Title:                      Salvation to my soul

Author:                 Kelly Rowe

Rating:                  NC-17

Disclaimer:          The Chronicles of Narnia Characters are the properties of their creator, writers and all who have worked on them. I am simply playing with them for my own amusement and make no profit from them – trust me on this.

Summary:            Cause from the moment that I saw your face and felt the fire in your sweet embrace, I swear I knew.

Spoilers:               The Chronicles of Narnia Series – The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe & Prince Caspian (movieverse).

Distribution:       My site (eventually). Wherever else I put it. Anyone else want it, just ask and you shall receive.

Pairing/s:            Susan Pevensie/Prince Caspian

Notes:                   *Lyrics are Jessica Simpson – Various songs

                              *Some dialogue taken from Prince Caspian Movie

                              *This is AU. If you don’t like AU, please don’t flame.

Chapter One:

//Cause from the moment that I saw your face
and felt the fire in your sweet embrace
I swear I knew//

The coronation banquet was in full swing, Telmarines and Narnians both having an enjoyable time, for the time being choosing to put to one side their issues with each other in order to commemorate the triumph and the coronation of their new King, King Caspian X. Most significantly they were gathered to observe the dawn of a new age in the history of Narnia, the era of peace between the two sets of inhabitants.

Susan Pevensie, also known as Queen Susan the Gentle, was in an agreeable state of mind as she danced with her older brother, Peter and her younger brother, Edmund. In between the dancing and consumption of food and drink, she chatted with her sister, Lucy and struggled to pretend that she was not watching what the newly crowned King was doing across the room.

Towards the end of the evening, she excused herself from the feast maintaining that she was fatigued and headed out of the banquet hall. She was not truthfully exhausted, just disenchanted from watching *him* dance with every good-looking young maiden and talk with seemingly everyone but her.

On the way to the sumptuous chambers that she had been assigned for her stay there, she caught a glimpse of a small door she had not observed on her previous tour of the castle. Giving into her instinctive impression of inquisitiveness, she opened it and went inside.

Astoundingly she found herself in a diminutive courtyard garden, surrounded by blossoming roses in a multihued assortment of colours. Enticed beyond restraint she reached out with her graceful fingers and stroked the dewy softness of the petals of the closest blossom, amazed by the texture of it against her skin.

“Are you all right, my Queen?”

Susan turned around and was stunned to find that Caspian was standing in the doorway, he was doing nothing else and yet he still looked extraordinary to her. It took Susan a moment to find her tongue and her verbal skills, “I’m fine. I was curious and I found this breathtaking place...”

“It was my mother’s garden,” he replied as he moved towards her position in judicious steps. “Miraz wanted to be rid of it, but my aunt... For some reason she kept it.”

She put her hand on his arm as a gesture of comfort, “Whatever her way of thinking, at least it is still here for you and still exceptionally beautiful.”

“It pales in comparison to you,” Caspian told her candidly, his obsidian eyes engaging with her incredible blue ones as he grasped a hold of her hand in his own.

Susan reddened, “You don’t have to tell untruths. I know perfectly well I am just average looking.”

He kissed her hand, still gazing into her eyes, “You, my Queen, are the most beautiful woman in Narnia. I swear this to you on my own life.”

“Caspian...”

She was cut off without warning when he kissed her, his lips meeting hers in what was her first kiss. She was staggered at the sensation of his lips moving against her own and the gentle probing of his tongue, but once she was past that, she tenderly copied his own movements in order to contribute completely. When he in due course broke away she felt such bereavement that it very nearly broke her heart.

“Do you believe me now?” he asked her sensitively.

“Yes.”

“Good,” he replied, plucking the pale pink rose she had touched and handing it to her. “Then please permit me the privilege of escorting you to your room.”

She linked her right arm with the one he offered to her and they made their way through the freezing passageways of the castle. Once they had arrived outside of her room, he stood there and took her in his arms once more, kissing her fervently goodnight.

“Please... have breakfast with me in the morning?” he asked her.

“I’d love too.”

Another kiss and a proposition of goodnight sent Caspian on his way and Susan into the room. With a sigh she flopped down onto the double bed, smiling and feeling more contented than she could remember feeling before.

//Each moment we're together
I just never want to end//

Over the subsequent two weeks Susan, much to the mortification and apprehension of her family, spent every additional moment possible with Caspian. They ate every meal together, were over and over again caught whispering and laughing together as they walked along and every afternoon they spent at least an uninterrupted hour in each other’s company doing an assortment of activities.

Everything was pretty much perfect in their courtship until one turbulent morning, when Aslan returned to the castle. Susan was more than a little anguished as to the motivation that had necessitated great lion to all of a sudden return. She knew deep down in her heart that he had come there to send them back to England and sooner rather than later, before they had completely readjusted to life in Narnia.

That was why she found herself standing outside of Caspian’s chambers, hours and hours after every other person had gone to sleep. She had to speak to him, to tell him how she felt about him before the possibility was taken away from her forever. Nervously she knocked on his door and when it wasn’t opened without delay she turned to disappear, only to be stopped when she heard it creak unhurriedly open.

“Susan?”

“I needed to talk to you...”

He stepped back and sanctioned her admission into his room. Once she had entered, he shut the door behind her so that no one else could see her in there and compromises her sterling reputation. Once he was completed, he turned and waited for her to speak about whatever was on her mind.

Susan stared at him and endeavoured to take no notice of the fact that he was shirtless and looked so delectable all rumpled from sleep. So instead she took a deep breath, “Aslan-“

“What about Aslan?”

“He’s here to send us home.”

Caspian came towards her and pulled her into a reassuring embrace. “You do not know that for certain.”

“I can feel it.”

“Then we tell him no,” Caspian affirmed single-mindedly. “I cannot and will not lose you.”

Susan pulled back from his embrace to some extent, so that she could gaze into his exquisite eyes. “I love you – I think I have from the moment that we met.”

He smiled at her, his feelings evident in his expression and his eyes. “I love you too, my Queen. I also knew the moment that I set eyes on you that you were my heart, my soul and my fate.”

He kissed her with an everlasting fervour, making an attempt to convey all that he felt and hoped for them, for their future through it. Susan responded in kind and the minutes passed swiftly without either of them realising it.

“Marry me, Susan? Stay here with me in Narnia and be my Queen, my wife and the mother of my children.”

“Yes, yes, yes,” she answered throwing herself back into his arms and kissing him once more.

The kissing grew more impassioned, lips were fused together, tongues doing the double function of duelling and exploring and their hands roamed over one another. Half-heartedly, after numerous minutes, Caspian pulled away from her, struggling to reclaim his breath.

“We should stop,” he breathed with difficulty. “It is not proper until we are wed.”

Susan simply looked at him with incredulity, “And when will that be?”

“As soon as I am able to arrange it.”

“Then does it really matter whether we wait or not?”

Caspian shook his head, “I do not desire to dishonour you...”

“You won’t.”

She watched as the emotions played across his exceedingly easy-to-read features and saw that he was indisputably torn between his sense of appropriateness and what he really coveted. Taking a profound mouthful of air she moved towards him and pulled him close, making the determination for him.

Before another word could be expressed, he was kissing her. He kept his hands moving, exploring her body through her nightrobe, endeavouring to go slowly and not scare her, but finding it easier said than done to restrain himself - all he in actuality wanted to do was toss her down on the king-sized bed and show her to whom she belonged.

He tenderly began to unfasten the ties that adorned the front of her nightgown and leisurely removed the obstacle from her body. He sucked in a deep breath when he caught sight of her; she was everything he had imagined and more. He realized that he was making her feel self-conscious, when she attempted to pull the gown back up to hide herself from his passionate gaze and he merely removed her hands from the article so it fell to the floor.

"Don't," he whispered softly. “I wish to see you.”

She didn't reply or move and Caspian used the opening to kiss her once more and unhurriedly manoeuvre her towards the bed. He lay her down gently on top of the silken duvet and hastily removed his remaining night clothes, shocking her into more silence at the sight of his nude form.

He soon lowered himself on top of her, supporting his weight on his elbows and allowing her to grow familiarized to the feel of his body next to hers. Shifting a little he began laying kisses along her collar bone and downwards until he arrived at her breasts. He stopped for a moment to look at them, before grasping one flawless nipple with his mouth until he felt her begin to wither with need beneath him. She was pushing him to the limits of his control with her movements, but he would not and could not rush her. This first time had to be pleasurable for her, his one and only true love.

He ran his hands down the length of her body, feeling what would soon belong completely to him. He felt her heart rate escalate and her breath catch in her throat as her enthusiasm intensified and nervousness waned. Meeting her eyes, he slipped his hand between her thighs causing her to gasp as he pushed her legs further apart.

Heat began to radiate more intensely from her skin, partly due to awkwardness and partly because she did like what he was doing to her. She stilled when she felt him touching her and slipping one of his fingers inside of her, he knew it was because no one had ever done this to her and he secretly rejoiced as he coaxed her body to comply. As soon as she relaxed he began to nudge against her with his erection and she once more tensed, as though her body knew there would be some pain involved despite the gratifying feelings.

"It'll be okay," Caspian whispered to her.

As to prove it he began to gently manipulate her clitoris. As he felt the first rippling of Susan’s orgasm, he used it to break through her virginal barrier. He felt her tense beneath him as the pain became unmistakable, but she soon began to relax as her body became used to his invasion.

After a few moments he began to move within her, slowly and gently at first, however it soon escalated into something quick and passionate. It wasn't very long before Caspian felt himself nearing completion and he once again stroked Susan’s clitoris causing her to come for a second time, but this time he joined her.

He rolled off of her and immediately after he pulled her into his arms and held her close, listening to the intermingling sounds of their heart beats, before falling into the first contented sleep that either one of them had, had since before the battle had been fought.

//Lips so tender - I surrender
everything I am is yours alone//

It was still dark out when Susan awoke, disorientated and relatively tender. After a few seconds the reminiscences of the proceedings of a couple of hours earlier came flooding back and she could not help but go red in the face. She was not embarrassed or ashamed; the blush was basically part of her expressive response.

She looked over at Caspian stretched out next to her, sleeping so peacefully with a smile lingering on his soft, brilliant lips. Powerless to withstand the temptation, she stroked back an unruly strand of hair from his face and noticed that his smile broadened significantly. Laughing at his perceptibly fabricated sleep, she leaned over and kissed him good-humouredly. Within moments she found herself on her back, rolled underneath him where the light-hearted swiftly turned into passionate.

“Good morning,” she whispered when they at long last came up for air.

“I agree... it is a very good morning.”

She kissed him again, “I’ll have to go back to my room soon.”

“I know,” he replied snuggling closer to her, placing his head over her heart. “When shall we announce our betrothal to the others?”

“How about after everyone has had breakfast? When we are all there together?”

“Good idea, my love.”

A few minutes later Susan half-heartedly rolled away from him and began to redress in her crumpled nightrobe. She was a little self-conscious because Caspian was watching her so attentively, almost like he was memorising the act. Once she was done she jumped back onto the bed for a speedy kiss or two before she left to sneak back to her own quarters.

//How would I survive
Cause you're where I belong//

After she cleaned herself up, Susan painstakingly chose what outfit she would wear for the day – not only because she desired to make happy her King, but also to make her look resplendent when she and Caspian told the others of their engagement. When she was prepared she exited her room and headed down to the room where she knew her family would be taking their breakfast.

When she crossed the threshold into the room she found her three siblings were all ready there; eating, conversing and acting just like they did when they were at home. Optimistic she took the unfilled seat next to Lucy and commenced to serve herself from the abundant selection of foods on the table.

“Morning, Su,” Peter said in-between bites of his toast. “Aslan wants to speak to us as soon as he has finished with Caspian.”

“Really?” her heart sank at the prospect.

“Yep.”

She pushed away her plate of uneaten food, all of a sudden having lost her appetite. Wallowing in pre-emptive wretchedness, she waited for Peter to conclude his meal before following him outside and into a stone courtyard to await the lion.

It did not take long for the great lion to make an appearance and he asked the two oldest Pevensies to go together with him on a walk around the castle grounds. He waited until they were a distance from the main area of the castle before he started to fill them in. He told them that they would never return to Narnia, only Lucy and Edmund would – they were too old - and abstractedly outlined to them, his plans for Caspian.

When he was done Susan said just one word to him, “No.”

“Susan...” Aslan began.

She rudely cut him off, “I am not leaving Narnia.”

“Narnia or Caspian?” Peter asked her softly.

“Whatever you think or feel, Susan... Caspian is meant for another and not you. You will get over him and have a happy life back home.”

She tried and failed to hold back her tears, “If you do this you will be sentencing me to a life alone. There will never be another man who I will love.”

“No, Susan, no matter what happens, in the end you will never be alone,” he told her. He looked over her shoulder, “Your Majesty?”

“We are ready. Everyone has assembled.”

He looked intently at the happening before him for a split second, before rushing over and pulling her into an embrace, attempting to offer her reassurance. He did not know specifically what was wrong, but he could deduce – that meddlesome lion had told her she had to leave – and so he glared at him over the top of her head.

“It is for the best your Majesty,” Aslan said looking at the couple with disapproval. “Susan is not meant for you, or this world.”

“That is not for you to decide.”

Aslan shook his mane, “It is. Susan and the others will return home and that is final.”

//Fate turns cruel
you’re on your knees
so desperate for one truth
Know that I have loved you//

Less than a half hour later Caspian and the others found themselves standing in front of a group of Telmarines that had been gathered by Aslan’s command. Caspian was stood at the front making a speech attempting not to show his people how much he was hurting. “Narnia belongs to the Narnians, just as it does to any man. Any Telmarine’s who want to stay and live in peace are welcome to, but for any of you who wish, Aslan will return you to the land of our forefathers.”

A man in the crowd responded, “It’s been generations since we left Telmar.”

“We’re not referring to Telmar. Your ancestors were seafaring brigands – pirates run aground on an island. There they found a cave, a rare chasm that brought them here from their world - the same world as our Kings and Queens. It is a good place for any who wish to make a new start,” Aslan proclaimed.

“I will go. I will accept the offer,” the general said moving to the front of the crowd.

“So will we,” Caspian’s aunt Prunaprismia said bringing her father and her infant son with her.

“Because you have spoken first, your future in that world shall be good,” Aslan told them before he breathed magic on them.

Aslan then turned to the tree planted at the edge of the courtyard and breathed magic onto that, turning into a portal to the world of the Kings and Queens of old. The General and others walked through and disappeared from view.

“How do we know he is not leading us to our deaths,” someone screamed, panic evident in their voice.

Reepicheep, ever the dependable servant stepped forward. “Sire! If my example can be of any service, I will take eleven mice through with no delay.”

Peter shot Susan a glance that Caspian scarcely caught sight of, he might have shrugged it off if Susan’s face had not crumpled with tears again.

“We’ll go,” Peter volunteered.

“W-we will?” Edmund questioned curiously, grabbing hold of Lucy’s hand.

“Come on, our time’s up. After all we’re not really needed here anymore,” Peter told everyone sadly.

He walked over to Caspian and handed him his sword, his most cherished possession. Caspian looked into his onetime rival’s eyes and noted the astonishing despondency. “I will look after it until you return.”

“I’m afraid that’s just it. We’re not coming back,” Susan answered her tears still falling.

“We’re not?” Lucy asked fearfully.

“You two are! At least I think he means you two,” Peter corrected, attempting to calm Lucy.

Lucy looked at Aslan, “But why? Did they do something wrong?”

“Quite the opposite, dear one. But all good things have their time. Your brother and sister have learned what they can from this world. Now it is time for them to live in their own.”

“It’s all right, Lu. It’s not how I thought it would be, but it’s all right. One day, you’ll see too.”

Peter, Lucy and Edmund said their goodbyes and made a move towards the tree and the portal back to England, but Susan walked over to Caspian, intent on saying her goodbye to her love. “I’m glad I came back.”

“I wish we had more time together.”

“It would never have worked anyways,” she said miserably.

“Why not?” Caspian asked her, his heart breaking more and more with each passing second.

“I am thirteen hundred years older than you,” she tried to joke, but failed.

At his undersized meagre smile, she turned and walked towards her siblings. She had not taken more than a few steps when she turned herself around, pulled him close and kissed him for what would be the last time. It went on and on and she did not care who was baring witness, when she ultimately pulled back she was pulled into the tightest embrace by him.

He kissed her shoulder, “I love you and only you.”

“I love you too.”

“There can be and will be no one else,” he swore.

“For me either,” she answered honestly.

“I will never regret our night or our time together.”

“I will treasure the memories for all eternity.”

Lucy was a little confused by the display in front of her, “I’m sure I’ll understand when I’m older.”

“I’m older,” Edmund smiled sadly, at his sister and Caspian. “I don’t think I want to understand.”

Susan forced herself to walk away, looking back as Peter pulled her through the portal and into their world, away from Narnia and him. Within moments she found herself back on the underground platform in her school uniform, as if nothing had happened. As the train pulled up, she was still in a daze and she let Peter guide her on board, where as the tears started yet again, and he pulled her into a hug and let her cry.

End Part