 Anna Popplewell reprises her role as Susan Pevensie , the second oldest Pevensie . Popplewell had been disappointed she barely used her bow and arrow in the first film . Adamson convinced Douglas Gresham to have her present during the battles by suggesting her passive role in the novel indicated Lewis ' view of women before he met Joy Gresham . " I think [ Lewis ] cast women down in the earlier books , but when you look at The Horse and His Boy , it has a strong female character . Doug 's mother was a strong woman . " Adamson also chose to have her fall for Caspian , because " The kids are growing up . If you look at Ben and you look at Anna , it seems really implausible that they wouldn 't have some feelings for each other . " He knew it had to be " sensitively handled " though , and ultimately it is not about romance , but " [ accepting ] the fact that you can have a wondrous experience , enjoy it and move on " . Popplewell added that it would not make sense for the Narnians not to use Susan , a talented archer , in battle , and that the romance contributed to her character 's reconciliation with losing Narnia in the first place . 
