Oh my God! Yes! It's a new chapter! WOOOOO!

Evangeline's POV

I woke up to the sounds of feet scuffling on the wooden floor. My eyes slowly opened and I was rudely greeted by a kaleidoscope of color as the sun filtered in through the stain glass windows. I groaned, flipping onto my stomach and burying my face in my pillow.

"Aww, come on, sleepy head!"

I creaked an eye open to see my roommate, Gwen, standing over me, grinning much too cheerfully for so early in the morning.

"The sun says it's time to get up!"

"The Angie says otherwise." I smiled sleepily, grabbing my pillow and pulling it over my head.

Gwen's twinkling laughter was muffled.

"What, dreading the journey home?" She teased.

Journey home...

"Gwen, what are you-"

I stopped.

Oh.

OH!

I gasped sharply, my eyes shooting open. I bolted straight up and threw the covers off, dashing to the window and throwing it open.

The sun had never looked so beautiful as it did in that moment, and my smile was just as bright.

"Isn't it a beautiful day, Gwen?"

I turned to see her watching me in amusement, her golden hair glowing as brightly as her eyes. I laughed excitedly and gripped her hands, spinning her around the room as her laughter joined with mine.

"I'm going home, today!"

"How could you have forgotten? I thought you'd be singing it down the halls at the crack of dawn!" She grinned, letting go of my hands as we both flopped down on our beds. "And gushing about a certain prince."

I blushed unashamedly.

My Caspian.

"Did you respond to his letter?"

"...I don't know what to say." I admitted. "Besides, don't you think he'd enjoy it much more if I responded in person?" I grinned cheekily.

She looked pained for a moment, but seemed to brush it off as she smiled back at me.

"Well, then, what are you waiting for? Get dressed! I'm sure Madame will be up here any minute."

I lifted my nightgown over my head and folded it, packing it away with the rest of my things and shrugging on the deep red dress I'd laid out the night before. My fingers fumbled with the lace-up front and I turned to Gwen pleadingly for help.

She shook her head in mock exasperation, coming to my rescue, but eyes grew sad and thoughtful as she worked.

I took her hands in my own.

"I'll be back before you know it." I told her quietly.

She laughed, shaking her head.

"What? Back to this old place? Nah. You just say hello to Caspian for me." She smiled painfully.

I pulled her into a tight hug.

"I won't forget you."

"You'd better not! Write me, okay?"

"I promise. And Gwen?" I pulled back. "Try not to get in too many fights." I teased.

"They wouldn't be half as much fun without you." She grinned.

A knock on the door interrupted us.

"Ms. Evangeline! The clock is ticking!"

"Coming, Madame!" I called, grabbing my bag off the bed. The rest had been loaded into the carriage.

I turned and gave Gwen one last hug.

"Take care of yourself."

Her arms tightened around me.

"Have a safe journey, Evangeline."

XXXXX

The girls turned to watch me disdainfully as I followed Madame down the hallways, and for once, I couldn't care less. Each step brought me closer to freedom and so each step was consequently lighter, until I felt so light I could have floated to the heavens.

My head was held high and my expression was smug.

As I followed Madame out to the courtyard and up to the carriage, a soft breeze swept over us , and with it, an ineffable sense of liberation. Unexpected emotion welled up inside of me as happy tears pricked my eyes.

"Sorry to be leaving, dear?" Madame asked.

I laughed a pure, genuine laugh.

"On the contrary," I beamed.

"I've never been happier."

XXXXX

I was sick. And I mean really sick.

It had started out as a minor nausea, which I had been quick to pass off as motion sickness. But by our third day traveling a fever had developed, and I stopped being able to hold down food.

"Honestly, Ms. Evangeline!" Madame exclaimed as I emptied the contents of my breakfast onto the grass. It was the third time we'd stopped that morning.

"I must insist we delay further travel until you are better!"

Horror struck me.

"No!" I groaned. "I want to go home! I have...to see..."

I coughed and gagged violently as shudders ran through me, tears leaking from my eyes. My throat burned and my vision blurred. Cold hands wrapped around my shoulders.

"Lionel, run ahead and fetch a doctor."

No.

"No-"

"I'm afraid it's not up to you, dear."

I have to go home.

"She's burning up!"

Caspian needs me.

"Help me lift her, quickly."

Caspian needs me...

"She has to stay conscious."

Caspian needs me...

"Ms. Evangeline."

Caspian needs me...

Caspian...needs me...

Caspian...

Caspian...

Caspian...

XXXXX

The next few days were spent in a delirious haze.

I was only vaguely aware of the people around me, and their voices were muffled as though I were submerged in water. I couldn't move. Every waking moment brought on immediate exhaustion and pain, so I only caught glimpses of the changing scenery around me.

It was at the insistence of the doctor that we continued our journey home, and I remember finding it strange that he urged such a risky movement.

I was unaware I called for Caspian in my sleep.

XXXXX

The day we arrived home, my mind registered one thing and one thing only: Caspian was near.

I first awoke when the soothing motion of the carriage suddenly stopped, moaning as my stomach did somersaults and flip-flops. For the first time, I was aware of someone holding me.

"Ms. Evangeline, wake up." A soft voice murmured. "You're home."

Home.

The word comforted me immediately. My eyes fluttered open and closed again as they were assaulted by bright light, finally settling on a squint. I summoned all my strength and lifted my head from where it rested on my companion's shoulder to seek out my surroundings.

I can't begin to describe the absolute joy I felt when the castle came into focus in front of me. Waves of emotions beat down on me and left me gasping for breath and, had I the strength, I would have wept happy tears.

The carriage door was opened with a click. Strong, though unfamiliar arms wrapped around me and I was lifted from the seat, a cool breeze sweeping my hair back from my damp skin. As I hung limply in the stranger's grasp, a name escaped my lips:

"Caspian."

I suddenly panicked. My eyes snapped open, searching wildly about me, and I twisted violently in my carrier's arms.

"Caspian! Caspian!" My hoarse voice shrieked.

The arms gripped me tighter and I panicked even more, pitiful cries escaping my lips.

"Caspian!"

"Evangeline!"

I was transferred into a comforting and familiar grasp. My father's gentle face loomed over me, and I curled into his chest as the scent of spices filled my nose, suddenly very tired.

"It's alright, Evangeline. You're home, now. It's alright."

He spoke softy, as though I were a child, but his words didn't comfort me.

I surrendered to unconsciousness with Caspian's name on my lips.

XXXXX

"Evangeline."

A soft voice called to me.

"My Evangeline."

Caspian?

I pushed anxiously through the darkness to hear his voice again.

"What have you done to yourself now?" He asked musingly.

Wouldn't you like to know...

There was a long moment of silence. I was scared he wouldn't speak again.

"Evangeline...I missed you so much."

And I you. More than you know.

"There's so much I want to tell you."

I'm here. Tell me.

"But I need you to wake up."

It hurts...

"Please, Angie. For me, alright?"

Of course. Anything.

"Open your eyes."

Caspian...

"I'm here."

I felt a warmth take hold of my hand and suddenly jolted into reality. That was his hand!

He's here! He's really here!

My body reconnected with my mind and I grasped his hand in my own.

"Angie?" His voice was clearer. "Angie, can you hear me?"

Yes! Yes!

I gripped his hand tighter and heard him take a sharp intake of breath. He clutched my hand in both of his.

"Yes, Angie, I'm here! I'm right here."

He raised my hand to his lips and kissed it. I could feel the smile on his face.

"I will always be here."

The bed dipped down as he sat beside me, and, with that knowledge, I let sleep overtake me.

XXXXX

My eyes opened.

The first thing I was aware of was that I was thoroughly soaked in sweat. My hair and nightgown clung to my skin and my lips were salty when I licked them.

The room- my room, I thought with a smile- was dark, the curtains drawn shut and the candles low.

What happened to me?

The last thing I remembered was being lifted into the carriage on the way back to Narnia...

"Angie?"

I gasped loudly and whipped my head to my right, where Caspian sat watching me with a hopeful expression. My hands flew to my mouth and happy tears filled my eyes.

"Oh, Caspian!"

He was at my side in an instant, and before I knew what was happening, we were gripping onto each other like our lives depended on it. His arms were wrapped around my waist and he buried his face in my neck. Tears streamed from my eyes as I buried my fingers in his hair.

"I can't believe you're really here!" I cried ecstatically.

He pulled back and took my face in his hands.

"You can't believe I'm here? How do you think I felt when you arrived looking like you were on death's door? You had me worried there, Angie."

"Come on, Caspian. You know I'll always pull through. No silly cold is going to take me down." I grinned softly.

"Yes, well that 'silly cold' had you lying here a week, so forgive me if I was a little concerned about you." He leaned his forehead against mine.

I blushed as his thumb gently brushed my cheek.

"I missed you." I whispered.

He smiled.

"I missed you more."

"Did not." I smirked.

"Did too." He scooted towards me.

"Did not." I scooted back.

"Did too." He grinned mischievously.

"Did not!" I squeaked as his fingers tickled my sides.

"Did too!" He laughed, as I feebly tried to grasp his hands.

Our laughter filled the room as his fingers flitted up and down my sides. However, the my laughter quickly turned to violent coughing. I cursed in my head as I turned my back to Caspian, feeling his hand rest comfortingly between my shoulder blades. I fell back against the pillows.

"Maybe that's enough excitement for one day." Caspian smiled as he leaned over me.

"Promise you won't leave me?"

"As if I would." He smirked.

"You would. You'd do it just to spite me, I know it."

He laughed.

"Well we've got a year of catching up to do and thanks to you, we've already wasted a week."

"Hey!"

"Shhhh." He placed a finger on my lips. My cheeks went red again.

He smiled gently down at me. My heart pounded in my ears and my breath quickened.

"Do you think you can find the strength to be on your feet by tomorrow?"

"If you asked, I could fly."

XXXXX

Within three days of my fever breaking, my full health had returned. Caspian and I spent every waking moment together, taking long walks during the day and watching stars with the professor at night. Caspian told me of everything I had missed at the castle: the dull lessons, the missed stories, and, most particularly, his aunt's pregnancy and his uncle's doings.

"Has Miraz spoken to you at all?" I asked Caspian one day as we walked through the halls.

"Hardly. Mostly he keeps himself occupied with the council or locked away in his study. But every now and then he'll look at me and I'll swear he's trying to kill me with his eyes."

I couldn't help the giggle that escaped me as I thought of Miraz's eyes bulging with effort.

"It's true!" Caspian exclaimed.

"Oh, I have no doubt of that." I smiled up at him.

But he appeared to be distracted by the door beside us. I could see the cogs turning in his head as he looked at it, glancing at me, then at the door again.

"What is it?" I asked him.

He looked at me for a moment, then smiled and held out his hand. I hesitated upon seeing the look in his eyes, but placed my hand in his and let him lead me through the door.

He brought me to the center of what I recognized as the ballroom, before releasing my hand and turning to me. He bowed to me, and I realized his intentions with an excited flutter in my stomach. His eyes glowed as I curtsied to him.

He approached me with slow, deliberate steps.

A bright smile crossed my lips as he placed his hand on my waist and my breath left me as he gently pulled me to him.

We began our dance.

It started out slow and unsure, despite our familiarity. But this was a new kind of familiarity.

It was a feeling I'd dreamed of my entire life, one I'd thought only existed in books. It was breathtaking and wonderful and terrifying all at the same time.

I knew what this was.

And Caspian did, too.

I didn't even realize we'd come to a halt as his eyes met mine. He looked just as uncertain as I felt, but I could see the emotion that was in his eyes and I know he could see it in mine.

My eyes closed as I felt his breath on my lips. His hand brushed my hair back from my face.

And then he pressed his lips against mine.

Happiness the likes of which I could only imagine welled up inside me. Had I known joy until this moment?

It was a sweet, soft, lingering kiss that lasted just a second, but it meant so much.

My Caspian. My Caspian.

The kiss was broken as he gently pulled back, his eyes searching for my reaction. He looked so nervous I almost laughed, and I beamed up at him with a smile so bright it hurt my cheeks.

His apprehension melted away and was replaced with pure joy as he laughed and lifted me in his arms, spinning me around the room. My laughter joined with his, and it was one of the most beautiful sounds I've ever heard.

To my great disappointment, the moment was cut short as the door slammed open and a breathless soldier ran in. Caspian set me down, but kept his arms around me.

"What do you want?" He snapped, just as agitated as I was.

"Forgive me, my Prince." The soldier gasped. "The Queen has gone into labor."