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!

11. Chapter 11: Tainted Revelry

Hello friends! Goodness, I feel like I've been writing this chapter forever! I am very sorry this took so long, but – long story short – my boss is on sick leave (conveniently after her holidays) and I've been working double shifts since the beginning of August. This, of course, leaves me with little time or energy to write.

Anyway, things seem to be getting a bit better so I'll have more time to write soon! Meanwhile, here's quite a long chapter, to compensate for the long pause! I had so much fun writing this chapter and there is one particular scene that was my favourite (up to you to guess which one)! Can't wait to read your comments!

Enjoy!

Chapter 11: Tainted Revelry

This party was starting to annoy him. There was nothing going on; no whispers, no drunken arguments, nothing. All these people were getting along so fine! Prince Tarik of Calormen sighed, drinking the last sip of wine in his goblet before placing it carelessly on the nearest table, deciding to move around. Maybe he would find himself some lady he could charm into livening his evening. It had been a bad idea to leave his assistant in Calormen.

His earthy gaze roamed around the room, looking for the young silly ladies that always populated this kind of parties, but instead, he found the one woman he had come to see: Princess Tairin. She looked radiant, even more so than the last time he had seen her. He took a moment to look at her. She was an exuberant beauty, looks matching her fiery spirit; her body and temper teased him, tempted him, each of his muscles twitching to touch her, take her away and claim her as his. And this need increased every time he saw her, just as she seemed to become more and more alluring as time passed.

Fire burned his insides and rushed through his veins at seeing her with that future husband of hers, a man who did not have a single drop of royal blood in him and posed as a duke, a duke for Tash's sake! He was a Prince, the Heir of the Empire of Calormen, he had had the noblest upbringing and was the purest descendant of a millenarian dynasty, and yet, she had preferred a simple, two-crescent lord! But she would see reason, see that she was making the worst of choices by marrying that man, and eventually he would have her; she would surrender to him and he would show her just how wrong she was. But for now, he thought with a smirk, he should congratulate the couple on their engagement, after all, that is what courtesy dictated.

With this thought in mind, he walked in their direction, zigzagging between people. He was forced to stop when a light yank was applied to his arm and he turned irritably at the person, only to meet a pair of vibrant brown eyes full of malice, a dark yet alluring gaze he was familiar with and recognised immediately.

"Ah, Nabeela, for a moment I thought you were some dim-witted noble wanting to engage in pointless discussion" he told, eyeing the woman from head to toe, an action that did not seem to disturb her, on the contrary.

"If I may, you look ravishing as always, dare I say even more than the last time we met" he added, reaching forward to trace the contour of her shoulder and arm.

"You don't look half bad yourself, Prince Tarik, mysterious and bad tempered as always; all traits I find rather enticing" she replied, looking at him through her thick lashes.

"Always sassy, aren't you?" Tarik replied appreciatively. "You haven't changed one tiny bit, you wicked woman, what are you plotting now? I saw you with that King of Old, is he your newest victim?" he asked, smirking at her endeavours.

"Oh, you know me, I am always looking for ways to pass the time" Nabeela chuckled, flicking her hair away.

"Don't mistreat the poor fellow too much, would you? It would be sad to see a king succumbing to insanity after you're done with him" Tarik added and they both burst into laughter.

"Oh well, it has been nice seeing you, Tarik. I better leave, Peter must be looking for me and I better not make him wait too long, should I? But do pay me a visit, my door is always open for a friend" she told, whispering the last bit as she leaned closer, suggestively brushing a hand against his chest as if flattening his coat before she retreated with a wink. He stared at her retreating curvy form for an instant; it may not be a bad idea after all.

Tairin was the first to see Tarik approaching them out of the corner of her eye and tensed. She wrapped her arms tighter around Zephyr as she glared at the Prince, scrutinising his features for any hint of his intentions. Zephyr noticed the change in her posture and followed her gaze, instinctively drawing a protective arm around her and adopting a defensive posture as soon as he noticed the Prince. The Calormene Prince stopped a few feet before them and threw a contemptuous look at Zephyr, his thick eyebrows arched in disdain. Zephyr parried his arrogant attitude by standing at his full height, a defiant look in his clear eyes, waiting for the Prince to make the first move.

"Well, if it isn't the newly engaged couple" the Prince spoke. There was an air of condescendence in his voice.

"Diplomacy does not suit you, Tarik" Tairin spat, piercing him with her eyes.

"I only came to congratulate you on your engagement; I swear, my intentions are the best possible" Tarik told with a soft tone to his deep voice, raising his hands in a defensive gesture.

"You never have good intentions" Tairin replied, silently soothed by Zephyr, who rubbed her arm gently.

"Do calm down, my love, if those really are his intentions then let him speak" the Archen spoke serenely, flashing his eyes at the Calormene again.

"Ah, a silvery strike of diplomacy, excellent move" Tarik praised with an amused grin, Tairin's temper flaring in her deep chocolate gaze; the only obstacle preventing her from jumping at his throat being Zephyr's hold on her.

"So yes, congratulations to you both, you certainly made a fine choice of a bride, lord" the Calormene told, his tone heavily coated with contempt. "As per you, Tairin dear, as you can see I am wearing black in your honour, mourning for your mistake" Tarik said brashly, gesturing to his clothes. His fine suit consisted of golden embroidery contrasting sharply against the pitch black silk.

"Enough! You go too far by insulting Zephyr in my presence, Tarik! Do not test my patience, or I'll have you expelled off Narnian grounds before you can say 'Calormen'" Tairin threatened, escaping her fiancé's hold, her finger raised at the Prince.

"Oh darling, as much as you are all the more beautiful when you're angry, there is no need; I won't hurt your pretty boy if that is what you fear, I just think it's a waste of time when you could have much, much more" Tarik replied, pushing her finger away and attempting to hold her hand, which she quickly snatched away with a small exasperated cry.

"Prince Tarik, I request you to leave, you are inconveniencing my bride and I won't tolerate that" Zephyr spoke gravely, placing himself between Tairin and Tarik.

"Oh? And what are you going to do? Poke me with your sword?" the Calormene retorted, laughing loudly. "You should be careful of the way you speak, lord. I am the Heir of the Calormene throne, you shouldn't be treating me like you equal" the Prince spat, hissing gravely.

"Oh, but I am your equal, Tarik, and I would prefer us to end this without a scandal" a strong yet calm voice spoke quietly behind them as Gemini joined the scene. Tarik threw a glare at the Archen Prince over his shoulder.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you" Gemini then murmured in a deathly serious tone, grasping Tarik's arm as the Calormene had reached the hilt of his scimitar. The foreign Princes glowered darkly at each other for a moment before Tarik yanked his arm off Gemini's strong grasp.

"Well, I have said everything I wanted to say, so my business here is finished. I do hope I have the pleasure to talk to you later, Tairin" Tarik said through gritted teeth, his dark gaze fixed on Tairin. The Princess breathed in relief and focused back on her beloved, who had been taken away by Gemini and Rainidan.

The Duke of Almeren was trembling with anger. Tarik had pushed the limits of both his patience and politeness too far. Gemini and Rainidan linked their arms with his and pulled him outside, away from the crowd and especially away from Tarik.

"Calm down my friend, Tarik provoked you on purpose" Gemini told, patting his friend's back. "If it's of any consolation, many among us would gladly accept the chance of aiming a few punches at the bastard, but that would be giving him what he wants; he craves violence" the Prince added with a snort. Rainidan nodded in agreement. Once they were sure Zeph had cooled down a bit, the Prince and knight let go of his arms. Zephyr placed his hands on the cool stone of the balustrade and let out a frustrated cry, which reverberated in the darkness. He then combed his hands through his hair, something he did when he was irritated in an effort to compose himself.

"Is Tai alright? She seemed very upset" he asked in a hoarse voice after a long moment. Rainidan nodded.

"She is fine. She looked worried, but she is fine" Rainidan answered, turning to check on the Princess. He had expected to find her in the same spot he had seen her only a moment before, however she was not. The knight exchanged a look with Gemini, both silently agreeing that Zeph was their priority for the time being.

"Tarik" a voice called behind him, and he smirked, welcoming the sound.

"Missed me already?" he replied wickedly, dark orbs glistening with utter amusement.

"This is not Calormen; in here you can't prance around doing whatever crosses that sick mind of yours. I warn you, keep away from me, away from my fiancé and away from my family" Tairin hissed, her whole stance leaving it clear that she was up to no games.

"My sweet flower, you may threaten me now but sooner or later you'll come to me; I know you're drawn to me and I am waiting for you with arms wide open, you just have to stop fighting it" he answered brazenly, grabbing her wrist and pulling her an inch closer before she twisted her hand out of his grip.

"The only thing keeping me from slapping that smug smirk off your face is the fact that I love my brother far too much to ruin this celebration. Yet, if you so much lay a finger on any of my friends and family, I swear I will tear you apart with my bare hands" she said venomously, leaving without another word. Behind her, the Calormen Prince smirked in amusement; he loved her most when her temper flared.

Tairin focused on returning to Zeph and making sure he was alright. Once she was out of Tarik's view, she took a deep calming breath, not wanting Zeph to get even more upset. It was not fair to him, always so sweet and caring; he had had enough for the night.

"Your Highness, are you unwell?" the slightly accented voice of Prince Taabish asked and she smiled apologetically.

"I am, my darling friend, I am. It has been a long night, that's all, but I thank you for your concern" she told him sincerely.

"I saw my brother talking to you and your groom and I fear he has upset you both" Taabish spoke a bit hesitantly, his coffee-coloured eyes flashing to the side.

"He was unpleasant, yes, as per usual" Tai hissed, regretting her lack of tact immediately as the young Calormene Prince winced ruefully.

"Allow me to apologise for his rude character, and please extend my sincere sorrowful expressions to your future husband; you do not deserve to be subjected to his reprehensible attitude" the Prince apologised with a polite bow.

"Taabish, dearest friend, please don't. Tarik is to be judged and condemned for his own actions; you have not to apologise for him, you did nothing wrong! All is well, I promise you. Please, do not fret over Tarik and enjoy the party, that is the point of this whole extravaganza" she told, joking as she gestured her hand at the room. The Prince relaxed visibly and smiled.

"If that is your wish, I will happily comply, My Lady" Taabish told with a smile. "However, I fear my father needs to know about this lamentable incident" he added more seriously. Tairin bit her lip and nodded.

"I know you must, but I wish your dear father could be spared of such awful news; he has been enjoying himself and it feels almost cruel to spoil his happiness" the Princess commented sadly. Taabish exhaled a long breath and nodded before excusing himself. Tairin watched him as he made his way through the crowd. It was so terribly unfair that Tarik's outrageousness had to spoil the enjoyment of so many innocent people.

Lady Casarah had excused herself once again, this time called by the Calormene ambassador, leaving Edmund slightly displeased by the turn of events. The while night had been sprinkled with the beautiful Lady's disappearances, which he had started to consider were an effort to tease him, to captivate him even more. Whatever the case, she had succeeded in sparkling his interest and his attraction towards her.

With a shrug, the Just King let his eyes wander around the room, amusing himself with the sights. He chuckled at a couple of drunken lords who had slumped down a wall and were now fast asleep, completely untroubled by the noise or the discomfort of their current arrangement. With a pang of guilt, he noticed Myr talking to her father. Well, she appeared to be having a good time, although he felt a bit guilty for leaving her alone and not even checking up on her. He would have to apologise to her in the morning.

He then noticed his little sister twirling to the music along with two other girls, grinning as she invented new dance steps. This on itself was not unusual, however, the number of spectators his sister had, was – if anything – quite interesting. Lord Kilian's son, Terin – whose attentions to Lucy had been previously noticed by both him and Caspian – had kept a close but discrete distance from Lucy for most part of the evening. Taril and Ameril were also tracing her movements attentively, although careful not to look conspicuous. Lastly, the Tarnovian Prince was sitting carelessly on a chair a few paces away from the little Queen, and he too had his eyes on Lucy, a small smile spread on his lips. Interesting, very interesting. Little Lucy was already gathering a small bunch of suitors, and by the looks of it, their interest went beyond mere admiration. In the Golden Age, the little bug had had her fair share of suitors, although not as many as Susan. Yet, no matter how ardently they pursued her, Lucy appeared utterly unaware of their intentions, he remembered with a snort. Only Peridan had succeeded in making his intentions clear to the little Queen. With a chuckle, he felt a bit sorry for the hopeful boys; Lucy was totally oblivious to the eyes placed on her or on the intentions behind those glances, just as it had happened in the past, even though he had a strange feeling that things would be different this time.

The King smiled. He had to admit – not loudly of course – that she looked pretty tonight. His smile was then replaced by a wolfish smirk as another thought crossed his mind. He pitied the poor souls once Peter found out so many boys fancied Lucy, his overprotective fits as legendary as him. He himself was never particularly protective over Lucy, even if he too was her older brother, but it sure was fun to trot after fainting suitors. Oh well, that would have to wait; Peter was nowhere to be seen, and he was not volunteering to find him.

He had done quite well so far, Glozelle thought as he stood near one of the doors, avoiding the crowd. Several people had approached him with light conversation, all of them pleasant and kind, easing his initial defensive stance. He was even surprised to find himself enjoying the celebration, his booted foot tapping lightly along to the music. Then, the door at his side opened suddenly, half startling him, and he moved slightly aside not to block the way. A woman clad in a simple white dress emerged from behind the heavy door, hands grasping a big tray with empty glasses and bottles, her foot cumbersomely manoeuvring around to keep the door open. However, as she tried to get a better grip on the tray, the door escaped from her foot's hold and tapped her lightly in the back, knocking her out of balance. His reflexes acted before he could even think about it, and with one hand he steadied the tray, while with the other he held the door, opening a wider gap.

"Oh, thank you very much, My Lord, I am sorry for the inconvenience" the woman excused herself with a shy smile, repositioning one of her hands to get a better hold on the tray.

"My pleasure. Please, let me help you with that. You were taking this to the kitchen, I suppose?" he volunteered, heaving the tray off her hands.

"Yes, I mean, no, you are a guest- wait! My Lord!" the woman mumbled, having to rush behind him after he ignored her vehement protests.

He opened the door of the kitchen gently and placed the tray on the nearest table, looking around the familiar kitchen; how many times had he taken his meals in this very same room. Hurried steps pulled him out his small trip to the past. The servant he had just helped entered the kitchen in a hurry, her breathing slightly laboured.

"I've been frantically looking for you! How exactly did you know the way? I mean, I-I'm sorry, My Lord, I didn't meant to be rude" she burst, checking herself an instant later, remembering he was a guest of the party; by his fine clothing, he could be nothing less than a noble, perhaps even a prince.

"No offense taken" he replied with a smile. "I used to work here and one can say I know these corridors from front to back" he chuckled, sitting on one of the stools surrounding the sturdy wooden table in the centre of the kitchen. The maid looked at him disbelievingly, eyeing him up and down, eyebrows quirked upwards.

"Noblemen do not work, let alone as servants" she told, shaking her head as she vacated the tray onto the table, separating bottles from glasses and goblets. "And anyway, shouldn't you be returning to the party? You are important enough to be a guest" she added, placing the tray aside and walking towards a water container.

"I am not as important as you may think," Glozelle chuckled. "And if you don't mind, I would like to stay here a bit longer, far from the noise and the people" he told her simply, looking at the table tiredly. The maid looked at him, her lips curling at the ridicule of it all; a finely dressed noble feeling more at ease in a hot and messy kitchen than in the splendour of the ballroom. She shook her head and smiled.

"In that case, would you like some coffee? It's the least I can do after you helped me, m'lord" she told, drying her hands on her apron.

"That is one offer I cannot refuse, although it feels wrong that we have not been introduced" Glozelle told, standing once again. "I'm Glozelle, very pleased to meet you. And you are?" he added, extending his open palm to her.

"Oh- I'm Handria, no title no anything, obviously" she told, blinking and trying to cover her surprise as they shook hands. She bit her lip and quietly pulled up a cup and saucer, all while thieving glances at her companion.

"You are the former General of the Telmarine army, aren't you? You are the General Glozelle, right?" she asked as she put the cup in front of him, curiosity getting the best out of her.

"I am no longer a general, I haven't been for a long time" Glozelle said heavily, sitting back on the stool.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything. It's just that I've heard so many stories from the soldiers, one more incredible than the other" Handria apologised. "If it helps you in any way, I never thought you were a bad man. You did your job, like any of us. You did what you were told, you shouldn't be blamed" she told decidedly as she washed some of the dishes, hands deep in the water. Glozelle looked up from his cup; something in her straightforward sincerity made him feel like she may have been right.

The one cup of coffee became several as their conversation stretched further, marked by Handria's pacing around the kitchen whilst carrying out her chores. Having grown up in Telmartown, they found they shared many memories of places and people. Furthermore, they did not live far from each other, and coincidentally enough, he knew her aunt, an old lady who earned her living by fixing all kinds of torn and ripped clothes.

"Oh really? She is a handful, isn't she? She is a fine seamstress but an incorrigible matchmaker at heart; once she has taken to two people being perfect for each other, she will not stop babbling about all the reasons why they should be together. I love her, but she has this annoying habit of trying to set me up with her customers" Handria told, gesturing around with a drying cloth as she spoke.

"The way I see it, she just wants you to be happy and for you to have someone to take care of you" Glozelle argued.

"Oh, I love her for that, I truly do, but I believe I should be the one choosing my suitors. Bless her, if she could line up all the available men in Narnia, she would" Handria told with a laugh. "She once spent weeks telling me about this soldier she had met, going on and on about how handsome he was, how good we would look together, how he seemed to be a high- ranked- officer- oh boy" she added, her voice dropping drastically as she realised who her aunt had been talking about, a scarlet blush colouring her cheeks immediately. Glozelle couldn't help to smile at her embarrassment.

"She must have been talking about you! Oh dear, this is so embarrassing" Handria told mortified, her voice muffled by the cloth in her hands, where she had buried her face. Glozelle laughed, his loud, grave laughs echoing in the empty kitchen.

"So the girl she had so persistently told me about was you?" he said, laughing again at her huffing, mortified expression.

"I could wring her neck right now!" she murmured, twisting the poor cloth in her hands before dropping it on the table, only to pick it up again and continue drying the plates again. Always the gentleman, Glozelle took a deep breath and tried to steady himself not to embarrass her further, but as their glances crossed the former General and the maid burst into peals of laughter, unable to contain themselves.

Finally, after what felt like too long a moment spent laughing, they resumed their conversation.

"I couldn't help to notice that the roof of your house was in some bad shape last time I visited, have you taken care of it yet?" he asked.

"Haven't had the time, no. We've patched it with some wood; thankfully it hasn't rained much, or we would have been flooded. I have been doing some extra hours in here to save up some money for the repairs" Handria told, drying her hands on her apron before grabbing some pots on the stove.

"I could take a look one of these days, if you wish. I mean, I do not claim to be an expert, but it does not seem to be anything complicated and I don't think the repairs will take me longer than a morning" Glozelle suggested, getting to his feet and placing his coffee cup on the washing basin.

"That is very generous, but don't you have other things to do?" Handria asked, and he shook his head, smiling again.

"No, not at all. I actually enjoy that kind of manual work, so it won't be a bother, on the contrary" he assured.

"Oh, thank you, you're a godsend!" Handria exclaimed, smiling brightly. "Oh, but now I so will never hear the end of it from my aunt" she winced, both laughing at this.

"It is settled then. I will pay you a visit sometime this week. Now, I think I better go. I should check on my niece" he noted, nodding politely at her and walking towards the door. Handria curtsied simply and waved him goodbye.

As the door closed, she heaved a sigh; her aunt had forgotten to tell her he was such a charming man. And she had to admit the old woman had good taste.

Lucy exhaled loudly as she dropped herself into one of the comfy chairs and rubbed her tired feet. She had chosen a sensible pair of shoes for the evening, but not even the most comfortable pair of shoes would stand that much dancing. She giggled as she spotted Cora trying to keep up with the young faun she was dancing with, while Naia twirled and clapped, encouraged by a cheerful dwarf. It was so wonderful to see everyone enjoying so much, to see Narnians, Telmarines and foreigners getting along and discovering one another. The mood of the party was so light-hearted and lively, sigh, it was as if they were in the Golden Age all over again. With some wonderful additions of course; Caspian, Trumpkin, Reepicheep and the others made this time even more joyful.

Her greyish blue eyes roamed to where the High King stood, his arm resting discretely on Susan's waist as they spoke to Prince Gemini and King Gaetan. They were such a lovely couple, and they had been so obliviously in love with one another for so long; she was glad they had finally set their feelings straight and were now enjoying them. Being the straightforward person she was, she had never understood how people could hide their feelings, especially when it came to love; sigh, guess she still was too young to understand.

She really was happy for her sister and Caspian. She loved them both dearly and knew they deserved each other. Her sister was always so diligent and loving, pushing herself aside and placing everyone before her, while Caspian was lovely and passionate for life, adventurous and sincere, although he too placed himself last, always concerned and caring for others more than himself. They complemented each other in such a way that made it strikingly clear they were meant to be together, and Caspian was just so caring, so kind and perfectly gallant! The little Queen exhaled a long, wistful breath; he was the perfect knight in shining armour and her sister could not have made a better match.

Her gaze then fell on Edmund, who sat on a quiet corner of the room, too engrossed in conversation with Lady Casarah. Lucy's face lit up with a mischievous glint. Say, he was sitting a bit too close to her. Oh and look, he was holding her hand, was he really entwining his fingers with hers? Oh wait, he was slowly bending closer, closer, closer… oh! Yes, her eyes were not deceiving her: Ed was kissing the Calormene Lady! Her very fretful, twitchy-when-hugged brother was kissing a girl, in a crowded ballroom, where everyone could see him! Oh this was too good to be true! Lucy clapped her hands together at the prospect of teasing her brother into a violent blush. The Valiant Queen then smirked; so much for being allergic to lovey-dovey-ness, wasn't he?

Her smile vanished into an eye-roll as she spotted Peter still glued to Princess Nabeela, her hopes of finding him alone disappearing at the sight. Her oldest brother was currently engaged in some very serious smooching with the Princess, one arm around her waist while with the other he supported himself on the wall. Lucy bit her cheek as she looked away from the couple. She was no one to criticise Peter's decisions, even more if they concerned his private life, but she could not bring herself to find a likeable feature in the Maharabian Princess. The young Queen was quite upset by this, especially since she normally had no problems liking people. And yet, the Princess had an air of falseness in everything she did, in the way she behaved. Furthermore, she was still a bit resentful at Peter for his hesitation at her dance request, not to mention at the clear annoyance Nabeela showed her, and Peter seemed unaware of this. Lucy shook her head. She should not – would not – judge her. Peter knew what he was doing, and she must trust his judgement. If he was happy, so was she, and it was all that mattered.

A waving hand in front of her face caused her to shook and look up, finding the troublemaking blue eyes of Taril. The young Archen Lord offered her his open palm.

"Dance with me, would you? I'm tired of old ladies stepping on my toes" he asked, throwing a joking glare at the crowd's general direction. Lucy laughed, taking his hand and hopping off the chair, accepting his request.

Her siblings were grown-ups once, they could take care of themselves.

Zephyr had been forced to leave her alone for a moment as Scorpio urgently called for him. Rainidan joined both men, and the three left the ballroom in a bit of a hurry. She only wondered what kind of trouble the Prince had gotten himself into this time. She used the time to watch the Kings and Queens, the four legendary monarchs of the tales she were told when little, and who were now so close to her, almost like family. No, they actually were her family in a way; she felt completely relaxed when in their company and was at ease to bicker or laugh at them, just like a real family did. They did not need blood ties to be, feel, related. Although, by the state of things, it would not take long for them to be properly related, given the enamoured looks her brother was so generously giving the Gentle Queen.

She could not explain just how they had become so essential to her. Susan was her sister of the soul, for their connection went beyond mere friendship. They had such a good understanding of each other that little words were needed between them, and the Queen's advice could always be trusted to be accurate and opportune. She truly deserved the title of Gentle, for she really was the kindest, but her kindness did not mat her sparkling wit, which made her the perfect conversation companion; they could spend hours talking, jokes and teases always caught and most cleverly thrown back. Her chest warmed up to see Caspian and Susan together, discretely holding hands as they talked to the Tarnovian royals, love glimmering in their eyes.

Lucy was so sweet and innocent, always smiling and lively, but with a hidden wisdom to herself that sometimes came to her words. Behind her childish behaviour laid a strong mind and sense of rightness which the little Queen was not afraid to show when the situation required her to, standing up for what she believed and making her voice heard. The bright side of things was always so clear to her, and she would never lose her hope, particularly in those moments when it was needed the most. She was the little sister everyone craved to have and spoil, the little devil wickedly using her big puppy eyes to get whatever she wanted, knowing no one could resist her and her pout. Caspian had been one of the many to fall for her sisterly charms, ready to go to any lengths to see little Lucy smile, and truth was, it was hard not to do so.

Edmund had always been the most intriguing to her. Little was written on his character and books highlighted only his sense of justice and stoic composure. He was certainly reserved, the most quiet and thoughtful of the siblings, though mischief was what seemed to occupy his mind most of the time; his quick wits and eloquence his best tools when harassing someone, his aim quite clever. He was a known strategist and a great chess player, all this completed by his perfect use of irony and sarcasm, which never failed in snatching a laugh out of her. In truth, she had feared they would not get along well, for the King had been known to rarely open himself to strangers. To her surprise, they had gotten along quite quickly, partly due – as he himself had admitted – to the particular clever streak and smart-mouthed vein she shared with Caspian and which had drawn the two Kings into becoming best friends. Much like Lucy, the ghost of the Just King of Old was still beating inside the bantering Edmund, his cold, calm logic shining through when the moment required him to. In the back of his eyes she could see loyalty, one that was only this strong, she supposed, by the stain in his past; a stain that had clearly left more invisible marks than physical ones. He claimed to be intolerant to any physical affection, however, against his own words, he could be found at that very instant holding Lady Casarah a tad too close as they danced. Ah, she would have plenty of occasions to torment him about it later.

Her thoughts turned to the eldest Pevensie. High King Peter was the least agreeable of the siblings. She had expected him to be charming, and he was, until their opinions clashed, which neither of them took too kindly. Nevertheless, even she had to admit he had a noble spirit, though he could use a bit more of common sense and maturity in some aspects of his character. The man – toddler, if one were to consider his mental age – was bent on contradicting her in almost everything she did or said, and she could easily remember many quarrels they had had in the past weeks. They could hardly be in the same room without breaking into an argument and their skirmishes were more abundant than the times they had managed to maintain civil conversation. In spite of this, the man had a regal posture and knew how to handle his authority among others; his diplomatic skills were very fine and his experience in some matters had to be recognised. But that was all she was going to give him, for his attitudes to her left a lot to be wished, manners and any sort of courtesy blown away in their rows; he really was the hardest to get along with.

And he had a bad taste. The way he was prancing about with Nabeela attached to his arm, it was hard to know who looked prouder, she or him. The Princess snorted un-regally, the image of two bumbling peacocks coming to her mind. Ah, by the Tail, did they really need to kiss each other so- so- so revoltingly?! She shook repulsed, keeping herself from gagging. Ah, she could not take it anymore: he was now pressing Nabeela against him with such urgency, and that snake was now slipping her hand under his shirt, and she was undoing the buttons! Ugh, it was such a gross spectacle! Right under the public eye, with so many youngsters around! There, next time she would throw this in his face, and he could shove his complaints and politeness along with the icicle he already had in his- calm down Tairin, breathe, this is not the moment for that. Ugh, but he was so infuriating!

"Pfft, look at you, Mr All-decency-and-moral, who's giving the 'show' now?" she whispered to herself, snorting into her wine glass and piercing the golden-haired King with a glare. Ah, she was seriously tempted to shout at them to get a room. Actually, it really did not seem like a bad idea after all... Oh, but she could not do that to Susan, she would be mortified and she did not deserve the shame. Mmm, better leave them alone; if he was so dim-witted to fall for her tricks, then he fully deserved to make a fool of himself in public.

A pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist from behind and she smiled, leaning back on the very familiar chest of her husband-to-be.

"So, what happened this time?" she murmured, curious about her adoptive brother's wellbeing.

"Um, I don't think you want to know, flower" Zephyr whispered on her ear, tickling her skin with his warm breath and she shuddered involuntarily. "Rainidan and Gemini are with him, trying to solve the- problem" he added, clearing his throat a bit uncomfortably.

"I'm getting more and more curious, you know" she told him, turning in his embrace to face him.

"Trust me when I tell you, my love, that you are much better unknowing of this" he assured her adamantly.

"Well then, I will have to go and check on him myself" Tairin retorted, knowing a thing or two about tricking her fiancé into talking. Zephyr sighed deeply, still hesitating but finally dropped his shoulders in defeat, pressing his lips to her ear and murmuring the events to her. As he proceeded, her eyes bulged, eyebrows reaching high in her forehead. A small blush spread to her face and grew progressively brighter.

"But what was he-? And why did-? A thorn? But how? I mean, how did he get a thorn in his- there?" she stuttered, utterly gobsmacked by the whole story. She then took a breath; this was Scorpio they were talking about and that it should not surprise her. She fanned her very hot face with her hand.

"I don't know, my love, but it was a huge blow to his manhood, in all senses" Zephyr responded with a spark of wickedness. The Princess then burst out laughing, having to sit down an instant later, her stomach hurting from laughter.

Lucy tried to cover her face the best she could as she walked over to her friends, having just shared a dance with Lord Cyprian. Naia and Coralee were smirking, the latter plain roguish at that.

"Soooooooooooo?" Naia asked as soon as the Queen was within earshot, Coralee pulling her into the nearest armchair.

"It was just a dance" Lucy murmured looking at her knees, her face displaying a fascinating shade of burgundy.

"Well, you're blushing quite too much for 'just a dance'" Coralee pointed out with a foxy glance, and Lucy shot her a glare.

"He is handsome" Naia noted a bit more kindly, looking over at the Lord in question.

"Yes, he is, and he is so charming!" Lucy exhaled, grabbing a nearby cushion and hugging it blissfully. "He is such a gentleman, so caring and so attentive! We had such an enjoyable conversation about faun music, and then he complimented my dress and my dancing, aaaaahhhhh!" Lucy told, ending her description with a muffled squeal, having buried her face in the cushion.

"Meanwhile, Terin was fuming and would not take his eyes off the pair of you. He looked murderous" Naia commented with a smile, evidently enjoying her brother's torment.

"Oh? That is so unlike him, he is always so sweet" Lucy wondered naively. Coralee and Naia exchanged a look.

"Cyp is such a gentleman" the little Queen sighed, eyes glistening as she once again entered a dreamy state.

"You do have a thing for older men, don't you Lucy" Coralee dropped casually, brusquely pulling Lucy from her enamoured trance.

"What?" the Queen squeaked, her blush growing a few shades darker.

"Come to think of it, it is true, Lucy, you can't fancy both Lord Cyprian and Prince Scorpio" Naia teased. "I understand now why Terin has no chance with you, Lu, he is too young for your taste" she added as an afterthought, all three of them laughing loudly.

"Oh, oh, here he comes, shhh" Coralee said as she saw Terin approaching, unsuccessfully trying to contain a guffaw, resulting in a sonorous snort that sent all three girls into a fit of giggles.

"I am glad to see My Queen in such a merry mood" Terin said, bowing curtly.

"Well, it is such a merry occasion and balls are meant to be enjoyed" Lucy replied with a smile. "I do hope you are having fun, Terin" she added.

"I am, Your Highness, although I must confess I would enjoy dancing more. Would it be terribly improper to ask if you would grant me the honour of the next dance? Your dancing skills are, after all, legendary, My Queen" he asked eloquently, offering her his open palm. Lucy hesitated for a moment. He looked at her so expectantly and had asked her so gallantly; it would be cruel to refuse him, especially as she had not refused any dance all night. The Valiant Queen slid her hand into Terin's and smiled, accepting his invitation. As he guided her into the dance floor, Lucy threw a look at her friends.

"That good heart of hers will get her in trouble one day" Naia sighed, shaking her head slightly at her friend's antics.

Lucy smiled at Terin as he bowed at her, as customary at the beginning of a dance. Yet, just when she was about to curtsy back, someone grabbed her by the arm and twirled her around.

"Sorry mate, would you mind terribly if I stole Queen Lucy? I hope you don't, thanks" Ameril apologised, not an ounce of sincerity in his voice. And just like that, he snatched her further into the dancing floor, leaving a bewildered Terin behind.

"Ameril! How brazen!" Lucy exclaimed with a smile, looking into the vibrant blue eyes full of mischief of her dancing partner.

"It's courage, Lucy. I am always ready to save a damsel in distress! And dancing with me is funnier anyway" the Archen troublemaker said with a shrug, causing her to laugh.

"I am not sure about the 'damsel in distress' part, but I'm certain I'll enjoy dancing with you, yes" she admitted after some twirls, visibly relieved.

"At your service, Your Highness" Ameril joked, eliciting another laugh from Lucy. "But, I am afraid you confuse me with my brother, Lucy dear" he then said, grinning wickedly.

"You will not fool me with that trick, Ameril. I know fully well it is you and not Taril" Lucy told him, poking his shoulder.

"How did you guess?" he asked, frowning enquiringly at her.

"It's a secret" she whispered, mirroring his earlier mischievous smile. She was so not telling him it was because of a freckle on his neck.

The corridor was cold, the Magnificent King thought appreciatively as he pressed Nabeela to the stone wall, the young royals engaged in another round of heated kissing. Vaguely, he remembered his overcoat lay abandoned somewhere in the ballroom, and half-consciously, he noticed his crown was still on top of his head. Good, it meant he did not lose it somewhere during one of their encounters.

"Peter" Nabeela whispered as he trailed kisses down her neck. "Peter, it is late" she spoke again, this time catching his attention.

"It would seem we lost track of time, Princess" Peter replied. "Although there are some who would say the night is still young" he added with a winsome smile. Nabeela chuckled and bit her lip, her pearly teeth sinking into her plump lips teasingly. Her beautiful wood-coloured eyes gleamed under the dim light coming from the room, and Peter could not help to think she was doing it on purpose, to tease him, to tempt him.

"I should retire for the night" she murmured, her silky whisper causing a shiver to run down Peter's back.

"Then you must allow me to escort you to your room, My Lady" he offered gallantly, both walking away a moment later.

He bid her goodnight as they arrived to her door, and bent to place a small kiss on her lips, but her fiery response sent something blazing inside him, and once again he trapped her against the wall. He barely noticed her crafty hands starting to undo the laces of his cotton shirt until her fingers brushed against his collarbone, causing him to draw a deep breath. He looked at her, blue meeting brown, something dark shining in both. Her eyes were aflame, and her pearly teeth bit her lower lip in a torturous way, tempting him to push the door open and throw the thin line of restrain over his shoulder. The knot of lust in his stomach tightened, urging him to cave in. It did not help that Nabeela seemed willing. Would it be truly dishonourable to give into temptation? He was no stranger to the bliss of physical pleasure, and he supposed that part of his hesitation came from the very memories of his past experiences. Her touch left scorching traces on his skin, and his muscles seemed to scream for him to take things to their proper end, after all, it had been so long… He took a deep breath; however appealing the thought, he could not, it was not right.

"I... think we should call it a night" he said in a hoarse voice, pushing himself away from her. "So yes- um- goodnight" he added after clearing his throat, smiling boyishly.

"Goodnight" she replied in a whisper, looking up at him with a soft smile, her lips still swollen from their last kiss; oh, Aslan, give him strength!

They shared another kiss and he left, turning to steal just one last look at her over his shoulder before he turned the nearest corner. He did a victory jump as he got closer to his room, running his hands through his hair, grinning like a fool. He was in a bliss, completely drunk in her, lost in her perfume and touch. He contently opened the door of his room, humming quietly, and took the crown off his head, his shirt joining next. It still smelled of her, of the exotic blend of cinnamon and passion fruit of her perfume... Kicking off his boots, he dropped unceremoniously on his bed, smiling and not even bothering to take off his breeches, delightful tiredness taking over him, a wide smile still stretching across his face.

That contradictory mix of shyness and fieriness she possessed was enticing, he thought as sleepiness slowly relaxed his muscles. He would not mind exploring more of her, no, he would not mind at all.

"And where is Peter?" Susan asked sometime later, having swept the room with her crystal gaze and finding not a single trace of her brother.

"I don't know, my love, I haven't seen in a while, have you looked outside?" Caspian suggested, trying to remember when was the last time he had seen the Magnificent King.

"Oh, if you're looking for King Peter, I saw him leaving with the snake bag a while ago" Scorpio informed them, snorting at his own remark.

"I see, geography lessons" Caspian said, sharing a conspiring look and mischievous smile with the Archen Prince, who snorted again, this time into his cup.

"Geography..?" Susan asked, giving him a strange look. Caspian froze on the spot, unaware that she had heard him. He was taken aback by her question, opening and closing his mouth several times, not quite knowing how to explain her what he had meant.

"Um- you see, My Queen, he seemed eager to- um- explore- her- um- accidents" he explained awkwardly, his eyes flashing to the side as he usually did when he was nervous. The Telmarine King cursed himself; what an ungallant thing to be discussing with one's sweetheart, let alone a Queen, particularly when her brother was the subject of his bantering. Susan frowned, still confused.

"Ah... ah! Oh lord" she exclaimed, quickly catching the meaning behind his comment.

"Worry not, my flower, your brother has a strong sense of honour; I don't think he drank enough as not to think straight" Caspian hurried to comfort her, noticing the hint of worry in her expression.

"Does he ever think straight?" Susan answered and he chuckled at her mild annoyance at her kingly brother. Nevertheless, something in her voice hinted there was a story behind her comment; he would question Edmund about it sometime.

Thinking of the devil, there he was, just a few feet ahead of them, a familiar coat in his arms.

"Edmund" Susan called him before Caspian could, the Just King walking calmly towards them. There was an air of contentment to him, the reason to which was very clear to Caspian.

"Oh Edmund, be a dear and check if Peter is in his room; I can't find him and it seems he didn't leave alone" Susan explained. The Just King frowned, not quite understanding her petition at first. Realisation downed on him the next instant, and Caspian could already guess what his reply would be.

"Oh no, no, no, no, no. I already found this abandoned on a chair, and it is enough of a hint to me. I won't do it, I don't want to find anything I don't want to see" Ed refused vehemently, putting the coat in Susan's arms, Peter's coat to be precise. Susan stared at the coat for a moment, hesitant between checking on her brother and the thought of what she could find once she got to his room.

"Alright, I'll go, but I promise nothing more than listening at his door; I don't fancy having Rhindon pointed at my throat" Caspian offered, earning a chuckle from Susan.

"That is very generous and brave of you, Caspian," she told, a ring of laughter in her voice. "But I guess we will learn of Peter's whereabouts and choice of companion – or lack thereof – in the morning. Now, where is Lucy?" she told, caressing his cheek before turning to look around.

"She's probably asleep under a table or something, wouldn't be the first time" Ed replied, frowning lightly. The three of them bid their goodbyes to Scorpio and searched for the Valiant Queen, the room rather empty as the majority of guests had already retired for the night.

"For someone who had such a grim perspective on the ball, you appear to have enjoyed yourself quite a bit, Ed" Caspian commented casually.

"Enjoyment does come from the most unexpected of sources" Edmund replied airily, poking his head under a table.

"Well, yours appears to be Calormene in origin" Caspian noted, eyeing his friend closely. Edmund shot him a warning look, knowing his best friend had a tease at the ready.

"Isn't our duty as hosts to indulge in diplomatic conversation?" Ed retorted, keeping his eyes on Caspian for a moment before lifting one of the tablecloths to check if Lucy was there. "Su, I found her" he called then, getting on his knees and under the table, where his little sister was sleeping soundly, Naia and Coralee spread to her sides.

"Was kissing her goodnight one of your 'diplomatic duties' as well?" Caspian whispered mischievously, slowly placing his hand under Coralee's head.

"What?!" Ed exclaimed, muffling a curse as he lifted his head in surprise and hit the table with a loud bang. Caspian laughed at him, earning himself a dark glare. Lucy stirred with a whimper.

"Eddie you silly boy" she whispered and Edmund threw an indignant glare at Caspian. The girls were gently woken up and emerged sleepily from under the table. A maid guided Cora and Naia to their room for the night, as Susan had arranged for them to sleep in the castle with the permission of Lord Killian and Glozelle. The Gentle Queen smiled at her sister, who had once again fallen asleep, this time on the sofa.

"It's ok, Su, I'll take her" Edmund whispered, picking Lucy in his arms. "Goodnight to you two"

"Do not forget to take off her shoes" Susan called after him.

"I hope he does not forget the way to his room" Caspian taunted, not able to contain himself.

"Shut up, Caspian" Edmund's hiss reached them, Caspian letting out a throaty laugh. He then turned to look at Susan, attracted by her deep sigh. She was looking at the retreating Edmund as he pushed one of the doors with his back, careful not to hit Lucy's head with the frame. He was a loving older brother, he only chose to hide it most of the time.

"We better retire too, my love, whoever is left is way past drunk now" Caspian murmured in her ear, placing his hands on her waist and looking into her cerulean eyes.

"I agree, it has been a long yet most enjoyable night" she whispered, eagerly welcoming his tender kiss.

Moments later, they stood in the quiet corridor outside her chamber, both slightly reluctant to part for the night; it had been a most magical evening for them and they did not want it to end, not just yet.

"I wish you a pleasant night, my sunshine. I hope to be in your dreams, because you will certainly be in mine" Caspian declared ardently, lifting her chin gently with his fingers. He placed a sweet yet fiery kiss on her lips, her knees almost giving away under the passion contained in his tender touch. They parted ways soon after, Susan waiting till the clicking of his boots was only a faint whisper before closing her door. She leaned her back on the door, exhaling a shaky breath and feeling her heart flutter in her chest. She could still feel Caspian's kiss and she smiled, not able to contain an enamoured sigh escaping through her lips. A few doors down the corridor, Caspian took off his boots, sitting on his bed and feeling light with love, a bubbling sensation taking all over him. He felt his heart was trying to jump off his chest to be with Susan; in a way, it did, he had left it at her doorstep along with their kiss.

The following day welcomed them with a very inviting weather, warm and cloudless, most suitable for the outdoor activities that had been organised. Many monarchs and other nobles were most eager to explore the town and surrounding forest, admiring the wonders that had, until then, been only the stuff of fairy tales for most of them. The Talking Animals and other Narnians – centaurs and griffins in particular – stirred comments of awe and fascination from the foreign guests, who approached them with a mix of wonder and delight. Caspian smiled and let out a contented sigh; the ball had been a success and everyone was getting along marvellously and effortlessly. With a smirk, he nudged Edmund, pointing his attention to Trumpkin. Lucy's Dear Little Friend had unwillingly attracted the attention of a small group of ladies and had a most miserable expression behind his beard; the Red Dwarf clearly had no clue on how to handle the sudden attention he was getting.

"Should we help him?" Caspian wondered half-heartedly, and Edmund shrugged. Trumpkin then spotted them and excused himself a bit abruptly, trotting over to them.

"What are you two laughing at!" he spat at them, throwing one of his characteristic glares at them and quickly entering the castle, most likely hiding from the giggling ladies. Not far from there, Suncloud – one of Glenstorm's sons – was too surrounded by admiring gentlewomen, the brave centaur clicking his hooves nervously. Trufflehunter also had his own share of squealing ladies until – to his relief – he engaged in a long conversation with Radhanath; the Maharajah's interest in plants and flowers was no secret and his knowledge on the subject was quite impressive. Professor Cornelius and King Gaetan joined the conversation a while later, the topic drifting to astronomy and its influence on the properties of different herbs and plants. A few moments later, the Kings witnessed with a loud laugh, that Lucy had gotten a hold of her DLF and was now pulling him along for a walk in the forest. Edmund and Caspian held their sides in laughter at the miserable expression on the Dwarf's face.

"Ed? What did Susan mean yesterday when she hinted Peter doesn't always think straight?" Caspian asked a moment later, sipping from his glass.

"I'm surprised you have to ask" Edmund replied shortly, gesturing vaguely for Caspian to look ahead. The Magnificent King was hidden partially by a tree, smiling as he whispered something into Nabeela's ear, causing her to smile. One of Caspian's shapely eyebrows rose at this, sharing a look with Edmund before focusing on a group of noblemen congratulating them for the celebration.

All through the morning, many other creatures of the forest paid the royals a visit. The arrival of the tree dryads filled the ambiance with murmurs and expressions of awe as the dryads danced around the guests, enveloping them in their petals and leaves. As expected, young men were the most prone to their charms, and many a laugh was shared at the expense of several dazzled noblemen.

"Zirid, you can't smooch a dryad, it's physically impossible" the Faithful King argued with his long-time friend, Edmund snorting at his side.

"Killjoy" the Telmarine Lord replied in a huff, Caspian rolling his eyes at his childish reaction.

"Can I kiss water dryads?" Zirid asked an instant later, his whole face brightening with a wicked smirk.

"Only if you want to drown" Edmund answered, and Caspian suspected the Just King spoke from experience. Zirid must have had the same idea, for he immediately shot a tease at Edmund, who expertly avoided the question. Caspian laughed; surely Lucy would indulge him in whatever story there was behind this.

By noon, they had all moved inside for a meal. Long tables had been placed along the room, sumptuously filled with the most varied dishes to satisfy all tastes and cravings. Lunch was followed by afternoon tea, which was served with a delicate assortment of biscuits and pastries. The combination of food and drink in generous quantities improved the already relaxed mood in the room, the pleasant din of conversations pervading the air.

Caspian took a deep breath as stepped into a small courtyard, enjoying the temporary absence of nobles demanding his attention to take some air. His spirits were very high at the success of the celebration; the King was happy to see that so many guests had accepted their invitation and that Narnia had so many friends despite years of stiff Telmarine diplomacy. Placing his hands on the stone railing, he allowed his gaze to wander ahead, meeting the bright expanse of green surrounding the castle. The view was breath-taking: the bright green of the trees with the occasional colouring of some flowers or bushes; the vast, lengthy grassland that stretched on both sides of the road to the town. In the distance, the shapes of the roofs of the village buildings cut a beautiful skyline against the azure sky. He smiled. Everything was calm and in peace, no war threatening it. This quietness added even more happiness to his heart, knowing everything was well in his land, the one he shared with the Kings and Queens of Old, the one he shared with Susan. His heart exploded with warm love at the thought of the Gentle Queen, remembering the blissful moment where their hearts had finally connected, when every piece had fallen into place. The sole thought of being free to kiss her and hold her in his arms sent tingles all over him, and if the day had been bright already, it was made even brighter by this thought.

The click of boots hitting the stone warned him of the presence of someone else in the courtyard. Guessing it to be a wandering guest, he turned around with a welcoming smile, which faltered an instant later.

"Ah, Tarik, came to get some fresh air?" he asked a moment later, a small frown appearing on his forehead as he studied the man in front of him; there was something very wrong in his carefree posture.

"I have, yes, the weather is so inviting, as is the rest of your country. I must say, I am enchanted" Tarik said casually, looking around and taking a deep breath. Caspian tensed, he had a vague inkling regarding Tarik's sudden wish to be outdoors.

"I was hoping we would have the opportunity to talk in private, Your Highness. I was hoping to discuss a subject very dear to my heart" Tarik added and Caspian took a deep breath, his suspicions confirmed.

"Tarik, my sister is getting married, and there is nothing I can do about it" he replied before the Prince could continue, the Calormene's dark eyes hardening at his words.

"But as the King and as her brother, if you do not approve of the match, I am sure Tairin will reconsider" Tarik pressed further. Caspian noticed he was doing his best to smile pleasantly, yet the throb in his jaw muscles was hard to miss; Tarik did not like to be contradicted or told off something.

"But I do approve of Zephyr, he is a decent man and he loves my sister, why would I tell her to reconsider?" Caspian parried seriously, his deep brown eyes slightly narrowed, waiting for Tarik's reaction.

"Ah, Your Highness, please allow me to differ. He is but a simple lord, what comforts could he offer your sister? She deserves someone worthy of her and this man is way below her station, her birth" Tarik argued, his tone rising noticeably; it was evident he was struggling to keep his calm.

"And you are telling me you are?" Caspian quirked an eyebrow, growing annoyed at the Prince.

"But of course I am. I am a Prince, heir to Calormene throne! I have enough riches to cover her in gold, enough land to build her a dozen palaces, enough power to make her the most influential woman in the southern territory!" Tarik exclaimed, another bit of his pretence to composure crumbling.

"Riches, land, influence, my sister could have all that whenever she pleases, but all she needs is love, Tarik, and that can't be obtained with neither money nor power" Caspian retorted, in his tone a warning for the Calormene not to overstep the boundaries of his patience.

"I believe that my love for your sister is implied in my arguments, King Caspian. I do love your sister, more than that simple lord could ever love her. I have waited patiently for years, and I can't allow that excuse of a prince to take my woman away like that!" Tarik yelled, his booming grave voice echoing in the air. Caspian's eyebrow twitched dangerously.

"I will not allow you to speak so deplorably about one of my guests, especially someone I like well; so please, refrain from insulting Lord Zephyr in my presence" Caspian said coldly. "But more importantly, never, ever, refer to my sister as one of your properties; she is not yours and never will if I have any say in the matter" he hissed darkly. His voice did not raise a single tone, his glare icy even if his chocolate orbs seemed to be aflame.

"Caspian, please, just think about it for a moment, think of how convenient it would be for both of us, for Narnia and Calormen. This union would bring so many advantages and I can multiply the gold in your vaults several times" Tarik replied in an abnormally composed manner, a conspiratorial tone lacing his voice.

"Are you saying I stand to gain by conceding my sister's hand to you?" Caspian spoke lowly, faking an interest on the offer even if he was boiling internally.

"You know Calormen has many riches, Caspian. All you have to do is promise Tairin to me, and they will be at your hand's reach" Tarik told, unravelling his plan of tempting the King with the shine of gold.

"Interesting..." Caspian mused, tapping his finger to his chin. Tarik looked expectantly at him.

"I find it very interesting, Prince of Calormen, that you think me capable of selling my sister to you in exchange of your gold" Caspian rose his voice, all features darkened by his flaring temper, outrage lighting hot flames on his blood. "Get out of here, out of my sight and out of my castle, I've had enough of you!" the King hissed, gathering the fine layer of calm that he still had on himself.

"I demand you promise me Tairin's hand, Caspian; I can have the Calormene Cavalry knocking at your door with a click of my fingers, and that wouldn't be pretty, would it?" Tarik threatened brazenly, smirking, eyes glinting under the narrowed lids.

"I find such a feat to be quite difficult if you take into consideration the fact that you are not the Tisroc, Tarik; you may click your fingers as much as you like, but the Cavalry won't bulge" Caspian spat, his tone commanding as he squared his shoulders and stood to his full height, every inch the King he was.

A raw scream was heard in the courtyard, and Caspian had no time to pull out his sword before the cold blade of Tarik's scimitar pressed to the side of his neck.

"If I were you, I would reconsider my proposition, if you value your head, that is" Tarik breathed, smirking.

"And you would be wise to remember who you're dealing with" Caspian replied in the same ironic tone, the Prince looking at him in surprise; Caspian was cleverly holding a dagger against the Calormene's side. Tarik then lowered his scimitar and glared at Caspian, stepping back. Caspian's hand fell on the hilt of his sword; he knew better than to lower his guard just yet. And he was right. The Calormene Prince turned back in a new fit of fury, deathly blade raised high. The scimitar encountered Caspian's scabbard, the King managing to block the hit and move to the side, unsheathing his sword just in time to block another blow.

Tarik was precise in his moves despite his rage, his movements fluent and well-aimed; he was an excellent swordsman, but so was Caspian. After blocking several blows in a row, Caspian switched to an offensive strategy. The King was known for the agility and lightness of his steps, which allowed him a small advantage over Tarik, who was bulkier, although this did not stop him from being fast. The blades crashed in a tingling echo of metal as Caspian attacked again, this time twisting mid-way, aiming at Tarik's legs.

The rasping sound of their clashing blades soon attracted the attention of curious guests, and with the corner of his eye Caspian saw a small group starting to gather near the windows.

"It's King Caspian! He is being attacked!" someone yelled, distracting Caspian for a split moment. There was a rip and his breath hitched in his throat, a collective gasp washing over the crowd of guests. The Prince's scimitar had left a deep cut across Caspian's chest, and the front of his robes was beginning to stain with the dark red of his blood. Tarik lurched forward, the Narnian and Calormene blades colliding loudly once more. Caspian blocked the hit expertly, hissing in pain as the movement of his arm pulled his wound open. His movements being limited by pain, he was forced to take a defensive position, doing his best to avoid another close encounter with the sharp scimitar. His senses seemed to sharpen under the threat, and he quickly scanned the area around him. His mind worked at top speed on a strategy, highlighting the points that could be useful to him. Caspian twirled out of the lock of their swords and crashed Tarik's shoulder with his, using the angle of the Calormene's arm to put further strain on his muscles and thus cause more damage. The Prince screamed in pain and pushed Caspian aside. Caspian used the moment and climbed onto a small stone nearby, turning round in the air, his blade held high. Tarik moved to block his attack, swords crashing with a loud echo as Caspian landed on one his feet, almost gracefully. However, as he planned to turn and take Tarik by surprise, the King's vision blurred and for a moment everything went dark, as if night had suddenly fallen over them; he had lost too much blood. He tried to shift his weight just as he avoided another blow of Tarik's blade, failing to notice a loose stone on his way. The Telmarine then lost his balance and hit his head on the stone railing behind him.

Edmund and the others fought the crowd in order to assist Caspian, arriving in time to see Caspian falling unconscious to the ground, the cut above his eyebrow bleeding profusely. Peter was the first to get through the mass of bodies crowding the courtyard doors and rushed forward, having noticed Tarik advancing towards Caspian, a bloodthirsty look on his eyes. Taking his sword out as he ran, he blocked the Calormene's strike, his unexpected intervention pushing Tarik off balance slightly. The Prince tossed his massive built at the King of Old, slashing his scimitar diagonally. Peter readied his blade to stop the hit, but was surprised by Tarik's fist impacting with his jaw, knocking him out of balance.

"That's for getting where no one called you" the Prince spat, looking at Peter with a contemptuous look for a moment before focusing back on Caspian. Peter reacted quickly and tripped the Prince, locking his feet under his legs. The Calormene stumbled but remained on his feet, giving the blond King enough time to stand up and return the punch, ruby red blood surging from a nasty looking cut on the Prince's lip – much alike the one Peter was sporting.

"There, favour returned" Peter said, brushing the blood from his chin with his sleeve. Tarik growled at him and tackled him to the floor, punching him with the hilt of his scimitar and leaving Peter mildly stunned, blood now pouring from his cheekbone. The Calormene prepared his next blow when four blades were pressed against him, stopping him dead on his tracks; Edmund, Gemini, Taabish and Karim had surrounded him.

"Drop it" Edmund hissed coldly, pressing his sword to the man's cheek. Gritting his teeth, Tarik opened his hand, his scimitar hitting the ground with a dry clatter. Slowly, he got up, eyeing the four men in front of him, stopping to glare darkly, murderously, at his brothers. Scimitars identical to his own crossed over his chest the next instant; the Crown Prince had reached for his dagger, a move his brothers had anticipated. Taabish's strong voice was heard next, cutting through the tense, shocked silence. He spoke in the Calormene language, but by his expressions they could tell he was placing a deathly serious threat on his older brother.

While the Prince was being dealt with, Glozelle, Radhanath, Trojka and Lord Kilian had managed to reach Caspian, Glozelle shouting orders to soldiers and servants to disperse the crowd of guests and make way for the injured King.

"He is bleeding profusely, we need to get him inside" said Trojka, applying pressure to the gash on Caspian's chest. They were then joined by Susan, colour completely gone from her face. A shaky gasp echoed on her lips at the sight of her blood-stained King. No, it was not time to panic. The Queen took a deep breath and steeled herself, shouting commandingly for the servants to alert the royal physician and summon Professor Cornelius and Trufflehunter to the King's chambers. She then spotted Lucy standing in shock, looking at the scene with wide eyes.

"Lu! Lu, it's alright, but we need your cordial! Go, hurry!" Susan told her, pushing her lightly with her free arm. The little Queen looked at her for a moment before she reacted, running through one of the doors and across the ballroom.

Not far from there, Rainidan helped Peter to his feet. The Magnificent King winced as he moved and spat a mouthful of blood, which was pouring richly from his lip and nose.

"That bastard, he is going to pay for this" he spat, gasping loudly as Rainidan moved his arm in an effort to support him better; it was likely he had dislocated his shoulder when Tarik tackled him. Scorpio hurried to his other side, throwing some insults at Tarik as he and Rainidan took Peter inside. Peter lurched forward with the intention of aiming another punch at Tarik, who responded in kind, battling to get free from his brothers' hold. Scorpio and Rainidan struggled to drag the injured King inside while Edmund placed himself between the Calormene and his brother, his sword scratching Tarik's jaw, a single drop of blood tricking down.

"You damn Calormene! I want him in chains!" Peter shouted from the door, still holding Rhindon in his hand.

"Pete, get inside" Edmund told him coldly.

"I want this bastard locked like the animal he is! You saw him, Ed, you saw what he did to Caspian!" Peter cursed.

"And that is precisely why I am telling you to leave, Pete; enough blood has been spilled already" Edmund argued calmly, sending his brother a meaningful look. Peter stared at him for a moment before handing Rhindon to Rainidan and allowing himself to be taken away. The Just King of Old had been awoken, and the Prince of Calormen would now feel the weight of his cold wrath on him; Peter did not wish to be in Tarik's shoes when it did.

Tairin's blood froze as she watched the retreating men carry her unconscious brother. No, Aslan would not let him die. No, if someone had to die, it would be Tarik; after all, she had made him a deathly promise. Her blood burned as he locked her gaze on the foreign Prince, and she strode towards him. Gemini saw her approaching and shouted for Zephyr, having noticed the shiny dagger in her hand. Her raw scream was heard above the multitude of voices as she prepared to jump at Tarik. Yet, she was prevented at the last moment by her fiancé and the eldest Archen Prince.

"Your life ends here, Tarik! I promised I would kill you if anything happened to my family and you nearly killed my brother, you beast!" she screamed, managing to scratch Tarik's face while Gemini and Zephyr struggled to tear her away from the Calormene Prince.

"Let go of me! I demand-"

"TAIRIN!" Zephyr's grave voice echoed in the courtyard. "Tairin, my love, this is not you" he added, almost in a whisper, a pleading look on his grey-green eyes.

"You are not a murderer, Tai. Do not stoop to his level" Gemini argued in turn, hoping for Tairin to loosen her grip on the dagger. Tairin made a feeble attempt to free her hand from his hold.

"Peace, my darling, calm down. By murdering him you're doing him a favour; let him stand trial and pay as he deserves" Zephyr said calmly, yet a flame of disgust and anger could be perceived in his voice. Tairin sighed and allowed Gemini to take the dagger from her hand, looking apologetically at her adoptive brother. The Archen men shared a look of relief and Zephyr took Tairin inside, gently convincing her that it was better if they checked on Caspian.

Edmund sheathed his sword as soon as the crowd dispersed. He stood tense and straight, appearing to be much taller, his kingly status exuding from every bit of his stance. To the eyes of others, he appeared calm, collected, cold and emotionless; his features were sharp and serious, and he stood tall and imposing, honouring the title of Legendary King. Yet, deep inside, Edmund was seething. Blood hummed in his ears, eyes pitch dark, temper flaring with a roaring flame, trapped within his icy impassiveness. It was a truly frightening image.

"You have insulted Narnia's generosity and hospitality by cowardly and immorally attacking two of your hosts under their own roof. Furthermore, you have intentionally spilled royal blood. You must be aware, Prince Tarik, that your violent actions this afternoon may result in charges of attempted murder of a King. I expect you understand the heavy implications of such accusation" he stated with arctic tone, eyes fix on the Prince. "I've seen men sentenced to death for much less" he added with a hint of dark irony. He narrowed his gaze and this gave him a murderous air, his serenity only heightening this fact.

"As King of Narnia and sovereign of this land by Aslan's will, it is my duty and my prerogative to deny you all privilege you possess as a royal to claim or demand trial in Narnian soil. You are to be put in chains and transported to Calormen immediately, where you will be judged under Calormene law and by a council appointed by His Majesty the Tisroc. Furthermore, I declare you are hereby banished from Narnia and all its territories; you are no longer a friend of Narnia, Prince of Calormen" he said coldly, commandingly. Those who knew him almost did not recognise him. All spark of mockery was gone from him, his carefree pose replaced by an authoritative one; there, right in front of them stood King Edmund The Just, just as the legends depicted him.

"Consider yourself lucky, Prince Tarik, for Aslan has had mercy on you and your sentence has been lenient. However, I warn you: from this day onwards, your presence in Narnian soil shall be considered hostile; trespass our borders and we won't be as understanding" he stated, his last words marked by an intense, almost devilish hue to his eyes and his teeth flashed in a dangerous sneer; out of the three Kings, Edmund had it in him to be the scariest.

Edmund then straightened himself and signalled some guards to take the Calormene to the dungeons. Silence followed the King's steps as he retreated, as the small group of people who had witnessed him pass his judgement on the foreign Prince were still under the impact of his arctic behaviour.

Tisroc Rashid was the first to come to his senses and he strode to his son, his strong voice booming after the silence, heavily accented by his simmering anger.

"You have brought shame to Calormen with your despicable behaviour! For years we have worked on the peaceful image of our nation, and all those efforts have now been obliterated by you in a matter of minutes!" the normally kind monarch yelled, absolutely furious. "Did you even consider what you were doing to the diplomatic relations we have with Narnia? Of course you didn't! I won't even ask you what you were thinking, because it's clear you were not! You fought and wounded two kings, Tarik, two! You don't understand the magnitude of my shame and my disappointment; how will I ever look at King Caspian and at King Peter in the eye again after this!" he added, a look of deep sadness and disappointment obscuring his already dark orbs.

"It is painfully obvious that you cannot control your temper and you keep acting like a brat; you're a grown man acting like a wild animal! Is this how you expect to become Tisroc? Do you really think I would leave my kingdom in your hands to see how my hard work vanishes like a sand castle?" Rashid was now breathing hard, face red both in shame and anger, but still towering over his son, still imposing. "You will return to Tashbaan tonight, escorted by my personal guards. There, you will be under the custody and permanent surveillance of the Golden Cavalry guards. You will be confined to your rooms, where you will remain locked and isolated until my arrival. These are my orders and if you fail to comply, I will forget you are my son" Rashid commanded, his usually kind expression hardened. He then turned and murmured something in Calormene to his army General, who nodded and bowed his retreat

"This is ridiculous! You can't lock me away in my room as if I were a kid!" Tarik shouted, trying to free himself from the grip of Suncloud and Rainstone.

"I considered locking you in one of the dungeons, but you are still my son" the Tisroc told coldly. "Ah, and before I forget: that servant of yours, Saabira, she is strictly forbidden to enter your confinement; only Tash knows what you can convince her to do for you" he added, throwing a look over his shoulder before stepping back inside the ballroom. Tarik thrashed in anger, shouting all sorts of things in Calormene at his father's retreating back; Taabish and Karim looked at their brother in shock and disgust, his words anything but polite.

"Tarik, you stop it, right now!" Queen Faeri told, stepping in front of her son.

"Get out of my way, woman!" Tarik shouted, raving. A crisp sound of skin colliding against skin was heard, the Queen's jewelled hand dropping to her side, her shoulders tense.

"I told you to stop, Tarik, it's an order. You are not going to keep shaming us, you have done enough damage already; by Tash, what did I do wrong with you...!" she spoke, deep desolation tinting her words; the despair of a mother who witnessed her son being consumed by hatred. For the first time Tarik looked uncomfortable, the pained look in her mother's crystalline eyes shaking him to some extent. Tarik was then escorted inside by Glenstorm and his sons, a small group of guards surrounding them in case the Prince became unruly once again. Faeri crumbled into Taabish's arms, painful sobs echoing in her throat as her children led her to her chambers.

Caspian was carefully laid on his bed before a group of physicians and nurses hurried to treat his wounds, their priority being that of staunching the bleeding. Trufflehunter and the Professor were already working on some herbal infusion to restore the King's lost blood, and on an ointment meant to speed the cicatrisation of the wound. The Narnian royals and their Archen friends had moved to the anteroom to Caspian's chambers, where silence reigned supreme; they were all too worried to chat. Peter held Susan in his arms and caressed her arm soothingly, keeping them both from fretting over the King's condition. In the nearby sofa, Tairin murmured something under her breath and twisted a small handkerchief in her hands, allowing Zephyr to rock her lightly in his embrace. A knock on the door broke the heavy silence in the room and the door opened to reveal Edmund, who immediately asked after Caspian. The Just King too fell silent as he listened to nurses and doctors busily trying to help his best friend.

"Ed, hold Su" Peter whispered a moment later, lifting his sleeves and washing his hands before walking into Caspian's room. Edmund nodded and wrapped his arms around his sister, offering her a small comforting smile.

"My King, I'm sorry but- your shoulder" they heard one of the nurses complain, but Peter pushed by her and pressed his hands to Caspian's chest, ignoring the searing bolt of pain on his arm; he remembered a thing or two about staunching a bleeding. The blood flow reduced slightly at this, and Peter hurried to wipe the blood away whilst asking the nurse to start disinfecting the area. Peter then nodded to the physician, who immediately reached for his sutures.

The door opened loudly again and Lucy whooshed into the room, the flask of bright red liquid held tightly in her hands. Peter smiled at her and moved aside for her to reach Caspian. A tiny scarlet drop fell gracefully into the Telmarine's lips, and Lucy placed her hand gently under his chin, closing his mouth.

"Swallow Caspian, please" she whispered, her ocean blue eyes starting to brim with tears. They all held their breaths and waited. Caspian shook slightly an instant later and everyone in the room witnessed in wonder how his wounds started closing slowly. Peter lifted his hands to see that the open cut under them was gone and was now replaced by a pink scar. Slowly, the Faithful King regained some colour, his breathing returning to normal.

"We should leave him to rest, he needs it" Peter told, relief washing over his face as he wrapped an arm around Lucy. The little Queen sobbed lightly, happy to know Caspian would be alright.

The next morning, the royal family was again gathered in Caspian's room, all still too concerned about the cheeky King to stay anywhere else. Caspian woke up with a light groan and winced, opening his eyes slowly, blinking several times to clear his vision.

"Ah, you're awake" Susan whispered, smiling softly.

"My head is killing me... and my back... was I ran over by a stampede of bulls or something?" he asked in a hoarse murmur, inducing several chuckles around the room.

"Almost, I'd say one sturdy wild donkey" Edmund joked, leaning over the end of his friend's bed.

"And how are you, beautiful?" Caspian asked next, smiling lovingly at Susan. His eyes – although still puffy from sleep – sparkled with love. Susan blushed lightly.

"I am fine, now that you're awake and out of danger, Caspian" she answered, caressing his cheek. The Queen then threw a glare at Edmund, who had just pretended to gag. Caspian looked over at his best friend and sent him a loose smirk. He then rose his hand to his chest and was surprised to find only a scar where the scimitar had pierced him.

"I gave you some of my cordial, you'll be back on your feet in no time" Lucy smiled at him, sweetly patting his hand, a motion which spread a warm sensation in Caspian's chest.

"Yes, I fear you'll be at your top condition very soon, wits and mischief included" Peter told, his lopsided smile betraying his joke, causing Caspian to laugh lightly. The Faithful King then frowned, taking a good look at his fellow King.

"Peter, what happened to your jaw, and to your arm?" he asked, noticing the bruises in Peter's face and the sling supporting his left arm.

"Nothing, occupational hazards" Peter brushed it off, shrugging with his healthy shoulder.

"By 'nothing' he means his hero act backfired on him" Edmund teased, earning himself a murderous glare from his brother.

"Tarik attacked you as well?" Caspian questioned, a flicker of anger flashing in his eyes.

"Let's not talk about that man now, shall we? We have much nicer things to discuss than him" Lucy groaned, earning a hum of agreement from the people in the room.

"Say, you were out for a long time, you started to worry me, brother; I was considering the idea of having Susan kiss you, see if you were Sleeping Beauty" Edmund told, quickly and cleverly shifting the subject with a humorous comment.

"Edmund!" Susan chastised him, but he only grinned at her.

"As if you didn't want to" he said under his breath and Susan threw a pillow at him. Caspian only stared, half in amusement and half in surprise.

"What did you call me?" he asked. Edmund gave him a weird look.

"I called you 'brother', what is so strange about it? You are part of this family now" Edmund pointed out as if it were the most evident thing in the word. Caspian was genuinely taken aback by this; an expanding, pleasurable and warm feeling spread from his chest to the rest of his body. A family, he was part of a family now, and not any family, their family.

"Ah- I- um- I don't know what to say- thank you" he stuttered, a hint of a blush showing despite his tan.

"But of course you are, Caspian, we love you!" Lucy told cheerfully, pressing a loving sisterly kiss to his cheek that melted him with its tenderness.

"So what is Sleeping Beauty" Caspian asked next, the whole family laughing at this.

A knock on the door preceded the Archen royals, who were pleasantly surprised to find Caspian awake.

"Welcome back, dear friend, welcome back!" Gaetan cheered, squeezing Caspian's hand warmly.

"Indeed, we are glad you are awake and well" Gemini told with a smile.

"Hell yeah, you gave us quite a fright, you cheeky man! Next time you decide to take on beastly idiots, call me first! I want to have some share of the fun!" Scorpio complained before hissing in pain as Tairin pinched his arm. Edmund then proceeded to tell Caspian what had happened, and had to be corrected and steered back into focus by the others, having exaggerated his participation in the events just a tiny bit.

King Rashid paid Caspian a visit some hours later, his steps heavy with shame and sadness.

"High King Caspian, I am most glad you are awake and that you have recovered successfully, thank Tash" he said genuinely, placing the crystal jar in his hands on a nearby table. "My wife sends you these herbs from our land. The tea helps with the healing of wounds and blood loss" he explained with a small smile.

"Thank you, my friend, it is very kind of you and Her Majesty" Caspian thanked him, shifting in the bed so as to sit up against the pillows. Seeing this, the Tisroc hurried to help him and enquired further into the King's health, sincere relief pouring from his expression at confirming Caspian was out of danger.

"My King, I-" he started, sighing deeply before continuing. "I don't know what to say. I cannot think of words to express the deep sorrow and shame I am currently feeling. What my son did is unforgivable. From all my children, he has always been the most stubborn and unpredictable, and the one lacking most common sense; his bad temper really is a punishment from Tash" he told, his voice heavily stained with disappointment. Caspian felt sorry for his fellow monarch. None of this had been his fault and yet he blamed himself; he could see the heavy weight on his friend's shoulders.

"I fear this incident has caused too deep a stain in the diplomatic relations between our nations, and it pains my heart that such a beautiful and promising friendship has come to such violent an end" the Tisroc added mournfully.

"Dear friend" Caspian spoke, motioning the Tisroc to take a seat on the nearest armchair. "What happened was indeed most lamentable, it is true, but to place the blame on you and your entire family would be a great mistake. Tarik acted alone and alone he needs to bear the consequences of his actions. I think I speak for my whole family when I tell you that the diplomatic relations between our nations and the friendship between our families is stronger than ever, and Calormen remains a great friend to Narnia" Caspian replied grandly, his bedridden state not taking a single ounce of his regal stance.

"In your young age you have managed to be wiser than many a man I have known, even myself, King Caspian. You have shown to be generous and fair and I am at loss of words. You honour me and Calormen with your grace and magnanimity" Rashid replied, his surprise and genuine gratefulness evident.

The two monarchs were then interrupted by Edmund and Peter entering the room, unaware of the Tisroc's presence.

"Oh, sorry, did we interrupt something? We can come back later" Edmund told.

"No, no, you didn't. I was only reassuring His Highness that Calormenes and Narnians remain friends and will continue to be for years to come" Caspian stated.

"Certainly, and we look forward to future visits from you and your family; the fact that Tarik is banished from Narnia doesn't mean that you or the rest of your family are not welcome, on the contrary" Edmund commented. Caspian and Peter shared a knowing look. Edmund threw them a warning glare, sensing the impishness exuding from his brother and best friend.

Rashid thanked the Kings for their words, good-natured joy returning to his expression. Trufflehunter joined them then to check on Caspian, Peter, Ed and Rashid taking their cue to leave Caspian to rest.

Caspian sighed. Balls in Narnia were never incident free.

AN: Well, well, hasn't this been a most eventful ball? My favourite character of this chapter has to be Edmund; I adored giving him the judgement scene and I always thought he had this duality in him, the Just King and the less serious Ed.

I will love to read your comments and suggestions! Reviews are most welcome!

Until next time!

Cheers!