An hour after the lesson is over I am still in the library, reading one of the history books Nathaniel left for me. It is where Caspian finds me, curled into one of the big chairs scattered about the room. I don’t hear him come into the room so it startles me when he plucks the book from my hands.

“Come, Dove. You’ve studied enough. You’ll miss lunch if you stay here, and you already skipped breakfast.”

Instead of the dining hall, however, Caspian leads me to the gazebo, where there is a small table with our food already waiting for us.

“Are we on a date?” I ask as Caspian pushes me into a chair.

He takes a seat across from me, smirking. “Do you want to be?”

The question catches me off guard, and I stare at him unable to come up with anything to say. “We are just having lunch. Spending time together. How am I supposed to get to know you when I can’t spend time with you?” He laughs during my prolonged silence.

“We’ve been spending time together all week.” I point out.

“That was shared time.” He smiles. “I have the whole weekend now.”

“Do you have plans then?”

Caspian pushes my plate toward me, signaling for me to eat. “I do in fact have plans.” He hums after I’ve eaten a good chunk of my food. “There is a festival going on in the town and I figured you would enjoy going.”

“Wait really?” I can’t hide the excitement in my voice, bouncing a bit in my chair. I knew there was a town nearby but there hadn’t been very much of an opportunity to visit since coming to Sedalia. Getting away from the castle, even if only for a few hours, has me looking forward to the end of lunch and I begin shoveling food in my mouth.

My excitement is something that amuses Caspian greatly. Even the carriage ride is a new experience for me, and I can’t help but press my face against the glass, watching the trees pass us by as we head toward town. I glance over to see Caspian with his arms folded, watching me with a smile on his face. I grin at him before turning back to the window.

As the town comes into view my excitement peaks once again. There are a myriad of decorations that I can see even from the distance we’re at. And once we get into the town I can see it is bustling with people all over the place, stalls lined up on either side of the street. 

“Do you think anyone will recognize me?” I ask Caspian as he comes to stand by my side. I hadn’t been introduced into society yet, but I look so much like Rosedriah it wouldn’t take much for people to put two and two together.

He pulls my hood further down my head. “Keep your hood down and you will have no issues. Ready?”

At my excited nod he takes my hand, and for the next several hours allows me to drag him around town, trying every food stall I can and even plays some of the games with me. By the time it starts to get dark, and the music begins to play, we have had several drinks between the two of us, though I suspect I have had more than he has. Either that or his tolerance is a lot better than mine. I like to think I can handle my alcohol but there's no denying I am more than a little tipsy.

He leads me toward the center of town, where many of the festival goers are dancing. The band is playing some upbeat song. It doesn't look as if there is an organized dance to it, the people doing all sorts of movements. 

I look from the scene to Caspian and he pushes me a bit. “Go.” And with a grin I dash away from him, joining the crowd.

Gemma‌ ‌and‌ ‌I‌ ‌have‌ ‌been‌ ‌to‌ ‌plenty‌ ‌of‌ ‌concerts.‌ ‌I've‌ ‌done‌ ‌my‌ ‌fair‌ ‌share‌ ‌of‌ ‌dancing‌ ‌and‌ ‌laughing‌ ‌and‌ ‌public‌ ‌intoxication.‌ ‌Nothing,‌ ‌however,‌ ‌has‌ ‌ever‌ ‌come‌ ‌close‌ ‌to‌ ‌how‌ ‌I‌ ‌feel‌ ‌at‌ ‌this‌ ‌moment.‌ ‌

The‌ ‌wind‌ ‌ripples‌ ‌around‌ ‌me,‌ ‌causing‌ ‌my‌ ‌dress‌ ‌to‌ ‌billow‌ ‌out and my hood to fall off.‌ ‌I've‌ ‌never‌ ‌felt‌ ‌so‌ ‌free,‌ ‌especially‌ ‌since‌ ‌coming‌ ‌to‌ ‌Sedalia.‌ ‌No‌ ‌assassination‌ ‌attempts,‌ ‌no‌ ‌lessons,‌ ‌no‌ ‌learning‌ ‌to‌ ‌be‌ ‌Queen.‌ ‌

Carefree.‌ ‌ ‌

The‌ ‌wind‌ ‌beckons‌ ‌me‌ ‌to‌ ‌spin‌ ‌and‌ ‌so‌ ‌I‌ ‌do.‌ ‌

I‌ ‌spin‌ ‌and‌ ‌I‌ ‌dance ‌and‌ ‌I‌ ‌laugh,‌ ‌and‌ ‌I‌ ‌see‌ ‌Caspian‌ ‌leaning‌ ‌against‌ ‌a‌ ‌building,‌ ‌arms‌ ‌crossed‌ and‌ ‌a‌ ‌smile‌ ‌on‌ ‌his‌ ‌face.‌ ‌

Suddenly I want nothing more than for him to be just as happy as I am. I‌ ‌face‌ ‌him,‌ ‌holding‌ ‌out‌ ‌my‌ ‌hands.‌ ‌He‌ ‌gives‌ ‌a‌ ‌quick‌ ‌shake‌ ‌of‌ ‌his‌ ‌head,‌ ‌gesturing‌ ‌for‌ ‌me‌ to‌ ‌continue‌ ‌having‌ ‌fun‌ ‌without‌ ‌him.‌ ‌In‌ ‌response‌ ‌I‌ ‌pout,‌ ‌taking‌ ‌a‌ ‌step‌ ‌toward‌ ‌him,‌ ‌arms‌ ‌still‌ ‌outstretched.‌ ‌ ‌

He‌ ‌sighs,‌ ‌and‌ ‌then‌ ‌he‌ ‌takes‌ ‌a‌ ‌step‌ ‌toward‌ ‌me‌ ‌and‌ ‌my‌ ‌face‌ ‌lights‌ ‌up‌ ‌once‌ ‌again.‌ Caspian‌ ‌laughs,‌ ‌taking‌ ‌my‌ ‌hands‌ ‌and‌ ‌pulling‌ ‌me‌ ‌against‌ ‌him.‌ ‌My‌ ‌heart‌ ‌immediately‌ ‌slams‌ ‌in‌ ‌my‌ ‌chest‌ ‌at‌ ‌his‌ ‌smile.‌ ‌It stretches across his face, lighting up his eyes and I am entranced.

I‌ ‌tug‌ ‌my‌ ‌hands‌ ‌out‌ ‌of‌ ‌his,‌ ‌reaching‌ ‌up‌ ‌to‌ ‌cup‌ ‌his‌ ‌cheeks.‌ ‌"You're‌ ‌pretty‌ ‌when‌ ‌you‌ ‌smile."‌ ‌ ‌

Caspian ‌leans‌ ‌in. His‌ ‌mouth‌ is ‌near‌ ‌my‌ ‌ear‌ ‌so‌ ‌I‌ ‌can‌ ‌hear‌ ‌him‌ ‌over‌ ‌the‌ ‌music. "No‌ ‌more‌ ‌alcohol‌ ‌for‌ ‌you,‌ ‌Dove."‌ ‌

"I‌ ‌didn't‌ ‌even‌ ‌drink‌ ‌that‌ ‌much.‌ And you‌ ‌‌haven't‌ ‌had‌ ‌enough."‌ ‌

"I've‌ ‌had‌ more than ‌enough‌ ‌thank‌ ‌you."‌ ‌ ‌

I‌ take a step back,‌ ‌grin‌ ‌on‌ ‌my‌ ‌face.‌ ‌Another‌ ‌step‌ ‌back‌ ‌and‌ ‌I‌ ‌dip‌ ‌in‌ ‌a‌ ‌small‌ ‌curtsy, giggling.‌ ‌Caspian‌ ‌watches‌ ‌curiously‌ ‌as‌ ‌I‌ ‌dance‌ ‌around‌ ‌him,‌ ‌twirling‌ ‌until‌ ‌I'm‌ ‌breathless.‌

 He‌ ‌holds‌ ‌out‌ ‌a‌ ‌hand,‌ ‌waiting‌ ‌until‌ ‌I‌ ‌take‌ ‌it‌ ‌before‌ ‌spinning‌ ‌me‌ ‌and‌ ‌pulling‌ ‌me‌ ‌flush‌ ‌against‌ ‌him.‌ ‌My‌ ‌heart‌ ‌thumps‌ ‌again‌ ‌and‌ ‌I'm‌ ‌sure‌ ‌he‌ ‌can‌ ‌feel‌ ‌it‌ ‌this‌ ‌time.‌ ‌An‌ ‌arm‌ ‌snakes‌ ‌around‌ my‌ ‌waist.‌ ‌His‌ ‌other‌ ‌hand‌ ‌is‌ ‌still‌ ‌holding‌ ‌one‌ ‌of‌ ‌mine,‌ ‌fingers‌ ‌laced‌ ‌together.‌ ‌ ‌

"Thank‌ ‌you‌ ‌for‌ ‌bringing‌ ‌me‌ ‌here."‌ ‌

"Even‌ ‌you‌ ‌deserve‌ ‌to‌ ‌have‌ ‌some‌ ‌fun,‌ ‌Dove."‌ ‌ ‌

"Are‌ ‌you‌ ‌having‌ ‌fun?"‌ ‌

Caspian‌ ‌tightens‌ ‌his‌ ‌hold‌ ‌for‌ ‌just‌ ‌a‌ ‌moment.‌ ‌"How‌ ‌could‌ ‌I‌ ‌not‌ ‌have‌ ‌fun‌ ‌watching‌ ‌you‌ ‌be‌ ‌so‌ ‌adorable?"‌ ‌As he speaks he reaches up to pull my hood over my head once more. ‌"Go,‌ ‌enjoy‌ ‌your‌ ‌night‌ ‌Princess.‌ ‌Come‌ ‌look‌ ‌for‌ ‌me‌ ‌when‌ ‌you‌ ‌tire‌ ‌out‌ ‌and‌ ‌I‌ ‌will‌ ‌carry‌ ‌you‌ ‌home."‌ 

As the alcohol courses through me, and my energy levels begin to wane I make my way back over to Caspian, collapsing into his arms. He lifts me easily, eyebrow raised. “Ready to go home?”

“Mm.” I nod, resting my head against his chest. He doesn’t let me go, even after entering the carriage and I doze for the majority of the ride home, waking briefly as he carries me to his room. 

The coolness of the sheets wakes me even more, and I blink up at Caspian who helps me sit up.

“You need to get changed.” He says, tapping my back gently. My response is to groan and attempt to flop back onto the bed, too drunk and sleepy to care about changing clothes. Besides, we were in his room and it was likely far too late to call for Daphne to bring me my sleeping gown.

Caspian simply tsks, pulling me back up. “C’mon Dove. Sleeping in a dress surely cannot be comfortable.” 

“Nooo.” I whine, weakly pushing him away. 

Thankfully he doesn’t seem annoyed. In fact, there is amusement in his voice as he says, “If you don’t get changed I’ll have to undress you myself.”

“I don’t care! Sleep.” 

He chuckles, tucking my hair behind my shoulder and leaves me to go to his closet. A moment later he returns, pushing a shirt of his into my hands. His scent invades my senses and I pout up at him, wanting nothing more than to curl into the smell and sleep. “C’mon.” Caspian pulls me out of bed, making sure I am steady on my feet before quickly undressing me quickly and tugging the shirt over my head. It falls to my thighs, making me look as if I am playing dress-up. His scent washes over me and I am in his bed before I know it, burrowing into his covers.

He disappears into his closet, presumably to change clothes himself, and seems surprised when he comes back out to see I am still awake.

“You need to sleep, Dove.”

I hold out my arms, and he watches me for a moment before shaking his head. "I will sleep on the couch."

A frown forms on my lips at his rejection. My arms suddenly feel heavy and I let them fall to bed, gripping his covers. "Please?" I whisper, no longer looking at him.

Caspian gives a soft "fine" and I can't help the content sigh when he climbs onto the bed and pulls me against him.

Though I fall asleep fairly quickly, I don’t stay asleep for long. 

For the third time I am having the nightmare. I seem to jump straight into the worst of it, already surrounded by flames. My chest hurts, the smoke invading my lungs and forcing me to try and cough it out to no avail. Once more I am searching for an exit, trying my hardest to ignore Philip’s taunting voice. The smoke brings tears to my eyes, and me to my knees, and I can only pray I wake up quickly.

Then the dream turns into something different. Caspian’s voice rings out, bringing fresh panic into my chest. He’s yelling something, it’s hard to make out exactly what. What I can hear, though, is my name, over and over.

There is a fresh panic. And uncertainty of whether Caspian is in the cabin with me, or on the outside. 

This time I am being shaken awake, my eyes flying open to meet Caspian’s worried face. Despite the dream being cut short that feeling of terror is heavy on me. “Outside.” I gasp, reaching out to grip Caspian’s shirt. “Please.”

Without a word Caspian gathers me in his arms, lifting me out of bed. I don’t realize I’m crying until the cold air hits my cheeks. Caspian holds me close and I press my face into his chest, taking deep breaths.

“That same nightmare as before?” Caspian’s voice is gentle.

“Yes. You were there this time, though. I couldn’t see you but I could hear you. I didn’t know if you were burning with me or...or…”

“You think I would set you on fire?”

“No.” While that had been a fear of mine, hearing him ask that, and the resolution with which I answered solidified that I trusted Caspian. He would do nothing to harm me. I look up at him, and he bumps his forehead against mine.

“Have you told your grandmother about these dreams?”

“No.” I shake my head. “I figured they were just bad dreams. Stress or nerves or something.”

Caspian is carrying me back into the room, setting me on the bed before going back to close the balcony doors. “It may be worth talking to her about, Dove. You have witch blood in you. The dreams may not just be dreams.”

“You mean they could be premonitions?”

“It is a possibility.” Caspian returns to the bed, wrapping his arms around me once more, his hand resting on the small of my back. My heart is thundering in my chest at the thought of someone, of Philip, not only trapping me in a room with no way out but trying to set me on fire.

“Someone wants to kill me?”

“You are next in line for the throne, it is a high possibility. Calm down, Dove.” He is rubbing my back. “If the wolfsbane is anything to go by, they have already tried once. I hope that one attempt is the end of it but we cannot be sure.”

I play with the buttons on Caspian's shirt, frown on my lips. He is right, whoever wanted me gone had already attempted once with the wolfsbane. I sincerely hope my dreams were just that, dreams, and not a vision of the future.

Burning to death isn't something I'm too keen on happening. 

Caspian's hand on mine stills my fidgeting and interrupts my thoughts.

"Is this going to become a habit?"

I look up at him, confused. "What do you mean?"

He gestures with his free hand toward the bed. "You, sleeping in my bed."

"Wha--" I feel my face grow hot. "You brought me here!"

"I had every intention of sleeping on my couch. You insisted I lay here with you."

"That's not fair I was drunk!" I protest, attempting to pull away from him. 

He's laughing, though he releases his hold on my hand. "Should I go now that you are sober?"

"No." I huff, gripping his shirt once more. Aside from the fact that I actually enjoy having his warmth next to me while I sleep, I feel much less panicked when I wake from a nightmare with him beside me. I am unsure if it will become a habit, but I do know it's one I don't mind having.

Caspian rolls onto his side, throwing an arm around my waist and pulling me against him. He's still chuckling as he says, "get some rest, Dove."