Chapter IV

My dresses were burnt. According to Caen and father they were unfit for the Narnian courts. I knew Lasalareen, who had been the main giver of the 'scandalous' dresses would have had a fit if she knew what had become of them, so I never told her their fate. Caen insisted that I conformed to the Narnian fashion. The dresses were nothing compared to those that I wore in Calormen, but I knew if I was to be part of Caen's game, and wanted to be queen, I would have to conform.

I did, however, insist having my hair loose. I hated it tied up in braids, and I had a theory that hair was a female's crowning glory. Caen thought differently, and believed that a female's glory should hidden and mysterious. The morning after our resolution on becoming queens, Caen informed of what would occur that day. I had yet to meet either kings, but Caen reassured me that all could be arranged. She had become Queen Susan's lady-in-waiting, and also won the heart of the High King. It would be at the tournament that I would finally meet King Edmund.

She refused to say anything about his majesty as she tied my corset. The dresses were wore had an empire waist, with long sleeves that almost reached down to my ankles. I felt hot, and uncomfortable in the stuffy chamber. I gratefully accepted one of Caen's many fans, and helped my sister into her blue dress. We were the exact opposite, as all ways. My green dress clashed with hers. Nothing had changed.

A maid, surprisingly human, entered the room with two silver trays. She placed our breakfast on a table in the middle of the room, and left us to help ourselves. Caen refused to touch the foriegn food, so I enjoyed the whole meal to myslef.

"You'll starve," I commented fingering the pastry on my plate. Caen shrugged, and clasped a gold necklace onto her neck. I had never seen it before. There were several jewels attached to it, and it made her pale neck alluring.

"Are you ready for the tournament?" she asked, eyeing the grapes, which I was about to pop into my mouth. They were delicious. The type that were juicy in the inside, and surprised you with a million differen types of tastes with each new bite. I pushed back the rest of the food, and followed her out into the hallway. It was a lot more crowded then the day I had arrived. Squirrls scattered around, and I saw several Rabbits a well. There was even a Centaur, who looked ages old, with a sword attached to a belt around his waist. He was obviously a royal gaurd.

Caen pulled me by the hand as we walked up a staircase. The stairs were thick and high, and I was soon panting for breath. We turned a corner, walked down a hallway, and then down some stairs again. We came to another hallway, and for a moment we looked both ways, stopping.

"We're lost, aren't we?" I accused, jerking my hand away from her. A lady-in-waiting, indeed!

"Noo...," her voice trailed off, as she looked out a small window. I followed, and looked out at the other one, and let out a low groan. We were several feet above the courtyard. Whatever Caen had done, we were higher then we had been before.

"Can't we take some sort of servant's staircase?" I asked. My sister rolled her eyes.

"Us? Take a servant's passage? What did they do to you in Tashbaan?"

"I didn't get the idea from my time in Tashbaan, Caen. I was thinking of father's castle," I replied. Caen flushed, and I thought it was because of my reference of home, but I soon heard the sound of heavy footsteps coming down in the hallway. I noticed her shoulders go rigged as I heard the low laughter of a male. She pulled my wrist, and we swiftly entered a room through a door hidden by a tapestry.

"What's going on?" I complained, rubbing my skin that was marked by her nails. She was about to reply when the door started to open.

"Over there," she hissed, and we hurried over to the curtains. Caen panted, sitting on her knees. There wasn't enough room for me to do likewise, so I stood, and managed to get a good view of the person we were chasing from. Through the parting of the curtains, I could just make out the form of a man. He had dark hair, and his sharp eyes seemed to pierce my soul as he looked my way. But he didn't see us. Instead, two Centaurs, including the one I had seen earlier, grabbed his attention.

One of them buckled a gold belt around his armor, and the other handed him a sword. He was obviously readying himself for the tournament, whoever he was.

"Will you tell my brother, that I shall be there forthwith?" he asked. His voice sent shivers down my spin. I could feel the goosebumps on my arms. The Centaurs saluted him, and their hoofs carried them out of the chamber. Caen shifted in her position, and to my dismay, the man noticed.

"Come out!" he declared, his hand on his sword's hilt.

To my surprise, Caen obeyed. I was forced to follow. My hair tangled, and our dresses in a horrible state, we found ourselves being analyzed by this man. Caen dropped into a low curtsy, and indicated that I was to do likewise.

"Your majesty, King Edmund... my sister, the lady Sariel," she said.

His brown eyes seem to burn my face as stared at me. I lowered my gaze to the floor. This was not the way I imagined we would meet. Doubtless he would think us troublemakers, and give notice to our father. I would be sent packing on the first ship back to Calormen, or worse, home to father's castle.

"My lady," he addresed me, and to my surprise took my hand, and pressed my tanned hand against his lips. They were soft, and sent electric shocks all through my chest. He had Caen surely had to hear how loud my heart pounded.

"We were making our way to the tournament," Caen murmered, trying to catch the king's attention. I shot her a look. Did she not remember our plot? That I would win this king?

"Would you ladies accompany me?" he asked her, but his eyes were on me. I sent him a weak smile, the only thing I could give him. Caen nodded, and to my surprise, he offered her his arm. Without any furthur recognition towards me, they led the way to the fields where the tournament was to be held. I was forced to follow. It was then when King Edmund lowered his head to whisper something at her, and she responded by laughter, that I realized Caen never meant me to win his heart. I was only a pawn.

AN: More updates next weekend, hopefully. Starting school in a couple of days...Spicy