Seeking 'Hope' |Suspian|

Prologue

His breathing took-up an uneven pace, his worn out lungs trying to take in as much oxygen as he could.

His life had been perfect for that of a monarch except maybe the tad bit of his teen years where he almost lost hope of reigning over a kingdom that was rightfully his. Amidst these he had summoned the Pevensies. Them being the ones to hand over their kingdom to him. Each one of the four astounded him in their own ways - Lucy's faith, Edmund's cunning words not to mention his ways with the sword handed to him by his elder brother : Peter and at last Susan.

Susan.

Nothing could be spoken against her when he was in the periphery. The Gentle queen had left an imprint of utter adoration in his heart in the tiny time they had together. She was beautiful, yes, but it was not beauty alone that intrigued the king's teenage mind. It was how focused she was about letting her subjects live their life happily. Her dedication, her gentle and caring outlook, her love for her siblings, her practicality - it was everything about her.

He had waited three years post his coronation and the small token of his feelings being returned by the queen in the form of a kiss was shared, despite being well aware of the fact that the two elder siblings of the Pevensies would not be returning home. And as he was about to give-up hope on the notion of love to ever exist, his eyes met those of the daughter of Ramandu's.

Lilliandil was beautiful, she was a star after all. Her radiance so much more compared to the sun. Yet, someway it didn't compare the soft radiant glow of the queen he had so dearly developed a crush on. She could not replace the queen of old from the king's mind. It was so obvious that just before setting out of Cair Paravel the day Lilliandil was killed, she had told him that she might be his companion and he might think that he's doing a good job hiding his feelings but the star was not completely oblivious of the affections her king held for the Gentle Queen.

As she was about to leave, he felt a tinge of guilt rise.

"Are you leaving me?"

"Of course not, my king. I'm just going to have a walk around the kingdom"

"Lilliandil, I-"

"Don't explain yourself, your majesty. I have heard of the Gentle Queen's tales and fables she truly is worth all the affections you hold for her."

"But-"

"Nay, my king. It's alright. I do not feel deceived. I just expected you to tell it to me for we are partners in this and we should trust each other"

She really was a good companion.

His heart and body ached. It felt as if fire was consuming his body part by part. The spasms in the worn out muscles once known for their nimbleness, were unbearable. On his deathbed, he awaited his son - Rilian - to come back from the crazy quest he had set out for. He was well aware of Eustace and Jill being in Narnia and was sure they would bring his beloved son back just before he breathes his last.

And just as to show his faith was true Rilian came running into his father's room.

"I did it, father! I-" he stopped in his tracks when he saw the king's fatal position.

"I'm so glad to see you, my son" he said cupping his son's face in his hands knowing these were his last moments. His life felt fulfilled now that he had seen his son, except for that one tiny void space.

"You'll be a very wise and prosperous king, Rilian. I'm sure" he said struggling for his breath and he hissed as the severity of the spasm increased.

"Not one as fine as you, father." Rilian let his tears flow. He gave one last, faint, weak smile before he closed his eyes letting go off what he was holding on to. Letting pain consume him. The fire raged up from his stomach going to his chest and then his limbs.

'It was a good pain though'

The king remembered Eustace's words as he felt the fire nip at his neck. He awaited it to consume him whole. He wanted to know what death feels like. But it seemed ages when he was just oblivious of his surroundings as hr closed his eyes and waited for death to come. The fire never swallowed him whole. His mind almost seemed conscious but he was too stubborn to let go and open his eyes. His body pained and twitched and spasmed for ages but he never gave them any aid as he awaited death to forget the guilt of letting Susan go, of never giving Lilliandil the love she deserved.

Just as he drowned in the fire he heard a roar he could never mistake for any ordinary roar which made his eyes shoot open. He was welcomed by bright sunlight from a clear sky. He felt granules of sand under his fingers which made him jolt upright in anticipation to know his location for as far his brain had registered he had met death itself. The sudden agility of his movements caught him off-gaurd as did the light tickling of his dark hair on his chin. He was taken aback - dark hair?

He suddenly stood up, studying himself. There he stood in his royal robes and his young, handsome built. He reminded himself his voyage on the Dawn Treader. Feeling strong magic in his as well as the tiny island's periphery, he looked around to be met by a huge standing wave which as long as he remembered acted as a gate to the Great Lion's country.

Is it-? Am I dreaming?

His eyes scanned the golden-white sand to spot the majestic lion. And there stood he as royal and majestic as ever in his beautiful golden mane.

"My country is for nobles hearts like yours, my son. It'd be an honor if you accept the citizenship."
____

A/N: the prologue is here!!

Let me know what you think about it 'cuz it is the first time I am writing a Narnia fanfic.

I hope you enjoyed!!

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Love,
Piya.

xoxo