Hello again, readers! I may speed up the updates by a day, simply because three days stretches this thing out a little bit too much, at least in my opinion :P You can tell me yay or nay in a review if you'd like to put in a word on the subject XD

Again, thank you to all you wonderful people who've read, followed, favorited, and reviewed! Thanks in particular to NymphadoraLupin98, Evy201, and joycelyn. for reviewing the past chapter!

Word of warning: A certain character by the name of Nikki is currently fighting tooth and nail with me regarding the end of the story...and if she has her way, I'll be hard pressed to get a fourth installment of this series out, as there's only a few mini stories left to tell. Mini as in a few chapters, nothing very long, just to tie things up all nice and pretty, so to speak. Back to the point: Nikki's being a bit difficult with me, so I'm not writing very much right now. Now that doesn't impact my updating yet, but if a poll goes up to resolve my little issue, do please vote on it XD What can I say? Nikki's just a bit of a pistol...she already jumped into Narnia against my express command!

Enjoy!

Chapter 3

Laurah POV:

It turns out that yesterday's war council meeting didn't even scratch at the iceberg, and Mother wants Ainslie and me both to come with her today. Unfortunately for me, it starts at dawn. I'm okay with getting up at dawn, but getting up before dawn? I have to suppress a host of colorful complaints. But really, I shouldn't mind so much. It's an honor that I even get to go, quite frankly.

"Come now Laurah, it's time to get up. You cannot go to council in your nightclothes!"

"Five more minutes?" I groan, turning over to lay on my stomach.

"You said that ten minutes ago. Up!" With that, Ainslie unceremoniously yanks the blankets and sheets from my bed, which only prompts me to curl up into a shivering little ball. The morning air is cold without the sun to warm it.

Eventually, I figure out that I'll be warmer if I just get up and start moving around, so I drag myself from my bed and force myself to get dressed, much to Ainslie's satisfaction. She's already dressed and ready to go, and I don't pretend to understand how she does it. Then again, Ainslie's always been a bit of an early-riser.

That being said, she does have a hint of bags under her eyes, which I note out loud.

"Trouble sleeping, sister?" I ask, pointing to the slightly darkened circles under her eyes.

"Yes, a little."

"Thinking about the war?"

"...yes."

I finish taming my hair and pat her shoulder sympathetically, and we walk out into the hallway together. Mother must already be in the council room, and I let Ainslie lead the way. I never quite figured out where the council room is.

As per my sister's direction, we arrive perfectly on time. Well, it's technically five or so minutes before the council meeting actually starts, but it's just enough time to take our seats and say a quiet hello to everyone nearby.

At dawn precisely, Mother stands and bids everyone a good morning, and quickly brushes over the discussions of yesterday. Apparently, they covered a lot of ground but came to very few conclusions, and the most pressing matter of what to do with Hallan is unresolved, as of yet.

"This very predicament is the reason I have called both my daughters here. Laurah, I believe, has spent more time with this man than any of us have, if not by choice then certainly by chance. Daughter, perhaps you could enlighten us a bit more as to his character and behaviors?"

I wasn't expecting this and I've had no warning whatsoever, but I'm content to speak for a bit. Public speaking usually frightens me, but here with my people the sprites, I don't fear it nearly as much. So I stand steadily and tell them everything I can.

"I don't know if any of you have seen this man, but...he is certainly every inch a commander. His gaze is unforgiving, and I know this because he would not cease staring at me when I was helping in the infirmary a day or two ago. He's frightening, to be frank. I cannot help but think that surely no commander of the rebels, as we call them, would surrender to us without some other end in mind. He may be injured now, but I think we cannot be too cautious when he's even close to being at his full strength. He's formidable even with a quarter of it." I surprise even myself with my formal way of speaking, and maybe Ainslie and Mother's speaking styles have rubbed off on me. If they have, so much the better, at least for these meetings.

I sit down once I finish, and I notice both Mother and Ainslie looking at me with approval. I guess they're happy I didn't barf up my nonexistent breakfast out of nervousness.

The council members sit and deliberate for what feels like hours, about things like what to do with Hallan when he's well, whether we should just execute him or try and get information from him, and the like. I notice several of them look at me and then at Mother, who seems to give them stern looks in response. Turning to Ainslie, I ask silently what that was about, but she shrugs her confusion right back.

Eventually, the dull roar calms to a gentle hum, and at Mother's call for order everyone shushes right up. She nods to some of the most vocal members, and one of them stands up, probably to suggest something.

"Her Highness Princess Laurah's assessment of the man's likely ulterior motives is more likely correct than not. However, executing him could mean retaliation, an event we may not survive if the rebels storm us here. It would seem our only choice is to attempt to learn from him."

"And it seems you have thought of a person to do this," Mother replies quietly, not looking at me even as I turn my curious gaze to her.

"We have, Your Majesty. It would seem that as he has taken a specific interest in the Princess Laurah, she may yet be the best of us to convert him."

"I beg your pardon?" I murmur, utterly confused. What does he mean, 'convert him'?

"You wish my daughter, the second in line for the throne, to attempt the dangerous task of not only milking this man for information, but convincing him to abandon his present allegiance in favor of helping us?" At their hesitant nods, Mother continues, "How do your lords propose she do this?"

"Majesty, we had no specific avenue in mind. We only thought that, as he made a point of staring her Her Highness for hours on end, that she could use this to her advantage, and to our advantage."

"And why is it, do you think, he stared at her so? Surely you cannot think his intentions honorable?" Ainslie cuts in, clearly leaping forward to protect me, though in the most polite manner I've ever seen.

"With all due respect, Your Highness, perhaps his intentions are of little consequence. Princess Laurah proved her adept skill at winning others over during her previous time here; we were only suggesting that she could be just the person to do this task precisely because of that skill combined with this man's obvious interest in her."

Surprisingly, I rather like the idea. It gives me something important to do, and playing a little bit of cat and mouse with this man Hallan, while dangerous, could be entertaining as well. A more selfish thought occurs to me: maybe this little game could help me forget about Caspian, at least a little bit. I think Mother understands that last sentiment in my eye, because she agrees to it for me.

"Very well. Laurah, your task is now to learn as much as you can about our enemy, through Hallan."

I nod my assent, and place a soothing hand on Ainslie's arm. She looks very averse to the idea, but luckily she understands that I'm okay with this. Her expression promises the demand for an explanation later, and I nod subtly. That's fair.

I'm about to silently ask what else we're going to talk about when I notice how light it's gotten.

"Council adjourned for an hour. Thank you, all."

At Mother's dismissal, everyone stands and disperses, bowing slightly in respect at they go. Ainslie's face assures me that now would be a very good time for an explanation, so I say it simply, as soon as the last person's left the room.

"Ainslie, I promise I'll be fine. Hallan's scary, yes, but I'd like to do everything I can to help. If my people can fight and die for this, surely I can do them this small favor?" I hesitate, but at Mother's nod I add softly, "Besides, it might help me forget Caspian a little."

Ainslie's face instantly softens when I say that, and she nods.

"Very well, sister. Only please...be careful. He's not a man to be trusted."

"No man is to be trusted," I answer sarcastically, but half meaning it. "But seriously, I'll be careful, Ann. I promise."

This seems to pacify her, and she nods again, more acceptingly this time.

"Shall we to lunch, daughters?" Mother invites, gesturing toward the door.

"Yes please. I'm starved! I never got breakfast," I laugh, trying to forget Caspian. Because ever since I mentioned him, he's been tugging at my mind. And thinking about him hurts, though I can't tell if it's because I miss him or I just want to be with him. I know it's because I love him.

I shake my head, as if I can shake those thoughts right out of my head, and Mother looks at me sympathetically. I suppose she knows a thing or two about losing one's love. I can't imagine how she must have felt when Father died.

"Are we going to lunch before next year?" Ainslie teases, tugging me off toward the door by my arm. Mother laughs her tinkling, bell-like laugh and follows us, looking very happy indeed to see her two daughters here and together. She's looked happy ever since I've been here, really. She's burdened by this war and ruling in general, but her eyes light up whenever she sees me and Ainslie.

When we arrive in our private little dining room, lunch is already on the table. I'm happy to find that it's a cold salad, because it's really warmed up since the sun rose high in the sky.

"I think I'll go by the infirmary as soon as the council meeting's over," I say, very much wanting to forget all about the Narnian king still bugging my head.

"An excellent idea, daughter. Only do as your sister said and be careful."

"I will Mother, I promise," I give her a teasing glance that reminds her how feisty I can be when I put my mind to it.

"And you can always stop if he frightens you too much," Ainslie adds, looking and sounding every bit the concerned older sister she is.

"He may frighten me, but I have a feeling I'll get used to him. He may simply be an acquired taste, that's all."

Ainslie and Mother trade a glance I don't quite understand, but it's gone so quickly that I almost think I imagined it. We finish lunch in silence, and I take my time walking back to the council room because my rear end is becoming quite sore from all this sitting down.

Mother walks brusquely ahead, but Ainslie smiles knowingly at me and falls behind too.

"I do not know how I shall manage if I become queen," she whispers, so quietly that I'd never have heard her if I wasn't a sprite.

"You'll have to have a royal seat cushion made especially for council meetings," I joke back, enjoying this moment of sisterly-ness.

"An excellent idea. Feather for the stuffing?"

"If you can manage it. Simply wait until the Winter Solstice festival, and ask for the feathers from the goose for the feast."

"Don't you think that could be perceived as odd?"

"Odd or no, you'd be the queen, and no one could argue with you, not over goose feathers anyway."

"Perhaps we should simply rule side-by-side, sister."

"Oh no, I'm quite happy to leave you to the council meetings, though I'm sure I'll have to come to at least half of them anyway."

"Then you must have a feather cushion too!"

"Only if there are two geese at the festival."

We laugh quietly at the silly musings, though we have to hush in a hurry since we've arrived back at the council room. I notice several of the council members giving me approving glances as Ainslie and I enter, and I use that as leverage to send Ainslie an 'I told you this was a good idea' smile. It's innocent at first glance, but Ainslie knows exactly what I mean, and she discreetly rolls her eyes. I had to teach her how to do that the first time I was here, and it seems she's gotten quite good at it in my absence.

"I see you've improved at the eye-rolling, sister," I whisper as we settle into our seats.

"I learned from the best, did I not, sister?" she fires right back, with a disarming smile so that the other council members who see us talking won't guess as to the topic.

Mother doesn't even have to call the council back into session, since everyone sits quietly as soon as Ainslie and I have shut our mouths.

"I believe another matter we must discuss, Your Majesty, is the attack on the Narnians," one of the older council members begins.

"Yes indeed. There is little chance the Narnians will not attempt to enter this war, and we have no way of stopping them should they chose to do so."

"Your Majesty, perhaps the combination of our forces would be a worthy aid," someone offers.

"Yet our own losses are so great that I am loathe to bring the same upon the Narnians."

A council member, who I think is my cousin and looks to be barely a year older than Ainslie, stands at that, and there's a passion in his eyes that I haven't seen in this entire council all day.

"But my Queen, we are all Narnians. We are sprites, but we are Narnian. This was belongs as much to them as to us, and perhaps we should not refuse help from our own kin. The Narnian forces would greatly increase our numbers, and perhaps with their help we could win this war, rather than suffer another dozen new losses every day." He sits down after his little speech, and I can't help but be impressed. It also makes me wonder. If we're all Narnians, why is we sprites have our own queen and government and such? Why are we not one with the other Narnian peoples ruled by the Narnian king? When did the two become separate, the sprites and the Narnians?

Ainslie notices my pondering and confusion, and discreetly calms me with a hand on my arm.

'Not now, sister,' her gesture seems to say.

Still, it's a worthy question, and I stow it away in my head for later. I'm not sure if I'll ask Mother or Ainslie about it, but surely there must be books on the subject in the library.

In spite of my best efforts, that dilemma is the only thing I can concentrate on the rest of the day. I contribute as much as I can, but my mind simply won't stay put in the present, not when I keep wondering why the sprites and Narnians are separate. It's very strange, at least to me, and I can barely believe I never thought of it before now.

I'm guiltily relieved when the sun sinks below the horizon, and Mother adjourns the council until tomorrow morning. Apparently there are battle plans and strategies to argue about, but I don't think Ainslie and I will be needed for that. I turn out to be wrong: Ainslie promises Mother to be there tomorrow, but I'm excused because the council wants answers regarding Hallan as fast as possible, and I can't do much in that regard if I'm sitting in council all day. But I'm happy that Ann promises to bring up the idea of sending one of our own to look out for King Caspian. We know our kind, however wayward one might be.

But I really don't mind in the slightest about going to the healing house; after all, I can visit Rhos while I'm there. I never got to see her yesterday or today, since yesterday Lassen kept me busy and today, well, I've been in council, obviously.

I remain quiet and pensive throughout dinner, and I only hum in response when Ainslie and Mother wish me goodnight. Maybe I'll have to go look up my question in the library tonight; I'm unlikely to get any sleep with the questions racing around so dizzyingly in my head. But if Ainslie notices me going to the library this late, she's sure to worry, so I head to my room and at least make an effort to try and get some sleep. I only nod off for an hour or so, and after waking from another dream about Caspian and I arguing on the Dawn Treader, I don't have any desire to sleep any more.

Tiptoeing carefully out of my room, I scuttle down the silent, dark hallways to the library in the dead of night. Everyone else in the entire palace seems to be asleep, and I resist a sudden urge to run outside and go for a wild midnight ride on Asha. I shouldn't, not with the war going on. It'd rather dangerous and a hundred times more foolish. So I content myself with skipping quietly through the bookshelves, and soon enough I have several books on the history of Narnia stacked in my arms.

Humming ever so quietly, I hurry to a chair next to a window and curl up, using the light of the waxing moon to read by. Thank goodness for sprite eyesight, otherwise my eyes would be burning after the first page. I skim my way through the first two books as slowly as I dare, and I curb my disappointment when I find no mention of the strange divide between the sprites and the Narnians. I work my way through a third and fourth and fifth, and by the time I start the sixth, dawn can't be more than an hour or so away. I'm growing frustrated, and I have to lace my fingers together so I won't toss the thick tome in the air in my antsy aggravation.

After a good half-hour of skimming and reading partial paragraphs, I come across a section about the White Witch. I'm about to skip over it, but I decide I might as well skim it, at minimum. After the first page on the topic, I'm glad I did.

I can't help but wonder if Mother was queen all the way back then. I know sprites usually live a long time, but I've never found out just how long. I'm very much hoping that Mother wasn't queen during the reign of the White Witch, because this old book seems to think that the sprites were on the side of the Witch, not the side of Aslan and Narnia. I don't want to think that my mother sided with the White Witch, for obvious reasons.

Reading further, I'm both comforted and saddened when I learn that the sprites had a civil war over the issue of siding with the Witch. I'm proud that at least half of my people stayed true to Narnia, but I wish there hadn't been a division in the first place. And I'm praying my mother wasn't the ruling queen at the time. I'm not entirely sure what I'd think if she was.

Somehow, my thoughts take a sudden turn in another direction, towards a responsibility I've yet to think on. Nikki. I knew Caspian would have her - well, he planned on both of us - at Cair Paravel; I heard him tell Lilliandil of it when he extended the gesture to her as well. But still, something isn't sitting right with me. Well actually, I know exactly what's bugging me. I just don't want to admit it. Still...it's just me. I'd be a horrible coward if I couldn't admit it even to myself. I'm supposed to be strong, right? That's an image I used to have, and didn't I decide I should try and rebuild the pitiful image I acquired before?

Fine. I shouldn't have left Nikki on her own like that.

Now that I've voiced it to myself, I can't help my guilt. I really shouldn't have left her on her own like I did...

It's tempting to really sit down and think about that, but it's dawn now and I'm expected to start on my task of weaseling information out of Hallan as soon as possible.

So I head on down to the infirmary, and Lassen greets me looking very relieved that I'm here.

"I'm sorry I wasn't here yesterday, I was-"

"Quite alright, Highness. There is plenty to be done today, if you wish to stay and help."

"I can help, but I also must spend some valuable time with Hallan. I do hope you understand." I look over meaningfully at the man's sleeping form, and I can't help but be a little relieved that I don't have to deal with him just yet. I agreed to subtly get info, but I'm not necessarily looking forward to it. It'll be a slow and painful task, I'm sure.

Lassen seems to understand my meaning, and nods discreetly. It occurs to me that perhaps Hallan might be faking his sleep, and I'm happy Lassen chose to answer me without words.

"Come Highness, there is much to do."

I follow Lassen into the back and gather his supplies for him, and we work for a few hours until the sun's fully risen. Happily, Rhos is one of the patients we tend to, and Lassen allows me a few minutes to talk to her. She's really coming along very well, for how extensive her injuries were. She still can't talk much, but it's more of a precaution now.

Whispering quietly to make sure no one can overhear, a man that may or may not be asleep more accurately, I tell her what I'm supposed to do with Hallan. The instant it leaves my lips, she looks at me like I'm nuts.

"Dangerous!" she hisses, pointing to the man with her eyes.

"I know, but I've got to do this. Think how much help it could be!" I'm hard-pressed to keep my voice as quiet as before. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Hallan stirring and Lassen beckoning, and I tell Rhos not to worry, I'll be fine and she needs to just concentrate on getting better as fast as she can. At her tired nod, I leave her and go to Lassen, who's waiting next to Hallan's cot.

"Clean his wounds, Highness. I will be attending to this patient." Lassen moves to the patient, a middle-aged woman, on Hallan's immediate left. It's a good move; he can keep an eye on me to make sure I'm safe, but if it's just Hallan and me, it makes my ulterior job a bit easier.

I dip the soft cloth in my hand in the bowl of warm water Lassen put on a portable table next to the cot, and I try not to flinch away as Hallan starts to wake.

"Ah, thought that gentle touch'd be Your Highnesses," he sneers, clearly mocking me, but also giving himself away. His voice is far too clear for him to have only woken up. Apparently, he never practiced his sleepy voice.

"Been up a while?" I retort, biting back a few very choice remarks that come to mind.

"I can't imagine what Your Royal Highness means."

"You know damn well what I mean. And you can drop the formality. I can see how bitter it tastes in your mouth." I try to resist the slight urge to dab at the actual wounds with the cloth, because I know that'd sting. It's warm water, but also salt water. Cleanses the outside of the wound, so Lassen tells me.

"Much obliged, but it'd be easier if I actually knew your name."

"What, you never heard?"

"No." He snickers meanly up at me, and I glare right back even though he still frightens me. I've got a job to do, and I can't let him see me as weak. He needs to see me as an equal, not prey.

"It's Laurah. Do try not to forget," I respond with as much sarcasm as he has distaste.

"I shall endeavor to remember."

I roll my eyes and resist my inclination to let a few drops of the mildly salted water drop into a particularly nasty-looking wound. Still, he hisses through his teeth when I simply clean around the edges.

"Must you scrub away at me with that cloth so vigorously?"

"If you'd like me to scrub, all you have to do is say so." I clean the wound a little rougher than before, just to prove that it could be a lot worse.

"Point taken, Highness," he mocks, practically snarling at me.

All I do is scrub a bit harder. Only when he curses and mutters a grudging apology do I relent. I know we're just playing a little game right now, so my fear begins to subside. He can do nothing to me, not while he's laid up in here. I have nothing to fear from him, other than the dark magic I can smell on him.

"Do you bathe in that smell, or does it just come naturally?" I grumble, mostly to myself but knowing he'll hear.

"Beg pardon?"

"Very well; you have it." I manage to bury my tiny smirk of satisfaction when he quirks an eyebrow at me.

"Odd, for a princess to work in a sick house."

"Odd, for a soldier to smell of magic," I fire right back, gazing steadily into his piercing stare. His eyes are fierce and dark and grey, like a thunderhead that hasn't spilled its wrath on the earth below just yet. They seem naturally broody and moody, and I can just barely pick out a few swirls of pale green in there among the grey. So that's why he smells of dark magic.

"Keen sense of smell?"

"Not especially."

"Keen perceptiveness then?"

"Knowledge, nothing more."

"Ah, so you know magic as well."

"I know its effects." As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I'm puzzled as to why they left it in the first place.

I look away from Hallan, using the excuse of dipping the cloth back in the water as my cover. But his hand flashes out and grabs my wrist, and I look sharply at him, expecting him to mock me again and fully ready to play this game. Surprisingly, his eyes are rather...soft. Calm. Almost like those four words got through to him.

"You've seen her as well?" A stupid, ridiculous grin that has no place on a brawny face like his spread across his harsh features. "Is she not the most enchanting thing you have ever laid your eyes on?"

"Oh yes, quite," I answer, with no little amount of sarcasm.

"Do not mock the lady! She is so very kind and gracious, and unutterably lovely."

"Fascinating, really."

"She is-"

"Cut the puppy love, Romeo. It's disgusting," I cut him off, very bluntly stating my opinion on his rather ridiculous transformation from tough piece of shit to groveling and infatuated piece of shit. Essentially, he's a piece of shit either way, but I like the second kind even worse than the first. I'm about to offer a very smart remark about how utterly doltish his 'puppy love' is, but then I remember my task. What if this "most enchanting lady" is behind the attacks on my people?

"I do not see how-"

"I am sorry. I often speak without thinking through my words. I meant no disrespect." I almost gag as the words roll smoothly off my tongue, but I manage to stow it away. I can always vent to Ainslie tonight.

He pauses and studies me every bit as acutely as he's ever done, and he seems satisfied with my apology.

"Well, I suppose it's alright. The great lady would be forgiving, and so must I be."

I almost choke on a laugh, seeing this massive fellow reduced to such a babbling, nonsensical twit, but I cover for myself by pretending to sneeze. Hallan's too busy daydreaming to notice, or care, so I'm safe.

"What is she like? This lady of yours?"

"Oh she's a most wondrous creature, so very beautiful to behold," he begins, and I refrain from mentioning dryly that he's said that before.

"Ever so dainty and delicate, and so soft-spoken that everything around her gives pause that they might hear her melodious voice. Her dress is a vibrant green, more fresh and eye-catching that even the greenest grass of spring. The lady often strums her little mandolin and sings so sweetly to all her admirers, and even the fire sweetens its smoke to better compliment her lovely song."

"Your lady sounds quite...wonderful," I manage, somehow keeping the disdain from my voice.

"She is not MY lady; I am content to do her bidding without having much claim on her. Indeed, she is far too extraordinary to be possessed by any one creature."

"Forgive my ignorance," I reply, laying it on as thick as I can without bursting into hysterical laughter.

"Ah, you are well forgiven, princess. Do not worry yourself."

"Oh I shan't, fear not." My face desperately wants to break its serious facade, and I have trouble controlling the little twitches the corners of my mouth seem insistent on making. All of a sudden, a pang hits my chest and tears prick at my eyes, though I have no idea why. Something about this pretending to be serious business feels achingly familiar, and my thoughts fly to Caspian. Caspian. For some reason, his name hurts when I think it, and I quickly turn my head back to cleaning the last of Hallan's wounds so he won't see the tears dripping slowly down my cheeks.

It feels - felt - so familiar, that put-on seriousness that made me want to laugh. And it hurts, and I can't answer Hallan's questions as to why I've suddenly gone quiet and would I like to hear more about the lady and oh I shouldn't feel bad for him that she isn't his lady. I can only shush him a bit more harshly than I should and clean the last of the dried blood from his skin. I'm still crying silently when I excuse myself to tend to the other patients, and I still don't know why.

For a moment, it almost feels like Caspian's going to pop up out of nowhere and comfort me, like he did after my screaming fits on the Dawn Treader, but I know I'm just being silly.

But it still hurts.

Chapter 3, all done! It's always kinda odd for me to edit these chapters while trying to write chapter 22 XD

Please take a moment and let me know what ya thought! I do love hearing from people! :D