Susan Was Always First

Two Silver Shall My Own Yet Make

The black gown that Lucy wore in mourning had been made new for that awful occasion two weeks ago. It was soft, and beautiful, and while Lucy could appreciate a new gown, it was not fitting to have one made for her siblings' funeral and two more for the mourning period. She would not accept their deaths, never in a million years believe them truly gone, but the signs were too much. 

The skirts fanned about her feet, her hair pulled up into a style that allowed her mourning veil to cover her face. She was more thankful it covered the never-ending stream of tears that dripped off her chin and onto her gown. 

She mourned not only for her siblings, but for the shell of a man Caspian had become. Two whole months had gone by with no signs of either Peter or Susan, two whole months that led the kingdom to accept the death of the Magnificent and Gentle rulers. The people wept in the streets, sent flowers and words of sympathies to the three rulers that remained. 

The gold bracelet Lucy had found, Susan's bracelet, had become a fixture Caspian was never without. He had fastened it upon his black cloak, let it become the chain and clasp of his mourning wear. It was there for her, and for the child that she had been carrying...

The people of the land may have mourned the lost rulers, but they were not told of the heir that was also snatched from them too soon. The family agreed that it would be best that they not share the news with the people, as it would only decrease the morale of them farther. No, this lost child was kept between the three rulers, a service held for it separate from the public one offered for Susan and Peter.

"Your majesty, a word?" A soft-spoken faun approached Lucy with a dip of his head. 

Lucy motioned for him to walk with her. "Yes, Ell?"

Ell held out a thin letter to her, then dropped something into her hands. "This arrived for you, and I opened it only because I feared it a prank. I'm not sure what to make of it but-"

Lucy cut him off as she stopped abruptly, her eyes widening. "Do you know who sent this?"

"It came by a messenger bird."

Ripping the letter in half, Lucy handed the pieces back to Ell. The item that he gave her rested in her hands still, seemed to only increase the beating of her heart. "Burn the letter, and treat it as no more than a prank. Do not mention any of this to anyone until I speak with Caspian and Edmund."

Ell dipped his head. "Very well, your majesty."

The faun trotted off, and once he was out of sight, Lucy rushed to the library, having servants call for the two men to arrive. Sitting down, she opened her palm to see Peter's signet ring, with a lock of hair that could only be Susan's tied to it. That was not the only part that alarmed her, however. What alarmed her truly was the message.

"Two gold crowns rest below me, two silver shall my own yet make. Then only one king left to break..."

---

"Please, Peter?" Susan looked to her elder brother. "You've got to eat something."

Peter shook his head. "I'm fine, Su. Besides, you have to eat for two. I can skip a meal now and again for your sake."

The golden haired king had healed, mostly. Scars lined his body, and his one arm grew stiff quickly if used too much. He limped, but that was getting better now that he moved more. 

The two of them were still trapped in the cell, though somehow it seemed as if it had gotten bigger. Peter thought they were drugged and moved, but Susan thought it was simply because they had grown so accustomed to the small space it just seemed larger. Neither knew how long had passed since they last saw their family, though from the fact Susan's stomach had grown to the point she needed a new gown, they figured it had at least been a month. Days and nights ran together, but at least now the two once again had each other. 

"Yes, but not three in a row! You've just barely put on some of the weight you lost while you were unconscious, and you don't need to lose it!"

Peter sighed, and relented, grabbing a roll from the basket. "I'll eat this, but the fruit is for you."

Susan shook her head. "No, you're eating it too. I'm getting supplements from Envy to help me with the pregnancy."

"I don't trust her, Su. I know you say she helped me recover, but something about her is false."

"Nonsense." Susan stretched out, her back and feet aching. "If she wanted us dead or harmed, I highly doubt she'd be taking care of us like this. She is the one who managed to get me the new gown and the supplements. I think her heart is in the right place. Also, I believe she is the one keeping Wrath away. I don't know how, but I'm thankful for it."

Peter bit into the roll of bread, his suspicion of Envy only growing stronger as he thought more on just how some 'servant' of these people could manage to provide them with such essential items. "Whatever you say, sister..."

---

"Momma!" Jealousy threw her arms around her mother's legs, grinning up at her. "Did you get the mail Greed asked you to deliver sent off?"

Envy smiled and scooped the girl up into her arms. "Of course I did, darling."

Pride kissed his wife's cheek. "She's been waiting for you to get back. She wants you to see how far she got on her idea for the palace."

Envy grinned at her daughter. "I'll take a look at them as soon as I can, sweetheart, but first I have to speak with Lust. He's got a role to play soon, and I'm hoping he will be able to pull it off."

"He's going to marry Queen Lucy, right? So we can all live in the palace together, and I can be a princess!"

Envy shot a look to Pride, then turned back to her daughter. "Yes, honey, that's the plan."

At least, if things went the way they should...