I know I said I was going to post this on Tuesday, but I figured ya'll wouldn't mind if I posted it early. ;) I just finished reading an excellent Caspian/OC story called The Ties that Bind Us by Carrot Top. There were a few things I was a little wary of, but Caspian in 2009 Texas (only for the first part of the story) is hysterical! Then things turn deadly serious. All in all, it was fantastic and I recommend reading it if you haven't already. Some other fantastic reads if you haven't found them... A Change in the Stars Brings Me to You and its follow up Nothing but Hope in My Hands and Love in My Heart by Retsukaji (Caspian/OC), Rosalie Sopespian and its follow up A New Horizon by TennisQueen12 (Caspian/OC), and Choices by kelseyelizabethxo (Caspian/Lucy).

So, without further ado, I give you chapter 3... Enjoy! :D

The Naiad Trilogy

Part 2: The Naiad and Her King

Chapter 3

The Dawn Treader made port at Galma a mere twenty-eight hours after it left Cair Paravel. A large crowd had gathered on the quay to welcome the Narnian King. The royal court of Glama and the entire crew of the Dawn Treader were treated to a great mid-day feast. At the feast Ava was placed next to Genevieve, the Duke of Galma's daughter.

Genevieve was a gracious looking Lady around Ava's age. She had soft red hair that flowed past her waist and lingered on the orange side especially when the sunlight hit it. A light sprinkling of freckles showered her heart shaped face. And her eyes were a gentle chestnut brown that shimmered with mirth. Her father, the Duke, was a jolly old man with a round belly and a balding head. His hazel eyes, like his daughter's, seemed to always glisten with tears of laughter.

Ava and Genevieve conversed throughout most of the feast. Things seemed a little awkward at first, but Ava quickly saw that she and Genevieve had great potential to be excellent friends. After the food had all been devoured, Genevieve and Ava decided to take a stroll about the terrace just off the banquet hall, while, Caspian and Drinian remained talking with the Duke at the table.

As they walked arm in arm, Genevieve finally managed to work up the courage to approach a topic that she had been curious about since she had laid eyes on the handsome King of Narnia. From her vantage point at the table, Genevieve had been able to see clearly how the King's eyes lingered upon Ava. She also noticed that Ava and the King's mannerisms showed a close companionship, but how far did their relationship really extend?

"I feel I must apologize for not commenting on this earlier," Genevieve began sweetly, "but congratulations, Lady Ava."

Before arriving at Galma, Ava had told Caspian and Drinian that while they were visiting islands she wanted to be addressed as a Lady of the Court and not as a Princess to keep things simple.

"Congratulations for what, Lady Genevieve?" Ava asked, slightly confused.

"For your betrothal, of course."

"My betrothal? And to whom am I betrothed?"

"Why, His Majesty King Caspian."

"Caspian!"Ava stopped abruptly in surprise. "Caspian and I aren't betrothed. Why, we aren't even courting! I'm afraid you are mistaken, Lady Genevieve; Caspian and I are just friends."

"Really?" Genevieve sounded just as surprised as Ava had. "Well that is something. Forgive me, Lady Ava. I had not realized that was the case."

"It's quite alright, Genevieve," Ava said as she patted Genevieve's hand and they began walking once more. "Might I inquire as to why you were under the impression that I was betrothed to His Majesty?"

"Oh, well I am not the only one who thought so; Pa-Pa believed it too. When His Majesty sent word that you would be joining him on his visit, naturally, we assumed that you had become betrothed."

"Oh…oh well I suppose I can understand why you might have believed that. It did seem like a sudden change in plans. I must admit, I was very surprised when he asked me to join him, thrilled, but surprised."

"Hmm, yes I'd be thrilled too." Genevieve smiled impishly. "Your King is very handsome, Ava," Genevieve explained at Ava's curious expression. At that very moment Ava and Genevieve stopped and turned back to look in through the open glass doors of the banquet hall. Ava looked upon Caspian, and she suddenly understood Genevieve's words.

For seemingly the first time, Ava noticed just how much Caspian had grown over the last three years. He was a couple of inches taller now than he had been, whether it was because he had physically grown or because he was simply standing taller, Ava didn't know. His hair had lengthened as well and evened out. He currently had part of it held back with an elastic band. He and Ava had debated over that matter for several minutes before exiting the ship; Ava had insisted that he looked more kingly and business like with his hair pulled back, that, and he wouldn't be tempted to mess with it. Another difference that Ava noticed, and seemed to like best, was the beard he had decided to let grow out. It was just a light sprinkling of stubble at the moment, but Ava found it exhilarating. Suddenly the Duke said something amusing, and Caspian threw his head back and laughed loudly sending chills up Ava's spine.

"He is handsome, isn't he?"

"Very," Genevieve confirmed; Ava hadn't realized she'd spoken aloud. "You are friends with him, you say?"

"Yes, we are great friends."

"Then you would know. Is His Majesty courting anyone at the moment?"

Ava found herself pausing as a strange new emotion seemed to come over her; a sort of knotting in the stomach and a burning in her head, and she found herself thinking ill thoughts of Genevieve.

"No. His Majesty is courting no one," Ava answered quietly.

Ava had no time to contemplate the strange emotion any further, because at that moment someone Ava hadn't seen at the feast had entered the Banquet Hall, and he was capturing the attention of the Duke and Caspian, as well as Genevieve. The man was dressed in great amounts of velvet and gold. Upon his head he wore a large brimmed hat with a blue feathered plume. When he took his hat off to bow to Caspian, Ava saw that he kept his dirty-blonde hair cut short.

"He's returned!" Genevieve exclaimed, dropping Ava's arm.

"Who has?" Ava asked, but she received no answer as Genevieve had already dashed off to greet the man. Ava followed behind at a brisk stroll.

"Cousin!"

"Sweet Lady Genevieve!" Genevieve threw her arms around the man's neck as he wrapped his around her waist and lifted her tiny body off the ground as they spun.

"Oh, how good it is to see you, again!" The man exclaimed as he placed Genevieve on her feet once more.

"And it is good to see you, my cousin," Genevieve said with a smile. "I trust all is well in Olrich."

"All is well indeed." At that moment Ava joined the crowd that had gathered. As she stepped up beside Caspian, the visitor's jade green eyes fell upon her. He moved forward.

"And who is this exquisite beauty?" His voice had taken on a lower, more seductive tone.

"My dearest, Nephew," The Duke bellowed. "Allow me to introduce you. This fair maiden is the Lady Ava; she hails from Narnia, like our guests. My Lady, this is my late sister's only son, the Lord Peddelton of Olrich." Olrich, Ava had learned, was a small city on the far side of the island.

"It is my greatest pleasure to meet you, fairest Lady Ava. Your beauty is almost enough to rival my dear sweet cousin's," the Lord Peddelton crooned as he reached for Ava's right hand and raised it to his lips. Without taking his eyes off of Ava, he tenderly kissed the back of her hand. Ava felt her body flush with a strange heat. She had felt this same flushness around Caspian a few times now, the first time being during the war with the giants, but this time it wasn't nearly as pleasant.

"She is something to look at, isn't she?" the Duke said as his eyes roamed over Ava. "But I am afraid she is spoken for."

"Oh but, Pa-Pa, she isn't," Genevieve said before Caspian could question the Duke or Ava could refute his words. "Lady Ava explained it to me on the terrace. She is not betrothed to His Majesty; they are only great friends." Genevieve's eyes flashed to Caspian with a sort of lustful hunger, but he didn't notice because his eyes had turned to Ava.

"Ah, then I am even more pleased to meet thy rare beauty," Lord Peddelton said, his lips still close to Ava's hand.

Ava laughed nervously as she pulled her hand back. "My Lord, you flatter me with your kind words."

"Betrothed?" Caspian questioned.

"You changed your plans Caspian, and brought me along with you. They thought we were betrothed because of it," Ava explained.

"Oh, oh well I am sorry for the miss information, Duke."

"Nothing to it my dear boy, nothing to it!" The Duke gave a great jolly laugh, throwing his head back and clapping Caspian on the back.

XOXOX

In the days that followed, Ava found that her presence was often requested by the Lord Peddelton, and as much time as she seemed to be spending with the Galman Lord, Caspian appeared to be spending just as much time with the Duke's daughter. For reasons unknown to her, Ava found herself liking the young Genevieve and her cousin less and less.

The Lord's speech patterns had not changed since Ava met him. He continued to speak in low tones and he often recited flowery Galman poetry. The Lord had discovered from experience, that typical Galman women took great delight in his poetry , but what he had failed to realize is that Ava was not typical. She seemed to see through his fancy speech and saw that it was nothing more than a ruse, probably used to bed women since the Lord gave no pretense of his virtue still being intact.

Ava felt her feelings growing ill for Genevieve simply because she seemed to be monopolizing all of Caspian's time, sitting with him at meals and speaking with him afterwards. In fact, whenever Ava tried to find some time for her and Caspian to be alone, Genevieve always interrupted them and insisted that there was something she must show "His Majesty" at that very moment and it could not possibly wait until a later time. Ava would always stand, frozen in place, as she watched Her King walk off with Genevieve's arm linked through his, and that strange stomach knotting and head burning feeling she'd had on the terrace.

XOXOX

On the fourth day of their visit, the Duke of Galma had arranged a great tournament in honor of the King of Narnia. The tournament lasted for several days and Caspian and the Lord Peddelton fared quite well; though, the former had a rough start at first. Ava's character was so gentle, that she could hardly stand to see anyone be struck with the lance, but she found that her worry was tenfold whenever it was Caspian's turn to joust. She knew that Genevieve had laughed at her reactions several times.

Ava sat in the Royal Box with the Duke and Genevieve. Reepicheep and Tavros, the Dawn Treader's first mate, were with Ava in the box, while Drinian and Voltinus had decided to stand at Caspian's side. Finally, the final day of the tournament had arrived. It was also the final day of the Narnian's visit in Galma, for which, Ava was thankful; she was ready to have Her King back and she was eager for the rest of the voyage to begin.

The sun was beginning to sink behind the line of trees and the horses were growing weary. There was a thick cloud of excitement in the air as the tournament had been narrowed down to two final competitors: King Caspian X of the Narnia, and the Lord Peddelton of Galma. Ava's nerves were strung tight. The Lord Peddelton was renowned for his jousting skills, and Caspian, though he had done well so far, could still be considered a beginner. What's more, Ava knew the Galman Lord would not hold back as others had just because Caspian was a King.

"You should relax, my Lady," Reepicheep said softly to Ava. "His Majesty is well protected, he has preformed most excellently in this tournament. We must trust that Aslan will continue to grace His Majesty with his blessings."

"I do trust Aslan, Reepicheep. What I don't trust, is the Lord Peddelton," Ava whispered back so that neither the Duke nor his daughter would hear.

"I am sure he is an honorable Lord, Princess."

Ava could not refute Reepicheep's words because the match had begun, and unlike traditional matches, Caspian and Lord Peddelton met in the center. After bowing their heads in acknowledgment to each other, Lord Peddelton turned to address the crowd.

"My Lord's, and fair Ladies," Lord Peddelton called out in a large voice. "I have a proposition for His Majesty, to make things a little more…interesting, if you will."

"Let us hear this proposition," Caspian declared.

The Lord Peddelton gave a roguish grin. "I propose that the winner receive a kiss from the fair Lady Ava."

Caspian clasped his jaw shut tightly. How dare the Lord make such a bold proposition! What right had he? Caspian glanced up at Ava sitting in the box next to Genevieve. Reepicheep was standing on the arm of Ava's chair and he had drawn his rapier; apparently, the noble mouse disapproved of the Lord's bold request just as much as Caspian did.

"Well, what say you, King Caspian?" the Duke asked.

"I dare not speak for the Lady Ava, but if she agrees to the Lord's proposition, then so shall I," Caspian replied, locking eyes with Ava.

Ava was astounded. Why had Caspian placed the decision on her? Though, she would have been angry if he agreed without her consent; she supposed he knew that. Still. Now she had to decide, and she didn't know what to do. The crowd had begun cheering and chanting for a kiss. The prospect of having to kiss Lord Peddelton was disagreeing with Ava's stomach, but how could she say no to the people?

"Come on, Ava. Accept the proposition. What a treat it would be," Genevieve encouraged. Meanwhile, Reepicheep had other words to say.

"Surely you do not think the Lady Ava will accept such a bold request. What honor have you?" As Reepicheep spoke he waved his tiny sword about.

"Relax, Reepicheep. It is but a kiss," Ava said softly to him, before rising and walking to the front wall of the box. "I will accept. The winner will receive my kiss."

The crowd cheered ecstatically.

XO

Caspian and Lord Peddelton tilted their heads to each other once more before retreating to their proper sides. As Lord Peddelton turned to travel back to his side, his roguish grin turned into something more sinister. He felt that kiss was as good as his.

XO

Ava returned to her seat with a pounding heart. There was even more at stake with this match than before. She'd accepted because she felt she could not be seen as weak by turning down a simple request. As she told Reepicheep, it was just a kiss. Tomorrow they would be leaving and she would have to accommodate the Lord no more. And if all went well, Caspian would win the match. She could live with giving him a kiss.

The flagman raised the flag and the match began.

Hooves pounded through the dirt of the well worn track. Helmet visors were shut with a clang. Lances were held out straight. Lord and King charged for one another. One lance found its target and splintered into a hundred pieces.

The crowd cheered!

Ava released her breath as a single flag was placed on Caspian's side. He had received the first point. As Lord and King trotted by each other on their way to their rightful sides, one whispered to the other.

"Lucky blow, Your Majesty. May your luck prevail." The Lord Peddelton's words seemed sincere, but Caspian did not like the tone of his voice; it was too pompous.

XO

Once more the flagman waved his flag and the horses were on the charge. Again, a lance found its target, splintering, but this time there was a greater clash and a collective gasp from the crowd. Ava jumped to her feet and sprinted to the wall. Caspian had been struck on the helmet. A blow like that would leave any man disoriented.

"She's as good as mine," Lord Peddelton whispered possessively as he and Caspian passed once more.

XO

As Caspian stared down the track at the despicable Galman Lord, his view wavered. The Lord's words rung in his head, "She's as good as mine," and made his blood boil. He spoke as if Ava were some prize to be won, a trophy for his taking. Caspian glanced briefly up at Ava. She was leaning against the wall, watching him. Her hair flowed freely in the gentle breeze. She held her bottom lip between her teeth in worry, making it pinker than it already was. Caspian knew he would die before he allowed a man as vile as the Lord Peddelton to taint those precious lips.

"With your grace, Aslan," Caspian whispered a silent prayer as the flagman raised his flag for the final time.

XO

Ava had not stepped back from the wall since Caspian was struck. She had to make sure he was alright. He trotted slowly back to his side, swerving slightly. He must not have been too badly injured, because Drinian prepared him for another run and Ava knew Drinian would not allow it otherwise. As Caspian turned his gaze upon Ava, their eyes locked for a brief moment. There was such emotion, such feeling behind Caspian's warm eyes that it nearly knocked Ava off her feet. Lord Peddelton's eyes had nothing on Caspian's.

As Caspian turned his eyes back to his target, Ava turned hers to the sky and whispered a silent prayer. "With your grace, Aslan."

Ava did not want to see the match, but as she heard the hooves pounding she could not stop her eyes from opening. Each hoof fall felt like an eternity to Ava, and she was sure she could see each grain of dirt fall before the next hoof hit. The slow rhythmic beat of hoof on well trodden dirt sent shockwaves through Ava. She did not breathe; she couldn't.

The stakes were high and Lord Peddelton was ahead.

Caspian tucked his lance firmly into his side. For the sake of Ava he could not lose this joust. He could not let Ava be marred by the likes of Lord Peddelton. He would not stand for it.

XO

Lance struck armor!

There was a great clamoring and a deafening roar erupted from the crowd.

Ava's heart stopped. She had to learn how to breathe again.

Slowly Ava's heart began to beat at a normal rate. Her breathing evened out. And a smile spread across her face. Caspian had unhorsed Lord Peddelton! Caspian had won!

XOXOX

Caspian gently rode his horse over to the Royal Box. As he looked up at Ava he smiled. Ava began to walk down the stairs as the crowd chanted for a kiss. Caspian dismounted and stood before Ava. His hair was plastered to his skin and his face was coated with a light sheen of sweat, but Ava did not seem to notice for she looked only into his eyes.

Suddenly, Ava found herself nervous. She did not know what to do exactly. She had not kissed a man before. Caspian saw the hesitance in her eyes and mistook it for reluctance. He knew he could never take a kiss from a Lady if they were not truly ready for it. Just as Ava had begun to stand on her toes and lean forward, Caspian spoke so that all could hear.

"Keep your kiss, Lady Ava, for it is not some prize to be won."

Ava fell back on her heels. She should have known that Caspian would not make her go through with it. He contained more honor than any Lord of Galma, which is why he deserved the kiss more than any. Ava quickly rose to her toes and leaned forward again. She grabbed Caspian's chin and turned his head ever so slightly, before placing a tender kiss on his cheek. This simple act seemed to appease the crowd to no end, but for both Caspian and Ava it lit a spark that neither could fully comprehend.

So, I must give thanks and credit to my husband for helping me get the jousting scene just right; I had one idea an he had another just as good, so I combined them. And, I totally watched A Knight's Tale (with Heath Ledger) to get the jousting right as well. You can look for chapter 4 around Thursday or Friday. For anyone interested, the scoring is as thus (taken from A Knight's Tale):

3 Lances = 1 match

1 point for breaking the lance between the waist and neck

2 points for breaking the lance on the helmet

3 points for unhorsing