Hi all,

in this chapter: Miraz spilling some beans and a date that almost never happened.

Have fun!

To the nice guest reviewer Seriousblack (what a cool name, Marauders FTW): Thanks so much for your kind words, they actually motivated me so much that I got working again to post #5 :) Hope you enjoy!


"Wait, wait, wait, where do you think you're going?"

As Caspian heard his uncle's rough voice in his back, he inwardly groaned. That was the very thing he had wanted to avoid – giving an explanation.

He could not possibly have known that Miraz would be around in the courtyard the very moment he tried to leave for the evening, but now there was no turning back.

„Just to the old town," Caspian said, turning around to face his uncle reluctantly.

The regent approached him with a faint smile, closely followed by Sopespian and Glozelle.

"The old town, interesting," Miraz repeated while Caspian tried not to seem too bothered. "My dear nephew, as you surely know, that requires my permission."

For a heartbeat there, Caspian held his breath and conjured up the thought of answering appropriately inappropriate – however that would surely provoke an argument and end in a disaster …

"Surely you won't mind," he finally put the desired words in his uncle's mouth as he would much prefer to get to Tayana quickly instead of after picking a time intensive-fight.

"That depends on what you're up to, Caspian," Miraz replied, visibly enjoying the situation. "This family has a reputation to protect and if one was to believe the latest gossip, it might once again be stained by your current behaviour."

Caspian gave him an irritated glance, but now Sopespian also seemed to feel like making a contribution. "The people talk about your escapades, Caspian, the papers have far too much to write about you. You only seem to think about girls and fun."

"Lord Sopespian, rest assured," Caspian sharply replied, "I'm thinking about much more than that. However my life is none of your business."

"You're wrong." Miraz shook his head. "As a member of the royal family, your behaviour is a public affair. So again – what are you up to?"

"I just want to see a friend," Caspian fibbed calmly, but Miraz began to sneer.

"Oh, wait, I remember – of course, the dancer you picked up a while ago. That little strumpet should better watch –"

"She's no such thing," Caspian sternly said.

"Are you sure?" Miraz smiled. „After all, and mind you without a ring on her finger, she let's you –"

"I am sure," Caspian interrupted him again, not avoiding the regent's gaze until Miraz finally cackled and nodded.

"Fine, what the hell – for all I care, get out of here."

Caspian struggled to accept how boastfully his uncle acted, then, however, as he was about to leave, he could hear him say: "A Gitana … He's just like his father."

"What?" Caspian turned around at once.

Was that not exactly what Alenoz had recently mentioned?

"Nothing." Miraz gave a dismissive wave of his hand. "Go on …"

"¿Qué es lo que dijiste?" Caspian repeated his question, not moving an inch. "Tell me. Please." (1)

Caspian never asked for anything, especially not of Miraz. He was Telmar's Crown Prince after all, and his uncle was practically only reigning as a regent – but that day he did ask, and it was serious to him.

He wanted to know who his mother was, and Miraz could even understand him.

"She wasn't aristocratic, was she?" Caspian suggested. "She was not from here."

Miraz briefly contemplated whether he wanted to have this conversation in public or not. But it could only harm Caspian, if at all, so why hesitate?

"She was a Gitana, no blue blood, all the more fire," Miraz confirmed seriously. "You owe her your pretty face, Caspian."

He approached his nephew and, for the first time in forever, he felt almost something like remorse. Caspian's dull gaze once again gave proof of the tragic consequences the crimes Miraz had committed caused. It did not bring his mother back to life, but it could not possibly be wrong to tell the boy more about her.

"She was a force of nature," Miraz admitted and looked up as though he could recall it better that way. "Beautiful, mysterious, fierce. The night I met her, I didn't know who she would one day become. But it probably wouldn't have changed a thing. We seldomly agreed in later years, but back when we met … She never felt regret, ever, and it was fascinating to me."

Caspian had not seen melancholy on his uncle's face in a long time, and a crazy thought crossed his mind.

"You were in love with her," Caspian stated before he could even think about keeping this suspicion to himself. He hoped that his uncle's mood would not abruptly change as an immediate result, but the regent only took a deep breath and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Leave us alone," he finally said, sending Sopespian and Glozelle away. The Lords quickly did as they were told, and only then did Miraz look at his nephew again.

"I was in love with her." Miraz nodded. "And it both saved and destroyed her life."

"What do you mean by that?"

Caspian followed Miraz as he made his way around the courtyard.

"I can't believe we're having this conversation," Miraz mumbled discontentedly, then he glanced at Caspian once more. "Your mother came from one of the poorest areas around the border to Calormen. She had absolutely nothing, but she was incredibly proud – and when I met her, I was thunderstruck. A woman full of contradictions, reckless and brave. We were young. You know?"

"No, I don't." Caspian shook his head quickly.

Miraz rolled his eyes. "Caspian, venga, I can't possibly say it out loud in front of her boy …" He moaned and looked at him until Caspian's eyes widened.

"You two?" Caspian asked. "Come on, be honest."

"I am – what good would it do me to lie to you," Miraz replied. "I knew her before your father did, they only got to know each other because of me. And he was instantly enchanted. He had no idea of our past. And yet life has its ways to turn everything upside down."

Caspian looked at him questioningly.

Miraz sighed. "You know, actually, every girl's dream came true in her life – the King asked her to be his wife. And yet she wasn't happier, quite the contrary. There was not much of a blessing on their marriage …"

"My father had a lot to regret." Caspian nodded, trying to shake off the memory of the bruises on his mother's body as quickly as possible.

"Nobody's perfect, your father wasn't, neither am I." Miraz shrugged his shoulders. "We all have our dark side."

"It's up to us to give it room or not."

"No, it's not," his uncle disagreed. "Or are you trying to convince me that you have truly deep feelings for your little dancer? Is the lack of said feelings perhaps something you choose? Or might it just be the darkness that you try to hide?"

Caspian looked up, and he did feel caught. Why could his uncle, who did not even like him and knew nothing about his life, immediately see that he did not feel the way Tayana actually deserved?

"Love makes you weak," Miraz said under his breath. "It's a good thing you don't love. That's exactly what I taught you. It means nothing but trouble to be sentimental."

Caspian looked at his uncle, wishing for nothing more than the ability to fervently contradict him. But deep in his heart he feared that the cracks in his soul, ever since his childhood, had already made him unable to allow himself any feelings. He could not afford to go through such pain as after the death of his parents ever again, so he had naturally built walls. And inevitably the question arose whether he could ever overcome them again …

"Now get out of here, your aunt is waiting for me," Miraz ended their conversation abruptly.

"Does Pruna know?" Caspian asked. "I mean, about all of that?"

"Of course." Miraz shrugged his shoulders. "Remember – you can't hide anything from women. They always find out your dirty little secrets, sooner or later. And now leave or stay. And don't let too many people see you if you go …"


He spared Estrella the waiting for him and, sneaking out only by himself, he noticed the ivy overgrown streets of Telmar's old town and smiled faintly. It was his home, these were his roots – but why did he feel so cold inside lately?

It had become quite late and of course he had intended to go straight to Tayana. But the piercing words of his uncle were echoing in his head, mockingly, and he knew well enough that he would have to numb himself first to change that.

So, as so often, he discovered much too many familiar faces at Ratón's, including Emilio and Cuervo, and could not resist making a detour to the small tavern. Distraction was exactly what he needed. He wanted to forget what he felt and what he was not able to feel, so he took refuge in alcohol and the Ratonera's orange candlelight.

And before he knew it, he was somewhat drunk, the world seemed much less complicated, and, as well as Emilio, he laughed because of Cuervo's figurative reports concerning his latest love interest.

"She gave you the wrong address," Emilio chuckled. "That's a lot, she was truly crazy for you – no doubt!"

"Just imagine my face when that old Lady opened the door for me," Cuervo sighed. "There I stood, with flowers in my hand and my best clothes on, and she seemed quite excited … I thought she'd never let me get up from her tea table ever again."

"Tea and pastry – wonderful." Caspian could not help but laugh. "Almost according to plan."

"Yes, almost," Emilio managed to say while he was struggling for breath, too, and by that, he directly made Caspian lose it again as well.

"Yeah, sure, do laugh," Cuervo said. "I'm in love with someone else anyway."

"Really?" Caspian asked, curiosity flashing in his eyes.

"Yeah, I am," Cuervo confirmed. "But she hates me, at least a little bit, as well as I know her …"

"Oh." Emilio shrugged cheerfully. "Just give it a try and see what happens."

Cuervo did not exactly look determined. "I have nothing to lose, so maybe some day. Chicos, you're both lucky you've already found someone, believe me."

"Tayana!" Caspian stood up immediately, wide awake at once. "I forgot about Tayana! Her father's travelling, she wanted me to come over …"

"Calm down, she knows you." Cuervo remained unimpressed. "You're never on time."

"I was supposed to be there two hours ago."

"Oh," Cuervo said. "Then you better hurry up if you don't want to sleep outside!"


"Open the door, Tay," Caspian repeatedly asked, throwing his head back to look at her window again.

He was surely no longer in the best constitution for this, but there was not much he could do – Tayana could not care less.

Finally, however, she stuck her head out of the window, her eyes as gloomy as they could get. "Too late, Príncipe!" she shouted down.

"Yanita, your neighbors are already watching," he pleaded tiredly and tried not to think of the people who were shaking their heads in disapproval of the young couple behind their window curtains. "Don't be so hard on me, come on!"

"You're drunk," she stated relentlessly.

Caspian pulled his hair back away from his face and denied the obvious just for the sake of it: "No e' verdad. I just couldn't make it earlier, Yana!" (2)

He kept looking up at her window, but she did not even bother to hear him out anymore, so it remained silent for what felt like forever.

Caspian could not hold back an annoyed groan as he sat down on the stairs in front of her door and leaned against the wall. Some very interested neighbors across the street did close their curtains hastily now and Caspian worked up the nerve for his last attempt in persuading Tayana as this situation was unbearable as well.

"Tay, I need to tell you something, it's wild," he shouted up. "But I can't tell you in the streets. Don't be so mean!"

He knew well enough that her curiosity would make it a matter of only a few more minutes. And he was right. The door behind him was soon opened.

He grinned. "Good to see you."

She stopped him in the door, crossing her arms and glaring at him.

"I will never again wait for you," she said, angrily poking his chest. "Never again, ¿está claro? I have better things to do than sit around for a boy!"

"Is that so?" Caspian annoyed her on purpose. "After all, I'm not just any boy. Remember the Crown Prince part? Doesn't that count for anything?"

In view of her outraged expression, he immediately added: "Tay, seriously, I'm really sorry. I forgot the time. Can I come in?"

"What do you want to tell me?" she asked, deliberately uninterested, but at least she let him pass through the door into the hallway now. "Say it, then you'll leave again."

"My Mamá was a Gitana indeed," he proudly announced and Tayana completely forgot about anger in her euphoria about this information.

"¿Es cierto?" she asked excitedly. "Unbelievable!" (3)

Caspian nodded. "Miraz told me today." It did not take long for him to tell her all about his conversation with the regent.

A broad smile spread across Tayana's face as she said: "Then you're one of us."

Caspian shrugged his shoulders, then she suddenly turned around and ran up the stairs.

"Tay, where are you going?" Caspian asked, clearly perplexed.

"What does it look like? I'm going back to my room, without you," she replied. "You can close the door behind you."

"You really don't want me to stay?" he asked and did not believe it one bit as she continued with a nod.

He knew Tayana's little games very well by now, she had a short temper, but just as quickly as her anger arose, it usually died down.

But he would gladly play along. He kept waiting until she could no longer be seen on the stairs, then he took a few steps, opened and closed the door without actually leaving, and waited calmly.

It did not take three breaths until Tayana's curls fell over the banister and her worried gaze turned into outrage as she saw Caspian standing there with a huge grin on his face in the hallway.

"You're impossible," she shouted, but now Caspian did not hesitate to follow her. And it did not escape him anymore how interesting her dress was. In some places, the fabric was so thin that it almost seemed transparent, and she had certainly put it on just for him.

"Que bien te ves – would've been a shame to send me away," he said with a smirk, wrapping his arms around her hips. (4)

She paused, looking at him skeptically, not saying a word, so he did the same.

Until he had to laugh.

He took her hands into his, turned her around as if he wanted to dance with her and soon she could not suppress a smile anymore, even when she wanted to.

"You should be ashamed of yourself, Príncipe," she giggled, but he just shook his head.

He tucked a lock of hair that had fallen over her shoulder behind her ear in order to fully admire her curvy silhouette, and his gaze was easy to interpret.

She asked: "¿Te gusta lo que ves?"

"No", he denied and pulled her closer to himself. "Me encanta …" (5)

She smiled wearily and enjoyed how his hands were slowly sliding down on her. Tayana hugged herself even closer to him and sighed so lasciviously that he could not help but grab her thighs to lift her up and carry her into her room. She laughed loudly, mock-protesting as usual, until he threw her on her bed full of verve.

"How indecent," she shouted and giggled until he bent over her.

"Your window's open," he reminded her in amusement. "Those curious people out there can hear us when you're that loud …"

"Then we'll be quiet," she whispered excitedly.

Hungry eyes watched her every move, but Caspian kept his composure until she could hardly wait any longer and began to unbutton his shirt.

"Didn't you want me to leave?" he joked and sat up again, just to annoy her despite her pretty sight.

But she immediately did the same, pushing her dress off her shoulders, just cheekily enough. "No seas tonto, as though you'd leave now."

"No, de ninguna manera," he said under his breath. (6)

"Then kiss me!"

She pulled him back and he did not have to be asked twice.


"Wake up!" she whispered into his ear. "Let's do something crazy!"

"We do crazy things all the time," he mumbled, turning around yawning and making no effort to get up.

"Let's annoy Lorella …"

All of a sudden, Caspian was all ears. "How?"

She grinned. "She's probably spent the night with Cuervo."

"No way." Caspian shook his head and got up. "How do you know?"

"She recently said he's been acting oddly and that she wants to talk to him," she explained. "And Cuervo has confessed to me that he fancies her. Something's happened yesterday, I'm sure."

"These two?" Caspian mocked, clearly amused. "Perfect. What are we waiting for?"

They did not have to walk far, the smithy of Cuervo's family was barely two calles away, and through the dusty entrance they quickly got into the main house without anybody noticing.

Tayana was visibly excited, Caspian grinned as well, but he pressed his index finger to her lips so that she would not giggle.

They crept into the cellar where Cuervo spent most of his time and passed by old toolboxes and lots of other storage goods. Instead of a door, there was only an old piece of cloth hanging from the ceiling at the end of the cellar corridor, and Caspian quietly pushed it aside so they could sneak and peek inside.

He turned around to Tayana again, whispering, "She's here."

Lorella was fast asleep, on nothing more than a mat on the floor, in Cuervo's arm, looking like an angel. He snored, quite loudly so, but she seemed to be completely undisturbed by that as well.

"That's so sweet." Tayana smiled. "She certainly didn't want anyone to know at all …"

"Too late." Caspian winked and grabbed one of the many hammers on the floor to hit a box as loudly as possible.

"What?" Lorella woke up at once, almost in panic. "Where is … Caspian?"

She stared at her cousin in awe, but he just grinned and sat down on the box in front of her.

He smiled. "Good morning."

"Tay?" Lorella was clearly puzzled. "What the hell are you two doing here?"

Tayana could not help it, she burst into laughter and simply threw herself in between Lorella and Cuervo – who was still snorting, not even close to waking up without a cannon shot.

"Well, well, who'd have known," the dancer chuckled and crossed her arms behind her head. "Did you sleep well last night?"

"What? No!" Lorella was instantly outraged. "It's not what it looks like! And I could ask you the same! Did Caspian spend the night with you? Because, actually, you wanted to chase him away!"

"That was the plan, and she almost kept to it," Caspian admitted, absolutely thrilled about Lorella's blushing red face. "But that's not half as interesting as you two are …"

"There's nothing interesting about us!"

"Of course not," Tayana giggled.

"You won't mention this to anyone!" Lorella murmured and glared at Caspian. "A single word, y ¡te juro que te voy a matar!" (7)

"Why?" Caspian pretended not to get a word. "You'd make a lovely couple!"

"Caspian X, I warn you!"

"Calm down, my lips are sealed," he assured her in amusement, "I just wanted to see it for myself, you know? As you constantly claim that nobody is ever good enough for you …"

"That is the case indeed!" she shouted.

"Oh, sweetie," Cuervo sighed and began to yawn as he supported himself on his elbow. "Last night was nice, why are you so mean again?"

"There you go." Caspian smirked. "Don't be mean to Cuervo."

"¡Cállate!" Lorella barked at Caspian and then raised her index finger to also warn Cuervo. "And you, too! Shut up, both of you!"

"All right, sweetie." Cuervo shrugged his shoulders and smiled.

"No, ¡no lo hagas!" she grumbled. "Don't call me sweetie!" (8)

"All right, sweetie, I'll try to remember it," Cuervo promised sheepishly as he let himself sink back into the pillows.

"Breakfast at Ratón's?" Caspian asked and got up already.

"Breakfast? Great idea!" Cuervo jumped to his feet and stretched his spine extensively – completely naked.

"Oh, tío," Caspian grimaced and turned around, Lorella only buried her face in her hands at once.

"Get dressed and join us," Tayana said, getting up herself and pulling Caspian with her. "It's a lovely morning, isn't it?"


Translations

1. ¿Qué es lo que dijiste? / What is it you just said?

2. No e'(s) verdad / That's not true

3. ¿Es cierto? / Like ‚For real?'

4. Que bien te ves – How good you look

5. ¿Te gusta lo que ves? – Me encanta / Do you like what you see? – I love it.

6. No seas tonto – No, de ninguna manera / Don't be stupid – No, in no kind of way

7. ¡Te juro que te voy a matar! / I swear I'm gonna kill you!

8. No lo hagas / Don't do that