The entire room fell silent. Caspian's fork landed on his plate with a clatter and Amelia nearly choked.

"What?" She squeaked. Kestra looked at her with malice.

"Weren't you just telling me the other night how skilled you are with a blade?" Everyone's eyes were on Amelia as she stumbled for a response.

"But Kestra, she's a- she's-" The duke faltered. Kestra laughed.

"Oh please, father. Times are changing." She lounged back in her chair. "Besides, if a woman is willing to fight when a man won't, shouldn't she be allowed?" She smiled at Amelia as if they were old friends, but Amelia could see the hint of cruel intentions in her gaze. "And Amelia will fight, won't you?"

The logical thing to do would be to politely decline. But sitting there, staring into Kestra's challenging eyes, logic was the last thing on Amelia's mind. She sat up as tall as she could in her chair and smirked.

"It would be my pleasure." She said, earning a chorus of gasps, including Caspian's. His expression deepened with worry and dread.

"The pleasure is mine." Kasto replied, eyeing Amelia hungrily. The duke shrugged and send her a bright smile.

"Very well. Lady Amelia will face off against reigning champion of the tournament; my dear son Kasto." He announced. "You both have three hours to prepare. The tournament will begin at midday. Good luck." With those final words, he dismissed the group and everyone scattered in different directions; Amelia heading back to the ship with Caspian following at her heels. He rushed and stopped in front of her, shifting to block her path when she tried to go around him.

"What in Aslan's name just happened?" He hissed, but he wasn't angry, so to speak. He could never find himself truly angry with Amelia. No, what Caspian felt now was pure panic.

"I was given a challenge and I accepted." Amelia shrugged, keeping her own fear tucked away in her chest. "Please allow me to go prepare." When she tried to maneuver around him again, he placed firm hands on her shoulders, holding her in place before him.

"Amelia…" He sighed in frustration. "You don't understand what you are doing."

"I know very well what I am doing, your Majesty." She snapped. Her words were no longer teasing, but instead spiteful. Caspian's eyes pleaded desperately with hers.

"I beg you, tell me what this is all about."

"It's just a little friendly competition." His hands moved from her shoulders to her arms and he shook her gently.

"Men have died at Kasto's hand! I fear he will show you no more mercy than he did them." He laid a hand on her cheek but she fiercely pulled away.

"I do not ask for anyone's mercy." She spat and finally pushed passed him. Part of her desperately wanted him to follow, to forbid her from fighting. But he just stood, his hands falling helplessly to his sides.

Her feet shuffled forward and back as her blade cut through the air. She has exactly one hour until the tournament and she still felt completely unprepared. What had she been thinking? She was still very new to sword fighting and now she was to compete against the duke's son; champion of the tournament. But when she had seen Kestra's greedy and spiteful gaze, all Amelia wanted to prove how wrong the spoiled girl was. Now, standing on the deck of the Dawn Treader, her confidence had faded.

"I will ask you once more." Caspian said quietly from behind her. "Please… do not compete in this tournament." Every part of him wanted to reach out to her, to wrap his arms around her and refuse to let her go. Part of her wanted to let him.

"I already agreed, Caspian." She sighed, returning her sword to its sheath. "I cannot simply back out."

"Amelia," he took a step towards her. "You don't have to prove anything to those women." She inhaled sharply. He had come to the conclusion after being bombarded with questions from Lady Kestra and Amelia's reaction now told him he was correct.

"I'm not trying to prove anything." She lied. She wasn't quite sure what she was trying to prove. Perhaps she was trying to convince herself that she belonged here; by the side of a king.

A man in the distance began to approach the ship, waving at Amelia to join him. Caspian shuttered at the way Kasto's stare remained fixed below Amelia's face.

"I hope you will spectate the tournament, but I will not hold it against you if you choose not to attend." She didn't even turn back to look at Caspian before crossing back onto land. She couldn't bear to see the look on his face as she left. She didn't need to see the hurt in his eyes to know it was there.

Caspian grimaced as Kasto offered Amelia his arm and she laced hers with it. He shut his eyes tight and hit his fist hard on the railing of the ship. Pain shot through his hand, rippling up his arm, but he paid no attention to it. All that mattered was the girl now walking away from him.

Kasto lead Amelia to a small gazebo in the garden of the palace. She hid her discomfort with a polite smile. She recognized the way his stare traveled up and down her figure. It was the same look she received every day when she worked for Jimmy.

"I just thought I would come and wish you luck." He began, leaning against a bench.

"And I to you." She replied, hoping that that was the end of it. But as his finger traced up her arm, she feared there was much more he wanted to discuss.

"I find this whole manor of battle very nonsensical." He leaned towards her. "I believe there are many other ways to cease this conflict between you and my sister. In fact," his arm snaked around her waist, pulling her tight against him, "I may even have a suggestion."

"How dare you?" Amelia spat, violently shoving him away, the rage and disgust formed from his touch radiating from her.

"Come now." He brushed off. "There is no need to be dramatic. Don't tell me you haven't thought of it before." Amelia, repulsed and enraged, resisted the urge to slap him.

"I am with King Caspian. You dare lay your hands on me and ask me to come to bed with you?"

"You'll have to excuse my surprise." He chuckled darkly. "I have never been denied before."

"Clearly you have never met a woman with a shred of self-respect." She stormed off, trudging through the gardens as Kasto glared after her. "Or standards for that matter." She added under her breath.

Back in the gazebo, Kestra appeared by her brother's side.

"I take it she did not accept your offer." She sneered and Kasto clenched his fists.

"Has her armor been… adjusted?" He growled. Kestra leaned in so her lips were by his ear as she whispered.

"It will slice like paper." The siblings snickered and walked arm-in-arm to the arena.

Amelia entered the tent set for her and ran her fingers through her hair, biting her lip as she let out an angered cry. After arriving in Narnia, she thought that she would never feel that kind of humiliation again. Her arm still held the memory of his vile touch and tears burned in her eyes.

Her armor has been laid out on the cot provided for her. She slipped it on and pulled the straps tight. In her anger, she didn't notice it's unusual lightness. The trumpets sounded, announcing that the battle was about to begin. She flung open the curtain of the tend and made her way towards the arena, the gravel path crunching under her boots.

Caspian shifted uneasily his seat in the stands. Since he was the guest of honor, a canopy hung over his head to protect him from the heat. His heart pounded in his ears as Amelia appeared at her entrance, her metal armor glistening. There was something strange about her expression. Something that told Caspian that her meeting with Kasto didn't go well. Kasto waltzed into ring with a pompous smirk on his face.

Amelia felt her stomach churn as she walked to the center of the ring. She drew her sword and bowed, Kasto doing the same. The final trumpet sounded and the tournament began.

Kasto shifted this way and that, swinging his blade through the air tauntingly. Amelia was the first to lunge. Anger and degradation fueled her movements making them quick and precise.

Kasto countered her advances with equal skill. It was like a dance, one moving back, the other forward. Every step made Caspian's heart lurch, his knuckles turning white from gripping the chair. As the battle grew more intense, Kasto came close enough to speak without being heard.

"Could you imagine what it would have been like? You and I?" He purred thoughtfully, Amelia knowing exactly what he was thinking of. "I mean, just think." Amelia swung her blade and met his in a cross. He leaned in.

"It's not too late, Amy."

"My name is Amelia, you pig." She hissed, spitting into his face. With an enraged cry, Kasto brought his sword down and struck her side, her armor buckling and splintering into her skin. She gasped in shock. His blade cut deeply and felt blood seeping through her shirt.

"Amelia!" A voice called out as she collapsed.

Caspian leapt over the barricade separating the strands from the arena and sprinted across the ring, kneeling by Amelia's side. He pressed his hands to her wound, slicing his palms on the sharp metal of the splitting armor.

"Someone get me a doctor!" He shouted. "Hurry!"

"Caspian…" Amelia gasped. Her breathing was labored and shallow. The wound was frighteningly deep and black lined the edges of her vision. She tried to sit up. "I'm fine. It's just a scratch." Caspian laughed to keep himself from becoming hysterical while he gently forced her to lie back down. Seeing her blood drip onto the dirt heightened his panic.

"The cordial." He suddenly muttered. He turned to a group of his men. "Someone bring me Queen Lucy's cordial! And quickly!" They all rushed in the direction of the Dawn Treader. He held Amelia in his arms, her head resting in his lap. "You're going to be alright."

His men didn't returned until what felt like hours later. One handed Caspian the small glass bottle. He popped out the cork and brought the orange-red liquid to her made sure a small drop fell onto her tongue before drawing the bottle away.

Amelia coughed and licked her lips. When Caspian reexamined her wound, it has faded away.

"You're alright." He sighed in relief, pulling her up in his arms. His tears fell into her hair as he kissed the top of her head. "It's okay. May I?" He motioned toward her armor. She nodded meekly.

Amelia remained silent as Caspian unstrapped her armor and lifted it off of her. It cracked and groaned in his hands. A new wave of fury spread through him. It has been made from mere scrap metal- hardly thicker than a fingernail. He shot the Duke's children a dark look before scooping Amelia up in his arms and carried her out of the arena.

The Duke rushed after him, apologizing profusely. He rambled on about a mistake with the metal or the blade. Caspian turned to his first mate.

"Prepare the ship." He commanded. "We leave at dusk."

"But-but your Majesty-" The Duke stammered. "This is just one big misunderstanding."

"It has been made clear that Lady Amelia is not welcome in Glama." Caspian snapped. "Therefore, neither am I. I thank you for your hospitality, but we shall not stay a moment longer."

"Y-yes your Majesty." The Duke bowed, a truly apologetic look on his face. How could such a joyous man produce such terrible, vile children? Caspian thought. "I will prepare supplies to be sent with you."

Through everything, Amelia remained silent. She was limp in Caspian's arms, her fingers curled in a soft grip on his shirt. Shame burned on her cheeks, refusing to let herself cry. It felt as if this moment crushing her. It squeezed the life out of her chest. It felt as if this moment has changed everything.

They left Galma as soon as the sun has fallen behind the horizon. Amelia had retreated to the her room and had yet to emerge after nearly a day of sailing. Caspian had need to to put as much ocean between him and Kasto as quickly as possible. He feared he wouldn't be able to control himself if he saw the arrogant boy again.

Caspian distracted himself with planning the next part of their journey. He found, however that it was extremely difficult to focus on a map when all he could think was Amelia. His gaze subconsciously landed on the door to her quarters. She hadn't uttered a word to him since the fight and the silence was tearing him apart.

Unable to bear it any longer, he crossed the deck and knocked softly on the door. He could hear quiet footfalls from within, but no response.

"Amelia?" He whispered. "Please… open the door." The knob turned and the door opened slightly. He slipped inside and closed it behind him.

"Do you need something?" Amelia asked, her voice hoarse.

"Amelia…" He sighed, rubbing his eyes. "I just want you to talk to me."

"There is nothing to talk about." She responded rashly. How she yearned for Caspian to hold her. But she shied away from him, keeping to the edges of the room.

"You could have died!" He exclaimed, trying not to raise his voice. She cast her eyes to the floor.

"Did you doubt me?" Caspian stepped towards her, but she stayed away.

"What?" He gasped, surprised that she could even ask that.

"Why did you beg me not to compete? Was it my skills? Did you doubt my abilities? Was it so apparent that I would fail?"

"Of course not."

"Then why!"

"Because I love you!" He shouted, his words echoing through the small room as well as her heart.

"Y-you… you what?" She breathed. He crossed to her and this time she didn't scurry away. He placed his hands on either side of her face.

"I love you, Amelia. More than I could possibly say. I couldn't bear the thought of you being harmed. And when I saw you collapse, I thought my heart would never recover. My love for you stretches farther than this very ocean. It reaches into the stars that brought you to me. Amelia, if I were to lose you… I don't think I'd survive." His eyes bored into hers so intensely she feared to even try to turn away. Finally, she spoke.

"And I love you, Caspian." She closed the space between them and collided her lips into his. This kiss was different than any of the other's they had shared. It was passionate and deep, as if she was breathing through him. When they pulled away, she stared at the ground. "I should have listened to you. None of this would have happened if I had just listened."

"This is not your fault." Caspian said, tracing her chin with his fingers, lifting her head up to look at him. "The armor they gave you was tampered with. I have complete faith that you would have made Kasto wish he had never met you."

The memory of Kasto's hands on her waist jumped to her thoughts. She pushed it aside and pulled Caspian in for another blissful kiss.

The commotion from beyond the door caught both of their attentions. They gave each other a look before rushing out to find the crew frantically looking at something in the water.

"Man overboard!" Someone called and the two quickly joined them by the railing where they found three people floundering in the sea.

"It can't be." Caspian gasped, a smile playing at his lips. He took off his jacket and dived in after them, two other crewman doing the same. As they lifted them onto the ship, Amelia tried to place where she had seen the young girl and one of the boys before. They seemed so familiar, but she couldn't quite figure out why.

She tried to ignore the way Caspian's white shirt clung to his frame, made semitransparent by the water. She felt the blush rise in her cheeks when he caught her staring and smirked.

He was handed a pile of towels and gave them the three, keeping one for himself.

"Amelia," He started, drying his hair. "Meet Lucy and Edmund Pevensie. King and Queen of Narnia."

Hello again! I had so much fun writing protective Caspian and fierce fighting Amelia. And don't worry, Amelia will fight again and get a chance to redeem herself. She's a badass, Kasto just cheated. Since I'll be entering the official plot of Voyage of the Dawn Treader, writing may take a little longer because I have to consult the script to make the writing accurate to the film.