Fanfic : Crossing Borders
Title: Crossing Borders
Author maaike_fluffy
Fandom: The Chronicles of Narnia, Prince Caspian movie-verse
Pairing: Caspian/Susan
Rating: Fiction rated K
Disclaimer: The Chronicles of Narnia were created and written by C. S. Lewis. No copyright infringement is intended.
Summary: Prince Caspian and the Pevensies continue their life after their farewell, but none of them can stop dwelling on the past.Then Caspian makes a decision; If she can't come to him, then he'll have to find her. Movie-verse. Not beta-ed.
Chapter 1: The Horn and the Tree
Chapter 2: The Crown of Narnia
Chapter 3: The Shadows Behind the Tree
Chapter 4: Relapse
5. Failure
We need to do something,Susan thought. Anything. They had been sitting in the living room in utter silence for over fifteen minutes now, and there wasn’t a doubt in her mind as to what everyone’s thoughts were about.
Maybe it was because Susan was the most practical of all of her siblings. Maybe it was because of all of them she had had the least problems re-adjusting the first time. Maybe it was because she knew that she would never return. Or perhaps it was because she needed to get the thoughts of Caspian out of her head; but Susan was desperate to get back to her old life. It was time to stop living their fairytale and get back to the real world.
“Lucy, don’t you have homework?”
Three baffled faces turned slowly towards her. “Homework?” Lucy repeated, as though the word was new to her.
“Homework, Susan?” Edmund said incredulously. “Who thinks about homework on a time like this?”
“Mother told us to do our very best at school, because school’s-”
“Mother is not here.” Peter said dully, and Susan shot him a nasty look. Thanks for the support.
The thought of her mother drove some of the Narnia-related memories from her mind, and instead a heavy feeling settled in the pit of her stomach. They had no idea where she was, or how she was doing. “Well, that doesn’t mean we should stop listening to her.”
Caspian sent off a messenger early in the morning, carrying three letters to Narnians with a request to become spokesperson of the King. It was not easy to sent messages to Narnians because, unlike Telmarines, they did not live at one place. Caspian did not expect his messenger to return quickly, but he was eagerly awaiting the replies.
By the time the messenger returned at the end of the third day, two more conflicts had passed. Caspian had been able to solve them without problems; for he knew that he would soon have a way to prevent them. But he was more than disappointed in the answers that his messenger repeated to him.
“They refused?” Caspian said, feeling rejected.
“Not all of them, my Lord. Reepicheep agreed to be of service. He will be here two days from now.”
Reepicheep. Caspian thought wryly. Reepicheep wasn’t exactly intimidating… nor capable of restraining an outraged centaur. He was the most skilled swordsman of the country, and that gave him some status. But, I am trying to get them to stop fighting. “Why did they refuse?”
Caspian had written the message as a request rather than a command, feeling that they would function better if they was no force behind it. Now he felt sorry he hadn’t written a command; he hadn’t expected them to refuse him this.
“I believe the centaur’s exact word were; I will not leave my friends and family to waste my time with selfish and violent humans such as yourself.” The messenger said with a clenched jaw.
Caspian’s eyebrows shot up. That was very uncharacteristic for Glenstorm. The centaur was intimidating, but usually polite and serene. “Why would he say that?” The messenger hesitated for a split second and Caspian knew there was more to the story. He crossed his arms. “Well?”
“They were sneaking up on me.” The servant said quietly. “I heard them everywhere in the woods, but I couldn’t see them, and so I drew my sword.”
“You drew your sword?” Caspian repeated.
“And when they appeared they threatened me, Sir. That leopard was going to attack; I could see it’s fangs. It was self-defence!”
“You attacked?” Caspian cried aghast.
“I didn’t kill it.” The messenger defended himself.
“But you attacked?”
The messenger nodded, and Caspian closed his eyes, groaning. No wonder the Narnians refused a request made by a Telmarine that had just offended them.
“My Lord?” The messenger seemed to be ashamed of his rash actions now that he realised the consequences, and he feared his King’s punishment. Caspian had no patience to reassure the man, and left him alone in the hallway as he walked towards his sleeping quarters in a daze.
The plan that had kept his hopes up was crashing down around him. No matter how chivalrous Reepicheep was, the mouse alone simply wouldn’t do. He was right back to where he’d started, but his time he’d lost hope. The Narnians and the Telmarines weren’t reconcilable. Enmity would continue to brew under the surface until, at some point, it would boil over and the whole war would start again. There was no United Narnia, and there never would be.
Caspian wished Professor Cornelius were there to encourage him. To give him new hope or come up with a new plan-a better one. But the old man was currently at Miraz’ old castle to retrieve the last of his possessions and couldn’t be expected to return for another day at the very least.
Caspian didn’t bother to take off his clothes as he lay down diagonally on his bed. He closed his eyes, praying that sleep would claim him quickly so he would temporarily be relieved from his problems.
Caspian immediately knew he was dreaming when he realised he was standing among the flowerbeds in the Royal Garden. Something was different this time though. His senses seemed sharpened. The sweet scent of the rosebushes, the hot sun that warmed him right through the fabric of his clothes, the softness of the grass under his feet, the sounds of the birds in the nearby tree, the gentle breeze playing with his hair… it all seemed to be more powerful somehow. Caspian stood in awe for a while, trying to take in all the sensations as he walked the well-trodden path past the beach, by the cave, and up the hill to where the tree stood. Aslan was already there; a mighty, tangible power rolling off him in waves. Aslan could bring peace to this land if only he returned. Or the Kings and Queens.
As soon as he thought of them, the Kings and Queens appeared in the doorway. Smiling, Caspian walked closer to the tree. They weren’t playing this time, like they usually did. They weren’t even looking like the careless family that Caspian had gotten used to seeing. All of them stood in a line, side by side, proud and erect. Gleaming crowns on their heads and content smiles on their faces; they truly looked like the Kings and Queens of Old that Professor Cornelius had taught him about.
Oh, how he needed King Edmund for his wisdom and his council. How he needed Queen Susan for the gentleness that seemed to have left Narnia with her. How he needed Queen Lucy for her never-ending faith and the ability to encourage others. How he needed the majestic High King for the pride and the strength that he seemed to be sorely lacking.
As Caspian drew nearer Queen Lucy looked directly at him and smiled brightly. She jerked her head slightly-as if beckoning him over. Knowing it was a dream and there would be no consequences for his actions, Caspian stepped through without hesitation. He did not immediately wake, as he had expected. Queen Susan smiled radiantly and held out her hand. Caspian clearly heard her say; “Welcome back, Caspian.” Before his eyes snapped open and he lay staring at the dark ceiling.
He was still wearing the clothes he had worn during the day, and it’s many layers had forced him to sleep in an uncomfortable angle. Yet he barely registered the stiffness in his limbs. It was as if he had subconsciously made a decision during his last dream. A decision that sent warmth coursing through his veins and drove out all despair; he was going through. He couldn’t rationalize his decision, but he knew it was the right one. Aslan himself had given his permission.
Giving in to his obsession made Caspian’s heart lighter than it had been a very long time. He jumped up from the bed, and had half a mind of going through immediately before the responsible side in him caught up.
He couldn’t leave like this. Not yet. If he left now, Narnia would most certainly fall to despair. Caspian walked to his desk and sat down, pulling a quill and a piece of parchment towards him.
He would leave Professor Cornelius is charge. He had meant to make him counsellor many times before. He could be Lord Counsellor, Steward of the Throne of Narnia. There was not a doubt in Caspian’s mind that the Professor was wise enough to rule the land in his place until his return.
There was no need to explain his decision to the Professor. There were many reasons Caspian could think of to justify his leaving, but the Professor knew the true one, and he couldn’t be fooled. Attempting to do so would be an insult.
When Caspian was satisfied with his letter, he folded it and slid it smoothly into a think envelope. Using the bedside candle to melt wax, he let the thick red substance drip on the lid and he sealed off the letter securely by pressing his ring into it. The hot wax slightly burned his fingers, but Caspian hardly noticed. He addressed the letter to Professor Cornelius and left it on his desk. One of the servants would certainly find it.
This is it. Caspian thought. I am really going. He looked around the room, memorizing the it. The large four-poster bed, the majestic cabinet in the corner, the thick velvet curtains that blocked a spectacular view over the sea, the luxurious carpet on the floor. How long would it take before he set eyes on this room again? Would it still be here? Or would it come down in the hundreds of years that would pass, like it had been for the Kings and Queens?
The Kings and Queens. He would see them again. He would see Susan again. In their own world. If he could find them, that was. Spare Oom, War Drobe, Finchley. He felt a thrill of excitement.
Walking though the hallways of his castle was a most surreal experience. Nobody was about in the middle of the night, and for that Caspian was grateful; he did not like to say goodbye. He remembered the people that roamed these halls at daytime. Would he ever see them again? Or would they all be dead and gone? He felt a pang of sadness as he thought about Professor Cornelius. The old man would certainly not live to see Caspian’s return.
Caspian momentarily halted on the threshold of the door that took him outside, to the castle grounds. Unlike in his dream-where the trees were green and the wind was soft-large brown leaves were scattered all around, blown away by the chilly wind that sent a shiver up Caspian’s spine. There was a quick way to the tree-a shortcut-but Caspian felt it was appropriate to make his way to the tree like he did every night. He turned right and stepped through the gate to the Royal Gardens.
The sun was not hot on his back, and the garden was not filled with a rich floral scent, and the birds were deadly quiet, but otherwise the similarities between his dream and reality were uncanny. Every plant, every shrub… Caspian took the sandy slope to the beach at a bit of a run. The fairly strong wind caused the waves of the sea to wash up on the beach much further than they usually did, and there was only a small streak of dry sand left. Seaweed and white foam from the waves were everywhere, and Caspian stepped carefully around it. He breathed in the salty air. Would there be a sea in Spare Oom?
Caspian couldn’t reach the cave without wading through ankle-deep water, and decided he needn’t see it. He walked up the path that took him to where he was going; the tree. The crown appeared first and as Caspian climbed higher the tree appeared in full. It’s crown was not mighty and green, but brown with a few leaves scattered around the split trunk. Caspian took a deep breath and walked closer. There was no bright white background, or shadows flitting behind the doorway. There was just more grass, and a single hill in the distance. Caspian paused when he stood next to the tree, almost on the very spot where Susan and the rest had disappeared. He rested his hand on the bark. It wasn’t warm, but cold and clammy. Like a tree should be. Caspian looked behind him one more time and took a deep breath. This is it… Goodbye Narnia. Until I see you again. He squared his shoulders and stepped through.
Author maaike_fluffy
Fandom: The Chronicles of Narnia, Prince Caspian movie-verse
Pairing: Caspian/Susan
Rating: Fiction rated K
Disclaimer: The Chronicles of Narnia were created and written by C. S. Lewis. No copyright infringement is intended.
Summary: Prince Caspian and the Pevensies continue their life after their farewell, but none of them can stop dwelling on the past.Then Caspian makes a decision; If she can't come to him, then he'll have to find her. Movie-verse. Not beta-ed.
Chapter 1: The Horn and the Tree
Chapter 2: The Crown of Narnia
Chapter 3: The Shadows Behind the Tree
Chapter 4: Relapse
5. Failure
We need to do something,Susan thought. Anything. They had been sitting in the living room in utter silence for over fifteen minutes now, and there wasn’t a doubt in her mind as to what everyone’s thoughts were about.
Maybe it was because Susan was the most practical of all of her siblings. Maybe it was because of all of them she had had the least problems re-adjusting the first time. Maybe it was because she knew that she would never return. Or perhaps it was because she needed to get the thoughts of Caspian out of her head; but Susan was desperate to get back to her old life. It was time to stop living their fairytale and get back to the real world.
“Lucy, don’t you have homework?”
Three baffled faces turned slowly towards her. “Homework?” Lucy repeated, as though the word was new to her.
“Homework, Susan?” Edmund said incredulously. “Who thinks about homework on a time like this?”
“Mother told us to do our very best at school, because school’s-”
“Mother is not here.” Peter said dully, and Susan shot him a nasty look. Thanks for the support.
The thought of her mother drove some of the Narnia-related memories from her mind, and instead a heavy feeling settled in the pit of her stomach. They had no idea where she was, or how she was doing. “Well, that doesn’t mean we should stop listening to her.”
Caspian sent off a messenger early in the morning, carrying three letters to Narnians with a request to become spokesperson of the King. It was not easy to sent messages to Narnians because, unlike Telmarines, they did not live at one place. Caspian did not expect his messenger to return quickly, but he was eagerly awaiting the replies.
By the time the messenger returned at the end of the third day, two more conflicts had passed. Caspian had been able to solve them without problems; for he knew that he would soon have a way to prevent them. But he was more than disappointed in the answers that his messenger repeated to him.
“They refused?” Caspian said, feeling rejected.
“Not all of them, my Lord. Reepicheep agreed to be of service. He will be here two days from now.”
Reepicheep. Caspian thought wryly. Reepicheep wasn’t exactly intimidating… nor capable of restraining an outraged centaur. He was the most skilled swordsman of the country, and that gave him some status. But, I am trying to get them to stop fighting. “Why did they refuse?”
Caspian had written the message as a request rather than a command, feeling that they would function better if they was no force behind it. Now he felt sorry he hadn’t written a command; he hadn’t expected them to refuse him this.
“I believe the centaur’s exact word were; I will not leave my friends and family to waste my time with selfish and violent humans such as yourself.” The messenger said with a clenched jaw.
Caspian’s eyebrows shot up. That was very uncharacteristic for Glenstorm. The centaur was intimidating, but usually polite and serene. “Why would he say that?” The messenger hesitated for a split second and Caspian knew there was more to the story. He crossed his arms. “Well?”
“They were sneaking up on me.” The servant said quietly. “I heard them everywhere in the woods, but I couldn’t see them, and so I drew my sword.”
“You drew your sword?” Caspian repeated.
“And when they appeared they threatened me, Sir. That leopard was going to attack; I could see it’s fangs. It was self-defence!”
“You attacked?” Caspian cried aghast.
“I didn’t kill it.” The messenger defended himself.
“But you attacked?”
The messenger nodded, and Caspian closed his eyes, groaning. No wonder the Narnians refused a request made by a Telmarine that had just offended them.
“My Lord?” The messenger seemed to be ashamed of his rash actions now that he realised the consequences, and he feared his King’s punishment. Caspian had no patience to reassure the man, and left him alone in the hallway as he walked towards his sleeping quarters in a daze.
The plan that had kept his hopes up was crashing down around him. No matter how chivalrous Reepicheep was, the mouse alone simply wouldn’t do. He was right back to where he’d started, but his time he’d lost hope. The Narnians and the Telmarines weren’t reconcilable. Enmity would continue to brew under the surface until, at some point, it would boil over and the whole war would start again. There was no United Narnia, and there never would be.
Caspian wished Professor Cornelius were there to encourage him. To give him new hope or come up with a new plan-a better one. But the old man was currently at Miraz’ old castle to retrieve the last of his possessions and couldn’t be expected to return for another day at the very least.
Caspian didn’t bother to take off his clothes as he lay down diagonally on his bed. He closed his eyes, praying that sleep would claim him quickly so he would temporarily be relieved from his problems.
Caspian immediately knew he was dreaming when he realised he was standing among the flowerbeds in the Royal Garden. Something was different this time though. His senses seemed sharpened. The sweet scent of the rosebushes, the hot sun that warmed him right through the fabric of his clothes, the softness of the grass under his feet, the sounds of the birds in the nearby tree, the gentle breeze playing with his hair… it all seemed to be more powerful somehow. Caspian stood in awe for a while, trying to take in all the sensations as he walked the well-trodden path past the beach, by the cave, and up the hill to where the tree stood. Aslan was already there; a mighty, tangible power rolling off him in waves. Aslan could bring peace to this land if only he returned. Or the Kings and Queens.
As soon as he thought of them, the Kings and Queens appeared in the doorway. Smiling, Caspian walked closer to the tree. They weren’t playing this time, like they usually did. They weren’t even looking like the careless family that Caspian had gotten used to seeing. All of them stood in a line, side by side, proud and erect. Gleaming crowns on their heads and content smiles on their faces; they truly looked like the Kings and Queens of Old that Professor Cornelius had taught him about.
Oh, how he needed King Edmund for his wisdom and his council. How he needed Queen Susan for the gentleness that seemed to have left Narnia with her. How he needed Queen Lucy for her never-ending faith and the ability to encourage others. How he needed the majestic High King for the pride and the strength that he seemed to be sorely lacking.
As Caspian drew nearer Queen Lucy looked directly at him and smiled brightly. She jerked her head slightly-as if beckoning him over. Knowing it was a dream and there would be no consequences for his actions, Caspian stepped through without hesitation. He did not immediately wake, as he had expected. Queen Susan smiled radiantly and held out her hand. Caspian clearly heard her say; “Welcome back, Caspian.” Before his eyes snapped open and he lay staring at the dark ceiling.
He was still wearing the clothes he had worn during the day, and it’s many layers had forced him to sleep in an uncomfortable angle. Yet he barely registered the stiffness in his limbs. It was as if he had subconsciously made a decision during his last dream. A decision that sent warmth coursing through his veins and drove out all despair; he was going through. He couldn’t rationalize his decision, but he knew it was the right one. Aslan himself had given his permission.
Giving in to his obsession made Caspian’s heart lighter than it had been a very long time. He jumped up from the bed, and had half a mind of going through immediately before the responsible side in him caught up.
He couldn’t leave like this. Not yet. If he left now, Narnia would most certainly fall to despair. Caspian walked to his desk and sat down, pulling a quill and a piece of parchment towards him.
He would leave Professor Cornelius is charge. He had meant to make him counsellor many times before. He could be Lord Counsellor, Steward of the Throne of Narnia. There was not a doubt in Caspian’s mind that the Professor was wise enough to rule the land in his place until his return.
There was no need to explain his decision to the Professor. There were many reasons Caspian could think of to justify his leaving, but the Professor knew the true one, and he couldn’t be fooled. Attempting to do so would be an insult.
When Caspian was satisfied with his letter, he folded it and slid it smoothly into a think envelope. Using the bedside candle to melt wax, he let the thick red substance drip on the lid and he sealed off the letter securely by pressing his ring into it. The hot wax slightly burned his fingers, but Caspian hardly noticed. He addressed the letter to Professor Cornelius and left it on his desk. One of the servants would certainly find it.
This is it. Caspian thought. I am really going. He looked around the room, memorizing the it. The large four-poster bed, the majestic cabinet in the corner, the thick velvet curtains that blocked a spectacular view over the sea, the luxurious carpet on the floor. How long would it take before he set eyes on this room again? Would it still be here? Or would it come down in the hundreds of years that would pass, like it had been for the Kings and Queens?
The Kings and Queens. He would see them again. He would see Susan again. In their own world. If he could find them, that was. Spare Oom, War Drobe, Finchley. He felt a thrill of excitement.
Walking though the hallways of his castle was a most surreal experience. Nobody was about in the middle of the night, and for that Caspian was grateful; he did not like to say goodbye. He remembered the people that roamed these halls at daytime. Would he ever see them again? Or would they all be dead and gone? He felt a pang of sadness as he thought about Professor Cornelius. The old man would certainly not live to see Caspian’s return.
Caspian momentarily halted on the threshold of the door that took him outside, to the castle grounds. Unlike in his dream-where the trees were green and the wind was soft-large brown leaves were scattered all around, blown away by the chilly wind that sent a shiver up Caspian’s spine. There was a quick way to the tree-a shortcut-but Caspian felt it was appropriate to make his way to the tree like he did every night. He turned right and stepped through the gate to the Royal Gardens.
The sun was not hot on his back, and the garden was not filled with a rich floral scent, and the birds were deadly quiet, but otherwise the similarities between his dream and reality were uncanny. Every plant, every shrub… Caspian took the sandy slope to the beach at a bit of a run. The fairly strong wind caused the waves of the sea to wash up on the beach much further than they usually did, and there was only a small streak of dry sand left. Seaweed and white foam from the waves were everywhere, and Caspian stepped carefully around it. He breathed in the salty air. Would there be a sea in Spare Oom?
Caspian couldn’t reach the cave without wading through ankle-deep water, and decided he needn’t see it. He walked up the path that took him to where he was going; the tree. The crown appeared first and as Caspian climbed higher the tree appeared in full. It’s crown was not mighty and green, but brown with a few leaves scattered around the split trunk. Caspian took a deep breath and walked closer. There was no bright white background, or shadows flitting behind the doorway. There was just more grass, and a single hill in the distance. Caspian paused when he stood next to the tree, almost on the very spot where Susan and the rest had disappeared. He rested his hand on the bark. It wasn’t warm, but cold and clammy. Like a tree should be. Caspian looked behind him one more time and took a deep breath. This is it… Goodbye Narnia. Until I see you again. He squared his shoulders and stepped through.