The Place Where We Belong

by clearwaterangel

After Caspian's coronation, the Pevensies are haunted by the idea of having to return to England, but is there a possibility that things will be different this time? After all, Narnia is where they belong. Suspian, PeterxOC, EdmundxOC, LucyxOC. Mainly movie-verse but may incorporate elements from the books. Rated T just to be safe. R&R!

5. Chapter 5: Of Discoveries

Hello guys! Back for another chapter! I'm glad I finished it faster than the last! This is a really nice and upbeat chapter, I hope you like it! Don't forget to comment and tell me what moments you enjoyed the most!

Enjoy!

Chapter 5: Of Discoveries and New Acquaintances

They had had a spell of bad weather for the past few days, but despite the chilly wind and frequent rain showers, the village marketplace was boosting with life as usual, the cries of vendors advertising their products raising from the burbling of voices and life happening on the streets. His favourite part of the market was the cluster of food stalls lined in a section of the well-known and busy main street, where the air was crisp with a variety of delicious smells as stall owners relied on fragrance to entice their customers. Caspian admitted this kind of sensory advertisement was a success, as he himself felt his mouth water at many of the delicacies available on the stands. With a smile, he made a mental note to sneak back and grab a few bites of his favourite market food. Earlier that morning, he had offered to accompany Susan on her walk to the village, the Queen stating at breakfast that she needed some lace, beads and other materials to help Lucy on her latest project. He excused himself and left Susan at the glass-blower's workshop and made a beeline around the food kiosks, his stomach grumbling expectantly at the delicious smells filling his nostrils. Susan was still admiring the glasswork when he returned, carrying a large paper bag in his arm, his hand diving inside ever so frequently. Susan paid for the few things she bought and thanked the man for his kindness, turning to him with a smile.

"What have you got there?" she asked, eyeing the enormity of the bag.

"Sweets, I promised Lucy I would get her some Telmarine bonbons and then I thought I better get some for everyone, Tairin would kill me if I brought her nothing" Caspian said, grinning.

"Did you get me anything?" Susan asked, mirth dancing in her eyes.

"Yes, although it was a blind guess, so I hope you'll enjoy it. Here, try one" Caspian explained, his brows furrowing the tiniest bit. He rummaged inside the bag, opening a much smaller paper bag full of small balls of deep-fried dough. She took one and plopped it in her mouth, letting out a small sound of surprise when something soft and creamy poured out, sweet and a bit spicy, a foreign but pleasant taste.

"What is this?" she asked once she had swallowed, enjoying the light aftertaste the sweet left and reaching for another one.

"It's called sweet-tooth. The best part is the filling, which is a mix of chocolate, several sweet spices and some other ingredient I cannot put my finger on. This one is white chocolate, I thought you would like it better" Caspian explained, grinning at her nod of approval. "Got everything?" he then asked, grabbing some of the bags in her hands. She nodded and took the bag of sweets from his hold, looking deeply at him to keep him from uttering the complaint he was about to voice.

"Let's go back home. With luck we will reach the castle before it starts pouring again" she told, looking up at the darkening mass of grey clouds above their heads.

As they crossed the market in the opposite direction, a young woman approached them, bowing elegantly in front of them.

"King Caspian, it's been long since the last time we saw each other" the girl said in a silky voice, touching Caspian's forearm with her jewelled hand.

"L-lady Pamila" Caspian addressed, caught off guard. "It is good to see you in fine health" he added, clearing his throat and bowing his head.

"Your Majesty has to come over for tea one of these days, I seem to recall that our last conversation was left unfinished, and of course my parents would be delighted with your visit" the woman spoke seductively, opening the fan in her hand and looking at him over its rim, her eyes narrowing in a coquettish way. Susan was keeping herself from rolling her eyes at the woman's extravagance, her cheap flirtation filling her with an urge to gag. The woman was clearly confident of her beauty, but her moves and smiles seemed rehearsed, stiff and unnatural. Susan looked sideways in an effort to distract herself with something other than the woman's ridiculous act, but her fake sugary voice was impossible to tune out. Meanwhile, the woman appeared to ignore everything around her that was not Caspian. She had stepped closer and her hands gained a life of their own. Every excuse was good to touch him, from pretending to flatten his shirt to get rid of non-existent wrinkles to patting his arm. Susan grew quite irritated at such improper and very public display of intimacy. Caspian was the King, for Aslan's sake! And not content with that she was now trying to convince him to accompany her home! This was not jealousy, far from it, but she felt affronted by this girl's lack of tact, or manners for instance. She could not care less for whom Caspian spoke with, had tea with or went places with, but he had insisted to come with her, they had come together, a fact this- this- floozy was clearly indifferent about. Susan closed her eyes and bit back a cry of frustration; bad manners sent her over the edge. Oh, she would like to see if this girl paraded around with such arrogance without that heavy mask of makeup plastered to her face. The thought of snatching the pins holding her hair in such a sumptuous arrange to see if it was her real hair was maliciously tempting. Everything in this woman was unnatural. Skin perfectly flawless, her bodice tightened to a point where she wondered how the woman breathed. Susan had to bite her tongue not to snort at the ridiculous purpose of such a tight arrangement. Biting a giggle, she noticed the woman's guard fighting the urge to peek into his mistress' bulging cleavage. Compared to her, she looked more like a peasant, only the fine fabrics of her dress denoting her royal status. She was never one to wear too much jewellery, simple earrings and a necklace were enough for her day-to-day life, and she wondered how this girl could stand the weight of so many rings and bracelets, heavy looking earrings dangling from her ears. A nearly diabolical idea crossed her mind as she noticed a fountain nearby; it would be a shame if this woman were to fall, quite accidentally, into the water. Susan stifled a laugh. The thought was too appealing. She was pulled out of her less than gentle thoughts by Caspian's grave voice, and she noticed he spoke in the diplomatic tone he would employ when dealing with a particularly pesky emissary or aristocrat.

"I must refuse, My Lady. I am here expressly accompanying Queen Susan and I could not possibly have her return to the castle on her own" Caspian excused himself, kissing the lady's hand politely and walking away, gently looping Susan's arm around his.

"I am sorry you had to witness such a scene, My Queen, her behaviour towards you was inexcusable. Lady Pamila has never been very attentive to those uninteresting to her, nor has she ever been compelled to take an interest in less superficial subjects" Caspian breathed, shaking his head disapprovingly. Susan chortled at the look on his face

"I seems to me she is set on the idea of becoming queen. I mean, she is pretty, I suppose, and I don't think many would have qualms about marrying her" she noted airily, eyes trained on his reaction. Caspian whipped his head to look at her, his eyes open in a look of utter terror, and she could not help letting out a loud laugh.

"I suppose men do find her attractive, but I've known her long enough to know that all she has is her looks. Rumour has it she has had flings with most of the young gentlemen of the court, including Zirid, who did it only to prove the rumours right" Caspian said, chuckling and shaking his head at the young lord's incorrigible nature. Although she hated to admit it, Susan was very relieved at his words and she was able to relax again, something that did not go unnoticed by the Telmarine King.

"We could take a detour by the forest" Caspian suggested, eyeing the mass of people congesting the road ahead. Susan agreed and they turned at the next corner, the noise of the market growing quieter the closer they got to the green patch of trees.

As soon as they entered the forest, Caspian took a deep breath, enjoying the refreshing scent of the trees and damp soil. Looking sideways, he found Susan looking at him with a small smile.

"There is something oddly pleasant in the smell of damp soil, isn't it?" she commented, biting a giggle at his embarrassed expression, which she found endearing. She then let out a soft gasp, feeling something wet and cold fall on her cheek. The Queen looked up to the sky and stretched a hand, confirming her suspicion. She barely had time to open her mouth to comment, when the drops became more frequent and she felt Caspian pulling her arm, steering her towards the nearest tree for cover. Unfortunately, the young poplar provided very poor refuge, forcing them to look elsewhere. A large old oak ahead in the road seemed like their best option and they made a run for it under the now heavy rain. The short run was enough for them to be drenched and dishevelled, but despite their miserable state, they started laughing at their luck, feeling foolish for being caught unprepared and knowing they looked anything but regal. Caspian arranged the bags on a low branch and looked around for some small sticks, anything that he could use on an improvised fire, noticing Susan's shivering and acknowledging his own. Moments later he had already gathered a small amount of sticks and dry leaves and had managed to set it on fire, having found a dry space between some roots where the flame would be safe from the rain. Susan hummed contently as she stretched her cold fingers, rejoicing in the warmth.

"We better sit around it, to keep the wind from extinguishing it" Caspian said, moving in between the roots to block the wind with his body. Susan opted for sitting on a thick root, the King and Queen keeping close to each other.

"I don't think it was the best idea to take this path" Susan noted after a few minutes, the pitter-patter of the rain strong in the background. As she spoke, she combed her fingers through her hair, braiding it into a plait to keep it from sticking to her face and neck. Caspian nodded in agreement and shot her a sideward look, observing her slender fingers as they weaved the strands of hair together. A small drop at the base of her neck caught his attention, sliding slowly down her skin until it disappeared behind the hem of her collar. He then noticed how the light fabric covering her shoulders was completely damp, see-through and sticking to her skin, and for a moment he battled the urge to trace the curve of her neck and shoulder with his finger, wishing to see if her skin really was as silky as it looked. A crack in the little fire shook him out of his trance, the awareness of his un-kingly thoughts downing on him with full force. At least his face did not feel at all cold anymore.

A comfortable silence sat between them as they waited for the downpour to stop or at least lessen into a light rain. Susan stole frequent glances at Caspian, incapable of keeping herself from doing so, her eyes attracted to him as if pulled by some inexplicable force. On one of those occasions, she dared to stare a bit longer, allowing herself to do so as Caspian appeared lost into the fire, poking the sticks and leaves with a thin twig. For a moment she wanted to laugh at the state of his hair; it fell limply to the sides, some strands sticking out here and there, while the rest stuck to his head and neck, some rebel strands sticking to his jaw, peeking from behind his ear. His shirt was soaked under his doublet, which he had offered her for warmth and now hung over his shoulders as he waited for his shirt to dry at least a bit. The fine linen stuck to his body like a second skin, darkened by his natural tan. A flustered blush tinted her cheeks when she noticed how the thin fabric outlined his muscles, the contours of his chest and arms noticeable. He was well-built, not bulky and heavy but slim and agile, his body strong and well-trained. She had seen him in battle, how deathly his strikes were, knocking men twice his size with amazing speed and accuracy. Wonder how it felt to be surrounded by those strong arms... She opened her eyes wide and quickly looked away, feeling her face combust with a flush. What on earth was she thinking! Never before had she looked at a man that way, taking such a- pointed interest in physical appearance, and least of all paying such particular attention to areas other than the face. She had never liked men who boasted their muscles and looked like walking walls, and she found that only equally vain and silly girls were impressed by that sort of physique. The fact that neither Peter nor Edmund were bulky was the likely cause of her preference for a slim constitution, knowing it did not mean weakness, but concealed strength. Caspian definitely fit this description to a tee; his strength came from his heart and the love of his people, and this allowed him to overcome any obstacle in his stand for justice and fairness. Surely Aslan saw this strength as well. It then downed on her that she had been smiling tenderly at the Telmarine King all this time, her eyes darting away as he looked at her, both cerulean and chocolate meeting for a brief second before he too looked away. Silence became a nuisance after this as King and Queen desperately looked for things to say, all while still stealing glances at each other. Consequently, their respective blushes only deepened, a matter made worse every time their eyes met.

"Want to try any of the other sweets?" Caspian asked, almost too happy to divert the attention to the slightly damp paper bags.

"I- we should keep some for the others" Susan said, reaching to grab a soft toffee anyway. Caspian grinned impishly, pulling one of the smaller bags from the bigger one.

"I don't think they will mind if we take one or two, or four" he said with a shrug, reaching into the bag in his hands. "These are strawberry drops, I got them for Lucy. I don't know why but they made me think of her" the King explained, placing a single pinkish, drop-shaped candy in her hand.

"Oh, she will love them, though I fear it will be even harder to keep her still after she eats them" Susan laughed, causing Caspian to chuckle. Thinking it best to stop eating the sweets intended for the other royals, Caspian searched for the bag of sweets he had gotten to himself, offering some minty pieces of chocolate to Susan, which she accepted gladly.

"You love chocolate, don't you?" Susan noted, containing a chuckle at the small sound of contentment that came from his throat as he munched on the sweets. Caspian smiled sheepishly, his dark eyes sparkling with the look of a kid who had been found eating dessert before dinner.

"I love it! When I was a child I used to sneak loads of it to my room and bribe Tairin for her not to go babbling about it to the Professor. There was this one time I ate so much of it, I had to be taken to the physician. Poor Professor, I don't think he ever forgave me for being sick all over his collection of ancient pottery" he told, laughing softly at the memories. "The royal physician then forbade me from having more than three small pieces of chocolate a day; he thought it was the cause of me becoming particularly active and prone to getting in trouble" he added, plopping another dark bonbon in his mouth. "To this day I don't know why he'd say that" he told with a wink, eliciting a bubbly laugh from Susan.

"Ah, Ed had the same thing; he was told he couldn't eat too much sugar because he got fidgety" Susan commented, Caspian letting out a throaty laugh.

"Well, he hasn't changed much, has he?" he noted, eliciting a laugh from Susan. "What's worse, he now he reacts to both alcohol and chocolate" Caspian said, and both of them laughed loudly, remembering the Just King's state in the end-of-the-war celebration, where ale and wine were passed around freely all night. Still breathing heavily from all that laughter, Susan noticed a smudge of chocolate on the corner of his mouth, instinctively stretching her arm to wipe it, his chocolate gaze darting to her face. Their eyes met fully this time, gazes held steady by a force stronger than embarrassment. His hand, surprisingly warm given their current situation, stretched to cup her palm in his, pressing it to his cheek for a moment, before he planted a tender kiss on her wrist, pressing his lips to her skin to feel her beating pulse. His eyes were warm with something she could not put her finger on, a lighter hue of brown blending with his natural darker shade, causing a light shiver to run down her spine at the intensity of his gaze.

His body appeared to be acting completely on its own, despite the protests of his brain. Yet this was one of those moments that everything felt right and could not – should not – be rationalised; and her touch felt so very right, soft and delicate, perfect in its simplicity, just as she was. The warmth of her skin had ignited something incoherent and unexplainable inside him, impelling him to get closer. He leaned forward, his fingers brushing against her ivory skin, delighted by the smooth creaminess of her cheek, and he stretched his fingers and let his palm cup it entirely. His gaze dropped to her lips, luscious and red, filling him with the sudden need of touching them with his own.

He was so very close. She could feel the intoxicating scent of his body, the slightly citric fragrance that was now tickling her nose, and she closed her eyes, unconsciously raising her chin for the encounter of his lips with hers; a kiss she never expected to happen, not with him and not even in her wildest dreams.

Fate, however, had other plans and just as there was a hair's width separating them, the tree – a true Narnian Oak – shook its branches to get rid of the rain water on its leaves, drenching the King and Queen at its roots. The two royals froze on the spot, gasping loudly. They looked at each other, faces reddening at the awkwardness of the situation, the untimely interruption washing away the mood of romance, quite literally.

"I- um- you had a- um- chocolate smudge" Susan explained in a whisper, pointing to her chin with a vague gesture, Caspian hurried to wipe the spot with the back of his hand, feeling foolish.

"Thanks, Ed would have had a field day about it. Now I can only hope he does not notice me being drenched" Caspian said, smiling miserably.

"Very likely, but it was cute" Susan said, blushing even deeper, her embarrassment causing her to babble. Caspian, too, felt heat rise to his face and cleared his throat, looking away to hide his blush.

"That was totally uncalled for, Mr. Oak" Caspian complained, glaring at the tree, which remained utterly still. "I think it opted to ignore us" he sighed, turning to look at Susan, who chortled.

"The rain seems nowhere near stopping, I think we better run to the castle before the others get worried" Susan then noted, narrowing her eyes in an effort to see anything through the fog surrounding them. "We risk getting seriously ill if we stay out here much longer" she added in a more serious tone.

"I agree, we better get going before it gets dark" Caspian concurred, helping Susan on her feet and grabbing the bags from their landing spot on the ground after the tree had shaken them off.

They arrived to the castle almost an hour later, drenched to the core and leaving trails of little puddles behind them all over the impeccable marble floor.

"Ah, finally, you're back. Peter was getting worried" Edmund's lightly nasal voice reached them. King and Queen turned to address the Just King, Caspian skidding slightly as he did so, causing Ed to snort.

"What in Aslan's goodness happened to you?" he asked, noticing his sister, too, was sopping wet.

"We went through the forest just as it started pouring down, and then the oak we took cover under showered us when it shook itself dry" Susan explained, wringing her sleeves.

"Ah, I see, and whose brilliant idea was it?" Edmund asked, utterly amused.

"It was only to avoid the crowd" Caspian defended, and Ed's smirk stretched wider, a knowing gleam in his eyes. The Telmarine King ignored Ed's unconvinced look, opting to parry it with a pointed glare. The hurried sound of steps at the stairs alerted them of the arrival of the others. Tairin was the first to appear into view, clearly relieved to see them.

"Goodness, look at you, you're soaked! I say you are in dire need of a warm bath, the sooner the better" she said, raising her eyebrows at their state. "I'll get you some towels and dry robes, there is no way those clothes are making it upstairs in that state" she added, hurrying back up.

"Just the clothes and the towel will do for me, I'll take my bath later" Caspian yelled, leaning over the handrail.

"I'll wait for you in the study, Caspian; we had a chess game planned after your little excursion,remember?" Edmund spoke, his eyes gleaming maliciously at Caspian before he turned on his heel and left. Tairin returned minutes later, holding some towels, a fluffy robe and a change of clothes for him, which she handed him before leaving with Susan, both women chatting about the trip to the market.

As he dried himself and changed his wet clothes, he relived his near-kiss moment with Susan. It was something he could not quite explain. Her touch stirred something inside his chest, warm, pleasant and surprisingly strong, and he could feel it coiling inside him just by thinking about it. The skin of his cheek still tingled slightly and he could still feel the softness of her palm pressed against it. Her hand fitted perfectly in his, it all felt so- meant to be.

"You're the picture of kingliness" Edmund teased, leaning nonchalantly on the door. Caspian shot a glance at him through the mirror he had been absentmindedly staring at until then.

"You did think about the possibility of me being stark naked when you entered just like that, did you?" Caspian asked, picking up the drenched pile of clothes.

"Yes, but I assumed you were done; how long could you take to put on a shirt and breeches" Ed explained, gesturing vaguely at his attire. "Anyway, the coffee you asked for is ready and getting colder, shall we?" the young King added. As he followed his friend to the study, Caspian smiled. Despite the unexpected weather and consequent soaking, he did not regret their little adventure in the forest, not when he had had the chance to be so close to her.

The rain kept pouring down relentlessly for the rest of the afternoon, covering the sky with grey clouds which grew darker by the hour, bringing the blackness of night sooner than usual. The downpour was accompanied by a thick fog that ghosted on the streets and between the houses, falling like a wispy blanket over them. In spite of the inhospitable weather, a carriage made its way through the rain and mist and across the bridge connecting the castle to the village, the horses' hot breath puffing up in little clouds before blending with the fog as they galloped. The carriage was stopped at the entrance gates, the guards having a hard time distinguishing the banners on the carriage due to the fog. A shivering guard approached the equally cold driver, who hurried to identify himself and his passenger as of Archen origin. The gates opened to let them through just as the guard ran to inform the royal family about the visitors. A servant alerted Rainidan of the new arrival and he hurried towards the stables, the guards having directed the carriage there due to the bad weather. Clueless as to whom it may be, he arrived just as the visitor made his way out of the carriage and he smiled, recognising the man immediately. He met his friend in two long strides, reaching to clasp the hand stretched out to him.

"I was beginning to wonder, I thought you would come sooner" he spoke with a warm pat on the man's back.

"Not soon enough, my friend, not soon enough" the man replied, squeezing Rainidan's shoulder.

"Aye, someone else has been looking forward to your visit much more impatiently than I could ever" he added, smirking.

"I know, I know, but once you know what, or rather, who prevented me, you will understand" the man spoke, sighing. Both men then walked inside the castle where a servant informed them King Caspian would join them in the study.

"I am afraid I won't be able to accompany you. I was in the middle of writing a report to His Majesty, and I hoped to send it on the last post tonight" Rainidan excused himself, and asked the maid to guide his friend to the study.

Once there, the Archen guest allowed his eyes to wander around the room, stopping on the paintings and furniture, several items catching his interest. He could easily tell the room had been decorated with a heavy Telmarine influence, although it was now balanced by many Narnian pieces, certainly added after the Revolution. Paintings covered the walls and one in particular caught his eye. The image showed a group of centaurs, fauns and other Narnian folk looking victorious, King Caspian and the Kings and Queens of Old – or at least he supposed it was them – in the centre. Interesting, they looked so- The door then opened with a soft creak and pulled him out of his thoughts.

Lucy was very excited and nearly hissed at Caspian, who in her opinion was taking too long to open the door and reveal their visitor. The Archen man was tall and well-built, broad shoulders telling he was not a stranger to training, his posture betraying him as a nobleman, fine clothes confirming the fact. His coal black curly hair was tied at the back, some lose strands tucked behind his ears. His eyes were of a misty greyish green, a gentle look full of respect gazing back at them. His look was completed by the light rubble strewn across his jaw, giving him what Lucy would call a slightly dishevelled air, adding more to his already good looks. Before any of them could utter a single word of welcome. Lucy stepped closer to the foreigner.

"You must be Zephyr, am I wrong?" she spoke, smiling brilliantly.

"I am indeed, at your service, My Lady" he greeted, bowing elegantly and kissing her hand, causing her to giggle loudly.

"Welcome to Narnia, My Lord. We are terribly sorry for the lack of a proper welcome, but we were unaware of your arrival" Susan spoke, forever the diligent hostess.

"My apologies. Indeed, the business I was tending too took shorter than I expected and I found myself with a few days to spare. It appears I have preceded my own letter. I hope not to intrude on your hospitality by arriving so unexpectedly" Zephyr replied courteously. "I greet you, My Lords and Ladies. I am Zephyr, Lord of the court of His Royal Highness King Gaetan, and Duke of Almeren, at your service and command. I carry His Grace's greetings and best wishes for your health and prosperity" Zephyr greeted them formally, perfect in his manners. As Caspian approached Zephyr with his greetings, the door opened with a slam, and a blur swooshed past them, crashing against Zephyr and throwing him a bit off balance only thanks to his excellent reflexes.

"At last! I've missed you soo much!" Tairin exclaimed, hugging him dearly, laughing merrily.

"I've missed you too, more than you can imagine" he whispered back, placing a soft kiss on her hair and throwing a look at Caspian, hoping to catch any sign of disapproval. The High King was smiling softly, shaking his head at his sister's antics. Zephyr exhaled a small breath of relief, although the look of discomfort in High King Peter's gaze caught his attention. Always exemplary in his behaviour, he pulled away from the hug, yet was unable to contain a loving smile at his fiancée.

"I believe introductions are in order" Tairin chirped. "These are Susan, Edmund, Peter and Lucy, and this is Caspian, my brother" Tairin spoke, gesturing at each of them.

"The legendary Kings and Queens of Old and the hero of the Revolution, your reputation precedes you. I am humbled to make your acquaintance, at last" Zephyr spoke, inclining his head lightly.

"The mere names history gives us, do not waste your breath on them" Caspian told him, stretching his hand in a friendly gesture, shrewdly noticing the tint of tension on the Archen's manners. Edmund shook Zephyr's hand next and made an amicable comment, helping to loosen the man's stiff formality with a joke. Susan was only too kind, immediately enquiring over his wellbeing and comfort, while Lucy beamed and warmed up to him instantly, babbling about how curious she was to meet him. Peter shook his hand firmly and voiced his welcome with a friendly but diplomatic tone, quite unlike his usual good-natured self, something that did not pass Caspian and Edmund's notice. Noticing Tairin's repressed excitement, Susan suggested they left Zephyr recover from the trip in private; they could resume their questions and conversation at dinner.

Once in the corridor, Edmund caught up with Peter, who had been the first to leave.

"Woah, someone's in a hurry" the Just King noted airily.

"What do you want, Ed?" Peter asked tiredly.

"Nothing much, just wondering why you were so quiet. Usually you are more welcoming towards guests" Ed commented, his eyes trained on his brother's expression.

"I behaved like I always do, Ed, you're imagining things" Peter replied, mildly irritated, shaking his head and walking away.

"Never a good liar" Edmund whispered to himself, knowing there was something amiss in the Magnificent King's behaviour. This was a most interesting development, one that deserved to be followed closely.

He could not help but hum contently as his whole body relaxed under the steamy water, his favourite scents filing his nostrils as he took a deep breath and closed his eyes, sinking deeper into the water. Dinner had been uneventful other than the pleasant conversation surrounding Zephyr's arrival, and after a chess game with Edmund and some brandy, they had all parted company. It had been a long day and he was finally able to relax and warm himself up properly after the earlier assault of cold rain, a bath never failing to do just that. Nonetheless, he had enjoyed spending time with Susan, and the pouring rain had, in a way, enabled that short moment of intimacy between them. He opened his eyes and frowned, the memory triggering that all too pleasant sensation from earlier. He enjoyed spending time with her, and he had already established this was due to his mild infatuation with her, but this- thing was stronger, and whatever it was, it was certainly not a childish fascination. Was it love? Was he seriously falling in love with her? The possibility, although very real, was overwhelming. Never before had he been in love, his heart utterly ignorant of the feeling. Yet, he imagined it to be something unexplainable and pleasant which would fill every inch of his body and cause him to smile like a fool. He had witnessed soldiers sighing hopelessly as the object of their affections came into sight and blushing maids giggling and whispering among themselves, often making him wonder if that was what love was all about. Perhaps he was about to find out for himself. Still, he could not tell for sure if this warm pressure in his chest was love or some weird state where it was neither infatuation nor love, but something in between. More to the point, there was one important matter to be considered: did she feel anything remotely alike for him or was he just a friend to her? How could a Queen of Old ever take an interest in someone she had only just met? He was an inexperienced Prince – well, King now – whereas she had fought many battles and had been courted by rows of suitors with more impressive resumes than his. What did he have to offer that she did not possess already? But then again, this Queen of Old was Susan, just as he was simply Caspian, not The Telmarine Who Freed Narnia. This thought lingered in his mind and lit a spark of hope that she would return his feelings. That almost-kiss under the tree could only be a sign. The moment felt right and had she not felt anything she would have pushed him away. This was the hint he needed to allow this nameless feeling to grow, letting his heart guide him though this new adventure. The Telmarine King drew a long breath and closed his eyes again, smiling at what would have happened if the tree had not interrupted them. His thoughts slowly drifted to how soft her lips must be, how they would feel upon his, and he groaned, admonishing himself for allowing his fantasies to get too out of hand.

Susan tossed and turned in her bed, trying to find a comfortable position to sleep in. Sighing, she came to the realisation that the issue was not a faulty bed but a lack of tiredness, and she regretted not having brought her book to bed with her. Deciding that staring at the canopy would simply not do, the Queen threw the covers off and slid into her slippers, grabbing her warm robe on her way out and towards the study. Reading had always helped her unwind and sleepiness would come shortly after. The corridors were exceptionally cold that night, and she shivered lightly, a chilly breeze caressing her ankles and causing her to hurry her step. She pushed the door open with care, making sure she made as little noise as possible. Inside she sighed contently at the warmth and marched over to her favourite armchair, ready to curl up and enjoy the story in her book. As she grabbed her novel, something caught her eye at the grand desk that was partially hidden by a large bookcase. Caspian was sitting on the leather chair, feet propped up irreverently on the paper-strewn desk. His eyes were closed and she noticed a paper lying on his chest, suggesting the King was taking a break from paperwork. With a blush she knew to be deep, she noted he was wearing just his undershirt and breeches, his boots thrown carelessly a few feet away. One of his bare feet was moving rhythmically in a soft motion, revealing the King to be quite awake. Her eyes slid to the delicately outlined muscles of his bare arms and she chastised herself by shaking her head, turning on her heels to leave the room before Caspian noticed her staring, stumbling over the small coffee table in her haste. The noise shook Caspian out of his pause, his body tensing into a defensive position.

"I-I'm sorry, I didn't see you there and I certainly didn't want to disturb you" she apologised, rubbing her calf and hoping not to get a bruise in the morning.

"No harm done, are you alright?" Caspian spoke, getting up from his chair.

"Yes, it was nothing" she answered, a bit embarrassed. Grabbing his own robe, Caspian gestured to the sofa.

"I was going to ask for some coffee, do you want some?" he offered, noticing how she pulled her robe tighter around herself and rubbed her feet together.

"I'd rather have tea, if that's possible. I'm afraid coffee keeps me from sleeping" she replied and he chuckled, raising to his feet and walking to the door.

"Which is not the effect you seek, I believe" he noted with a smile. He dropped himself on the sofa next to her with a grunt, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

"It seems we are all having problems falling asleep; when I got here Lucy was reading one of Peter's books and drinking some warm milk hoping to lure sleepiness through boredom. She left only moments before you, did you meet?" Caspian spoke with a chuckle.

"No, I didn't. Lucy has always had problems sleeping when it's too cold. She used to crawl into my bed or Peter's when she was younger and she loved to stick her frozen little toes on our legs in the cruellest manner" Susan told, smiling at the memories.

"What about Edmund, does Lucy ever take refuge in his room?" Caspian asked, having noticed the little Queen always sought comfort in her oldest siblings.

"Well, you know Lucy finds his reactions amusing and I suppose she would consider sticking her cold toes to his legs just for the fun of it, but I don't think it has ever happened. I mean, Peter and I are always around, or at least one of us always is, so I guess the need has never arisen. Also, Ed and Lucy were never the best of friends, at least not until we first came to Narnia. Lucy means well but she can be a bit intrusive while Ed, well, he values his personal space greatly. Although I don't think Ed would kick her out, he would be quite annoyed if she ever crawled under his covers. I'm not even sure Lucy sees Ed as the comforting kind of brother, if you know what I mean" Susan told, smiling softly.

"I don't think Ed sees himself as the comfort-providing brother" Caspian noted with a snort. "Interesting how sibling relationships work; Zirid and Cyprian fight like two beasts, but they would do anything for one another, and I recall more than one incident where Tairin and I were far from loving. It is funny, how you can get so annoyed and yet so protective of someone, I guess that's what unconditional love is all about, nay?" Caspian commented wisely, and Susan agreed with a nod. "Though there are times where you could just kill them" Caspian added, meeting Susan's curious gaze. "When I was nine, we had stolen some sweets from the kitchen and ran away. Tairin, being so generous and loving, took all the sweets and ran past me, pushing me into a bush of very poisonous ivy when we heard the yells of the cooks. I spent days in bed, itching all over and covered in red patches, and as if that wasn't enough, the little imp would come to my room and laugh openly at my state several times a day" Caspian remembered, outraged. He cast a look at Susan and found her covering her mouth with her hand, her shoulders shaking lightly, trying and failing, to contain her laughter.

"It was not funny, just so you know" Caspian told with a huff. "Anyway, my revenge came years later when I found an unbearably corny letter my sister had written for a boy, who happened to be a guest here at the time, and which I proceeded to read out at the top of my lungs as I ran around the castle, my adorable sister hot on my heels" Caspian told with a cheeky grin. "Tairin was furious. That day I learnt just how flawless my sister's aim was, and still is, as her shoe landed square on the back of my head, slowing me down long enough for her to jump at me and bite my shoulder. It goes without saying that I thought twice before upsetting her again from them on" Caspian narrated, Susan letting out a dismayed chuckle.

"You nasty brother! How could you read through her mail! Wait, is that a big brother thing?" Susan scolded him, her smile betraying her lecture, glaring at him in shocked disbelief as he nodded rather eagerly in reply to her question.

"Unbelievable!" she huffed, unable to hide an amused smile.

"You call me nasty, but Tairin was downright evil, chances are she still is" Caspian argued. "She threw a bucket of watery mud at this girl I fancied; it was intended at me, but most of it landed on her. The girl of course never spoke to me again and I even had to bear Prunaprismia berating me for ruining my clothes" Caspian told her, declaring the unfairness of the situation. Susan laughed at his miff.

"So, did you really fancy this girl?" Susan casually asked minutes later, picking at some small fluffs in her robe and pretending indifference.

"She was pretty, but I think it never went beyond that. Like all teenagers I often mistook strong infatuation for love, but then it just faded, proving it was just a fancy. True love is meant to last" Caspian told her, surprising her with his answer.

"Do you believe in love?" she asked, suddenly curious.

"Definitely. I only think it takes the right person, that one special person, the one that is destined to us by fate. Love is such a beautiful sentiment and it has to be felt with someone utterly unique and special, someone who deserves it" he replied, his words so vehement and intense, mirroring his gaze, which turned a tad darker as he looked deeply into her clear orbs. Susan felt a shiver down her spine at the passion blazing in his eyes, almost as if- no, he had meant it generally and it had nothing to do with her.

"Have you ever been in love?" Caspian enquired, throwing her a sideways glance.

"I- I have never been thrilled about romantic relationships, or at least I never considered it a priority. I simply decided to let it come on its own instead of looking after it. In the Golden Age, many of my friends – ladies and maids alike – fell in love and some did find their soul mates, but I also witnessed too many broken hearts; although I do believe in love I guess a part of me stands guarded against heartbreak" she admitted, looking down at her hands, feeling a bit silly.

"Only an idiot would fail to see the admirable woman you are and the jewel he would be rejecting" Caspian commented, his features serious, looking ahead for a moment before turning to her. She shivered noticeably, his eyes darker than she had ever seen them, heated and fervent, a spark of anger infused with something else. For a moment she wanted to smile at his sweetness, at his protectiveness, yet she could not hold his gaze, uncertain of what could happen if she continued to stare into the depth of his eyes. She pulled her robe tighter around herself and tucked her feet under herself in an effort to keep them warm, shivering lightly.

"I keep a blanket here for when I stay late, but where is it" Caspian spoke, getting from the small sofa and opening several cabinets and drawers. Susan insisted on being perfectly comfortable, in vain, for the King ignored all her objections. Caspian let out a contented sound upon finding the blanket, unfolding the fluffy piece of fabric and pulling it over them both.

"This reminds me I should ask the servants to put some extra heaters in the corridors, or we'll all freeze. The castle is fresh in the summer, but it is quite icy the rest of the year" Caspian commented. He then noticed she had unconsciously leaned closer to him, probably drawn by his warmth, her knees brushing against his leg. He was flooded by the urge of wrapping his arms around her and provide her with all the warmth she needed and more, but checked himself on time; the last thing he wanted was to disturb the delicate relationship they had and cause her any discomfort. And yet, her scent was tickling his nose, tinting the air with its subtle fragrance, a perfume he very much loved. He inhaled deeply, relishing the familiar scent of lavender and lemon. Interesting. He had not noticed the minty and slightly woody undertone before, another very familiar fragrance he particularly enjoyed and favoured in his soap- oh. And then it hit him. Her scent and his had blended delicately, combining into a subtle fragrance. He smiled and allowed himself to believe this was perhaps a sign of fate.

She drew closer to him instinctively, her cold feet rejoicing in the warmth provided by his body. She blushed at their closeness. Certainly, it was not proper for an unmarried man and woman, let alone a Queen and a King, to be sharing a cover, but the arrangement was quite pleasant and she was too comfortable to give it too much thought. She stole a shy glance at him, finding him staring at the ceiling, apparently in deep thought. Feeling a bit bold, she stared a moment longer, tracing the lines of his jaw and cheekbones with her eyes. They were sharp but somehow soft and did not clash with the rest of his face, rather accentuating some of his features and giving them strength. She had observed that the lines of his face were less rough than those of other Telmarine men, and she wondered if he had inherited them from his mother. The dark chocolate hue of his eyes was unequivocally Telmarine, just as the cunning spark frequently shining on them. They shaped nicely under his brows, framed beautifully by his dark lashes, heightening their warmth but also their sharpness. It was perhaps the feature that intrigued her the most in him; she had witnessed them soften with contentment, shine with laughter, spark with cleverness, but also ablaze with anger, cold with disgust and fear-inspiring with a silent threat. Her gaze then slid to his lips and she sighed almost imperceptibly, remembering how close they had been from hers earlier that afternoon. With a small curious frown, she noticed he was smiling and she looked up, meeting his amused gaze.

"Oh, by all means, please continue" he teased, causing her to blush and look away.

"I-um" she mumbled, trying to find an excuse for her shameless staring.

"I don't mind, you know" he told with a grin. Susan cocked an eyebrow and let out a laugh.

"Well, for your information, King Caspian, I was only wondering why you don't have a beard. I mean, I thought it was a men thing to grow a beard at least once in life, even Ed had one" she half-lied.

"A sight I would pay good money to see," Caspian told with a snort. "I guess I have never given it too much thought," he admitted, tilting his head to the side. "I fear I would end up looking too much like my father, but if My Queen finds it would suit me, then I shall do my best to comply" he added, a whisper of coldness ghosting his gaze for a split moment before lighting up again with his joke.

"Oh, if you must. Personally I am not a fan of facial hair, although I must admit it looks good on certain people" Susan noted, opting for a neutral reply.

"It should be a fun experiment" he told, stroking his jaw.

"Is that a cut?" she asked, noticing a scratch in the underside of his jaw, which she traced with her fingertip.

"Ah, the occupational hazard of shaving" he told with a spark of humour, making her chuckle. And for the second time that day they had managed to be too close, her breath tickling his cheek with a feather-like touch.

"I better go back to bed before this fluffy blanket drains the rest of my courage to face the chilly corridor" she joked, whispering a small awkward laugh. Caspian took a deep breath and nodded, equally embarrassed, pointedly ignoring the indecorous voice in his head suggesting her to sleep in his bed.

"I-I'll walk you to your room" he offered courteously, helping her up from the sofa before grabbing his boots.

"And here we are at last" he whispered as they reached her door.

"Thank you very much, I couldn't have been better protected from the threats and dangers lurking in the corridor" she joked, teasing him lightly.

"Oh, but isn't it the duty of every gentleman, My Queen, to make sure a lady arrives at her destination safe and sound?" Caspian parried, a laugh bubbling in her throat, muffled by her hands not to wake the others.

"Touché. Goodnight Caspian, thank you for the chat, it was lovely" she said, smiling warmly. With a smirk, Caspian leaned over and planted a delicate kiss on her cheek, smiling mischievously as he pulled away.

"Goodnight Susan" he whispered back, curtsying lightly before walking away to his room. Susan rested her back on the door as she closed it behind her, biting her lip, unable to contain her smile. She felt a tingling sensation in the pit of her stomach; were these the mythical butterflies she had head so much about? Still smiling, she made her way to bed, touching her cheek before hiding her face under the covers, feeling quite silly but not caring at all.

It had been a risky move, kissing her like that, invading her personal space in such an improper way, but he simply could not hold that impulse, relishing in the softness of her skin even if for a couple of seconds. He only hoped she was not mad at his daring attitude. He would worry for that in the morning, for now he was thrilled, his lips tingling with the taste of her skin, and with a smirk he thought he would not mind doing it again, brushing a kiss against her lips this time. He entered his room, grinning like a fool. He kicked his boots off and fell on the bed, knowing his dreams would be filled by her once again.

Yes, he was definitely falling in love with her, deeply.

The sun was shining feebly behind the thick cover of greyish clouds the next morning, the wind cold and damp with the light drizzle that had fallen intermittently ever since dawn. Tairin and Zephyr were taking a walk around the small greenhouse in the garden, a place the Princess was very fond of since childhood. After a quick inspection of the more exotic flowers and plants, they sat on a small stone bench, the Princess sitting on her fiancés lap, rounding his neck with her arms.

"You seem preoccupied" Tairin noted, combing her fingers through his hair. The Archen lord sighed heavily and looked away.

"I- I am quite daunted at the prospect of asking His Majesty for your hand. After all, you've only just returned and here I am asking him to let you leave again" he confessed, looking down at their entwined hands. "Also, how does one ask the Hero of the Revolution such a thing?" he added, genuinely troubled by the prospect. Tairin's soft chuckle caused him to look up at her and she caressed his cheek, love shining in her beautiful chocolate eyes.

"You worry too much. He may be the Hero of the Revolution, but on this instance he is simply my brother, as common a man as any other. He won't bite you" she reassured him with a kiss on the lips.

"Well, he does have the right to disapprove of me and I can't offer you anything more than what you already have, flower" he said, looking at her with sad eyes, caressing her cheek tenderly.

"All I need from you is love, and that you have in abundance. Most importantly, I approve of you and that should be enough reason for him to give us his blessing. However, I cannot guarantee he won't threaten you to keep up with the concerned brother act, but you should be fine as long as you play along" Tairin told, rolling her eyes. "Also, I trust Caspian remembers it is never a good idea to test my temper" she added, her lips curling into a smirk.

"May I forever remain in your good graces" Zephyr commented with a chuckle and she laughed, bringing her lips to his once more, allowing the kiss to grow more passionate. "How have I missed you, my star-shine, those days and nights far from you were terribly desolate and long" Zephyr whispered on her ear. Tairin smiled and snuggled closer to him, letting out a contented sigh as she placed her head in the crook of his neck.

"I missed you too, very, very much! Returning to this castle was such a nerve-wracking moment, and I confess I thought about turning around and back to Anvard many ways on our way here; how I wished you were with me then, to give me strength" she told him, pouting lightly.

"And yet you found strength on your own, I'm proud of you" he praised with a smile, reaching under her chin and claiming her lips in a tender kiss. His arms enveloped her securely, bringing her closer to him. She barely bit back a soft moan as he bathed her lower lip with his tongue, asking for permission to deepen the kiss, which she granted gladly. In those intimate moments they had shared, she had discovered that behind the politeness and etiquette laid a passionate, red-blooded man, whose fiery desire matched hers perfectly.

"So what kept you from coming sooner?" Tairin asked a moment later. Zephyr groaned audibly and winced, causing her to grow even more curious.

"I was in Appledoorn taking care of some business for His Grace, but I had the terrible misfortune of dealing with Duke Arbaar, who is just impossible to trade with; he remarks and discusses every little detail, I have lost count of how many things I had to negotiate with him, listen to some of his nonsensical offers until finally he agreed with what His Majesty had offered in the first place. I have known Calormene merchants easier to bargain with" Zephyr vented, rubbing his temples.

"Arbaar is well-known to be a nightmarish businessman, but sadly one with a rather big estate and important commercial interest. I'm sure King Gaetan sent you because he knows you would succeed where others would have given up sooner; you have the gift of unlimited patience and diplomacy, my darling. I do not dare think what would have happened if it was Scorpio in your place" Tairin told with a laugh, stroking the back of his neck and gazing into his misty green eyes.

"As ill-advised as it would be, it would have been interesting to see who would have lost it first; Scorpio can be a tough negotiator when he puts his mind to it" Zephyr mused, shaking with a throaty laugh.

"I am surprised Arbaar did not mention his daughter and how suitable she would be as a royal wife" Tairin remarked.

"Oh but he did" Zephyr corrected.

"Figures," Tairin sighed, rising her eyebrows. "I only feel for his daughter. Poor soul, dumbest girl I've ever met, airy-headed and completely incapable of holding any noteworthy conversation. Even Scorpio is uninterested" she added, Zephyr's rich, baritone laugh joining hers seconds later.

"I find that quite hard to believe; Scorpio flirts with anything that smells nice and wears a skirt" Zephyr said, inciting a bubbly laugh from the Princess. "Have I ever told you how beautiful you look when you laugh, my love?" he asked, his clear eyes looking deeply into hers.

"Not today you haven't" Tairin teased, her chocolate orbs narrowed by her seductive smile.

"Oh, you tease me only because you know I simply cannot resist you" Zephyr replied with a mischievous smirk of his own, the kind that was rarely seen on his face. His strong arms pulled her closer, capturing her lips in a hungry kiss.

Susan turned around briskly, feeling very guilty. She had gone to the terrace to breathe some fresh air, enjoying the absence of drizzle and relishing on the chilly, crisp feeling of the fog in her face. Peeking her head over the banister, she realised she was just above the glass greenhouse and was pleasantly surprised to find Zephyr and Tairin there, probably hiding from the drizzle and cold. Even from the distance it was possible to see that they were so very much in love, contented in each other's company. She heaved a heavy sigh, not wishing to eavesdrop on them any longer. It proved a task easier said than done; she kept staring, drawn to the distinct passion that exuded from the couple, enthralled by how thrilling it looked to be in love. She blushed a little when the couple shared several passionate kisses and looked away, only to be drawn back to the romantic scene seconds later. How wonderful must it be to be so madly in love, to have someone to be passionate with and about.

She closed her eyes and imagined the sensation of a true love's kiss. Her thoughts drifted to Caspian, the softness of his lips, their taste. She opened her eyes with a loud gasp. Was her heart truly fluttering? It could only be out of embarrassment at such foolish and inappropriate thoughts. She turned away from the banister, frustration deep in her features as she leaned her back on the cold stone. She prided herself on her sensitiveness and sixth sense when it came to understanding other people's feelings, so how could she not understand herself, how was it possible that she could not name the feelings cramming her chest and which felt so alien! What was this tingling, burning, fluttering, annoying and totally foreign sensation that invaded her heart whenever her thoughts drifted to the Telmarine King? Everything was just so erratic, nonsensical. She struggled to find any logic explanation to this sudden disarray that disrupted the inner peace she valued so much and allowed her to be collected and reasoning. By Aslan, she was a mess! And then there was their conversation the night before. She gripped the cold stone of the banister and let out a small groan, feeling her heart speed up at the memory. She had enjoyed it, and very much, what as the point of denying it now. She had snuggled to Peter for warmth countless times before and yet, the very same action felt so distinctively different when it was Caspian she was snuggling to; something in his closeness triggered this- thing. Certainly, the Telmarine King was handsome; she was well aware of this fact but preferred to acknowledge it as a polite thought. There was no harm in admiring beauty where there was some, and he did look good just in his undershirt and breeches. Was it very wrong to steal some looks at him? Notice how the thin fabric hugged his flesh, how it underlined the muscles of his chest and left his strong arms exposed? She let out an annoyed yell. She had always insisted she would favour personality and wit over appearance, but what was she to do when this man had both looks and character? Was it so very unsuitable for her to consider his looks when knowing his personality and heart were as fine as his physique? And why was reason telling her it was so very inappropriate when her heart deemed it harmless?

Another memory unfolded before her eyes and she opted not to fight it, hoping it could bring some clarity to her present predicament. The chinking of metal had drawn her to a small clearing on the forest surrounding Aslan's How. She had been looking for Peter and had hoped to find him there, but her older brother was conspicuously absent, and instead she found Ed and Caspian sparring, tremendously engaged in their activity to even notice her. Her breath got caught in her throat as she noticed Caspian's bare chest for the first time, tanned and almost too dark compared to the pale skin of her brother. She had stared for a moment, noticing his muscles moving swiftly under his skin as he danced with his sword. She had dismissed her reaction as one of unexpected surprise, but truth was, she could not understand herself all too well whenever he was involved. Whenever he was close, her body went haywire. Her heart beat fast and threatened to jump out of her ribcage, her skin tingled at his touch and his very unique fragrance was capable of throwing her off balance, the fluttering in her stomach unbearable and yet so very enticing and pleasant, trapping her in its contradiction.

The frustration of feeling like a stranger to herself finally became too much and she burst into tears. How silly she felt, crying over such a silly matter, but then again, it was so aggravating, confusing her so much, she for once had no clue what to do. Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself and brushed away her tears. Her memories drifted again to their late night conversation the night before, to how his eyes were so intense and dark as he so passionately spoke of love. Love. It felt as if a lightning bolt had struck her, eyes opened wide in realisation. Could it be...? Was she...? Oh, lord, was it possible she was falling in love with him? No, it was not love, at least not yet, although she could say with some certainty that it was stronger than a mere fancy. Taking a deep breath, she accepted that this was no longer a friendly kind of attachment, but the beginning of the path that led directly to romantic, passionate love. She exhaled loudly, knowing she was heading straight to falling deeply, strongly and inevitably in love with him. And just as the relief of this discovery eased her confusion, another dark thought took its place causing her to gasp at the pain that twisted her heart. She could not possibly allow this to develop any further, not when the uncertainty of not knowing if they would stay hanging over them, threatening to tinge everything with sadness. She would be left heartbroken, spirit and soul torn to pieces with no promise of ever being full again, just as it had been last time, only worse. She recalled quite clearly the dreadful emptiness of spending her days in unbearable pain and being able to do nothing about it. But how not to love him! Her eyes fluttered close and a small smile tugged at the corner of her lips at the thought of the soft kiss he had intrepidly placed on her cheek, his lips warm against her skin. It lasted but a second yet left a searing mark on her skin for the rest of the night. She touched the area gingerly, almost feeling his lips once again, and she chuckled, feeling rather foolish. That kiss had stirred so many emotions inside her, yet the most unexpected was the uplifting calm she was experiencing at the moment; something told her there was still hope for them to stay.

With a renewed strength, she decided to let the future show her the way, choosing to go against the voice desperately telling her to shun these feelings in an effort to preserve her from future pain, her heart muffling it with a strong and steady beat, encouraging her.

"It's better to have loved and lost than not having loved at all" she whispered to the wind, looking far into the horizon. She felt much lighter without the torturing weight of the conflict between heart and logic, finally setting them both on the same path. She drew a deep breath, savouring the scent of the rain and damp soil before exhaling and relaxing her muscles, letting out a contented sound.

"It is nice to see My Queen is feeling so bright this morning, despite the weather" a deep, accented voice spoke, and she turned around – a tad too quickly – to find Caspian leaning nonchalantly on the doorframe.

"By the Mane, Caspian, you gave me a right fright!" Susan exclaimed with a chuckle.

"Forgive me, I did not wish to interrupt your moment of solitude" he explained, offering her an apologetic smile.

"No harm done, there was nothing to interrupt, in fact, I was about to go for a walk in the gardens. You are welcome to join me if you like" Susan invited him. Little did she know that her smile made it impossible for him to refuse.

Yes, she was definitely falling in love with him.

He had battled men twice his size on duel without getting in a sweat. He had stood up to grisly nobles unnerved, reaching agreements without giving up on any of the points of discussion, tenacious in his speeches and arguments. And despite all that, cold sweat was running down his spine, icy chills whispering on the back of his neck as he walked down a long corridor, politely following King Caspian's lead. He was nervous beyond belief, petrified at the man in front of him as if he were the incarnation of evil itself. They reached the study a moment later and the King smiled, gesturing at the seats and sofas around the fire.

"Please, make yourself comfortable. Fancy a drink?" Caspian asked politely, pouring himself some whisky. Zephyr nodded nervously, despite knowing he would not be able to swallow a thing due to the tight knot in his throat.

"Here" Caspian told, handing him a glass containing the amber liquid. "So, how are you liking Narnia so far?" the King enquired casually, taking a sip of his drink. Zephyr however was so tense he shook at the sound of Caspian's voice, spilling some of his whisky. "Am I really that scary?" Caspian asked, his shoulders shaking with laughter. "There is really no need to be so tense, Zephyr. I promised Tairin I would return you in one piece and I intend to keep that promise" Caspian joked, hoping to liven the mood yet failing miserably, for Zephyr looked even more tense, if possible.

"Look, I won't duel you or anything. I just want to have a talk with you and get to know you better, seeing as you are to be my brother-in-law. My intentions are purely friendly, I assure you" Caspian spoke once again, looking at Zephyr over the rim of his glass as he took a sip.

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, Majesty, there is hardly anything interesting about me. It would make dull conversation" Zephyr remarked shyly, relaxing a bit.

"Ah, I disagree. King Gaetan speaks very kindly of you, my curiosity has been spiked. His letters about you are full of a fatherly pride I am certain to be genuine and I'm sure he has not exaggerated in any of your virtues" Caspian told, smiling at his own memories of the kind Archen King.

"His Majesty is most generous with his praises and I am only too grateful to return all the kindness and affection he shows to me" Zephyr replied.

"I was never told how you came to be in his care, may I enquire on the subject?" Caspian asked, hoping not to appear to rudely pry into too personal a subject.

"You may, My King. My father was a merchant in Anvard, modest, but not terribly poor. When I was four, this man abandoned my mother, leaving us with nothing and nowhere to go. My mother had no family so we survived on her great skill in sewing and cooking, which she carried on gladly, although conditions were not ideal. Unfortunately, her health was never too good and she fell very ill and got gradually worse before passing away when I was eight. As you may know, Archenland has very good living conditions; My King works hard for his people to live decently, so you can imagine his surprise to find a young boy like me helping a street vendor in exchange of a few coins and with no place to stay. He enquired after my parents and when I told him I was an orphan he took me back to the palace, where I have lived ever since. My gratitude to His Majesty is infinite; not only have I had a privileged education and combat training, but I have been beyond fortunate to be adopted into their family, to be loved as kin, a feeling I return a thousand-fold. I will never be able to repay such kindness, the least I can do is exceed in my services to His Grace, but I am not worthy of all the admiration and pride he bestows on me" Zephyr told humbly. As he spoke, Caspian noted the confidence with which the Archen lord owned his past, not ashamed of it or of his lack of nobility by birth, strengthening Caspian's already good opinion of him.

"I am well aware of the odds of a princess favouring a man of no noble birth, but my love for your sister is genuine, My King, even if I have nothing to offer her" Zephyr carried on after a small pause and Caspian hinted this was Zephyr's main concern.

"Your noble bearing prevails over your modest birth, and let's be honest, what does birth matter when there is love? The value of a man is not on the aristocracy running through his veins, but in his actions and principles, which to me have infinitely more value than status and birth. I trust my sister's judgement when it comes to her own happiness and if she has chosen you it is because you have proven yourself worthy of her affections, which I know she does not grant easily" Caspian spoke wisely, his calm dark eyes looking deeply at Zephyr.

"Does this mean we have your blessing, Your Grace?" Zephyr asked after a moment of astonishment, surprised by the calm and good-natured attitude of the King.

"You had it the moment my sister agreed to marry you, my friend. I am no judge to bless or condemn anything, especially anything regarding my sister's life. It is obvious to me that you love my sister very much; if she is happy, so am I" Caspian replied simply, sincerely. The two men looked at each other, sharing a brief moment of mutual respect and admiration. Next thing Caspian knew, his future brother-in-law downed his whisky in a single gulp, visibly relieved. Caspian looked at him in awe and burst into laughter.

"More whisky?" he asked, smiling and pouring more of the strong beverage into the man's glass, not waiting for his answer. "Though, as you may understand, it is my duty as Tairin's only brother to warn you; hurt her and it will be the last thing you do while breathing" Caspian threatened coldly, his features suddenly grim.

"I would rather die a painful death than bring tears to her eyes. I make it my mission to make her smile and I will forever protect her from all evil without ever imprisoning her free spirit, I give you my word, Your Majesty" Zephyr vowed. Caspian nodded, satisfied at the lord's answer. He admired the passion in his words, hoping he too would get to experience such feeling one day.

"Ah, of that I have no doubts, I know you not a fool to ever test her temper" Caspian commented and Zephyr chuckled, knowing very well his beloved could turn a grown man cold with fear with a single glance.

"I have had the good fortune of not being the target of her temper and I hope to steer clear of that path" the Archen lord remarked. Caspian looked at him in mild disbelief.

"I toast to your good luck; may Aslan grant you infinite patience and the skills to circumvent my sister's volatility. Cheers" Caspian spoke, raising his glass towards Zephyr. "Well, then, I can only welcome you to the family, to which I am sure you will be a valuable addition" Caspian added, raising his glass for a second toast.

"It is an honour and I will strive not to disappoint your expectations, My King" Zephyr replied, straightening his back and bowing his head courteously.

"There is just one more thing: I will duel you if you keep up on the etiquette and title-calling" Caspian warned jokingly.

"As you wish, Your Grace- I mean, Caspian. I promise to work on it, although it may take a while" Zephyr chuckled, catching his slip just in time.

"Excellent!" Caspian exclaimed, pouring some more whisky on both their glasses. "So, you trained along with the Princes, do you enjoy sparring?" he then asked, knowing the Archen Princes had been trained by renowned instructors.

"I do, very much, sir. I have heard it is a favourite pastime among the Narnian Kings and yourself" Zephyr told timidly, looking down at his glass.

"You are welcome to join us one of these afternoons, Tairin tells me you are quite the swordsman" Caspian commented, causing Zephyr to smile.

"I will have to have a talk with her about the things she tells others" Zephyr joked. "I believe her kindness exaggerates my abilities, although I would humbly say I am not half bad with a sword" he then admitted shyly.

"Allow King Edmund, King Peter and I to be the judges of that on the training grounds; with luck we might be able to arrange a friendly sparring session tomorrow morning. We'll get some of the guards to join and surely Sir Rainidan won't shy away from the challenge" Caspian bantered.

"Archenland vs Narnia, that should be interesting" Zephyr agreed, visibly relaxed at last. "I see you play chess" the Archen lord then noted, downing the last of his drink, gesturing at the crystal chess set glinting quietly on its spot next to the window.

"One of my favourite pastimes. I find it relaxing, contrary to what most people believe; it helps me think" Caspian commented.

"I agree. Prince Gemini and I play often and I think my enjoyment of the game stems from the conversations we have during our games; I find the game stimulates discussion" Zephyr remarked, his voice tinging with enthusiasm.

"Then we must play, I insist" Caspian suggested excitedly. "Though perhaps on another occasion, I believe I have kept you from my sister a tad too long already" he added at the thought of his sister, who was most certainly pacing around impatiently.

"It will be my pleasure, just name the day" Zephyr replied. Both men rose to their feet and Caspian stretched his hand in a friendly gesture, which the Archen lord shook most welcomingly.

"Ah, yes, I had forgotten. This letter arrived in the morning post and was mistakenly mixed in with my mail" Zephyr said, producing a yellowish piece of folded parchment from the inner pocket of his coat, handing it to Caspian. The Telmarine King raised his eyebrows in surprise and tore the wax seal open, scanning the slant writing with his eyes.

"Ah, wonderful news, the royal family is paying us a visit. From the time on this letter they must be already on their way. Tairin will be delighted with the news" Caspian commented, smiling at the friendly words of his fellow King.

It was nearly tea time. Caspian and Zephyr had been in that study for hours and Tairin was starting to fret. No loud talking or screams could be heard inside and she frowned, not quite knowing if she should be relieved or even more concerned. Not wishing to interrupt, she quietly pushed the wooden door open and took a peek inside, finding the room apparently empty. The very familiar voices of her brother and soon-to-be-husband reached her from the other end of the room, prickling her curiosity. She slid inside the room, where she found them standing side by side, leaning over something that looked like a map while Caspian gestured to several spots on the parchment as he discussed a battle manoeuvre.

"The Hero of the Revolution boasting about his exploits, shame on you, Caspian" Tairin bantered, having caught the last bit of their conversation.

"My love, I didn't hear you coming" Zephyr said, pleasantly surprised to see her there.

"I was only showing Zephyr one of the strategies we used, you know me well enough to know I'm not one to boast" Caspian replied in mock outrage. Tairin raised an eyebrow in mild disbelief.

"Well, I am glad to see you appear to be getting along marvellously, bonding over battle strategies and whatnot" she noted happily.

"Caspian has fascinating stories about the battlefield, especially the ones of the Revolution" Zephyr explained and she looked at him incredulously, eyebrows high in surprise.

"Pray tell, brother, how in Narnia did you manage to get him to drop the formalities? It took me the good part of a whole year" Tairin teased, not tearing her eyes from Zephyr, who looked mortified.

"Ah, that one feat is worth boasting" Caspian laughed.

"Well, tea is about to be served, would you two care to join us in the parlour?" Tairin asked. "Susan was such a darling to suggest you would like some" she added, eyes trained on her brother's reaction.

"Well, we cannot refuse such a kind request, now can we, Zephyr?" Caspian told, throwing a warning glare at his sister, seeing the mischief in her smirk.

"Certainly not" Zephyr replied, puzzled at the pointed looks passing between the siblings.

A few days later, Tairin was impatiently tapping her fingers against the windowsill as she stared at the gate bridge, hoping to catch the vibrant green of the banners as the Archen carriage made its way through the fog. She spotted them with a loud, excited gasp and ran to wait at the main entrance, the rest of the royal family and guests following her calmly. Once outside, the Princess waved enthusiastically at the approaching vehicle from her spot at the top of the stairs. A short moment later, the elegant carriage pulled to a stop and a group of servants hurried to welcome the King of Archenland. King Gaetan was a plump man of some height, dressed in a fine yet modest attire that nevertheless denoted his royal status and elegant bearing. The hints of grey tinting his light brown hair increased the aura of kindness and gentleness exuding from him, and his smile was witness to his good-natured spirit, adding more well-meaning to his whole person. He descended from the carriage with some effort due to his constitution, turning to beam at Tairin, who had rushed down the stairs and ran into his expecting arms

"My dearest child, dare I say you are even more beautiful than when you left Anvard" the King praised, pulling away from the hug to take a look at her. Meanwhile, a tall, well-built, redheaded man had made his way out, leaping rather easily from the carriage thanks to his lean complexion, taking a moment to straighten his clothes before shutting the door close. A loud groan was heard inside, followed by some heavy thumps and Tairin looked at him, alarmed.

"Gemini!" she exclaimed, earning a small smirk from the Prince.

"I do honestly think he should stay in the carriage a bit longer" Gemini argued, his baritone voice laced with a hint of laughter, blue eyes glinting behind his serene expression.

"All the way back to Archenland, I'd say" Zephyr commented in a low voice, sharing a chortle with Gemini. Tairin smiled but threw them both a severe look all the same. Caspian and the Pevensies observed the exchange curiously. The carriage door opened again, this time revealing the youngest Prince, who made his way out holding his nose with one hand, his blond hair ruffled, just as his clothes.

"I was right behind you, why the hell did you shut the door!" the man exclaimed, clear blue eyes glaring at the eldest Prince.

"I am very sorry, Scorpio, I thought you would take the other door" Gemini apologised, biting his lip not to laugh at his brother's state. Scorpio glared at him, noticing the lack of truth in his words. The young Prince then straightened himself and his clothes, proving to be almost as tall as his brother. He rubbed his nose one more time before smiling brightly at Tairin, lifting her up in his arms in a hug.

"My dearest Tai, how much I've missed you! Anvard is not half as pretty and interesting without you" he stated and she laughed, rolling her eyes. "I have been devastated at the lack of letters from you, dear sister" Scorpio exclaimed dramatically, brining her hands to his heart in theatrical fashion, causing Lucy to giggle.

"Always the drama princess" Zephyr commented in a whisper, loud enough to be heard by everyone.

"I am not talking to you, pretty boy" Scorpio retorted, narrowing his eyes at his old-time friend. "I was worried, Tairin dearest, of leaving you in the inexperienced care of Rainidan, but I'm glad to see you well and in good health" the Prince joked, earning a snort from the Archen knight, a sceptical look on his face.

"I feel much safer in Rainidan's care if you must know, Scorpio. Your fondness for trouble is a threat to anyone in your immediate vicinity" Tairin replied, causing everyone to chuckle, the Prince pouting and looking miffed. His resentment, however, was immediately forgotten once he noticed the Pevensies and Caspian standing nearby, and he quickly marched towards them, smiling in awe.

"The Kings and Queens of Old, I suppose. Oh, what an honour! I did not expect you to be so young!" he exclaimed ecstatically. Tairin pinched his arm. The Prince turned to look at her, a remark ready on his lips, but was silenced by the warning glare she sent him.

"Oh lord" Gemini whispered, pinching the bridge of his nose. At his side, his father and Zephyr tensed and looked at the Pevensies nervously, embarrassed by Scorpio's undiluted honesty. Caspian on the other hand, found the situation rather comical and was doing his best not to burst out laughing, knowing about Scorpio's bubbly personality and its influence on his general behaviour.

"Forgive my brother, Your Majesties. Please do not take his thoughtlessness to heart" Gemini apologised, bowing politely.

"Oh, oh, I am sorry, I did not mean to disrespect you. Surprise took the best of me, apologies" Scorpio spoke, realising his gaffe. "I am Prince Scorpio of Archenland, at your service Majesties" he greeted, inclining himself in an elegant reverence, the joking, carefree tone completely absent from his voice, only to return seconds later. "By Aslan! Is that the legendary Rhindon? Oh goodness, I have always wished to see it for real!" he exclaimed in awe, having noticed the polished silver hilt of the sword strapped to Peter's belt, surprising the Magnificent King with his outburst.

"This is how Corin must have been like when older" Ed whispered, causing Susan to smile warmly at the memory of the troublesome Prince of the past, and Lucy to giggle loudly.

"My dear King Gaetan, welcome to Narnia, it is an immense pleasure to have you here at last" Caspian greeted, tearing the attention away from Scorpio.

"Oh but the pleasure is all mine, my boy, to see you finally as King of this land as it is only right. The changes in Narnia are evident almost as soon as one crosses the border" Gaetan praised, shaking Caspian's hand and patting his shoulder.

"Your Majesties, I cannot tell you how much I have waited to meet you. The palace in Anvard is filled with legends about your kindness and bravery, its walls soaked with glory of the Golden Age! King Lune left many diaries filled with the most remarkable essays of your visits, I have to say I do not deserve the honour of your company" King Gaetan addressed the Pevensies, regally but warmly, and they felt they were greeting an old friend, rather than a new acquaintance.

"The honour is ours, we have heard the most wonderful stories about Your Grace from Princess Tairin" Peter replied, bowing politely and stretching his hand to the Archen King.

"Indeed we have heard about Your Highness' kindness and greatness of heart, we are graced immensely by your company" Susan spoke, rivalling with the King with her gentle demeanour and candid smile.

"My Gentle Queen, the legends on your beauty and kindness do you credit" Gaetan greeted her with a reverence, kissing her hand. "You have been introduced to my youngest son already" Gaetan spoke as soon as he had greeted each of the Pevensies, turning to Scorpio with a gentle but warning look before glancing at Gemini, who stepped forward.

"I am Prince Gemini, your most loyal subject and servant" the redheaded Prince bowed, his elegance and chivalry pulling a sigh from Lucy's lips. As the respective introductions evolved into light conversation, Caspian used the opportunity to greet his old friend.

"It's been years since I last saw you, my friend, I am glad to find you in good health" he spoke, shaking Gemini's hand.

"I say the same, Caspian, it's been long. These few years have suited you quite well" the Prince replied, smiling warmly.

"You'll find that time has not made me any wiser, I'm afraid" Caspian quipped with a chuckle. "And I see Scorpio continues to be a boisterous rascal, only taller" Caspian noted, looking over at the young Archen, who was chatting animatedly with Peter, enquiring about the very sword that had caught his attention earlier.

"Unfortunately" Gemini sighed tiredly, causing Caspian to let out a laugh. Their conversation was then interrupted by Susan's voice, which despite being delicate and welcoming still managed to command everyone's attention.

"I believe our merry party will be much more comfortable inside the castle. Hot beverages await us, and I for one could do well with a warm cup of tea" she invited kindly, drawing smiles on all the presents with her indubitable caring nature. Caspian's lips curled into an enamoured smile. Susan's sensitiveness to others and accommodating nature made her a natural hostess, and he could not help but to admire the effortless ease with which she appeared to slip into the role.

Once in the parlour, Tairin felt something was amiss.

"Where is Scorpio, he was here only a moment ago" she pointed out, causing Zephyr and Gemini to look around for the blond Prince.

"Found him" Gemini told flatly, feeling a new wave of embarrassment wash over him. The youngest Prince of Archenland was leaning nonchalantly on the doorframe, shamelessly flirting with a blushing maid. Tairin pressed her steps and reached him from behind, pulling his ear in a strong grip and twisting it, the Prince wincing in pain as she dragged him inside the room.

"Behave!" she hissed, loosening her grip to whisper something to his ear. The Prince opened his eyes wide and tensed, clearing his throat and promising Tairin not to bother any of the servants again.

"He'll break that promise by the end of the day" Rainidan whispered to Zephyr, who snorted in agreement.

Caspian sat comfortably in one of the armchairs, listening to the conversations surrounding him. In his opinion, the castle had never been as lively as it was at present, warmer with the presence of each of its guests. The Telmarine King smiled contently. The spell of hostility that had hung over the imposing, cold, stone structure and each of its corridors for 1300 years was broken at last.

AN: Well, we got to meet a lot of people in this chapter. I'm proud of how the Archen guys came out, Scorpio is just so fun to write! I'd love to read your thoughts on them and the whole chapter, so please review!

Cheers!