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𝐀 𝐋𝐀𝐘𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐅 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐇𝐋𝐘 𝐅𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐍 𝐒𝐍𝐎𝐖 𝐂𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐃 the Narnian landscape and grew ever thicker while the snowflakes whirled in an endless manner out of the grey sky.

An icy wind blew through Cair Paravel, the torches on the walls being unable to drive back the continuous cold streaming out of the destroyed throne room. The shards of glass sticking out of the snow covered floor were overlain with ice crystals and though the King forbade everyone from entering the arched hall for their own safety, the thought of entering the throne room ever again never even crossed the minds of the Lords and Ladies. As soon as the weather had allowed them, the nobles had packed their stuff and returned to their homeland.

Noelle, however, had put it off as long as she could, a part of her wanted to stay and help the King trying to figure out what was going on.

'Come along, Noelle,' her father spoke over his shoulder, his footsteps and voice muted by the tapestries decorating the hallway. 'We are leaving this cursed land far behind us.'

Noelle's eyes wandered over the displays hanging next to her, and she halted in her pace when she came across Aslan's resurrection. She could feel the lion's majesty even through the woven strings of the tapestry.

She pulled the blanket a bit tighter around her shoulders (the thin fabric of her dress was meant for summer's circumstances and not this unexpected start of winter) and she took a deep breath.

'I am not coming, I want to stay,' Noelle said, making the decision that felt right in her heart. She knew she was meant for more than her sheltered life back in Archenland.

Lord Orchraid froze for a moment but then spun around on his heels, his purple cloak whirling around his black boots. 'I think I must have misheard you. You want to stay?'

Noelle nodded as she didn't trust her voice, afraid it would shake. She had never gone against the wishes of her father before; usually she was quiet and reserved, like she was expected to be as a Lady, but if she had to do this for another nineteen years, she would go mad.

Seeing her best friend Darkan again after four years had sparked a fire in her that she didn't know had died out after his desertion. Noelle's life had been much more interesting and fun when he had been around, and she knew she would regret it the rest of her life if she didn't follow his example right now. He'd be the first in line to aid the Narnian King wherever he could, and so would she.

Lord Orchraid let out a short chuckle. 'That's funny. I almost believed you. Now, come, before the castle gets engulfed into another snow storm.'

'No, father,' Noelle said, mustering all of her courage. 'I mean it. Narnia is our ally, we cannot leave them when they need us most.'

Lord Orchraid's light eyes burned dangerously. 'Have you not heard the lion's roar? Aslan abandoned them and word travels fast. It will not be long before Narnia is plunged into another war, and Archenland will not be caught in the middle of it.'

'Father,' Noelle pleaded but she gasped for air when her father crossed the distance between them at a terrifying speed and his fingers curled in a painful grasp around her wrist.

He yanked at her arm, forcing her to walk and tears filled her eyes as she stumbled over her own feet. The blanket glided off her shoulders while she tried to free her wrist with her other hand, but he was too strong for her.

'You are hurting me,' Noelle said with a suppressed sob. She had never seen this side of her father before and it terrified her.

A figure suddenly rushed to her side and with the extra pair of hands, her wrist was freed within seconds and Noelle rubbed over her sore skin, tears still stinging in her eyes. Her vision was a bit fuzzy but then she recognized Darkan while Lord Orchraid bristled with fury as he turned around.

'Don't ever touch her like that again,' Darkan said in a low voice.

'She is my daughter,' the Lord spat, 'she should obey me.' He looked Darkan up and down, and the realization dawned over his face.

'You,' Lord Orchraid growled, and Darkan pushed Noelle farther behind him when the Lord unsheathed his sword, the metallic sound ringing through the air.

'You should get hanged like the deserter you are, but pierced with a sword would suffice as well.'

Without warning, the Lord swung his sword towards Darkan's side who narrowly ducked underneath the blow.

Noelle screamed when she saw the sword skimming over his head, only inches away from being lethal.

Lord Orchraid brought up his knee and with a sickening crack it collided with Darkan's face.

Darkan's head flew backwards and he fell on the floor with a grunt, blood streaming out of his nose.

'No!' Noelle screamed when her father raised his sword above his head, ready to bring it down, and she sprinted towards him. She grabbed the hilt of the sword as well, using all her might to prevent him from killing Darkan.

'Stop! In the name of the King!' a voice shot through the air just when Lord Orchraid roughly shoved his daughter aside. She smacked harshly against the wall and fell in a tangled mess on the floor.

The Lord's eyes flickered between the guard and Darkan, but then he set his jaw, and swung down the sword.

Darkan shut his eyes. . . yet, the deathly blow never came.

Slowly, he opened one eye again and noticed another sword only inches away from his face, preventing the Lord's sword from striking him.

King Caspian brought up his sword and Lord Orchraid stumbled back by the sudden force.

'What is the meaning of this?' the King demanded to know, and the Lord slid his sword back in the scabbard at his side.

'This boy is a deserter of Anvard's army, his blood belongs to Archenland,' Lord Orchraid said, pointing an accusing finger at Darkan who carefully felt his broken nose.

Caspian glanced over his shoulder, down on the raven-haired Archenlander as Noelle slowly moved towards her friend over the floor. She ripped a piece of her dress, pressing it under his nose to help stop the bleeding.

'Perhaps,' Caspian said, weighing off his words. 'But you're both my guests in this castle. This young man is under my protection. Killing him here would be an act of war. Do you want to cross that line, my Lord?'

Lord Orchraid hesitated for a moment before he bowed. 'No, Your Highness.'

'I thought so,' Caspian said, putting away his sword as well. 'But I suggest you leave before I decide you have violated my hospitality and have you imprisoned.'

'Me?' Lord Orchraid sputtered offended. 'This vagabond attacked me first, he should be the one punished!'

'From where I was standing, you were the one about to kill an unarmed man, my Lord. Now, leave. I will not ask again.'

Lord Orchraid gritted his teeth before sticking out his hand with a sharp movement. 'Come, Noelle. We are leaving.'

Caspian turned to her with a raised eyebrow, but she frantically shook her head and he focussed on the Lord again, his hand reaching for the hilt at his side. With a nod of his head, the guard followed the King's example and for a few heartbeats nothing happened.

Noelle's blood rushed between her ears as she stared at her father, scared for what he might do. She started to feel lightheaded ─ not realizing she was holding her breath ─ but then he stormed off with long strides.

Caspian's shoulders relaxed and with a small smile he offered Noelle a hand which she gladly took. The right side of her body throbbed painfully from the fall, and Caspian pulled her effortlessly back on her feet while the guard hauled Darkan up by grabbing him under his shoulders.

'Are you both alright?' Caspian asked, and Noelle curtsied.

'We are now, Your Majesty. You came just in time.' She glanced at Darkan who still seemed more concerned about his nose, and she elbowed him in his side.

'Wha─,' he started before noticing her curtsy and he quickly bowed as well.

Caspian smiled. 'Please, there is no need for formalities now. Let's get you to the court physician, but I'd like to know for whom I risk a conflict with Archenland?'

Noelle and Darkan answered with their names and started telling what had happened as Caspian showed them the way to the physician.

However, as they walked over the slippery courtyard, Caolán sprinted in their direction. His hair was wet from the snow and he skidded into a halt in front of the King, causing the snow to fly up and landing in a cold wave against their clothes.

Caolán gasped for air, putting a hand in his side and waved with the other in the direction of the orchard.

'Yes, Caolán?' Caspian asked, but the boy needed another few breaths before he could say something.

'Your Highness,' he said between jagged gasps. 'The Kings and Queens of Old are here.'

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𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓:

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