Author's note: Oh my god! It has been so long that I have touched this story. To anyone who is still sticking with me through this: I am so sorry it has taken me so long to update! It got to a point where, classes mixed with changing my major (you are now officially talking/reading a Criminal Justice major, instead of journalism) and my job, it got too much where I didn't have time to update, and I was not willing to put a half-hearted attempt up.

Anyways, here it is now. Don't get your hopes up too much, I am hoping (since I have time this weekend, to get a couple chapters up) but finals are coming up soon and then I will not be able to update again until those are over. But I am back, I hope! Please let me know what you think, I love all the comments and feed back I get. I love all of you, thank you for continuing to read!

Also, as usual, I do not own anything related to The Chronicles of Narnia, all of that belongs to the genius C.S. Lewis

"Why, Lady Christina, you look ravishing!" Fahd told me.

I managed a smile and curtsied, allowing him to press another sloppy, sickening kiss to the back of my hand. The rest of the Calormenes greeted me in much the same fashion and I just remained silent through all of it.

After a few moments of conversing a servant announced Caspian's entrance and I clapped, along with the rest of the nobles.

As he descended the stairs for his grand entrance, everyone, including the Calormen, bowed.

Keeping my eyes on him, I swept into a low curtsy, trying to be as graceful as I could.

He was wearing dark blue robes, looking very King-like. The crown on his head was perfectly straight and shined brightly against his dark brown hair. He looked perfect. The Calormenes greeted him first, offering their compliments about the castle and the ball.

He spoke with them like an old friend, but I could see the apprehension behind his eyes.

He didn't like them either.

Finally he made his way over to me and stopped short. I smiled and spun around quickly, giving him the full picture. He remained silent for a few moments. A light blush crept onto my cheeks as he continued staring, not saying anything.

Well, this is a bit….awkward.

"Christina, you look…" his voice was low and quiet.

"Flattering enough, Cas?" I joked

He swallowed and I could see his Adam's apple bob up and down in his throat I smiled slightly, stepping closer. He nodded quickly and I hugged him tightly. As he pulled away he grabbed my hands, kissing both of them and staring at me.

"I'm s-sorry. I know I owe you some type of compliment. But any words I could come up with would still not do you justice."

I smiled and kissed his cheek quickly.

"You look pretty handsome yourself," I teased, wrapping my arm around his.

We then continued into the grand hall, which was decorated with bright reds, golds, yellows, and oranges. A band of fauns was set up and playing Narnian themed songs against the back wall. Tables were set up along the outer edges of the room, leaving space for people to dance. A refreshments table was set up, small snacks prepared by the cooks sat there, as well as an assortment of drinks ranging from orange juice to wine.

"You know you have to start the dancing," I told him as we entered the ballroom.

"Will you dance with me?"

"As much as I would love to, Caspian, I think the first dance should be with Calormene nobles, so as to make them feel more welcome." I told him, wishing I could dance with him.

He sighed, nodding.

"Sorry," I breathed as he walked off to ask the Tarkheena to dance.

"Care to dance, Milady?"

I smiled and took the Tarkaan's hand. His name was, if I was correct, Haidar. He was well past his prime; wrinkles covered most of his face and his black beard was long with the tips tinged silver.

His smile was jolly while we danced, and he prattled on about his wife and children. I could honestly say that I liked him most of all. When the dance was over I bowed and moved to one of the tables surrounding the room.

The night passed by happily. I danced with Narnians and Calormens alike. I tried to steer clear of the Calormens as much as I could, for I feared I would not be able to stop myself from telling them how I truly felt about their culture. However, whenever a Tarkaan asked, I did not refuse.

Much to my dismay, the "noble" Fahd seemed to have taken a liking to me. I danced with him five times by the end of the night.

Five times too many for my taste.

Through the course of the evening, the Calormens indulged in the rich Narnian wine.

By the time I bid goodnight to everyone, half of their party was drunk, and the other half well on their way to being drunk. I wrinkled my nose with dislike as I faced Caspian and told him I was heading back to my chambers for the evening.

"Do you want me to walk you to your room?" Caspian asked as I left the great hall.

"No, I'll be fine! You stay here, enjoy the Calormenes," I joked, winking.

Then I continued on my own. At night, the castle seemed much bigger, and scarier; more so when it was empty. Making sure I wouldn't step on my skirt, I quickened my pace, eager to get out of these spooky halls and into my warm, welcoming room.

"Lady Christina!"

I turned around, the train of my dress still in hand, to find a very drunk Fahd Tarkaan.

He stumbled towards me, a revolting smile on his face. When he stopped, too near for my liking, I could smell the strong scent of alcohol on his breath. I backed away, but he only stepped closer, his smile growing larger and more sinister by the second.

My heart rate began to pick up as I tried to think of ways to get away from him without being rude.

"Noble Fahd, did you enjoy the ball?"

"Yes, it was quite….amusing."

I nodded, cringing at the stench of liquor invading my nostrils.

"But what I enjoyed most was watching you, madam."

I looked up into his black eyes with both disgust and nervousness. He was very drunk; he had no idea what he was saying. Everyone was still at the ball. We were alone in an empty castle. A cold sweat broke out along the base of my neck, and although it was quite warm in the castle, goose bumps grew on the skin of my arms and legs.

"Tell me, girl, how long have you been Caspian's whore?"

"What?"

"I have been watching you and your king," he almost spat the word, "You cannot think me stupid enough to believe he has never taken you as his own."

"He hasn't," I growled.

His laugh only increased the chills building up within me. I had to get out of here.

"I wonder what he will think when his own personal prostitute is taken by another man."

With those words I clamped my mouth shut and turned on the spot, ready to run. I felt his hand clench around my wrist, squeezing to the point where a small groan came out of my mouth. My breath began to come faster as I turned back toward him and gave him the most deadly stare I could muster in my panic.

"Release me. Now."

"Don't be insolent, little girl," he chuckled, leaning in and closing his eyes.

Before I had come to this world, I took a single self-defense class with my sister, our mother telling us that we needed to know the basics if we were going to go off by ourselves in such a big place. I couldn't remember the name of that place now; it seemed so distant. I strained my memory to try and remember what I had learned about being attacked.

Just as his mouth was about to reach mine, I took the heel of my palm and thrust upward.

Blood came out of his nose, and he let go of my wrist. While hunched over, trying to keep his blood from soaking his robes, I put both hands on his shoulders and brought my knee up, between his legs, with as much force as I had.

He fell to the ground with a groan and I grabbed hold of my dress, turning to run as far from this scene as I could.

I have to find Caspian.

A scream escaped my lips as I felt a strong weight fling against my back and shove me to the floor. Fahd turned me over and his fist connected with my cheek. He hit me again and again, until my vision began to blur.

"You should not have done that, whore."

I screamed with every ounce of breath I had left in me, trying to call for help, but Fahd slapped his hand over my mouth, and put his hand around my neck. My eyes, which I had previously closed, flew open as I gasped for breath.

He can't kill me. Can he?

My head ached and I could taste blood, my own, from my nose, or my lip, or something. I tried to breathe as normally as I could, but with the amount of constraint being applied to my airway, I was quickly losing oxygen. My ears began to ring, and my lungs burned.

Instead of clawing at his hands, I used the only strength I had left, to jab him in his eyes.

He screamed, and let go of my throat. Despite how dizzy and tired I was, I struggled to my feet, and tried to run as far as I could.

Fahd grabbed hold of the end of my dress, tearing off a good portion of it, and yanked me back to him. I kicked my foot back, in the direction of where I hoped his face would be, but he grabbed my ankle instead, and pulled my foot out from under me, causing me to fall on my stomach.

"CASPIAN!"

I screamed and screamed, until Fahd began to kick me. He kicked my ribs and my legs and my face, and when I did not stop screaming, he rolled me over and put his foot on my throat, immediately cutting off my ability to make a single sound.

Tears leaked out of my eyes and I gasped for breath, I closed my eyes. I did not want the last thing I saw to be the smug look of the horrid man who had taken my life.

Caspian please save me.

"Get off of her!"

I gasped, and my hands flew to my throat when the pressure from Fahd's foot disappeared.

Oh, thank Aslan.

As I lay on the ground and tried to regain my breath, my other injuries took over, and it was then that I realized just how much damage Fahd had caused me. The pain tore through me, and made my vision go black, not before I was able to whimper out a tiny "thank you" before everything was gone.