Susan Was Always First

If I Should Die Before I Wake...

"Your majesties, an entourage of Calormene dignitaries have arrived with the son of one of the noble families, who I believe is Duke Cellino." 

Ell's head poked into the silent study where Edmund, Lucy, and Caspian rested, minds stuck on the earlier revelations and actions that had been taken. Lucy looked shocked as she stared at her brother-in-law, while Edmund refused to acknowledge the older man as he remained lost in thought. 

Caspian glanced towards Edmund, who refused to meet his gaze. "I was not aware we were expecting foreign guests."

The eldest king was much more relaxed, the tension and grief that filled him earlier replaced with a fervent hope. Peter was alive, but more importantly Susan was alive, and so was the child she carried. His heart sang at those revelations. He had never given up hope- He just knew she lived and now had that burning in his heart. He would find her, and she would be okay. They would all be okay.  

"They were not expected for a few more weeks." Edmund replied quickly, startled from his musing. "I did not think I had to share their expected arrival for a few more days but it seems they arrived early..."

Ell glanced between the three rulers, each with a different look upon their faces. He knew what happened- had been privy to the taken actions towards the girl who had been captured- but was unsure just why they all reacted so differently. He had known Caspian would show mercy, but had the others truly lost that much faith in him that they thought him capable of killing a child and were now surprised he let her live?

Lucy quickly stood and plastered on a grin. "Well, as they arrived early, we had best greet them. Ell, please make sure rooms are prepared for each of our guests, and talk to the cooks about preparing a meal. No doubt our visitors will be tired and hungry after their travel."

"Of course, Queen Lucy." Ell gave her a quick bow and hurried off to see to her requests. 

Lucy watched him leave, then turned to Edmund. "Is this the one who wishes to pursue a courtship with me?"

"Someone wishes to court Lucy?" Caspian interjected. "Have I missed that much to my grief?"

Edmund shot him a look, and then nodded to Lucy. "Yes, this is he."

Lucy chuckled mirthlessly. "And here I thought I'd have a few more weeks to prepare... Well, there is no point in keeping them waiting any longer. Shall we?"

The queen reached up and removed her mourning veil before taking a few light steps out of the study towards the main hall.

---

He had failed. 

Failure. Failure. FAILURE.

The thought swam in Peter's mind since Greed's unexpected visit. He had heard his mother's voice echoing all around, telling him to keep them all safe, but he had failed. He had nearly gotten Edmund killed once, had put Lucy in danger as a child more times than a good brother should, and had allowed Susan to be captured by people whose motive he could not understand. 

"You'll look after them, won't you Peter? You'll protect your siblings?"

"Of course, mother. I'll see to it they stay out of trouble."

"Good. Now, make sure to say your prayers and that they say them as well."

"I will. Every night."

Peter, who had replayed pieces of conversations with his mother over and over in his head, resigned himself as his sister's sobs continued to echo around the room.

They were in danger now that Greed was back. He could tell that he and Susan were expendable pawns that could be offed in a whim-something in Greed's voice told him as much when the villain called this their permanent home. But if that were the case, if they were to be killed, he would not go down without giving a fight. His sister would get to be happy. Susan had to survive. He would protect her and the family by sacrificing himself if he had to, that was his resolve...

"If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take..."

---

"Well now, isn't this a quaint little castle!"

Lucy heard one of the foreign guests exclaim, the Calormene woman talking animatedly with her hands as she looked towards one of the men, who Lucy surmised to be the duke. 

The man in question had dark hair and matching dark eyes, with softly tanned skin. Upon seeing Lucy, he quickly dismissed the woman speaking to him and made his way towards the queen. 

 "Ah, you must be Queen Lucy. The rumors of your beauty could not prepare me for seeing such stunning a woman up close." 

Lucy thought she caught the trace of an accent creep into the man's voice, but she could not place it. It sounded foreign to Narnia, but not to her world... However, it had left his words as quickly as it crept it and she dismissed it. 

The duke dropped to one knee and took one of her hands, pressing a kiss to it for a few seconds longer than courtesy called for. Edmund and Caspian arrived just as the man finished his act of wooing, and each stood to a side of Lucy. 

"And I see your brother and brother-in-law have joined us. I must give my condolences on your other siblings- I would have loved to have met them both." The man's words seemed sincere enough.

"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Duke Cellino." Lucy replied, unimpressed by his actions and choosing to ignore his words about Peter and Susan, especially knowing they lived. She had no intention to marry just yet, much less marry for political ties, but she would at least see to the proper steps being carried out so she could reject him with courtesy. 

"Please, call me Jesse." He winked, and Edmund snorted at the action. "I look forward to getting to know you, Lucy, and formalities just tend to clutter up sweet interactions so I would like to just drop them if we may."

The woman who had been speaking with him coughed, and the duke suddenly grinned. "Oh but where are my manner? Might I introduce you to my cousin, Caralyn?"

The brunette woman grinned and studied each monarch, her amber eyes shining. "I have longed to meet you face to face for many days. If only my dear sister could have joined us, but she was too busy with her hobbies to come herself..."

The smile that flashed across Caralyn's face seemed sweet enough as she curtsied before them.

Oh but what a lie that smile was...