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!

12. Chapter 12: Departures, Arrivals

AN: Hello guys! A big, huge, sorry for taking so long to update, but if I were to tell you everything that happened, this AN would be as long as the chapter itself. Let's just say that at some point I think this chapter was never going to see the light of day and that I was under a bad, badluck spell of some sort which claimed the life of my computer. As a result I lost all my docs, including 3/4 of this chapter, which didn't help much with writer's block.

Aaaaaaanyway, despite all that, it is finally here and I'm quite proud of it.

Enjoy!

Chapter 12: Departures, Arrivals, Romance in the Air.

The incident between Caspian and Tarik cut the celebration short, the news of the King's injury leaving no room for further amusement. The majority of guests had thoughtfully shortened their stay in consideration to the royal family, but not before showering the Faithful King with their best wishes of a full and speedy recovery. Among the departing guests, those closer to the Narnian royals' inner circle allowed themselves a visit to the convalescing King, who welcomed them warmly, having complained about just how boring it was to stay in bed all day.

King Gaetan's rich laugh echoed around the small room, amused by the former Prince's remark. The two Kings had spent the afternoon in the small anteroom to the Caspian's chambers, strong coffee proving a most suitable companion to their chat. The echo of laughter still reverberated in Gaetan's chest as he took a moment to look at the young man sitting opposite to him. He had expected to find Caspian in bed and, if anything, still a bit dazed, but the Telmarine did not look at all convalescing, the spark of his wit as bright as ever.

"I hope I am not boring you, my friend. One does not have much to talk about while being forced to close quarters" Caspian noted jokingly.

"Oh forgive me, King Caspian, I was once again caught in my astonishment of your miraculous recovery; one look at you and I wouldn't believe you were injured only four days ago if I had not seen it with my own eyes" Gaetan replied with a chuckle.

"Ah, it takes more than a rabid prince to get rid of me, my friend; 'the devil looks after his own', is that not how the saying goes?" Caspian replied with his usual spark of humour, the Archen King laughing throatily at his remark.

"In Archenland we would say: 'The ugly vase will not break'" Gaetan agreed, his throat still resounding with the remaining peals of laughter.

"'High King Caspian, the Unbreakable', I could get used to it" Caspian joked, and the two men burst into laughter once more.

"Well, it gladdens my heart to see you in such good health and spirits, I can now return to Archenland untroubled" Gaetan told, the ghost of laughter still ringing in his voice.

"Must you leave so soon? Your presence shall be sorely missed, particularly by Tairin" Caspian noted.

"I am afraid I must, yes. This sojourn in Narnia has been wonderful and I wish it longer, yet, there are some important matters I should return to; duties do not take holidays, as you well know" Gaetan replied, putting his cup down. Caspian groaned in agreement, remembering the pile of towering paperwork waiting for him at his desk. The two Kings were then interrupted by a knock on the door, revealing Gemini and Scorpio on the other side.

"You sent for us, father?" Gemini asked, looking at his father expectantly.

"Oh yes, I almost forgot. King Caspian, I must ask you one last favour before I leave" the elder King spoke, looking at the Telmarine.

"We are leaving? But father-" Scorpio complained, a reaction predicted by his father, who merely raised his hand in a calming gesture.

"As you can see, my sons – and certainly my niece and nephews – are most eager to stay. Would it be too much a stretch of your kindness – and above all, patience," said the King, pausing to look pointedly at Scorpio, who grew very interested in his shoes all of a sudden.

"...if they could prolong their visit; Narnia is such a marvellous land, it would be cruel to tear them away when they have only just started discovering it" Gaetan remarked, looking back at Caspian with a small smile playing behind his populated beard.

"It wouldn't be a bother in the slightest, on the contrary. I only wonder if Narnia is ready for Scorpio's excitement, though" Caspian agreed with a small smirk, his chocolate orbs shifting to the blond Prince, who glared back at him but wisely chose to remain silent.

"Father, I feel I should return with you. I have duties to fulfil and I have been away for too long, it would not be responsible for me to stay" Gemini spoke.

"By Aslan, haven't you worked enough? If you're not knee deep in paperwork, you're on official trips to oversee god knows what projects around Archenland, or on diplomatic visits abroad, or meeting diplomats or arranging commercial deals; I don't remember when was the last time you enjoyed yourself, brother" Scorpio exclaimed.

"Well, someone needs to take care of all those things and, contrary to you, I enjoy having things to occupy myself with; believe it or not, I actually enjoy keeping track of my projects" Gemini retorted.

"Well, I actually agree with your brother, Gemini" Gaetan told, looking at his eldest son with a small smile. Scorpio looked at his father in surprise before grinning contentedly.

"You have worked tirelessly all these months and you deserve some time to rest. I have spoken to your uncle and he has agreed, most graciously, to step in and handle things for the duration of your stay here" the Archen King added.

"And if you find yourself missing some paperwork and whatnot, Their Majesties and I will welcome your help and valuable input most eagerly. I am sure you will find that we have several projects which may be interesting to Archenland and which could benefit from your experience" Caspian noted.

"Indeed, and I have instructed Ambassador Astor to grant you access to our embassy records for that very purpose. I am sure that Zephyr and Rainidan will be glad to assist you as well. I have complete faith that all will go marvellously!" King Gaetan told confidently.

"Aaaaaaand, I will assist you in helping you unwind and relax and make sure you don't work like a madman; I shall drag you out of your desk if need be" Scorpio asserted, wrapping an arm around his brother's shoulders loosely.

"Of that I have no doubt, you are very diligent when it comes not to work" Gemini quipped. "Thank you, Father, I will do my best" the Archen Prince added with a smile.

"I am sure you will, son" the Archen King told warmly. "Well, now that all matters have been settled, I can leave with my heart at rest knowing that my family will be well looked after" he added, exhaling a long contented sigh.

The next morning, the Pevensies and the Archen royals were gathered at the entrance hall, where a carriage and a small escort of Archen soldiers were ready and waiting for the King of Archenland.

"Your Majesties, this has been a most enjoyable trip, and one I wish to repeat shortly. In the meantime, I extend to you a formal invitation to Archenland; allow Anvard to return the kindness and warmth with which you have welcomed me and my family. Please do not hesitate to pay this old man a visit" Gaetan spoke warmly.

"An invitation we will be certain to honour, if only to enjoy your company once more, Your Highness" Susan replied, allowing herself a small informality and hugging the foreign monarch, who gladly reciprocated the affection.

"My dear Queen, I assure you I will miss your company just as much" the King told kindly. Having shaken Edmund's hand, Gaetan let out a sad sigh as his eyes fell on Tairin, who was unsuccessfully trying to hold back her tears. The Archen King smiled at her and gently brushed her tears before kissing her temple.

"My darling, I am only a letter away shall you need me. In the meantime, do make sure Scorpio doesn't get into too much trouble" he told, his comment snatching a laugh from everyone except the young Archen Prince.

"Please convey my gratitude and best wishes to King Caspian for me" Gaetan said shaking Peter's hand.

"I most certainly will. Caspian was quite upset that he could not come and see you off in person, but the physician was quite adamant in him staying in bed" Peter told, containing a chuckle at the aggravated complaints of the Telmarine.

Finally, King Gaetan got on his carriage, and with a final wave bid them all goodbye before setting off to Archenland.

Following medical orders, Caspian kept to his room but had insisted on being well enough to be able to sit at his desk. Thus, he had asked for a stack of paperwork to be brought to him and he was currently furrowing his brow at a particularly squiggly piece of writing. There was a knock on the door and he let the person in with a lazy hum.

"Oh, I'm glad you're awake, I wanted to- what are you doing?" Edmund asked, raising an eyebrow at his best friend, who was currently tilting his head at the document in his hands. Caspian looked up at him and handed him the piece of parchment.

"Can you read this? I'm not even sure it is Narnian" he explained. Edmund scanned the document and let out a laugh.

"To answer your first question, no, I cannot read it, but I can tell you it is Narnian alright. These, my friend, are Peter's notes on the last Council meeting. See, here it says 'morons'" Edmund told with a snort, handing the scribbles back to Caspian. The Telmarine looked at the page in horror.

"How can he possibly produce this, let alone read it!" Caspian asked, still in shock.

"Don't know, don't care. Anyway, I have a more urgent request for you" Edmund interjected. "I was wondering if you could lend me Destrier, my horse lost one of his shoes and Peter took his" he added.

"And of all the horses in the castle, you want mine" Caspian noted, putting Peter's scribbles away.

"Yes" Ed replied simply.

"You can impress your Calormene lady just as well with Tairin's horse, Ed" Caspian quipped with a lopsided grin.

"And you could just as well shut up" Ed spat, throwing an annoyed glare at the Telmarine, who only grinned wider.

"Destrier has a bit of a temper, but if you think you can handle it, fine, just don't say I didn't warn you" Caspian told with a shrug.

"Great, thanks" Ed told, patting his friend on the shoulder and making his way to the door.

"Try looking at the road every once in a while, I mean, if you manage to tear your eyes off Lady Casarah long enough not to run into a tree" Caspian told, laughing throatily at Ed's unfriendly hand gesture before he disappeared through the door.

A few moments later at the stables, Edmund cursed at his best friend, finally understanding his warning. He had asked for Caspian's horse to be saddled and ready, but whenever he approached the impressive stallion, Destrier puffed and knocked his hooves on the ground. Getting a hold of the reins, Ed patted the horse's neck.

"Hey, calm down, it's me, Edmund. I'm friends with your master, remember?" he whispered. Destrier looked at him for a moment only to puff and shift once more, moving away as Ed tried to reach the stirrup, just as he had done before. With a frown, Ed turned to the stable boy.

"What is it with him today?" he asked.

"Destrier is a loyal horse, he does not like to be ridden by anyone other than King Caspian" another voice – graver – spoke behind them, and the young King turned around to address its owner. Glozelle had just dismounted his horse and was walking besides it. With a smile, the former General handed the reins to the stable boy.

"Your Highness" Glozelle greeted with a polite bow.

"Glozelle" Edmund replied with a nod. Neither of the men spoke for a short awkward moment.

"So, um, what am I supposed to do so he lets me ride him?" Ed asked, clearing his throat.

"I'm afraid nothing, sire. You risk being thrown off your saddle if you insist" Glozelle replied sincerely. "I would suggest you ride Princess Tairin's horse, Onyx, who has a more amiable character and is a fine galloper from what I remember" the General added.

"Caspian made the same suggestion. Well, I guess I have no other choice" Edmund told with a sigh, signalling the stable boy to saddle Tairin's horse.

"Have you come looking for your niece? I remember she was playing with my sister at the greenhouse" he added.

"Thank you, Your Highness, I shall head there once my meeting with High King Caspian is over" the former General replied with a polite nod.

"Yes, of course. Well, I trust you know your way around the castle. Thank you for the advice" Ed told, swiftly mounting the horse and slipping a coin into the stable boy's hand as he handed him the reins.

"You're welcome, sire" Glozelle replied with his usual formality.

With a nod Edmund turned his horse around and galloped away while Glozelle took the opposite direction towards the castle. It had been an awkward yet fortuitous encounter.

Edmund rushed into the forest, pleasantly surprised at his horse's performance; Onyx moved with elegant agility and obeyed the slightest of his commands. He could not complain about his own horse, but a part of him always remembered good old Phillip. Certainly, he would never again find another horse quite as great as his Narnian steed, but now that their own positions as monarchs had been restored and that peace had finally been achieved, it would be nice to indulge in a horse of his own choosing. He would talk to Caspian about this idea as soon as he had the opportunity.

Slowing his pace, the Just King took a deep breath and allowed Onyx a moment of rest before resuming their canter. Earlier that afternoon, he had seen Casarah riding into the forest with her cousins Prince Karim and Princess Naheed. According to his calculations, the Just King guessed the Calormene royals would not be too far away and opted for an alternative route which would bring him parallel to them without exposing his late arrival.

"Good afternoon, King Edmund" Prince Karim greeted him as he came into view. "Had we known you were out here, we would have joined you sooner"

"My fault really, I should have offered to show you around" Edmund told, relieved they had not noticed he had only just left the castle.

"I believe it is not too late to redeem yourself, King Edmund" Naheed told playfully. "Ever since your sister told us about fairies Casarah has not been able to talk about anything else, but so far we have failed in our search so perhaps you can help us" she added, ignoring Casarah's pointed glare.

"I'd be glad to help" Edmund told with a nod. "Fairies are amongst the friendliest of Narnians, but they can be a little stranger-shy" the King explained, signalling them to follow him. Princess Naheed threw a look at her brother, and the siblings slowed down so Casarah and Edmund rode together in the lead.

"I trust you enjoyed your visit?" Ed asked as they rode on, hoping to make polite conversation.

"Oh yes, very much; I have seen so many amazing wonders and I shall be dreaming of fantastic creatures for a long time after I return to Calormen" Casarah replied blissfully.

"Well, it gladdens me to hear it" Ed replied, his lips curling naturally into a smile.

Behind them, the Calormene siblings observed the pair with interest.

"I think we should leave them alone to say their goodbyes" Naheed whispered. Her brother shot her an unconvinced glance.

"And what do you suppose we tell everyone when it is only the two of us returning to the castle?" he asked.

"We will say we lost them in the forest, which is exactly what we will do" the Princess insisted, stopping her horse and slowly turning around.

"You plotting little thing" Karim shook his head, quietly following his sister.

Edmund frowned. They had been riding for a while now and still no fairies in sight.

"Well, it would seem- wait, where are your cousins?" Edmund told, his sentence cut short when he turned around to find the Calormene Prince and Princess were nowhere to be seen.

"By Tash, do you think they got lost?" Casarah gasped.

"Well, they cannot be too far if they did. We should turn around, with hope we will cross paths with them on our way back to the castle" Ed replied seriously. "Don't worry, I am sure they are perfectly safe" he added, throwing a reassuring glance at Casarah.

They rode in silence for a moment, looking around for any hints of their missing companions. Not long after, the imposing figure of the castle could be seen from the distance, the extinguishing sun colouring the stone with a burnt orange shade.

"Shall we walk? We are nearly there" Casarah suggested and Edmund nodded. They walked hand in hand through the forest, the path growing larger the closer they got to the castle.

"I am sorry we did not find any fairies" Edmund told, breaking the silence.

"It's alright, it will make my next visit all the more exciting, knowing I still have something to discover from this wonderful country" Casarah replied, a soft smile gracing her lips.

"Then I can only hope your next visit to be soon" Ed commented. "I have half the mind to kidnap you and not let you go" he joked.

"Rest assured I would not put much resistance" the Calormene Lady replied with a laugh. "I will miss our conversations, our laughs" Casarah whispered, exhaling a deep breath.

"And I will miss you" Edmund confessed, halting their walk to look into her eyes and plant a chaste kiss on her lips.

A few hours after noon the next day, the Calormene carriages were lined up on the entrance, while servants were packing the last pieces of luggage and belongings before the long trip back to the southern country.

Amidst kind words of thanks and praise, the two royal families made it to the courtyard

"Where is Edmund?" Caspian whispered, having noticed his best friend was nowhere to be seen.

"Where do you think?" Peter replied, both Kings sharing a knowing look. Just then, the youngest King of Old and the Calormene Lady walked hand in hand. Sensing the eyes of his brothers on him, Edmund immediately sent them a warning glare; he could see dark clouds of goading in his nearest future.

"In the name of all my family, I want to express our gratitude to all of you and your gracious hospitality. I am glad the friendly ties between Calormen and Narnia are as strong as ever, perhaps even stronger, despite the recent and most lamentable events" Rashid said, casting an apologetic look at the Narnians. "It is in the name of this friendship that we will be honoured if you accept our invitation to the Monsoon celebrations later this year; Tashbaan is a sight to behold during the festival" Queen Faeri told warmly, squeezing Susan's hand.

"A sight we shall not miss, The Monsoon celebrations are, after all, famous for their beauty and colourfulness. We will be pleased to partake in the celebrations with you and your family" Caspian replied, catching a very ecstatic Lucy out of the corner of his eye.

As the Calormene Tisroc and Queen exchanged formalities with his eldest siblings, Edmund and Casarah whispered their more intimate goodbyes.

"I promise I will write to you every day" Casarah whispered, pulling Edmund to a stop and looking deep into his eyes.

"And I will be waiting impatiently for each of them" he replied, with a sad smile, bringing her hand to his lips.

"The Monsoon celebrations are still a few months away; I am sure my aunt will help me convince my mother to let me visit you before that" Casarah promised, squeezing his hand comfortingly.

"That if I do not jump on a griffin and fly to Tashbaan after you" Ed whispered huskily on her ear, breaking their embrace. Ed felt his chest tighten and he took a deep breath before straightening himself and bowing politely, a gesture Casarah returned with a curtsy of her own.

"Have a safe trip, My Lady" he wished and helped her to the carriage, their fingers intertwined until the very last moment.

A few paces away, Rashid and his wife were concluding their farewell.

"'Relationships prosper and love flowers under the Monsoon waters' says a popular song in Calormen" Rashid commented leaning closer to Caspian, his dark brown eyes glinting with knowing amusement.

"Then I fear the Monsoon could not come sooner to some" Caspian replied, sharing the Tisroc's smirk as they shot a look to the young couple.

"Well, they do say that the Monsoon brings prosperity to all relationships, be them diplomatic or other. You will perhaps find this true yourself" Rashid noted with a smile, his gaze sliding to Susan before returning to the Telmarine King. Caspian was caught by surprise by the Tisroc's remark and cleared his throat awkwardly. Rashid laughed merrily and clapped the Faithful King on the arm.

"Until we meet again, I wish you all a safe ride home" said Caspian, shaking the Tisroc's hand one last time. Out of the corner of his eye, he had caught a glimpse of the now empty space where his best friend had been standing; Edmund was gone.

The castle gates closed behind the carriage as it crossed the stone bridge, the clicking of the horses' hooves growing fainter as the Calormene caravan of carriages disappeared into Telmartown. Caspian sighed, his chest heavy with worry for his best friend. He smiled as Susan linked an arm with his, both of them following the others inside.

"Do you think Ed will be alright?" he asked her as they entered the marble hall, and she smiled, seeing the obvious concern in his gaze.

"He needs some time alone to sort out his thoughts" she told him, rubbing his arm comfortingly; Edmund was his best friend after all.

"I wish I could do something to help him" he commented, his eyebrows knitting together into a small frown that she could not help but find adorable.

"Well, I'm sure you'll be the one he'll talk to when he's ready" she replied, waving his worry away with a light movement of her hand. Caspian smiled at her and pulled them both to a halt.

"Thank you, my love, you always have the best of words to soothe my restlessness" he told, his teeth flashing at her in a handsome and very enticing smile before planting a delicate kiss on her lips that sent tingles down her spine.

"Has this happened before?" he asked as they parted, allowing himself to rest his hands on her waist, while hers laid gently over his chest.

"Us kissing? I hope My King isn't suffering from memory loss" she teased lightly causing him to growl quietly and capture her lips again, this time more fervently; he could not resist the urge to kiss her when that impish smile played across her luscious lips.

"I meant Edmund having romantic issues, My Queen" he explained after a rather long kiss that left her slightly breathless.

"To be honest, I can't quite say. In the Golden Age Ed had his fair share of flings, but it is hard to say if any of those ever developed into something more serious. Ed has always been reserved, so if he ever was lovesick or heartbroken, he kept it to himself' Susan replied. "Although I think it is cute that he misses his sweetheart, it is hard to see him like this" she added, heaving a sigh tinted with sibling concern.

"I agree, but I think he just needs to calmly sort out his feelings and understand what is going on; after all, it has been a while since he last felt something like this and from what you tell me, last time he experienced it quite differently. I think this disarray inside him is the main cause of his irritation" Caspian pondered, resuming their walk.

"I don't think he cares much for disarray, given the state of his chambers" Susan joked, snatching a chuckle out of him. "But I never thought it that way, and you may be right. It is amazing how well you understand each other" she noted, looking up at him with a warm, loving gaze.

"He is my brother of the soul, we are alike in many aspects. I think that if I were in his situation I would probably be in the same state" Caspian told almost shyly, lowering his eyes for an instant before fixing them on her again.

"That is very sweet, and I'm sure he feels the same" Susan told him warmly, knowing very well the strength of the connection between both Kings. "I have to confess it makes me a bit jealous, I would like to be your soul sister" she admitted, the slight trace of wickedness in her voice matching the hue in her crystal orbs.

"Wouldn't it be a sort of incest if you were?" Caspian reasoned, and Susan laughed at his wince. He then smiled and pulled her closer to him, kissing the corner of her lips.

"You are much, much more, Susan, you are my soulmate" he whispered, his breath caressing her lips before he kissed them, stealing her breath away with his passionate confession. Susan smiled and deepened the kiss; she knew he did not need words to know she felt exactly the same.

Edmund sat on the roof, gazing aimlessly ahead, years of practice allowing him to leave unnoticed. Well, nearly unnoticed; he was sure Caspian's sharp senses had registered his absence. He felt his lips stretching into a small smile; Caspian understood him well enough to let him be, despite how concerned he might be. He watched as the Calormene carriages became smaller and smaller until they were nothing more than a tiny coloured dot quickly disappearing in the distance. With a groan, he lay on his back and contented himself by staring at the sky and the city underneath it, the quiet blowing of the breeze somewhat soothing.

He snorted at the irony of it all. Of all the places in the world, she had to be Calormene. His older self would have convulsed in disapproval. Then again, his older self had good reasons to dislike Calormenes after nearly losing Susan to Rabadash's greed and selfishness. Yet, he had learnt the bad way that people are capable of change; he was living proof of it. The King of Old frowned, rubbing the spot where the White Witch's wand had pierced him. A shiver run down his spine and he shook his head, hoping to shake the coldness in the pit of his stomach.

He knew he had to let his heart ache and had resigned himself to it, but what annoyed him the most was just how time-consuming it all was; couldn't he hurt for a couple of days and then get on with his life? And then there was the nagging question beating almost rhythmically against his skull: how had he gotten so attached to Casarah in such a short time? The Just King was at a loss for an answer. In the Golden Age he had been quite a shameless flirt, he had to admit, but the speed of his closeness with the Calormene Lady surprised him, not least because he no longer was the confident young man who had put his awkward teenage years behind. The King groaned loudly. The point was that he had gone through all the awkwardness before, and yet, it seemed he had not learnt nor remembered anything. More importantly, he had forgotten how to avoid heartache.

He took a deep breath and listened to the breeze whisper in his ears. They were given a second change, another opportunity to do some things differently. Perhaps it was this thought which had allowed him to go past his initial surprise at the fast-growing attachment harbouring between them. After all, he may have missed many great opportunities by being so guarded, but did this mean he had to make a fool of himself? He had seen Peter around women, and it had been most educational – as well as entertaining – in how not to behave. He remembered a conversation the two of them had had after one particularly disastrous affair involving the Magnificent King.

"By Aslan, Peter, how could you notsee this coming? I mean, the girl has six brothers!" he snorted, pressing a damp cloth to his brother's swollen cheekbone. Peter gave him a lopsided grin before hissing in pain.

"If I considered brothers, fathers or what-have-you, then I would rather commit to celibacy and isolation" Peter replied with a chuckle.

"Even if they beat the living lights out of you?" Ed asked, unconvinced.

"That's when being a King comes in handy," the older King said with a wink, which he then regretted, a jolt of pain arising from his darkened cheekbone. "But I understand why they did this, I mean, wouldn't you want to punch the guy if you ever caught someone charming one of the girls?" Peter argued.

"You forget it was me who caught Lucy and Peridan in tight liplock" Ed replied, shuddering.

"We both know Lucy had more accountability for that situation than Peridan" Peter said matter-of-factly. "Plus, Peridan is an honourable man and his feelings are sincere" he added.

"And you aren't?" Ed enquired.

"Lets just say that my intentions were innocent, just not serious. It was a fling, Ed, nothing more" Peter exhaled tiredly.

"You are one of the best strategists I know, but you don't seem to be able to plan your flings ahead and avoid having your head smashed against a wall" Edmund told, shaking his head.

"Strategy has nothing to do with it, Ed. I'd rather suffer the consequences than the regret of what ifs" Peter admitted. Edmund looked at him with an arched eyebrow and shook his head.

"I will never understand this weird sense of adventure of yours, or whatever you want to call it" he sighed.

"It doesn't surprise me. You and Su have always been more analytical, and to be honest, I sometimes envy you for it, for the calm collectedness you manage to keep even when things go terribly wrong. I value and admire calculated strategy, but life is not a war to be won, it is not about diplomacy and politics. Life needs to be felt, with its bursts, its surprises, its blows and its pain, and that means relinquishing some control" Peter said wisely, almost philosophically. Ed pondered on the words for a moment, then his face broke into a teasing smile.

"This coming from one of the worst control-freaks in history" he bantered.

"I said relinquish control over one's own life, I said nothing about overseeing other's" Peter replied with a laugh.

"High King Peter, the Overseer" Ed replied, and they shared a laugh, before Peter hissed in pain again and Ed resumed tending to his bruise.

He had always admired – and was slightly jealous of – Peter's blind trust in his instincts when it came to feelings; he would regret getting in trouble, but never regretted following his gut. Peter had been right then – and Aslan forbid him ever saying that out loud –; he and Lucy had always been more carefree, whereas he and Susan were more critical, and relied on logic much more. Perhaps this was one of the lessons Aslan was talking about. Perhaps it was time for him to explore what laid beyond the boundaries of his comfort zone.

However soothing logic was, it did not do much to lessen the void in his chest, and with a sigh, the King allowed himself to lay on the warm stone roof, his eyes fixed on the early afternoon sky.

His battle-trained hearing caught the soft creek of his terrace door, and he waited for the sound of booted steps accompanied by Caspian's enquiry on his mood. The King's brows knitted into a soft frown when he heard neither, and he stretched his neck just in time to find Myrna climbing onto the stone railing of the terrace, clearly with the intention of joining him on the roof. He smiled at her cumbersome efforts to stand on the sandstone barrier and decided to descend, expertly climbing down and landing gracefully on the stone balustrade.

"I could have climbed up, you know?" Myr told him, small resentment making its way to her voice as she took the hand he offered her and sat next to him on the stone railing.

"Not with that dress" he replied simply, carelessly swinging one of his legs over the railing, facing her fully. The Archen Lady shot him an annoyed look as she crossed her legs under her and sat more comfortably. For a long moment they just sat there, in silence, enjoying the privileged view they had from such heights. A warm breeze blew constantly on this part of the castle, and despite the Lady's best efforts, her bright locks danced in the air, carried around by the wind.

"I am no expert, but you could braid your hair instead of trying to tame it uselessly" Edmund pointed out, a small smile of amusement crawling to his lips at Myrina's glare. He looked as she delicately threaded her hair into a long copper-coloured braid over her shoulder. Once she had finished, she looked up at him, her bright eyes staring deeply into his.

"Are you alright?" she asked softly. Her tone was not hesitant – as he had admittedly half-expected – and had the right measure of caring curiosity without being nosy, while her gaze did not waver; she was certain it was the right moment to ask, and it was. Edmund's lips twitched into a small smile and he looked away, slightly taken aback by her ability to read him; up until then, only Susan and Caspian could boast of that privilege.

"I am, yes," he finally replied. "I miss her, and I know I will still miss her tomorrow and the day after and the day after that" he answered sincerely, supporting himself on his arms as he leaned backwards.

"You seem to have come to terms with that fact" Myr noted.

"Because it is a fact: we all miss those we are attached to" Edmund replied matter-of-factly.

"But…?" Myr enquired, the King and Lady locking gazes again.

"But," Edmund echoed, sending her a pointed look. "It is the 'growing attached' part which is posing some difficulty" he added after taking a breath.

"Which means?" Myrina asked once more.

"Which means it was unexpected in its intensity and I haven't decided whether it is a good or a bad thing yet" Edmund explained.

Myr listened to him in silence, trying to ignore the cold sensation in her chest. Resisting the urge to shake her head, she steeled herself; this was not about her, it was about him. He confided in her as a friend – which coming from Edmund meant a great deal – and was expecting her to behave as such.

"I think it's normal to miss someone you love" she told with a small smile, looking down at her hands.

"I don't love Casarah, not yet" Edmund replied, not a trace of hesitation in his voice, and the confidence of his statement caught Myr by surprise.

"And do you want to love her?" she enquired then and he shrugged, eyes glinting with harmless irony that matched his expression.

"Is it even possible to want to love somebody?" he replied.

"It is a question open to interpretation, you may want to love someone because you recognise traits you consider suitable" she argued.

"I don't think wanting has anything to do with it. You either love someone or you don't, and if you want to love a person it means that you don't already do" Edmund commented.

"But love grows from affection, and thus, if two people set themselves to love each other, they may eventually succeed" Myr countered.

"It is a possibility, at least until they get to experience true, passionate, romantic love instead of deep fondness. I agree that love is not instantaneous, but it requires a degree of attraction in order to develop from affection, otherwise it turns into friendship" Edmund replied, quite engrossed with the subject at hand.

"And yet friends can become lovers" Myr pointed out confidently.

"Only after you add the physical attraction element; until either or both parts start seeing one another in a different light, that is, as possible mates, they will remain friends. Also, let's not forget attraction is volatile and unpredictable in nature and utterly unaffected by volition" the Just King argued in turn.

"You may have a point there," Myr agreed, fiddling with the end of her braid. "But wouldn't it make heartbreak all the more bearable if love were subjected to choice and timing?" she added as an afterthought. Edmund made a noise of agreement and threw an inquisitive look at his companion. He knew her to be perfectly capable of having profound arguments, but there was something in the way she had spoken. Her smile had a sad hint to it, and he could not shake the feeling that she spoke on experience.

"Anyway," she resumed with renewed cheerfulness, knocking him out of his pondering. "You are neither the first nor the last person to be parted from their beloved, and if it ever gets too unbearable, nothing prevents you from jumping on a horse straight to Calormen. So, you can either spend all week moping miserably in a corner or enjoy yourself and then tell Casarah all about it in your letters" she told him with a joking admonishing tone that he knew was meant to poke at his ego.

"I did not intend to dwell on it for long; come on Myr, you should know me better than that" he answered, humouring her with fake outrage.

"I do, I just needed to make sure you didn't disappoint me" she replied smugly causing him to snort.

"I'll disappoint you in chess if you want, there is no way you can win" he countered blatantly, with an air of sham superiority, finding himself eager to hear her comeback.

"Ah, really? And tell me, King Edmund, how can you be so certain of your claim if I don't recall us ever playing together" Myr defended, throwing him a half daring, half threatening look.

"Simple: my strategic skills are legendary and you don't strike me as a frequent player, pumpkin" he played along, the corners of his lips curling up at the twitch of her eyebrow at his new nickname for her.

"Oh, I'm sorry to burst your little bubble, sweetie, but I have seen King Caspian drag your sorry arse across the board many times, so you may have to review your 'legendary strategic skills'" she retorted with a satisfied smile. She was good.

"Ah, touché" he admitted, jumping off the railing and helping her down. "But the important fact you need to remember is that you are not Caspian. Well, you realise we must now settle this by having a proper game of chess" he added with a smirk, Myr answering with a defiant look.

And the Archen Lady proved to be a very fine match indeed.

Caspian groaned into one of the intricately embroidered cushions populating the armchairs in his study. It had been a very poor decision to spend the afternoon sorting out the piled paperwork; he was starting to get a headache. A soft knock distracted him from his rather unrefined thoughts on tax reports and he moaned a reply into the cushions. A click from the door indicated he had been heard.

"Should I come back at a better time?" the heavily accented voice of the Maharajah spoke politely, prodding Caspian to lift his head.

"This is as good a time as any, my friend. I apologise for the rude welcome, though I'm sure you understand the pesky nature of tax reports" Caspian explained, shifting his position into a more suitable one before inviting the foreign monarch to take a seat.

"Ah, I must say I do; petitions and treaties I don't mind, but tax reports are by no means agreeable" Radhanath agreed, smiling good-naturedly.

"Tea?" Caspian offered, walking over to the quietly steaming kettle that had been left for him by a servant earlier on. Radhanath looked at Caspian most curious.

"You keep a kettle in your office?" the foreign monarch asked.

"A most practical elven idea: you keep hot coals inside an iron pot so that the kettle is remains warm for longer. It keeps the servants from having to come and go from the kitchens countless times a day" Caspian explained with a grin. Radhanath lifted his eyebrows and nodded, making a mental note to try the idea once he got back home.

"I fear I come to you with a rather unhappy subject, King Caspian, if that is alright" the Maharabian spoke after a few instants spared in casual chatting. Caspian nodded, sensing the matter was important; whatever it was, his friend had given it a lot of thought before coming to him.

"Your Highness," the Maharajah started, visibly restless.

"Caspian, I would rather you called me such, but please continue" the Telmarine King interrupted, surprising Radhanath slightly.

"Alright, be it as you wish, Caspian" said the monarch, offering him one of his trademark warm smiles. "It has come to my attention that the High King and my daughter have gotten along exceedingly well during our short stay. I rejoice that the bonds of friendship between our families have tightened – how could I not – but it is my belief that this closeness between the two has surpassed the boundaries of mere diplomatic relations" the Maharajah stated clearly, his dark eyes never leaving Caspian. The young King took a deep breath; there was something in Radhanath's look that told him this was only an introduction to the real reason behind this talk – and his anxiety.

"I assure you, my friend, that High King Peter has the best of intentions with your daughter, the legends do not lie about his chivalry" Caspian commented despite his near-certainty this was not a matter of fatherly concern.

"It is not my wish to question His Majesty's impeccable behaviour, far from it, but I can't say the same about my daughter's" the fellow monarch said gravely, his gaze falling to his entwined hands "I wish all happiness to my Nabeela, and if she were to find it with King Peter, my heart would know no greater joy. Yet, the past has taught me to distrust my own daughter, for the darkness inside her is cruel and cold. I fear His Highness to be no more than a temporal entertainment, a plaything she will toss away as soon as she grows bored" Radhanath spoke, standing before Caspian not as a monarch, but as a pain-stricken, broken-hearted father.

"I wish I had the right words to allay your affliction, my friend" Caspian noted kindly. A heavy silence fell over the two Kings as they contemplated the situation, aggravated and troubled.

"Sadly, as far as Peter is concerned, I am afraid there is little we can do. He has a-" Caspian hesitated for a second. "...strong character and it will be close to impossible to convince him to end his attachment to Nabeela. Nevertheless, I am sure her true character will be revealed sooner or later, be it on its own or by the many among us acquainted with it; being a silent witness is not a position I favour" he added darkly. The Raj drew a long breath and Caspian sent him an apologetic look, having forgotten that this was his daughter they were speaking of.

"And on that you have my unconditional support, even if this means acting against my own blood; I pray everyday for my daughter to find her peace and stop all this torment. I only fear for all the innocent who will suffer until she does" the Raj told, grieved.

"A bitter truth" Caspian noted heavily. "And yet I think she makes a sore mistake by underestimating the High King; Peter is not one to enjoy the position of victim and it would be foolish to poke his temper, or worse still, his righteousness" he added.

"The Gods look down on those who disdain of others and their feelings" Raddie told solemnly. "But could it be that this is a blessing in disguise?" he then wondered quietly. Caspian looked at him with interest.

"It is just a thought, but could it be that theirs was a not meeting by chance? It has only just occurred to me that King Peter may be the one sent by the Gods to rid Nabeela of her wickedness; sometimes I think some sort of evil spirit has taken over her" the Raj explained, a flicker of hope colouring his speech.

"It is a comforting thought, my friend" Caspian agreed with a small smile.

"If I am to be honest, I find it quite difficult to believe this is King Peter we are discussing about" Raddie admitted.

"You and anyone remotely familiar with the stories of the Golden Age" Caspian replied with a snort. "But the High King Peter you have met is the brilliant strategist, gifted diplomat, wise monarch and loyal warrior of the legends, yet he appears to have lost some the worldly experience that comes with age, particularly when it comes to romantic entanglements" he added, looking down at his cup.

"With all due respect, you are all so young" Raddie commented with a small smile.

"That we are" Caspian agreed with a chuckle. "I have made the mistake of expecting Peter to be every inch the legendary King of Old he once was, but as Aslan wisely told us: 'things never happen the same way twice'. There is grandness in him but it would be wrong to place the weight of expectation upon the shoulders of one already carrying a heavy responsibility" the young King added sensibly.

"Listening to you, I would say there is grandness in each of you" the Raj noted, and Caspian took the compliment with a thankful nod.

Nabeela smiled contently at his side, her pearly white teeth peeking joyfully behind her lush lips, prickling him with the need to kiss them. The Magnificent King bit the inside of his cheek and chose not to give in to temptation, not quite comfortable with the idea of displaying his affections when both their families were so close by. Earlier that morning, Susan had suggested they all took a light refreshment in the gardens while the servants finished preparing the carriages for the Maharabian family's departure.

Peter smiled at the memory of one of their nightly walks, when they had discussed her inevitable departure and she had voiced her wish to extend her visit, her beautiful beech-wood brown eyes shyly cast down as she spoke. Her sweet request dissipated whatever shred of reluctance he may have had and he whispered his own desire for her to stay in Narnia forever. He had then broached the subject with the Raj, extending the invitation to the whole royal family.

"Your Majesty is most kind but I am afraid the people of Maharayab await the return of their sovereign; as rulers we are subject to the expectations and demands of our people, as I am sure you know" the older King replied. "In regards to my daughter, it is something I must discuss with my wife" Radhanath added with a pleasant smile.

In the end, after a couple of days strewn with moments of sadness and hope, The Raj and Rani finally allowed their daughter to stay as his personal guest, this being the reason of their present state of bliss. She was so beautiful when she smiled... In the back of his mind, he felt a small pang of sadness for his brother; he wished Casarah had been allowed to stay and Edmund could have been spared from heartbreak. Still, Edmund handled grief much better than he ever would; if Nabeela were to leave, well, only Aslan knows what sort of foolish behaviour he was capable of.

Susan and Lucy watched as Peter and Nabeela walked around the garden, only their laughs raising above their whispers to one another. Lucy glanced at her sister, attracted by her heavy sigh. Queen Susan's crystal blue eyes followed her brother with a sceptic glare, her lips pursed in displeasure.

"How long do you reckon she will stay?" the young Queen asked.

"I don't know, Lu" Susan answered diplomatically, but not quite bothering to hide her disapproval at her brother's sudden decision.

"I hope not long. I can't quite shake the impression that she looks satisfied, like she has accomplished something. I don't like it. Is it terrible for me to think that, Su?" Lucy commented, turning to look at her sister, noticeably concerned about her uncharacteristic reaction. Susan smiled and wrapped an arm around Lucy's shoulders, pulling her closer.

"No, of course not, Lu" she said, heaving another deep sigh, eyes travelling again to the golden haired King and Lucy mirrored her, knowing Susan shared her thoughts about the Maharabian Princess, even if she did not voice them.

Then, an elegantly dressed Maharabian guard approached his sovereign and whispered something to his ear before bowing elegantly.

"Ah, certainly. Thank you, Captain" Radhanath told, dismissing the man. "Nabeela, darling, your mother would like a word with you before we leave" the Maharajah spoke, approaching the strolling couple in slow, relaxed steps. His daughter smiled at Peter and then at her father, parting from them towards her mother and siblings.

"You have a very charming daughter, Your Highness, if I may" Peter commented, following Radhanath in his leisurely promenade.

"She is indeed, My King, she is an enchanting child, as unbiased as a father can be to comment," the monarch said with a loving chuckle, both men looking at the Princess. "And I can see her grace has enchanted your path" Radhanath hinted, cinnamon eyes casting a warm, kind glance at Peter.

"I cannot lie, I appreciate your daughter's company very much, yes" Peter confessed confidently, seeing no point in denying the obvious.

"Such words gladden me to no end. Still, I must humbly ask you to keep a clear judgement at all times, not to oversee the truth that lies beyond the eye" the Maharajah told cryptically, leaving Peter slightly confused at the meaning of his words.

"I will take good care of her, Majesty, you have my word" said Peter resolutely, mistaking the Raj's words for fatherly concern.

"I don't doubt you will, My King" the Maharajah replied, patting Peter's shoulder warmly.

Caspian and Edmund had insisted in escorting the Maharabian company to the border of the city. It was a silent ride, punctuated by the meaningful looks exchanged between the two Kings as they tried to make sense of the tense moment they had just witnessed.

Radhanath hesitated before getting into his carriage, whispering something to his wife before turning to look at them with a warm apologetic smile.

"Forgive this over-caring father, Your Majesties, there is one last thing I would like to say to my daughter" he spoke, motioning for Nabeela to get closer. Tactfully, the rest of them engaged in a light whispered conversation so as to give father and daughter a moment of privacy. However, the Raj's speech, spoken in loud and clear Maharab, echoed in the courtyard and could be hardly missed, despite their best efforts. It had been an ingenious move, for the foreign language kept his words a mystery for those who did not speak it, yet the force in his tone could be universally understood. Nabeela had not expected this, Caspian noticed; she had allowed surprise to break her mask for a split moment before she covered her annoyance with a false smile and a honeyed reply. Cleverly deceiving.

"Is everything alright?" Peter asked Nabeela, taking her hand in his.

"Absolutely. My father only wished to emphasise that I should not abuse of your generosity. He is right, of course, so please, let me know if I my presence ever becomes an inconvenience" Nabeela told sweetly.

"I hardly think such thing is possible; if anything your presence here is most convenient, in particular to me" Peter replied with a charming smile, causing Nabeela to giggle. Catching Caspian's eye, Edmund made a gagging motion and he hurried to mount his horse, riding ahead to join the Maharabian cavalry. Caspian stifled a laugh and mirrored his friend's actions, not wishing to witness any more of Peter's cloying prattle.

Upon their return and still quite confused, the Kings agreed to a game of cards and invited Gemini to join them. Caspian looked at the cards in his hand, waiting for his turn to play. They under the shade of a tall tree, cards thrown on the grass as they played. Scorpio, Rainidan and Zephyr had accepted the soldiers' invitation to a friendly sparring session.

"It is not like you to decline a sparring opportunity, my friend" Caspian noted, rearranging his cards.

"Lets just say I am feeling a bit lazy" Gemini replied with a smirk. Caspian threw a curious glance at the Archen and caught what seemed to be a conspiratorial glint in his eyes. Caspian then shot a look at Ed, but his best friend seemed to be having thoughts in his head other than the current game, his score resenting his lack of attention.

"Edmund" Caspian worded as he placed his card on the table, Gemini wincing as Caspian had just scored.

"Am I wrong to assume that you didn't suggest this game just for the sake of entertainment?" he asked, piercing the King of Old with a knowing look, which the King parried with an annoyed look of his own.

"Do you ever take a break of guessing people's intentions?" Ed replied.

"Not when said intentions are poorly covered; furthermore, I'd say you did it on purpose" Caspian answered cleverly, the look on his friend's eyes confirming his theory.

"For the record, I do enjoy a good card game" Edmund commented, putting his cards down.

"I think it would be fair to guess that King Edmund-" Gemini intervened before he was interrupted by the King in question.

"Edmund" said the King tiredly.

"Ah, yes, yes" Gemini bit his tongue. "As I was saying, I think Edmund is curious about the Raj's rather unconventional farewell to his daughter" the Archen Prince guessed, earning a nod from Edmund. The glint of excitement in his eyes did not escape Caspian's notice; his friend liked gossip, deny it as he might.

"And, if my memory does not betray me, you happen to speak fluent Maharab, don't you, Gemini?" Caspian teased.

"You exaggerate my skills, Caspian, 'fluent' is not quite the term I'd use" Gemini replied.

"The only terms I'd like you to use are the ones to tell us what the hell that was all about" Edmund told, impatiently.

"Very well. He first told her to write frequently, knowing that her mother would grow restless without news from her. He told her he was going to miss his flower very much" Gemini explained, trying to recall the conversation.

"I understood the words 'warning' and 'punishment' at some point" Caspian commented, making a mental note to ask the Professor for his book on Maharab vocabulary.

"Yes, his exact words were: 'I leave you, Nabeela, but know that distance won't prevent me from learning about your misbehaviour. Do not try anything perverse, I may not be able to see, but the Gods' eyes will. Punishment always comes for those with ill intentions. Heed my words as a warning'" the Prince translated. Each of the three men frowned as the meaning of the words downed on them, silence thick and tense.

"And this is her own father talking" Edmund spoke gravely, shaking his head in mild astonishment.

"She was caught by surprise, it was evident in her face, but I fear that this incident will cause her to be more alert; it will be a while before she lowers her guard and makes a mistake" Gemini appraised.

"Aggravated as we may be, the best option we have is to keep an eye open for any slips she could have" Edmund said wisely, picking up the deck of cards and dealing them, starting a new game.

"I trust that soon enough she will get too confident and slip" Caspian noted, arranging the cards in his hand.

"Until then, it cannot hurt for us to make matters as slippery as possible for her, nay?" Gemini commented, surprising the other two men with the roguish flicker vibrating in his voice.

Caspian smiled, taking another bite of the steak in his plate. Dinner in the castle had never been as warm and merry before the Pevensies' arrival. What in the past had been moments of tension and heavy silences was now full of small harmless bantering, jokes, funny comments and the constant buzz of voices, a real family meal. Scorpio had just told them one of his many anecdotes, which had Edmund succumbing to a heavy attack of coughing after choking on his peas following a particularly funny bit. It was usually around this time that Tairin either chastised or embarrassed the blond by adding a small yet hilarious detail, but instead, Caspian found his sister's laugh and remarks missing throughout the meal.

A feather-light touch to his hand tore his attention off his sister and he turned to look at Susan, lips curling into a small contented smile. Discretely, she pointed at Tairin, her brows knitting in a silent question. He shrugged and shook his head discretely, equally curious about his sister's uncharacteristic silence. Then a loud giggle echoed in the room causing Tairin to clench her jaw, providing them both with the answer they sought. Nabeela held a napkin to her face, throwing a pointed sideways look at Peter. The King pretended to eat impassively, a smirk slowly fighting his way into his lips. The soft clink of cutlery on a plate followed suit and Tairin excused herself, leaving the room without another word. At his side, Caspian felt Susan move in her chair with the intention of following her friend. Placing his hand on top of hers, he once again shook his head, throwing a glance at Zephyr. The Archen Duke smiled apologetically and excused himself, following Tairin out of the room. Lucy leaned over the table to exchange a puzzled look with her sister. Edmund cleared his throat and threw a meaningful glance at Caspian.

"Only you would turn something as innocent as peas into a deathly weapon, Scorpio; I shall forever be wary of them" the Just King commented, cleverly shifting the attention and somewhat dissipating the uncomfortable mood in the room. Thankfully, the perfectly-timed entrance of a servant bringing the dessert tray provided a nice distraction.

Lucy welcomed pudding rather enthusiastically, clapping her hands excitedly as the different sweets and pastries were loaded onto the table.

"Calm down Lu, you'll have a tummy ache if you eat too much" Peter told her as she started filling her plate with her favourite delicacies.

"I'm not the one with the chocolate restriction" the little Queen answered with witty sharpness, reaching for a raspberry pastry. Susan tapped her arm lightly, pointing to her already very full plate with a cautionary gaze.

"You will never let that go, will you, Lu?" Edmund replied tiredly. Lucy grinned and shook her head.

"Now I'm curious" Caspian piped in.

"Of course you would" Edmund said flatly, rolling his eyes. "Lucy is convinced I cannot control myself after I've eaten too much chocolate, which is absurd" he explained, proving his point by taking a large bite of his slice of chocolate cake.

"Oh and you clearly were in control last week when you had the genius idea of climbing on your wardrobe, coincidentally after you wolfed that entire double chocolate cake" Lucy retorted, blue eyes glinting expectantly at the Just King for a reply.

"First of all, I was not climbing, I was looking for something I had stored on top of my wardrobe and landed badly, and it was before I ate the cake, which was only two slices!" Ed told, growing rather bothered at the accusation.

"Two slices if you cut the cake in half, brother" Caspian added, innocently munching on a strawberry pie.

"Not helping, Caspian" Edmund told pointedly. Zephyr then joined them again, apologising for being gone for so long.

"Oh, how is Tairin, what happened?" Lucy asked in concern, involuntarily putting Zeph in a tight spot.

"Oh, nothing serious. It would seem she had an upset stomach since the early afternoon and it seems to have gotten worse. She asked me to express her deepest apologies for her sudden departure" Zeph answered skilfully, sending a glance to Caspian that brought the King no relieve at all.

"Well, I am sure Tai won't mind me eating her dessert, then" Scorpio told, causing the whole table to laugh at his antics.

"King Caspian, I haven't had the opportunity to see your horse yet, and I've been told it's a beautiful animal. Would it be possible for me to see it after dinner?" Nabeela asked, surprising Caspian with her request.

"I haven't checked Destrier's daily routine, but I'm quite sure he has not yet retired for the night" he replied with a joking spark, prompting many chuckles across the table. "But in all seriousness, Your Highness, feel free to visit the stables whenever you wish, there are many other horses I'm sure you'd like. Ask any of the servants to take you, they will be glad to help" Caspian added with a smile.

"Oh, no need, I will take her myself" Peter offered, Caspian practically feeling Edmund's eye-roll at this.

They all left the dining room shortly after, Peter smiling as he chivalrously held the door open to the foreign Princess.

"Zephyr, may I have a word?" Caspian called as they walked towards the common room. The Archen Duke nodded politely.

"The whole story about Tairin having an upset stomach was not true, was it?" Caspian asked, closing the door of the common room behind him. The Archen Duke looked abashed.

"Forgive me, sire, it was not. It was an excuse I made up. In truth-" he replied.

"You could not find Tairin" Caspian interrupted him, taking a deep breath. "Don't be hard on yourself, my friend, you are not to blame" he hurried to add, noticing Zephyr's guilty expression.

"Caspian is right; you know fully well that your fiancée has a temper to her and she prefers to be alone when upset. You could have been utterly acquainted with the castle, if she didn't want to be found, you would not have found her" Gemini explained, Caspian endorsing his statement with a nod.

"If she wants to be alone, then we should respect her wish" Susan intervened, understanding her friend's need for solitude despite being a bit worried.

Tairin took a deep breath and closed the door behind her. The Professor's calm patience and ever-soothing cup of tea had always been a great source of comfort. She had missed the her kind tutor's humour and wit, and his kind wisdom. She had spent the past few hours blaring out her irritation at Nabeela and at Peter's short-sighted trust in the horrid woman. Once she had cleared her chest of all injury, Doctor Cornelius had offered her his kind advice and opinion on the matter. She felt much lighter; the old Dwarf had reassured her that her feelings and thoughts were valid, but suggested that these were her opinion and that she should avoid imposing it on other people. It was a fair point, but it did not mean it was an easy task to accomplish. Still mulling over this piece of advice, she let her feet take her to the library. The constant crepitation of the torches and the sound of pages turning in the otherwise silent room were the sole company she craved at that moment.

Once inside, she took off her shoes and took a quiet, relaxed stroll along the lines of bookcases, allowing her hand to wander along the spines of the books. Every now and then she would stop and take a volume out of its resting place, leaf through a few of its pages and put it back. Or, if something had caught her interest, she carried it with her. She had gathered three rather large tomes under her arm when she finally felt herself at peace again, her heart finally beating softly and rhythmically; it was time to go back before the others got too worried.

She opened the door to the common room and took a shy peek inside, meeting the curious glances of her friends. She smiled at the expectant gazes and felt a twinge of guilt for making all of them worry, especially Zephyr, whom she could see had been restless. Susan smiled warmly at her and shifted in the sofa so she could sit next to her, her silent gesture warm and understanding. Shyly, Lucy sat at her side and squeezed her hand.

"You were upset because of Nabeela, right?" she asked in a little voice. Tairin was surprised at her insightfulness and smiled.

"Remember what we discussed about personal boundaries and sensitive subjects, Lu" Susan admonished softly and Lucy sent Tairin an apologetic look.

"It's alright, Susan" Tairin assured the Queen. "Yes, Lu, I was upset because of her" she added.

"Welcome to the club, you're not the only" Edmund commented, not lifting his eyes from his book.

"Just avoid her during the day and ignore her when you absolutely must be in her company; every time she speaks I go to my happy place" Scorpio suggested, smiling brightly.

"I dare not imagine what your happy place looks like" Gemini murmured loudly, laughter bursting in the room.

The cosy buzz of conversation was interrupted by the door opening to reveal Peter, surprisingly alone.

"Enjoyed your time at the stables?" Caspian asked, putting a pawn away, having just made a successful move closer to Myrina's side of the board.

"The lack of straw on his clothes would suggest otherwise" Ed piped in, an impish lop-sided grin on his face. Peter shot him a glare.

"Actually no, the visit to the stables was an excuse, really. Nabeela burst into tears as soon as we got there; she felt awful at supper" Peter replied, not making any effort to conceal the irritation in his voice. "And what did you mean by 'I haven't checked Destrier's daily routine'?" spoke the King again, mocking Caspian's voice. Caspian rolled his eyes.

"Come on, Peter, it was a joke" he said, looking tiredly at the eldest Pevensie, who only pursed his lips and looked away.

"A joke, you know? Something someone says when they want to be funny? Not that the concept is known to you, of course" Ed noted flatly, eyes still trained on his book. Peter replied with a sarcastic grimace.

"She spent at least an hour sobbing and would not calm down; I spent all this time trying to get her to stop crying. Do you realise just how uncomfortable it was for Nabeela to look at your sour expression the whole time? And if that wasn't enough, you had to make a dramatic – and rude – exit" he snapped, glaring at Tairin. The room fell very silent.

"Very well, Your Majesty, I shall apologise to the Princess for not emptying the contents of my stomach right there at the dining table; it was a misjudgement of my part to spare her from the sight of partially digested food" Tairin answered acidly, tapping a finger against the soft side of the sofa.

"Only a fool wouldn't have noticed the tension during dinner and your silence was less than polite; Nabeela was constrained" Peter insisted, his voice raising several octaves.

"Of course she was" Edmund whispered acerbically. Myr nudged him discretely for his comment.

"It is no secret that you and Nabeela don't get along, and you're only picking on her to vex me indirectly" Peter added matter-of-factly, crossing his arms over his chest. Edmund covered his face with his palm and shook his head.

"Here we go" he whispered, causing Myr to look at him curiously.

"Really, don't think so high of yourself, I have better things to do than look for ways to nag you" Tairin replied with a derisive laugh. "It is quite rich coming from the guy who showed so little disregard to the other people living in this castle; mind you, it would have been polite to discuss with others before inviting people over" Tairin retorted, challenging Peter's glare with one of her own.

Caspian sighed heavily, hand reaching up to rub the bridge of his nose.

"This fight has started for good now" he murmured, Susan caressing his hand in loving comfort. "Children, please stop fighting" he said out loud, hoping to put some humour into the situation and get it sorted out before it took bigger proportions.

"Shut up Caspian" Tairin snapped, not even bothering to look at her brother.

"Ugh, right in the brotherly love" Edmund joked, earning a kick from Caspian.

"Your Highness, please, Tairin has already explained why she left so hastily, these accusations are unnecessary" Zephyr interjected with flawless finesse, respect guiding his choice of words. Peter looked at him for a moment in silence, almost as if he had forgotten about him, before looking back at Tairin sceptically.

"You didn't consult any of us about him staying" he spoke, pointing at Zephyr with a loose movement of the head.

"I am going to marry him!" Tairin exclaimed incredulously.

"Who is to say I may not marry Nabeela as well?" Peter countered poorly, inducing an unladylike snort on Tairin.

"Oh please, have some sense of dignity or at least some self-respect. I don't suppose you can find yourself a dainty queen, but this is just preposterous" the Princess replied stingingly, her wits being a fearful ally to her irritation.

"Excuse me? What exactly makes you think I can't find a suitable wife?" said Peter, outrage making its way to his already loud tone.

"Um, your poor choice of love interests, perhaps?" Tairin stated mordantly.

"And you think yours is any better?"

"Obviously yes"

"Ha, you actually sound confident.."

"Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot how useless it is to try and put reason in that hole you have atop your shoulders" Tairin spat letting out an exasperated sigh.

"Reason? This is you looking for an excuse for Nabeela not to stay... or to argue with me" the King quipped, lifting one of his wheat-coloured eyebrows.

"Do you ever listen to yourself? Now it turns out I need excuses to talk to you? Delusional, that is what you are, utterly delusional" Tairin told him, shaking her head at the absurdity of his words.

"You very well might" answered Peter smugly.

"Conceitedness is deathly"

"So is arrogance"

"By the Tail, this is like talking to a rock!" Tairin cried out, massaging her temple.

"I wish it was the case, rocks don't answer back"

"Oh look, a failed attempt to be cunning"

"Insufferable woman!"

"Retarded baboon!"

Edmund, who until then had been doing his best to contain his laughter, snorted at that last comment, not able to hold on any longer.

"Edmund!" came Susan's murmured scolding.

"Have you finished quarrelling?" Caspian's grave voice took over the whispering, Princess and King finally looking at him.

"Tairin, Nabeela is Peter's guest and as such she can stay as long as she wishes to, for this castle is home to all of us. However, it is also true for this same reason, Peter, that her presence should not be imposed on the rest of the castle's inhabitants" the Faithful King spoke; he hoped that by favouring a neutral position he would not indispose himself with either of them. Peter, regardless of his frown, appeared to accept Caspian's words. The High King then nodded courtly and bid them goodnight, leaving the room without another word. Tairin's glare followed him out of the room and she sat on an armchair, picking up one of her books and roughly flipping through the pages.

"Tairin..." Caspian called hesitantly, not quite wanting to get into a row with his sister.

"I don't blame you, Caspian, you were being diplomatic, and I understand" she murmured coldly after a moment of silence.

"I hate to admit it but that woman is clever. She has successfully used the situation to turn Peter against us and we fed her the right elements for her little theatricals" Ed spoke behind the book in his hands, having returned to his reading.

"She is having the time of her life by manipulating him, that's her all-time favourite pastime; she only needed more time to set her game just right" Tairin sighed, giving up on the book and tossing it aside.

"Even if she didn't stay, I think Peter would have gone to Maharayab with her, walked there if he had to" Edmund noted with a snort. "I only hope she does leave someday" he added darkly. The room fell into a crisp silence again, as all thoughts wandered around the same question: what were Nabeela's intentions?

Peter stretched, sighing at the pleasant cracks on his back; he had been sitting for too long. He had just finished reading some intricately boring petitions, and with a satisfied smile, he called it a day. The view from his window was very inviting, the warm breeze simply inviting him out; summer was definitely close. Not needing much persuasion, he got up from his chair and decided to go on a walk to stretch his legs and perhaps eat an apple or two under a tree. Nabeela, he knew, was meeting the captain of a Maharabian ship – a friend of her father – and would not be back before lunch. This gave him time to think where he would be taking her that afternoon, walking aimlessly as he did. Reaching the orchards, a giggle caught his attention, muscles tensing in alert, his hand subconsciously falling on the hilt of his sword.

"Caspian, stop tickling me!"

There, badly hidden behind a tree were Susan and Caspian, Susan's back pressed against the trunk while Caspian held her waist, an impish smile playing on his lips. Peter froze. He could try turning on his heel and step away silently, but something held him rooted to the spot. Caspian had lowered his head and after whispering something into Susan's ear, pressed a kiss on her lips. Peter looked away, utterly uncomfortable with the scene playing before him, for the kiss had evolved into a passionate one. Despite his unease at the situation, Peter felt his temper rising at how close the cheeky Telmarine was to his sister, and he could almost taste the mouthful he was ready to give him. However, a stronger feeling kept him from lecturing Caspian on how to keep his hands to himself. As Peter pondered on these thoughts, Caspian had broken the kiss and looked up, surprise shining on his dark gaze for a second.

"Peter" he addressed, Susan leaning slightly over to look at him.

"Peter what are you-" she asked, but was cut off by her brother.

"Didn't see where I was going, sorry Su, Caspian" Peter mumbled a bit in a daze, turning around abruptly and marching away in long strides. Caspian and Susan stared nonplussed at his rapidly retreating back. Susan grabbed Caspian's arm as he tried to go after the blonde King, shaking her head lightly.

"Give him some time. Talking to him right now could easily turn into a fight, and both of you have only just recovered from the fight with Tarik" she reasoned, looking deep into his eyes, successfully stopping him. His restlessness on the subject must have shown in his eyes, for she then added.

"I too want this talk to happen sooner rather than later, but I know it's better for Peter to organise his thoughts so he can think straight".

Peter stumbled into a small courtyard, half registering the fact as many thoughts crossed his mind. The sneaky Telmarine had to charm his sister, didn't he? And he didn't just charm her, he downright wooed her! Of all the women in Narnia, it had to be his sister! He felt a pebble brush against his boot and without a second thought, he kicked it, causing it to collide against the nearby wall with a clatter.

Susan was his little sister, the dark-haired little darling who would cover him in plasters and cotton balls when she played nurse; the little baby he held in his arms when she tripped and fell; the gentle hand that would squeeze his shoulder to reassure him he had made the right decision. He took a deep breath. He knew he was being an overprotective maniac – as Ed had so kindly put it once – but it was his role as an older brother: to make sure that his siblings were never hurt.

He felt a twinge in his chest. Caspian was a good man. Try as he might, he would not be able to find a significant flaw to him, and he definitely would take good care of Susan, protect her and make her happy. Yes, Caspian was certainly worthy of his sister; he was definitely better than Rabadash, no doubt of that. Tarik, on the other hand, was his worthy descendant...

Light crunching sounds reached him and he shot a quick look over his shoulder. Caspian stood somewhat awkwardly a few feet away, as if analysing whether his timing was good or not.

"I... I just came to see if you were alright, you left in such a hurry..." he spoke after moment. This was a first. Peter had never seen his fellow King, known for his graceful eloquence, measure his words and speak so vaguely; boy, he had traumatised the poor bloke.

"I take it you want to talk to me about the scene I inadvertently interrupted?" Peter spoke casually. Caspian, in his agitated state, failed to catch the nip of humour in Peter's voice and immediately replied.

"Yes, and it has been a while since I want to talk to you about this matter. It is true that you found us closer than what is decorous, but-" Caspian's excuse – which Peter suspected Caspian had been rehearsing as he marched to find him – was bluntly cut off by Peter's laughter. The Magnificent King's loud cackles echoed in the small courtyard and Caspian's utterly dumbfounded expression only appeared to add to the King's fit of laughter.

"Sorry, sorry" Peter said, battling a new fit of chuckles. "I think everyone has noticed the romance going on between you two by now, Caspian; the enamoured looks you throw Susan are pretty hard to miss" Peter told once his laughter had subsided, replaced now by some deeper breaths.

"And you are not mad?" Caspian asked slowly, as if fearing Peter would explode and splatter any second now.

"Should I?" Peter asked, unable to stop himself from teasing the man a bit. He could almost hear the gears in Caspian's brain whirring to make sense of his words.

"Relax Caspian, I'm messing with you" Peter said with a grin. "And to answer your question, no, I am not angry, but I have to admit it was a bit of a shock, though" he added seriously, sighing as he stared at the stone floor. Caspian's features became serious and tense all of a sudden.

"Oh, wait, no, no, it's nothing like that. It is hard for me to think of Susan as anything but my little sister, you see, and seeing her as a young woman in love, makes me realise that she is not little any more. It has nothing to do with you" Peter spoke, a hand running distractedly through his hair. Upon hearing this, Caspian visibly relaxed.

"About earlier, it was sudden. Even if I know you are together now, I was just taken a bit by surprise, more by the fact that I didn't expect to find you there than finding you at all" the blond King explained, chuckling awkwardly.

"Peter, I know what you're thinking and-" Caspian hurried to say, once more interrupted by Peter's calm tone.

"No, you don't. I know you were not hiding, what would you be hiding from and why?" he said, the wisdom and the twinkle in his eyes telling the Magnificent King of Old was not lost to his younger self. "You are a couple in love, and it's only right that you spend time together. However, it seems this castle is not as big when it comes to strolling places" Peter added with a chortle, Caspian's lips curling into a soft smile as well. There was a short pause in which neither of the two men spoke.

"I know you're a good man, Caspian, and Susan couldn't be in better care" Peter spoke, stunning Caspian with the genuine recognition in his tone. Still, the tinge of sadness did not escape Caspian's notice, who debated whether or not to comment on it.

"Not only have you charmed Susan, but my other siblings as well; it is a hard blow for an older brother" the blond King exhaled, gaze dropping to his entwined hands.

This was the first time he had had such an open conversation with Peter, and he felt sympathetic; of all the thoughts and theories he had about Peter's less than elated reaction about his and Susan's relationship, him feeling replaced was, if anything, unexpected.

"Peter, I will never be able to displace you, nor it is my wish. You will always be Susan, Edmund and Lucy's older brother, always" Caspian hurried to say. Peter smiled and his shoulders trembled with a light chuckle.

"I never thought you were stealing my family from me, Caspian" the young King reassured with a smile. "I know you are not taking my place or anything of the kind, but for so long it was only me to protect them, it was me they ran to for advice or consolation. I've never shared my siblings, so all this is new to me" he added sheepishly.

"I didn't know you felt that way and I am sorry for it. You are a wonderful family and it is inevitable to be drawn to it. Being part of a family was not something I was used to and now I have one, or at least that is what you all are to me" Caspian confessed.

"Yeah, you're like the cool cousin everyone loves" Peter commented, both men laughing at this.

The echo of their laugher died an instant later and was replaced by the gentle blowing of the wind, carrying a few dry leaves across the stone floor with a rustle.

"About Susan and I..." Caspian told, resolute look on his handsome face. "I would like your approval as your sister's suitor" he continued soberly, straightening into a more formal stance.

"I don't think you should be asking me; I know better than to forbid Susan from anything, hence you don't need my approval" Peter breathed, something in his eyes telling he would prefer to remain far from a cross Susan, and consequently, from her bow.

"It matters to me; this is a personal request" Caspian replied strongly, drawing a look of mild surprise from Peter which soon dissolved into appreciation.

"You are indeed a very noble man, Caspian, Susan made a fine choice. You have my most sincere support and I am glad for you both" Peter spoke solemnly, extending his hand to shake Caspian's. Caspian smiled broadly as he grasped Peter's hand in a firm grip, relief touching his features, blending with the official feeling of the moment.

The handshake was brief but meaningful. Caspian could not quite believe his luck yet; he had pictured the worst scenario of this conversation in his head, to the point of almost feeling the cold blade of Rhindon pressed against his neck. He was still tempted to ask Peter if he had been serious about his blessing to make sure his ears were not deceiving him, or worse, that this was not just some prank Peter had pulled on him. Just then, he noticed Peter's expression had changed into a wolfish one, a sly smirk playing on his lips.

And the Telmarine feared the worst.

"You do realise I have to honour the tradition of older-brotherhood by threatening you with a horrible and painful death shall you do as much as pinch my beloved sister? And I must add that I will hunt you down and rip you apart with my own hands if she ever sheds a single tear because of you" Peter spoke in cold amusement, the glint in his blue eyes sparkling evilly. Caspian had paled several shades but managed to keep his stoic stance.

"And I shall surrender myself to your wrath without resistance, you know that well. I also trust you to know that I wouldn't ever lay a finger on a woman, let alone on Susan. I will never hurt her, I give you my word on it" Caspian replied augustly and Peter nodded, a look of full recognition in his face; his answer had clearly satisfied him.

"I will hold you onto that vow" he said solemnly. "Just tell me one more thing" he added seriously, a hard look taking over the joking spark in his ocean gaze. Caspian felt like facing the King of Old once more, just as the books depicted him. The Telmarine King took a deep breath, holding it for an instant before exhaling slowly, ready for Peter's enquiry. If he had to tell Peter everything he felt for Susan, then he would try his best to put it into words.

"Is Susan pregnant?"

No, he was not as ready as he thought.

Caspian looked at Peter with wide eyes, a violent blush noticeable even despite his tan. For a long moment the Faithful King stood there, gaping at Peter, doing an interesting imitation of a goldfish. And then he choked. Peter broke into loud guffaws, eyes filling with tears as he patted the Telmarine's back, who sent him a deathly glare as he coughed.

"What?" he croaked an instant later, dismissing another fit of coughs by clearing his throat loudly. "Of course not! I wouldn't- I would never- no!" Caspian vehemently denied, his flush a powerful scarlet now. Peter, shaking with remnants of laughter, shrugged, positively delighted.

"I had to ask"

Caspian's reply consisted of a dark glare.

"Guess all is left for me to say is welcome to the family, again" Peter said when Caspian had finally recovered his breath, and both Kings shook hands once more, Peter pulling Caspian into a one armed hug accompanied with a couple of strong pats in the back.

"There you are!" a rather exasperated voice said, and both Kings turned towards its source. Susan was standing under the mossy stone arch, slightly out of breath.

"I've been looking for you everywhere. Thought you were fighting, duelling even" she explained, catching the Kings' inquisitive looks.

"Honestly, why do you girls always think the worst? Tairin, too, thought I had dared Zeph to a duel or tortured him somehow" Caspian replied indignantly. Susan raised an incredulous eyebrow.

"Call it experience" she told, her clear orbs travelling to Peter, who was thoroughly brushing invisible dust from his sleeve.

"We were only talking, Su. Caspian here came to tell me about his intentions of courting you, to which I told him that you two being in love is no news to anyone gifted with eyesight. You have found yourself a fine match" Peter told, finishing his explanation with a smile. Susan narrowed her eyes, giving him a suspicious look.

"And you tell me about it in this calm and collected way; are you running a fever?" she spoke.

"Can't a brother be happy for his sister without being questioned?" Peter ruffled up dramatically, crossing his arms over his chest.

"No"

Peter exhaled loudly. "I can see you are happy with Caspian, and if you are happy, I am happy" he said seriously, reaching over to place both his hands on Susan's shoulders. Susan blinked several times, not so much shocked, but definitely astounded.

"Really?" she said giving Peter a side-look, tapping his forehead lightly with her hand. "Yes, really. Why would I lie to you?" Peter replied.

"You lie to me frequently"

"What? That is not true!"

"You lied to me about not jousting that time"

"Not the point right now"

Peter took a deep breath, running a hand through his hair, messing the golden strands.

"Su, I am very happy for you both" he told her firmly, looking deeply into her eyes. "Plus, better him than any of those smarmy wind-heads who tread in every day wanting to marry you" he added, the corners of his mouth curling impishly as he pointed lazily at Caspian.

"Thank you for having me so high in your esteem, Peter. Really" Caspian groaned playfully, earning a cheeky wink from Peter. Susan seemed convinced now, but continued to eye Peter oddly. Still smiling, the High King wrapped his arms around his sister and placed a brotherly kiss on her forehead, pressing his cheek to her raven hair.

"I would love a niece or nephew to spoil, but not too soon, alright?" he murmured close to her ear. The effect was immediate. Susan flushed deeply, eyes opened wide for a moment before sending him a very pointed and dark glare. Caspian looked puzzled, but before he could ask anything, Peter had started walking away, turning halfway to grin at them.

"So yes, lovebirds, remember it's too early for offspring just yet!"

Peter smirked as he rounded the corner of the stone archway back into the orchards. Caspian had choked again.

AN: This last scene was one of my favourite to write! I hope you guys enjoyed it as much as I did writing it. Ed's very philosophical conversation with Myr was also interesting to write, so I am looking forward to reading your comments!

Until next time!