The breakfast table was silent as Susan and her siblings waited for Torin to arrive. Earlier that morning it had been decided that they would ask the boy if he should like to be adopted into their family. Susan was thrilled and knew Torin would be as well.

Edmund cleared his throat and gestured toward the seat beside him.

"Prehaps Torin is unwell."

Susan looked at the empty seat across from her. They had been waiting for him to come to breakfast for almost six minutes.

"I do not think he is sick." Countered Lucy.

"Shall we send someone to check on him?" Asked Susan.

"Splendid idea, I shall go." Spoke Peter as he stood.

As soon as Peter left the room, Lucy leaned over toward Susan and said,

"I do hope he is alright."

Susan nodded. It was true she had been wondering the same thing. It was unusual for Torin to be so late. In the few days they had known him, he was always up early.

"Susan, the thought has struck me-" began Edmund as he looked at her with a serious expression. "As much as I enjoy the boy being here-"

He was inturptted as Peter suddenly came hurrying back to the room. Worry completely covered his face. Susan stood from her seat.

"What is the matter?"

Peter shook his head in bewilderment. "He is gone."

"Gone?" Asked Susan
"Torin is gone?!" Questioned Edmund
"Oh no! Why?" Asked Lucy sadly.

Peter held up his hand to stop the questions and began to explain.

"I knocked on his door and it opened on its own accord. There was no sign of Torin. Only a handmade rope of sheets, hanging out the window."

Susan instantly felt her heart break. This could not be right. There had to be a mistake. Torin loved them, he would not leave without saying goodbye. 

'The poor thing all alone. He will be hungry and cold.' Thought Susan miserably.

"Why did he leave like that?" Asked Lucy sadly.

Peter gave a shrug and walked back to his seat. The room that was so full and bright just yesterday now held a melancholy feel. Torin was gone, for whatever reason, and it left a terrible hole in all their hearts, Susan's especially, who felt responsible for him.

"I suppose he has returned to Archenland." Said Susan, mostly to herself.

"What about the banquet?" Reminded Lucy. "He was invited."

"He felt uncomfortable about it. That may be why he left." Said Peter gently.

"You don't suppose-" began Edmund.

Susan looked to her younger brother.  It struck her that he was about to say something about Torin just before Peter returned.

"What is it Ed?" She inquired.

"This episode just proved my thoughts. You see, we really never knew Torin. Not as much as we would like to think. He certainly never told us much about him or what he was doing here in the first place."

Susan frowned. "What are you trying to say?"

Edmund fumbled for the words. "Just what I am saying. He could be, well-"

Here, Peter chipped in on explaining what Edmund ment.

"Torin may have had evil intentions when he first arrived."

Susan felt her hands began to tremble at the anger she felt toward the accusations.

"How can you even imagine such things! He is a child. No more than eight years of age and you accuse him of being a thief and, and a-"

"Beggar?" Lucy said softly.

In the process of turning to her sister, Susan noticed that she was now standing. Her anger had overtaken her.

Quickly she inclined her head in respect toward her family.

"I apologize for my behavior." She said as she took her seat.

"There is no need to aplogize Susan. We are all deeply upset at Torin's leave." Peter said kindly.

"What if we were to go after him? I'm sure he is not far, I can ride Philip and bring him back." Edmund was already up and ready to leave.

"No Ed, let the child go. He came on his own free will, let him leave on his own free will."

"What are we supposed to do then?" Asked Lucy.

"We shall continue on. We have our guests arriving tonight." Finished Peter.

♡♡♡♡

The remainder of the day was spent slowly. Cair Parevel was quiet and all felt Torin's absence deeply. Susan worked at last minute tasks, all the while her mind worked furiously as she tried to reason out why this had come about.

'He was not mistreated. No ill word was said against him, just the very opposite in fact. He had an abundance of food, warm clothes, a comfortable bed. Prehaps that's just it, he felt uncomfortable."

Susan tried earnestly to recall any hints of unhappiness in the boy. None came to mind.

'Maybe he was afraid of the guests coming or- or maybe Edmund and Peter are right.' It hurt to think that but no other explanation came to mind.

♡♡♡♡

Before anyone was truly ready, evening had arrived and with it, the hour of the banquet. None of the Narnian rulers much felt like celebrating.

Just outside the front entrance stood Susan with her siblings as they greeted their guests. Narnians of all kind filed in. Excited chatter and singing filled Cair Parevel and it helped to at least bring a smile to Susan's face.

Suddenly she spotted a small group on horse back approaching. Susan notified her siblings and they watched as one, two horses came trotting up the path. Beautiful horses, though not talking ones, of chestnut color. On one rode a large man wearing red. A cheerful smile was spread across his face and as he neared, he gave a wave. The other horse bore a small hooded figure.

"Hello and a happy evening!" Exclaimed the king as he pulled on the reins to stop his horse.

Peter stepped foward and smiled.

"Welcome, King Lune, I am High King Peter and am honored to have you here."

The king climbed down from his horse and bowed before Peter.

"A pleasure to be in Narnian again. And where is Queen Susan I received the invitation from?" He asked.

Susan stepped foward and bowed.

"I am Queen Susan. I am so glad-"

Susan stopped suddenly as she watched the king's companion climb down from the horse. King Lune noticed and turned to address the figure.

"I would like to properly introduce you to my son, Prince Corin of Archenland."

As the king finished, the figure pulled back his hood. It was Torin!

Susan gasped loudly. Her emotions bubbled over as she was thrilled to see the boy but was also beginning to see they had indeed been tricked.

"But, you were a beggar." Began Susan.

Torin, or Corin, bowed and knelt on one knee.

"My dear queen Susan, I humbly offer my deepest aplogizes. It is true I am Prince Corin of Archenland. My deception was wrong but with good intentions. We received your invitation but we wanted to know your true selves before our arrival. My being a beggar has showed that you truly are Queen Susan, the gentle.

"And to you, fair kings and queen, do I deeply aplogize for deceiving you. And for my unexpected leave this morning. I can only imagine how hurt you were, for I was hurting as well. I pray you can forgive me and we can continue to be good friends."

Susan felt tears run down her face. Her heart was overflowing and she could not stop herself. Rushing to the prince, she embraced him and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"It is so wonderful to have you back." She whispered as she let him go.

From behind her, Lucy Edmund and Peter had stepped up.

"Can we still call you Torin?" Asked Edmund playfully.

Corin gave and shrug. "It makes no difference to me."

King Lune stepped foward and laid a hand on Corin's shoulder.

"Shall we go inside?"

Corin nodded and stood. Together the Narnians and the Archenlanders walked inside to the banquet. Susan made sure to sit beside Corin.

"You made it to the banquet after all." She said happily.

"I would not have missed it for the world." The Prince smiled.

A/N
Hurray!!!! Susan's part is now finished! I love the ending and I hope you all do too. Please comment what you thought. Get ready for the next part, "Peter's Adventure on the Lone Islands" this entire book is getting close to the end!