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β€’ chapter nine



It seemed the squirrel hadn't been joking about Caspian reviving the White Witch at the Stone Table. When Sarina, Edmund, and Susan arrived, they found Peter locked in combat with a wolf-like creature, while Trumpkin struggled against the rude dwarf, Nikabrik. Without hesitation, Edmund sprinted into the fray to join the fight, with Sarina right beside him. Susan quickly moved to assist Peter in reaching Caspian, who was under the Witch's control, while Lucy focused on helping Trumpkin.



"Let him go!" Lucy demanded, but Nikabrik twisted Lucy's arm, throwing her to the floor. Sarina threw her dagger to the dwarf before he could hurt her little cousin more. The rude dwarf groaned in pain when it pierced on his hand that was holding Lucy.


In the middle of all the chaos. The White Witch is undeterred and continues to reach toward Caspian, her voice dripping with malice. "Come on..."


Peter pushed Caspian away and pointed his sword at the Witch. "Get away from him!"


The Witch staggered back slightly, her eyes narrowing. "Peter, dear... I have missed you. Come, just one drop."


Peter hesitated, lowering his sword just a fraction as the Witch reached for him. In that moment, the ground shook, and the ice wall surrounding the chamber shattered with a deafening groan.


Edmund stepped forward, his sword still drawn, "I know. You had it sorted," he said, turning to leave.


Peter noticed his sisters, Susan and Lucy, as they worked together to assist the wounded dwarf. He caught a glimpse of Susan's disappointed expression as she stepped out of the room. Caspian's gaze shifted to Sarina, who was watching him intently. Unlike Susan, her expression held no disappointment but disapproval. She turned away, deciding to follow Edmund out of the room, leaving Peter and Caspian alone to confront their own thoughts and the aftermath of the fight.



Β°β€’β€’β€’Β°



Caspian sat quietly outside Aslan's How, lost in thought that he didn't notice the Professor approaching, taking a seat beside him.


"Why did you never tell me about my father?" Caspian asked.


The professor looked at him, "My mother was a black dwarf from the northern mountains. I have risked my life all these years for a reason: I believed that one day you would become a better king than those who came before you."


Caspian's heart sank. "Then I have failed you."


With a steady gaze, Doctor Cornelius replied, "No, you haven't. Everything I told you, and everything I withheld, was driven by my faith in you. You have the chance to become something extraordinaryβ€”the Telmarine who saved Narnia, the most noble contradiction in history."


Sarina is about to go on her usual spot, the edge of the rockslides in Aslan's How. She found it when she saw Aslan and from then it became her spot. But it seems like someone beat her into it.


She found Caspian sitting on a rock, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon as if he were a world away. At first, she thought he was alone, but then she spotted his professor, Cornelius with him. They were engaged in a serious conversation, their voices barely above a whisper, and Sarina hesitated to interrupt.


A few moments later, the professor turned and noticed her. "Ah, young lady," he said, his smile warm and inviting. "I was just about to leave. Perhaps you could keep Caspian company?"


Surprised, she nodded. "Of course," she replied, watching as he walked away. Her attention returned to Caspian, who remained in the same position, his expression distant and contemplative.


As she approached, the soft rustle of her dress was the only sound breaking the silence. "He seems to have taught you quite a lot," she said gently, hoping to draw him out.


Caspian looked up at her, his eyes still heavy with sorrow. "More than I could ever have imagined," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.


A deep silence settled between them, not awkward despite the weight of earlier events. It was Caspian who eventually broke the stillness.


"I didn't think you would want to speak with me," he said, turning his gaze from the stars to the ground beneath them.


"And why would you think that?" Sarina asked.


"I didn't act as a prince should today," he confessed. Sarina observed him from the sideβ€”the way the wind teased a few strands of hair across his face, how he focused on his fingers when nervous, and how his dark eyes mirrored the beauty of the stars above.


Prince Caspian is undeniably handsome. Though still young, Sarina imagined the man he would becomeβ€”a man who acknowledges his mistakes, takes responsibility, and learns from them. That quality alone made him attractive in her eyes.


"What matters is that you do the right thing next. Apologies mean little if they're not backed by action," she said, diverting her gaze to avoid dwelling on her feelings for someone who was beyond her reach.


Caspian glanced her way, taking in her flowing white-blonde hair, her sparkling green eyes reflecting the moonlight, and her soft, pinkish lips. She looked ethereal sitting there under the moonlight, and then, he was captivated.


"I promise to be a better leader," he said. The girl nodded, turning her head to meet his gaze, "I know you will be."


Their eyes locked for a moment, their bodies slowly leaning towards each other. Sarina wants to move away, she knows that this is wrong. This is wrong to feel attracted, or worseβ€” fall in love with him. She is not from this world, and she knows that Aslan will someday bring them back to where they belong. She doesn't want to lead this wonderful man in front of her, yet she found it hard to pull away.


Was it so wrong to savor this moment just a little longer?


Caspian felt conflicted, as well. He wasn't sure if he was doing the right thing, especially since he believed he hadn't made a good impression on her when they first met in the woods. Still, he hoped that no one would interrupt this moment, whether it was real or just a dream. He wanted it to be in his memory forever.


They were just inches apart, their lips nearly touching when Sarina suddenly noticed Telmarine soldiers emerging one by one from the woods, making their way toward the How. She gasped, instinctively reaching for Caspian's shoulders to snap him back to reality.


"Caspian, look!" she exclaimed, pointing toward the woods. He followed her gesture, his expression shifting to concern.


"I'll tell Peter and gather the others at the stone table. We'll need to discuss this," she said before turning to leave.


"Sarinaβ€”" Caspian called after her, but she had already walked away. He let out a frustrated sigh, disappointed that his uncle had chosen that moment to bring in his army.


"For real?" he groaned under his breath before standing up to inform the Narnians about the impending arrival of his uncle's forces.


Β°β€’β€’β€’Β°


In the Stone Table room, the Narnians gathered to make plans. Trumpkin slammed his fist on the table, "Cakes and kettledrums! That's your next big plan? Sending a little girl alone into the darkest parts of the forest?"


Peter met his gaze firmly. "It's our only chance."


Sarina chimed in, "And she won't be alone."

Trumpkin shook his head in frustration. "Haven't enough of us died already?"


Trufflehunter spoke up, his voice heavy with emotion. "Nikabrik was my friend too, but he lost hope. Queen Lucy hasn't, and neither have I."


"For Aslan!" Reepicheep declared.


"For Aslan!" echoed Bulgy Bear, glancing at Peter. He turned his attention to Bulgy Bear, then back to the group. Trumpkin looked at Lucy, determined. "I'm going with you."


"No, we need you here," Lucy replied.


Peter nodded. "We have to hold them off until Lucy and Sarina get back."


Caspian stepped forward, "If I may... Miraz may be a tyrant and a murderer, but as king, he is still bound by the traditions and expectations of his people. There is one tradition in particular that could buy us some time." His eyes landed on Sarina, as if silently looking for the approval of what he was doing. Sarina noticed it and subtly nodded, encouraging the prince to continue.



"What is that?" Peter asked him.


"Call for a single combat. This will buy us time until Sarina and Queen Lucy return," Caspian proposed.


Technically, it was a duel to the deathβ€”one that would end with either a fatality or a surrender.  Sarina thought.


"But how do we make him agree to that? He commands hundreds, if not thousands of soldiers. Our side barely flinched in the face of those numbers," Susan argued. It was then that Sarina decided to speak up for the first time.


"Let Edmund deliver the proposition," she suggested. All eyes turned to her as she stood tall and took a few steps forward, ensuring everyone could hear her. Edmund's gaze reflected his anticipation to hear her reasoning, "Why, Edmund, Sari?" Peter asked.


"I'm sure he can provoke Miraz into accepting it," she replied confidently. Edmund smirked, understanding what she meant while the other Pevensie siblings exchanged puzzled looks.


"How can you be so sure that Edmund can push Miraz to agree?" Peter asked, his doubt evident. Sarina chuckled at his question, while Edmund stood up, shaking his head as he moved to Peter's side.


"What I don't understand is why you doubt me," he said, and Sarina added, "Your younger brother can provoke anyone, Pete. I'd say he could even provoke you, but you're not exactly the best example to use."


Peter finally understood her point and nodded in agreement. Edmund shot a wink at Sarina, who responded with a thumbs-up. While she is oblivious to the certain eyes of a certain prince locked to her.


Lucy nudged Susan and whispered, "I'm sure the prince fancies her."


"Who do you think will confess first?" Susan replied quietly. "I guess it'll be Sari. She's quite outspoken."


But Lucy had a different opinion. "I think it'll be Prince Caspian. His eyes say a lot. It's only a matter of time before he bursts and starts reciting love poems to her."


Susan chuckled. "Let's see who wins this bet."


"You're on," Lucy said with a grin. The two sisters continued to watch as the prince stole glances at their cousin, who mirrored his curiosity whenever he wasn't looking.


Susan just hoped they wouldn't have to wait until Aslan brought them back home for something to happen.



Β°β€’β€’β€’Β°


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