A/N: Hiya! Welcome back! I'm sorry it's been slow, but now I'm finished with this semester of nursing school and have all summer to write! Hope the progress will escalate from here on.

Another OC's today; and when you read his intro, yes, you can be sure to think he looks an awful lot like Jon Snow! No spoils! x

Well, with no further ado, enjoy another chapter!

Soundtracks:

Eloi – Klaus Badelt

Cuzco – E.S Posthumus

The Forest Queen – Peter Gundry

. . .

PS: You will recognize Rains of Castamere (Malukahs's version!) in this chapter, but for the sake of the plot, I had to change it to "Rains of Terebinthia". Also, you will see I weaved the song "Wolven Storm/Priscilla's song" from the Witcher III in here too.


Edmund hit the grass with a sound thump! as Caspian towered above him with his sword pointing at his throat.

"Oh, bullocks!" Edmund shouted as he picked up some weeds beside him and threw them playfully after the High King, who stood grinning above him, chuckling merrily with Peter at his side. The latter had been supervising and watching Edmund duel Caspian that afternoon, partaking in duels himself. He realised both him and his brother needed some time to get their sword-arms back. Luckily, they needn't much time to get back to be the great swordsmen they once were.

For Edmund, his biggest challenge was to regain his footwork – hence his failure at disarming Caspian.

"Don't worry, you'll get there soon, Edmund! It's going to take some time, you know that; we haven't touched a weapon in years!" Peter explained as he attempted to raise his spirits. He twirled his sword Rhindon once in his hand, eager to have a go himself.

Edmund frowned, accepting the hand Caspian was offering him.

"It's like my own body is betraying me – I feel so vulnerable!" Edmund explained whilst brushing off grass and dirt off his behind and back.

"Don't be silly Edmund. You are a great swordsman, maybe even the greatest Narnia has ever known. You've led armies, remember?" Caspian told him ardently, patting his shoulder brotherly. Edmund shrugged as he returned his pat. He was right, yet he wished he could be equally confident.

"Now come on, I could need a drink," Caspian told his company before they walked over to the tent tended by two guards who stood watch.

In the shadows underneath the tent, stood four men, all clad in dark armour with swords strapped at their sides. They were having a drink and a chat, clearly taking a rest in the shade.

Caspian gave the men a knowing smile and turned to face the male Pevensies.

"Peter, Ed; I have someone for you to meet… Caine," Caspian said, drawing the attention of one of the men: the man, tall and bulky, grinned a toothy smile as he saw the King approach.

He had dark, slightly curly hair, with warm, brown eyes, protected by long eyelashes. A slight tan, like all those of Telmar decent had, he looked every bit a part of the royal Telmarine Guard. His dark leather armour gleamed in the sunlight and matched his welcoming beam.

"My King!" he called in a deep voice, none the more accented Caspian's voice used to be.

He met Caspian in a firm hug and faced the two Pevensie brothers.

"Men; this is Caine. A good friend and war companion. I didn't truly see his talent as an officer before we fought the Calormen army together," Caine shrugged off his compliment.

"Ah, you flatter me, majesty!" Caine said, attempting to mock a giggle. Caspian nudged his shoulder, the two laughing merrily.

"Oh, stop it, you," he told him with a playful grin.

Caine bowed before the Just and Magnificent King, locking eyes with both.

"It's an honour, your Majesties." He told them, voice both calm and sincere.

"Likewise, Mr. Caine," Peter said, a bow of his head.

"Please, call me Caine. Mister was my da's name," he told them jokingly, making them all smile. He seemed kind, and they both liked him instantly.

"New applicants?" Caspian asked as he discreetly nodded towards the two men in the tent. They both looked like they had fallen from the moon.

"Aye, Rheagan and Eidir. Been testing their skills today, though they deserve a break now. I might make good soldiers out of them, if not, they have both been doing decent guard duties in town; they seem to be good men." Caine explained, making Caspian nod in a pleased expression.

"Well done, my friend."

"Only doing my duty, sire."

Caine followed the royals up to the tent as they all poured themselves a goblet of wine, making both small talk and merry laughs.

"So, what is on your agenda today, Caspian?" Caine asked the king as he poured himself a goblet a rich, sanguine wine.

"Training, practising some new techniques, the likes of that," he explained.

"The Queens are here too, somewhere. I believe I caught sight of Susan's hair through the mounted archery track earlier. Lucy is…" Peter began, but was interrupted by a female voice piping in.

"Here!" Lucy called as she came around the tent and popped up beside Edmund. She had apparently been running, for she was out of breath and her cheeks a healthy red. In her hand she carried a book, which she now hugged against her rising chest.

"Where've you been?" Peter asked his little sister.

"Oh, up on the mount just there," she turned and pointed to a leverage of rocks in the distance, "I've been throwing daggers with Susan all morning, and whilst she went for the archery range, I went for a climb and a read. By the way, did you know; dufflepuds can re-grow their foot of they are so unlucky to have it cut off in some way?"

Both Caspian and Edmund smirked at that – they had met a band of dufflepuds during their sailing. Strange creatures, indeed.

Peter chuckled and shook his head at his sister. Always so perky and positive, she was truly a delight, if not a bit exhausting, to be around. He motioned her forward.

"Lu, meet one of Caspian's friends," he said, looking towards Caine, who stepped forward.

With a big smile, Lucy skipped forward, and extended her hand.

"Charmed," she greeted. Caine took hold of her delicate hand and placed a kiss upon it. His scruffy, yet short beard tickled her hand.

"A pleasure, my Queen," he returned her greeting with a kind smile, his lips lingering upon her velvety, sun-kissed skin.

Lucy met his gaze when he let go. His eyes, they were warm, yet so intense, she couldn't hold the lock longer than a second before she stepped back, looked upon the ground and tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear.

Peter, feeling the slight tension, broke it by making conversation once again;

"Well then, maybe we should get a hold on Susan soon. It's getting quite late in the afternoon," Peter asked her as he gazed towards the sun that hung low in the sky.

"No need to, Pete. She's on her way," Edmund interrupted him and nodded downwards the meadow. And quite right, a black-coated horse with a familiar raven-haired woman on top came up towards the tent in a fresh canter. The horse snorted with each step, sweat making her coat shine in the gentle sunlight. Decelerating into a trot, before Susan halted the horse before the men in the shade.

"Gentlemen," she greeted with a tip of her bow which she carried in one hand.

"Had a good round, I see?" Edmund stated. He turned to a table to pick up a leather skin of water, handing it to her. She "mhm"-ed in answer before drinking richly from the skin. After finishing her drink, she handed it back to her brother with her thank you's.

"How does it feel to have your bow back?" Peter asked her kindly. Petting her steed, Susan sighed in delight.

"Like I've received a long-lost part of me back again," she admitted with a blissful smile.

"I'm sure the Archer Queen of legends is right in her element now that she has that part of her back," Caine stated behind the edge of his goblet. Cocking her head and turning a brow up at him, she let go of her reins and stirrups.

Noticing her confusion as to who he was, Caine wanted to slap himself. To speak to a Queen without addressing her formally, his mother would slap him senseless had she known.

"Forgive me, my Queen; Caine, at your service," he said. Brushing off his plea, she instead shot him a kind smile and returned his greeting;

"Pleased to make your acquaintance, Caine," she said as she dismounted the large steed. Allowing her horse to graze, she walked up to her fellow Kings and Queen, together with their comrade. The two applicants had been allowed retirement for the day.

Wearing a plain cotton dress of grey, she had her wavy hair down, free of braids and beads and the like. She looked much like a dryad, her intense blue eyes fierce, yet tired.

Caspian met her gaze and gave her a slight nod as he presented a goblet to her.

"Wine?"

"Oh yes," she agreed along with a thanks, and took a sip. Faun wine, rich quality… That hit straight to home, in her book. He smiled at her as she hummed in delight at the treat.

. . .

By the time the sun had set down above the mountains, the royals had lit a small campfire, had a lovely meal outside, and were now sitting on the grass outside the tent, enjoying the evening with more goblets of wine, and with even more laughter.

Lucy had earlier on found a gittern in the tent, and they were in luck, for both her and her sister had talent in playing its strings. Susan was now tuning it and plucking gently at the strings.

"Oh, Susan, do play something for us?" Edmund asked her from where he was sat across the small dancing fire. He was resting himself on the back of his elbow, chewing lightly on a long straw. Peter, Caspian and Caine who had been discussing literature a moment ago, turned to support the request. The oldest female Pevensie made a sound of reluctance, and Lucy nudged her side with her elbow, eager to play something.

"No, I couldn't-" Susan tried, but was soon overcome by Peter and Caspian cheering on.

She sighed exasperatingly but complied to their wishes all the same.

"Alright, alright! Since you all asked so nicely," Susan joked, and turned to look at Lucy thoughtfully. She hmm-ed in thought at what to play.

"Hmm… Remember this one, Lu?" Susan asked her sister gently and began playing the introduction. A slow, yet plucking melody.

Recognizing it almost immediately, Lucy sat up with her legs crossed and followed her sisters lead.

Peter and Edmund sat sipping their wine as they too, recognized the melody. Caine, not familiar with the tune, sat instead and enjoyed the tune.

Caspian however, had never heard it, so he could not return the grins of the two brothers who enjoyed the melody. He instead, watched Susan in awe as she elegantly plucked the strings of the gittern, her lips turned slightly upwards, and her eyes watched her fingers as they danced along the neck of the instrument. She truly was a wonder.

He soon felt goosebumps travel along his arms and spine as she began to sing.

"And who are you, the proud lord said,

that I must bow so low?

Only a cat of a different coat,

that's all the truth I know."

Her voice was slightly husky as she serenaded, and her voice could enthral dryads and naiads, even; Caspian was sure she had at some point in the Golden Age. He did not know this song, yet it seemed so right for her to sing it. He had to ask her about this particular song at some point. He listened as she continued like a siren to weave tunes of gold.

"In a coat of gold or a coat of red,

a lion still has claws,

And mine are long and sharp, my lord,

as long and sharp as yours."

The four men could swear they could see the reflection of a lion with thick, unruly mane flicker in the flames of the bonfire. As the chorus came, Lucy joined in, her voice soprano and just as beautiful;

"And so he spoke, and so he spoke,

that lord of Terebenthia

But now the rains weep o'er his hall,

with no one there to hear.

Yes, now the rains weep o'er his hall,

and not a soul to hear…"

Lucy and Susan finished the song strongly, and as the lyrics died, Susan plucked a few times at the song's finish before the song ended.

"Oh, girls, absolutely beautiful!" Peter praised them from where he was resting on his back, his arms crossed behind his head. The last goblet of wine was a bit overkill, he could tell. The question was however, how much would he regret it in the morning? He didn't think much of it, though, for after all that's happened, he knew they all deserved a quiet evening like this.

"That was lovely, your majesties," Caine said as he glanced, maybe too long, upon the pretty face of the Valiant Queen. The youngest Queen gave him a toothy smile.

Beside him, Edmund sighed loudly.

"I could die peacefully like this," he chuckled, half-serious. Susan and Lucy shared grins.

"You will do no such thing! If you feel bad, I suggest you hold off the wine," Lucy told him with a laugh.

"No, 'tis not the wine! I think…" Edmund said, looking deep in thought at the goblet of silver in his hand. It most definitely was the wine, the effect made him drowsy and happy, and if that was the consequence of drinking that night, he did not see the problem, frankly.

"Anyways; do play some more, won't you?" Edmund asked again as he rested on his stomach, his hand supporting his head.

"Please do," Caspian agreed. Lucy smiled.

"Come on, Su!"

Susan chewed on her tongue as she thought of a tune.

"Alright. It's a bit soppy, but I learned it from Mr. Tumnus," Susan said as she looked at Lucy, who shared her gaze, grateful that she would share the song she learned from him all those years ago.

Tuning the gittern according to the next song, she experimented with the strings until she found her right chords. Plucking the introduction, she felt the weight of Caspian's gaze upon her. Meeting his saber gaze, loving and warm, he winked at her. She looked down coyly, but smiled ever the same; he was sweet.

"These scars long have yearned for your tender caress

To bind our fortunes, damn what the stars own

Rend my heart open, then your love profess

A winding, weaving fate to which we both atone"

Susan sang gently, almost serenading a lullaby to lull her brothers to sleep. Caspian watched attentively across the fire as she sang. Her lush lips moved in such a fascinating way, he simply wanted to chase them, capture them… She was simply so captivating, he almost couldn't sit still.

Lucy too, lay down on the grass beside her sister as she listened to the well-known song. She captured Tumnus' song so well, she grew teary-eyed at the memory and the longing for her friend.

"You flee my dream come the morning

Your scent - berries tart, lilac sweet

To dream of raven locks entwisted, stormy

Of violet eyes, glistening as you weep."

The flickering flames swayed gently to the plucky melody, and seemed to grow still, not making crackling noises or the like all the while Susan sang.

"The wolf I will follow into the storm

To find your heart, its passion displaced

By ire ever growing hardening into stone

Amidst the cold to hold you in a heated embrace

You flee my dream come the morning

Your scent - berries tart, lilac sweet

To dream of raven locks entwisted, stormy

Of violet eyes, glistening as you weep

I know not if fate would have us live as one

Or if by love's blind chance we've been bound

The wish I whispered, when it all began

Did it forge a love you might never have found?"

Caspian pondered on the words in the song; to whom had Tumnus written this song? Or whom with? To him, the song sounded like a calling out to a lost love, or to someone who he could never have. Truthfully, it reminded him very much of the Queen of his Heart sitting right before him. She probably did not realize it, or even feel the same, but he still had feelings for her: strong ones, ones he desperately wanted to get off his chest, but could not. Rather, he could, but the thought of rejection made him hesitate greatly. She had just only come back, it would be too much for her if he told her how he felt… No, he would let her come to him in her own pace. She sure was not giving signs of disinterest, that much he could tell. Despite that, he would not pry her with matters of his heart; all in good time.

Susan occasionally flickered looks over to him, her blue eyes locking with his dark ones for a moment, before moving over to look upon her siblings that lay spread around the fire, dozing off like kittens against a hearth. Caine was snoring slightly as he lay on his back. She smiled at the scene.

"You flee my dream come the morning

Your scent - berries tart, lilac sweet

To dream of raven locks entwisted, stormy

Of violet eyes, glistening as you weep…"

Strumming the last chords of the song, she closed the song with a small, yet content smile. Looking around, Peter and Edmund had followed Caine's subtle advice and fallen asleep too, by the looks of it.

They would have been more worried about sleeping outside if there hadn't been guards about, and if they were outside the Castle grounds. It was still warm outside, so light and a wonderful initiative to camp outside by the fire, even though none had suggested it. Four out of six had fallen asleep, so it seemed natural for Caspian and Susan to rest too.

"I could listen to you all day," Caspian told her genuinely in a loving voice as he made himself comfortable against the soft ground.

"You're sweet," she replied as she put the gittern away and lay down, not too far away from him. In fact, the two rested front to front with a decent space between them. His eyes twinkled and turned golden as the flames reflected in his orbs. Studying her obviously tired form, he spoke in a low, admiring voice;

"I mean it – feel free to weave me a song with your honeyed words any time."

Susan smiled soundly at his request, her glance shying away.

"I'll keep that in mind," she told him playfully with twinkling eyes.

Giving her that lopsided smile of his, that always made her heart do a funny flop, he stretched out his hand across the grass to find hers in a tentative way. Accepting it, Susan met his hand and watched with lidded eyes as he intertwined their fingers.

A part of Susan wanted to fight it, to let go and turn away; an even bigger part of her wanted to give in, to succumb to whatever confusing feelings she had around her and Caspian.

That bigger part won this moment, and she let out a content sigh as she closed her eyes and accepted the exhaustion that overcame her. Caspian's gentle, rhythmic strokes of his thumb across the side of her hand lulled her even further to sleep.

"Good night…" she managed to wish him underneath an exhale before succumbing to sleep.

Watching her for a moment as she fell into slumber, he murmured:

"Rest easy, my Queen…"

He did not release her hand as he too gave in to weariness. He could in fact, make out that Susan had in her sleep hugged his hand closer to her heart. He felt her breath against the back of his hand, and her chest brushed against his hand with each rise.

Forcing his eyes open, he smiled at the image, gave her hand a squeeze before he finally fell into a peaceful slumber. The gesture seemed small, but to him, it gave him immense strength. The gentle, yet loving gesture proved to him that she trusted him, that she too cared, even if she wouldn't admit it in person. Maybe she needed the strength just as much as him?

It turns out, she did. The warmth she felt spread in her heart as she fell asleep that moment, she never wanted to fall asleep without it any longer – she hadn't done so in a long time, and now that he had awoken dormant feeling within her, should she act on them? And even if she had the specific answer to that, how could she act on those feelings?

Well, it would turn out, that securing her hand in his, finding warmth, safety and strength in that, was a good start.


A/N:

There you go, a chapter dedicated to two songs I absolutely adore from other shows/games. I thought them fitting into this story (you will see later on why), and Priscilla's song really fit into the longing between Caspian and Susan in this plot.

Do let me know what you think!

I shall update soon x

Until then,

Dragon