Well hello again! I couldn't stay gone for long so here is the third and unfortunately final installment in my "Lady" series. I don't really have much to say, just as always review and enjoy!

Narnia is not mine, but belongs to the wonderfully talented and imaginative C.S. Lewis!

Chapter One

Aurelia waved away her attendant and dismounted her horse herself, handing the reins to one of the fauns employed in the stable. She pulled her hood down and pulled her riding gloves off as she walked briskly inside, trying to escape the unnatural cold that had settled over Narnia that week. Centaur guards nodded to Aurelia as she hurried into the castle and she smiled and greeted them, already feeling warmer. The servants must have almost all of the fires lit that day. Aurelia broke into a faster walk eager to get to her room and warm herself. She reached the royal suite on the second floor, opening the door and taking her cloak off as she did.

"Colina?" she called to her lady in waiting. Colina had been fussing over Aurelia's dresses that morning, trying to pack for the voyage, so Aurelia was sure she must be in the royal suite somewhere. Caspian's night clothes were thrown carelessly over the end of the bed and Aurelia rolled her eyes and folded them neatly, placing them next to his pillow. She then walked through to their private dining room, and poured herself a cup of water looking around for Colina who didn't seem to be anywhere. The bedroom door opened and closed and Aurelia heard the familiar tune of Colina's whistling. Aurelia smiled and hurried into the next room to find Colina had covered the bed once more in almost a dozen new dresses. Colina curtsied when she saw the Queen. Aurelia laughed at her and touched the dresses.

"Your majesty, they have all just come back from the seamstresses. Sturdy and seaworthy," Colina nodded. Aurelia picked up one of them, a beautiful emerald colour.

"Yes and very pretty at the same time," Aurelia murmured.

"The King will be thrilled," Colina began to fold the dresses so they wouldn't be creased and laid them in one of Aurelia's five large travelling trunks.

"No he won't. It's just more cargo for him to cart onto the ship. He'll be irritated to say the least," Aurelia tried to assist Colina with the packing but Colina simply pushed her hands away. Aurelia sighed, still trying to get used to people doing absolutely everything for her.

"He's happy you're going with him,"

"I'm sure he is," Aurelia said absentmindedly sitting down and pulling the combs from her hair, shaking it free. Colina finished packing Aurelia's dresses and came to stand behind her, pushing her hands away and brushing her hair with the ornate hairbrush that had been a wedding gift from one of the lords on Caspian's council. Colina had come to Aurelia a year after Caspian had been crowned just when he and Aurelia had been married and she had been crowned herself. The woman was forty five and had no children, her husband having died some time ago and Aurelia had begun to look upon Colina as a mother figure. Colina had become Aurelia's best friend and confidant. Aurelia batted Colina's hands away and stood, walking to the chest at the end of her bed. She pulled out a dress for dinner that night and laid it out on the bed. The dress was a sapphire blue and laden with jewels, very grand. Tonight was to be a celebration to bless the crew and the King and Queen on the voyage they were about to take.

"Shall I put your hair up for the feast tonight?" Colina asked, smoothing the wrinkles on the dress. Aurelia turned and looked at the dress.

"No, we'll leave it down. I remember Caspian remarking he liked my hair down once,"

Colina smiled and nodded laying the dress on the bed once more and walking to Aurelia. She put a hand to her forehead and frowned.

"How was your ride?"

Aurelia looked sharply Colina's tone of voice, "Please don't lecture me, Colina,"

"It was cold, your majesty and you know how the King feels about you gallivanting about the countryside in this weather. You've just gotten fully healthy again," Colina touched Aurelia's cheek fondly, noticing how the colour was just coming back into her cheeks. Aurelia sighed and sat down on the bed.

"I just needed to get out for a day. It's going to be a hard few months, Colina," Aurelia twirled the ring on her finger. "Caspian had a lot to do today; I wanted to get out of his hair,"

"Of course dear,"

"And we'll be in close quarters for a long time; I just wanted to be alone for a few hours,"

"Yes, I know you did," Colina patted Aurelia on the shoulder and gathered the King and Queens washing to take with her. "I'll come back to help you dress before the feast,"

Colina left the room, closing the door quietly as she did. Aurelia stood and went to the window, throwing it open and letting the cold air wash over her face. She hoped the wind kept up for tomorrow. For Caspian. She did care about him, after all.

Caspian kissed Aurelia's hand and smiled fondly at her over his dinner. She looked simply radiant tonight in a dress that he vaguely remembered giving to her for her birthday last year. It was the first time she'd worn it. He also noticed she'd chosen to let her golden curls fall over her shoulders, her crown sitting on her head, looking as though it had always belonged there. Aurelia smiled brightly at him, but pulled her hand away so she could take a sip of her wine. She leaned over and continued her conversation with one of the lord's wives who was sitting next to her. They seemed to be discussing Aurelia's dress. That seemed to be all she discussed with the women of the court these days. What dresses they were wearing, or how they were wearing their hair, or how jealous the dark skinned Telmarine ladies were of their delicately pale skinned Queen. Caspian didn't mind what Aurelia talked about with the ladies, he only wanted her to do as she would please. He leant over to Trumpkin the dwarf, who had become his greatest adviser.

"Does she look well, Trumpkin?"

Trumpkin surveyed the Queen for a few moments before shrugging, "Better than she has been, your Majesty,"

Caspian took another bite of his dinner and thought for a moment before swallowing and leaning again to Trumpkin, "You don't think this will be too much for her?"

"Truthfully?"

"Of course,"

"Yes sire. But if you lock her up and confine her to her bed she will look at you with nothing but contempt. Aurelia will do as she pleases, and she hasn't done anything that besmirches her name as Queen," Trumpkin took a sip of his wine. "It will be good for the people, Narnians and Telmarines to see their king and queen set sail together,"

"Yes, that's what Glenstorm says,"

"And Glenstorm knows best, as we have learnt," Trumpkin chuckled glancing at the centaur, standing in the corner, talking seriously with Drinian no doubt about something he had seen in the stars that would determine the luck of their journey. Caspian looked over to Aurelia who was still deep in conversation. The woman she was talking to now had a beautiful olive skinned little boy sitting on his lap and Aurelia was fondly touching the boys nose and then her own, making the boy let out a high pitched giggle. Aurelia herself laughed and continued their game, ignoring her untouched dinner. The woman stood, hoisting the boy onto her hip and curtsied to Aurelia. Aurelia stood with them and kissed the little boy on the cheek, blowing softly on his nose, making him laugh, batting his nose. Aurelia smiled and nodded and the woman left to put her beautiful little boy to bed, Aurelia staring wistfully after them. Aurelia sat once more and picked up her goblet of wine, touching it to her lips, but not actually swallowing any. Caspian put his hand on her arm and she looked at him, the smile she kept only for him once more on her face.

"Yes, my king?"

"You won't finish you dinner?"

Aurelia nodded and picked up her fork, taking another couple of bites before putting her fork down again. She reached for her wine, but paused and chose the cup of water, finishing the whole thing. Caspian put a finger under Aurelia's chin and turned her face to him. There were sure bags under her eyes. Caspian stood and held out a hand to his wife who took it and stood with him.

"We are for bed. Tomorrow is a big day and the Queen needs her sleep," Caspian announced to the long table they sat at, Narnians and Telmarines alike. They all stood and bowed to their young monarchs as Caspian led Aurelia from the room. Trumpkin shook his head and finished his cup of wine, pouring himself another when he was done. Caspian had proven himself a very able king and Aurelia a very loyal and loving queen. But Trumpkin knew, and feared that this voyage had the potential to test the marriage of the two and bring to light the problems that only a very small number of people had been able to see. He just hoped that it would not destroy them for whether they would admit it or not, they needed each other. More than they both would care to admit.

Aurelia pulled a shawl around her shoulders for bed, knowing it would be a cold night and knowing she would have to sleep or else she wouldn't feel well enough tomorrow. She stopped as a page of the book Colina had been reading caught her eye. It was a Narnian history book and the picture was of a golden haired boy kissing the hand of a dark haired girl. Aurelia touched the page, her other hand resting over her heart. She tried to avoid these books, anything that would remind her of her Peter. She knew he was somewhere, living his life as he should live it and she was here, living her life as she should. But there wasn't a moment in any day that she didn't miss him with absolutely everything that she had. The door opened and Aurelia hurried closed the book, looking up as Caspian entered, also dressed for bed. Aurelia pulled her shawl tighter around her shoulders and moved around to her side of the bed, pulling back the covers. Caspian did the same. The two climbed in and pulled the covers over them. Caspian glanced at Aurelia.

"Everything is on the boat and ready for tomorrow,"

"That's nice," Aurelia sighed, leaning over and blowing out her candle.

"Are you sure you're well enough for this?" Caspian asked in concern.

"I'm not going to be doing much Caspian. We'll be on the ship most of the time," Aurelia retorted irritably.

"I'm just worried and-"

"Good night Caspian," Aurelia interrupted and turned over, burying her face in her pillow so Caspian wouldn't see her tears. Caspian sat in silence for a moment before sighing heavily, blowing out his own candle and turning over to sleep. Aurelia moved her hand to her stomach and pressed down, the tears now spilling from her eyes. Ever since she had lost the child Aurelia had found it difficult to accept her life with Caspian. The planned two year engagement put in place for the couple to get to know one another had had to be cut short and Caspian had taken Aurelia as his wife exactly one year after his coronation, on the advice of his lord and counsellors. Her health had been affected with the loss of the baby as had her emotional state and she'd distanced herself from Caspian, from anyone who tried to care for her in fact. The only person that Aurelia would open up to was Colina and even she was kept at arm's length. And as for the royal marriage: ever since Aurelia had refused Caspian on their wedding night the two had slept in the same bed but nothing else. Aurelia would not touch Caspian or let him touch her unless they were in public and they were putting on happy martial faces for their people. Their marriage wasn't real. Aurelia's own life wasn't real. She put on a royal mask to hide her pain and true feelings. It was all an act.