A/N - I've had a semi-successful weekend of being told my assignment was wrong so rather then finishing it as I'd planned I had to rewrite a big chunk of it. Oh well, live and learn... Tomorrow may or may not grant you an update depending on how I feel after my trip into uni to talk to my tutor about not doing the extra year I'm enrolled in and not graduating on time... so depending on how rubbish I feel, you might get an update!

Still wishing I owned Narnia (or could go visit, visiting would do) and SERIOUSLY wishing I could steal Ben Barnes... still...

Chapter 13 - Attack

"You have caused me a great deal of worry." Said the King as we entered his bedchamber after the council meeting, "Especially with that stunt of yours in the woods."

I looked at my feet, "I am sorry Your Highness, I never meant for this to happen."

The King smiled, "Of course not, I do not blame you. I praise you for your courage, but war is no place for women." He moved to a chest of draws on the far side of the room and unbuckled his sword belt, laying his weapon gently on top. "Although I would like a few answers if I may." Finished King Caspian, studying his sword, a gift from High King Peter, before turning to face me once again, "What do you know of the Kings and Queens of Old?" he asked, studying my face as I answered.

I looked at my feet again, unable to meet his gaze no matter how friendly his eyes, "Only the old stories, and of course what has come to pass when they have most recently visited Narnia. If you are asking about my connection to Queen Susan then I am afraid to say that I know no more then you."

A puzzled look came over King Caspian's face briefly before he shook his head slightly a smiled again, "You really are a mystery. No matter. On another note, I thought you would probably feel most comfortable sleeping away from the other men, I have had a bed brought here for you for the night until we can make a better arrangement." He gestured to the bed beside me, while considerably smaller and less elaborate then his own it looked a great deal more comfortable then the hard floors I had become accustomed to recently.

"Thank you Your Highness." I said, not quite knowing how to best view the offer. Did he want to keep me close for my protection, or so he could keep an eye on me?

He smiled, "Enough with the niceties. Make yourself at home, you are my honoured guest and will be treated as such."

XXX

I was stirred from my dreamless sleep by angry voices, at first hushed then becoming louder and more insistent before a cry of pain brought me roughly back to consciousness. I opened my eyes to see Caspian vaulting from his bed wearing nothing but linen trousers, grabbing for his sword with no thought for his mail or plate armour.

"Ariadne," he hissed urgently, as he drew his sword from its sheath, "arm yourself."

I followed his order, reaching to my bow and dagger. As I done so the door burst open and four Free Telmar fighters moved purposely into the room. I flattened myself against the wall, hidden by the open door as the attention of the four men focused on the King opposite them.

"What do you want?" spat King Caspian at the four intruders, his sword raised ready for an attack.

"Ultimately, we want your throne and your life. As it stands, you will suffice for now." Answered one of the intruders, his sword lowered in easy ignorance. "Take him." He ordered the three men accompanying him.

I watched as Caspian was attacked, he dealt the first man a mortal blow before being overpowered by the remaining two. His sword was forced from his hand and his arms pulled behind his back so roughly that he couldn't help uttering a small cry of pain. At that point his eyes locked onto mine, wordlessly telling me that there was nothing I could do. My weapons were just out of reach and I was outnumbered three to one.

"How dare you! I am your King!" he shouted, obviously hoping to catch the attention of any allies who may be close by. "Release me at once!"

"I do apologise Your Majesty, but I'm afraid I am under orders." Smirked the man in charge as he walked slowly towards Caspian, "I was told to collect you and The Archer Girl. Now I don't suppose you'll tell me where to find her?"

He laughed as Caspian shot him a look of daggers, "Ah well, it was worth a try. Take him to the Lord Commander then find me The Archer." He barked at his men who nodded before dragging the struggling King from the room leaving him alone save for me being trapped behind the open door and the dead man on the floor.

He moved to the other side of the room where King Caspian's sword lay discarded. He picked it up, admiring the lion depicted on the butt of the handle. "Not exactly the great King he was supposed to be." He said to the sword, as if the lion could hear him. He turned the sword in his hands and cut at the air a few times, admiring its balance then plunging the sword deep into the bed where Caspian had been lying only a few minutes ago before smirking and leaving the room.

I crept warily from behind the door, collecting my weapons as I did so and moved towards the bed where Caspian's sword stood and pulled it gently from the bed. "He'll be needing this soon enough." I whispered to myself as I returned it to its sheath pulled on some of the Kings breaches and a shirt instead of my nightdress, and buckled the Kings sword belt around my hips before quietly slipping from the room.

XXX

"Get your hands off of me! You have no right…" Shouted King Caspian as his hands were fastened by irons. Once more he tried to wrestle away from his captors only to earn himself a heavy blow to the stomach and what would turn out to be an impressive black eye. "You will all pay for this…" he threatened as he gasped for air, winded by the blow he'd taken to the stomach.

"Enough with the hollow threats already." Said the man sitting in the throne at the end of the room, basked in the light of the many torches surrounding him. "You have no way of following them through, although, if you tell me what I want to know, I'll be sure to have these men punished on your behalf."

Caspian laughed a hollow laugh, "You want me to tell you where to find The Archer. Do you really think I would just give her up? You know who she is, you know what she is and you're scared of her!" he spat at the Lord Commander who rose from his throne with an expression of hatred firmly set on his face.

"I am not scared of a little girl!" he barked, advancing on Caspian as he knelt on the floor before him. "Who she is makes no difference, after all, if I can capture the great King Caspian and his castle then how hard will it be to catch one archer, a girl who is hardly able to bear children?" He stopped barely a metre in front of Caspian and crouched down, his eyes burning as he lent forwards. "She doesn't stand a chance, she'll be dead before the sun rises." He whispered solemnly.

"Don't be so sure." whispered Caspian viciously in return before he was knocked to the floor.