On top of the cliff were ruins that looked promising. It wasn't until the ship neared enough for it to come into focus as the sun started its descent below the horizon. The stone turned a pretty shade of orange the lower the sun fell. The blue star shined brightly above.

You were right beside Caspian, waiting to load into the longboats to investigate the island. You noticed a stone dock in the distance that attached to a prominent stairway up and into the jungle-like vegetation. The anxiety of searching a new island filled your body, but the excitement of reaching the last island was stronger. As fun as you were having adventuring new lands, you couldn't wait to get back home and see your family again.

Several crew members climbed into the longboats, Reepicheep being the most vocal about how invigorating it was to be on the verge of finding all the lords. His encouragement was enough to keep everyone's morale high.

Caspian and Drinian stepped onto the dock first, quieting everyone. No bells, no beasts, nothing. They gave the okay to move forward.

"What do you suppose we'll have to fight here?" Lucy whispered as you started the climb up the stairs.

"I'm not sure. I don't feel anything strange here, yet. We might not come across anything and find the lords. Wouldn't that be lovely?"

"Yes. Then we can go home, and we can see you and Caspian get married."

You blushed. "That will take several months of planning, I'm sure."

Caspian looked back at you with a smile, unaware of what you and Lucy were talking about. You returned the same smile and continued to follow him up the stairs.

About ten minutes of hiking led you all to a bridge leading to a tree that made an archway into what appeared to be a dining area. Edmund led the group through, sword drawn in case it was a trap.

In the center was a long table full of food with several seats around it. You swore you heard everyone's stomach rumble. Yours certainly did.

Edmund's gasp grabbed your attention away from the roasted chicken in the center of the table. You froze while Lucy nearly screamed. Caspian was even startled.

At the opposite end of the table, vines grew down and over what appeared to be statues, but upon closer inspection, you found that they were men. Their hair was white and grown out so long they looked more like wizards in tales than men. Each one held a dead stare.

Caspian leaned over one, gazing at the ring on his finger. "Lord Revilian." He looked at another. "Lord Mavramorn. Lord Argoz."

You neared. The facial hair around their mouths and noses moved. "They're breathing." You couldn't resist holding your hand out to actually feel the breath of one of the lords.

Edmund looked at Caspian. "They're under a spell."

Caspian's eyes scanned across the table until it dawned on him. "It's the food!"

Tavros, who had an apple near his lips, suddenly dropped the fruit. Everyone else took a step away from the table.

"Hey," Edmund said. "It's the stone knife. This is Aslan's table."

"Their swords," Caspian said as he unsheathed one of the cursed lords' swords. "On the table."

You took the sword on your hip off to add to the pile Caspian and Edmund started at the end of the table. Lucy placed the last one.

"That's six," she said.

"Still missing one." Caspian almost looked defeated.

The swords began to glow a bright blue, dazzling you until Lucy said to look up. Above, the blue star was moving toward the table. Had you not seen Dufflepuds and had a dragon traveling with you, you would have been surprised. Instead, you cocked your head to the side as the star floated above the ground and morphed into a beautiful woman.

"Travelers of Narnia, welcome," she said. Slowly, everyone kneeled before her. "Arise." She watched you all stand and then gazed at the untouched food. "Are you not hungry?"

"Who are you?" Edmund asked, a starry look in his eyes.

"I'm Liliandil, daughter of Ramandu. I am your guide."

You, Caspian, and Lucy stood directly in front of her. You felt it before Caspian said anything. Something trembled within you, tried to grab ahold of something you weren't familiar with.

"You're a star," Caspian said, his voice softening, and his eyes trained to the glowing woman. "You are most beautiful."

Lucy audibly gasped. You felt everything inside you crumble. Liliandil almost looked appalled after she glanced your way. "If it is a distraction for you, I can change form."

To make matters worse, both Caspian and Edmund said firm, resounding rejections to her suggestion.

You couldn't stop yourself from pushing past everyone to get out of there. If hearts could physically break, yours did when you didn't even hear your king call out for you. Lucy did, but it wasn't enough.

You ran all the way back down to the longboats where Reepicheep and Eustace were guarding them. You didn't see them, so you collapsed on the sand and wept into your hands.

The longer you thought about the look of awe on Caspian's face, the gentle sound of his voice that he used to only share with you in private moments, the more your trust in him and your future with him diminished. If he felt no remorse straying during the courting stage, how could he not do the same once you were married? Jealousy reared its ugly head in a way you never felt with Susan. Maybe it was because he was your king and promised himself to you. It all felt like a lie. He'd rather have a star for a wife. What could possibly be better than royalty other than a celestial being?

"Princess?"

With tear-streaks running down your face, you looked over at Reepicheep. He looked concerned, but unsure of how to comfort you. In your sorrow, you picked up the mouse and hugged him to you. You cried into his fur while he awkwardly patted your shoulder. Eustace snorted warm air over you to let you know he was there, too. You against his front leg.

"What happened, Y/N?" Reepicheep asked once your tears slowed and you stopped squeezing him.

Your upper lip curled, and you glared at the blue glow coming from the ruins. "Caspian would rather have a star than me."

"Pardon? Caspian? How? He loves you."

"If he loved me, he wouldn't have stared at Liliandil like she was his everything… He wouldn't have told her she was beautiful or practically order her to stay that way when she clearly knows he's courting me."

"Y/N… I have never seen the king so in love with someone as he is with you. This could be the mist coming between you."

"It's not. I didn't feel it this time. It was just Caspian."

Reepicheep looked up at Eustace helplessly. "I think you should rest a moment and talk to him. I don't believe Caspian would ever look at another woman."

"Well, he did," you spat. "He can finish this adventure without me."

"You can't just stay here."

"Aslan can bring me home. Or I can write to my family and they will come get me."

Reepicheep hopped off your lap. "I don't think it's a good idea to stay here alone. Caspian will worry. He'll be distracted."

"He shouldn't have acted as if I didn't exist…"

"Y/N!"

You looked over your shoulder to see Lucy jogging toward you. She saw the redness around your eyes and hugged you tightly.

"I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault, Lucy." Your eyes narrowed when Caspian and Edmund came into view.

"It was like the men were under some sort of spell."

"No man can resist a star."

Caspian neared with a smile on his face like nothing happened, only building upon your anger. You quietly stepped away from Lucy and met the king halfway before you slapped him. Had it been anyone else, he would have sent them away, but he wouldn't do anything to you.

Edmund blinked and took a step back.

"How dare you," you said, voice low and full of malice. "I have gone along with you and your… schemes to win me over. I let myself fall in love with you and you have the nerve to forget that we are courting? You want me to marry you! But the moment a blasted star shows herself to you, you forget all of that! How dare you!"

His eyes were wide and dark against the reddening handprint on his cheek. He seemed confused, lost, until the realization fell over him. Guilt quickly took over his actions.

"I'm so sorry, Y/N. I… I don't know what came over me. Do you think the mist had anything to do with it?"

"No, I don't think it was the mist!" you cried. "It was all you. Liliandil isn't evil. I didn't feel anything that comes with the mist." More tears welled up in your eyes. "How can I trust you ever again?"

Caspian tried to reach out to you, but you stepped out of his reach. You didn't care that you saw his heart break in front of you. You were only driven by wrath and disappointment.

"I promise you can trust me, Y/N. I never intended to hurt you. I don't know what came over me. You… you're more beautiful than anything I've ever seen. I was only dazzled by a star."

"It's too late, Caspian. If I… if I can't trust you… then I can't be with you. I can't be with a man who will forget I'm standing right beside him when a beautiful woman crosses his path. You have to fight this mist without me."

"No, please, don't. We have to fight it together."

You held your hand up to stop him from coming closer. "Just go without me. I can't be on that ship with you right now. Go."

"Y/N…"

Shaking your head, you turned and started walking away. "I can't, Caspian. Leave me be. Please."

You heard them all call your name out, but you didn't look back.