Caspian was holding back a laugh. "Would you quit it?" I snapped at him.

He gave a snort of laughter, "Stop what?" He almost rolled off the chair he was sitting on.

I turned and faced the mirror. "Is it really that bad?" I asked him. My blank reflection stares back.

"No of course not," he said. He thought for a minute, "Did she really think that this was the best look for you?"

I scowled at the mirror and nodded. My looks had been warped into something that wasn't me at all.

My dark hair had been done up in a elaborate bun. My eyes had been covered in powders that has made them look like a flower exploded on them. My face was unrecognizable.

The dress was worse. It was floor length and frills were everywhere. The maid had tightened the corset so much that if I moved my arms above my head the circulation in my arms would be cut off.

Caspian rolled on the floor howling. "And she said you couldn't change?" I nodded.

Caspian wasn't getting any better. My answer had brought him even closer to complete hysterics.

I frowned even more. "Well even if she said I couldn't change, I can fix this outfit at least."

Caspian stopped laughing, "Don't you know that you'll get in trouble?" His face had turned deadly serious.

"Yes, you just said so." I pointed out. "Besides, what's the worst a pregnant woman could do?"

He didn't respond.

"I am a princess and I outrank her," I lifted my head up and gave the mirror a coy look. "And I am going as me, not a disaster. Hand me my dagger."

Caspian shook his head, "One day you'll get yourself into so much trouble." He grabbed a dagger off the table and handed it to me. "Just keep me out of it."

Holding the knife tightly in my hand I began hacking away at the layers and layers of frills. Soon the dress had resolved to a more simple look.

I grabbed a rag and washed off the powder on my face. I quickly snatched up a make-up brush and quickly put on a stroke of mascara and lightly applied lip gloss.

My hair need work. I reached up and took out a hundred bobby pins. I then braided my hair down my back.

He smiled. He was having a big brother moment. "You look wonderful."

I looked back to the mirror. The dress was a deep green that brought out my now visible eyes. This was me.

I hopped off the stool I was standing on and grabbed Caspian's arm, "Now good sir won't you escort me to the ball!"

"Presenting Prince Caspian the 10th and Princess Angelica Vanessa Eliza the 4th," the caller announced as we walked down the staircase. I rolled my eyes at the titles, honestly who called anyone that?

My aunt and uncle came up the stairs and walked down with us. Well Aunt Prunaprismia waddled down, she was due to have her baby anyday.

Prunaprismia turned and looked at me up and down. "What on Earth happened to you?" she shrieked. "You were perfect, and now..." she trailed off. "You will be punished for this," she declared.

I flinched. Miraz's punishments were always very creatives.

Caspian looked up, "That doesn't seem fair aunty."

"And you will be punished to for letting her go through with it. I had you looking like a queen," Prunaprismia sniffled, She then promptly went and sat down on her throne.

I didn't say anything. Everything I did would never be good enough for my aunt and uncle.

The ball was only just getting started when Miraz gestured for me to come to him.

"Angelica, there are men from Archenland and Calormand who would like to meet you."

I frowned. I understood perfectly well what he meant, but I wouldn't have it. "Excuse me for my rudeness uncle, but I am not interested."

He glared at me, "That was not a request, it was an order."

I turned and glared at him. "I am not interested. I am only 14."

He stood up and whispered in my ear, "You already have one punishment sudualled, we don't want to bump it up to two."

I stifled a gasp at the threat and cautiously weighed my options. I looked down at the floor and fiddled with a lock of stray hair.

"Fine," I whispered, "I'll meet these men."

Miraz smiled, "That wasn't too hard was it?"

I didn't answer. If I did, it would have been a string of curses to his name.

Caspian turned to look at us. Our eyes met as I frantically thought, help me!

He quickly walked up Miraz. "Why are you keeping my lovely sister from the party uncle?"

Miraz stepped back, "I was just telling Angelica about the men who would like to meet her."

"Isn't she a little young for potential souters?" Caspian asked. He didn't show it, but he was figuring out a reason why Miraz would want to already give his niece away.

"She doesn't mind, do you Angelica?" Miraz asked. He leaned forward and out of the corner of my eye I saw his dagger glinting in the candle light. He wouldn't hesitate to put it against my back.

I swallowed. Speaking against Miraz was never a safe thing to do. Then again I had never been praised for my lovely sense of judgment.

"Actually, Uncle, I was never fine with it. You threatened me with punishment so I wouldn't say anything. May I remind you Lord MIraz that Caspian and I outrank you."

Miraz looked like I had slapped him.

"Of course Princess, how could I forget?"

Smiling sweetly I turned and skipped towards the party with Caspian.

He leaned in to talk to me. "What was that all about? Why would Miraz already have souters for you?"

I frowned, "It's because he doesn't like us, well me. What better way to get rid of your number one problem then by marrying her off to an old git far, far away."

We stopped at a table full of drinks. Grabbing a glass of water I returned to the conversation. "Why won't you just become king already?"

Caspian choked on his drink. "W-What?" he sputtered.

"You are sixteen, why can't you become king," I asked leaning against the wall.

The ball had only just started. Most people were still sober and dancing like they were being forced to. Then again this was Miraz's ball so they probably were.

"I'm only sixteen," Caspian whined. "That is not old enough to rule a country."

Trays of wine were being passed around. Grabbing a goblet from a passing waiter, I stuck my finger in it and began to mix it around. An electric charge was coming out of it.

I put the goblet back on the table. "Don't drink the wine, and High King Peter won the battle of Beruna at 14."

Caspian looked down at the wine he had been about to drink suspiciously, "That's beside the point and do you really want to spend the night in a prison cell?"

I scoffed, I am not an idiot despite what people may say.

The party was beginning to speed up. With a gulp of wine everyone was laughing and slowly becoming more and more tipzy.

"What was in that wine?" Caspian asked as the people in the room became bolder.

"It was already very old and not to add that it was enchanted." I turned and left Caspian spluttering as some girls walked up to him and began flirting.

A party was definitely not my element. Everything seemed off, the music was too loud and everyone seemed to have just lost their minds.

That wasn't much different then everything else that had happened. After the Lady Prunaprismia pregnancy had been announced Miraz had changed. He was tense around Caspian and I, always watching with one hand on his dagger.

I wandered out into the garden. It was quiet out here. Most of the time I hate quiet, but after the noise of the crowned ballroom this was perfect.

I walked up to the great oak tree and sat on the swing. This was were all my favorite memories were made.

Swinging with Nurse and Caspian while she told us stories of a free Narnia. Even further back strands of a melody that must have been sung to me in my cradle. Warm sun on my face while strong hands held me.

That was all I had left from any of my parents, a few random memories and the constant reminder that I look like my mother.

I hummed to myself as I walked back to the party. This was how my life was like.

As I entered the ballroom it was clear that no one had missed me. Everyone was staggering around drunk, while Miraz and Aunty had disappeared. Caspian wasn't there either.

Out of the conner of my eye I saw a man beginning to stager towards me. With a quick turn I promptly exited the hall and headed up to my room.

I was shaken violently awake by my brother. My bedroom was dark and freezing and the light coming out the window hinted that it was no where close to morning.

"Go away Caspian, I'm sleeping," I grumbled into my pillow.

"Now is not the time to sleep, Angelica."

"Just watch me."

"Angelica!"

I sat up and glared at him. "If Doctor Cornelius is going to give us an astronomy lesson, I'm not interested."

I took a closer look at my brother. He was fully dressed with a sword at his side. Glancing out the window I saw fireworks and heard shouts.

"She's given birth isn't she?" I muttered angrily.

He nodded.

"Great," I spat as I marched over to my closet. "She couldn't have waited and now they're going to kill us."

Hurry," Caspian nodded, whispering, "Meet me down by the stables." With that he left my room.

"I hope they all die a very violent deaths," I hissed to the empty room.

I quickly began dressed in to a green tunic and pants. Along with that I slipped daggers into my boots. I then pinned my hair in place with a think comb.

I glanced in the mirror, was it only a few hours ago that I stood in front of this mirror getting ready for a ball? Now I was getting ready to run for my life.

Just as I was about to step out of my room two guards stepped in. "Where are you going Princess Angelica?" one of the asked.

"You know, I was just thinking that I needed a change a scenery," I said while I rolled my eyes.

Like I said, I have never been praised for my judgment.

"Well if you come with us we can give you definint change of scenery," the other guard.

"As much fun as going and being torchered sounds I really have to scram."

I reached up to the comb in my hair and pulled out a small knife. Moving quickly, I pricked each of the guards in the neck.

Their knees buckled and they slammed into the floor. "I really am sorry," I whispered down to the unconscious men. "Don't worry, you won't die, you'll just be passed out for the next 12 hours and won't remember a thing."

I sprinted down the hall praying that leaving the two bodies behind me wouldn't be a bad omen.

"What took you so long?" Caspian hissed angrily as I came running towards the stables.

"If I told you Miraz would have enough time to come to and kill us," I snapped back.

Caspian didn't even flinch. It was perfectly normal for my temper to be five times shorter when I was awoken before at least dawn.

We mounted Destrier as Doctor Cornelius slipped a horn into Caspian's hands.

"What is this Doctor?" Caspian asked as he slung it around his neck.

"That is Queen Susan's magic horn," Doctor Cornelius said gravely. "Only blow it when you are in grave danger."

"So every second," I asked.

The Doctor glared at me. "No, only when you-" he looked up to see me smirking at him. He knew what I was going to say. "Nevermind," he sighed. "Just try to stay alive and safe."

"Of course why didn't I think of that. Caspian, write that down; don't die."

"Please just don't" Caspian whispered. He looked sadly at the doctor. "Why can't come with us?"

I looked back at the castle. "Caspian, I really hate to break this heart wrenching goodbye but if we want to propone our death to another day, we really need to go!"

With the final word only barely escaping my lips Doctor Cornelius slapped Destrier, and we took off.

"Well that was fun, so where are we going?" I asked Caspian. "Wait," I asked. "Are you okay?"

He was crying.

"They'll kill him," Caspian choked. "Even if he says he doesn't know anything they'll still kill him."

I couldn't say anything. I knew the doctor was like a father to Caspian.

"He'll be fine, now focus on not dying. We can't disobey direct orders." Caspian gave a small smile.

I don't know how long we had been riding. It was long enough for every song that I could remember to play over and over again in my head.

"Where are we going?" I groaned for fiftieth time.

Caspian gave an exasperated sigh and didn't bother to answer. He had stopped answering after time number 25 and that had surprised me. I hadn't expected him to keep responding for that long.

"Will you just quit it," Caspian began but I cut him off.

"Do you hear something?"

"Honestly,"

I jumped off Destrier. "What are you doing?" Caspian asked.

I quickly removed my swords. I fought with two twin blades the best."Caspian you need to go now!" I shouted as 10 soldiers bolted out the trees.

Destrier bolted as I began to fight. "Wait!" he shouted and a tree branch promptly smacked him in the forehead.

"Great," I muttered of course my brother would get knocked out by a stupid tree.

Just as I thought my luck could get any better, a man came out of a cave. Not pausing from trying to keep both myself and brother alive I shouted out to the very short man.

"Excuse me, would you be so kind to maybe help my brother, the unconscious on. Thank you!"

The man stopped and stared at me. Then I don't know what happened because a sword flew right near my gut. I turned to disarm the man only to met by another. I went into tunnel vision and didn't concentrate on anything else. It wasn't until something pricked my arm did I realize what was happening.

I screamed. My brother was gone and the dwarf, witch I just figured out it was a dwarf, was bound and thrown across a horse's back.

"What was that?" I gasped as the soldier began to the tie my hands.

"Do you like it?" He asked. "Your uncle had it made just for you." He smirked down at me.

The last thing I hear myself say before I drifted into darkness was, "I hate all of you."