Disclaimer for this story; I own nothing from C . S . Lewis's wonderful work that you recognise.
Choosing a Side
"A common enemy unites even the oldest of foes." He didn't like her and he couldn't trust her. And now he can't get rid of her. One of them was going to end up killing the other or maybe something entirely different would happen instead…Caspian/OC Set during Prince Caspian. Movie-verse. No Suspian.
Chapter I
"And when the stars align just so as you will see tonight it leads to a configuration called The Royal Prince who prefers to gaze out windows than pay attention to his lessons – Caspian!"
"Hm? – What Professor?"
"Indeed," Professor Cornelius agreed as he gazed sternly at Caspian over his half-moon glasses.
Caspian graced his Professor with a sheepish expression.
"What has you so distracted this morning?" the Professor asked as he began to tidy away the charts and papers he had laid out on the table before them.
"Are lessons over?" Caspian exclaimed eagerly, already getting to his feet.
Professor Cornelius gave a snort of amusement shaking his head fondly, "it seems an impossible task to get you to concentrate on anything this morning," the Professor chided lightly, laughter gentling his admonishing tone.
"I am sorry Professor," Caspian began apologising before his gaze flitted once more to the open window as it had been doing all morning.
Immediately Caspian's face lit up as his eyes landed on a long-awaited for sight. He grinned suddenly and the Professor rolled his eyes as a fond smile grew beneath his beard.
"I presume the reason for your distraction has arrived," Professor Cornelius deduced wryly as the sound of approaching hoof-beats upon the cobbled stone reached his ears.
Caspian barely seemed to hear his Professor's words though as he raced to half-lean out the open window.
Caspian gave a loud holler as he waved his arm enthusiastically in greeting.
"Your uncle would be displeased if he saw you behaving thus," Professor Cornelius scolded weakly with no conviction, his grin widening as he saw the utter elation on Caspian's face.
And as the reciprocating holler to Caspian's reached Professor Cornelius' ears the reason for his young prince's distraction that morning became only too clear.
"She's here," Caspian announced needlessly as he jumped away from the window already striding across the flagstones towards the door and through it.
"I hope the wait was worth it," Professor Cornelius called, as he replaced the stoppers to a few pots of ink.
There was a split second before the beaming grin and dark head of hair peeked back into the room, "it always is," Caspian replied before he disappeared once more.
…
Caspian raced down the familiar winding staircases, his footsteps echoing off the cold stone.
He expertly dodged past figures who gave surprised cries as their young prince sprinted past them unapologetically.
Caspian skidded to a halt, panting slightly as he finally reached the courtyard, his blinding grin never having faltered in its intensity during his mad dash.
Her chestnut hair gleamed in the sunshine as she swung herself effortlessly down from her horse.
Her olive skin was spattered with mud and Caspian laughed as he approached and she tried failingly to clean her stained tunic.
She looked up ruefully at the young prince, "the ford did not grant me easy passing today," she explained before sweeping into an unnecessary deep courtesy.
"I can see that," Caspian replied with a chuckle as she straightened and tried to unsuccessfully clean a smudged streak of her cheekbone.
She rolled her quicksilver eyes skyward as Caspian's gaze flitted across her form searchingly.
She gave a sudden loud blast of laughter as she caught his gaze, "yes I've brought it," she assured him.
A slight twinge of colour touched Caspian's cheeks as he grinned apologetically, "I was just making sure you hadn't injured yourself crossing the ford," Caspian argued feebly.
"Uhuh," she agreed, arching a circumspect dark brow as she turned back to the russet mare she had dismounted.
Caspian edged forward eagerly just as she slid the carefully bound package from her saddlebags.
She chuckled at the prince's enthusiasm as she balanced the package in the palm of one hand, untying the leather tethers with the other.
Caspian gasped sharply in surprise as the possession within was revealed.
The silver gleamed in the sunshine, shafts of light reflecting into his eyes.
His fingertips ghosted over the metal as a proud smile spread across her face and her cheeks flushed.
"Perfectly balanced in every way," she said softly, her silver eyes almost sparkling like the metal in her hands.
Caspian laughed almost breathlessly, "you're the best blacksmith in all of Narnia Alaya!" he exclaimed jovially.
Alaya laughed, looking suddenly abashed as she tugged at her heavy auburn braid, "you asked for a sword tempered and true and I gave you my best work," she murmured, offering the hilt to Caspian.
Caspian grasped the pommel tightly before he arched it through the air as quick as a flash of lightning.
"Tis surely a blade to be marvelled at."
Both Caspian and Alaya's heads snapped around as Professor Cornelius approached them with a fatherly smile.
Caspian held out the sword for his tutor's closer inspection, marvelling at the way the blade seemed to respond to every slight movement of his wrist.
"It is fine work Alaya. Something undoubtedly to be proud of," Professor Cornelius praised warmly.
Alaya ducked her head, smiling a little shyly under the compliments, the blush suffusing her cheeks darkening.
"Well…" Alaya began, "I can't take all the credit – Dar helped me out."
"I'm sure Dar would agree that you – as usual – are the master craftsman or, pardon – craftswoman. Your husband must be very proud of having such a talented wife," Professor Cornelius responded. Caspian meanwhile had become entirely engrossed in mimicking a few simple parries with his new blade.
Alaya laughed heartily at the Professor's words, "Aye Dar is very good. There aren't very many men who would be…comfortable shall we say with their wives as the main breadwinner of the family. But he knows that blacksmithing is my talent and my passion and he would never force me to give it up, no matter what the old biddies of the village may say."
Professor Cornelius chuckled before both their gazes fell on Caspian as he executed a complicated parry to perfection.
The young prince allowed himself a small smile of victory as he tossed the blade lightly in his palm to readjust his grip.
"He grows better each day," Alaya commented lightly, watching as Caspian moved fluidly across the flagstones like a deadly shadow beneath the morning sun.
"Indeed," Professor Cornelius agreed, his eyes filled with bursting pride as Caspian drifted further away from them to spar with an imaginary opponent.
"The blade truly is fitting..." Professor Cornelius began before his voice dropped to a low whisper, "for a King."
Alaya's quicksilver eyes sharpened to two flint points, "his Aunt grows nearer to her birth date?"
The Professor's meaningful gaze slid to Alaya for a moment, "the time grows near," he confirmed.
Alaya discreetly glanced over her shoulder as Caspian having defeated one invisible opponent moved onto his next.
"It seems to me too risky to wait until his aunt has given birth. We need to get Caspian away now," Alaya stated frankly.
The Professor heaved a weighted sigh as he raised his chin, "and what if his Aunt gives birth to a daughter? – Caspian will have thrown away his title for nothing. Miraz will not make his move until he has secured a line of succession with the birth of a son."
Alaya scoffed quietly, her eyes narrowing, "you gamble with the boy's life," she stated vehemently in a hushed whisper.
The professor spluttered for a moment, his face going quite red before he recovered himself. Both he and Alaya glanced about themselves making sure they were still discreet.
Caspian was now engaged with a few regular soldiers who had stopped to comment on his fine new blade.
The Professor nodded curtly towards the inner castle and with a measured breath Alaya nodded her consent and they both set off.
Silence reigned dominant until they had reached the safety of the Professor's chambers where he locked and bolted the door after checking the passageway was quite empty.
Once inside the Professor whirled fiercely to face the blacksmith.
Alaya stood waiting and ready with her arms folded across her torso for the onslaught.
"How dare you accuse me of not having Caspian's best interests at heart," Professor Cornelius said in a fierce dangerous tone.
Alaya would almost cower under the ferocity of the usually agreeable tutor's demeanour except for one thing. In the Professor's bright blue eyes shone the undeniable love for a prince that he had raised and taught from a young boy.
Alaya dropped her defensive, stubborn stance as she held up a placating hand.
"My apologies Professor," she said sincerely, "my words were as inaccurate as they were rash and unthinking."
The ferocity bled away from the Professor's stance leaving behind the familiar and grandfatherly old tutor. The lines of worry settled heavily upon the weathered face as he hobbled over to a nearby chair and dropped himself heavily into it.
"Nay Alaya, I know you meant no offence," he responded, rubbing a tired hand across his brow, "as the time grows nearer tempers become more frayed. I confess to having doubted myself these past months."
Alaya smiled gently as she ambled over to perch herself on the desk beside the old tutor.
"Have you told him yet?" she inquired quietly.
The Professor looked up at her, the answer clear in his eyes.
Alaya blew out a long breath, gentle reproach evident in her gaze.
"It is unwise for Caspian not to know of his Uncle's crimes and what his own true purpose is," Alaya advised sagely.
The Professor nodded in agreement, "I thought to spare the boy some pain for a while longer. I did not wish for his first act as king to be executing his uncle for killing his father. And as for the other matter there is time yet for Caspian to be told."
Alaya hopped lightly off the desk, wandering over to the window that was still propped open letting a cool breeze with the sounds of the outer courtyards enter the room.
Alaya's grey eyes watched Caspian as he laughed and joked with some Telmarine soldiers and her brow furrowed.
"You truly believe he is the one to save us? – To restore Narnia back to the true Narnians?" she questioned.
"Completely," Professor Cornelius answered without a shadow of doubt.
A smile quirked the corners of her lips for a moment as she continued to watch Caspian intently.
"If his Aunt does give birth to a son then what?"
Professor Cornelius took a deep breath, his expression very grave.
"I truly believe that Miraz will have Caspian killed the same night," Professor Cornelius replied grimly as he fixed the blacksmith with a candid stare.
Alaya's eyes widened in horror as she whipped around, "his own nephew?!"
The Professor scoffed scathingly, "you forget Alaya he killed his own brother!"
Alaya turned to look once more towards the young prince that was prophesised to lead them to victory and peace.
"Just like he killed my mother then," she whispered quietly.
Cornelius sent the blacksmith a sympathetic look as Alaya stubbornly sniffed back her tears before turning to Cornelius determinedly.
"Then I stand firm in my decision. If you are convinced that Miraz would have Caspian killed if his wife gave him a son then we cannot delay – we must get Caspian away from the castle as soon as possible!"
Professor Cornelius sent Alaya a stern look, "and if Lady Prunaprismia gives birth to a daughter, Caspian will have made himself an outcast for no reason."
Alaya shook her head firmly, "even if Caspian's aunt does birth a daughter – Caspian by royal decree can lawfully take the throne by the end of the year on his 18th birthday. Do you really think Miraz will let him live long enough to see that day?"
"We have waited too long for this to throw it away now on reckless decisions," the Professor warned.
Alaya paced the length of the room, tugging worriedly at her braid.
She stopped in front of the Professor, looking to him imploringly, "let me take him to forests Cornelius – he will be safe there. The loyal Narnians will protect – "
"No," Cornelius cut across her firmly.
"Why?!" Alaya cried, throwing her hands up in the air, "if Caspian is meant to be the one to save us from this Telmarine tyranny then why did the council decide all those moons ago to let him be raised here in this castle – to grow up a spoilt Telmarine prince?!"
Cornelius stood suddenly, his fury rising like a sudden storm but he did not unleash it. Instead the old tutor's look gentled to one of understanding. He approached the blacksmith until he stood before her and placed his hands on her slumped shoulders.
Alaya looked up, tears pearling her eyes as she gazed at the Professor searchingly.
"My mother was on that council, you decided in her favour. But I…I don't understand – why?!" Alaya whispered quietly, her voice slightly thick with tears.
Cornelius squeezed her shoulders in a comforting gesture as he held her gaze steadily.
"On the eve of Caspian's birth the centaurs came out of hiding – it was quite the occasion given the centaurs hadn't been seen since the Telmarines had invaded and conquered Narnia. But a gathering was held that night deep in the forest and the centaurs told how on the next night a prince would be born that would bring peace. Naturally we all assumed somehow they meant a Narnian prince. However when the next night came and went, the only news that reached us came from your mother as she fled the castle; a Telmarine prince had been born," Professor Cornelius chuckled ruefully as he released his grip on Alaya's shoulders, ambling around the room. His blue eyes behind his spectacles became lost and misty in memory as he tugged thoughtfully at his white beard.
"Your mother was a Narnian; this you know. But that night the Narnians called her a traitor and worse. She tried to tell us about this Telmarine prince that had been born, but we would not listen. She was granted no sanctuary in the forest that night and her only choice was to return to the castle."
The Professor sighed as he raised mournful eyes to Alaya.
Alaya returned Cornelius' gaze, her eyes unflinching even as the tears swam in them.
"Miraz had her killed that night," Alaya elaborated in a hollow voice.
Cornelius nodded as he swallowed painfully, no words ever being enough to capture the sorrow he felt over the event.
"But some had believed her," Alaya prompted the Professor.
Cornelius's gaze snapped to Alaya as he gathered himself from the painful regrets, "yes there were some – few mind – who believed your mother when she told them that this Telmarine prince was the one prophesised to save us. Dar's father as you know was one."
Alaya nodded as the Professor continued on, "he was the one who led the raid to rescue you from the castle the night your mother was…" the Professor trailed off.
Alaya swallowed thickly, "he raised me as though I were his own daughter and finally I did become his daughter when I married his son. Dar was always so sweet."
A loving smile crossed Alaya's face then that lessened the bitter tears.
She raised a hand to swipe at the few that clung to her lower lashes stubbornly before she fixed the Professor with a prompting look and Cornelius began speaking again.
"The few that did believe your mother held their own small council that night about what should be done about the Telmarine prince that was to save us."
"You were on that council," Alaya interrupted.
Cornelius nodded, "I was sceptical but it was the first ray of hope after countless years of Telmarine slaughter and tyranny," the Professor explained. "Some wanted to immediately take Caspian to the woods, raise him as one of our own – a loyal Narnian that would one day raise a victorious army to scourge Narnian of the Telmarines."
"My mother disagreed?" Alaya said.
"Immediately," Cornelius responded, "she spoke of how the prophecy said that a prince would bring peace to all people of Narnia. She then asked if we would be willing to kill innocent children and women which of course we all objected to. Your mother then pointed out that even if this Telmarine prince did all we hoped he would and restored Narnia to peace that would still leave the question of the countless Telmarine woman and children that would still remain in Narnia."
"So her solution was to allow…Caspian to grow up a Telmarine prince?" Alaya surmised uncertainly.
"Not quite," Cornelius replied. "Your mother recognised that for there to be peace across all of Narnia the prince would have to be someone that both Telmarines and Narnians would follow. Otherwise the two sides would keep fighting until one or the other was completely wiped out. That would hardly make Caspian the Prince that was meant to bring us peace then."
"It is impossible to find someone both Narnians and Telmarines would follow," Alaya immediately scoffed.
Cornelius chuckled slightly, "I thought so too but I have been teaching Caspian about the old Narnia before his ancestors for years now and Caspian's opinion on the matter has never once wavered…He believes the old Narnians should be able to live in harmony with the Telmarines."
Alaya still remained sceptical, "and how will this work then?" she demanded.
"After the inevitable fight the hostile Telmarines will be defeated by a Narnia led army by Caspian. But then the Telmarines who remain will rally to Caspian because he is their prince and they will honour that. In the same way that the Narnians will honour the prince who fought to give them their freedom. Caspian will do more than free a people, he will bring peace between two warring races as it was foretold he would."
Alaya released a measured breath as she tugged at her bottom lip with her teeth, "it seems an awful lot of expectation to place on a young prince's shoulders," she worried sceptically.
Casually Alaya drifted over to her abandoned post at the window to gaze out into the courtyard below. Caspian was nowhere in sight but she supposed he was off in the soldier barracks conversing with the young guards and showing off.
"I think he can handle it," Cornelius replied confidently, "besides you said so yourself; Caspian would be expected to take to the throne as a King by the end of the year."
"Hmm," Alaya agreed non-committedly, "a Telmarine King," she muttered disparagingly under her breath.
"Do not be so quick to judge Alaya," Cornelius berated gently, "you are afterall half Telmarine yourself. Your father was a Telmarine and he…"
"Abandoned me," Alaya finished sharply, her eyes like striking flint.
Cornelius sighed heavily, "you do not know that for certain Alaya," he chided gently, "Miraz sent…"
"Sent my father and six others off to explore the unknown Eastern seas and they never returned," Alaya concluded scathingly, "if you ask me my father saw his opportunity and ran."
Cornelius sighed, "I cannot speak to your father's character for I did not know him. But I did know your mother and she would not have given her heart to a man who would so easily abandon his family. And if I may speak to circumstances of which my knowledge is limited. I doubt your father knew how badly things would deteriorate after he left for his voyage. I doubt he actually believed that Miraz would sink so low as to kill his own brother. Your mother and King Caspian IV were killed on the same night along with anyone else Miraz considered a threat to his rule."
Alaya worked her jaw stubbornly unwilling to concede the Professor's argument but begrudgingly seeing the logic in it.
"All the same," Alaya began, steering the conversation deliberately from conversation about her father and any arguments that might possibly exonerate him for his perceived abandonment, "I found a new family in Dar's."
"It was a most fortunate occurrence," the Professor concurred just as a mischievous smirk began to work its way across Alaya's lips.
"Besides my family is set to grow by one before the year is out," Alaya said meaningfully as her hand drifted casually to her slightly rounded abdomen beneath the loose fitting tunic.
Professor Cornelius's eyes widened in pleasant surprise, almost twinkling, "congratulations Alaya. The Lion has blessed you."
Alaya laughed as she rested her hand more firmly on her slight bump, "and Dar and I are most grateful," she returned before her expression sobered slightly.
"Whether my father abandoned his family in their direst need or not; I do not know. Nor do I know of his fate; be he dead or alive at this moment as my mother is dead. All I do know is I have no other family but the one I have created for myself and I will protect with all I have."
Professor Cornelius smiled proudly at the young expectant mother just as something daring stole into his blue eyes behind their half-moon spectacles.
"It is not the only family you have left Alaya," he begun gently.
But the effect on the blacksmith was instantaneous as Alaya's face immediately whitened in anger, her eyes like storm-clouds as she clenched her teeth.
"Professor I almost would not forgive you for that remark but I will if you promise never to bring the subject up again."
Alaya's voice was like ice; unthawing, uncompromising and almost burning in its intensity.
The Professor frowned sadly, "I apologise Alaya. The situation is of course yours to deal with as you see fit as you have been doing so these past seventeen years."
Alaya nodded jerkily, still completely thrown by the Professor's unexpected words.
"We should get back outside," she said stiffly instead before attempting a weak smile, "the guards may be dense but even they will wonder what it is the blacksmith and prince's tutor have so long to talk about."
Professor Cornelius smiled gently, "I will simply tell them it was a matter of disagreement over lessons. Caspian can hardly sit still for a moment when he knows you are coming with some new sword for him."
…
Caspian exited the soldiers' barracks just as he saw Alaya expertly swing herself up into her saddle.
He jogged lightly over, unable to keep the disappointed expression from his face.
"Aren't you staying a while?" he called, "I thought you would want to see your craftsmanship put to good use in beating Telria at a duel."
Alaya chuckled as she patted the smooth mahogany of her horse's neck, "I am afraid I cannot today young prince," she replied regretfully, "all the same though – ensure Telria knows who the better dueller is," she finished wickedly and Caspian grinned in reply.
Caspian waited until Alaya was nothing more than a receding cloud of dust in the distance before he turned, stalking towards the outside training grounds with a sense of purpose and determination.
As Caspian neared the fighting grounds the sounds of clashing steel and pained grunts mingled with battle cries assaulted his ears in a cacophonous disharmony. But Caspian almost grinned at the sound. It was the sound of the fight; the disorganised melee. The trick was trying to find your calm enough to think amongst the shrieks and the clanging.
Caspian smirked sardonically as he approached the nearest fighting pit.
Telria was already fighting and absolutely thrashing her opponent; a man twice her size in stature.
She whirled lightly on her toes avoiding the silver arc of her opponent's sword before she drove her padded shoulder into the man's vulnerable midsection. With a few choice curse words the man fell to the ground with a heavy thump and Telria wasted no time in springing on top of the man, to point her blade at the hollow of his throat as her face hovered inches above his.
A polite smattering of applause sounded, though Caspian nor a notable few others didn't join in.
It was an undeniable fact that Telria was a deadly fighter.
It was also an undeniable fact that Telria was one of the most sly and dirtiest fighters there was. She never fought fair.
Once her opponent reluctantly conceded his defeat Telria once more gained her feet, scanning the spectators for her next opponent.
Her eyes paused slightly on Caspian, her gaze effortlessly distinguishing the new sword Caspian clasped proudly in his hands.
Caspian stepped forward and Telria looked to him expectantly, "my prince?"
Caspian didn't give her an answer but let his actions speak for him as he took up a more substantial position in the fighting pit and raised his newly forged sword.
Telria's gaze lingered for a moment on the silver blade, "I see you have a new sword," she remarked curiously.
"Well observed," Caspian replied, "shall we duel"?
Telria for a moment looked dazed but Caspian remained poised having being fooled one too many times before with by the same trick.
Sure enough just as the spectators were beginning to fidget impatiently while Telria stood, her sword arm down, grasping her sword barely between her fingers she lunged.
Within a second Telria had sprung to life like oil thrown on some dying embers she raged forth like a roaring fire.
He caught her first parry as it glanced off his blade with a singing of metal. He stumbled only slightly when Telria kicked him in the shin as she tried to twist around him and knock him to the ground from behind.
He pushed her back with the momentum from their parried blades as she blocked his attacks.
For a split second Caspian thought he had injured her as she swiftly and nimbly swapped sword arms. It was another talent of Telria's that made her particularly deadly; she could fight just as well with any hand. She held her right arm against her torso gingerly as she gritted her teeth. Caspian realised his mistake just in time.
Her sword cut through the air in a serious of complicated manoeuvres designed to distract rather than injure. As Caspian's eyes were trained on the flashing silver he only managed to glimpse the movement out of the periphery of his vision as her right fist suddenly snapped out to catch his jaw in a disarming punch.
Caspian jerked his head back at the last moment, her knuckles encased in the silver-knuckled gloves she always when fighting grazing his jaw, tearing flesh.
Caspian winced slightly as he staggered back to regain his footing. Telria didn't grant him an inch to recover as she followed swiftly.
Her footwork was impeccable as she almost danced across the ground, her left knee bent slightly as though she were about to twirl through the air. But with an alarming alacrity her ankle deliberately caught his and the pommel of her sword was driven into his ribcage winding him as he fell backwards.
Cries of protest went out as Caspian fell he felt the blinding pain tear across his skull as Telria struck him another blow across the temple with her silver studded gloves.
Caspian instinctively rolled away as his back connected with the ground. He heard and felt the stamp of Telria's booted foot land where his face had been moments before.
Caspian made to get up when he felt himself kicked back down and suddenly there was cool metal pressed against his throat.
He didn't want to open his eyes but he forced himself to, looking into the cool grey eyes that hovered above his own.
"Do you yield?" Telria asked calmly.
Caspian gritted his teeth, "you never fight fair," he answered instead, hating how utterly petulant he sounded. It seemed his old swords master was right; a blade was only as good as the one who wielded it.
"I never lose either," Telria responded, "do you yield my prince?"
"Do I have a choice?" he demanded sardonically.
A smirk ghosted across her lips, "I'd hardly commit regicide merely to prove a point."
"And what point would that be?" Caspian asked sourly, as he dropped his sword, holding up his open palm in the signal for surrender.
Telria noted his surrender with a cool gaze before her eyes snapped to his again, "that I always win."
She was nimbly on her feet within seconds dusting herself off and smoothing a few disarray raven strands of hair back away from her face.
As usual Telria attracted dark looks from the soldiers gathered and as usual she ignored them. Her gaze ghosted over them as though they were mere mist.
Caspian sheathed his sword bitterly, readying to walk away.
"You have a fine sword my prince."
Caspian looked over his shoulder at her.
"It was made for me by a fine blacksmith."
"Alaya," Telria surmised looking to Caspian for unneeded affirmation. Caspian nodded all the same begrudgingly before his own gaze drifted to Telria's long-sword.
"Yours is made by a Calormene smith if I recall?" Caspian said.
"It is," she confirmed.
"Because no honourable Telmarine smith would ever craft a blade for one who fought so dishonourably as you."
The snide remark was muttered somewhere from the side-line of the crowd. Telria tilted her head slightly to the side as though in thought, her gaze never once leaving Caspian's sword.
Caspian almost scoffed at the remark. He would never go out of his way to defend Telria of all people but he had seen other soldiers as high-ranking as Captains copy Telria's moves. At least Telria did not deny that she never fought fairly.
But still amongst most she was generally disliked and loathed and also – though none would ever admit it – feared somewhat.
Most Telmarines sneered at the idea of a female being a soldier but they couldn't deny that as Telria had pointed out to Caspian moments before; she never lost.
But it then ostracised Telria inevitably; unaccepted by her fellow soldiers, reviled by the women of the court. However none would ever publically shun her knowing the fierce loyalty and closeness she shared with Caspian's uncle; Lord Miraz.
Caspian was snapped from his musings suddenly as Telria's voice rose again, unperturbed by the snide remark, having heard much worse.
"Nearly every smith in the land has offered to craft me a sword," she murmured quietly before her gaze fixed with Caspian's again, "except for Alaya – she refused," Telria finished frankly.
"I can't imagine why," Caspian lied without any real attempt to cover it.
"Hmm," Telria mused thoughtfully, her grey eyes bright, "I can."
Er; I've started a new story. I really don't know why I do these things to myself but here is a new story even while I currently have another nine in progress.
Hopefully you enjoyed it; if you have time please leave me a review, even if it is only a few words, to let me know if you hated it, loved it or whatever :)!
Thanks for reading!