A nice little calm chapter before things start picking up again.

(Sage)

Sage roughly kneaded the clumped soil down into the neatly arranged parameters of her garden beds. Rich purple passionflowers were just beginning to display their petals to the early morning sun. Short white Lilies created a carpet like effect over the brown soil. And a few Dark Moon flowers popped up along the edges, darkening the landscape with their black hue. After the stressful night of worrying over Darius, Sage just needed a little normalcy. This was her sanctuary, where she could escape the demands and pressure of Court life. Out here, it didn't matter if her dress matched her hair ribbon. The only thing her flowers cared about was whether or not she watered them. Why couldn't a Kingdom be like that? Give the people what supplies they needed to survive and they would govern themselves. But then weeds would creep in with deceptive, lively green colors and attempt to choke the life out of her hard work.

That was a Queen's job—pruning the demanding garden that was her land. Even when her own little blossom was missing.

A pair of calloused hands reached around her waist to close over her thick gloves. Caspian kissed the crook of her neck, exhaustion evident in the heavy lean he put on her back. Sage turned, not bothering to arrange her skirts in a ladylike manner as she faced him.

"How are the kids?" she asked.

"Well, Sami has taken it upon herself to claim the entire dining room for her stuffed animal tea party. Darius is in Rilian's room reading some ancient magic book that I don't think anyone has ever actually opened before." Caspian grunted as he eased himself to the ground. "Now, I'll never get back up," he mused.

"You should know better, old man," Sage teased.

"Probably, but you look just as beautiful as ever, my dear." Caspian leaned in to kiss her mouth. Sage just laughed and pushed him away jokingly.

"Stop that you horny fiend. We aren't kids anymore. We can't just have midday frolics in the garden."

Caspian raised his eyebrows in silent argument. He slid closer, letting the grass stain his grey slacks. There would be more to come if he had his way. Against the soft pink dawn, Caspian looked like a nymph—beautiful and intoxicating. Wisps of grey hair fell against his regal cheekbones and the eyes that looked up at her were full of the same desire that created three wonderful children. She gave in to her reckless emotions, pulling him to kiss her. A servant skittered past on the overlooking balcony and ushered away a party heading their way. Once, the palace servants knew to steer clear of the garden on a particularly fine day; Caspian seemed determined to teach them that lesson again.

Fingers long skilled with the knowledge of how to undo a corset set to untying the bindings. As he pushed the material off his wife's shoulders, she shamelessly moved herself to straddle his lap. Her hands cast his belt off among her hard earned foliage. Caspian often joked that she only labored for endless hours in the garden to grow them a "dirty" to discover each other.

"Erm…,"

Sage broke away, leaving Caspian grinning proudly like a school boy after his first shag. She hastily pulled her dress back on and hurried over to the awaiting messenger. The unfortunate servant had interrupted their juvenile escapades. His hand was dutifully covering his eyes. He continued to speak before Sage had wiggled the loose fitting green material back into place over the hips that once bore all the heirs to their nation.

"Pardon the interruption your Majesties, but an important matter arose and requires your immediate presence."

"Counsel room?" Caspian inquired, securing his belt low about his waist.

"Not quite," the messenger replied. "I'll just wait in the entry hall until you two are decent. I can give you the details there."

He excused himself and Sage turned to chastise her husband for seducing her in so inappropriate a place and time. He was waiting with a teasing grin on his lips. The steadily rising sun cast angular shadows on his skin, disguising the wrinkles and throwing Sage back in time. Suddenly, she was 18 standing on the deck of the Dawn Treader in ridiculous shorts and an oversized tunic. For the life of her, she could not remember the name brand that seemed so second nature in her homeland. But she remembered Caspian's exact expression. Curious, wary, magnanimous. She had fallen in love with him faster than lightning could strike, and their life afterwards consisted of the thunderous applause royal life.

He was her beautiful perfect, always looming storm; always sweeping her up in his gale winds right back into the reaches of his love.

"Think it's about Calormen?" Caspian asked nonchalantly. He was toying with her. He could see how hot and bothered she still was. Forcing her into normal activities was the worst torture he could offer.

"It better be. You're making up for that interruption later," Sage informed him.

"Oh am I?"

"Put that smirk away. There's no one here susceptible to your whims."

"You sure, my Queen?"

Sage shoved her flat palm into his approaching face. He barked out an infectious laugh and caught her up in an impassioned hug. He kissed her hair and smoothed chaotic stray strands back into her bun. She laughed breathlessly into his shoulder, breathing in his scent to lock away for later. She prayed to Aslan that this meeting was as important as the messenger had hinted. She wanted to get her husband alone and show him who really held the power.