The winter months were made of travel preparations and secret meetings in the farthest corners of the castle. Not that they really needed to be a secret. It was like Caspian had said. It made it more exciting.

They shared only one more kiss, just a quick peck goodnight after a long day of horseback riding. The nerves of new love had begun to fade and Amelia and Caspian were much more comfortable around each other. They constantly joked and teased, but they could also have in depth conversations as well. Mostly they just talked about Narnia and Caspian's life, thought he was very interested in hers.

Besides a few things about her father, Amelia didn't speak about London. Perhaps she believed there wasn't much to talk about. Before Narnia… she was nothing. Now, standing at a crowded dock, she felt like someone.

Caspian's subjects cheered as they finally loaded up the rest of the supplies onto the glorious Dawn Treader. Amelia adjusted the sheath and sword at her hip as she slipped a leather satchel- a gift from Doctor Cornelius- over her shoulder. The ocean glittered in the morning sun and she was left in awe by the clear blue vastness of it.

"Ready?" Caspian interrupted her thoughts, lacing his fingers through hers, sending a wonderful warmth tingling up her arm. Somethings hadn't changed. Nodding her head, the two walked up the board connecting the boat to land. As they reached the dock Caspian turned back to the crowd. "People of Narnia, in this voyage I intend to find my father's lost confidants and finish what they had sought out to do.

"When I return, we will not only have learned what happened to these men, but we will hopefully bring them home." Everyone cheered and the vessel began to pull away from the dock, sailing off to sea. Immediately, sailors bustled around the ship, calling to each other and tending to their stations. Amelia followed Caspian to his quarters, which he had willfully surrendered to her for the long nights that would come.

The map Father Christmas had given him was laid out on the desk and he looked over it, reviewing their course. She sat across from him, picking up one of the gadgets. Caspian smiled and shook his head, plucking the tool from her hands and using it to measure distance on the map. She opened her mouth in mock offense, snatching it back. Caspian sighed, trying to seem irritated, but came off as amused.

"Amelia," he tried to grab it, but she held it behind her back. "I need that."

"Then you should've asked politely." She stuck out her tongue, holding the compass in front of her face. Caspian lunged across the desk and she squealed, leaping out of the chair and running towards the exit. Arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her back. Caspian flipped her around, hands on either side of her face, pinning her to the door.

"I'll be taking that back then." he stared into her honey colored eyes and smirked. She held her chin up.

"Do you surrender?" He brushed his cheek against hers and whispered into her ear.

"Never."

There was a click and Amelia fell backward, Caspian quickly following. The floor boards knocked the air out of her and Caspian landed on top of her of her with a thud. His first mate stood over them, eyebrows raised.

"Am I… interrupting something?" He chuckled. The entire crew had stopped their work and were staring at them. Caspian stood up and brushed himself off. He cleared his throat.

"Carry on."

The crew gave each other humored looks and went back to work. Amelia was practically rolling on the floor with laughter, barely able to breathe. Caspian helped her to her feet, red in the face and tense.

"Oh come now Caspian. It was pretty funny." Amelia giggled. His serious demeanor broke.

"I suppose it was… a little humorous." He let his hair fall into his face as he looked at the ground. Amelia rolled her eyes and scoffed.

"Men."

Caspian went back into his quarters to discuss plans with his first mate. Amelia decided to wander around the ship, perhaps get to know some of the crew. She quickly became distracted by the view. The waves roared in greeting, slapping against the ship's side. It seemed to go on forever.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Said Reepicheep, balancing on the railing next to her.

"My father used to take me sailing, but the water never looked like this." The sea was the purest, clearest blue she had ever seen.

"Narnia's waters are truly magnificent." Reepicheep agreed. Strong arms snuck their way around her waist.

"Come to enjoy the view Caspian?" asked Amelia.

"Something like that." He whispered, face buried into the crook of her neck. Reepicheep smirked.

"Well, I'll be off then. I think that I am needed below deck."He scurried off, checking over his shoulder to smile at the couple once more before going under the deck.

"Oh, now you're not embarrassed to be seen with me." Amelia huffed teasingly. Caspian's laugh blew through her hair.

"I was simply surprised." He rested his chin on her shoulder, his lips lightly grazing her ear.

"Uh huh." She hummed. He moved to kiss her cheek, but she stubbornly turned her head away. Caspian laughed deeply.

"You are so wonderfully impossible." He brought a hand up from her waist and began playing with a strand of hair that has come loose from her braid, twisting it around his finger.

"And you would do well to remember that." Amelia turned around to face him. "Your majesty."

"How many times must I tell you not to call me that?" Caspian groaned.

"Until I grow tired of it." She stepped out of his arms and told him to get back to work. He bowed.

"As you wish."

After a few days at sea, the ship docked at Galma, where the King and his crew were treated to a festival. On the first night was a grand banquet, with King Caspian as the guest of honor. While the Duke was enchanted by Amelia's quick wit, his daughter cast her dark looks from down the table, remembering that this was the girl who swept the King away at the Christmas ball. Amelia pretended not to notice.

It was both intimidating and empowering to have the daughter of a Duke envying you. Amelia could tell by the way she hung on every word Caspian said that Lady Kestra had an infatuation with him. She was ashamed by the pang of jealousy in her stomach. It was ridiculous of course, but she had overheard some of the servants say that the Lady had a way of getting what she wanted.

After dinner, a ceremony was performed as the sun set. It was a dance between a man and woman, where the man was dressed in fine gold garments and the woman in a pale, icy dress. Amelia vaguely understood that the woman was meant to be Jadis, and the man Aslan, but didn't understand why the people were celebrating with the sun. Caspian saw her confusion and explained.

"The sun represents Aslan."

"I can understand that," She looked at him quizzically. "But if that's so, why celebrate at sunset? Why not at dawn or at midday when the sun is highest in the sky?"

"It does seem strange, doesn't it?" They watched as the woman plunged a prop dagger between the man's chest and his arm to seem like she pierced his heart. "The sun sets with the promise of rising the next day, just as Aslan died and returned. They celebrate the fact that he died to save King Edmund, knowing that he rose and defeated the White Witch." The man laid still for a moment before standing again and 'killing' the woman just as the sun dipped below the horizon.

"That's… amazing." Amelia gasped. Caspian took her hand and lifted it to his lips. Lady Kestra's eyes burned into Amelia's, whispering something to one of her friends. They snickered and the woman strut towards her.

"Your Majesty," Kestra greeted and they all curtsied. "Would you mind if we stole Lady Amelia for a quick minute? We've been dying to hear all the palace gossip." Amelia shot Caspian a pleading look.

"Actually-" he started.

"Wonderful! We'll be right back." Kestra and her friends dragged Amelia away. She looked over her shoulder and Caspian simply shrugged, mouthing 'I tried.'

They lead her over to a gazebo and the four sat down on a bench, Kestra still gripping Amelia's arm.

"Tell us, Amelia," one of the girls began, "what is he like?" She gave them a confused look.

"Who?" The three women laughed.

"King Caspian, silly." Kestra patted her hand. "We hear that the two of you have gotten close."

"Oh, well, I suppose we have." Amelia sputtered.

"Come now, don't be modest." Kestra arched a brow. "I saw the way he looked at you at the Christmas ball."

"Well, I guess you could say that we're… together." Amelia shifted uncomfortably. She didn't feel like this was an appropriate discussion to be having with strangers. Then their expressions turned dark.

"Do you usually dress like this around him?" One asked smugly. "I mean; in men's clothes?"

"I always wear trousers with Caspian; whenever we go horseback riding, or practice sword fighting." Amelia shrugged, not understanding why she had brought it up.

"Sword fighting?" Another exclaimed. "I've never heard of a lady sword fighting." But Kestra was more upset about something else Amelia had said.

"Caspian? My, the two of you are closer than I thought. So Caspian approves of you prancing about like a barbarian?" She hissed. Amelia stood, anger and humiliation radiating through her.

"Excuse me, but I don't-"

"Just look at her nails!" A girl grabbed her hand. They shrieked with laughter pointing at the rings of dirt Amelia had tried so hard to scrub out earlier. She snatched her hand away.

"I think I am going to turn in for the night." She trudged away, wiping the burning hot tears away.

Caspian was speaking to the Duke's son, Kasto, when he noticed Amelia storming towards the ship. He excused himself and went after her. He called to her but she did not respond.

"Amelia!" He grabbed her hand, but her face was turned away from him. "They're about to start the dance. Where are you going?"

"I'm going to be sleeping on the ship tonight." She said meekly, trying to pull away. He cupped her face in his hands, forcing her to look at him, eyes red from crying.

"What's wrong, darling?"

"Nothing." She shook her head. "I've just gotten used to sleeping on the waves, that's all." A stray tear escaped and was swept away by Caspian's thumb.

"You know you've never been able to lie to me, Amelia. Come now, what is it?" He gently tucked a stray piece of mousy hair behind her ear. She shook her head and stepped away.

"I'm just tired, Caspian. Please, let me sleep." He let her go, calling after her as she rushed aboard.

"Goodnight!" She turned back to him and smiled sadly.

"Goodnight."

That morning she was aroused by the sound of trumpets on the shore. Her hair was a tangled, knotted mess and she hadn't changed out of yesterday's clothes. Lady Kestra's sneer and Caspian's hurt expression flashed before her. Groaning and rubbing her tired eyes, she sat up.

Caspian hadn't gotten even a moment of sleep, worrying all night about Amelia. She had told him everything, but last night, she closed herself away. It made him restless, thinking about everything he had said. Could he have offended her? What had upset her so? He paced around his room, pausing by the window. Amelia emerged from the Dawn Treader, the hilt of her sword glistening in the sun.

She marched into the castle, receiving many strange looks. Ladies didn't carry weapons, but she wasn't trying to seem like a lady. All her life she had been told to act more ladylike and less like a man. She was told that little girls didn't go fishing with their fathers, they stayed home and played kitchen. They didn't play soldiers outside with the boys in the neighborhood. Today she was her own kind of soldier.

"Amelia!" Caspian rushed down the hallway towards her. She pushed her shoulders back and held her head high.

"Good morning." She continued walking at an extraordinarily quick pace.

"I trust that you slept well?" Caspian inquired. She gave him a confused look. "You said you has gotten used to the waves."

"Ah, yes of course. I slept very well, thank you." She lied. Truthfully, she hadn't slept at all. She had been up all night thinking about those wretched girls. He felt her dishonestly, but decided not to push her.

The dining hall table was lined with breakfast foods, but the pair of cold blue eyes made Amelia lose her appetite. Kestra sat near the head of the table, next to a boy who must have been her twin brother Kasto. His blonde hair and smirk reminded her of Jimmy, as well as his lustful gaze towards her. She look a deep breath and look her place next to Caspian.

"It is a shame you are not allowed to compete in the tournament, Your Majesty." The Duke started. "I'm afraid Kasto has run out of swordsman willing to cross blades with him." He chuckled merrily, patting his son on the back.

"Who could blame them after Lord Blair nearly lost his arm?" Kestra gushed. "But there must be someone who will face dear Kasto."

All of the table's inhabitants were silent. Amelia made herself take a large bite of her breakfast pastry, not wanting to pay much attention to the conversation. Kestra seized the opportunity with a wicked smile.

"I nominate Lady Amelia."

And so begins the Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

I can't belive I haven't updated this story since May! I'm so so so so so so sorry! I just got so caught up in other stories that I forgot how much I adored writing for this one. I swear on the ever beautiful Ben Barnes that I haven't given up on this story, and I hope you guys haven't either. Thank you for sticking with me through that ridiculous hiatus. P.S. I know I said Lucy and Edmund would be in this chapter, but because it has been so long, I thought I would post the chapter now because I'm happy where it left off. I promise (for real this time) that Queen Lucy and King Edmund will make their first appearance in the next chapter.