The kingdom was silent, empty, and for a dashing young king, lonely.

Caspian had woken very early that morning…the stars were still glowing, the moon still radiant, the birds still asleep. He knew that he would be very tired when he actually had to start his day, but this was worth it. He lived for moments like this…moments where he could walk around his kingdom without having people swarm around him, treating him like a god. He honestly felt that he didn't deserve to be treated like this, but the people simply would not stop. Girls 'walked by him' on the street, and he would usually see the same girl (or girls) ten more times after that. (Usually because they were 'going the wrong way')

All in all, Caspian was doing well at pretending that he lived the life a king was supposed to live. He could frolic with the lords and ladies, he could eat a feast with friends, he could still wield a sword, and he could live the high life. But, underneath that mask, Caspian was heartbroken and lonely. All the lords and ladies wanted to do was talk about how they were better than everyone else, when he feasted with his friends, at the end of the night, he was the only one still sober, and whenever he used his sword, it always felt heavier. All this because somewhere, far away, a young woman held his heart…and he couldn't get it back.

Caspian walked through the deserted city until he had covered all of it. Then, he walked to a remote place at the edge of the city that no one really knew about. He could just barely make out the shape of what used to be a majestic wall, which was now covered in ivy. Quietly, he searched amongst the climbing plants till he found a slightly rusty black gate. He unlatched it, and then silently slipped inside, closing it behind him.

Inside, he stood in a beautiful flower garden. Since Caspian was the only one who knew that this garden still existed, he was the one who cared and tended to the flowers. But today, he wasn't here to work. Today he was here because he needed her.

He carefully walked around the cobblestone path till he came to a white iron trellis. He sat down on the bench that had been placed underneath it, and looked around. There was nothing interesting. Caspian decided that he could let his posture slip for a moment, considering there was no one here but himself. He leaned back on his arms, which slid to the ends of the bench. Well…the left one got all the way to the end of the bench, but his right one ran into an obstacle. There was something on the bench. It was soft, but it had some hard stubs on it as well. He lifted the object up so that he could see it. It was a rose. The thorns had been broken off, which was good, and the faded, wrinkled petals still had a touch of white in them. It took him a minute to realize where this had come from, and when he did, he felt a huge knot rise in his throat.

"Susan," he said in a choked, strangled whisper.

FLASHBACK

It was a few hours after Prince Caspian had become King Caspian. After the party with all his new subjects, Caspian had requested that the four Pevensies, Aslan, and a few of the Narnians join him for a private party. They had just eaten dinner, and everyone was singing and dancing, and having a good time. Most of the guests had seemed to forget that Caspian was the host (and probably the most important person at the party) and they were having all these little side conversations, but Caspian didn't mind. He was far too busy looking for the one guest that he did mind about. After looking around far too many times, he concluded that the guest he was looking for wasn't here. Walking up to king Edmund, who was in an intense sword fighting conversation with Reepicheep, he asked.

"Excuse me, King Edmund, but have you seen your sister?"

"Huh? Oh! Lucy…she's over there with Trufflehunter and Aslan," he said, pointing briefly to little Lucy.

"Erm…no…sorry. Your older sister."

That caught Edmund's attention. He looked at Caspian, trying to keep a straight face. He cocked an eyebrow, and smirked devilishly.

"Susan, eh?"

Caspian blushed slightly, and nodded, "yes."

"I knew it!" Edmund said triumphantly, "I think I saw her walking over there." He pointed to the little place at the edge of the city. He then gave Caspian a wide grin and whispered, "Go get her, Caspian." Caspian smiled, embarrassed. Was it really that obvious that he liked Queen Susan? Of course it was! He could barley contain it. Whenever he was around her, he felt a strange thrill that started in his spine, and then spread throughout the rest of his body. She made him feel physically and emotionally stronger, which made him a better fighter, which made it easier for him to keep up with her. For a young woman with just a bow and arrows, she was incredibly quick and skilled. All this he was thinking as he walked to where Edmund had pointed. When he reached that point, though, there was no sign of the Queen.

Caspian started to panic slightly, until he saw the unlatched garden gate peeking out of the ivy. How had she found it? That didn't really matter, he concluded as he tried to calm his nerves. He went through the gate, closing it behind him. Here he could talk to her in private.

He walked around a bit trying to find her, until he found her sitting alone under the white iron trellis. Slowly and quietly, he walked over to her.

"Queen Susan! I…I was looking for you." She jumped slightly at the sound of his voice, but she seemed to be fine with his company.

"Caspian, could you please just call me Susan? I can't be queen here anymore…my Narnia is gone…it is yours now. You were looking for me? Might I inquire as to why?"

"Oh…well…I was looking for you because I need to talk to you."

"Why didn't you tell me at the party, Caspian?" she said, playing with her fingers.

"This is…a bit more personal…I needed to talk with you alone. And…well, you picked a wonderful place to do it! This was my grandmother's garden…I used to help her plant all the flowers."

"Why is it so hidden?"

"Miraz wanted every last trace of my family destroyed, so he ordered the destruction of the garden, along with other places. Luckily, my grandmother was able to persuade the sympathetic captain in charge of the destruction to not touch it. She paid him to cover up the garden with ivy."

"Oh…I'm sorry, Caspian."

"Don't be. It's alright. Would you like to walk around and talk? I can show you all the flowers." He smiled a shy smile that melted Susan's heart.

"Thanks. I'd enjoy that very much."

They walked around and talked while Caspian named off some of the flowers every now and then. He told her how he felt for her, in hopes that she would feel the same way. Susan was slightly taken aback, but she knew that he had liked her ever since they first locked eyes. Susan was pretty sure she felt the same way. She didn't love him quite yet, but she felt that if she was given just one more day with him, she would. As they continued walking, Caspian noticed Goosebumps forming on Susan's snow white arms.

"Are you cold, Susan?" He said, concern brewing in his dark eyes. She smiled at him. She would love having a guy like him as a suitor…maybe even him himself?

"Just a little." She lied…she was freezing.

Caspian said nothing, but shed his white coat, and put it around her. It was nice and warm, and it smelled like him. If it hadn't looked odd, she would have sniffed the coat the entire time. She tried to permanently emboss the smell into her brain forever. He smelled like cinnamon and the wind, a spicy yet free scent that she knew she would crave now.

"Susan? Hello?" Caspian was gently nudging her shoulder, breaking her of her thoughts.

"Oh, I'm sorry…I just…"

"It's alright. Well! Time does fly, doesn't it?" They had gone in a complete circle, and now were back at the trellis. Susan didn't want this to end. She wanted to just take Caspian home with her, so that she could have him for the rest of her life. Now that she did think about it, she loved Caspian.

They both sat back down on the bench, both not wanting this to end. They sat in silence until Caspian said gently, "Close your eyes, Susan." She obliged, and waited with her eyes closed. "You can open them now."

On her lap was a pure white rose, with all the thorns dulled. Tears started to form in her eyes as she looked at it. She loved him. Loved him with all of her heart. She gently put the rose to her side, and then turned to Caspian.

"Thank you…thank you."

The new king didn't even get a change to reply, Susan's arms were around him in a second in a tight embrace. Caspian had gotten farther than he thought he ever would have and he was happy. He wrapped his strong arms around her, and rubbed small circles on her back. He noticed that she smelled like vanilla, and that her hair was softer than any fabric he had ever touched. He honestly didn't care that she was crying on him. He was glad to have offered her comfort.

When they finally broke apart, it was near time they went back to the castle She told him that she would leave the rose there, so that when she was gone, it would be there in her place. She gave him a soft kiss on the cheek, as they got up. Caspian was blushing something fierce, but Susan didn't notice, and if she did, she didn't care. He offered her his arm as they walked back to the castle in the sunset.

END OF FLASHBACK

Little did Caspian know that not that soon after would be the day that the woman who had his heart would leave him forever.

As he stared at the rose, he could feel a hot tear roll down the side of his face. He could never love anyone again…for it wouldn't be the same. He had to have Susan. Hold her, be with her, kiss her. One kiss was not enough. The kiss that they shared just before the Pevensies departed was eating him alive. He needed another. And knowing that he couldn't have another made him feel tired and sad all the time. Maybe all he needed to do was see her…or talk to her. And he was willing to do anything to get that privilege.

His time to show that was coming.