Starved Hearts ~ Caspian Fanfiction

Chapter 3

"So, first, how about some dry clothes?" Caspian quizzed, his eyes still on fire with delight and eagerness, Alice could tell he had so much to share with the Pevensies, it made her wonder just how much had happened in Narnia when they visited, she never heard the full story. She was hanging onto threads of information to knit a picture of the story surrounding her. Alice glanced at Lucy who smiled pleased, huffing a sigh of relief through her teeth

"Dry clothes would be great," the young girl huddled closer into her towel, whilst Caspian nodded once, placing a hand on the small of her back, beginning to guide her through a door, Edmund and Alice following side by side.

Alice fumbled to wring out her hair before stepping through the doorway, her long curls tangled and stiff, she dreaded the moment she was handed a comb. However, she struggled to follow the group as she stood on the threshold, again glancing at her surroundings, she'd never seen anything like it, being surrounded by blue. Blue everything. A sparkling ocean and serene sky. She could sleep with these colours imprinted to her eyelids. Cringing, a faint taste of salt lingered on her tongue, but she had to admit it was a great deal more valued than the thick ropes of smoke which strangled her lungs overwise. A delicacy, really.

"Alice?"

Her eyes didn't rush to return to Edmund, who waited for her at the door, a grin coming to her face as she now hurried to follow the group, she would have a lot of time later to admire her surroundings.

"So, the boy?" Caspian wondered aloud once the pair had caught up with them.

"Our cousin," Edmund seethed grimly, "an unfortunate relation."

The man chuckled, glancing humorously at Edmunds wretched expression, "How lucky you are," he teased.

Alice smiled to herself, the feud between the Pevensies and Eustace she had always found entertaining yet understandable, Eustace was rude and inconsiderate, but had known him long enough for his comments to hit her like flies rather than bullets.

"And you, Alice," Caspian paused to face her once again, his unusually aged eyes meeting hers, queuing an unsuspecting blush to rise up her neck, "Just a friend?"

"Yes, as much as I would love to be related to such a wonderful bunch, I already see them as my own family," she informed, eyeing the two affectionately, as to avoid Caspian's gaze, "But I merely live with Eustace's family, and was fortunate enough to become acquainted with his cousins... I'm an amateur when it comes to their experiences in Narnia, but you'd think the way here would be restricted only to those involved with the family... I'm very much not."

They came to a halt outside a wooden door, and whilst from the corner of her eye, Alice noticed Lucy prepared to protest, Caspian beat her to it, "Any friend of the Pevensies, are welcome in Narnia," he breathed, drifting closer to her in the narrow hallway, his warmth rather pleasant beneath her damp clothing; an appreciative smile on her face igniting a fond one on his own, their eyes almost a reflection of the others

"Aslan always brings someone here for a reason, mind you," Edmund interrupted the two, who turned to the siblings appearing startled, "You're here for a purpose, Alice, as is Eustace... although I can't imagine what for."

Chuckling once again, she thanked the boy for his reassurance before her and Lucy retreated to change clothes.

***

"Aslan," Lucy breathed as she and Alice enter the regally decorated room where Caspian and Edmund waited, and Alice had almost had enough at how alive and... beautiful everywhere appeared in Narnia compared to London, the feel and emotion a stark contrast to the barren, heart wrenching, grey Cambridge she was accustomed to. Eyes drifting from delicately sculpted mahogany desks, to shelves adorned with ancient books, her eyes landed on the golden carving of a lion, the one which Lucy cherished now. Just this representation roared of power and knowledge, a lion ruled this place... what a place London would be if the occupants of London zoo took over? Alice couldn't help imagine mirthfully, "look... Susan's bow and arrows," Lucy grinned, admiring her sister's weapons.