Chapter Ten: Comeback

Nina awoke in the stables in the morning. Ronan had curled his long neck around her to keep her warm and she smiled as she pet gently between his eyes and then trailed her hand down his nose. He let out a sigh and continued to sleep and skillfully she removed herself from him and hopped the fence of the stable. She snuck off back to her room and came out of her wardrobe just as Caroline entered from the bathroom having obviously made her a bath.

"And where have you been all night?" she asked as she milled about the room prepping it for Nina's use.

"I just spent the night in the stables. Talking with Ronan and what not." Nina said indifferently. Caroline then noticed that Nina's eyes were red and realized then she had been crying a good portion of the night. Instead of asking what was wrong, knowing full well what it was regardless, she just went to the wardrobe and shut the latch.

"Well why don't you take a bath and I'll go get you breakfast."

"Thank you Caroline." Nina said as she headed to the bathroom. "I will also be attending court today."

"Oh?" Caroline said as she stood there by the bed.

"Yes. I've made my decision. If Aurelia wants to play a game…well then I can play it too. And I don't often lose. Let's get one of Susan's nicer dresses ready."

"Really?" Caroline asked unsure and Nina nodded.

"Yeah, really."

"Well I have to at least witness a bit of this. Allow me to escort you today?" Caroline grabbed ahold of her hand and Nina smiled and nodded.

"Of course."

After the bath Caroline retrieved breakfast and while Nina was eating she was rummaging through a trunk of dresses. After ten minutes she pulled out a long black and red one that seemed to look very Spanish to Nina.

"It's from Archenland…you can tell by the designs on the corset." Caroline sighed as she gazed upon it. "I think it will suit. You walking in there looking better in her native style than Aurelia will ever will quite possibly make her bleed with envy."

"Then let's put it on." Nina said as she wiped her mouth on a napkin and stood up as she walked over to Caroline and had help putting it on. Caroline did her hair up and placed a matching headpiece to it and a golden necklace with Aslan's profile on it. Once Caroline was done Nina stood there under her inspection.

"I cannot find a flaw, you look regal in every way."

"Let the games begin then." Nina said as her eyes seemed to draw something in and Caroline noticed their brown color became sharper. There was clear determination and intent set upon Nina's countenance and it was sure that things were about to change.

Walking out of her room, Caroline trailed after her as they walked down the halls and once they came to the smaller ball room designed for court the doors opened and Nina glided in. Caspian was not present at court of course but there might be a possibility he would come later. But all the women and men where there and there amongst the very large group of single women was Aurelia in a pale yellow dress of her homeland fashion. Heads turned and people curtsied and bowed to greet Nina as she glided in and came to a halt in the center of the room. She held her hands at her naval and then smiled at Aurelia.

"Well it seems that you've decided to come to court after all." Aurelia said as she stepped to the forefront. She curtsied and Nina did as well as she looked over her shoulder at Caroline.

"You're dismissed maid." She said and Caroline nodded as she backed out. Nina turned back to face her opponent. "Yes, I've come to enjoy court and make friends. After all, his majesty's court it supposed to be one of Narnia's most cherished splendors. So, what are today's events?"

"We are just having tea and a luncheon. We might head out to the gardens for some light discussion and fresh air."

"Sounds splendid." Nina said as she let her hands fall and she stepped up to Aurelia's side and slid her arm in with hers. "We have so much to talk about you and I. After all we're such good friends."

This seemed to take Aurelia back but she smirked and nodded.

"Of course. I'd be honored Lady Nina."

And thus the silent war began. Both women took a turn about the gardens that day discussing what they liked and what they didn't and went through all of the motions that one would do upon making friends. Nina was employing the oldest trick in the book…keep friends close but enemies closer and there was no way that she wasn't going to know all she could about Aurelia. If it killed her she was going to keep her from taking Caspian away and becoming a spiteful and cold hearted queen.

At the end of the day both women were standing back in the ball room and looked up just as the double doors opened to see Caspian standing there. He looked about the room and everyone arose from chairs if they were seated and simultaneously bowed.

Nina did so as did Aurelia as both girls dipped into elegant curtsies. When they stood before them was the King and he looked upon both women and then his brown eyes turned to Nina's.

"Well I see the talk of the matter is true, you have started attending court." He said and Nina nodded.

"Yes my lord, I figured it was about time. And I've made such good friends." Nina reached over and grasped Aurelia's hand tightly. "We've come to know one another a bit more and I have found her to be the most intriguing and well-mannered and oh she has such beautiful things to say."

Aurelia's eyes widened a bit as she looked to Nina's completely serious and kind face.

"And the Lady Nina had nothing but grace and kindness as well towards myself and we conversed much on many things. I do rather say I often to call her my friend."

"This is…good." Caspian said and he then took a breath as he eyed Nina for a split second. "Well I was coming to check on you Nina and I see you are able to handle yourself well here. I will take my leave."

"My Lord, we do beg you to spend one day at court. After all it can't be your court without your presence at least once in a while." Nina said as she released Aurelia's hand and both girls curtsied low.

"Of course." Caspian said nodding his head to both women and then turning about and walking out the door.

Nina then stepped in front of Aurelia as the two had enough equal space to be parted from hearing distance from others. Nina smiled a kind smile at first and then it turned into a smirk.

"Doesn't feel nice does it?"

"Whatever do you mean?"

"Don't play coy." Nina said as she sighed annoyed. "We're both honest people, I suppose we just put on happy fronts. I put on my mask because I don't want people to see the ugly person I once was."

"Ugly? The kind and great Lady Nina…ugly?" Aurelia chuckled. "So you claim to be fake?"

"I claim to be different on the outside than what I am on the inside, yes. But see you pulled it out of me." Nina said as she leant in slightly closer. "See girls like you who got in my way, would be nothing but the dirt beneath my shoes when I was done with them…sometimes lesser than that. I atoned for the way I was, but now, I think I'll pull out all the stops…just so you don't get an ounce of satisfaction."

"Are you claiming Caspian?"

"I care for him. As a King and a friend. I meant I won't let you have the satisfaction of the title Queen. A title you don't deserve. No Narnian will bow before the likes of a selfish, black hearted, trash like you."

At this Aurelia's smile fell and Nina's smirk broadened.

"H-How dare you-,"

"Oh love, I dare. I really do." Nina stepped closer and reached up tucking a lock of Aurelia's perfect hair behind her ear. "I hope you will pull out all the stops too. I'd hate for you to hold back…where's the fun in that."

And at that Nina stepped away and curtsied before turning and walking out of the ball room with a bounce in her step leaving Aurelia standing there looking quite stricken. She had paled at the words said to her. She had not been expecting Nina to fight back like this. She had expected the kind and sweet girl that she had seen to back away and run off like a scared animal. But this development would certainly make things more than just hard. Aurelia was going to actually have to work this time.

Reaching up she placed her hand on the red jewel on her neck and held onto it. If only she can hold out just a bit longer she would have Caspian in her grasp.

Later that evening however at the festival Aurelia did not get to see Caspian for he was being occupied constantly by her father and everyone else so she was left to walk about and converse here and there with others of her social party. It was then that through the main doors Nina appeared in a blood red dress her hair bouncing in these ringlets and her eyes shadowed dark and her lips rouged and full. And as always behind Nina was Caroline dressed in a jade color and looking mighty prideful herself. Nina looked about as people parted for her and she spotted Aurelia through the crowd and made her way towards her. The dress on Nina's body flowed behind her and as she came to a stop it fell around her body like waves.

"You look absolutely stunning tonight. I do rather like the color on you." Nina appraised though Aurelia caught the snide remark under it. But before she could respond Nina walked away and was surrounded by the girls who once ostracized her in court…the very same who used to back Aurelia up.

"I like the color for a blueberry maybe." Caroline said as she too walked by and covered her mouth to hide her own mirth at poking fun at someone she normally couldn't.

Caspian who had spotted Nina walked away from his council and group of lords to the group surrounding Nina. They made way for him and he bowed before Nina and she curtsied back.

"Your majesty."

"I must say you do look absolutely breathtaking. Perhaps a dance is in order?"

"I'd love to." Nina placed her hand in his and he pulled her about as if presenting her to everyone and soon the two fell in step to a waltz. Nina looked over Caspian's shoulder at Aurelia who watched with envy as she clutched her full glass of wine, knuckles white, looking positively livid.

"You seem to be faring well." Caspian said to her quietly and Nina chuckled.

"I'm just beating Aurelia at her own game."

"I just hope you don't take it too far."

"She deserves it."

"She may deserve it but don't lose yourself in it as well."

Nina's face softened a bit as she sighed.

"Look, I know you see a kind person at first…but remember when I told you I used to be kind of selfish?"

"Yes."

"I used to be like her." Nina nodded towards Aurelia's direction.

"I can hardly believe that…"

"Believe it." Nina said sadly. "I'm only human after all. And the only reason I changed was because I lost the two people that mattered anything at all to me. You don't really change unless you lose something. Aurelia doesn't know the meaning of loss, because she's never lost anything in her life. So I'm going to rip away everything."

"Nina?"

"If you look at me different after this then…fine. At least Aurelia will be out of the picture and you'll be free to choose a girl worth being your Queen."

At this Nina parted from Caspian giving him a deep curtsy before brushing past him and back towards the group waiting for her. She had already succeeded in taking Aurelia's 'friends', and that was entirely in one day. To think what she could do in a few days, a week, a month, a year. All she knew was that the old Nina was back…whether it be good or bad, she was back and out for blood.