He had promised Tayana to pick her up, yet, as so often, he was all but on time. Caspian hurried to reach the small tavern where he knew she would perform, and clearly he was much too late. The people were dancing themselves by now, but he could not see Tayana anywhere. He assumed she was in a changing room next door.
But where?
He walked up to the bar swiftly, soon asking the man behind the counter against the loud music, "Do you know where the dancer is?"
"Tayana?" the man shouted. He could have hardly been more bored.
"Yes, can I see her?"
"Guess she's in there," the man said, pointed at the door behind him and let Caspian pass.
The Prince circled the counter and went through the door, only to enter an empty room the very next moment.
Tayana's Flamenco dress lay on the floor, her jewelry and some hairbands were chaotically distributed on a chest of drawers, but she was nowhere to be found.
Cursing inwardly, Caspian left the room again. They were not exactly in a safe barrio, it was already late and Tayana was young and beautiful – and gone.
"She's not there," he informed to the bartender, already raising an eyebrow at the unbothered man.
"Vale, tienes que buscarla entonces ..." He just shrugged his shoulders and kept on drying dirty glasses. "Oh, and tidy up in there," he added. (1)
Caspian decided to swallow the anger this amount of ignorance actually deserved. After all, he much rather ought to hurry up and think about where Tayana could be. He went back to looking for her in the crowded bar, despite all the dancing people. He returned to the entrance of the pub in vain as well, but it occurred to him that, as busy as it was right there, Tayana might have wanted to get some fresh air, all alone, in peace.
So he hurried back to the other side's exit of the tavern and, already from afar, he saw his worst suspicions confirmed.
An elderly man kept pressing Tayana against the wall in a dim light and absolutely nobody noticed.
"I don't care if you don't feel like talking," the drunk slurred, stroking her cheek.
"Stop touching me," she whined and tried to slap his hand away, but it only caused him to grab hers much more firmly so she could hardly move anymore.
"Don't fight me," he growled, coming much too close to her face. "We're just having a little fun, you'll see."
"¡Saca tus manos!" Caspian shouted and tore him off her, to the man's sudden horror and Tayana's great relief.
"Alright, alright," the drunk backed away at once.
"No la toques nunca más, te aviso." Caspian frowned, then he pushed him away roughly and watched him stagger into the night. (2)
Then he turned back to Tayana, looking at her intently. "Did he hurt you?"
She shook her head without a word until tears filled her eyes. "He just pushed me against the wall, and I thought he'd … But nothing more happened."
Her lips were trembling as the first tear ran down her face.
"He's gone, tranquila," Caspian tried to console her and pulled her into his arms. "He won't come back, I promise."
"Just imagine, if you hadn't found me in time …" she thought out loud, but she could not bear to finish her sentence.
"But I found you, Yanita," he said, raising her chin. "Just please, don't leave an establishment like that all on your own again. Promise you won't!"
She was quick to nod, but just as quick to change the subject in order to regain her composure. She was, in that respect, just like Caspian. Feelings she pushed away and repressed could not hurt her – or so she thought.
"I didn't think you'd still come to pick me up, Príncipe."
"I would've loved to see you dance," he said.
"Really?" Her eyes still swam with tears.
"Of course," he confirmed. "But I had something to discuss with Cornelius."
"Stories of Narnia again?" She tried to smile. "You're putting yourself in danger, Caspian."
"Qué va." He gave a dismissive wave of his hand and winked. "Come on, let's pack up your stuff and get out of here."
By the time they had everything gathered and left the tavern, the calles they came across were almost empty. Now and then they saw somebody pass them by, otherwise complete silence was surrounding them. Walking through the sleeping city was as liberating as it was bizarre.
"Where are we even going?" Tayana asked, acting as though she had already forgotten about the incident after her performance.
"Through the barrio and then to Emilio?" Caspian suggested and played along for her sake. "I'm dead tired …"
"Me too – but if you'd like to dance with me, I could surely forget about my hurting feet," she said with a grin.
"I'd rather watch you on your own, Tay," he said, putting his arm around her shoulders as they kept walking.
"But you know how shy I am."
"That, I think, is just a rumor." He smiled wryly and asked, "Why do your feet hurt?"
"I auditioned for three shows, two right in the morning. And one this evening …"
"Tight schedule," he admitted. "And who will let you dance?"
Tayana bit her lips. "Tonio and Reloz only knew me because people say we're a couple."
"And that's … bad?" Caspian lowered his head to her skeptically.
"I don't know – I mean, they sent me away again," she sighed. "I really would've loved to perform for all the guests Reloz invited for next Sunday …"
Caspian remained stubbornly optimistic. "But if two said No and you auditioned three times, there was also someone saying Yes, right?"
"I may perform at one of Juanito's family celebration," she smiled reluctantly. "They could hardly send me away because they've known me since I was a kid, but at least it's something."
"Don't be disappointed," Caspian tried to cheer her up and stopped to look her in the eyes. "Soon everyone will know you, and then they'll all wish they'd hired you before you were a sensation."
"That'd be amazing," she giggled. "But, well – you can't have everything."
"Oh yes, I can." He smiled and let his hands slide to her hips. "Tonight, you and me."
She looked at him in disbelief and it finally showed that she was still upset. "¡No seas tonto! After what just happened? And I'm tired from dancing and –" (3)
"I know, I know, let me finish." He winked. "Let's go grab as many tapas as we can carry, then sneak to Emilio where we make ourselves comfortable on his floor and then we sleep until tomorrow noon – as though we had nothing better to do."
"Oh." She began to smile. "Yes, that sounds marvelous!"
They indeed headed for the nearest tapas tavern that was still open that late and soon reached Emilio's prosperous barrio, where the bold and beautiful had been all too happy to settle down.
As aristocratic as the people of the area were, they had no intention whatsoever to hide how curious they were whenever they saw any of Emilio's friends. Especially the Prince and Tayana were of great interest, but the two of them crept through the streets as quietly as they could to not cause a stir.
"Did anyone see us?"
"I guess not, come on," Caspian whispered in amusement and took her hand to sneak through the back door into the courtyard of Emilio's family with her.
They went on into the basement of the villa, through the errand to the kitchen, then they took the creaky servant stairs to the second floor and headed straight for Emilio's room.
"¿Tío?" Caspian tried to knock as quietly as possible.
A suppressed moan could be heard, then the frantic rustling of a blanket. "Caspian? Just come on in!"
Faster than Emilio realized, as sleepy as he was, he had gotten company. And Caspian and Tayana surely made themselves comfortable with a few blankets and pillows on the floor, and especially with their bundle of tapas.
"Where did you steal these from?" Emilio yawned when he looked at the food.
"Steal?" Caspian grinned. "I don't have to steal tapas – they're usually gifted to me if I'm recognized."
"Don't brag, everyone knows you have to pay for them because you eat that many," Emilio chuckled and sat down with them to feast on their midnight meal as well.
"Everything tastes better at night," he raved and the other two nodded happily.
"We're always interrupting your sleep, Emilio," Tayana soon sighed. "He never wants to go to the castle with me, you know?"
"Believe me, Tay, you don't want to run into Miraz." Emilio grimaced. "Be glad you don't have to meet him."
"Yes, do you hear that?" Caspian yawned and let himself sink into the pillows. "Be glad!"
"Whatever." She rolled her eyes and lay down in Caspian's arms.
Not even Emilio noticed that they all quickly fell asleep on the floor. Only a loud knock at his door startled him …
"Emilio, wake up!"
To hear his mother's voice so reproachful could only mean one thing. It must be broad daylight.
Danita soon entered without further hesitation and glanced at her son and his friends on the floor, surrounded by much too many bread crumbs.
"Well, as long as it's just tapas and not your father's goods again …" she giggled and shrugged her shoulders.
The light that now entered the room with her was way too bright for the three of them, nevertheless Emilio's mother found that she at least had to open the curtains.
"Tayana, doesn't your Papá worry when you're away for so long?" she asked thoughtfully, but the dancer shook her head. "He's already on the road again, you know …"
"I see," Danita nodded, then she looked at Caspian. "And don't you have any obligations today, Príncipe?"
"Cornelius knows where I am," he reassured her. "Nobody's waiting for me."
"This must be the life," Danita laughed and left the room without closing the door. As she went downstairs she yelled, "At least freshen up – tea's in half an hour."
"Tea?" Caspian repeated somewhat horrified, letting himself sink back into the cushions. "Damn, I didn't plan to be here that long."
"What are you up to?" Emilio shrugged. "It's a good thing it's so late, at least we'll have dinner soon."
"Food is all you ever think about, mh?" Tayana grinned.
Caspian shook his head. "No, I'm leaving. Guess the people in the castle should at least sometimes remember I'm still alive."
"Will you take me with you?" Tayana looked at him with big round eyes at once.
"Oh, no, Tay." He massaged his temples and sat up. "Not today."
"Why not? Everyone knows about us anyway."
"Sure, but you don't know my uncle …"
"Argue as much as you want, I'm having tea," Emilio cackled and dragged himself out of the room. "You can see yourselves out, I suppose."
"Hasta luego," Caspian said, and as soon as they were alone, Tayana continued to scold him.
"Of course I don't know your uncle. You never introduced me. I mean, are you ashamed of me? Is that it?"
"Don't you think that." He shook his head tiredly. "How would I ever be ashamed of you."
"But I still can't come with you," she concluded, clearly frustrated. "It just doesn't make any sense …"
"Tay, you wouldn't like my place. Not one bit."
She shrugged gloomily, leaning against Emilio's bed and staring at the floor.
And that made Caspian feel guilty enough for good.
"You want to come with me?" he asked and lifted her chin.
She just nodded and Caspian could not help but sigh.
"Fine, all right. But don't say I didn't warn you."
"Shouldn't I say Hello?" Tayana whispered hesitantly. "I mean, he's the King, right?"
"Regent," Caspian corrected. "And no, not necessary. Did you see the guests in the courtyard? He's busy. Let's just go straight to my place."
The golden dawn had long lost most of its light, and around that time in between the evening and the night, hardly anyone was strolling around in the castle, but of all the people they could have encountered, Lord Argoz crossed their path.
"Well, well, well, look who's here. Good evening!" He approached them indiscreetly in the main hall of the castle and there was simply no escape. The Lord was on the verge of his mysterious disappearance on the Lone Islands, but no one suspected it at that time.
Argoz grinned. "Such pretty company at your side, my Prince. The Flamenco dancer of whom all the world speaks?"
Tayana nodded shyly, but Caspian knew very well that she wanted him to speak on her behalf just so she could not say anything wrong.
"Tayana, Lord Argoz," he introduced her to the council member and forced a smile. "She's dancing like no other."
"That's just what I've heard, yes," Argoz said in awe and examined the young woman. "My wife wants to celebrate her birthday next week, and I must admit I'm still desperately looking for a way to surprise our guests…"
Tayana's jaw dropped. "You mean you'd let me perform? Before nobility?"
She was much too astonished for that, but Caspian did recognize the opportunity and seized the moment.
"Lord Argoz, I'm afraid Tayana will have to attend countless appointments in the coming days," he said as though he already tried to excuse her.
"Really?" Argoz seemed genuinely troubled. "Well, but Flamenco would be a great attraction at our festivities, don't you think?"
"Indeed," Caspian agreed immediately, "the nobles love their southern Spanish roots."
"Tayana, do you have any obligations for the Domingo to come?" Argoz asked, increasingly excited. He simply had to hire the girl that currently created the most gossip in Telmar …
Before Tayana could even say something, Caspian shook his head in regret, "I'm afraid she's already the center of attention for Reloz that night. You know, the rich merchant from the old town …"
"That scoundrel," Argoz hissed. "How much does he pay you?"
"Pay me?" Tayana asked.
"Lord Argoz, his offer was exorbitant," Caspian said, choosing his words deliberately witty. "What a scandal it would be if she refused him."
"I love a good scandal!" the Lord said eagerly and turned to Tayana again. "Whatever Reloz pays, I'll double!"
Tayana was hopelessly overwhelmed, but Caspian finished what he had started, already pushing her along the corridor.
"Lord Argoz, I'll try my best to persuade her – because it's you," Caspian promised as though he was sharing a secret with him. "I'll report to you tomorrow afternoon."
The Lord nodded hastily and almost yelled after them, "It was a pleasure to meet you, Señorita – think it over, will you?"
"What have you done?" Tayana hissed when they were no longer within earshot. "I'm not even dancing for Reloz! And nobody ever spent a bit on my performance!"
"No need to tell Argoz," Caspian smiled, mischief glowing in his eyes. "This is your chance to make a wealthy audience pay!"
"But what price am I even supposed to make?" Tayana asked anxiously.
"Leave it to me." Caspian smiled, right before they reached the wing of the castle he almost called home.
Just as he was about to open the door to his chambers and let Tayana enter, he heard someone clear their throat behind them.
Caspian turned around to see his aunt rushing towards them. She examined Tayana from top to bottom, then she hissed at him, "You know how your uncle feels about your affairs!"
"Pruna …" Caspian put his arm around Tayana, saying, "She's not an affair, that's Tayana."
Prunaprismia's face lit up for a second. "The dancer everyone is talking about?" She curiously crossed her arms as the two of them nodded simultaneously.
"Qué interesante", Pruna muttered, gazing at Tayana not much unlike Argoz before her. "You two have been causing headlines quite frequently lately, are you aware of that?" the Queen asked, putting her hands on her hips.
"The papers will always write what they like, you know that," Caspian dismissed her concerns.
"When I look at you two, I sort of think I should believe them," she sighed and went on to warn him. "Oye, Caspian, I don't care what you're doing here – me da igual. But I don't want to see you in the gallery today, is that clear? We have guests."
"Pruna, why so rude?" Caspian asked and smiled at her using all his charms. He knew very well that his aunt was moody, but she could also be quite nice at times. "You're the good soul in our family. Tayana's a guest as well."
Pruna was hesitant for a moment, but then she looked at the pretty dancer who tried so hard not to look too insecure.
"Sorry, dear, he's right." She finally nodded. "Do make yourself comfortable."
"Just not in the gallery," Caspian teased, but Pruna gave him a reproachful look.
"Caspian, I don't want you to get into a fight with Miraz yet again. He'll be addressing sensitive issues today, and he's most irritable again …"
"Sure, I know, Pruna," Caspian said, "we'll stay away, prometido."
"I would love to see you dance some day." Pruna briefly took Tayana's hand. "Will you be performing for Argoz this week? Isn't he celebrating something?"
"His wife's birthday, yes," Caspian confirmed. "She'll be there."
"Very good", Pruna said and, right before she left them alone again, turned to Tayana. "I'll see you there."
Tayana swallowed hard, then she nodded hastily and watched Prunk leave.
"I warned you," Caspian mocked her. "My family is … difficult."
"It's fine, my father doesn't like you either."
"Really?" Caspian seemed to be shocked. "How can he not like me?"
She rolled her eyes and laughed, then she followed him to his chambers.
"Feel right at home within grey, dreary castle walls – we're all for ourselves." He spread his arms wide as he presented the rooms to her, however Tayana was indeed disappointed as soon as she entered.
She had imagined his world to be much more magical. But all she found was dark wooden shelves filled with countless history books, high windows with dark curtains and a huge round table in the middle of the anteroom on which an atlas had been opened. The walls were bare, the seating areas as if deserted, and the spaciousness of the rooms made its spartan contents seem even more lost.
"It's rather plain," she sighed, clearly unimpressed.
"I'm a prince, not a princess." He smirked. "But perhaps you'll like the view."
"Oh, please show me," she said, and Caspian took her hand again to guide her.
They went directly through his bedroom and stepped out onto the large balcony, where the clear air of the night welcomed them underneath a dawning sky with more stars to be seen by the minute.
"That really makes up for the inside," she marveled and leaned over the railing to absorb the picturesque landscape of the distant forests. "We should be here all the time. Why have we always spent our nights and days in our old tavern and only at Emilio's, when we could be in a castle?"
"Because your old tavern and Emilio's place feel like home to me, quite contrary to this," he replied. "You have real families. That's … beautiful. And I want to feel like I'm a part of that in a way …"
"All you ever wanted is a world that's not broken," she said thoughtfully. "And yet you were born to overcome difficult things."
"Tragic, isn't it?" He smiled wryly.
"Maybe so, yes," she said and came into his arms. "But let's not think about that today. Here and now, that's what counts. Aren't we having a good time?"
"Yeah, I guess so."
"Put your hand on my hips," she suddenly instructed him.
"What?" he laughed. "You want to dance?"
"Venga, tócame," she nodded and giggled. (4)
He rolled his eyes with a smile, then he did as he was told and pulled her towards him, one hand on her hip, the other hand in hers. They had touched each other so much ever since they had met, so it felt completely natural, and yet it was quite different in dance.
"You must lead, Príncipe," Tayana said, and her posture immediately turned graceful and delicate.
Caspian roughly knew the steps, he just never liked to dance. But for Tayana, he made an exception that night, and she was only too happy to teach him for a while.
"And now we turn around, no?" he asked, she nodded with a wink and was twirled around the very next moment.
"You're doing good," she laughed and drew a little closer, to finally stop and leaning on him. She put her arms around his neck and smiled as he let his rest on her hips.
For a few heartbeats, Tayana searched his eyes for something she just could not find, and the next moment she looked down, somewhat troubled.
"What is it?" he was quick ask. He knew her – something was on her mind when she suddenly became quiet.
But she struggled with herself. Should she even say it? It had been on the tip of her tongue for weeks, but once the words were spoken, there was no turning back. What stood between them would then be irrevocable in both their consciousness. But how much longer could she live like this?
She gathered herself, then she just quietly said, "Caspian, I'm not one of your affairs, and I was never just any girl to you, I know that …" She stopped for a moment and took a deep breath. "But you're not in love with me."
Caspian watched her say these words, almost startled as she expressed her thoughts so out of the blue, but Tayana avoided his gaze.
"Tay," he began, but he could not find the right words to contradict her without making a liar out of himself.
"It's fine, I know you care," she said, in an unusually serious tone of voice. "I know you think I'm beautiful, and you care so much about my well-being, my future, everything. You've looked after me ever since we met. You want me to be happy, and you give what you can. But you don't love me, that's just the way it is."
She gave him a half-smile and her dark eyes began to glitter. But she did not start to cry. She had already thought about all of it so much, shed so many silent tears because of it, that she could take it as it was by now.
"Tayana, please believe me, I …" he tried again and still did not know what to say. She had already said it all, every word was true – as illogical as it was.
"I know," she said under her breath. "You're sorry. But don't be sorry. You can't force love."
"Maybe there's just something wrong with me," he said, frustration gleaming in his eyes. "It's simply unexplainable, I mean, a girl like you –"
"It's all right," she whispered, making him stop to justify himself by putting a finger on his mouth.
And suddenly, Caspian was overwhelmed by the all too well-known feeling of expected loss. Would she turn away from him? It would perhaps be the only sensible thing to do, but the very thought of it hurt his soul.
"But, Tay, I can't lose you," he said, well concerned, and took her hands in his. "You're my best friend, and as such I do love you very much …"
"Yes." She smiled and sighed. "I know that, too. And that alone is why I'm not already gone. It just hurts a little …"
"I'm sorry, Tay, believe me, if only I could –"
"Tranquilo. We tried. We owed it to ourselves to try."
"But now you never want to see me again," Caspian concluded, yet she shook her head.
"No, I won't leave you," she said. "We're friends. Family. It will always be like that, won't it?"
"Es cierto," he promised and kissed her on her forehead. He hugged her tightly to himself, not letting go for a long time.
And Tayana knew he needed her in his life. (5)
Translations
1. Vale, tienes que buscarla entonces / Well, you have to go look for her then
2. ¡Saca tus manos! No la toques nunca más, te aviso / Get your hands off, don't touch her ever again, I'm warning you
3. No seas tonto / Don't be silly
4. Venga, tócame / Come on, touch me
5. Es cierto / For sure
