Seeking 'Hope' |Suspian|

Four

To say the kingdom - of noblest souls resurrected from times before and after the time of the Pevensies in Narnia - rejoiced the coming back to the place they originally belonged to. Grins and blissful laughter filled the ballroom which was packed with people. Creatures, all of them beautiful and potent of making anyone's eyes grow huge in bewilderment of their savage beauty, danced and hummed along in chatter. Everyone was happy, if not contended. For some reason the return of the Kings and the Valiant Queen had been an occasion to celebrate, despite the raging fire of curiosity in Caspian's chest. Aslan was the one to announce the feast not late after he had given the siblings their crowns and their ancient gifts which they had graciously received from Father Christmas when each of them lived a fairytale, unfortunately not knowing what the future held for them. They lived, almost to Caspian's envy, surrounded by riches galore and luxuries which Caspian was vehemently denied of, although he had them at his service again.

Had Alsan not sensed Caspian's plight when he almost cruelly left Caspian up to his own confusion to find things out on his own? Curiosity was gnawing on his insides ruthlessly leaving him in the extremity of distress where he fisted his hair in confusion and frustration. The Queen was always on his mind, even before, this time the occurrence of her tranquil eyes just increased it's frequency, leaving Caspian bereft for more. He was on the verge of breaking again. Breaking and shattering into pieces, he feared no one could glue together again.

He stood in the castle, atop the grand flight of stairs that led his and the Pevensies' bed chambers the ballroom. Dryads and fauns and dwarves danced to the merry beat of the song. But Caspian was no way neat merry. Quite contradicting to the atmosphere, Caspian tried to seek solitude, but how appropriate would it look to see a King walk away from the welcoming ceremony of the very cherished Pevensies? Sighing, Caspian leaned against the railing on his elbows, his fingers carded together, his thumbs twiddled together in anticipation. For the first time, Caspian wanted the party to end. Across the hall Lucy chatted up with a group of fauns especially Mr. Tumnus, they were attached at the hip since the very moment the young Valiant Queen stepped into the faun's line of vision. Their friendship was beyond comprehension. King Edmund stood with a dryad, a beautiful one if Caspian might add. They were in their own bubble of flirting. Caspian's eyes then led him to the person he almost fretted of : High King Peter. Peter danced gracefully with maidens of True Narnia. It was the poise with which Peter carried him which not only made him intriguingly beautiful but also seem far from attainable. Caspian was jealous of the family for alluring physique and beautiful faces ran seem to run down the Pevensie bloodline.

Although the sight was merry, we all know whom Caspian's eyes were seeking for. But he was quiet aware she wasn't here. He didn't know whether the fact that she wasn't here troubled him or was it the fact that she was alone and most probably miserable ignited the unsettling knot in his stomach. He wanted to vent all of these feeling but who could he speak to?

Sighing, Caspian straightened from his place to seek any will to go into the crowded ballroom just to regain his position on the railing.

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The sunlight was bright - brighter than the one in London for sure. Susan looked around in astonishment for she found herself in a wild, untamed surrounding memories of which she had tried to suppress all along the years. She gulped looking around and she found her people bowing as she walked towards the archery range. Fauns and dwarves had come to the Warrior Queen for aid in archery. The badger was holding a target up as he awaited his highnesses orders. She asked the archer to get ready.

"Shoot!" she ordered. An array of arrows was released but not one had hit the target. Disappointment overshadowed Susan as the badger declared, "Not a scratch!"