Caspian walked briskly to his room, trying to avoid anyone with a title. His uncle Miraz had once again caused chaos in the council's daily meeting. All Caspian wanted to do was strip off his clothes and sink into his feathered mattress. Finally he reached his destination, undisturbed. He let out a long weary sigh as he stepped inside, leaning his back against the hard oak door, his eyes fluttering shut for just a moment.
Caspian lifted his lids once more. As the shades came off of his eyes he found himself staring at two golden orbs. His heart jumped for moment in fear before he realized who the orbs belonged to.
"Adalina! For Aslan's sake why do you always sneak up on me like this?" Caspian relaxed and moved around to his bed. He sat on the edge; his shoulders slumped over, palms digging into the soft mattress for support.
"You know after living with me for so long you would think I wouldn't cause such a reaction from you anymore. I mean don't you just expect me to show up in your room without warning now?"
The light, playful voice came from the Baroness Adalina. She was the God Daughter of King Caspian IX, after her parent's death she was taken in to the castle by his command. In respect to the late King she was allowed to stay. She and Caspian had been close since birth. He loved her spontaneous, care free attitude as well as her strong-headedness and passionate conviction. Not to mention, she wasn't too hard on the eyes.
Adalina had light golden skin and a long lean body. Her face was delicate yet bold, with full sensuous lips and dark mysterious eyes. Long chestnut hair flowed over her shoulders and down her back.
Caspian fell back on his bed rubbing his hands over his face. "I suppose you're right", leaked out of Caspian's mouth with little enthusiasm behind it.
"Now Caspian, don't let the council get you down like this. I'm trying to have fun with you and you are not making it a very simple task." Adalina approached Caspian, grabbing his hands off of his face and pulling him up right once more. Once he was stable, she climbed up on the bed behind him and began massaging his shoulders.
Caspian groaned in pleasure. It had been a stressful day and this was possibly the only position, besides sleeping, he wanted to be in right now.
Adalina's hands wandered down Caspian's back to the hem of his jerkin. As she started to pull it off Caspian interrupted her.
"Whoa, Adalina I am afraid I don't have the energy tonight."
"Oh, don't get so worried, that's not what I am interested in. I am just trying to make you more comfortable, Miraz and the council look like they are really getting to you."
"They are." Caspian let her strip him down to his under clothes and lay on his stomach.
Caspian had never thought of his and Adalina's friendship as odd before, but as he let himself relax he took in the situation. He had known Adalina all of his life, she had been there when his father died and she was the only person who was able to truly empathize with him, instead of pity him. Growing up they studied together and went riding together. Adalina wasn't allowed to be trained with a sword, but she hated that Caspian could do something she couldn't so she begged him to teach her. And somewhere along the path they began a sexual relationship, although nobody on the outside would ever suspect it. It was unconventional to say the least, most women were out cast for not being able to keep their virginity until marriage, but Caspian and Adalina weren't driven by lust, they were simply curious. Neither one of them had any real friends besides each other. Sure, they both new plenty of other nobles, but neither took a liking to any of them, even the ones their age. So there they were, not in a relationship. No, definitely not in a relationship, they decided that a long time ago. "Just friends", always friends and nothing more. So then what is the sex? Well, that's their benefits he supposed.
Caspian was pulled out of his deep thought when he felt the warm hands leave his back. His head turned so he could see why the sensation had stopped. Adalina was moving from the bed, once on her feet she lightly tugged at the strings of her dress, letting it fall to the ground, pooling around her feet. Left in just her under dress, she crawled back on the bed, nuzzling her nose into his neck, arms wrapped around his strong upper back.
"You know you can't stay in here all night." He sighed, knowing it would not change her mind.
"Awe, but the risk of getting caught makes it all the more tempting." He could tell she was trying to lighten the mood, but Caspian didn't want to chance it, if she was found it would only be dangerous for her.
Adalina could feel how uneasy it made Caspian, she hated when he worried.
"Listen, I'll just stay for a while, until you fall asleep. Then I will go back to my room, I promise." She didn't want to leave; her bed was so much colder without his body next to hers. And she felt unsettled leaving him alone when he was like this; she could see how anxious he was in his eyes. Lady Prunaprismia would give birth any day and there was no telling what Miraz would do if he received a son.
"No, Adalina, go. You and I both know that wouldn't happen. You can live on the edge some other night; I have a bad feeling about tonight." Caspian had sat up, prying Adalina off of his body, immediately missing the warmth of her skin.
She scooted away just a little, so she could examine his features. "Caspian, don't worry about that now, there's nothing you can do." Caspian knew what she was referring to, but his fears were getting stronger by the minute and he didn't know why.
Adalina saw his face contort in confusion; he wasn't used to not knowing what was going on in his own castle. "Alright, I'll go." Adalina gave in, she knew he wouldn't allow her to stay, and she wanted to ease his mind as much as she could.
"Thank you." Caspian whispered as she slid off the mattress, her cotton under dress revealing her long slender legs. For a moment he regretted sending her away, but then the fear rose in his stomach again and he knew it was better this way.
As Adalina drug the dark gold fabric of her evening gown over her narrow hips she stole a glance back at the prince. If he had such a bad feeling about tonight he really shouldn't be alone, his mind would never rest. She finished tying the ribbons loosely over her breasts and shuffled back to her friend.
Laying both hands over his shoulders, she waited for him to look up. Once his eyes met hers she spoke softly, "just rest Caspian, promise me that you will rest tonight." She waited for his nod and then slowly leaned in placing a chaise kiss to his cheek and disappeared into the dark stone hallway.
Adalina strolled in the direction of her room at a lazy pace. The castle was peaceful, just a few guards patrolling the halls and a servant here or there, preparing this or that for Lady Prunaprismia surely.
As she strode through the last corridor she noticed a light flickering from the far room. It was the professor. He shouldn't still be up, she thought; he never is unless he was studying the stars with her or Caspian. Her curiosity brought her right up to his door. It was cracked open a small part, so she pushed on it lightly to allow her to see inside. The Professor looked rather busy, he had papers strung out all over his desk and he was currently searching through his library, seemingly intent on finding a particular book. He jumped slightly when the door squeaked. His hand fell over his heart as he sighed seeing the young baroness.
"A little on edge, are we professor?" Adalina took a few steps inside, running her hands over the papers on the desk.
"Sneaking up on people again, are we Adalina?" the professor scolded back.
Adalina smiled gently, the professor and she teased each other harmlessly, they would have never gotten along if they couldn't.
"Isn't it past your bed time old man?"
"I should ask you the same thing." His deep voice directed at her, as he pulled out a heavy book from one of the top shelves.
"I am quite past the age to be nurtured in such a way. I know full well when I should go to bed."
"Ah yes, it is the where I am rather concerned about." Cornelius knew he might have been pushing it with that comment, but he was indeed concerned about how she might really feel about the young prince. It would cost her everything she knew if Miraz ever found out about her and his nephew. Miraz would use any chance he got to throw her out of the palace; she had been too close to his brother.
"Cornelius, if you were truly concerned you would watch your tongue. You never know who is lurking around here. That includes Caspian, he doesn't suspect you know. Frankly, I am curious as to why you didn't confront him when you learned about us instead of me." Adalina tried to sustain a casual tone, but it was a sensitive subject for her and she found her voice getting a bit snappy as she finished.
"Caspian has far more pressing matters on his mind. There is no need in worrying him anymore than he already is. I had just hoped you knowing would prompt you to be more cautious, but I should have known better." Cornelius slammed the large book on the desk in front of Adalina with a disapproving look.
"If I didn't know you better, professor, I would be offended by that." Adalina leaned in, placing her hands on the desk in a challenging manner.
"You should be, Adalina. You are being careless."
"The fact that you were in the wrong place at the wrong time, does not prove that we are being careless. It just isn't as big of an issue to Caspian and I as it is to the council." Adalina was starting to get defensive; she didn't like having to explain herself.
"Well it should be! Adalina it seems as though you don't care that you will lose everything if someone on the council ever knew! You would be stripped of your title and thrown out of the castle into the cold streets with the peasants! And Caspian would bear no consequence. He is a prince! He has the power to pursue any woman, so long as he marries well." Adalina knew all of this. At first it was thrilling, knowing that it was so forbidden of her, but the fear had started to sink in and she had been trying her hardest to ignore it since it started.
Not knowing what to say she spun around on her heals and started for the door. "Goodnight Professor."
"Adalina, please; be careful" Was his last request as she fled to her own room.
She stepped into her room, a fiery color consuming her vision instantly. She despised the grey stone walls so she had them covered with red silk. Scanning the room her eyes fell upon the matching bed, the satin sheets now neatly tucked and folded. Her mind was invaded by images of Caspian making love to her in there, the hue from the fabric warming his skin.
Adalina mentally slapped herself. She shouldn't be thinking like that. She hated that that was all she was reminded of, every second of the day. As much as she loved to live on the edge and break all the rules, the professor was right; this was too dangerous, it had to end. Earlier that evening she had snuck into Caspian's bed chambers with the intention to do just that, end it. But seeing him in so much distress only made her melt inside and she just had to hold him for a little while.
Looking back upon her actions, Adalina was afraid she might never be able to end it herself; she was afraid she could be developing feelings for him, not like the ones she had before, but romantic feelings.
Pushing all of the thoughts out of her mind she discarded her over dress once more and buried herself between the heavy fabrics.