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Thou Art Enough	By : Nik Category: A through F > Chronicles of Narnia Views: 7837 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the Chronicles of Narnia nor do I make any profit off of this product of imagination.

Chapter List
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All previous disclaimers apply.
Author’s Note: This will not be a long story. I have only two or three more chapters planned and I am going to try to finish it as quickly as possible. I meant to mention last time that I realize this is not the most original idea on the planet, but I just had a bug in my head that wouldn’t let me rest until I got my version out. Please forgive for this and OOCness when in happens. Review if you have time, please. Thanks, T.H.

“Are you well, Caspian?” Trufflehunter could not help the paternal love he felt for his young king. Since the first time he had seen him, just after Nikabrik had struck him over the head, rendering him unconscious, there had been something about the young man that had cried out to Trufflehunter that he needed someone to show him just a little bit of paternal caring. He knew that the good Doctor Cornelius felt the same way. The poor boy had had precious little affection growing up, they knew, and now he had been thrust into ruling without a single by-your-leave and he was expected to be mature and stable when he was still just a child, really. Sometimes Trufflehunter wished Aslan had stayed in Narnia longer so that he could give him a good piece of his mind on the matter of placing children who should be allowed to be children for as long as possible on the throne. These unreasonable spells did not last long however, as he still served Aslan and knew that the Great Lion knew better than he. After all, the kings and queens of the past had been mere children when they were placed on the thrones as well and their rule had been the Golden Age of Narnia. And when they had come back… after a rough start, admittedly, they had proven just why they had been chosen as the kings and queens of Narnia to begin with. Knowing this, however, did not help the worry when he would come upon Caspian sitting in the window of the highest tower, overlooking the sea. Only Trufflehunter and Cornelius knew that this was Caspian’s favorite thinking place and they only knew because they knew Caspian so well. They did not tell anyone else. After all, Caspian deserved time alone every once in a while just like any other. He had been spending more and more time seated in the window as of late and Trufflehunter knew he was not the only one to notice the young king’s recent melancholy.
“Hmm?” Caspian turned to Trufflehunter, a little surprised at first to be jarred from his thoughts. Thoughts of Susan. They always seemed to be thoughts of Susan.
“Are you well?” Trufflehunter repeated the question gently.
“Yes, of course,” Caspian smiled, though it did not reach his eyes, and stood, stretching out muscles cramped from sitting in one position for so long, “How long have I been gone this time?” His voice was low and long suffering and Trufflehunter worked to hide his instinctual wince, “Did I miss anything important?”
“No, Majesty, nothing important at all. Glenstorm and the border patrol left just a bit ago. They should be back in a week or two, depending on the weather and how many times they have to stop to help a village.”
“I should have been there to see them off,” Caspian sighed, “Perhaps I should have this tower closed up to help me resist temptation.”
“Beg pardon, Majesty, but you deserve time to yourself. You know that if you were needed for any reason the doctor or I would come to retrieve you.”
“Yes, I know,” Caspian smiled, and this time it did reach his eyes, even if they were sad, “But, I must pay more attention to my lands and to my people. They deserve it.”
Not at the expense of your happiness, Trufflehunter thought, but kept it to himself. It was no secret what was causing the young monarch’s unhappiness. He had seemed fine, if a little disappointed, just after the kings and the queens of the past had left. They had all been surprised by the kiss that Caspian and Susan had shared, more surprised than they would have been because they could all see the familiarity, the intimacy, the kiss implied. They had also seen the tears in the queen’s eyes and knew that it would be hard on Caspian when she was gone. But, he had seemed to push through it. For nearly half a year he had seemed content, if a little tired at times. He hadn’t begun to slip into depression until one of his human advisors had suggested that perhaps it was time for Caspian to consider taking a bride. The Princess Marin of Archenland was still unclaimed, they had pointed out and a marriage of alliance with the younger princess of their neighboring country would do nothing but help to solidify their own country. Caspian had admitted that they were right and had requested that they offer a diplomatic invitation to the royal family of Archenland.
The visit had gone well. The princess was beautiful, quiet, and intelligent. She and Caspian had seemed to get along quite well. She was a few years older than Caspian, but a tiny slip of a thing who still looked like a child when she was put next to the young king. They would have made a striking couple with his dark skin and hair and tall stature and her china doll build and peaches and cream complexion. But, at the end of the visit, Caspian and Marin had bade each other farewell with courtesy and friendliness, rather than affection, as both Caspian’s advisors and Marin’s parents had hoped. There was still the possibility that Caspian would marry Marin. The King of Archenland had made it very clear what the response would be if Caspian were to ask for her hand, but it was after the visit that Caspian began to slip away more and more often. Three months later he was still unhappy, they could all see it. And they knew it was because he had found the one woman he would have wanted for the rest of his life and she’d been ordered back to her own world by Aslan. It was another thing that Trufflehunter wished often that he could discuss with the Great Lion. Aslan saw everything. Couldn’t he see as they were saying their farewells how much Susan the Gentle and Caspian the Tenth loved each other? Why force them apart?
Trufflehunter couldn’t help the sigh and huff at the sad situation as he and Caspian made their way down the winding stairs.
“Does something trouble you, friend?” Caspian asked, the genuine concern in his voice bringing a smile of appreciation to Trufflehunter’s face.
“Just the musings of an old badger, Majesty,” he answered, “Pay no attention.”
“Old?” Caspian scoffed and Trufflehunter was grateful his young king was so diplomatic and such a good friend. He decided to let the subject drop, “Where does the border patrol ride, Trufflehunter? I seem to have let it slip my mind.”
“The Great Western Woods, Majesty. They’ll return in a week or two. There’s been no trouble along the Western border for nearly six months.”
Caspian nodded. Nothing changed. He hid his sigh so as not to worry Trufflehunter any further. Glenstorm would return with his report in the next week, most likely. All would be quiet. Caspian would pretend to pay attention in the sessions where his advisors told him of inconsequential things that made no difference, really, to the state of Narnia or the happiness of his people. Nothing would change. Caspian would continue to miss Susan and nothing would change. Perhaps he would extend an offer of marriage to Marin. After all, if he could not have the one he loved by his side, perhaps the next best thing was a woman who could be his best friend and the mother of his children. There was nothing wrong with that. He needed to find some way to keep his mind on his country and on his duties. A wife, perhaps children, could help him do so. Marin was sweet and attentive. They would never be in love. They had already discussed that their personalities were too similar for love. But, they could be good friends and he knew she would not turn down an offer of marriage if it was given. But, if he was going to do it, he was going to do it as quietly and as soon as possible. His mind resolved, he turned to Trufflehunter.
“Trufflehunter, send an invitation for visit to the royal family of Archenland. Extend an offer of marriage to Princess Marin. Express my desire for haste and a quiet wedding. If the proposal is accepted, a private ceremony in four days time. A more public wedding to follow after if she so desires.”
Trufflehunter was so shocked he could only murmur, “Of course, Majesty.” Then, Caspian was gone down the hall.
Caspian moved quickly, his cloak billowing around him. He quickly unclasped it and put it over his arm. In the lower levels of the castle it was much warmer than in his tower. He tried to force the lump of emotion in his throat down and blinked back the tears that he was surprised had jumped into his eyes the moment he had turned away from Trufflehunter. He sent up a quick prayer, hoping that Susan would forgive him and tried to ignore the feeling in his chest that he had just made the worst mistake of his life.
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Thou Art Enough