With Courage [King Caspian X OC]

Chapter 31

"I have something of yours."

"My sketchbook?"

Caspian paused for a moment. "I have two things of yours."

It was the morning following her arrival at Cair Paravel. After she returned from her walk with Aslan the previous night, meeting Marco outside her door with a wordless shake of her head and the faint glimmer of dried tears on her cheeks, she found herself sleeping for a few hours more before dawn arrived to claim her.

She woke to a letter slid underneath her door: an invitation to join Caspian for breakfast, written in such a careful, looping script, she couldn't help but keep the paper tucked against her collar as she descended into the dining hall.

The meal was spent under the watchful eye of his staff, many of whom watched Amber as if she were a ghost or a talking badger, though she supposed a talking badger might be more of a common sight to them here, acting not unlike a pair of misbehaving children. There was no time to discuss what she actually wanted to. Still he knew nothing of her journey in England or her late-night discovery.

The time was spent covering some of what she had missed in the two years she had been gone, though she could tell the full story was one to be shared in private, and not a word was spoken of Lord Wellin's mysterious argument. When they would be allowed the luxury of privacy, neither of them knew.

Instead, they whispered gaily and ignored the ears that leaned too close, distracted by that which remained unsaid, but ultimately content to merely sit beside one another before all attention snapped to the approaching ball.

Maria, who had been assigned to cater for all of Amber's needs, as well as procuring her a full wardrobe for her stay, had approached them not long after their cups ran dry. "Your Majesty, might you excuse Lady Amber to begin preparations for tonight?"

They shared a silent glance. From the stained-glass windows beside them, the sun could still be seen through shards of pink and orange. The day had barely begun, and yet the castle seemed to hasten for its end.

"We have plenty of time, Maria. There's, ah," – another fleeting glance in her direction – "something I'd like to present Amber with first."

"Very well, Your Majesty."

Despite his reassurances and her (albeit reluctant) acceptance, they still found themselves leaving for the Gild Quarters far sooner than they would have liked. It was preferable to hearing the nervous tap of Maria's foot or her tiny, hurried sighs whenever she glanced at the clock.

Which is where we find our pair now.

Maria was to their left fussing with the vanity table preparing a downright ridiculous array of products, many of which Amber had never seen before. Marco, Amber's newly official guard, stood beside the door with a countenance of a man who knew he was interrupting a private moment but was bound by order to stay. Amber had settled on the windowsill to admire the sea view beyond with a distracted eye while Caspian dipped into his own rooms for a moment before returning to them.

She turned to him, now standing before her with an arm clasped behind his back, and asked, "I only left my sketchbook, did I not?"

"If you gave me a moment, I'd simply show you what I mean and you wouldn't have to guess."

"Ah, but if I did that then how would I get that little annoyed vein poking out your forehead?" He brought a self-conscious hand to his hairline and squinted at her.

"It's not annoyance. It's amusement, which you provide endlessly." He said fondly, resting on the wall beside her.

He had become far bolder since their time on the Dawn Treader. No longer were they dancing around one another at a distance, teasing and nervous. There was to be no more half-steps. He had taken her hand as a partner with every confidence of the steps ahead and set their journey to a song she had always known, though neither could recount the ending.