"What did I say to you when I was intoxicated?" It was the first thing out of your mouth when you finally met up with Caspian the next day at dinner.

His first day back was full of overseeing more plans for Cair Paravel, picking out the crew for the ship he would sail on, and meeting with advisors. It didn't stop you from enjoying your day around the castle and the town. Of course, the only thing on your mind was whatever horribly honest thing you told Caspian.

He grinned. "You're really bothered by it, aren't you?"

"Yes! What did I say?"

"I'm not sure I want to tell you yet. I like having this little secret."

"Caspian, please."

"Maybe I'll tell you tomorrow if you come with me to Cair Paravel today."

"I would go with you even if you didn't have this… thing hanging over my head."

"Wonderful!" He munched on his bite of food, still smiling like he had the whole world in front of him.

"Well, I wasn't in my right mind, so whatever I said probably isn't true."

"I disagree. You sounded very sure of yourself."

"You are infuriating, Caspian."

"Yet it doesn't change how you feel about me."

You groaned and leaned your head back against the chair. "What did I say?"

He didn't tell you. During the ride out to Cair Paravel, you asked several more times and he refused to satisfy your curiosity. Caspian kept his smug grin, reveling in your discomfort. Teasing you was too easy.

What you might have said to him slipped your mind when Cair Paravel finally came into view. The ruins from the old palace were untouched – a reminder of the Kings and Queens of Old. But beside it was the makings of a new palace identical to what used to sit there. It had a long way to go until it was finished, but it was still the most beautiful castle you'd ever seen.

"What's left of the ruins will become a garden," Caspian said. "I don't want to get rid of anything that once belonged to them if I can help it."

"I love the idea of a garden filled with so much history. I'm excited to see what the finished palace will look like."

He smiled. "I look forward to that day, as well."

Caspian greeted each person and creature working as he brought you through the construction. You only knew Trumpkin who was heading it all. He looked happy to be there and sent you a bright smile when saying hello.

"Follow me," Caspian said, taking your hand and tugging you away from the commotion.

He brought you to the cliff's edge away from the new palace. The sound of stone being moved was soft over the roar of the ocean hitting the beach below.

"It's beautiful."

"This is the view I chose to see every morning when I wake up. I hope to have several rooms for guests on this side so they can share in the splendor."

"It's a sight to behold." You closed your eyes as a breeze off the ocean tousled your hair. "I hope you plan to have access to the beach from here."

"I do."

You opened your eyes and smiled at the water stretching across the horizon for miles. It was a beautiful shade of teal in the afternoon sun. "We should enjoy the water and sand before returning home."

"Of course. I must speak with Trumpkin, but we can have the rest of the day for ourselves. I'll find you. Feel free to explore. Just be careful."

You nodded. "Thank you for bringing me here, Caspian."

He stepped forward, kissing the top of your head at the same moment he tucked some of your hair behind your ear. "It's been a pleasure."

As he walked away, it was only then you realized Caspian kept your hand in his while you looked at the view. You glanced at his retreating figure and sighed.

Within the first hour of your exploration, you found a field of poppies in the forest, a group of squirrels building their home, and a few species of trees you were unfamiliar with.

You made your way back once your desire to be by the ocean became too much. It was on that hike back when you found a strange stone structure built into the hill that matched the castle ruins. The door wasn't locked, so you went in.

You took careful steps down into the structure, the space growing darker the farther you went in. Enough light spilled in through the door to outline the room the staircase opened up to.

There were four chests and behind each one stood a statue. You immediately recognized the Kings and Queens of Old. Your heart clenched thinking of them, particularly Lucy. Her statue held the same sweetness you saw in her face while she was in Narnia.

Your eyes glanced at Susan's likeness and the image of her standing on her toes to kiss Caspian flooded your mind. You turned away to look at Peter and Edmund's statues.

Peter truly looked like a king. You wished you could have known him in a better situation than war. At least you made some sort of amends before he left.

Edmund looked just as kingly. A sense of sadness welled up in your chest. You missed him as much as you missed Lucy. He helped you with his pestering about Caspian. Well, he tried to help you. It was his words that echoed in your stubborn mind.

"You miss them."

You shrieked and unsheathed your sword, pointing it right at Caspian's chest. Once you realized who he was, you lowered your weapon and took a few deep breaths.

"Don't do that! I could have killed you!"

"I'm sorry. I thought you heard me call out to you."

"Clearly that wasn't the case." You put your sword back on your waist. "How did you find me?"

"I had a feeling you'd find this place. I merely guessed if you'd still be here."

You looked back at Edmund's statue. "I just found it. They were so much older back then. It's strange."

"It is."

"How do you think they're doing in their world? How much time do you think has passed for them?"

"I couldn't say. I suspect they are eagerly awaiting their return to Narnia. I hope they return while we still live."

You nodded. "I miss Lucy… and Edmund."

Caspian stared at the back of your head when you said the king's name. Your voice sounded almost wistful to him. He half-hoped you wouldn't see the King of Old again.

"I miss them, too."

You finally turned back to Caspian. "Have you finished what needed to be done today?"

"All except bring my guest to the beach."

"I guess I shouldn't keep you from that task any longer," you grinned.

That moment felt like the days where you and Caspian didn't have to worry so much about kingdoms or wars or lost lords. It felt good.

Caspian led you down a set of stone stairs that had grass growing out of cracks brought on from years of wind and rain. He promised they would be fixed in the future as he helped you down them. Once again, his hand found yours and didn't let go. You were too aware of it that time. So much for it feeling like old times.

Despite the strangeness on your end, you ran toward the water once your feet touched the sand. Caspian stayed stationary and watched you with a wide smile.

You didn't jump into the water. Instead, you stood right at the edge where the sea slipped up as far as it could before sliding back into the sea. The wind played with your hair and you shut your eyes, welcoming the sensation.

Growing up, the beach wasn't a place you sought out for comfort. There wasn't one close in Anvard, so your only hope was your visits to Caspian. He craved the water and begged his mother to take him there often as a child. But the day the two of you were split apart forcibly, the beach was the only place you wanted to be. It was one of the ways you could feel close to Caspian while living so far apart. That was when you fell in love with the sea. You were so jealous of Caspian when you heard he was going to be sailing the waters you stared at longingly with every visit.

Caspian finally stood beside you. You felt the wind shift, so you opened your eyes and looked at him. His hair occasionally fell across his face and over the bridge of his nose as the breeze tried to steal the locks. His eyes were a shade of brown you didn't see often, warm and lighter than usual.

"You'll be out there one of these days," you said. "You need to be out there."

"I know we'll be sailing for a cause – a good cause – but I can't wait to do what my ancestors did. I never knew how much the sea and sailing meant to me."

"I look forward to hearing all the amazing stories you'll have while at sea."

Caspian met your gaze and smiled. "Why don't you experience them with me?"

"But… Anvard. I don't–I can't leave my kingdom to sail on a ship for some unknown amount of time." You frowned. "I want to, but my people won't understand."

"Come with me, Y/N. Anvard will be okay without you for a little while. It's not for another year or two, so there's plenty of time to prepare Anvard for your absence. You still have your father to rule. And there's a chance we'll see Edmund and Lucy again."

"Caspian…"

"I don't think I'm supposed to go without you, Y/N."

You sucked in a breath.

"I know," he said. "I'll have a crew I can trust. Aslan, too… but something is missing. I think it's you. You were there when I lost my mother. You were there when my uncle tried to kill me. You were there when I took the throne back. You've been with me through everything and I can't imagine going on this quest without you."

"I-I can't promise you anything… I will speak to my father though."

His grin came back. "You'll tell me what he says, yes?"

You nodded and looked across the ocean.

It would be fun to sail with Caspian. You had to admit to yourself that you hoped you could go. Experiencing something so new and terrifying called to you. Maybe Aslan would call you to help Caspian again. It was the only way you could promise coming along.

Caspian began removing his boots and rolled the bottom of his pant legs up over his calves. "It would be a shame to let a visit to the beach go to waste." Then he splashed you with the water surging up the beach.

You cringed and squealed before tugging off your boots. Caspian stood little chance when you picked up a handful of wet sand and tossed it at his chest. Some seeped down through the neckline of his shirt.

"Oh, you're going to regret that, Princess," he said as he took off toward you.

You ran straight into the water and strayed to the left to avoid completely soaking your pants. It didn't matter much once Caspian caught up to you.

He wrapped his hand around your wrist to pull you toward him so he could drop seaweed around your neck. With your momentum changing directions, you collided hard and fell into the water.

It wasn't deep enough to go over your heads, but you were both soaked. Caspian was on his back laughing, the seawater swirling up and around his head before retreating into the ocean. You were half lying on his chest, fighting with the waves to sit up. Your legs couldn't find purchase on anything and you started laughing so hard you teared up. Leave it to you two to let clumsiness control the fun.

"That could have gone better," Caspian said. He hadn't moved, his arms splayed out at his sides. "Are you okay?"

You nodded and finally calmed down enough to sit up on your knees. "I'm fine. Did His Majesty hurt himself at all?"

He moved a few limbs despite the waves. "Everything seems to be in working order." Caspian sat up.

You forget how to breathe. He was so close, and he had yet to look up from straightening his wet shirt to notice. You leaned away slightly, but you were still too close by the time his brown eyes met yours. Your face turned red instantly.

"You have…" he trailed off and reached for your hair. His fingers twisted in your locks before coming away with a piece of seaweed. "I don't know if seaweed will be what women wear to balls in the future, but you wear it well."

You scoffed and pushed his shoulder away from you. "Are there any other pieces I should use to start a new fashion trend?"

Caspian's eyes bounced around your face. The backs of his middle and pointer fingers grazed your cheek. "Nothing that can possibly make you more stunning than you are right now."

Your stomach twisted and the color in your face deepened. You turned your face away. How could anyone find someone pretty soaking wet with bits of the sea in their hair?

You glanced back at Caspian. His hair fell in wet chunks around his face, dripping onto his soaked shirt that left little to your imagination. Something deep inside you stirred. Caspian was handsome, you couldn't deny it, and somehow he looked even better soaked to the bone. Even the droplet of water on the tip of his nose added to the look.

You needed to get away from him before something happened.

"We should probably make our way back to the castle before the sun gets too low," you murmured, looking away again.

You missed the disappointment that flashed across Caspian's face. "You're right. Let's go."

The ride back was quiet, awkward, and much chillier with wet clothes.

You stayed in Narnia a few more days until it was time to go back to the real world. Caspian was the only one who met you outside the castle before you left. Neither of you had spoken about the beach at Cair Paravel. You were unaware of how close Caspian was to kissing you and he had no idea that you almost let it happen.

"Write me when you arrive home," he said. "And don't forget to ask about sailing with me."

"I'll be sure to do both. Don't overwork yourself, okay? You are a good king."

He nodded and muttered a soft word of appreciation.

You were about to climb onto your horse's back when you paused. "You never told me what I said to you, ya know."

"Maybe it's best if you forget that for a while."

"You promised."

Caspian sighed and ran his hand through his hair. Then he played with the facial hair on his chin. "How about I write it out for you, and you read it when you are safely back in Anvard?"

"I suppose that'll do."

He had you wait while he rushed into the castle. Caspian was gone maybe a minute before he returned with a folded piece of parchment in his hand.

Caspian handed it to you. "Be safe, Y/N. I hope we'll see each other again soon."

"Agreed."

It wasn't until early evening when you arrived in Anvard the next day. The moment you saw your home up on the hill, you brought your steed to a stop. The parchment Caspian gave you stayed clenched in your fist until that moment. You carefully unfolded it. Your lips parted as your breathing increased and your whole body felt like it was on fire.

You told me you had considered being my wife.