Susan Was Always First

Reunited

Susan was startled awake by shouting echoing down into the hall outside the room in which they were being held. As she sat up,rubbing circles on her stomach and trying not to outwardly wince, she noticed Peter was already up and by the door and that Lucy too was up, her face tense as she paced slightly.

"What's going on?" Susan's voice came out louder than she meant for it to, her heart racing in nervousness.

Peter shook his head and held a finger to his lips in a motion meant to silence her. Susan quickly understood that they were being careful in case something dangerous was approaching. Cautiously, Susan watched her brother open the door just a crack, the sound of the fighting growing louder and closer. After a few moments, Susan could hear doors opening down the hall and fighting grow lesser.

Peter turned around, leaving the door open slightly. His face was stretched into a grin, and Susan felt herself growing hopeful. "It seems we will have some help getting out of here."

The door to their room opened just a fraction more after a few seconds passed, and Lucy grinned as the point of a small sword shone in the light. "Reepicheep!"

The mouse bowed deeply, sighing in relief. "Your majesties!" He then turned back to the hallway. "I've found them!"

Susan moved to stand so that she could more properly greet those who had come to save them, though she winced as she did so. "You okay, Su?"Lucy moved to her sister's side immediately, and Reepicheep looked to his queen with concern.

Susan nodded, standing up with Lucy's help. Not wanting to worry her sister, the gentle queen omitted a bit of truth. "It's mostly my back. I'll be fine."

Before Lucy could question her any further, the door opened and Lucy only had a few moments to step aside as Caspian rushed to his wife's side and pulled her into a tight embrace.

"Susan." Caspian breathed, clinging tightly to her as he buried his hand into the hair at the base of her neck. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head and Susan wept, knowing expected decorum did not matter to either of them in front of those present and that she was just glad to be back in his arms. "I am so glad to see you, my love." He continued to whisper to her, reassure her that she would be safe, that he would never allow any harm to come to her again.

"Caspian." She whispered his name over and over again, replying in quiet words to all the sweet things he said to her. She would have clung to him for hours, even days, if she could, but Peter gently cleared his throat after what felt like only seconds. The two broke apart in time to see Lucy hit Peter's arm for breaking up their reunion, though Peter seemed not to mind his youngest sister's action and was instead already seeming to be ready to join in on the fight.

Susan noticed that in the time she and Caspian had been lost in the joy of seeing each other, Drinian had also entered the room. He must have been carrying Peter's sword, for her brother was now armed, as was Lucy. The sea captain dipped his head to her, and a smile crossed his usually stoic face. Susan smiled back at him.

"Peter, Lucy, I am glad to see you are well and safe." Caspian wrapped his arm around Susan's waist as he addressed her siblings. Susan leaned against him, and moved his hand so it was resting on her stomach. She then placed her hand over his so that she, her husband, and their child were all connected in that moment.

Peter gave his brother-in-law a small grin, an action that made the scars on his face slightly more pronounced. "It's good to see you, brother. But we will have time to properly reunite after we are out of here. If you would be so kind as to fill us in on the plan?"

"Of course." Caspian nodded, his demeanor shifting back into a more composed one that would be expected of a king. While he may have removed his hand from her waist in that moment, their hands were still entwined at their sides. As her husband began to share what the strategy for the rescue was, Susan could think of only one thing.

The pain in her stomach was growing, and the baby would be coming soon.

---

"Everything is clear up here save for the two end rooms." Edmund called to Ell and the faun soon appeared at the top of the stairs, the upper levels of the ruins now cleared out. They had gotten many people to evacuate and drop their weapons, only twenty or so having to be fought and three killed. Glenstorm was no longer searching the ruins with them, having taken on the job of making sure those they evacuated did not leave before they could later question them. Many of the people seemed intimidated by the centaur, so Edmund had little doubt that anyone would dare try to flee the ground of the ruins. Things were working out for them, and Edmund could only hope his brother-in-law was having such luck.

However, they had yet to encounter any of the sins, save for the body of one that Elda had identified as Pride. The mangled corpse was so brutalized that Edmund, a seasoned warrior, could not look at it too long. Elda, however, had walked right up to it and examined it without even flinching, shaking her head at the loss of a man she said was good, even if he was a bit too loud and full of himself.

"Those are Envy and Insolence's rooms." Elda replied as she wiped her blade on her pants leg, cleaning off the bit of blood on it as she stepped beside Edmund. "They've likely heard us coming, and knowing them they'd all pick one room to defend. We should check Insolence's first."

Edmund let the teen lead, opening the door on the right of the hall. The girl took one look, however, and backed out. Edmund pushed past her and his eyes widened. The bodies of those he knew as Jesse and Caralyn were laying in the center of the room, their skin pale as snow and eyes open, though their faces looked as if they were at peace. If he had not known better, Edmund would have thought they were sleeping with their eyes open, so at rest did they look. Jesse and Caralyn's hands were locked together, and Edmund saw a silver vile laying beside them. Poison.

"I can't believe they'd go and off themselves." Elda shook her head. "The poor bastards."

Edmund shut the door, deciding not to dwell on it. Taking only a moment, he opened the last door.

"Momma?" A small voice asked. Edmund felt his heart drop as a small child made her way out of the room. Elda had told him there was a little girl here, but he had not realized just how small the child was. She looked up at Elda with sad eyes, blinking as if trying to place how she knew the teen.

"Sarah?" Elda replied. "It's me, Elda. Is your momma here?"

The little girl shook her head, crying. "Sloth and Gluttony came last night and they made Momma go with them. I haven't seen her since. Both Momma and Daddy are gone now. Momma said she'd never leave me alone..."

Elda seemed to debate with herself for a moment before picking up the little girl. "Sarah, will you come with me and my friends here? This is King Edmund, and Ell."

"King Edmund! You are the pretty queen's brother! I like your sister, but your brother seems so serious!" The little girl's tears dried as she spoke, and Edmund was glad Elda had distracted the girl from her grief though shocked to hear that the child had seen his siblings. "Daddy always said the kings and queens fought to protect the good guys! You really are good guys!" Her eyes then widened as she saw Ell. "You're a faun! Momma told me stories about fauns."

Ell smiled at the girl. "I can tell you all sorts of stories while Edmund and Elda look for your mother, if you'd like."

Sarah nodded, and she reached out her arms for the faun to hold her. Elda passed the girl over to Ell, and the faun set off down the stair with the child, getting her out to safety. Once the girl was out of sight, Elda opened the door to Envy's room and stepped inside. Her eyes fell on a note: 'Elda, knowing you, I'm sure you'll find this so please, take care of Sarah for me. I am so sorry for the pain I caused you thinking we were doing what was best. And tell Susan I am sorry for the lies. I never expected things to get so out-of-hand.- Evangeline"

Edmund read the note over her shoulder. "How did she know you'd find this?"

Elda turned around and raised her brow, shrugging. There was no way that she would mention to Edmund now that Envy had once told her, back when they were close, that should anything awful seem to be happening to her she would leave a note and Sarah behind. "Just a hunch, I suppose." Quickly changing the subject, the girl tucked the letter in her bodice and started down the stairs. "Now, we had better find your family. No doubt they are already waiting for us."

Edmund nodded, knowing this would be a reunion none of them would forget.