Disclaimer: I am a filthy samurai hobo who owns nothing. Remember that...
Peter paced around the stone table like a caged tiger. Susan and Lucy had gone to the stream with Karina and he was anxious for their return. They had been gone for hours and Peter was beginning to worry. Mostly about Karina, she was new to Narnia and very trusting of its inhabitants. That was what he was afraid of.
"Easy Peter, you'll ware a hole in the dirt." Edmund joked as he and Glenstorm the centaur entered the How. Peter looked up to the stone carving of Aslan, whose eyes looked so very sad. What would you have me do Aslan? Peter thought, fingering the lion's head pommel of his sword.
"That's it," Peter said, "I'm going after them." He headed out of the How, his horse, a Chestnut stallion, in tow behind him. "Don't bother," Edmund yelled, "Caspian's already out looking."
What the hell?
Peter stopped in his tracks, his fist clenching involuntarily. "What?"
Edmund shrugged, "He left a few seconds ago bu…"
The younger King was cut off as Peter mounted his steed and spurred it into a gallop. This is insane! I'm King, I should be the one to retrieve my sisters…. And Karina. He thought as his horse entered the forest. There were only two streams near the How but Peter knew the girls liked the one with the warmer water. He dismounted his horse when he neared the stream, making sure he was silent. The forest offered great cover and Peter looked around cautiously for any sign of Telmarine soldiers. But one Telmarine in particular caught his amazing blue eyes. Caspian was huddled behind a fallen tree watching three figures splashing around in the water.
Can you say creeper?
Peter silently slid down one of the shrub filled ravines and right onto Caspian's back.
"Ooof, what the…" Caspian drew he dagger but sheathed it when he saw Peter on his back. Casting him off Caspian knew he was in for a huge fight.
"What do you think you're doing?!" Peter whispered loudly, poking Caspian's chest. The Prince's eyes darkened, "Just keeping watch."
"Oh yeah, I'm sure you're really watching for danger." Peter rolled his eyes and settled next to Caspian on his haunches.
"It's not my fault you let three girls go into the forest…alone." Caspian replied shortly. Sighing, Peter and Caspian both sat in complete utter silence.
Finally, male bonding.
Caspian smiled to himself as he watched Karina swim to one of the small rock islands in the lake. She was a magnificent swimmer to Caspian's standards, as Telmarines rarely swam. She was as graceful as a water nymph and he wondered if perhaps she was one. His professor told him stories of forest nymphs, how they were wild and unpredictable and yet could bewitch any mortal man with a mere glance. How this nymph had captured his heart.
"Quit ogling her." Peter said, quite loudly. All three girls looked to the fallen tree and Caspian and Peter dove into the bushes to avoid being seen.
"How about you shut your big trap, High King Peter?" God how Caspian loathed him. He vowed to loathe him for all eternity.
Karina knit her eyebrows together, "What the Fuddrucker was that?" She had to remember her manners and not curse. At home she had a mouth that would put a sailor to shame. Susan sat on the bank of the lake, "Maybe we should go."
"Oh but we've just got here!" Lucy whined. Susan stood up, "We've been here for hours Lu. I'm sure Peter and the others are worried." She sounded like a mother. A mother what, Karina hadn't the heart to say.
"Who cares about Peter!? He's all moody lately." Lucy sighed, spitting some water at Karina. "Maybe he's PMSing." Karina answered. All three howled with laughter at this. Back in the bushes, Peter was turning redder than a Christmas bulb. PMSing?! It was official, that girl was the most…. Infuriating, annoying, childish… the list could go on and on. He clenched his fists, "That girl is the most…"
Beautiful creature I've ever seen. He finished in his head. Whoa, what? Annoying maybe and totally weird but beautiful? Peter shook his head, hoping to jumble his thoughts.
"Well… it's about time for me to be hitting the old dusty trail." Caspian mock-yawned. Peter also noticed the girls had gone and he regretted not making himself known to Karina.
Karina sighed as she and the Pevensie sisters headed out of the woods and back to the How. Her hair was disgusting and she was happy for once her mother was Italian, so her hair was thick and lustrous and also dried kinda fast. The hours of battle planning in the How were boring and Karina just got tired watching Peter and Caspian constantly freak out on one another. It was all really weirding her out. The castle raid was supposed to be that night and Karina was somewhat nervous. Everyone was gearing up for battle while she and Lucy sat in the darkness, ignored. Finally, Trufflehunter, the wise badger, came up to them.
"My Lady," he said addressing Karina, "His highness King Peter wishes to speak with you."
"Oh you are just too cute!" Karina said, ignoring the badger's message, "Do you want a Pop Tart?"
Trufflehunter sniffed the sugary treat that she held out, "Thank you very much my lady. I shall enjoy it greatly."
Karina smiled. The Narnian's really loved the goodies from the future she had brought with her in her backpack. Instant noodles, Sour Patch Kids, and other assorted sweets had become their favorites. When she found Peter he was sharpening his sword,
"What's up?" Karina said, staring at the blade, instantly mesmerized. Peter took a huge breath, "I don't want you to come with us."
Peter felt lower than dirt as he watched Karina's expression sink, her beautiful brown eyes drooping slightly.
"Oh, okay. I'll just stay here with Lucy." She said sadly. As she turned to go Peter grabbed her hand, the contact sent electric pins up and down his skin.
"I just don't want you hurt." He said softly, not looking her in the eye.
"Well I think she should come, we need every sword we can get." Caspian's voice intervened and Karina felt as if all hell had been broken loose.
"Well, we didn't ask you." Peter grumbled. Karina smiled, dazzling the boys and resolving the conflict, "Let's save the fireworks for the battle, dudes."
She turned to Caspian, "I think I'll stay here. After all I'm not really a seasoned war veteran."
Caspian nodded and, not really knowing why, wrapped her into a big bear hug. Karina buried her head into his shoulder, enjoying the warmth. He smelled like cinnamon and musk. Peter looked like his head might explode and Karina sensed that the moment had turned sour.
"There's room for one more." She said, trying to lighten the mood. Lighting passed between the two ruler's sharp gazes and Karina felt like the How had darkened. She let Caspian go and hugged Peter, it was only fair after all. Peter mad a victory face at Caspian, who only turned away and went to speak with Susan.
She had to admit, it was weird without them. Karina was looking at the stone carving of Aslan, whom the Narnians seemed to love. The great lion had become a comfort to her during her stay in Narnia. She turned her back on the carving,
"When I said get me outta here God, this isn't what I meant." She grumbled. Karina wanted to eat her words as a roar sounded throughout the How. She trembled as the stone carving of Aslan shook, and suddenly in her midst was the largest lion she had ever seen. She knew this had to be Aslan
"Rise, Karina." The lion said his voice deep and calming. Karina didn't realize she was crying and tried to dry her tears, "I'm sorry for being so girlish, Aslan." She hiccupped. Aslan's smile was comforting and she was quick to hug him.
"Now dear one, I have something for you to do." He said when they parted. Karina wiped away her tears, "Anything."
Aslan nodded, "I want you to fight for me."
"What?"
The lion chuckled, "You were sent here to protect them, dear one."
Karina raised her eyebrows, "Protect who?"
Aslan only smiled, striking the ground with his paw the earth beneath their feet shook violently and Karina fell to her knees. Rising from the ground was some type of flat sword and two claw-like daggers.
"Cool." She said and Aslan motioned for her to pick them up. "You are the guardian for the Kings and Queens of Narnia." He said. Karina sat at his feet, "What?"
"Let me tell you of your people, dear one."
Karina came to know that the guardians of Narnia had protected the royalty of old from evil. She compared them with the secret service, always watching out for danger. The most interesting thing about these guardians was that they could use the deep magic. They could imprint themselves on people so that they could remember them forever. They were warriors who died for Narnia and Karina couldn't believe she was one of them.
"So, who am I to protect?" she asked again and Aslan only laughed, his body fading into brilliant golden mist, "You will know in time, dear one. You will know in time…"
Karina looked at the weapons in her hands. Unsheathing the sword she saw that it was very flat and wide, but it wasn't made of metal. It was made from glass, Narnian runes of deep magic were carved into the blade. The claw sabers were very sharp (she nicked her finger on the edge of one and it bled like no tomorrow), they were silver and wrapped with black leather. This is way too weird to be a dream, Karina thought as she ventured to find Lucy, Something about this seems so familiar though. When she found the youngest queen, she was tracing letters in the sand. Her eyes lit up when she saw Karina,
"Whoa, where'd you get those?" Lucy asked, eyeing the weapons closely. Karina sat on the ground with Lucy, she had strapped the sword to her back and the sabers to her hips, "Aslan."
"Aslan! He was here?!" Lucy yelled with excitement. Karina nodded, "Yes, he told me…" Karina then told Lucy the exact story that the great lion had and by the time she was done Lucy's jaw was on the floor of the How.
"You can use the deep magic?" she said with awe. Karina smiled, "Yeah, that's what he said."
Lucy felt a grin spread across her face, "I bet the others have beaten those Telmarnies by now and their halfway back."
Karina knew this was a small cry from the truth but she played along, after all Lucy was only a kid, "Yeah, I bet they've got King Miraz's head on a platter."
"Gross."
"Indubitably." Karina said playfully. But inside her guts were turning to jelly, she was worried to death about Peter and Caspian. They were both so pig-headed they were bound to do something incredibly stupid to prove their worth or something. Her shoulders slumped against the dusty wall and she fell into a deep sleep.
"They're back!" Lucy gasped, jolting Karina from a naughty dream involving herself, Caspian, and Peter with a spray can of whipped cream. "Just like five more seconds." She grumbled but Lucy persisted pulling her to her feet. The two friends walked out of the How, shocked at what they saw,
"So few return." Karina said, surprising herself. She looked to Lucy, "Maybe you should wait inside?"
Lucy saw the look crossing Peter's face and decided that would be a very good idea. Karina stepped in the middle of Caspian and Peter, "Whoa, what the hell happened?" she asked, thinking this was the appropriate time to let out a good curse. Peter turned on his heel, "Ask him." He snarled, looking in Caspian's direction.
"Me?"
Karina tried to smile but her face felt like it would break Peter raised his voice, "Maybe if you'd stuck to the plan those soldiers would still be alive."
This seemed to be a low blow for Caspian, who looked like he might cry, "Hey! I'm not the one who abandoned Narnia!" Caspian just wanted to wash his hands of this confrontation, especially now that Karina was watching.
"No you just invaded it. You're all the same, you, your uncle, your father!" Peter rambled on, his voice angry. A cry of outrage was heard from Caspian who drew his blade. Karina was glad she was in the middle of them; if they wanted to fight they'd have to go around her. Both her hands were held out in a sign of peace, one on Peter's chest and the other on Caspian's.
"Chill." She growled, sending shivers down Peter's spine.
"I will if he will." Caspian grunted, his hand tightening on his blade. Peter sheathed his, "Fine by me."
As Caspian stalked into the How, Karina turned her fury on Peter. "That was really mean, Peter. It was practically like insulting his mother."
Peter pouted, and Karina had to try and focus on his words and not his lips, "He deserved it."
"No one deserves to be berated by an idiot." Susan said; her words hurt Peter like an arrow in the heart. Karina's eyes that once shone with admiration for him now glistened with distaste and disappointment as she retreated into the How.
Later that night Karina and Caspian decided to take a walk. Now as they took a turn around the forest Karina felt that she was very lucky to not have to choose sides between Peter and Caspian. He was so close to her, close enough to reach out and touch. But she wouldn't. She told herself she wouldn't get attached to anyone; she might have to leave at any moment. She, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy were already the best of friends and Peter… well she had no idea what they were. Caspian stopped abruptly,
"Karina?"
"Yes?" she answered. He looked so much like a puppy she'd seen in a window at the pet shop, sad and lonely.
"I must ask you something." He said slowly.
"Shoot."
Caspian furrowed his perfect eyebrows, "Shoot what?"
Karina rolled her eyes, "It's a figure of speech from my time. It means tell me what's on your mind."
Caspian breathed deeply, "Yes well, I was wondering, when are you to return to…"
"Detroit?" she said, "I'm not sure if I will ever go back."
Score!
Caspian clenched his fist in a silent sign of victory. If she wasn't to return then perhaps she would consider staying with him. Marrying him, being his Queen. He felt like a lovesick school girl.
"Because if you never wish to return then…" he gulped, "I'll take care of you."
Karina smiled, "Thanks, you know I've never had anyone who cared about me this much."
Caspian pulled her into a hug, although this one was more than friendship. He really didn't know why he had kissed her. Now, their bodies so close, he could sense the faint whisper of skin underneath her dress. Karina should have pushed him away, as this wasn't the best way to avoid getting attached to someone. She was surprised she didn't feel repulsed when his tongue pushed into her mouth. It always grossed her out back in Detroit but here…. Here in Narnia.
"Cas… I.."
"Shhh, cállese mi amor." Caspian whispered, kissing her ferociously this time.
Way to go, Karina. Now you're both attached at the hip. Karina thought, letting herself go lax in Caspian's arms. Peter was not going to like this.
Authors Note: Okay, this whole part kinda ral wild in my mind. I've been thinking if Karina should ever leave Narnia. I guess that depends on who she end up with. I love using Lucy as leverage for everything, she's such a cute kid. I LOVE Bilingual Caspian, it screams sexy! Tell me what you think about that. Muy Caliente! (FYI: his Spanish translates as "hush my love") Review, Review bunnies and I shall bestow more chapters.
