The Stone Table that served as their council room was packed once again after they discovered the Telmarine spy, Alessandra had disappeared from Caspian's side as they entered the How, thankfully he spied the ends of her hair turning a corner beside one of Glenstorm's sons. His heartbeat settled with the knowledge that she'd made it inside and was in good hands.

"It's only a matter of time." High King Peter stood at the centre of the room, speaking with confidence to the humans and creatures gathered, "Miraz's men and war machines are on their way. That means those same men aren't protecting his castle."

"What do you propose we do, Your Majesty?" Reepicheep cut in politely.

"We need to get ready for-"

"To start planning for-"

Peter's voice overlapped with Caspian's and they both paused, Caspian sucked in a deep breath reminding himself that no matter how much work he'd put into securing the How and gathering the Narnian's, Peter outranked him even if he was a few years his junior.

With great reluctance Caspian nodded, yielding the floor.

"Our only hope is to strike them before they strike us." Peter continued ignoring the stalemate.

"That is crazy. No one has ever taken that castle."

"There's always a first time."

"We'll have the element of surprise." The red dwarf named Trumpkin adding fuel to Peter's fire.

"But we have the advantage here." Caspian tried to get them to see his reason and to his surprise another voice came to his defence.

"If we dig in, we could probably hold them off indefinitely." Susan added coming to a stop near his shoulder, he glanced at her with silent gratitude and she nodded.

"I, for one, feel safer underground." Trufflehunter's input was appreciated but not entirely necessary.

"Look." Peter said, turning to face Caspian fully, "I appreciate what you've done here, but this isn't a fortress. It's a tomb."

"Yes. And if they're smart, the Telmarines will just wait and starve us out." Peter nodded at Edmund's proclamation, clearly pleased that at least one of his siblings was on his side.

"We could collect nuts!" An overeager squirrel suggested.

"Yes! And throw them at the Telmarines." Reepicheap cheered sarcastically, "Shut up! I think you know where I stand, sire."

"There's no way to get into the castle undetected." Caspian said after a long moment of silence where Peter clearly expected him to yield once more to this plan.

"What about the girl?" Trumpkin's voice asked before Peter could respond, "The one we came with." he went on to explain, as if there were another they could be talking about.

"That's right," Edmund added, excited at the prospect that this plan was the one they were going with, "If Alessandra worked in the castle she may know another way in, one you may not know about ."

The reasoning was sound, that much Caspian could admit, it didn't soothe the fact that Caspian didn't want her anywhere near these kinds of discussions just yet. But it wouldn't do to argue based on his emotions, instead he nodded,

"I'll get her." Again Peter's voice overlapped his and Caspian paused from where he'd half-turned to the entrance and faced Peter with a raised brow. The High King met his glare with one of expectation clearly waiting for him to yield as he did previously. But on this he wouldn't budge.

"Sires if I may?" Reepicheep's voice cut in breaking their stalemate, "Perhaps one of my troops could find her quicker?" Caspian highly doubted that he was certain he'd be able to locate her with his eyes closed, but in the interest of maintaining the tenuous peace he nodded.

"Be quick," Clearly Peter was going to get the last word in, "We don't want to waste anymore time."

Once back inside the How Alessandra was met by Suncloud who informed her that his mother was with the healers if she wanted to learn anything about Narnian remedies. She took him up on the offer and barely got a chance to tell Caspian where she was going before the centaur steered her away.

Luckily the healer's grotto was closer to the main entrance than any of the other rooms she'd visited and Alessandra felt fairly confident that she could get there by herself if she needed to. Windmane met them with a soft smile which comforted Alessandra immensely.

"Welcome my lady," The faun greeted kindly, "I am Maliah."

"Pleasure to meet you," Alessandra was surprised that the faun looked only a few years older than herself, so far most everyone she met was much older or younger, "Call me Alessandra please."

Much like Suncloud had Maliah nodded, "Lady Alessandra."

She was becoming used to the honorific even though she thought she didn't deserve it, and it made her wonder what Caspian had told the Narnians about her.

Maliah was kind, surprisingly she was only about a year her senior but her knowledge of healing remedies was sound.

She pointed out to Alessandra the different leaves and herbs and explained what they were traditionally used for.

Alessandra felt comfortable with the faun and while Suncloud stood guard of the entrance of the grotto, Maliah gave her a handmade blade a showed her how to slice the leaves and cut away the stems to muddle for a paste, it wasn't unlike what she did in Anastacia's kitchen.

Before she could properly learn to mix them together Suncloud stepped into the grotto with one of those oversized rats on his shoulder, "My Lady?" he called and it took a moment for Alessandra to realise he was talking to her.

"Yes?" she answered politely.

"You've been summoned to the council's meeting."

"Me?" She asked dumbly, surely he was mistaken.

"Yes," it was the mouse that responded, "His highness has requested your counsel on a matter of importance."

She wanted to ask which highness he was referring to but she doubted it was Caspian, so far he seemed content to keep her involvement in war matters very minimal. So that left either Edmund or Peter and she highly doubted that it was the former.

Not wanting to keep the counsel waiting she nodded and followed the centaur and mouse back through the winding hallways of the How, he took a left where Caspian normally took a right and she happened to glance at the walls where she saw similar depictions of the Golden Age that she usually saw in Professor Cornelius' books.

Just outside the entrance to where she assumed the council meeting was she felt a shift, it was difficult to identify what exactly it felt like, only that she could tell something that lay behind was different than what she was used to. There was a slight incline to the chambers and Suncloud offered his arm to help her down, she took it with a grateful smile and carefully descended with her hand around his forearm. The room radiated warmth, which she doubted came from the soft glow of the fires that danced around the walls of the room, at the very centre of the room was the famed stone table, it would probably meet her at around waist height if it were restored to his its former glory however the sizeable concave crack down the middle robbed it of a significant height. Just beyond it illuminated by the fire's glow was a mural of Aslan, before she could get a good look at the Narnian's depiction of the lion, Suncloud steered her to the right where everyone was gathered, leaning over one of those waist high slabs of dirt that served as tables in the How.

At the behest of High King Peter, Caspian produced the map of the palace that had somehow been stowed in his bag during his escape. He had no idea why he thought he might need the parchment but was now coming to regret that he had it. He didn't know how many times he'd have to voice that he thought this was a bad idea.

It was as if he could feel the shift when she entered the chamber, he glanced up briefly then had to do a double take, the gentle glow from the fire that lined the sides of the chamber illuminated her highlighting the curves and contours of her face that he liked to trace with his fingers. He'd had a few fleeting images of her as his Queen by name but none of them hit him quite as hard as seeing her descend the slope into the chamber escorted by the centaur, in the borrowed dress that made her look as regal as it did beautiful.

Queen Susan left his side to greet her and for that he was grateful, she was fast becoming a solid companion.

"Sorry about this," Susan said quietly, taking Suncloud's place by Alessandra's side while the centaur went to his father, "We tried to talk them out of it."

By 'we' Alessandra assumed she meant she and Caspian which confirmed her suspicions on who sent for her. "What do you need?"

Susan sighed, "We're infiltrating the castle."

"What?" she gasped, "That's crazy."

"That's what we said." Susan was clearly annoyed with the turn of events as they came to stop by the packed dirt where Alessandra could now see that they were pouring over a map of the castle. Heavy stones weighed down the corners of the parchment and there were a smattering of sticks and leaves at various places on the page, she assumed they were to represent the Narnian's and where they were to infiltrate from.

Caspian would have to figure out a way to thank Susan, not only for her support but also her fast friendship with Alessandra. He wondered if the High Queen was aware of the way she subtly steer Alessandra to his side where she herself had previously vacated to be sure that his Light stood between himself and the Queen rather than his other side where Peter was, after giving it a moment of thought he was certain that she was and that it was likely intentional.

"Les'," Peter's gentle tone nearly made Caspian's eye twitch as the blond King leaned around him so he could see and speak to Alessandra, "We just need you to tell us the best way in."

"That's a little impossible." She said shyly fighting the urge to shrink into Caspian's side.

"Anything you've got would help." She was surprised that it was Edmund who spoke to her, his voice lacking the biting edge that she'd come to expect from him.

Caspian widened his stance slightly and shifted his weight pressing his leg into hers hoping that it would help ground her, "Here's what we have so far."

The plan was simple enough as far as Alessandra could tell, but with the route that was suggested on the parchment they'd be caught before they made it to Miraz.

"That way won't be very effective." Alessandra cut in.

"Then what do you suggest?"

"Send your signal from the western most tower," she explained reaching across Caspian to point to the other side of the map, the motion pushed her leg closer to his but he didn't budge, "It's typically lightly guarded, on a good night there's a single guard who drew the shortest straw. The rest of you can drop in on this path," she said pointing to an open walkway, "The rooms beyond are practically abandoned, so fewer guards are needed."

"What's the quickest route to the gatehouse?" Trumpkin asked.

"This one," both she and Caspian spoke at the same time pointing to one of the unmarked paths on the map, "It splits this hallway, one path will take you to the gatehouse, the other," she paused a hitch in her breath that only Caspian picked up on, he bit back a smirk, he knew the other path well, "Takes you to the stables, not very convenient for what you've got planned."

"I'd suggest sending the mice through first," Caspian added, "They'd be more discreet."

"As you wish my Liege." Reepicheep said with a flourish.

"From there we can open up the gates, take them by surprise," Peter said, turning from the map to face Glenstorm, "When your troops are inside, can you handle the rest of the guards?"

The centaur didn't hesitate, "Or die trying my liege."

"That's what I'm worried about," Alessandra didn't even realise Lucy was in the room as people stood to the side to reveal her standing at the other end of the slab, at the long silence she continued, "You're all acting like there's only two options, dying here, or dying there?"

There was more silence as everyone present absorbed her words, "I'm not sure you've really been listening Lu."

"No you're not listening," the younger girl snapped, "or have you forgotten who really defeated the White Witch?"

A dark look crawled over Peter's face before he snapped with finality, "I think we've waited for Aslan long enough." Then he turned and left the room, a chill following him as fire surrounding Aslan's mural seemed to dim following his words.

Night had started to fall and with it the preparations for the castle's siege were underway, the How was more bustling than she ever thought it could become, creatures of all shapes and sizes gathering weapons and armour, preparing themselves for whatever may come. Peter seemed confident that this plan was going to work, Alessandra still had her reservations as did Caspian even though they both withheld them.

Speaking of, even though she knew that he already had so much on his mind, Alessandra knew that she couldn't let Caspian leave without him knowing what happened to her, they still had some time before the war party left so she pulled him aside.

"Can I talk to you for a moment?" of course he nodded and allowed her to lead them to one of the empty alcoves.

"Are you alright?" he asked, taking her hands in his concern shining in his dark eyes. She only nodded instead on responding with words fearing that she wouldn't be able to get them out, instead her hands went to the top of her dress, then the side tugging them hem down, "My light," he all but gasped his hands coming to her sides and guiding her further in away from the entrance, "I do not think we have the time," he rushed out as he glanced over his shoulder, however, if she wanted, he'd make that time.

"It's not that." she told him with a wry smile, she wished it was that simple.

His brow furrowed but he didn't try to stop her again, he kept his hands on her waist even as she winced slightly when she finally freed her arm from her sleeve. The scar beneath had started to dry so there wasn't that much blood dotting the bandage this time, which she supposed was a good sign.

When the bandage was removed Capsian's hands fell to his side so we could ball them into fists, his eyes hardened, his hands rose and fell like he was afraid of touching her. "What? Who? Why?"

She felt the tears welling but refused to let them fall at the sight of the pure hurt and guilt on his face, as if it were somehow his fault, "Miraz," she sniffed, "Before Bruno and I were able to escape, took it upon himself to question me. I refused to tell him the plan, or where you were, so he-" she cut herself off taking a deep breath, "Wanted me to remember who I was doing it for."

She didn't think his gaze could harden even further yet it did. It wasn't a large scar, but the two lines crossing to form Caspian's title were unmistakable, she wasn't sure if it was a good thing that his title was so easy to carve because it made the unfortunate experience short but no less excruciating.

"I'm not showing this to you because I want you to be angry, I just want you to know what your uncle is capable of."

He took a step forward then it seemed as if his legs buckled beneath him and he went to his knees, how hands came to her waist, "I'm sorry, my love."

"Cas-"

"I let this happen to you."

"You didn't." she insisted.

He wasn't convinced, "I'm sorry."

Her heart hurt, "Cas, please," she fell to join him on his knees, "Do not apologize."

"I shouldn't have left you."

"You didn't have a choice." She repeated firmly wiping beneath his eyes, "You did what was best for us, and for Narnia. So I'd do it again without thought."

He looks unconvinced but nods nonetheless before pulling her closer, taking her in his arms and squeezing so tight she was half convinced she felt something in her back pop but she revelled in the feeling. She knew that he wouldn't forgive himself since he believed that he let this happen, her dear prince was so determined to carry the weight of the entire world on his shoulders that she felt bad he had to carry this as well. But she didn't want him going into this raid blind to what his uncle was capable of, even if he had his suspicions.

All too soon they had to disentangle from one another, Caspian stood first then helped her up, before he helped her fix her dress he leaned down pressing a soft kiss to the top of her shoulder where the scar started.

She stayed close to him as they left the alcove and he went to don his armour. She'd spent many nights taking the protective layer off of him that she was almost just as easy helping him get into it, although this night wouldn't end like the other ones.

The sun was starting to set by the time they made it outside, the Narnians were awaiting their call to begin marching back through the forest. They had to go the long way around the Beruna ford in order to avoid being spotted by the Telmarine's. It'd be well into the night by the time they made it to the castle which is what they were hoping for.

Caspian wanted to be sure of the plan so he needed to speak with Glenstorm and his generals, before he left though he took her gorgeous face in his hands again and pressed a firm kiss to her forehead, he knew if he touched her lips he wouldn't be able to leave her, again. Her hands cupped the backs of his as he lingered a moment longer than was necessary, or appropriate.

"Be careful," she whispered as he began to pull away, it was all she could think to say to him and hoped that would be enough, "Come back to me?"

"Always." he nodded, kissing her head again before forcing his legs to move.

She was alone for a moment before she caught sight of Windmane and her son's, they seemed to be saying goodbye to the oldest Rainstone whom she still hadn't formally met so it didn't feel right to go over and interrupt their moment. Then her vision was filled by a blond head, she wasn't sure what Peter expected from her.

"I hope this works." It was the best she could offer him, he seemed disappointed before he nodded and joined his army as they prepared to head out

Susan on the other hand she managed to muster a hopeful smile for as she passed, Lucy joined her as they watched them leave.

"Your majesty," a voice from beside them called, "My lady, perhaps we should head back inside?" It was Suncloud, looking like he needed the distraction as much as they did.

He led them back inside where Maliah met them, Windmane followed them inside but made her way back to the dining hall, presumably to keep her mind and hands occupied while her husband and son were gone. Suncloud took it upon himself to take she and Lucy further into the How's depths, where the How's walls could expand if necessary and the opposite.

"Not that way my Lady," Suncloud said, stopping her from venturing down another hallway.

"Why not?"

"The foundation is unstable. One bump against the wrong pillar and the whole thing is coming down."

She glanced back down the large hallway he steered them away from, "Good to know."

With that knowledge filled away, although she wasn't sure yet for what, Suncloud led them back to the Healer's Grotto, the raid army was bound to have some injuries when they came back so they may as well assist Maliah with the preparations.

"I can't help but notice that it seems like some creatures are more comfortable here than others." there were many animals and creatures alike that roamed the halls of the How, majority of them she'd read or learned about. In the history and story books there was a divide between them, some of them that fought on the side of Aslan, and some on the side of the White White.

Maliah flushed, "I suppose it's not that discreet."

"Why?"

"Back before the Kings and Queens of Old came, wolves were some of the White Witch's loyalest followers," She paused glancing over her shoulder, "They also were instrumental in capturing both King Edmund and Aslan himself. Even in killing the Great Lion."

"I thought that after the Kings and Queens left most creatures joined together for survival regardless of which side they were on."

"We did, this time decades ago no one would dream of seeing minotaurs or black dwarves fighting alongside Kings and Queens. But wolves it seemed like were pack animals through and through. While they live in harmony with us, they're not exactly one of us. In fact they only showed up to the How a few months before you all did."

"Why?"

Maliah shrugged, "No one knows, they don't talk either. Aslan took that privilege from them."

"That doesn't seem fair."

"It's just the way things have been." Maliah responded somewhat downtrodden.

That seemed to be all the faun was willing to say on that subject so Alessandra let it be, it wouldn't do to press one of the people she was beginning to see as a friend on a topic that she clearly didn't feel comfortable talking about.

There was a pregnant pause between them before the faun spoke again, "Did I tell you that my ancestor was a close friend of the Kings and Queens?"

"You didn't." Alessandra gasped happy that their blooming friendship hadn't been impacted.

Maliah nodded happily, "Especially Queen Lucy. His name was Mr. Tumnus."

She was grateful to have met Maliah, she helped keep her mind off of where Caspian was and what could possibly be happening to him, to all of them. Lucy joined them shortly after Maliah began telling her about Mr. Tumnus.

Alessandra had not spent as much time with Lucy since they arrived at the How, but she remembered why she enjoyed her presence so much before. Soon enough the night got darker and the How got quieter, it didn't seem like anyone was asleep as the silence that stretched through the cavernous walls thrummed with anxious energy. Maliah has wrapped and unwrapped the bandages at least three times and was about to start on her fourth. Lucy traced her fingertips over the engravings on her cordial.

"I've read about that," Alessandra said, nodding to the cordial in her hands, "I still can't wrap my head around this all being real, that you've come back."

"Neither can I," Lucy confessed with a shrug tucking away her cordial, "I still feel like I'm going to wake up tomorrow and be back in London."

What Alessandra was going to say next was cut off by the clattering of hooves approaching seconds before Suncloud appeared, "Your Majesty, my Lady they're back."

Immediately they stood, "How do they look?" Alessandra asked before she could think better of it.

Suncloud didn't respond, "They've only just broken through the treeline, we should meet them."

He led them back through the halls where they met a small band of Narnians who were clearly heading topside as well. Dawn was just beginning to break over the treelines by the time they got outside, the pride that held up all their shoulders when they left seemed to have deflated, along with half their army.

"What happened?" Lucy asks as the now much smaller war party approaches the entrance.

"Ask him," Peter spits as he looks towards Caspian.

"Peter," Susan half-begs looking between the two of them.

Caspian, who was content to walk straight to his Light and take her back inside to forget this hellish night even happened, paused, "Me?" he asks as he turns to glare at Peter, "You could've called it off. There was still time."

"No, there wasn't, thanks to you," the blond shot back with a fierce glare, "If you kept to the plan, those soldiers might be alive right now."

"If you'd stayed here like I suggested, they definitely would be!"

"You called us, remember?" Peter said almost sneering now.

"My first mistake." Caspian said flatly.

"No. Your first mistake was thinking you could lead these people." This was getting far out of hand, but most everyone could tell that it was a time coming, it seemed like Peter was done with it as he brushed past Caspian and headed for the entrance of the How.

"Hey!" Caspian wasn't content to let Peter get the last word this time, "I am not the one who abandoned Narnia!"

"You invaded Narnia. You have no more right to lead it than Miraz does." Peter pointed sharply at Caspian who roughly pushed past him. He reached for Alessandra the same time Peter finally took it too far, "You, him, your father, Narnia's better off without the lot of you!" With an angry yell Caspian unsheaths his sword, a second later Peter does the same and their swords were pointed at the others throats preparing for another fight that was a long time coming,

"Stop it!" Both Lucy and Alessandra shout, both of them paused long enough for Glenstorm to bring an unconscious Trumpkin forward. Reality settles back in and they both begin to lower their swords. Lucy rushes forward pulling out her cordial as the centaur lays Trumpkin on the ground.

Caspian leaves them and Alessandra knows that Trumpkin is in good hands, so was any one else who may have been injured. Those that were left behind at the castle, she could only hope that they were resting easy. She went to his side and took his arm lacing their fingers, happy that his anger and frustration wasn't so great that he didn't squeeze back. Neither of them noticed when Nikabrik trailed behind them with a sinister grin.

Hope y'all are enjoying everything so far, love reading your comments and reviews.

BTW, does anyone have any faceclaims for Alessandra? I'd love to hear who you guys have been picturing.