* Disclaimer: I do not own Narnia or any of it's characters, only my own character. Contains spoilers for Prince Caspian, as well as other novels in the series.
In the silent night, a single slight figure crept through the castle. Peering around a corner, bright chocolate eyes kept a careful lookout before hurrying down the corridor. Feet padding silently on the stone floor, the figure paused in front of the crown prince's room. Looking around one more time to make sure she wasn't followed, she pushed open the door, closing it carefully behind her. Quietly, she made her way over to Caspian X's bed.
Caspian awoke abruptly to the sound of his bed curtains being pulled open. He peered up with dark eyes, tensed shoulders relaxing and he moved aside to allow his guest to crawl into bed next to him. Crown princess Alexandra curled up next to her brother, snuggling into his side and Caspian chuckled sleepily.
"You're going to make us late." Alex grumbled as Caspian lay down to sleep a bit longer. "You're too early." He retorted. "As usual." He teased and his sister giggled softly. "I can't help it, I look forward to the Professor's evening lessons." She murmured, before a small yawn broke through. "Get some sleep." Caspian said immediately and Alex opened her mouth to protest when he cut her off. "You won't make it through the Professor's lessons if you don't get some sleep first." Alex grumbled but snuggled further against her brother, soon drifting off to sleep. Caspian smiled down at her sleepily, and pressed a kiss to the side of her head before drifting off himself.
About an hour later, Caspian awoke with a start as someone covered his mouth. He immediately tensed, pulling his sister instinctively closer before relaxing as he recognized his tutor, Doctor Cornelius.
"Five more minutes." He muttered sleepily but the Professor shook his head. "We won't be watching the stars tonight, my prince. Come, wake your sister, we must hurry." He shook them both and as Alex began to squirm sleepily, he pulled Caspian out of bed and to the wardrobe in the corner of the room.
"Caspian?" Alex murmured sleepily as she sat up, rubbing her eyes. "I'm right here." Caspian assured his sister and she peered at them curiously and moved towards them as the Professor beckoned her over.
"Professor, what is going on?" Caspian asked confused as the Professor gently pushed Alex into the wardrobe. "Your aunt has given birth… to a son." The Professor murmured before stepping into the wardrobe and motioning for Caspian to follow. Caspian did so, and the Professor shut the doors, leaving them open a crack. Caspian peered out as moments later, soldiers slipped into his room, surrounding his bed. Caspian recognized General Glozelle right as he signaled and the men fired arrows into Caspian's bed. They pulled his curtains and blankets away to reveal the empty bed, and left quickly. Caspian's heart hammered as he realized both he and his sister could have been murdered if they had arrived only moments earlier.
"Quickly, follow me!" The Professor ran out and Caspian followed, pulling Alex behind him. She gasped as she saw the bed but Caspian simply pulled her out before she could stop in shock. The three raced down the winding stairways to the stables. Caspian left his sister to quickly grab a sword while the Professor readied Caspian's horse, Destier. "What is going on?" Alex asked frightened as Caspian returned armed. He simply placed a strong arm around her shoulders before hoisting her onto his horse. Caspian quickly followed, climbing on behind her, and the two siblings turning to the Professor.
"You must make for the woods." Doctor Cornelius informed them quickly. "The woods?" Caspian asked confusedly as Alex's grip on the saddle tightened. "They won't follow you there." The Professor replied. He reached up towards them, holding wrapped object. "It has taken me many years to find it. Do not use it except at your greatest need." Alex grasped the object- it was like a rounded tube but narrowed and curved at one end, almost like a horn. Caspian tightened his grip on the reins as he looked down at the Professor.
"Will I ever see you again?" He asked and Alex peered at the old man with concern. "I hope so, my dear prince, princess. There is so much I meant to tell you. Everything you know is about to change…"
"Professor…" Alex began. A sound clattered and all three whipped their heads around towards the stairway.
"Now go!" The Professor ordered and Caspian turned Destier around, urging her into a run as they raced out the stable doors. Alex peered back to watch the fading figure of the man she saw as a father and a sob caught in her throat. Just then they rushed through the courtyard, and Caspian knocked over a soldier that was in their way. Alex yelped and tightened her grip on the horse and se felt Caspian slip his hand to secure her waist as he rode, leaning over her so that she was fully covered as he rushed them out. They crossed the bridge where they paused to turn and see fireworks going up around the castle. Alex's eyes welled up in tears as Caspian silently turned them back around and sped off towards the woods.
They quickly crossed a river, Caspian shielding Alex from the current but as they entered deeper into the woods they could hear the chasing soldiers in the distance. Ordering Alex to keep her head down, Caspian looked back briefly. Not seeing anything, he turned back to face forward- only to get whacked in the face by a low-hanging branch. Alex felt her brother's chest slip off her back and she looked back in alarm to see her brother was no longer behind her. Looking down she screamed: "Caspian!" Alex watched in horror as her brother was dragged along the forest floor, his foot caught in the stirrup. She reached for the reins, dropping the horn, and pulling Destier to a stop just as Caspian slipped his foot out.
"No! Don't stop, go!" He shouted, albeit breathlessly at her, but Alex shook her head. "Not without you!" She brought Destier around to get closer to him as he struggled to sit up, when suddenly a tree to the side opened and two dwarfs stepped out. They noticed the staring siblings and the dark haired one cried out: "They have seen us!"
The orange-haired one drew his sword, rushing at them. "Run!" Caspian yelled as he stood up, seizing the horn as he stood between the approaching dwarf and his sister. "No!" Alex yelled, and the dwarf stopped, staring at Caspian's hand. Noticing where his eyes were looking, Caspian also looked down at the horn, when shouting reached their ears. Turning, they saw Telmarine soldiers approaching. Caspian spun around and whacked Destier in the hind. "Go! Don't stop no matter what!" He yelled as he watched his sister speed away, seeing her ashen face. "Caspian!" She screamed, trying to get the horse to stop.
"Take care of him!" The orange-haired dwarf barked at his companion before rushing to face the Telmarine soldiers. Nodding, the dark-haired dwarf began to approach Caspian with a club. Glancing between the soldiers and the approaching dwarf, Caspian glanced back down at the horn. Grabbing it, he brought it to his lips.
"No!" The dwarf shouted but it was too late. Caspian blew as hard as he could, before he was knocked out cold. As his world disappeared into darkness, Caspian prayed that Alex had made it to safety.