A/N: hey ya'll I know you are alerting this story! I get emails up the wazoo for it. Leave me some feedback, I don't like posting for nothing. Happy Reading!


Chapter Seven: An Uneasy Scheme

Throughout the first night of the festival Caspian found himself dancing with Nina on more than one occasion. And it wasn't because he was avoiding the others but because he couldn't help himself. She was lovely and oblivious to how much attention she was getting from everyone else plus him. Many of the men had asked for a dance or two and could not stop trying to converse with her. It would seem that she was the prime commodity of this evening. But also on the other side so was Lady Aurelia. And Caspian knew better for Aurelia was lovely, but there was something missing from her heart that was not absent from Nina's. Where Nina looked upon everything with care and kindness, Aurelia looked upon with coldness and disdain and that was sort of off putting.

"Caspian." Nina chided him as for the hundredth time he had approached her that evening. "There are ladies in this room that are being neglected."

"And I think you sweet for thinking of them so rather than yourself. It's refreshing." He chuckled and then bent down low and whispered in her ear. "Take a walk with me in the gardens?"

"Won't they get mad at you for leaving?"

"I can walk around my own home can't I?"

"Well okay, but I'll leave first and then you follow. I do not want a scandal being made of me. I already am disliked enough as it is because everyone wants a piece of you." She curtsied to him quickly and then picking up her skirts daintily she walked out of the front entrance and towards the gardens.

Nina had yet to see their beauty and indeed a sweet smell hit her as all the flowers where in bloom and ivy and vines wound around columns and the side walls. Grass was plush under her feet so she slipped off her shoes and settled them on a stone bench before inspecting some of the statues. There where erections of lions and bears, and of course newer ones with centaurs and fauns, but one in particular was absolutely breathtaking.

There was a lion as he was perched on a pedestal for all to see his magnificent chin skywards and his mouth open in a fierce roar. Nina looked up at it and reached out as her hand touched his leg. She felt calmed by its presence and somehow knew this to be the Great Aslan.

"I see you've found one of the newer additions to the garden." Caspian's voice said behind her. Nina turned and saw that he was smiling at her and she took a step back still looking at the lion.

"That was quick, how did you disappear so fast without someone following?"

"I know every secret passageway in this castle." He mused and she smiled.

"Of course, a King does know his castle."

The two of them began to walk the path line with more statues and light conversation, it wasn't until they were close enough to the main ballroom again that they could hear the music. So Caspian impulsively pulled her around by the hand and into him and began to lightly sway with her in small circles. She laughed and placed her hand on his shoulder before resting her cheek against it too.

"Today marks my month in Narnia." She sighed.

"It has been a fulfilling month I hope?"

"Oh yes. I've made many friends."

"Ladies of court?" he asked and Nina stood straight looking up at him with a skeptical look.

"No. I'm talking about everyone in the kitchens, Caroline, her brothers who are in your guard, and then Ronan. Then there's the Professor I visit frequently, and Reepicheep I see often and Trumpkin less often but he says 'hi' to me in the halls when he passes. Then of course there's you…my first friend."

"I do rather enjoy your company at meals every night. It gives me something to look forward to at the end of the day. You have a very soothing quality that puts me at ease so I'm not so stressed."

"I do what I must for my King." She joked and he grinned.

Oh he just couldn't help but smile around her because hers was so infectious and playful. He spun her out and then back into him as she came flat up against him and his hands took her waist gently his arms securing around her. It almost caught her breath as this handsome King was holding her so.

"Nina, have I already told you how beautiful you look tonight?"

"On more than several occasions, yes Caspian you have." She said cheekily and her fingers flattened out his tunic and rest against his chest. "And I suppose in return I can say you look rather handsome tonight. I think we match too."

Upon further inspection it was true…they were indeed the same shade of royal purple.

"That we do. What a happy accident." He said as he looked between them and then back to her magnificent brown eyes. "Nina, I have something to tell you but I don't know quite how to say it…"

"Oh?"

"Well you see-,"

But their conversation was cut short as they heard voices and Nina looked at him pulling away. If they were caught so close indeed there would be a scandal.

"Tell me later okay. I have to go get my shoes…I'll meet you back inside!" she called as she picked up her skirts and jolted. Caspian watch her flit away like a sprite her dresses flowing after her and she rounded about the rose bushes and disappeared around a hedge. He sighed as he heard the voices nearing and he himself disappeared behind an alcove as they passed. It was Lord Vector and Lord Malron and Caspian paused as he was intrigued by the conversation taking place.

"What do you think of his Majesty's attention to the young girl this evening?"

"Shameful. She isn't even a lady of sufficient birth. She will only prove to weigh down his crown as she has nothing to offer but her beauty. Even then…" Lord Vector sneered much like his daughter did. "her beauty cannot compare to Aurelia's."

"But she has won favor with those closest to him and not to mention every servant in this castle as they are calling her a "Gift from Aslan." Lord Malron gruffed. "I think she is craftier than this. She is out to seize his crown."

"She is a woman after all."

"What do you think we should do of this matter?"

"I think we need to get rid of her. Make her feel like she doesn't belong to make her leave on her own. It shouldn't be too hard, that girl has no manners anyways. Walking about without an escort or decorum as she shamelessly eats meals with his majesty and talks to him plainly."

"She does?"

"She calls him by his name, as if they were close. His majesty proclaims they are friends but she is a young woman. Why does she get special treatment and consideration above all others?"

Caspian frowned, he then knew that Lord Vector was a lot worse than Lord Byron and would not allow any of these things to come to pass. If he revealed himself now however it would give away the element of surprise so he slipped back into castle and took off to rejoin Nina at the party. He would enjoy her for the rest of the evening before devising a plan to save her.

As he reentered the ballroom he immediately tried to seek out Nina if it weren't for the fact Aurelia slipped in front of him and dipped into a low curtsy revealing to him her cleavage showing through her dress. He averted his gaze, not in the slightest tempted and she arose and gave him a pleasant smile on her red lips. She looked like Susan but in a more exotic way, her hair was a similar shade but closer to black than anything, her skin was slightly tanner for Archenland was bordering Calormen and her ice blue eyes where steel rather than sky. Susan and Aurelia shared many physical qualities but the former had a grace and kindness to her that Aurelia obvious lacked.

He could see the cruelty in her smile and in her heart.

"Your majesty, you have naught yet asked me to dance when all the ladies in the room have gotten at least one turn or more with you. It would be a shame if I could not dance with thee. It would indeed make my night." She said her voice sugary and sweet and he sighed as he held his hand out.

"I suppose a dance would be in order then." He smiled putting on a front that would please her. After all he had just heard her father plotting against Nina and he did not want to displease the daughter in any way right now.

Repercussions might find to be grave in this very situation he was in.

As they danced he still scanned the room for Nina and not bothered to really listen to what Aurelia was talking about. Of course the young woman noticed but put on a front and once the song ended he released her and said he had to find someone to talk to, but had enjoyed the dance.

Aurelia nodded and watched him walk away and the moment he did a scowl appeared on her face. She reached up and stroked the pendant on her neck with anger before being approached by another man and putting on her mask of grace and dancing with him. As Caspian milled through the crowd and politely excused himself from conversation he saw Nina being dragged by Caroline around a pillar and he knew this to be a secret passage to the kitchens. He himself snuck away and went down the long hallway hearing two females talking around a bend. He paused for a moment to listen.

How fast he became the spy this evening.

"Oh it was so strange Care, with the way he held me."

"Go on."

"And his gaze and his words. I am in danger of falling in love with this man." Nina sighed and Caspian's heart fell to the bottom of his stomach. Had a man already captured Nina's heart tonight and claimed her as his own. Would he be wishing her well and marrying her in his own kingdom? He then calmed himself before walking around the corner as if he had been jogging.

"Nina, Caroline there you are!" he said urgently and Nina jumped away from the wall she had been leaning on and Caroline's eyes went wide. Here in private, no one needed to stand on ceremony so no one bowed or called Caspian by his title.

"Caspian, what's up you look like something's wrong?" Nina said and he clenched his jaw for a moment before taking a breath and starting on what he overheard from Lord Vector.

"After you had jolted away I myself hid in one of the alcoves and heard that it was Lord Vector and Lord Malron. Lord Vector is often a visitor in my home from Archenland and he brings his daughter-,"

"Aurelia." Caroline hissed and Caspian nodded.

"He and lord Malron from my own court have been plotting. They wish to get rid of you Nina because they thing you are out to seek my crown and to marry me and ruin me. But I know it is not the case and I am glad I overheard such a plot for I would have been blind to anything they did. I will never marry Aurelia, she is cruel and vain and I do not want that in a Queen. We have to do all we can to stay firm and keep you here…safely."

"I agree Nina, Lord Vector is not known for his kindness." Caroline said grimly. "It is where Aurelia gets her nastiness from."

"Well what do I do?"

"He will resort to means such as poisoning if scaring you away doesn't work, even assassination. Caspian she is not safe in this castle now. She has a target painted on her back and it's only a matter of time before he realizes she will not yield and leave." Caroline said desperately and sadly and the King shook his head.

"No! I will not allow any harm to come to Nina. We will just have to make sure that no odd people enter the kitchens and all food for dinners are delivered through this tunnel. We will move our meals into the main ballroom then and I will assign you an escort Nina till you learn how to fight."

"Learn how to fight?"

"I wish it not so, for I would rather you just be comfortable and out of harm's way but this is the only solution I can come up with. If it were up to me I would escort you everywhere myself, but I being King prevents me to do so."

"I wouldn't expect you to abandon your people for me." Nina said gently and he reached out taking her hand.

"I promise, I will protect you."

"I know you will. Thank you for telling me these things, but, you do need to return to the party. Two disappearances in one night and whilst I am not there they will think much more ill of me." Nina gave his hand a squeeze and Caspian brought their clasped hands to his lips and placed a tender kiss on the knuckles before lowering it and releasing it.

"I will come to you after the festivities tomorrow night. We will talk more." He said making Nina smile and Caroline just smirked at the transaction before walking down the hall a bit and folding her arms and giving them privacy.

"You mean to my room?"

"Yes. There is a secret passageway in your closet that actually leads to the gardens. I will come to you through there."

"In my closet?" Nina asked astounded and Caspian chuckled.

"These are for safety measures. They were put in for occasions such as this where a life is being threatened. We Telmarine's are not so trusting when it comes to even our own sometimes."

"A trait that you did not inherit. You are trusting and good. I trust you with my life Caspian."

"I am glad of it. Well this is farewell…for now. Be safe, these walls are growing thin and I cannot bear it if you…"

He pulled her into an embrace and rest his chin against the top of her head.

"Do not put yourself in harm's way either. Do not sacrifice your safety over mine. You are a King without a Queen…Narnia could not bear the loss of you."

Caspian kissed the side of her head and smiled some.

"Always thinking of others before yourself. You're like Lucy in that aspect."

"Or Susan?" Nina said sadly as she pulled away.

"No Lucy in many more aspects was a lot kinder than Susan."

Nina did not stress anymore on the subject of Susan but sooner or later she would make him talk about it. If Aurelia was right then, was Caspian trying to bring her back in essence through Nina? After all he gave her, her things and let her stay in her chambers. But it was not the time with such a plot on the horizon and for now she would quash these feelings and thoughts until a more appropriate time.

So Caspian parted with a soft goodbye and once gone Caroline turned and raised her brow at her best friend.

"So you're in danger of falling in love with him huh?"

"More so now than ever." Nina now said sadly as she rest against the wall. "What am I to do? I will just contradict everything I say now when others ask me if I like him."

"If his behavior suggests anything is that he likes you back…immensely. He would fight for you because he is kind but he fights for you because he is a man captured. Trust me, I have seen it in many others being a maid in this castle."

"What of Susan?"

"Queen Susan is a thing of the past. She no longer is in Narnia and can never come back. You're here now and with him."

"Oh Caroline, what am I to do?" Nina started to softly weep and Caroline came up to her and let her cry on her shoulder whilst she softly rubbed gentle circles on her bare back.

"First, let's get your eyes dried, then eat a cookie or two and we will go from there."