The cot that they slept on wasn't made for two people that much was clear the moment they laid down on it the night before but they made it work. When she woke the next morning she was reminded of this fact when she felt how tightly Caspian was clinging to her back, though that also have been a result of yesterday's emotional events.

She sighed and stretched her sore muscles as best she could in Caspian's grip, she settled down to wait for him to wake as she turned her ear to the sounds of the camp. The sunlight bleed through the canopy of the tent but it was impossible for her to tell what time it was wince she couldn't see the position of the sun, she could hear people bustling about the camp but it didn't sound like too many people or creatures were about so it was likely still earlier. Caspian sighed behind her then stretched much in the same way she had, before tightening his holding.

"Good morning," she said after he pressed a kiss to her shoulder.

"Morning," he hummed voice still raspy with sleep, "What time is it?"

"Early, I think."

"How are you feeling?"

"Sore," he huffed a laugh, burying his face back into her neck, "You all made battle sound so exciting, in reality it's just exhausting."

"Sorry to disappoint," he sighed again, he'd been doing that a lot lately, "There's something I need to talk to you about."

"I've been told that's never a good sign," she teased.

She felt him smile against her neck before he adjusted his grip using it to roll her onto her back, he balanced himself on the edge of the small cot so he could lean up on his elbow over.

We spent a long moment just staring at her, "When we get back," his other hand raised to cup her cheek, "It is my intention to make my desires for you known."

Her brow furrowed, "What do you mean?"

"I mean to court you, properly, publicly, traditionally, so that I may marry you sooner rather than later."

"Cas," she began leaning up as best she could in the limited space, "Is that really a priority right now?"

"You are always a priority," he responded instantly, "I need to know that you'll be okay, nothing about our relationship has been traditional, and people will talk, " he caught her hand and kissed her palm, "I want to marry you, and I intend to, if you'll have me."

"I'm yours," she said before pecking his lips, "In every way that matters. So if that is what it takes for us to be married then," she shrugged, "That's fine by me."

His relieved smile made her wonder why she would ever think that she'd refuse him after all this time, but shelved her curiosities for another time.

By the time they'd managed to peel themselves out of the small cot and exited the tent the camp was bustling more than it had been when Alessandra first woke. Narnians and Telmarines alike were either eating a breakfast of whatever food was left over from the previous night or working on breaking down camp. They found the Kings and Queens all sitting around a fire talking among themselves, they joined them mid conversation hearing Lucy's palpable excitement over whatever they'd been discussing.

"There's a full moon soon it'll be perfect."

"I hardly think that's a priority right now Lu'," Edmund said gently in the face of his sister's excitement.

"I think now's the perfect time, it'll be a great way to reintroduce some of the Narnian traditions to the Telmarine's."

"What would?" Alessandra asked as Caspian placed a bowl in her hands.

"Lucy's under the impression that an Autumn dance would be a fitting way to start Caspian's coronation," Susan explained.

"Autumn dance?" Caspian echoed.

"A celebration!" Lucy insisted, "We used to have them all the time to mark the changing seasons, I think it'll be a good start to Caspian's reign."

She turned hopeful eyes on Caspian whose eyes widened in the face of her silent plea making the others stifle laughter into their bowls and mugs.

"I think it's a discussion we could have. after we get back to Telmar," it was a perfectly diplomatic answer, neither a yes or a no. It was a dismissal that Lucy recognized if the shrinking of her smile was any indication even as she nodded.

"Fine," she huffed, going back to her food, Caspian glanced at Alessandra and she nodded her approval, not that he needed it, he'd been practising politics far longer than she had.

The conversation between them was lighter but there was an air of apprehension, anxious energy at the thought of what awaited them on the march back to Telmar. Soon enough breakfast was finished and tents were being packed away.

"I wanted to ask your opinion on something," Edmund said, turning to her when Caspian was called away briefly by Glozelle. Alessandra hummed, turning to face him, "Caspian doesn't know this yet, but Aslan is going to give all the Telmarine's a choice of staying in the new Narnia, or leaving."

"To go where?" was her first question.

The dark haired boy shrugged, "Somewhere safe," he said calmly, "We wanted to know," it was then that Alessandra realised that his siblings had stopped chatting around them and were patiently listening to their conversation, "Your relationship with Caspian aside, if you were in your other Telmarine's places, which option would you take?"

She thought about that for a moment, if she didn't have Caspian? "Honestly, I don't know, but I think I'd take my chances in the world I know."

"Why?"

"To most Telmarine's you all didn't exist a month ago. Aslan is a fairytale, I don't know if him making the way would be enough to assume that it's safe or real, it's not that I wouldn't trust him. I just wouldn't have a reason to believe him."

Edmund nodded like she passed a test, "I believe you," he said with a small smile, "Thank you for your honesty."

She returned his smile and they went back to their conversations. She wondered for a moment why they waited until Caspian had left to ask her opinion, then gave it a second thought. Had Caspian been there she doubted that she would have been able to see past her love for him to think how an average Telmarine might.

She continued thinking about Aslan's apparent offer. Where was he going to send them?

It was soon time for them to leave, Glozelle had his company in formation the Kings and Queens of Old had acquired a few horses thanks to the general. Caspian was leading Destrier to the front of the convoy, crown sat atop his head.

"And where do you think you're going?" Bruno's voice unexpectedly called out to her, touching her arm to halt her in her tracks.

"I was going to find Suncloud."

The large man smiled, "Glad to see you haven't changed Lessy," he said, taking her arm and tugged her alongside him back up towards the front of the convoy, past the company of Telmarine soldiers and Narnians alike, "He's waiting for you up front."

"What? Why?" he gave a look, with a pointed raised brow, "I didn't think-" she started to meekly explain as they came to a stop near a familiar horse, "Don't worry, between me and your horse friend, we'll make sure no one gives you shit," he comforted her in the best way he could, his crass familiarity made her smile, he tugged on Bob's reins, "Up you get."

"Bruno, this is your horse," she protested, taking a step back.

"You can borrow him for the ride into the city," He said easily, "I could find another if I wanted, there's a few left without a rider after the battle."

"Don't remind me," she groaned.

"Unfortunately you can't win a war without a few losses," he told her easily, "Up," he commanded, when she only glared at him he barely gave her a look of warning before stepping forward and taking her waist picking her up and depositing her onto Bob's back, "Hey," he said taking her hand and ensuring that she had a firm grip on Bob's reins, "Are you ready for this?"

She paused looking down at one of her oldest friends, turning her head to glance behind her Where Suncloud waited patiently for their convoy to begin moving and finally to where Caspian was sat upon Destrier's back, all Kingly glory with his crown on his head, "Yes," she finally answered, "I think I am."

"My lady," a nearly out of breath Maliah called as she rushed forward, "My lady, thank Aslan you're still here," Bruno, took a step to stand between her and the faun but Alessandra placed a hand on his shoulder and he immediately took a step to the side, "This is for you," the faun said handing her what looked at first like a bundle of flowers.

Alessandra turned them over in her hands taking in the way that some of the stems jutted out from the bunch, they almost looked like the teeth of a comb, "From the Narnians, the young ones picked the wildflowers, Suncloud and I made the crown." A crown, that is what this gift was, "We believe in you."

"Thank you." Alessandra said sincerely. Maliah nodded and then gave a slight bow before leaving. She glanced at Bruno who nodded with an encouraging smile, only feeling slightly apprehensive she tucked the comb into the side of her hair and took Bob's reins once again.

The ride back to the city had been something of a blur, as had most things that she experienced between the battle at the How and now. At some point Aslan had joined them, and if what she'd heard was to be believed his presence was to help solidify Capsian's claim.

In no time at all, they'd reach the border of Telmar, the trees shook and hundreds of petals floated up from the trees and bushes. They danced in the air for a moment before forming into figures that vaguely resembled a person, one of them waved while another bowed before Caspian before they twirled together and made their way to the city.

By the time they made it to the city, Telmarines were already outside of their homes, some in shock, Alessandra assumed at being herded out by dryads. Their shock quickly turned to elation at the sight that greeted them.

"It's the King!" That cry seemed to echo through the city, more houses emptied as people flooded the streets. Some people leaned out of opened doors or windows, cheers rang through the air as the city came to life, somewhere beneath the cheers for Caspian's reign were murmurs of awe and confusion at the sight of of Aslan and the Narnian's but for now they'd celebrate this new era.

Caspian tried his hardest to keep his gaze from straying to her, but it was difficult, how he wished she could've been by his side for their grand return to the city, as much as he despised protocol and tradition. They weren't married yet and were betrothed only through pretty words, he knew where of his first stops would be once things had settled in the capital.

He was beginning to lose count of how many favours he owed Bruno, when he asked the older man to be her guard for their return he expected the soldier to ride alongside her, he didn't think for a moment that the man would insist on Alessandra taking his own horse for the journey and him walking the entire thing. If Bruno was at all uncomfortable or winded after the long march he didn't show it, disciplined like all good soldiers should be.

She was uncomfortable though, that much Caspian could tell, her smile though joyful was just a little too tight, too strained. The attention most likely, she'd never been in the public eye so explicitly before, Caspian's fingers twitched with the urge to pull on Destrier's reins to slow her down so that Alessandra could be at his side, but he resisted. Once more he was glad for Queen Susan, who had steered her way to Alessandra's side and said something that made her tight smile morph into a genuine laugh. Bruno was on one side, Susan on the other and Suncloud was close behind, for now he turned his attention to being a King for his people.

It felt like forever before they finally reached the gates of the castle, more and more people flooded the streets eager to see and revel in the new King which made traversing the streets more difficult, some of Glozelle's men moved forward with practised ease and steered the masses back keeping the path clear enough for them to move through. Through it Caspian's smile never waned, so neither did Alessandra's but she felt like she could breathe a bit easier now that they were inside, amoung somewhat familiar faces.

The castle was emptied of its remaining occupants, Lords, soldiers-in-training, cooks, maids and everyone in between out on the courtyard. Glozelle blew his horn and a hush fell over the courtyard, "Telmar! Behold your King!"

A roar of approval nearly shook the foundations of the castle, Alessandra released a breath of relief. Whether or not the acceptance of the castle's inhabitants would last, especially that of the remaining Lord's, was a problem for another day. For now they could all safely dismount.

Aslan had disappeared once again but that discovery came in second to the blur of dusty grey and brown that threw herself at Alessandra once she'd dismounted from Bob's back, "Les!" Stephanie gushed as she squeezed her tightly.

"Stephanie!" Alessandra squeezed her back, surprised that she felt the prickle of tears.

"I'm so happy to see you're alright, I missed you so much!"

"I missed you too," Alessandra said as they separated, "Are you alright?"

"I think I should be the one asking you that," she said as she spared a glanced at her beloved, "I was so worried about you."

"I know I'm sorry," she said, taking her hand. "How were things here?"

"Guarded, right after you got away they immediately questioned all of us, of course no one but me knew, and I would never."

"I know, I'm sorry you all had to go through that,"

"It's not your fault."

"I'm invisible," Bruno's voice playfully teased, Steph let Alessandra see her roll her eyes before she released her hands to embrace the man. Alessandra smiled at her friend's and looked past them where Suncloud stood with his family, he gave her an inquiring tilt of his head which she nodded to with a smile. It grew when she felt a hand slide along her upper back and settle beneath her hair.

"You alright?" Caspian muttered into her hair as he pulled her to his side. She nodded into his shoulder, exhausted. Was her default right now, "This is Stephanie?" he asked and she heard the smile in his voice.

She nodded, pulling back slightly to properly introduce them, "Caspian, this is Stephanie, my sister. Steph, this is Caspian."

"King Caspian," Bruno interjected with a good natured tease.

Steph to her credit tried to curtsy with the social graces that had been instilled in them both from months of training, but if she'd had trouble thinking of Caspian as a prince. A king would be near impossible. She knew him as the man that loved her sister, and that was enough.

Still she tried for decorum, "My King."

Caspian waved off her curtsy, "That's not necessary," he said with a smile, "I think we're past that, don't you?"

Steph's breath rushed out of her, "Yes, it's a pleasure to finally meet you."

"The pleasure is mine. I've heard many great things."

"So have I," Stephanie responded with a knowing smirk in Alessandra's direction, to which she could only flush tucking her head back into Caspian's chest.

He grinned squeezing her shoulder, before he sighed, "I have to go, there's still much work to be done," he explained when she glanced up at him with the question in her eyes, "I trust that I'm leaving you in good hands."

"The best," Steph grinned.

Caspian returned it with a much more subdued smile before he turned to Alessandra pressing a kiss to her head, "I'll find you when I can," she nodded, he had Kingly responsibilities to tend to. He smiled tightly before nodding to Stephanie and Bruno in kind before he turned on his heel and left.

"Where's Anastacia?" Alessandra asked as Bruno steered them towards the servants quarters.

"I don't know," Steph muttered with a furrowed brow, "She was just here."

"The castle walls could be crumbling and that woman would still manage to find her way to the kitchens," Bruno interjected.

Their laughter was cut off when they made it to Alessandra and Steph's shared rooms and someone jumped up from Steph's cot.

"Les'," Tamara said wringing her hands, Bruno immediately stepped in front of them reaching for his sword.

"Don't," Alessandra said, placing a hand on her friend's arm, "Don't."

"Les' I'm so sorry, I didn't think. I didn't mean for anything bad to happen to you." She nervously wrung her fingers and Alessandra felt empathy, "I'm sorry,"

Despite her better judgement, Alessandra forgave her. Even though it was partially her fault that she ended up getting caught by Miaz, Tamara was afraid. Did that excuse her selfish act, certainly not. But it explained it. Really Alessandra wanted to put Miraz and all memory of him behind her.

Another 10 chapters in the bag. This was a short one, but it officially marks the end of the Prince Caspian storyline.

We've got a lot of time to kill in between now and Voyage of the Dawn Treader, what are some things you guys would like to see?