Fading - Suspian story.

Chapter eleven

Psalms 147:17 (ESV)

He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs; who can stand before his cold?

The dreams I have that night are strange and in a way familiar. I dream about Cair Paravel. I live there with the kings of old and queen Lucy. Caspian is also in my dreams, but in my dreams he says he misses me.

I miss him too.

'Your highness' A sweet voice wakes me up. I open my eyes and a maid stands next to my bed. It seems she is like the same age as I am, or slightly older. In her hands she holds a dress in a burgundy red color, the dress is decorated with golden flowers.

'Look Su! I have a dress made for you!' Lucy hands me a burgundy red dress. 'I embroidered the golden flowers myself' She says with a proud smile. I take the dress from her and give it a close look. I look at Lucy, who is waiting impatiently on my thoughts about the dress. I lay the dress next to me on my bed and pull her into a hug. 'The dress is beautiful Lucy!' She giggles. 'I am happy you like it Su. I had it made for you as a welcome home gift!'

The memories flashes before my eyes and a heavy headache appears. Black dots dance before my eyes. 'Princess?' The sweet voice of the maid reaches my ears and I am back in my room. But if feel like something is missing or someone. She hands me the dress and with trembling hands I take it. She helps me out of my nightgown and into the tight corset and skirt, then she helps me into the dress. 'You are gorgeous your highness!' The maid squeals and I laugh. 'Thank you' She curtsey's before me and rushes away. I look into the mirror but when I see myself, I see a girl who looks sickly pale.

'You are beautiful Susan' Caspian kisses the corner of my mouth and then he kisses my neck and finally his lips find mine.

The headache seems to getting stronger and so are the black dots before my eyes. I blink them away. The dream.

Is it a dream?

'Susan!' Mothers voice. I run away, forgetting the pain and the doubt I am having. I run down the stairs and I find my mother siting on her throne. I curtsey for her. 'Mother' I say in a respectful tone. A small smile lingers on her lips. 'I have a task for you Child. You are going to the castle again!' She says happily. What?

'But mother..'

'No buts child. I shall bring you myself and you shall stay for one night' She says while standing up. She snaps with her fingers and a maid rushes towards me, handing me a black coat. I put it on and pull the hood over my head. Mother grabs my wrist firmly and in a whirlwind of snow and ice we disappear.

I see only white snow and I feel the cold, but also mothers warm hand on my wrist, assuring me that it is okay.

When the white snow disappears, we are standing again before the five thrones. The kings look with horror at mother and I seek immediately Caspian's dark eyes. The room feels tense and in a way Caspian calms me. 'Make me proud' Mother whispers into my ear, she kisses my cheek and then she is gone. I pull the hood back and let my long dark hair fall loose. 'Susan!' King Edmund jumps from his throne and in seconds he puts his arms around my shoulders, embracing me. I tense again at the sudden gesture. Not knowing what to do, I tap him gently on his shoulder blade. King Peter sees my awkwardness and pulls king Edmund slightly back. But he also embraces me. 'I am sorry' I say with a unsteady voice. 'But is this common in Narnia?' I try to make it sound like a joke. Immediately Peter and Edmund take their hands of me and take a few steps back. 'No, I am sorry Su-Princess Susan' King Peter says without any emotion. He sits back on his throne. King Edmund and king Caspian share a look with each other.

After a really awkward silence king Peter dismisses everyone in the room except us.

Last night, the Lion took queen Lucy with him, but I don't see her.

'Your highnesses, If I may ask. Where is queen Lucy?' King Peters eyes go wide and Edmund looks back and forth between Caspian and Peter. Caspian looks even a little bewildered. 'Princess, shall we stop with the formalities?' King Caspian says in a gentle tone and gives me a breathtaking smile. 'Y-yes' I stutter. 'queen Lucy is here' Peter says but Edmund gives him a push into his ribs. Peter growls with pain and anger and he looks as if is going to slap Edmund. But instead he ruffles his brothers hair and nods at him. 'I am sorry Susan, but that is a question we can't answer'

'But you said two seconds ago she is here'

'In Narnia yes, so theoretically speaking she is here' Peter says with a grin.

Idiot.

'But I think it was a dream, or not. But yesterday night a was in the garden of statues, the garden were my mother keeps the people she freezes. And queen Lucy was standing their also, but when I was looking at her. A lion appeared and took Lucy with him. He said to me he was sorry and called me his Child and that he failed me' After these words I see the kings looking at me in shock. 'It can't be' Caspian whispers. 'He never fails' Edmund mutters under his breath. Again Peter stands up and is walking towards me. 'Susan, tell me, what do you know about the day before yesterday' I give him a puzzled look. He shakes my shoulders. 'What do you know?' It almost sound like a demand. 'I remember nothing' I say, letting my head hand.

'She is mine forever! I took one of children of the Great Lion away!' Mother yells and I am back home. A child of the great Lion. Am I? The memory flashes in my head, loud and clear and the black dots appear. I blink them away.

'Is it true?' I say not louder than a whisper. 'Am I a Child of the great Lion, Mother screamed something like that yesterday' Peter lifts my head gently up with his hand. 'Oh Susan. You have to wake up from the spell you're in'

'What...' Tears are burning in my eyes. I am so confused!

At a sudden, the great doors burst open and a couple of maids storm in. 'Your majesties! The Valiant queen is awaken!' With those words, the boys give each other one look and run out of the room, leaving me behind.

'So she is here after all' Mothers voice rings in my head. 'Good job Child'

'Mother?' I say in my head. But someone grabs my wrist and snatches me away. 'Come on Su!' King Caspian pulls me with him through the halls of Cair Paravel, up the stairs to a room. The doors are open and I can hear laughter. Queen Lucy sits upwards in a large bed, Peter and Edmund both on a side, their hands around her shoulders. When she sees me, tears appear in the corner of her eyes. 'Susan!' She shouts happily. 'Hi!' I say.

Why am I here?

'How did you escape?' Lucy asks me and Caspian pushes me in a chair next to the bed. He stands behind me, so I can't run away. 'I am sorry, but I am afraid I don't understand you' I say so polite as possible. Lucy looks at her brothers and then back to me and Caspian. 'Don't you remember Su? We were both prisoners of Jadis, the white witch, and you protected me' Lucy smiles lovingly at me. 'Su they did things to you, you blacked out from the pain. But your back'

The memory is back in an instant. They were beating me with a stick, hurting me.

'Did they do other things to you?' Lucy asks quietly. 'Now it is my turn' The dwarf 'My pleasure, she is still ready for you' And the faun. Again the memory is back, with the headache this time. Caspian places his hand against my cheek. The other three are waiting patiently on my answer.

'Yes' I whisper before the dots consume me and I close my eyes.

*****

So finally my exames are over! Thank you for voting and reading and comment if you like!