The journey back to the castle took longer than expected with an injured princess who wouldn't stop complaining. Artemis finally had enough of her voice that she helped her get on one of the horses with her hands still bound in chains. The queen slept soundly with Goliath still curled close to her. Artemis would ask time to time if she was okay and Goliath would confirm. 

Pulling up to the kingdom's gates, Artemis' felt her heart become heavy. Worried thoughts running through how Caspian will react. The guards open the gates upon recognition of Artemis. The horns sound alerting the castle to the arrival. She can see the castle guards racing to her. Swords at-a-ready until they see her. She doesn't speak, her body going rigid like she did in front of the crowd at the festival. Thankfully she sees a familiar face running down to her. His blonde hair whipping in the wind. 

"Artemis!" 

Navene could see how tired she was and some blood upon her beautiful silver gown. Fear strikes at him believing she may have been hurt. He walks directly to her lifting her arms to inspect but seeing no signs of the blood being her own. A groan catches his attention. He opens the carriage door to see the queen stirring. Her wrist badly bruised, her dress and hair an utter mess. She opens her eyes trying to focus. 

"Ar-Artemis?"

Her cracked voice making Artemis go into the carriage. She looks to Navene to close the door. He nods in understanding. The clanking of metal making him look towards the horses where Princess Lena sits with dried blood on her leg and dress. The pack wolves standing near the horse glaring at her.  The princess scared by the creatures not moving from her spot.

Navene catches movement out the corner of his eye to see the king, the prince and princess strolling through the group of guards directly to him. It doesn't take long the king to recognize the princess on the horse. His eyes narrowing making her squirm. 

"Guards, seize her!" 

His voice booming making the men spring into action. She whimpers as they pull her down holding her as they await further commands. The king strolls to the door opening it to see his beloved barely conscious while Artemis' hands are wrapped around her wrist humming making the red markings disappear. 

"My love..." 

The queen turns her head hearing her husband's voice. Her eyes welling up as she reaches her now injured free hand to him. He is quick to grab her hand pulling her up. He wraps one arm behind her back and the other below her knees. Lifting her from the carriage, the guards bow in respect of their queen. The king is swift in walking to the castle. His queen within his grasp where he plans to never let her leave again. He turns back around as Artemis steps down out of the chariot, his eyes glazed to her. 

"Thank you Lady Artemis" 

Artemis bows slightly but feels light headed. Her evening of no rest and her using the last of her energy to help ease the queen's pain catching up to her. She holds her head as Navene comes to steady her. She stands back up to see Cassandra following her dad. The guards taking Lena away leaving only Caspian standing there with a heart broken face. He turns not saying a word to Artemis. Artemis feels her own heart shatter at his actions. 

Caspian was happy she was safe but couldn't over look the fact that she left without a word. How easy it was for her to leave while he felt nothing but pain. He walked back into the castle resisting the urge to turn around running back to her. He can feel her pain and couldn't stop the treacherous tears from rolling down his cheeks. He went to his chambers slamming the door behind him. His head reeling and his heart feeling hollow. 

A soft click of his door makes him turn around to his sister. Her eyes narrowed on her brother and fist at her sides. 

"How. dare. you?!" Her words anything but calm. Caspian raises his hands confused by her voice. Before he can even speak she steps forward with her glare set. "You turn your back on her!"

"She-"

"She WHAT!" Cass throws her hands up and Caspian is stunned. Never has she acted like this before. "She went to save our mother... for you!" 

Caspian finds his voice. "She didn't say anything! She just left... she was gone Cass." 

His sister scoffs closing the gap between her and Caspian. "She left to save the queen. She left to bring home our mother..." 

Caspian feels his heart break knowing he made a mistake but he still felt hurt. He sits down on the bed. Cass taking a seat beside him. He puts his head in his hands feeling his anguish catch up to him. Cass rubs his back comfortingly. 

"I would never be able to leave you." 

Both heads whip to the door to find a very pale Artemis leaning against the door frame. Her body staggered. Cass stands up walking towards her. Cass wraps her in a hug silently thanking her. She pulls back smiling with a warm smile before leaving the room. Caspian still sitting on the bed looking at her. Artemis wasn't sure what to say but knew she needed to speak. 

"I was not trying to hurt you Caspian. I could never-" She sighs feeling her head begin to spin. "I went because at that moment, I knew I could find her. I left without saying goodbye because if you were to say something or tell me not to, I would have listened..." 

Caspian stands up noticing her complexion and the way her speech slurs. He walks to her still attempting to not reach out to her. 

"I left knowing that I would come back because my world lied within these walls." 

She dropped her head feeling the tears spring to her eyes. Caspian couldn't resist any longer. Reaching out he gathered her in his arms pulling her tired form into his safe embrace. She relaxed against him letting his familiar scent waft over her. 

"Don't ever leave me again." 

His broken plea making her nod immediately. She held him as firmly as her tired muscles would allow. He could feel her body giving out so he picked her bridal style carrying her to his bed. She curled into him breathing in his comforting scent. He lays down with her not releasing her from his touch. He is quick to lay his lips upon her sighing from the contact. He pulls back looking into those hypnotic metal pools. 

"YOU are my world Artemis, my love, my queen..."

As you are mine Caspian

Caspian pulls her to his chest feeling her slip into slumber. He listens to her heart beat calming all his worries. Leaning down, he kisses her hair line. His lips lingering on her skin. A knock from the door startles him. The intruder opens the door without his consent. He relaxes as the figure walks into the room. 

"Is she alright?"

"Yea... just tired. How is mom?"

The king sighs shoulders slumped as he walked over sitting on the edge of Caspian's bed. He looks to the sleeping beauty in his son's arms. 

"Same." 

No words are spoken for some time as the king gets lost in his thoughts. Caspian watches as his father's eyes begin to tear up before some roll down his cheek. 

"I don't think I have ever been more terrified than I was last night." The king looks up to the ceiling as his mind replays a memory. Caspian waits patiently. "Your mother is always a constant target but she has never been in any real danger before." 

"Dad.." 

"I wasn't there to protect her." His voice defeated before looking back to Artemis. "I will never be able to repay her for everything she has done." 

Caspian glances down to Artemis who subconsciously rubs her head against Caspian's chest making warmth spread through him. He brushes his knuckles across her cheek. 

"She is... something." 

"No, my son..." Caspian looks up as the king goes to stand up. "She isn't something... she is everything." 

The king stands up making his way back to the door. He turns looking back to his son who no longer is looking at him but at the siren within his arms. The king smiles gently thanking the heaven's for the gift that is Artemis. 

He returns to his chambers to find Navene standing at his door. The king raises a brow walking to him. 

"Navene?"

"Your majesty" Navene bows respectfully before looking up to the bewildered face of the king. "Princess Cassandra is inside, until Artemis tells me otherwise... I'm going to continue guarding her." 

The king chuckles lowly patting the young man on his shoulder before going into his chambers. His wife tucked within the sheets with his princess sitting next to her on the bed. Cass looks up hearing the door open. The king steps forward and now notices that Goliath has moved from the floor to the foot of the bed. He steps forwards rubbing the wolf's head making him purr. 

"Princess, go spend time with young Navene and no more giving your brother trouble." 

"Does that mean he fixed it?"

His cheeky daughter. He knew she sent him down there for something more than his gratitude. She is mastermind in her own right. 

"Yes... Now go." 

Cass hops off the bed with a million dollar smile happy she got through to her brother. The king chuckles shaking his head at her skipping form. The soft click of the door lets him know he is alone with his queen... well almost alone. Goliath stretches his large form at the end sprawling out on the bed. 

"My queen..." 

Her eyes flutter open showing the perfect emerald eyes to him. He cups her cheek as she smiles gently. 

"My king." 

"You terrified me love." The queen giggles gripping his shirt in her hand. 

"I was scared as well." She releases a shaky breath pulling him towards her. He understands and wraps her within his arms. 

"We need to discuss what happened my love." 

"Later... Right now, I just want to be here... in your arms." 

The king complies continuing to hold her. The castle rejoicing over the news that their queen is back safely and saved by none other than Lady Artemis. The villagers made trips to the castle leaving food and trinkets for their queen. All the while the two ladies slept the morning away. Cassandra content with her friend by her side. The king and prince continuing to hold their loved ones within their embrace while relief washes over them.