viii

For the past month, Ophelia has been trained on being a royal. Many hours of learning on how to sit up straight, walking as if she were gliding. Many other boring lessons. When her father called her into his study one night and told her that he was hosting a party so the other kingdoms knew about her betrothal and that she was back, Ophelia was more than happy.

"Does this mean I don't have to sit in another boring tea party with some of the girls here?" Ophelia asked, causing Abraxas and Caspian both to try - and fail - to hold in their laughter. Ophelia rolled her eyes, but let the smile break across her face.

"I'm serious!" She exclaimed between a fit of giggles. "All of those girls are like "Oh, if Prince Gerald knew who I was, he wouldn't want to marry anybody else!" and so many other pointless things."

Caspian released another laugh as Abraxas was finally able to stifle his laughter. "Ophelia. Yes, you don't have to sit through another one of those tea parties. In all honesty, I fully believe that they are pointless and that you should learn how to defend yourself."

Ophelia smiled and nodded. "I don't like tea parties." Caspian chuckles and shakes his head. Abraxas looks through some papers before looking back up and staring at the both of them. "Caspian, I want you to train Eli."

Caspian and Ophelia - both of which were holding a conversation - looked at Abraxas. Caspian nodded and bowed his head before turning his head to the side and smiled at Ophelia. "Thank you, dad." Ophelia said after a few moments.

---

"I'm going to show you some basic stances." Caspian said, walking around Ophelia with his hands laced behind his back. After Abraxas had dismissed them, Csapian had told Ophelia to meet him in the training yard after she had gotten into more appropriate clothing.

"First, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart." Caspian watched as Ophelia moved her feet. "Like this?" She looked at her feet, before looking up at Caspian. He moved her feet by gently tapping them with his own before nodding. "Now, we're going to do a very basic move."

Ophelia kept falling, tripping over her own feet or losing balance because of the complicated footwork that she couldn't get down. She had a dirt smudge on her cheek and Caspian was almost falling over with laughter.

"It's good to know that I'll win by making my opponent laugh to death." Ophelia smiled at Caspian, rolling her eyes when he released another laugh. "You... you're not wrong." Caspian finally said, breathlessly. "C'mon, I know I'm no good." Ophelia pouted, crossing her arms over her chest.

Caspian suddenly became serious, walking slowly towards Ophelia. She knit her eyebrows together, cocking her head to the side. "What're you doing?"

Caspian didn't respond. He just walked forward, slowly moving to stand behind her. "You can do this." He whispered lowly, spinning her around and forcing her hands into fists. "Even if you only learn how to punch correctly. That's better than not being able to defend yourself."

"Ophelia? What in the Devil's name are you doing?" A shrill voice caught her attention, causing her to stiffen and go wide-eyed. She became as still as a deer caught in headlights. Delancy, Ophelia's teacher, and the group of Teaparty Gossipers were walking past when they saw Ophelia with Caspian.

"You're late for your lessons!" Delancy cried. The other girls sneered and giggled among one another, eyeing her and swooning over Caspian.

That made Ophelia seethe with jealousy.

Caspian bowed stiffly to Delancy. "With all due respect, madame, Your Majesty gave Ophelia permission to abandon those lessons until further notice."

Delancy looked ready to pass out, but walked briskly away, yelling for the girls to follow. Ophelia and Caspian looked to one another before bursting out in laughter.

"I thought both of us were going to be goners." Ophelia said, breathing in a deep breath. That's when Ophelia heard it. The low sound of crying. She perked up and Caspian noticed.

"Darling, what's wrong?" He stood closer to her side, looking around protectively. "You don't... hear that?" Ophelia took a cautious step towards the noise. "Hear what?" Caspian asked, reaching to grab her hand.

"The crying."

Caspian looked around before turning back towards Ophelia. "There's no one here, Darling. Just us."

Slowly, Ophelia shook her head and called out. "Who's there?" The crying stopped suddenly, causing Ophelia to back away slowly. Everything became still, too still. Ophelia turned around and faced Caspian when something grabbed her wrist and yanked her forward.

She landed against Caspian's chest, hands splayed across it. Ophelia looked up as Caspian looked around, wrapping his arm around her shoulders protectively. "Caspian, the crying's louder now."

Ophelia ducked underneath Caspian's arm and slowly walked towards the sound, pulling Caspian by his hand to follow. "Hello?" Ophelia called out, cautiously searching through the courtyard for anybody.

I'm not going crazy. I am not going crazy.

Ophelia kept chanting to herself until Caspian tugged on her wrist. "Darling, I don't see anybody, nor do I hear crying." Ophelia turned and faced him.

"I hear someone..." I am crazy.

Ophelia closed her eyes and rushed from the courtyard, Caspian following her.

"Where are you going?" Caspian asked, easily catching up with her. "I'm going and asking my father about this." Ophelia said, with a linear view of speaking with Abraxas.

"Woah, woah. Eli, it might not be anything." Caspian grabbed her shoulders and looked her in the eyes. "I don't want you to be hurt." Ophelia tilted her head. "You don't want me hurt?" Caspian pursed his lips, knowing exactly where this was going. He stepped to the side and held out his arm.

"I'm sorry for blocking your path, Darling. Continue."

Ophelia looked at him, eyebrows tucked together. "Are you coming with?" Caspian nodded once. "If that's what you'd like."

Ophelia nodded and grabbed his hand, pulling him towards Abraxas' study. "Dad!" Ophelia called once she got to his study, only to discover that he wasn't there. Ophelia looked around. "Where is he?" She spun and faced Caspian.

"Do you know where he is?"

Caspian shook his head. "I didn't know he had anything to do."

<i>But I'm sure I know exactly what he's doing. </i>