Lavinia wondered how they found a witch so quickly, or how they got him to agree, considering the risks. The magic in this world worked in a strange manner. There were those born with specific powers, like the Auberjonis and Cynthia. Then there are witches. Witches were people born with magic too, but they used outside forces to make themselves stronger. Or so Max told her.

She examined the jar of icy moonlight. The jar itself was frosted and when she touched it, it was cold. It glowed lightly. “How?” She asked the witch. 

“A witch’s secret, I am afraid.” The witch, Geoff, replied. The gold tooth in mouth gleaming. 

“You think you can do it?” Silas asked Geoff.

“Of course I can.” He said confidently. “I was in the convent, I just need to know if there is anything else to the spell other than the ingredients.”

“Nothing else. You just need to mix them and feed it to Val.” Lavinia explained.

“Are you sure?” Caspian asked her again. “Really, truly sure?”

“Of course I am.” She tried to sound reassuring. Her confidence in her knowledge of this story was decreasing quickly.

“Then leave me to my work, my esteemed princes and my beautiful lady.” The dark-haired witch bowed with a tip of his hat. 

Caspian slipped his hand in the nock of her arm and escorted her out. This brother was a bit of an enigma to her, Lavinia realized. He really didn’t play a part in her story. He was always overshadowed by his older brothers. In her story, Caspian was a shadow, present but without substance. In the end, he had died in the books.

But Lavinia was sure he won’t die now. She would be there to stop him from being taken hostage by Cythia later, in whatever way she could. Lavinia would tell the brothers in due time. Right now was not the time for such troubling news like that.

“You are staring at me,” Caspian said as they walked to her chamber, still linking arms. 

Lavinia stared at his person openly. The light shade of brown of his hair, the freckles on his face, the well-built figure, and the tall stature of all the Auberjonis brothers. “You are the only one who hasn’t said your thoughts about me.”

“I haven’t? Well, I simply want Val healed. That’s all.” He replied.

“That’s not what I asked, Caspian,” Lavinia said. 

“I don’t know, is that better for you, Fantasy?” He sighed. “My opinion of you doesn’t exist. I don’t know enough to make an opinion on you.”

“That’s still not a satisfactory answer.” She said again. 

“Then I have nothing else to say to you.”

------

“Neala, what do you know of Caspian?” Lavinia asked her maidservant, hoping the girl could help Lavinia quiet her curious mind. She hadn’t thought of how she could help protect him, but the more she knew about him, the better.

“Prince Caspian?” She paused. “He is rather quiet and private, my lady. I am afraid I don’t know much about him. I do know that he has a lover, I believe it’s one of his men.”

“Nothing else?” She pressured Neala. “Please?”

“He dislikes-” She whispered, “The kingdom of Dracos Vos. He objected very much to Prince Valentine going there in the first place, and he has a strained relationship with his majesty the king now. They continue to disagree over his policies on Dracos Vos.”

“It seems like he doesn’t have much substance here either, or he is very good at keeping quiet.” Lavinia shook her head. “Anywho, please call Max, I wish to go see Val today. He must be waiting for me.”

-------

Lavinia sat on the bed, beside Val, with her hand in his. Valentine apparently enjoyed her company, or so he said. Lavinia liked keeping him company too. It helped keep his pain away from the pain, and it helped her take her mind off all her new worries regarding the witch and the potion.

“Anything you wish to share with me?” Val asked, wiping his sweat. His hand was cold, yet he was sweating so much. 

“Well, I will have good news soon.” Lavinia quickly got up to get a new basin of cold water and a clean towel. Dipping the towel in the water, she pressed it to his face and neck. “It will be here soon, and I promise it will fix you.”

“I know, Caspian told me,” Val said hesitantly. “Do you really think it will work?” 

Lavinia paused. “I know it will work.” She lied. It felt awful to lie, but she couldn’t take his hope from him. She needed to help him, one way or another.

Val smiled weakly. “Thank you, Fantasy. It makes me sad though, when I get better, you will leave too.”

Lavinia hadn’t even thought of that. Her mind was so clouded with Val, Max, and everything else that she had forgotten. It was almost like she had forgotten what she did in her world. She couldn’t remember at all. What would she return to? She didn’t want to go back to her world, yet she didn’t belong here either. 

“I don’t know, Val. Maybe I like it here better than my own realm.” Lavinia replied quietly. 

“Will you stay?” Val suddenly grabbed her wrist. “Please stay, Fantasy.”

“I haven’t thought about it, Val. I don’t exactly belong in this world.” She said. 

“Nonsense. You belong here as much as any of us. Please think about it. Think about us, about me.” He looked at her sadly. “We need you here.”