Steph had at least enough tact to wait until they were out of the company of so many of the other staff and for that Alessandra was thankful, then she could hold out a little longer and resolutely ignore the stare she could feel drilling into the back of her head. Unfortunately they were alone all too quickly, well for the moment at least, as they entered the downstairs kitchens and the other kept past it. Vonya would be down shortly for updates, she just had to evade Steph for a few moments. She could do that, couldn't she?

"Are you out of your mind?" She could not.

"I don't know what you're talking about." a verbal evasion should be just as good shouldn't it? Unfortunately she was never a very good liar.

"Don't play that with me Alessandra." Steph rarely, if ever, used her full name mostly reserved for when she was teasing her or was extremely angry at her, the latter of which had only happened once so far. When Steph and Bruno first got together she had told all their roommates, save for Alessandra herself, that he would be spending a few hours in the room. The resulting chaos left Steph both angry and embarrassed, Bruno highly amused and Alessandra carefully knocking on most every door she encountered from that point on. "I can't believe you."

"I don't have to justify anything to you." Alessandra said trying to carry on with business as usual, setting the dirty dishes near the wash bin and scraping leftover food aside for the pigs, but Steph had little concern for duties right now.

"To me?" Steph scoffed, "Certainly not! The courts you'll face when this gets out? Absolutely."

"Nothing's going to get out."

"You sound certain."

"I am." Alessandra said.

"Ales, he's a Prince." Steph told her and she hated the sympathy in her voice, "He only wants to- '' She stepped forward and tried to grab her hand but Alessandra took a step back, Steph had the audacity to look hurt.

"I'm perfectly aware of who Stephanie is, and if you're about to tell me that all he wants is sex you're wrong. He's not just a prince, he's my friend more than that and I l-" she cut herself off, not ready to possibly admit that to herself let alone to Steph, "You think I'm blinded by grand promises or noble gestures then you're wrong, I promise you don't know him." Alessandra told her roommate, "And you don't know me." She said before turning and sliding through the passageway, as the door closed behind her she heard Steph call out but she ignored it.

Her heart was pounding in her eyes and her vision was blurring, were those tears? They weren't but they were close, she just had to make it to her room, hopefully Steph would be spending the night with Bruno. Finally she came to a familiar door and pushed it open ready to throw herself down onto her small bed, only the room she entered was familiar in a different way. She was surprised at the comfort she felt at seeing the dim candlelight flickering along the walls, the teetering stacks of books on the left side, and the . . . Caspian, leaning up from where he was bent over his desk with a look of concern on his face as he carefully approached her like one would a skittish animal.

She didn't have time to wonder when Caspian's study became more of a sanctuary than her own room, because he was in front of her and she was free to touch him in the way she was forced to deny them both.

She fell into his chest with a quiet sob and he immediately wrapped his arms around her, quietly consoling although he wasn't certain what had caused such an emotional response in her.

"What's happened my love?" he asked softly.

For a moment she debated telling him, but if she didn't then ran the risk of putting them both in danger, even though she doubted quite seriously that Stephanie would tell anyone. Save perhaps for Bruno who already knew, "My roommate Steph she," she paused with a hiccup, taking a deep breath before pulling back and into the cradle of his arms to look him in the eye, "She knows."

Immediately Caspian understood, his eyes hardened for a moment at the possibility of what that would mean for them, then softened as he remembered that he was supposed to be consoling her, "Are you alright?"

"I don't know," she said honestly as he guided them both to his chair, sitting then pulling her into his lap, "She was angry, and she said things to me."

His hand paused in caressing her back, "Do you want to tell me?"

"No," she huffed, "I'd rather not repeat it." she sighed wiping beneath her eyes with the back of her hands, before looking at him, "Do you think she'll tell?"

His immediate response was to say yes she absolutely would, any common maid would jump at the opportunity to spread such news. But he thought about it, this wasn't just any maid, it was Alessandra's roommate and best friend and perhaps the closest thing she would get to a sister. His love constantly spoke of her in such high regard that it made Caspian wonder, would she tell?

"I don't know," he finally answered honestly, tightening his arm around her comfort to them both, "Do you trust her?"

"With my life," she responded instantly.

"Then talk to her, as soon as you can." she nodded but didn't attempt to move from his lap.

"Can I stay with you tonight?" she asked shyly and his head started beating just a little faster, "I just - I'll talk to her, just not tonight, give her some time to cool off."

"Of course you can stay with me." he said quickly, cutting off her rushed and needless explanation, he'd give her most anything she asked for, he pressed a soft kiss to her clothed shoulder as well, a silent promise.

They stayed like that well into the night, him ignoring his studies for the time content to sit beneath her like a throne made especially for her, and her ignoring the books he'd selected in favour of remaining in his lap listening to his pointless murmuring. He wished he could do something to distract her but her mind wasn't in the place for anything intimate and leaving his chambers wasn't an option so instead he recited to her the history of the dwarfs, what he'd been preparing to study before she came in.

"Do you think they're still out there somewhere?" she asked softly once he'd finished, she'd been quiet for a while that he almost thought she'd fallen asleep, "The Narnians?"

"My father did, that's why he had my first maid teach me their history, so that if I were to come face to face I would know."

"Do you miss them?" she asked after another beat of silence.

"Sometimes," he answered honestly, absently stroking his finger that was bare of his inherited family ring from his father, he had it hidden away in the event that his uncle came looking to claim it, "When I have time to remember them." he added, "Do you miss your parents?"

"It's hard to miss who you never knew." she said sadly and his heart broke a bit for her.

"I think it's time we head to bed." he suggested and she nodded before standing up and to the side to make room for him to rise next to her. His legs felt a bit like pins and needles from being sat and sat upon for so long but he ignored the discomfort as he doused the lantern nearest to him. Once the others were completely out he led her to his chambers.

Alessandra found it odd that she felt nervous, after all she was the one who asked if she could stay the night and she'd been spending most of her mornings clearing and dressing Caspian's room. The difference now was that she'd be in there with him, alone, possibly sleeping in his bed together when she'd only been in there with him one other time.

But his sheets looked divine and she was as emotionally drained as she was physically from such a long day and the idea of curling up in the sheets that she knew first hand how soft they were was too tempting not to resist. She kicked off her shoes and untied her apron, setting it on the trunk at the foot of his bed. She had her corset tied at the front for extra support so undoing that was easy, however the ties at the back proved to be more difficult.

A warm hand settled on her waist and the other stopping her futile fiddling with the ties on the back of the restraint, "May I?" Capsian asked carefully, his voice just a tad deeper, she nodded.

Carefully he unwound and loosened the ties at the back of her corset and helped her tug it off, setting it down with the rest of her things. Boldly she turned to face him, and he swallowed the water that suddenly coated his tongue, keeping his eyes and focus on hers and not on the shadows of her breasts that he could make out in the dim light of his bedroom.

"Thank you." she whispered.

"You're welcome."

She rose to her toes and her hand went behind his neck for support pulling his lips down to hers, he sighed through his nose and leaned into her meeting her kiss with ease. It was softer than their previous kisses but no less intense, typically she took control but this time it was his tongue tracing the seams of her lips asking for entrance, her lips parted for him and his tongue invaded without a second thought, touching and tangling with hers.

His hands lifted then fell on her waist, pulling her closer and into his arms bearing some of her weight so she wasn't forced to place it all on the balls of her feet. Without the usual layers between them he was able to feel so much more of her, his hand itched to explore so they slid down cupping her behind. His grip tightened, feeling her shape through the thin barrier of her dress or undershift. Whatever it was called he wanted the damn thing off of her and have her in nothing but skin pressed against his. Against his better judgement he decided that that would have to wait, and began to pull away from her lips, her slight whimper almost made his forget why he was stopping them but he was resolute and after one more kiss he managed to pry his lips from hers, but only one hand away from her supple bottom.

With his free hand he reached up, taking one of hers from where it rested around his neck, bringing it to his mouth to kiss her fingers, "We should sleep," he told her simply trying not to fall back under her spell, "It's already late."

"You're right." she nodded with a small smile, some traces of her sadness from earlier still lingering in her gaze but she seemed content for now.

Falling into bed with her was both easier than he imagined it would be and not how he imagined it would be. He cursed himself for thinking with his Southern head rather than the one on his shoulders, but Gods damn if her mere presence didn't make it difficult to think chaste thoughts and keep them that way. Nevertheless he promised her sleep and intended to deliver, he turned down the covers and let her crawl into bed before joining her, he only ever slept on one side of his bed anyway and she seemed to fit so perfectly on the other. They kept their distance though, not wanting to give into the desire their bodies craved. Ironically their hands, the same hands that had gotten them caught by Stephanie were all that were touching. But for now that was enough.

Sometime into the night Caspian woke with a tickle along his nose, he instinctively reached up to brush away whatever it was and was met with the feeling of silken hair in his grasp. Blearily his eyes opened to find that through the night, his and Alessandra's bodies seemed to have searched for each other and met in the middle, he also realized that he lost most of the feeling in his other arm which was acting as a pillow for her head. No matter, he'd lose the arm before waking her. With a soft smile and a softer kiss to the back of her head he settled back down and tucked his other arm around her waist before attempting to back into a peaceful sleep.

A hand upon his shoulder makes him realize that he hadn't just woken up by chance, and he flinches looking over his shoulder at his professor. Sirene eyes met his even as the older man's eyebrows scrunch in confusion, he opened his mouth but Caspian shook his head, he might wake her and she'd been through enough. It was astronomy night, Caspian suddenly remembered, and judging by the fact that the professor had come all the way down here was when usually he would let him skip and admonish him the next day, it was going to be a rather important one.

Silently pleading with his professor to let him, let them have this night, the two of them had a conversation with their silent looks. After what felt like forever to the prince, the professor nodded and as quietly as he came in turned and left through the passage in his study. He released the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding and tightened his grip around the woman in his arms, allowing himself to drift back off.

Returning to her shared room the next morning was something that she wasn't looking forward to, and sure enough upon entering Stephanie immediately stood from where she was sat at the edge of her bed, nervously wringing her skirts in her hand.

"Would you like to insult me some more?" Alessandra asked, her voice sounding cold even to her own ears, so much so that Steph flinched as if she'd laid hands on her.

"No, I'd just like to talk to you." the other girl said carefully as Alessandra crossed the room and began digging through her chest.

"Well I'm not much in the mood for talking to you."

"It's market day," Steph told her cautiously, "I was hoping we could go together."

"I'm fine thank you." she told her standing with a cloth in her hand and a fresh set of dressings.

"Les please." Steph said at last, reaching out to take hold of Alessandra's arm, the younger girl finally looking up and meeting her eyes seeing the pleading look in them, "Come to the market with me, we can talk and I promise to be more understanding."

Steph was a bad liar, so Alessandra could see that she was telling the truth, "Let me freshen up a bit."

The walk to the market was incredibly awkward and quiet, two words that weren't often used to describe their time together. She could tell each time Steph wanted to break the silence, across the main courtyard they walked to the main gate and out of it, even their walk across the bridge was quiet.

"Are we going to be silent the entire time?" Steph eventually asked as they entered the city.

"I'm fine with that." Alessandra responded sassily, switching her basket to her other arm.

"I'm sorry for what I said last night," Steph said taking her arm again and pulling them to a stop and to the side out of the flow of human traffic, "I was in shock," she continued looking uncomfortable, Steph was many things and they've spent nearly a lifetime together and she'd only apologized to her a handful of times and never for sometime as serious as this so she could understand her friends discomfort, "And caught off guard." she went on, "I didn't even think about what this meant to you." She slid her hand down her friend's arm and took her hand in hers. "I'm sorry." she said again sincerely.

Alessandra sighed, "I forgive you." she bit back a smile as Stephanie beamed throwing her arms around her, she returned her hug and when they pulled away there was a hint of mischief in her eye.

"Now you have to tell me everything." she grinned, pulling her back into the hustle of the market, just like that things were back to normal. And so she did, Alessandra told her friend everything, form that chance meeting in the kitchen to kissing him in his bedroom and everything in between, she didn't call Caspian's name for fear of being overheard so it was easy for Steph to pretend that this was any regular guard or nobleman that seemed to have stolen her Les's heart.

"Oh and by the way," Alessandra trilled as they came up on a stall with a man selling handmade cloaks and bedsheets, the nights would be getting colder and her warmest throw was beginning to get worn out , "Bruno knows."

"What?" Steph all but shrieked, earning themselves a few nasty looks which they both ignored, "I was with him last night and he didn't say anything."

"That's because I begged him not to tell you, and give me time to tell you on my own. You know he's quite perceptive, figured it out all on his own, I suppose that's something you two have in common."

"I'm going to ring him for not telling me." It was clear Steph was no longer listening to her and was instead envisioning plans to murder her beloved for keeping such a secret from her Alessandra rolled her eyes good naturedly as she stepped up to the stall.

"Just one please." she requested politely as Steph stopped her murmuring and joined her.

"3 and a half pounds."

"What?" Both she and Steph gasped, "That's double what it was last month." she continued in shock.

"Apologies ladies, but Lord Miraz raised taxes in the last month."

"Again?" Stephanie sighed shoulders deflating, they were barely scraping by as it was.

The stall keeper nodded and seemed as put out by the change as they were, "Did he give a reason?"

"He doesn't have too," the stall keeper said simply, "Come back in a few days time aye?" he suggested, "I might be able to work something out for you."

"This is our only day off for the rest of the month."

"Yeah and by next month taxes could be raised yet again."

He sighed and apologized again reminding them that there wasn't anything he could do, they thanked him for his honesty and set off back to the castle. With the knowledge of Miraz raising the taxes on the people yet again it was difficult not to notice how gloomy the city was. On average it wasn't the most cheerful place but it seemed like this raise hit people harder.

"This is ridiculous, the people are suffering and miserable and Miraz doesn't care."

"It's unfair is what it is," Steph agreed as they paused to allow a mother and her two children to cross, "Say, has," she paused looking around to make sure that no one was listening in, "Caspian mentioned anything about the taxes to you."

The younger woman shook her head, "He doesn't like talking about his uncle, and frankly as of late we don't do much talking at all," Steph's eyes lit up again, but Alessandra stopped her before her teasing could begin, "Not like that," she paused thinking that it had been like the but Steph didn't need to know those details yet, "I like watching him work, it's nice to just be in his presence."

"I know what you mean," she smiled, hooking their arms as they started back across the bridge, "Will you be seeing him again tonight?"

"That's the plan, though probably not for long, I was hoping to get to the laundry room tonight."

"I don't blame you, it has been rather crowded down there lately, can you take a few of my shifts, I didn't get to finish them the last time I was down there."

"Sure, but it'll cost you,"

"Name your price."

"I'll tell you when I think of it," as they entered the gate to the main courtyard the weight in her hands suddenly lessened and by her side Steph was spun around into a pair of familiar looking arms.

"There are my ladies, I've been waiting all morning for you two." Steph giggled at Bruno's sudden appearance and display of affection but huffed when he noticeably regarded them both as his ladies. Bruno smiled sharp canines gleaming at having gotten under her skin within mere seconds of seeing her, "Sorry my love, and how's my favourite lady." and that was all it took for her to melt into his side as he walked them further through the courtyard.

"Much better now," Steph said and Alessandra rolled her eyes good-naturedly.

"Really, is that all it takes?" she asked sarcastically.

"Yes, you'll understand soon enough," she nodded and winked conspiringly then seemed to recall something, "Speaking of," she hummed before swinging at Bruno's midsection who didn't even so much as flinch since Alessandra was fairly certain that the man was made of marble, he did though raise a thick brow in question at his lovers temper, "How dare you not tell me that you knew about Les' new relationship?"

Rather than respond Bruno looked at her with a hint of approval in his eyes, "I take it you told her?"

"Not by choice," Alessandra brushed him off, "Turns out that you're both more perceptive than I thought possible."

"I'll take that for the compliment it should be."

"You would," she shot back, finding comfort in the fact that now that both of her closest, and perhaps only friends knew of her secret she was free to rib with them as usual, they approach their entrance back into the castle and the three of them paused outside, since it was expressly forbidden to bring men through this entrance as it led to the maids sleeping quarters.

"Then I can at least take solace in the fact that you won't be alone the next few days Les."

"Few days?" she echoed, sure Steph spent most of her nights with Bruno and she'd become used to one less body in the room, but days? That was new.

Bruno nodded, "You didn't hear from me, but Miraz is travelling to Archenland with a small company of soldiers and generals to negotiate alliances, a fair few of them are from my squad which means," his conspiring grin turned wolfish a he ran a suggestive hand down Steph's side, "We've got the guardhouse to ourselves for a few days."

Steph squealed and threw her arms around Bruno's neck before kissing him deeply, "Save some for tonight," Alessandra snapped when it started to look like the two of them were ready to swallow each other whole right there in front of her and the entrance to their rooms.

"She's right," Steph said, pulling back at least and taking a deep breath, "Tonight?"

"I'll be waiting here after dinner." the hulking man respond before kissing his lover again, he released her then turned his sights on Alessandra making to hand over her basket of goods but not releasing it once it was in her grasp, "Les," he said in a serious tone she didn't too much care for, "Don't do anything reckless," he warned.

"I won't."

On the other side of the castle on the training ground Caspian was receiving similar information on his uncle's temporary and out of character leave from the castle. Surprisingly the information came from the man himself, though behind closed doors the two of them couldn't stand to be in a room with one another for more than an hour, they had to keep up appearances to their people.

That involved his only remaining blood relative informing him of his impromptu trip in full view of his subjects, because that was what a good and respectable leader did. Caspian stowed his emotions and wished his uncle well on his trip, a firm handshake was all he offered the older man as he couldn't bring himself to offer more and he released him as soon as he deemed it appropriate.

His uncle had a plan, that much he could tell from the glint in his eye, one that left him feeling as if a rock sat in the pit of his stomach, form the training grounds he went straight to Professor Cornelius' study, he would know what was going on, he always did.

Politics that's what was going on, his uncle was going to Archenland to hopefully form an alliance that had slowly dwindled throughout their history until it was no more, the manner of why his uncle needed such an alliance left a sour taste at the back of his mouth.

"Don't fret my boy," his professor said, placing a weathered hand on his shoulder, "Now is the time for you to find friends of your own, right here in the capital." Because not all of Miraz's subjects were loyal, this Caspian knew but he never found time to speak with no seek them out with the threat of his uncle's presence looming about.

For now he was free of that.

Night came and with it an aura of calm anticipation hung in the air, so thick she could almost feel it. It seemed like she wasn't the only one that was feeling a sense of relief that Miraz was going to be far away from the castle for a few days. Lady Prunaprismia took her supper in her and Miraz's shared chamber since there was no need for her to go into the main dining hall without her husband and Caspian wasn't going to be there either.

That meant Steph had an early night since all she had to do was deliver the food, apparently the Lady was fond of her privacy which Alessandra respected, in a rare moment of decency Anastaica called it an early night for the kitchen staff, which left Steph free to join Alessandra for dinner, Bruno joined them of course but she found that she didn't even care, she was growing rather fond of the massive man's company and how much castle secrets he seemed to know.

She asked him why the energy throughout the castle was so vibrant following Miraz's absence, he informed her that Miraz liked to rule with an iron fist, that much she knew but she had just assumed that his staff and followers did his bidding blindly, which was mostly true according to the guardsman. But it didn't leave a lot of room for freedom or any form of personal enjoyment or relaxation. That much she understood, it was interesting to her though that Miraz preferred to rule out of fear rather than true respect.

Bruno didn't allow her to dwell on the thoughts for too long however because nearly as soon as they were done eating he carted Stephanie away, wishing her an uncharacteristically jubilant good night as he did. For a moment she was alone and left to her own devices and thought about going straight to the laundry then to see Caspian after, but there was no guarantee that she'd be in any condition to see him after she was done washing so she made the decision to just do it now.

The walk through the passages to his study were becoming more and more familiar and last night proved that she might even be able to do it with her eyes closed, the way Capsian immediately stood to greet her and came to her sliding a hand behind her head and pulling her to him so he could kiss the top of her head left a warm feeling in the bottom of her stomach. It felt almost domestic and she relished in that feeling.

He stepped back from her and she took a moment to look him over, noticing that he hadn't yet stripped himself of armour from training, she also noticed that he stood behind his chair rather than sitting in it.

"Not staying in tonight?" she asked him coming to his side, he absently wrapped his arm around her waist as she looked down at his papers not even bothering to try and make sense of the words written on them.

"No," he answered softly, glancing at her from the corner of his eye, his thumb rubbing circles on her hip, "With my uncle gone, this is my chance to speak freely with his advisors." he didn't offer more than that and she didn't ask. It was another one of those things royals did that she didn't fully understand. Politics. "You're welcome to stay though, make yourself comfortable." he said after putting down the paper he was reading and turning to her.

She smiled at his efforts and pressed a quick kiss to his lips, "Thank you, but I wasn't planning on staying long tonight," his head tilted in confusion, "It's laundry night and I promised Steph that I'd handle a load of her work shifts in exchange for something I haven't thought of yet."

"I take it you two are speaking again then?"

"Yes we are," she smiled at his genuine interest even though she could hear the hesitation in his voice, "Honestly it's a bit of a relief to not have to hide from her anymore."

"Well I'm happy you're happy," he told her, slinging his other arm around her waist in a loose embrace before kissing her again, Lion's mane he couldn't get enough of her taste.

"Is it alright if I stay here again tonight?" She asked shyly.

"You're welcomed here anytime you please," he told her instantly and she smiled, before biting her lip as if attempting to contain it, "But I have lessons with my Professor after I make my rounds, so I may not be here when you come to bed."

"As long as you're there when I wake up," she smirked before leaning up and kissing him again, he returned it for a moment before taking her hands in his and pulling back gently squeezing as he did.

"There's something you should know," she looked at him with those doe eyes giving him her full attention, "Professor Cornelius knows."

"How?"

"He came here the other night looking for me because I missed lessons," he pressed a quick kiss to the back of her hand as he could see the questions building behind her eyes, "Don't worry my love, I trust him more than anyone. We're still safe."

"Since we're sharing, I should probably tell you that Bruno knows as well, has for a long time."

"Bruno?" Capsian repeated, unfamiliar with the name trying to recall if he was someone she'd mentioned before, "Who's Bruno?" he asked an uncomfortable weight settling at the pit of his stomach that wasn't fear, it felt almost like anger, but not at her, at the mention of the Bruno person in her life.

"He's Steph's lover, and my friend I suppose," that news lessened the weight slightly, "He's also a soldier and apparently saw your neck on the training grounds after, after um," she cleared her throat, "You know."

He knew exactly what she was referring to but didn't respond as he was trying to recall in his head who exactly Bruno was, he really needed to start paying more attention to names and faces regardless of who they were.

"Is that everyone now?"

"I think so."

He brought her hand to his mouth to kiss her fingertips. "Perhaps this will be good for us."

Ouuuiii these horny idiots have the castle to themselves for the night, what do you think's gonna happen next?