A/N: Hello everyone, and a good evening to you! I'm sorry for not having updated in a while, I've been traveling here and there and back again, and just haven't had the time to publish! Hope you can forgive me x

As a peace-offering, I will reveal a bit of what is going on in this story….. But I will say no more!

Read on, and enjoy!

Soundtrack:

"Empty Moons" – Osi And The Jupiter.


After the sighting of the cloaked rider, Caspian had remained closed in his own thoughts about the matter. Realizing it did not help to dwell alone on such matters, he one afternoon brought up the subject with Peter as they took a stroll together through the castle hallways.

"I have something to tell you." Caspian admitted after a moment of silence between the two, who had just been discussing recruitship of new guards.

Peter turned his head to eye the man beside him.

"Go on."

Caspian waited until they had passed three lords who were chuckling merrily at a scene from a slapstick-play in a book they read, before continuing.

"Two nights ago, I was up at night to… Take a breath of fresh air, when I saw someone keeping the castle under observation." Caspian began, his voice silent. Peter stopped and turned towards the High King at this.

"Outside the gardens, just by the woods," Caspian informed as he met the eldest Pevensie's gaze.

"But… How can you be certain someone is keeping the castle under watch?" Peter asked.

"I'm not, but I have strong feeling that I am correct, as the man, presumably, rode away once I detected him. He was cloaked too, and I figure it's because he didn't want to be seen. But the question here is why was he observing my chambers?"

Peter did not as much as blink as Caspian told his revelation. He instead, put a hand on his shoulder and discreetly walked them over to the windows away from the maidens and guards scattered about the hallway.

"Caspian, this is a serious matter. Do the others know?" Peter asked, his voice hushed.

"No, you're the first one I've brought this up with. There hasn't been a single assassination-attempt on my life since I claimed the throne, well, not that I know of anyway, and it is too much of a coincidence that a strange rider appears in the middle of the night to watch over the castle at this point." Caspian explained with a shrug.

"There's always a first time?" Peter suggested.

"Hardly. There are scouts all over the grounds, they would have caught him. And besides, why would he have been on horseback? The chance of detection is great enough as it is whilst climbing up a wall to take my life in my sleep," Caspian explained, making Peter exhale through his nose.

"Alright, fair point. A spy, then? Despite giving rise to peace across all of Narnia, you still have enemies, Caspian." Peter lectured.

"Indeed, but what good will spying on a dark window from the woods outside the castle grounds do?" Caspian asked rhetorically, crossing his arms.

"I don't know… I do not have the mind of an assassin, and if this is an attempt on your life, I suggest you change chambers for a while. Predictability can be dangerous." Peter suggested with a sombre look.

Caspian sighed, but agreed to his decision never the less. A few arrangements regarding security would have to be made, of course, but the Seafarer tried to convince himself that he would not dwell further on his discovery.

He might not have dwelled much on it afterwards, but the dagger he kept at close hand at night moved from the nightstand to underneath his pillows.

. . .

Susan and Lucy entered the latter Queen's chambers with laughter.

"Sue, I'm telling you, Caspian couldn't take his eyes off you at the breakfast table!" Lucy said with a grin as she plopped down on her bed.

"And I am telling you, I probably had something on my face. And besides, who are you to talk, miss Caine-Capturer?" Susan pointed out, a smart smile across her lips as she leant against a bedpost.

"That's-" Lucy attempted, but was interrupted by her older sister.

"Before you manage to say: 'that's different', I beg to differ, and say let's agree to disagree," Susan told her with a pointed finger. She looked a lot like their mother when she did that.

Laughing some more, the duo was soon interrupted by a knock at Lucy's door.

"Yes." The youngest Pevensie called.

In came a petite girl, around Susan's age. She was dressed in maiden's clothes, a tan tunic with a white apron, and her chocolate-brown hair was pulled back in a bun. With high cheekbones, a pointy chin and a kind, yet unsettling smile, she greeted the two Queens with a formal bow as she made eye-contact with both girls. Her eyes shone an equally unsettling golden.

"Greetings, your Majesties. My Queen Lucy, your chambermaid Ava has grown ill of pneumonia, and I am here as a replacement in her absence. Of course, only if you should wish it?" the girl explained with a high-pitched voice, her hands folded behind her back.

Sadness crept over Lucy at the absence of the kind, elderly lady who took such great care of her needs and whatnot, and hoped that she was taken good care of. She made a mental reminder to visit her soon.

"Of course. I'm sorry, I did not catch your name," Lucy told the girl, who widened her strange, predatory smile.

"Saralynn." She answered.

"A pleasure, Saralynn, thank you."

Lucy exchanged glances with Susan before thanking the girl and sending her off.

Lucy had to admit she pondered a while on the fact that Ava had been healthy and well not even a day before, and found it strange that she had fallen ill so quickly.

She shared her thoughts with her sister, who in turn urged her to heal the woman with her Cordial, as her thoughts too lingered on the short period of incubation time.

Furthermore, Saralynn didn't exactly give her a warm feeling.

. . .

The very same evening, Caspian was sat in his study by the mahogany desk to finish up some of the paperwork he had been postponing. It was procrastinating, true, but to be fair, the High King had more important matters on his mind that moment than writing idle signatures and declarations.

In the very moment another fleet thought passed by, a certain Lord-and Captain entered his study with firm strides. It was Drinian, one of Caspian's most trusted friends and councilmembers. The grim, teeth-gritted expression on his face told Caspian this wouldn't be a quick debriefing.

"It has come to my notice that you might be a target of assassination. Forgive my bold words, your Majesty, but with no measures or initiative of action, what on earth are you thinking?" Drinian told Caspian, who did not look up to meet the old Captain's hard gaze.

"Peter told you." Caspian stated.

"Aye. And I am damned pleased he did. My King, why haven't you set a plan of action?" Drinian asked, his brow furrowing with concern, frustration, but also with fear for his ruler and friend.

This time, Caspian put his quill down and sat back in his seat.

"Oh, but I have. I am not so daft and willing to endanger my whole court, Drinian." Caspian spoke firmly. He would have told Drinian off had he been less than his friend, but he excused his eruption as he understood his feelings and had the same devotion to the Kingdom as he.

Drinian, now lowering his head, grasped the pommel of his sword and met the King's gaze.

Caspian stood up.

"We do of course have the nightly guarding of the castle grounds, as you are aware of, but I have sent out an extra party now at night to scout the gardens and beyond, especially the woodlands nearby. Hopefully that will sift any suspicious activity." Caspian explained as he paced.

"And what kind of guards will scour the area?" Drinian asked, doubt flickering in his eyes. Caspian halted to face him.

"Please, Drinian, this is not the time for your racial qualms. Nocturnal animals of Narnia have pledged themselves to me, and I have faith in them," the Seafarer told the Captain, knowing his general distrust in talking animals. This had of course to do with his Telmarine upbringing, and he had changed immensely over the years to trust Narnians, so Caspian did not fault him for that.

"Well, if they can give me a full night's rest, then my faith lies in them too," the aging Telmarine agreed with a bow of his head.

"Good."

A silence appeared between them, and Drinian stepped over to the windows to gaze into the darkening sky, his hands behind his back.

"Have you informed the Royals of Old?" he asked after a while.

"Only Peter."

Drinian turned to protest, but Caspian had raised a hand to silence him.

"I didn't want to raise panic amongst court. I have no proof of any kinds of plot going on, a one-time sighting is not enough to declare assassination-attempts or espionage and is henceforth no valid reason to declare anything. Better to be discreet about this and terminate… whatever is going on, now."

Drinian's mouth was still hanging slightly open, but found that he could not speak against that.

"Alright. But do tell me if there is anything I can do." Drinian demanded, turning to look at his King.

"I appreciate that, my friend." Caspian said as he picked up his quill and continued his tedious duty.

And with nothing more to be said, Drinian left the room.


A/N: Aaaand the tension rises!

I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and be ready for more, soon!

Until then, take care x

Dragon