Chapter 3

One of the maids was holding up a dagger to a girl's throat. The girl looked terribly frightened and the maid looked just as scared. I guess the girl couldn't take it all in because she collapsed in a faint. Caspian ran to her just in time to catch her before she hit the ground. She was clearly unconscious, but every person in the room just sat there gaping.

She was clearly unconscious, but every person just sat there gaping.

"Maids, prepare a room for this girl immediately." All the maids started hurrying off in different directions.

"Maria! Come back here please." The maid that was holding the dagger stepped forward. Her face was shameful.

"Maria, don't look so solemn. We're not having you whipped. But I do want you to make sure this girl gets the best room conceivable. You will supervise all the maids that are putting the chamber together. I am assigning you this task. Just take care of her as much as possible. You will be excused from your other work while you are doing this, but that means you must work extra hard on everything else. Now go and supervise right now. When the maids have the bed together, please inform me of it." The maid nodded and left, looking much more relieved.

"Kris," he called. She looked up and he waved his hand for her to come over. She did.

"I need to put this girl in your bed until-" he stopped as Maria came toward him.

"Your highness, the accommodations are prepared."

"Really? Well, that was quick. Never mind about it Kristen." So, he followed the maid out with the girl still in his arms.

Now it was only Kristen, Lucy, and I in the Grand Hall. It got silent pretty quickly. I tried not to say anything to Kristen (I probably wouldn't be able to anyway) because I was afraid it would come out sounding desperate or foolish or flat out stupid.

"Hey Lu, could I talk to you?" She waved to Kristen who left to do other things, and skipped over to me.

"What's wrong, Ed?"

"Something has to be wrong for me to want to talk to my little sister?" I lied. But Lucy knew me.

"Oh please. Skip the idiocy and tell me what's wrong." I sighed. I guess I lost my casual advantage.

"Look, you have to swear not to tell anyone, okay?"

"Okay, okay. Cross my heart. Now, what is it?" Lucy was such a girl, it almost annoyed me.

"It's Kristen."

"Yeah, she's great! What about her?"

"Well, I think I might like her."

"Why wouldn't you? She's such an awesome friend."

"No, I mean like really like her." Lucy gaped, but smiled, too.

"No. Way. Ah! I knew it!" Then she did a little dance chanting, "I knew it! I knew it! Edmund likes-" I put

my hand over her mouth.

"Oh, right. Sorry," she apologized.

Kristen's P.O.V.

I slid down the wall so my knees were right below my chin. Oh, what I would give to hear what Lucy was going to say next! Edmund likes… Ugh! Why did I even like this boy? Just because he was… handsome and clever… and sometimes rather mysterious… and he gives little hints that may or may not be hints, but I try to convince myself that they are… and my dreams. Oh gosh my dreams! They don't continue more than 2 seconds without his voice or face or eyes. Aw his eyes… So full of beauty and mystery. I could stare all day in those eyes. Not that I already sort of do, but I can't make it too obvious.

I peeked around the corner and watched him whisper to Lucy too quietly for me to hear. He finished and she walked away. Toward me. I silently panicked and sprinted back to my room.

The door opened and Lucy walked in. I was sitting on my bed, trying to act as relaxed and calm as I could.

"Hey Kristen," she said.

"Hey Lucy. I hope I'm not being rude, but I'm really tired. I was gonna take a nap. Is that alright?"

"Oh, of course. I'll see you later." And she left.

I fell back onto my bed, staring at my ceiling. I wasn't tired at all, but I needed to be alone.

Lying to Lucy didn't make me feel that great, but I'm sure she would understand.

So, I lied there, thinking as I stared at the ceiling.

And I stayed that way for the rest of the night.

Caspian's P.O.V.

I knocked. No answer. I went in. All the maids stopped, bowed, then continued. Maria came to me and bowed.

"Your highness, the girl is healthy. I believe she was just in shock. She hasn't awoken yet."

"Thank you, Maria. You may take a break. Get some food. That goes for all of you. Prepare dinner and eat. You've done an excellent job." The maids smiled and went out the door.

"Maria, I will be taking care of this girl for at least the rest of tonight. Please inform everyone that I will not be joining them for dinner and that I send my apologies." She nodded and left, leaving me alone with the unconscious girl.

She was very pretty, but not in the way I would normally think of a girl as. She seemed so calm as she lay there, her eyes closed and still just as the rest of her body.

I pushed her hair away from her face and felt her forehead. Then her cheeks. Her skin was soft against my hand.

I took my hand back swiftly. What was I doing? I didn't even know this girl.

Her eyes started fluttering. I stared and waited. She opened them all the way up and looked at me. The girl started to sit up, but I made her lay back down.

"Where am I? Who are you?" she asked.

"You're in Cair Paravel, castle of Narnia. I am Caspian." She moved back.

"No. No, you're lying. Narnia doesn't even exist! It was only a made up land in the book I was-" she looked like she'd seen a ghost.

"So it's true. Everything I was reading wasn't just fiction. My book wasn't just about Narnia. It was a portal to Narnia. Which means you're King Caspian!" I blushed at her excitement to meet me.

"Just call me Caspian."

"Okay." She beamed and looked around, then looked at me again.

"Oh, I'm sorry." She held out her hand. I shook it. "I'm Scarlet," she said, "Scarlet Improvisa."

Scarlet's P.O.V.

His hand was gentle, but I could tell he was strong. But I guess he had to be strong, being a king and all. I still couldn't believe all of this.

"Well, Scarlet, you are welcome to stay as long as you please. In fact, I would feel honored if you would." He leaned forward and kissed my hand. I didn't know what to do. And for once, I didn't know why I felt how I did. Caspian was so… so different than any other guy I knew. When his hand touched mine I felt like it was my father, the way he used to be before Mom left. Kind, gentle, but still strong. Before he used his strength to… I winced at the memories.

"Are you okay?" Caspian asked. I came back to reality and saw that was looking at me very concerningly.

"Yeah. I'm fine."

"You're sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure."

"Okay then. Well, we must get you something to eat. Come on." I tossed the covers off and stepped out of the bed.

The dining area was just as amazing as the other parts of the castle I'd seen. The table could fit probably 20 people at least. It was polished so well, I could just about see my reflection. Above the table was a giant chandelier with candles that spiraled to the top. There were no windows, but a lot of paintings along the walls. Some showed scenery, others showed battles, and others depicted stories.

The room was almost empty, except for a few maids cleaning some dishes up.

Caspian pulled my chair out for me and I thanked him as he sat next to me at the head of the table.

Soon, there was a plate of all sorts of food I didn't take the time to identify before digging in. I hadn't realized how hungry I was until then.

After finishing the first plate, I was stuffed. Dessert sounded so good – some fancy Narnian fruit a la' mode- but I just couldn't eat any more.

"So, Scarlet, where are you from?"

"Well, I was born in Pennsylvania, but I live in California now with my aunt and uncle. My half-sister also lives with me." He looked confused when I said the states, but he didn't ask me anything about them.

"Why did you move?" I winced.

"Um… complications." I'd never told anyone outside of my family the real, painful side of my life, and I wasn't going to start then.

"I shouldn't ask?"

"Yeah, you shouldn't."

From then on he asked a lot of different questions he could tell when I was uncomfortable with one and would change the subject.

"Well, I should probably get to sleep. It's pretty late," I stated.

"Yes, I should probably do the same. Here, I'll walk you to your room." He took my hand as I got out of my seat, but I kept it to myself the rest of the time. I wasn't about to give myself to this guy I hardly knew. Who knows? He could've been a tyrant Casanova for all I knew!

When we got to my room, he wished me goodnight and left to his room. On my bed were a pair of silk pajamas. I put them on and slipped into bed.

I was awoken the next morning by a loud thud outside my door. I ran out of my room and saw a young girl lying on the floor with a suitcase next to her. She rolled over, and got up. I gaped.

It was Ally.