AN: Sorry for the looooooong delay. School started and I just got a new puppy (who's taking up most, if not all, of my time). Expect a few chapters to be uploaded this week =)
Disclaimer: All original Narnian characters belong to their respectful owners. All the rest are mine.
One month later.
The weather was completely different than on the day I left when I arrived into the familiar clearing of trees; bright and sunny. It seemed like years since I'd been back. Just the thought of seeing my family again sent my spirits above the clouds and I broke out into a gallop. Inside my satchel I had the note from Caspian.
"Come home."
My hair was whipping around my head wildly, as my shawl must have come loose. I didn't care. For the first time in 3 months I knew peace. My heart hammered as I finally saw the castle, and a sense of exhilaration pulsed through me. I was home at last!
Closer to the castle walls I noticed a party of people whom I've never seen before; two young men, a young woman and a girl. They all remained still as I came closer and fearing that they could be spies, I refused to acknowledge myself. I straightened my back and held my head up in the air, glaring at them and hoping that they would realize that they were not welcome. I rode past them as quickly as I could, careful not to expose any hints of fear though thoughts of whom they could be filled my mind.
The smell of the familiar Telmarine-grown hay made me forget them and the stable master greeted me as if I never left. As I stepped into the castle, I could have kissed the floor. My knees nearly went weak with relief. A servant led me to the throne room and I threw open the doors when I got there. Caspian stood by the throne, looking out of the window and turned when he heard the thud of the doors. I ran to him as fast as I could and caught him in an enormous hug that showed all the joy I was feeling in seeing him. He nearly cut off my breath with the hug he returned to me and swung me about.
"It's so good to see you, Caspian!"
"Asha! You haven't changed one bit! But I'm afraid things around here have." He gave me a joyful look. "Welcome home, stranger."
"Stranger!" My mind clicked and I was reminded of the strangers I had seen earlier. "Caspian, I don't want to alarm you, but there are four foreigners outside the castle. They could be Narnian spies. You should send someone to investigate."
"Spies? But the war is over." Suddenly, the doors opened again and the same people whom I saw outside were in front of me and people were waiting on them hand and foot!
"Caspian, these are the foreigners! And they're in the castle? What are they doing here? Why aren't they being taken away?" I heard a snicker from the young girl and I glared at her. She had no right to laugh at me!
"Asha, calm down. They are Narnians."
"Narnians? In Telmar? You must be out of your mind Caspian, inviting those who threatened our people into our home!"
"They are not against us, they were against Miraz. And I see you haven't learned to hold your tongue when you speak in the presence of visitors." He drew his arm out towards the four people in front of us. "May I introduce High King Peter, King Edmund, High Queen Susan and Queen Lucy."
"The ancient Kings and Queens of Narnia!" I whispered in awe. I stepped down from the dais and swept into a deep curtsey, given only to the highest ranking in royalty. "I humbly ask for your forgiveness, your highnesses. I had no idea-If I had known I would have never said what I did." Queen Lucy took my hand and gently lifted me up to my full height. "This is impossible," I whispered. "I thought you were just a myth!" I looked at Caspian and he nodded as if he understood my shock. "It is an honour to meet you all."
"We are honoured to finally meet His Majesty's famous cousin," King Peter said, his blue eyes twinkling in amusement. "He often spoke of you."
"Thank y-. Caspian, why did he just call you 'majesty'? You're only a prince."
"Asha, come with me. I have a lot to explain to you." He placed his arm around my shoulders and led the way to the sitting room. He and the Pevensies explained all that had happened, and how my mother went willingly to another world with my brother. There were some tears, but I had accepted long ago that I wouldn't see my mother again after she told me so. I learned Miraz was dead, and General Glozelle left with my mother and Caspian had seen Aslan. I refused to believe it. Meeting the Kings and Queens of old was one thing, but telling me that he had seen the Great Lion was more than ridiculous. No one in Telmar even dared to speak his name. Not wanting to argue with him, I steered the conversation to whether or not the council was urging him to find a wife. A newly-crowned king was an excellent catch for any woman lucky enough to get him.
"Not yet," he said with, I noticed, a quick sideways glance to Queen Susan. I smiled to myself as his cheeks turned red for a moment and then he acted as if nothing had happened. He changed the subject to how I spent my time while I was away.
"There's not much to tell," I said. "I did what I usually do here. That kingdom was so much like Telmar, I honestly forgot that I wasn't home."
"What is it that you usually do here?" Peter asked with interest.
"Write, sing, read…I read quite a bit."
"Asha, you have read nearly every book in my library. If you are ever looking for my cousin, you shall find her there or in the stables." Caspian explained.
"You enjoy horses?" King Edmund asked.
"I love to ride, and I have a particular interest in horses. I personally see to my own mount and I've even helped breed some of the ones used by the generals." I said with a hint of pride in my voice. Being surrounded by men all my life, I grew up as a tomboy so I learned many of the same things Caspian had learned.
"I never pictured it. After seeing you for the first time I sized you up to be a girl who only cared about dresses and dancing and things like that," Edmund said.
"I do enjoy those things, but my life is not centered on them." My cheeks felt heated; I was slightly offended by his insinuation.
"Don't let her looks fool you," Caspian teased. "Underneath that lovely face is someone who has bested me in many things, and I am not ashamed to say it. She does tend to scare off her suitors though." I poked Caspian playfully in the ribs and told him to be quiet. "What?" he said, laughing. "It's true! Remember when my father invited a young Lord from another kingdom to stay with us for a week? He challenged you to a horse-race but after you won, I overheard him telling my father that he could never marry a woman who could best him in men's skills." He turned to the Pevensies. "It wasn't really fair…the race, I mean. She was already at the finish line before he reached the halfway point. I suppose that answers your questions on why she wasn't married yet." That, I thought, and another reason. I knew Caspian was thinking the same thing as I was and we exchanged secret looks.
"Well, it sounds like we have a lot to discover about each other," Peter said. "I would be honoured to escort you to dinner tonight, Princess Asha." I was taken aback for a moment by his forwardness, but I smiled sweetly and accepted. I left them with a small curtsey and set out to find my old room. Everything was exactly the same as I had left it. I took a long luxurious bath and donned my warmest robe, a deep purple colour with a faint blue embroidered pattern of roses. I moved to my closet and smelled the fresh fragrant scent of roses that my mother always insisted my clothes be washed in. As I stood deciding which of my lovely clothes to wear, I heard a small voice.
"The green one is lovely!" I turned to find Queen Lucy standing by the door. "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to be rude."
"No, no. It's all right." I took the green gown from the closet and examined it. It had a satin, silver-coloured under-tunic and the gown itself was made of deep, forest-green velvet. It was slashed at the sleeves to show the silver underneath and the cuffs and the hem of the dress had silver beaded edging. I ran my hand over the smooth material. "You have really good taste, your highness." I smiled to myself as Lucy insisted that I call her by her name and drop the formalities and jumped up on the bed as I left to change. But just as soon as Lucy jumped on, she leapt off again and ran to my dresser where her eyes caught sight of a gold-plated jewellery box. She opened it and lifted a silver necklace with a large diamond pendant and matching diamond earrings. As I emerged from the dressing room, Lucy squealed with glee.
"Oh, you must wear these! You would look beautiful!"
"Don't you think I would be too overdressed for dinner?" I said, laughing. "I'm saving them for something a little more formal. But, if you like, you can pick something out of the box wear it tonight." Lucy's eyes sparkled with delight as she chose a necklace similar to the diamond one but it was made of gold instead and had a much smaller pendant that matched the deep pink of her gown. I settled for small silver earrings and we waited for Peter to some and fetch us. I enjoyed Lucy's company very much. I realized we had quite a bit in common and I felt closer to her than I ever thought I could. She told me so as well, saying that even though we only knew each other for a few hours she could tell we would become very good friends. I remembered Susan and how she had treated me with a hint of coolness. She didn't say much to me earlier, and I wondered if I had done something to offend her. I confided to Lucy about my concern. Her brow creased as I could tell she was wondering how to word what she was going to say.
"Susan is very...how should I put this? She gets very jealous." I looked at her, confused.
"What does she have to be jealous about? I've never said more than two words to her."
"Well, I don't know if you've noticed but she cares deeply for your cousin."
"Yes, I can see that." I smiled to myself as I remembered the blushes that crossed both Caspian's and Susan's cheek when I asked him about marriage. "I still don't understand what that has to do with me."
"Susan was the only woman in Caspian's life since this all started. She received his undivided attention and he hardly ever left her side. Now that you've shown up, she's jealous because he has barely any time for her now."
"Oh, I see."
"I've told her that you've only just returned to your home. It's ridiculous that she should feel envious over the fact that he wants to spend time with his cousin whom he hasn't seen in who knows how long. His priorities now are making you feel at home again and getting you adjusted to your life here. Her vanity should not get in the way." I admired her speech. All of my doubts about whether this little girl could have been queen were crushed. She spoke with wisdom beyond her years.
"I hope I don't cause a problem between the two of us. I would like to become better acquainted with her."
"I hope so too. I can't understand why else she wouldn't like you. I think you're wonderful!"
"And I think you are as well, Lucy." As I gave her a warm smile, we heard Peter's light knock.
