Dawn Will Come (SWAF Sequel)

Saying Farewell

Susan helped her husband finish packing, neither one willing to speak. For when they next spoke, it would be to say any parting words and then their farewells. Her husband was setting off to find out if any of the lords who had been loyal to his father yet lived after rumors started to circulate that they were out there. 

It was Susan's idea to seek them out when she had first heard the rumors, sure, but she had not expected that when it finally came time to set off that she would be remaining at home. The ship had taken three years to build, and their youngest child was only two and needed her to stay with him. Little Rilian was much too curious of a boy to be taken on ship, and while Mara could have been taken along, it was much safer that the five year old stay at home with her mother. 

So they packed in silence in the pale hues of dawn filtering in through the windows. It was going to be hard to be apart as Susan still struggled with nightmares and other lingering effects from being held captive, and Caspian would get anxious when he did not know where she was, fearful she would be taken from him again. They had not spent the night apart since the Pevensies had all arrived back at the palace, and now it would be months separated. 

"Mom!" The voice of their daughter Mara was soon heard, and the girl entered the room in her nightgown, her younger brother toddling after her in pajama shorts. "Rilian took my doll and he won't give it back!"

"Is mine!" Rilian yelled, holding the doll close to him.

Susan sent her husband a meaningful glance before turning to the children. "Rilian, did you take your sister's doll?"

The little boy shook his head, though the doll was clearly in his arms. After a few seconds, Rilian hid the doll behind his back and grinned at his parents. "Is mine."

"I don't think it is." Caspian moved to scoop his son into his arms, the little boy laughing and dropping Mara's doll as he went to wrap his arms around his father's neck. Caspian placed a kiss on his son's forehead and gave his daughter a grin. "You two are up early."

"We wanted to make sure to be awake to say goodbye," Mara said, smiling back at her father as she quickly grabbed her doll. "We didn't want you to leave before we could see you."

"Sweetheart," Susan replied, ruffling Mara's hair. "You know your father would never leave without saying goodbye. Now, why don't you take your brother back to the nursery so Kara can dress you two so that we can head down to the docks in a bit? She's going to come looking for you soon if you don't show up."

Mara nodded, and Caspian set Rilian down so the two could return to the nursery. Susan smiled as she watched her daughter take Rilian's hand to guide her younger brother, who at that point had forgotten all about the doll Mara had tucked under her arm. Once the children were out of the room, however, her gaze went towards her husband who was already watching her. 

Caspian reached his hand out and placed his hand on her cheek. "You know I don't want to leave you and the kids here, but if these lords are out there- if they have been without knowledge of your return to rule and my rise to it, as well as the downfall of my uncle, then I need to find them. They were trusted companions of my father."

"I know, love." Susan leaned against his hand. "And I fully support the idea, you know that. I just never thought we'd have to be parted for the voyage."

"I really can have Drinian pay the crew and postpone it, if that would make you feel better." 

While his words sounded joking, Susan knew he would do just that if he thought that was what she really wanted. As much as Susan would have loved to be able to travel with him, she knew how much it meant that he find these men. So instead of outright saying either way, Susan let a playful grin spread across her face. "If we postpone it again, what's to say it won't be delayed because of another child?"