Why? Because Caspain's vainty is infamous - and it doesn't help that he resembles Dorian Grey so much...;)

Eustace has a chance to stay with his love, to prove that it's real. Now if only he could get Caspian to see past his vainty and see the boy he claimed to love.

Masks to Hide

He'd never forget the day he finally arrived at court.

What seemed like - not months, but years, a life time, had passed in the intermitting time, in the time he was gone. Not from court, he had never stepped in the dark, rather gothic capital of Narnia in his life (but in his wildest dreams...) – but a life time since he had seen him. Since he had spoken to him, looked at him, touched him, kissed him. Slept with him. He missed Caspian with more of himself that he was brave enough to admit.

As he and his horse trotted down the cobble path his once-host following slightly in front, he found himself gasping and staring. The capital was amazing, if not beautiful then certainly interesting. He watched as people – people - and animal – animals – moved past him, around him, in front and behind. Above him. Doing their business and living their lives. This was something Eustace knew would take a lifetime to full accept.

He smiled under his cloak. A lifetime he – they – now had.

They stopped at the gates, waiting for them to be opened. The Lord glared impatiently at the guards, irritated and tired. They had ridden for days and days with little rest having heard that Caspian was to return soon. There were to be celebrations yes, but Eustace was more interested in seeing his love...yes his love, once again.

His gently kicked his horse of the drawbridge, nervously recalling Edmund's tales of the failed assault on this castle by him and Peter once. How brave his cousin must have been to do so, and in the dead of night. To his shame, Eustace didn't believe he could do such heroic himself.

"Who goes there!" A man on one of the taller stairwell shouted down at them. Eustace once-host lowered his hood and glared – in the bright harsh light of day, the purple circles under his eyes grew even more apparent. The man looked apologetic and hurried down to met them.

"My Lord! What a surprise, we were not expecting you – how may I help you?" The man, who accent was more like Caspian's than the lord's, bowed deeply.

"Food. Water. Rest. We have come to request an audience with his highness, King Caspian X – I have heard he has return from his voyage to the Far East?" Clip and crisp – all Eustace had come to expect, but the tinge of weariness made his guilty.

"We?" Curiosity the man turned, slightly, to look up at Eustace, whose face and most of his body was obscured from sight by his black cloak. What the man could see of course was that his whole travelling outfit was black and armoured slightly. His sword hung from his hips next to his long dagger and his other weapon where placed careful on his person. Eustace could only imagine how dubious he must look, dressed like an assassin and armed for war.

"Yes, we." snapped the lord.

"May I enquire to-"
"No you may not. Are we allowed in Steward or are we to be turned out on the street?"

The man flinched back at the scaving tone but, bravely, stood his ground, "My lord, I must record all visitor, I must know this man name and his meaning or else –"

"yes, yes I know – but this matter is for the King and the King ears alone."

There was a pause and the Stewart shifted. "The king has not returned yet, my lord. He will be still some weeks away."

The lord snarled angrily, his horse grunting at his tension. Eustace stomach dropped – weeks? But they had heard than Caspian was to return in a matter of days...

"His majesty was required to stop off at the island on business and is delayed my lord. Of course you are welcome to stay until then but –"

"My name is Lord East, sir. I trust there will be no more issue with my stay." He whispered coldly, raising his head enough for the man to see a glimpse of his face.

He paled, flinched and back off slight, "My lord! I have never –"

"Silence! Steward, you have toying with my patience and there is little left! You will leave my good friend alone and lead us to accommodation, now."

The man all but fled and Eustace stomach rolled sickeningly... if this man's reaction was to be expected from all...

"At ease my child, this man is a fool, has and always will be." The touch of the lord was surprisingly gentle for his touch exterior. Eustace swallowed painfully as his fingers absently found themselves touching his face. The cold mental that hide it was as painful to his heart as it was to others eyes. How could Caspian love a man who hid his face behind a mask?

"Soon, it will not matter, the curse will be gone. At least, once you are in his service, you will be able to remove the metal mask." The understand softness was gone but the brutal, disdain Eustace knew so well hadn't replaced it. It was a matter of fact, clip sort of one. At least Eustace hadn't been the only one to see the curious men and maidservant turn and subtle try and catch a glimpse of his face – the face that was so terrifying to make the Steward flee.

Eustace was quick to keep his head down, letting the long hood of the cloak obscure his face fully. Before he did, he caught a sight of the lord's face as he dismounted, the ever present scar seemed extra vivid and harsh in the light. Perhaps... beauty was not everything to everyone. He had found those who looked past it in his lands, perhaps here there would be other who felt the same.

Maybe Caspian would still see the old boy he had once loved.

Maybe...

Sort of a scene from my unwritten story - I want to wait until I'v seen all og the Dawn Treader before I write it but I can still write some of the Narnian Romance.