Susan was smiling again. "Hmm...The physician does say everything is going okay, and I am starting to show beyond what I can hide under my gowns. Maybe I should tell everyone soon."

Edmund nodded encouragingly. "I would. Caspian at least should know."

"What should I know?" Caspian had returned with Susan's water.

Susan smiled. "I'll tell you tonight, once the party is over."

"I'll hold you to that."