Hola a todos,

welcome to this story for almost the last time :) I'm excited and sorry for letting you wait that long, but here we finally go.

This story has been with me since 2013, in two languages etc., so yeah, I could get really sentimental right now.

Maybe you'd like to leave me your thoughts if you've been reading along since the beginning :)

Have lots of fun!

Chapter 47

No hay mal que por bien no venga

As Branan walked across the Throne Room, he almost felt overwhelmed by the many voices and conversations. Cair Paravel was overcrowded with nobility, as so often. Everbody who was anybody had gathered to be present for the most important occasion in the life of Narnia's young heir the throne so far.

"Well, if this isn't the man from the North," a familiar voice surprised the old clan leader, and Tis'roc Alhajar approached him with a broad smile, followed by his eternal shadow, the vizier of the South.

"Alhajar, may you live forever," Branan indicated a bow to pay the Tis'roc the due respect.

"It's been a long time, hasn't it?" Alhajar thought out loud. "We haven't seen each other ever since Caspian's wedding twenty years ago, can you believe that?"

"Hardly," Branan nodded in awe. "A lot has happened since then. See, his son is becoming a man today…"

"And we're becoming old men," the Tis'roc laughed. "The way of the world, don't you think? But tell me, why have you so rigorously distanced yourself from Narnia ever since autumn?"

"I have not," Branan claimed. "At least not for good. But as long as the King lives in sin, married but not with - "

"Right, right, I forgot," Alhajar smiled. "You're still taking all of this very seriously up there in the North."

"Alhajar!" They suddenly heard a shrill, delighted voice behind them, and the next moment, Lorella jumped towards the Tis'roc excitedly. Branan had only little time to be snubbed about her stormy behaviour as they went right on.

"My beautiful desert rose," Alhajar caught her in his arms, almost wistfully. "What a pleasure to see you. How are you, how is your Cuartio?"

"Wonderful," she smiled sweet as sugar. "He'll be standing next to Rilian during the ceremony today - do say Hello."

Like two old friends they beamed at each other and for a moment, Branan wondered very irritatedly how this relationship, based on a decade old scandal, could have blossomed like that. The pen friendship of the two was well known beyond borders, as bizarre as it was.

"And how is your dear cousin, the King?" Alhajar asked her with great interest, ignoring the fact that Branan was still standing next to them. "Since his Taliah has left him, people in Tashbaan tell each other of the wildest rumors. I can't even make the ladies in my own harem stop…"

Branan drew in a sharp breath, but Lorella waved it off and laughed nervously, "There's not much truth to the gossip of the people - to be honest."

"Come, come, don't disappoint me, my love," Alhajar smiled mischievously. "I thought he was back to his old self. At least that's what the stories hold."

"He's not, Alhajar, I'm sorry." She looked at him and shrugged, and she also clearly said for Branan, "You know best how quickly false rumors spread. I assure you, not everything you hear is true."

"Well, I very much hope so!" Branan snorted impatiently, and Lorella nodded.

"Actually, you'd be quite surprised about the latest turn of events," she went on. "I think - "

That's as far as Lorella came.

When the great gate of the Throne Room was opened and the ceremony began due to the arrival of the royal family, even the last of guests fell silent at once.

Because the surprise that their appearance brought was clearly written all over people's faces.

"Oh, look, did you know?" Alhajar said to Branan under his breath. "Taliah's back, right by his side."

Branan nodded quite dumbfounded. "And she's even wearing her wedding ring..."

Everyone whispered and wondered whether Ria was only fulfilling her duty according to the etiquette that day. But when Caspian took her hand in his, they exchanged a smile so intimate that the question was clearly answered. And it caused far too many whistles and cheers in the Throne Room, which was, by far, the most beautiful moment for Rilian that day.

His actual ceremony went by fast and everyone involved was more than happy about that. Cuartio and Driscol, in whose midst Rilian was welcomed into the society by Priodas, were just as proud of their protégé as his parents and siblings.

And when it was all over, the day turned into night, and Rilian stepped into the crowd of applauding people. Everyone wanted to talk to him, and the nobles rushed towards him to congratulate him incessantly.

"I'm glad he's the older one," Joa giggled at the sight of his brother in high demand. "That'd be way too much pressure for me. I couldn't handle that."

"No, you'd get used to it," Kiana hit him into his side rather affectionately. "You always make yourself smaller than you are."

He looked at his little sister in surprise. "Not true at all."

"No, I agree with her," Aidén shrugged his shoulders and patted Joa on the back.

"See?" Kiana nodded. "Even your best friend thinks so. You're the reason Mamá and Papá are back together again, so don't deny that you're witty and capable of anything."

"I'm pretty proud of that, I'll give you that," Joa grinned.

"And you should be," he heard someone behind them say, and it made him freeze instantly.

He knew this voice. Or was he wrong?

For a moment there, he glanced at Kiana in astonishment, but she only smiled knowingly, looking past him. And when he turned around, his suspicion was actually confirmed.

"Ava?"

She seemed a little bit embarrassed because he was so surprised. "Good to see you, Joaquín."

She was about the only one who would ever call him by his full name. And when she said it he even like it, more than it was appropriate.

"I had no idea you'd be here," he admitted, feeling a bit uneasy.

She looked up at him, clearly disappointed. "Because I'm only a girl from the old town between all the nobility?"

"No," he was quick to assure. "Because I thought you... didn't want to see me anymore."

"That's too good to be true," Aidén chuckled and made Kiana step onto his foot in a warning.

"Ouch," he failed to be subtle, however, and Kiana smiled wearily. "Excuse us", she cleared her throat and pulled Aidén along so the two lovebirds could talk in private.

"So it's really true," Ava finally said before silence could arise. "Your parents are back together because of you?"

"You know, maybe I… helped," he said unusually modest and clearly tried to hide his excitement. But the girl standing in front of him was not just anyone to him, to his great discomfort, and he did not want to say anything wrong, even if it did not look like him at all.

Ava cleared her throat. „Well, your help worked, they're a wonderful couple."

"With ups and downs, yes," Joa nodded and a smile spread across his face. "They can't live without each other, I just had them to remind them of it."

"You know, your father told me that he used to be just like you when he was younger. And look at him now - he only loves your mother."

"What?" Joa asked, obviously alarmed. "My father spoke to you? When? What exactly did he say?"

"This afternoon, at Henry's," she admitted. "He recognized me immediately. As if I was important to you... He said that I had... well, turned your head and that you're not as careless as you want everyone to believe."

"My goodness," Joa tried not to blush. "You're only here because my father asked you to come…"

"No," she shook her head at once. „I'm here because I want to be. But I needed a little push, and for yours I've really been waiting in vain..."

"You were rather clear about our situation once," Joa tried to defend himself and stared into the ground. "But it's true. I'm pretty fond of you."

"Pretty fond of me?"

"Very, very fond of you," he gave her a lopsided grin. "My heart skips a beat when you're around, and I'm clearly unable to find the right words, as you can tell, but… I mean it…"

"Oh really?" She giggled.

"Sí, lo juro," he replied sincerely and took her hand. "Listen, don't go away! I'll be right back, with some snacks and a drink, yes?" (1)

"How could you? You went to Ava today?" Joa hissed into his father's ear, just as the King ended his conversation with some representatives of the Lone Islands. Joa had much too many tapas stacked in his arms, he could hardly hold them and his pouting expression was so funny that Caspian could see him as his five year old throwing tantrums once again.

"Sticks and stones, pequeñito," Caspian replied, stealing a tapa from his arm.

"But why didn't you warn me?" Joa's eyes grew even wide. "I would have dressed differently, I could have prepared myself, thought about what I -"

"I know," Caspian talked over him. "And you would have ruined everything."

Joa looked up at his father, clearly caught, and Caspian smiled, „Just like me, hadn't you helped me yesterday."

"That was an entirely different situation!" Joa snorted, then he reconsidered his statement. "All right, maybe not..."

"It did work, right?" Caspian shrugged his shoulders and took a rather unimpressed bite of his tapa. "Ava's here."

"She even wants me to accompany her to Henry later tonight," Joa added excitedly and for a second, Caspian was tempted to ruffle his hair in front of all those people, just like when he was still a child.

"Just be yourself then," he winked instead. In amusement, until he noticed Branan and Rilian heading up to them on one side, Argoz, Abney and Jhara on the other.

The clan leader's hasty steps caused him and his eldest son to stand next to them first.

"Your son is an ideal heir to the throne, Your Majesty," Branan praised Rilian as he usually did, but he also lifted his index finger and almost sounded much like Lord Bern. "But the way the people converse about you and your… lifestyle… in recent weeks really alienates me."

Caspian almost choked on his snack because he had not seen this unpleasant question coming, and to his regret, Argoz, Abney and Jhara joined them now as well.

That, of course, could not keep Branan from speaking his mind. "Caspian, when you came to visit me in Harfang this winter, I did not believe the newspapers afterwards. But today I am beginning to have my doubts. And when I think about it, my housekeeper was behaving very strangely after your visit…"

"I can hardly imagine that," Caspian tried to brush Branan's remark off, but there was no way to distract him.

"Yiva even had a hand tied, if I remember it correctly," Branan added skeptically.

"So it hurt her as well," Caspian muttered more to himself than to him, almost absently.

"Excuse me?" The old clan leader's gaze was threateningly serious. "Your Highness, do tell me what happened."

Caspian finally forced himself to say, "Believe me, it's too embarrassing to explain."

His sons desperately tried not to laugh at these words, they were the first ones to look at his blue eye after all…

"Too embarrassing?" Branan asked as his eyebrows shot up.

"Too embarrassing," Caspian confirmed. But because the rest of those present looked at the King in complete bewilderment, he quickly added, "No, not what you think! The lady's simply had a brilliant left jab."

"She hit you?" Branan asked in shock.

"She did, and rightly so," Caspian said and prepared himself to fib boldly. "She's a very decent woman, as you know. And when she realized how I - and I hate to admit that - was outraged by your decision regarding Narnia, she immediately stood up for you and... what can I say? I repeat myself, but she really has a good left jab."

"She hit you to defend me," Branan repeated and sounded so irritated that Caspian almost felt caught for a moment.

But the clan leader suddenly began to smile like a little boy. "Well, I'm sorry for you, but this proves that the modesty and discipline in the North is of undeniable value!"

The King nodded, and Branan asked one last question, "So this mysterious place where people supposedly celebrate and drink - it doesn't exist, does it?"

"No," Caspian claimed convincingly as he had given Yiva his word. "Quite a pity, if you ask me."

"Caspian, Caspian," Branan sighed, visibly relieved. "Well, I guess I am just glad to know that Taliah is by your side again."

"Is she really by your side again?" Abney could not resist but ask and Branan nodded hastily. "I've asked her earlier - the Queen has returned to court yesterday."

"I see," Abney nodded with a heavy heart and scrutinized Caspian a bit too disparagingly. "How fortunate you are, Your Majesty."

"Believe me, I'm aware of it," Caspian replied and kept his distance.

"Well, the reason for Yiva's… reaction, the support of the North – I'm glad I can declare that we will fully embrace Narnia again," Branan said. "You can count on our clans."

Caspian tried not to let the surprised relief show too much and simply nodded. "Thank you."

Branan almost tried to smile, then he turned around and mingled with the people, almost elated by the belief that his housekeeper had been so loyal to him.

"That was hardly the whole truth about said evening," Abney shook his head, rather disgruntled, and watched Branan for a bit longer. Argoz, who had always been eager to gossip, nodded gladly at these words. But Abney was almost reproachful when he examined Caspian.

The King knew that he only cared for Ria, but he hardly felt the need to justify himself to Abney. He took a deep breath, though, and said indifferently, "It's closer to the truth than what you seem to have read about it."

"Oh is it?" Abney's eyes narrowed. "So you didn't leave your Queen just as carelessly as you abandoned our homeland?"

Jhara, who still felt she had done Caspian so much wrong in the last months that she had to pay her debt, interfered. "Abney, before you go on, I must make very clear who stands before you."

"I know exactly who stands before me, and how Taliah and our country suffered because of him," Abney began to get excited, but Jhara interrupted him before Caspian could stop her.

"He's been Anvard's unknown donor, all this time," she proudly said and Caspian held his breath.

A storm could not be avoided now. Abney, and Lord Argoz as well, seemed clearly puzzled after this statement.

The King wanted to put his hand over his sister-in-law's mouth, but it was already too late. "Caspian has spent enormous sums to support our home. Without his help, the winter would have turned out very differently and the people, including myself, were really wrong for scolding him so much."

And so things took their course.

"You did what?" Argoz fumed. "How could you betray us like that? This will be of great interest to the other Lords!"

"I didn't betray anyone, Argoz, it - " Caspian tried to explain, yet he was talked over immediately.

"Outrageous! You have never stopped directing our peoples taxes to Anvard!"

"Argoz, of course I have," Caspian tried to calm the angry Lord. "Each and every bit that went to Anvard was from my family's fortune."

Argoz was just about to start rumbling again when the words' meaning finally reached him.

"I can prove it, in case you don't believe me," Caspian sighed.

"For heaven's sake, no, I do believe you," Argoz pouted. "It's just more than irritating that you support Archenland instead of Telmar!"

"Did Telmar suffer from the cold this winter?" Caspian suddenly asked.

Argoz looked up at him, quite taken aback, then he shrugged his shoulders.

But Caspian did not let it go. "Were Telmar's children suffering from hunger this winter?"

"No, maldita sea, of course not," Argoz moaned, finally understanding what the King was getting at. "Fine, you're right..."

"Then you surely won't feel the need to share this information," Caspian glanced at Argoz until he finally nodded reluctantly.

"So it was you," Abney asked, well astonished, gradually overcoming his shocked stiffness. "The people need to know!"

"Not at all," Caspian shook his head. "Anvard owes me nothing."

"Yes it does," Abney sighed and muttered, "Valerik and I judged you without seeing the full picture - but we'll correct that."

"Had I wanted everyone to know, I'd have used my name," Caspian said. "You can't buy a country, and neither the loyalty of the people. I'll be in Anvard in a few weeks, and hopefully I'll be able to sort out a thing or two."

"Well, then bring Taliah as well," Abney said. "They love her, so maybe they won't throw rotten cabbage at you. After all, there was no other vegetable option this winter..."

"Thanks for reminding me," Caspian smiled wearily.

"Oh dear," Jhara bit her lips and forced a smile for her brother-in-law. "I shouldn't have said anything, right? You'd never have mentioned any of that..."

"How did you even find out about it? Ria knew it as well, but I have only told about three people in the world..." he wondered.

"We have our sources," Ria snuck up behind them. She grinned and let Caspian welcome her in his arms. "What have I missed?"

He could not help it, the mere sight of her made his face light up. He gladly drew her as close to himself as decency would allow him to, just to feel her warmth he had so missed.

"Not much at all, cielito," he said at first, then a thought seemed to cheer him up. He added with a wink, "Well, except for our son spending the evening with a girl..."

"Which son?" she asked almost excitedly, looking from Rilian to Joa. The latter shrugged his shoulders.

"Oh Joa, and look at you, you're nervous," she beamed.

"They'll pay Henry a visit," the King remarked, no less in the mood to gossip than Argoz.

Ria was quite astonished. "Is it that serious already?" She made big eyes and stole one of the tapas on Joa's arm without further ado as well.

"What... what do you mean by that?" Joa gulped.

"Oh, sweetheart", she began to explain, "you know, whoever meets at Henry's is quite likely to get married."

Joa, who was always concerned about his audacious reputation, turned a little pinkish when everyone around him began to laugh.

"Maldita sea," the Prince sighed and looked at his father, almost helplessly. "What's all that? I'm never excited, but tonight…"

"No te preocupes. No hay mal que por bien no venga, pequeñito", Caspian patted him on the back and Joa knew that his father was right. With a heavy heart he nodded, breathed deeply once more and then he set off for Ava with considerably fewer tapas than initially intended and a supposedly self-confident smile on his face. (1)

His father was right. Nothing was just bad, nothing just good. Everything could go wrong or become wonderful at any time, was that not just what life was about? And maybe it was exactly what made each and every day worth living.

Translations:

1. No te preocupes. No hay mal que por bien no venga, pequeñito / Like: Don't worry. Everything bad has its good aspects, kid.

Reply to comments:

Dear Leanne, I'm so happy you liked how they found back to each other. I know, I know, the sad end … Well, it's an indication, and hopefully a reminder to live life while we can :) Thanks so much for your kind words xx

Dear Guest, I'm glad you liked how they made up again. And I really hope you'll like the end as well :) Thanks a lot for your time and comment xx