vii

"There's not much wrong with her, Your Majesty," The nurse said, pulling Abraxas away from where Ophelia was lying in a hospital bed. "Her vocal chords are irritated and inflamed. She's lucky, she has very little damage to the lining of her vocal chords."

"Good, good. What about her wrist?" He asked, glancing at his daughter. "It's frostbitten. An ointment will be applied daily until it heals." The nurse bowed and turned to apply the ointment to Ophelia's wrist. Abraxas followed behind her, sitting on the opposite side of where the nurse had set up.

"Ophelia?" Abraxas said, low. "Hmm?" Ophelia hummed, rolling onto her back to look up at her father. "Is everything okay, dad?" Abraxas nodded. "I just have some questions."

Ophelia nodded. "Of course. What do you need to know?" Before Abraxas could start asking questions, Caspian walked in. "Perseus and the female have been locked away. The female has been put into a warmer part of the dungeon. She won't be able to make ice. We'll give her a drug to stop her powers until the trial."

Abraxas nodded. Caspian turned to leave but Ophelia called out. "Wait. Caspian, can you stay?" Caspian tensed, turning and looking at Ophelia. Pink crept up his neck as he nodded, moving to stand beside the nurse as she finished applying the ointment.

"You're all finished, Ophelia. Do be careful while moving that wrist please." The nurse smiled sweetly at Ophelia and left, shutting the door as she walked out of the infirmary.

"What were the questions?" Ophelia turned her attention back towards Abraxas. "Who was the woman that Perseus had with him?" Caspian started, sitting where the nurse had just been. Abraxas looked over at Caspian, but ignored him. It was the question he was going to ask anyways.

"Perseus called her Yuki," Ophelia said, looking between Caspian and Abraxas as they looked at one another. "Who is she? Why are you guys having a silent conversation?" Ophelia sat up and tried to get out of the bed. Caspian grabbed her waist. "No, stay here. You've exerted a lot of energy in a small amount of time."

Caspian brushed some hair from Ophelia's face. Abraxas sighed. "I think I should go ahead and tell you this now, Eli." Ophelia looked at her dad and tilted her head. "Yea, what's up?"

"Perseus wants you because you look exactly like your mother," Abraxas started. "He was in love with her, but she was betrothed to me. He wanted Natalia because they had been really close friends growing up."

Ophelia knit her eyebrows together. "So, he's so obsessed with Mom that he'll take me as the next best thing? Only because I look like her?" Abraxas nodded. Caspian's jaw tightened.

"There's one thing: if he kidnaps you while you're betrothed, it's an automatic death sentence," Abraxas' eyes widened. "I forgot about that! My father's wife had been kidnapped before they had gotten married, and he made that a law after he had gotten her back and killed the man who kidnapped her."

"Okay, Dad. You're really scaring me." Ophelia scooted closer to Caspian. "Your mother and I talked about this, Eli. You and Caspian had been so close while you guys were growing up. It was only tossed in the air, nothing was ever made official." Abraxas started rambling, causing Ophelia to snap in front of his face.

"Dad. Where are you going with this?" Ophelia asked, eyes wide with questions.

"You and Caspian are now betrothed." Abraxas stated, looking between Caspian and Ophelia. Caspian stood up and bowed.

"I would be honored, my King, but are you sure you want me to be the one?" Caspian stood up straight and looked at Abraxas. That's the first time Ophelia and Abraxas had ever seen true worry in his eyes. It could've been easily mistaken for fear.

Abraxas nodded. "Of course. I trust you with my life, Caspian. I wouldn't want my daughter with anyone else." "Do I not get a choice?" Ophelia asked, looking between the both of them. "Not that I have anything against it, I'm just asking." Ophelia held her hands up in front of her and giggled.

"Is this what you want, Ophelia?" Caspian asked her, tenderly sitting down in front of her and holding her hands in his larger ones. Ophelia looked Caspian in the eyes, and Abraxas stood up, waiting for her response.

"Yes. I would've fought more if I didn't." Ophelia said, breaking into a smile and looked up at Abraxas.

I hope you're proud of her, Natalia. I hope you're really proud.

---

"I trust you understand why I asked you to do it." Abraxas and Caspian were standing on the balcony off of the large study. Both men stayed quiet ever since Abraxas made his announcement. "No, I don't. Why did you choose me instead of some royal prince from a neighboring kingdom?" Caspian turned and looked Abraxas in the eye. "I'm just a high-ranking guard."

Abraxas sighed and shook his head. "You're not just a high-ranking guard. You're one of the best I have, and you know my daughter. I know you'll protect her like she deserves to be protected." Caspian pursed his lips and lowered his head. "What if I don't?"

Abraxas grabbed Caspian's shoulders and spun him to face forward. "Even if you're staring death in the face, I know you will protect Ophelia with your life." Caspian nodded and stood up straight, pressing a fist over his heart.

"I promise to protect Ophelia with my life. I promise to make her as happy as I can."

Abraxas smiled and nodded. "I know you will."

---

Ophelia sat on the balcony, changed into a simple white long sleeved dress. Three crows landed around her, allowing her to pet their feathers. Her hair fell in soft ringlets around her face and shoulders.

The crow that kept hopping towards Ophelia finally mustered up enough courage to hop onto her knee. Ophelia smiled and held out her finger, letting the crow move her head towards it to get used to the human smell. Gently, Ophelia reached into the cotton sack behind her and grabbed a small handful of bird seed.

"Here you go." Ophelia smiled and held her hand towards the crow. The crow tilted her head before inching forward slowly, and finally eating some of the seeds. The other two crows flew away, startling Ophelia. The eating crow didn't move.

"I see you made a friend."

Ophelia looked to her left, noticing Caspian leaning against the railing of the balcony. He turned and looked at Ophelia sitting on the ground with a bird eating from her hand.

"Yes I have. I'm naming her Nyx." Ophelia stated matter-of-factly, standing up and walking to stand beside Caspian.

Hesitantly, Ophelia laid her head onto Caspian's shoulder. Caspian looked down at her, smiling to himself. Nyx finished the bird seed and spread her wings and flapped them, but not flying away. The bird hopped from Ophelia's hand and landed in front of Caspian before cawing.