It had been a few months since the Pevensie's had left, things had changed but in many ways had stayed the same. She continued learning how to be a Lady of the Court, Caspian continued to grow as a King. He had taken her advice and had started rebuilding Cair Paravel, much to the satisfaction of the Narnian's and even some Telmarines.

Stephanie and Bruno had gotten married, a small intimate ceremony outside of the house Bruno had built for her. Alessandra and Caspian were a few of the only witnesses and it was rather beautiful.

They themselves weren't any closer to being married than they were the night Caspian proposed but plans were in motion. Odette had introduced her to the former Queen's gardens, apparently at the dowager Queen's request before she left. Alessandra rather liked the gardens, from what she understood Prunaprismia tended to them herself when she could so she tried to do the same and could see why the former queen liked to take care of the flowers and bushels herself. It was quite relaxing.

"Winter will soon be here, I think we can get most of the neighbouring dignitaries within a few months," Odette suggested.

"No, Caspian's hoping to revisit some old Narnian traditions by winter."

"Such as?"

"Christmas to start, everyone ought to be spending time with their own loved ones, not hilling through snow for a wedding".

"Not even your wedding day?"

"Especially not our wedding, we don't want a spectacle."

"It's not a wedding, it's the wedding. Believe me they'd be honoured."

"Be that as it may," Alessandra sighed, setting aside the shears she was using and took a seat at the table alongside her Governess and handmaiden, "My sister and her husband got married in the woods, I tied the ribbon around their hands myself. That's all we want."

"Be that as it may," Odette repeated with a gentle voice, "That is no royal wedding."

Alessandra sighed, "After winter," she suggested.

" It could take months for the frost to settle," Odette protested.

"We've waited this long," Alessandra countered and she could see the moment that Odette faltered then nodded in acceptance. It wasn't much but it was a tentative timeline.

"Guest list then?" Odette asked next and Alessandra barely restrained her scoff, "Look at that little sheep," her tone had Alessandra looking to what had grabbed her Governess' attention to see Lord Ravalian coming found the pathway that let to the gazebo they were sat under, "A snake in the gardens." she teased but she and Iris stood as the Lord entered.

"Ladies, my Lady," the Lord said, inclining his head respectfully to Alessandra.

"My Lord."

"Might I have a moment of our Lady's time?" He asked politely of her Governess, the older woman looked to her charge for permission and she nodded as she stood. Lord Ravalian waved his arm in silent invitation and Alessandra accepted joining him on a walk through the garden.

"I dare say that you're settling into your new role rather well."

"Is that a compliment?"

"An observation. It's not very often that one of our kind rises in rank so quickly."

"Our kind? You're a Lord."

"And you were a maid, we both came from the slums of this city yet here we are, a Lord and Lady of the Court."

Alessandra paused, "You were a commoner."

"Indeed, perhaps grew up in the same home that you are working so hard to restore, hard to tell just been so long, my parents fell sick when I was very young."

"So how did you end up a member of the court?"

"That is another story for another day," he deflected resuming their walk, "I'd like to talk about what you've done for the people."

She sighed fondly, "I'm just doing what should have been done."

"Somehow you are the only one that thinks so."

"You haven't been back to the city have you?"

"Not in many years, my Lady no."

"Then you don't know what it's really like, how much things have changed."

"Enlighten me."

"No clean water, no fresh food. Children that don't have anywhere else to go stacked up on top of one another like wood."

"And you think that council could have done something to prevent this?"

"I've learnt that they could have but they didn't. Why?"

"Perhaps none of them had any reason to."

"Since when do you need a reason to help people?"

"Fair point," he said with a tilt of his head before admitting somewhat shamefully, "Perhaps the easy answer is that it was never high on Miraz's list of priorities."

"Perhaps not, but it is on mine."

"The People's Princess," he hummed suddenly, much to her confusion, "That's what they're calling you, now I see why."

She nearly scoffed, "I hardly think I'm worthy of such a title,"

"People need someone to believe in, I daresay that you're the best choice they've got."

"They have Caspian."

"They have a King, yes, and with you by his side they may just have a pair of rulers that actually care." The way he said it for some reason felt hollow.

"I do care." she said sternly,

"Excuse my tone my Lady, I meant no offence, your compassion is truly admirable."

"For a long time it's all I had."

"I pray you don't lose it to this new world."

Alessandra nodded with a small smile, "Thank you for the walk, Lord Ravalian, I hope to see you again soon."

"You as well lady Alessandra," he bowed slightly as she left, "My Lady, you might just survive this." He said to her retreating back.

Caspian's sigh drew her from the book she was reading, it was a part of her studies assigned from her Governess apparently she needed to read faster, she was still sounding out words too slow for Odette's taste. But she'd be lying if she said that she was truly retaining a word of it, she was grateful for the potential distraction Caspian provided even if it was born of frustration.

"What is it?" she asked approaching him to where he sat behind his desk in his new study.

He barely refrained from running his hands through his hair in frustration, "It's nothing."

"It's something."

He sighed again, "We've been trying to sort through my uncle's accounts,"

"And?"

"And, turns out my uncle took out substantial loans from the royal bank."

"Loans?"

"Borrowing money with intentions of paying it back," he explained, gently sitting back in his chair when she moved closer and sat in his lap.

"Can't say I've ever borrowed money before, so I'm not quite clear on why this is a problem."

"Well when you take out a loan you have to pay it back, with interest."

Rather than ask him what that meant she asked something else, "What if I don't?"

"You have to, there are laws."

"But what if I don't."

"This is why I'm not letting you anywhere near our accounts," he teased and she couldn't help but giggle.

"I'm saying, what if Miraz had no plans of paying it back."

"He can't do that."

"No, certainly not now, he's dead. But if he was bold enough to take out so many loans, then he clearly didn't care enough for the consequences."

"So what do you suppose his plan was?" he asked, indulging her for the moment.

"Why do you assume he had one?" his head tilted so he went onto explain her thought process, "If he was bold enough to borrow so much money in the first place he either had no plans to repay it or," she paused, "What are taxes used for?"

He squinted at her sudden change in subject but answered her as best he could, eager to see where her train of thoughts was heading, "It's supposed to go back into funding the city, infrastructure and the like."

"Miraz has raised taxes at least three times that I'm aware of when I was working."

"So where's the money gone?" he concluded and she shrugged.

Before they could speculate further a throat cleared as Iris stepped into the office, "It's time my Lady,"

"Thank you Iris, I have to go," She told Caspian as she stood, then he did, "Lunch is being served."

He nodded in understanding, "Tonight?"

"Tonight," she agreed with a nod.

She joined her handmaiden at the door, who bowed in respect to Caspian before they left. As they headed down Iris kept her informed on all the new progress made on restructuring the dilapidated buildings in the city as well as working on access to clean water. The former was coming along nicely, the later required a bit more work than was expected.

"But there's been a few incidents." Iris' reports concluded.

"Incidents?"

"Yes my Lady, some of the farmers livestock on the outskirts have been disappearing."

"The cause?"

"No one is certain."

"Have they checked their pens? Could it be a question of security?"

"Perhaps, but I'm certain that that would be the first thing they checked."

"Then let's be certain, I'll ride out in the morning," by that time they'd made it to the city and were on their way to the square.

"Of course."

As they entered the square people walked past them holding food that was certainly not the stew that she'd been expecting, unless Anastacia had decided to change the menu which she doubted.

"What's-" she paused, smiling at a passing child, "Where did this food come from?"

She got her answer when they got to the Center of the square to see Lord Ravalian on the platform giving out fresh fruits and dried meats.

"I tried to stop him," Maliah said, approaching her with panic lacing her voice, "But he was persistent."

"It's alright," she told the fawn quickly making her way to the Snake, "What are you doing?"

"I'm sorry? I thought lunch was served at noon, was I too early?"

"No that's not what I mean," she huffed glancing around to make sure no one was watching, "Where did you get this food?"

"I called in a favour."

"Why?"

"Have I offended you my lady?"

"Kind of."

Ever aware of the public's opinion, Lord Ravalian cast a glance around to make sure that they weren't drawing attention, "My lady?" he suggested waving an arm gesturing for them to have a bit of privacy, he walked them underneath the arch of a hallway, "I truly did not mean to offend My Lady."

"Why are you doing this?" was the first question she asked, followed closely by, "How are you doing this?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"Just this morning I spoke to you about not having enough food in the city, now all of a sudden there's a feast for lunch?"

"I'd hardly call this a feast."

"It doesn't matter, it's more fresh food than they've seen in years. If you could've gotten it all this time why didn't you."

"I suppose that is the only question that matters," he sighed before they both smiled at a passing woman and her child, "I am well aware of what my reputation consists of my Lady, and the majority of it is true, for better or worse. I've lied, I've sold the secrets of kings and queens alike for many years. Do you want to know what I've learned?"

"What?"

"That no matter how many of them tried, worse still the ones that didn't, none of them could ever manage to give the people the care they truly deserve. Kings come and go, they die, they get killed and yet in the end it's the people that truly suffer. If there might be at least one person that's willing to change that, they have my support."

"Pretty words."

"Honest words."

"I wasn't aware you were capable,"

"Reputations," He hummed, " I swear to you, I bear no ill will towards you, or these people, I want to help."

She took in his words and looked out at the people enjoying the fresh fruit for the first time in probably years she sighed, "How can I trust you?" his brow furrowed, he clearly wasn't expecting that, "You've said yourself, you've sold out Kings and Queens for much less. Now can I be certain that you won't do the same to Caspian and me?"

"We can talk in circles about the future all day my Lady."

"I'm sure you could." She thought for a moment, Odette had warned her about potential alliances with the wrong people, "You served Caspian the ninth didn't you?"

"I did."

"And then the man that killed him,"

"As short as his reign was, Miraz was still king, and quite a step down if I'm honest."

"Rulers come and go. Kind, cruel, betrayed, murdered, killed. In the end it doesn't matter, right?" she asked, throwing his words back at him.

He hummed, impressed by her wit, letting it show on his face, "Pondering on past mistakes is of no use to us now.'

"The past is something to consider though."

"Consider this then, you need me." She raised her eyebrows in question, "As unlikely as it might seem, no one knows court affairs better than I, no one is better at trading secrets. Knowledge is a powerful tool, with my counsel, if I do say so my Lady you will make a fine Queen."

She considered his proposal, he would make a strong ally. Odette might have had her dour thoughts about him but she believed him in this instance, "Swear it to me, that if there ever comes a point where you think I'm failing these people, you'll tell me. No going behind my back, no trading my secrets with anyone. You'll look me in the eye as you are now and tell me the truth.'

"There's men I've served for many that have never asked this of me." he almost sounded pleased, "I swear my Lady, and my Princess." he added with a slight bow.

For a moment she wondered if she made the right choice, before she thought too much about it she turned to the good he was doing, "Now where did you get this food?"

"Due to my position I've managed to make many friends, some of them owe me large favours."

"Do you not have to repay them?"

"That is not how favours work," he ignored her deadpan look and continued to walk them out, "In fact, I daresay that in this instance it is them paying me back."

"For?"

"Nothing that concerns you, please help yourself my Lady, I've heard that you've a particular proclivity for berries if my sources are correct."

"Sources?"

"Begging your pardon my Lady, but I had to be sure that the future Queen of Narnia was who she said she was. Rest assured no more of my informants are actively watching you."

She scoffed, "Good to know."

He ignored her as he gathered her a plate and handed it to her, "To new alliances."

"To new alliances." she said, accepting the plate with an incline of her head.

He continued handing out plates of food, there was even enough for people to have seconds, possibly even thirds. It was an impressive display, and if the gesture was to win her favour then the Snake was doing a good job.

She took a seat on one of the unoccupied benches in the square with her lunch, a few people smiled and bowed as they passed by but no one offered to sit with her today, which was fine by her. She was alone for a beat before a shadow fell over her, she looked up to see an unfamiliar looking woman standing there with her own plate, a tattered brown cloak.

"May I join you?" she asked with a raspiness to her voice.

"Of course," she said, making room for her on the bench.

The woman took a seat leaving a comfortable bit of space between them, she looked at the stranger. Her eyes a deep green, her hood was pulled up yet her dark hair still spilled out from the sides, "You look like you could use a bit of company."

"It's always nice to meet a new friendly face."

"I've noticed a switch in today's menu."

"Yes," Alessandra sighed bashfully, "It was a surprise to us all I guess."

"A gesture of good faith I hope."

"I believe it is," she glanced around at the people again then at her new companion, "I spoke to you last time I was here, didn't I?"

"I believe you did, it was a very kind gesture you gave me."

"It was nothing."

"The people seem quite taken with you, my Lady."

"I'm just trying to do right by them."

"I think it's more than that, you are quite special Lady Alessandra," she said with a smile that stirred unease in Alessandra's gut, though she tried to ignore it, "I do confess myself intrigued by your story."

"I doubt it's been all that interesting."

"Perhaps not for you, but this city whispers secrets, to those that are willing to hear."

"What kind of secrets?"

The woman's mouth lifted in a smirk but fell before Alessandra could see it, "Perhaps we could discuss them over tea sometime, I've curated quite the intriguing brew."

"I don't think I got your name."

"Morgana, my Lady," she said, inclining her head slightly in lieu of a bow, "Morgana of Charn."

Sorry for the delay in posting folks, October is one of the busiest months of the year for me and this year was no different.

But here's two chapters to make up for it with lots of development happening.

Alessandra's forging some alliances it seems, what do we think about that? She's also helping Caspian clean up some of his uncles messes in her own way.

Also I've landed on who I think is a solid face claim for our girl, Bruna Marquezine particularly in her appearance as Queen Catarina from the brazilian Soap opera Deus Salve o Rei (God Save the King). She's gorgeous and the costume designs are what I picture when imagining her clothes.

Some runner ups I had in mind were, Sofia Carson, Camila Mendez and Alexa Demie.

Of course you're free to imagine Les however you'd like, but she's who I'll be using as inspiration. She'll also be featured heavily on the Pinterest board if anyone is following that.

Hope you all enjoyed, let me know what you want to see happen next!