When Caspian said garden, she didn’t think it would be a whole miniature forest instead, complete with springs and little stream flowing along the huge open area. Everything was vibrant, lively colors swimming all around her; it was almost surreal.

It was literally magical.

Never in her entire life, Natasha ever found herself in such a beautifully unblemished place. With so much darkness that tainted her past, Natasha felt as if she didn’t belong there.

“Go ahead,” the male voice behind her urged kindly, she could hear his smile in his comforting voice, “Take a look around.”

The redhead turned her attention back, her smile was almost childlike as she looked at her friend. “I’ve been here more than a year and you only think of showing me all of this…” she gestured to the whole garden, “…now?”

Caspian reached out his hand to gently cup a bright yellow flower blooming close to him. “The garden holds a special place in my heart, “ he admitted, not meeting her eyes, “I only bring my most trusted friends here.”

Natasha felt her heart melted a bit at his confession. He smiled at her benevolently. “Let’s say it’s a thank you from me for your brilliant ideas and advice. You helped me achieve so much. The school is going to be established soon and our young people are going to have more access to education–all thanks to you.”

“You are a bright spark,” Natasha smiled, walking closer to him, “I just fan the flame. You’re a good king, Caspian.”

Natasha placed a hand on his shoulder for support and planted a brief kiss to the young king’s bearded cheek before sauntering away to further explore the vast garden. Caspian froze where he stood; he never had quite felt the sensation of his stomach dropping like that ever since Queen Susan. The moment he regained his composure back, Natasha was already far ahead of him, deeper into his garden.

The king strolled a distance behind her, his hands folded behind his back as he too, took his time admiring his garden–and probably a little of his petite red head friend when she wasn’t noticing.

A couple tinkling sounds of maidens giggling echoed through the garden. Natasha had a dirty smirk etched on her face when she looked back at Caspian, who promptly raised his brow in curiosity at her rather smug expression.

“You naughty,” she dragged those words teasingly at Caspian, “How many ladies have your brought to your so called private garden?”

Catching up to what the female playfully insinuating at him, he decided to play her game. “Hundreds,” he told her with a sly smile, then he leaned down a bit and whispered dramatically, “Thousands.”

The giggling continued, and Natasha couldn’t help but imagining the most unholy thing about Caspian–Game of Thrones style Caspian.

Caspian, on the other hand, was actually pretty innocent at that. He led the female to a bank of water. “This garden doesn’t take care of itself. A few Nymphs lives here, the ones that you thought were my lovers, are there–Philia and Maia,” Natasha caught a glimpse of two water-like figure, but as soon as she saw them, they jumped into the water. “They’re the water nymphs. There are two more dryads too, but they too, are shy. Even towards me.”

“My King! I bring news from the scout of Narrowhaven’s delegation.”

Natasha recognize the faraway voice as the one that belonged to Urnus, the faun who was Trumpkin's personal assistant. Hearing this, Caspian’s eyes lit up.

“Lord Bern's emissaries. They're early.”

“Go, so I can have this place all by myself,” Natasha urged him with a smile. She knew that Caspian had long awaited the coming of Lord Bern from Lonely Islands to further strengthen the peace and the reconnection that Caspian had reestablished since two years ago.

The dark haired young man gave Natasha a grin–one that he reserved only around his friends. “I’ll be back.”

The news in which Urnus bear was of the coming of Lord Bern's emissaries in less than 2 nights out. After tending the preparation of his guests' coming, Caspian returned to the garden a while later, finding the most unexpected scene of the normally reserved, red haired woman he called friend, dancing, along with the Dryads.

***

Ever since the coming of the emissaries of Narrowhaven, Caspian's time was occupied that the man had barely enough time to take a break. Thus, the king hadn’t come to visit Professor Cornelius and Natasha for a few days now.

But as per Natasha's mission, she somehow had to keep her eye on the young king, even from afar. Tonight, towering over the high window of the great dining hall, she watched as Caspian, with golden crown on his head and a kingly attire about him, host another grand dinner for his guests. Caspian seemed to be enjoying himself; so were Drinian and Trufflehunter–but not Trumpkin.

The red-haired dwarf sat stoically, not quite enjoying the crowd.

Natasha leaned against the large window sill, unseen, casually eating the assorted peanuts that she shared with Tilly who perched comfortably at the window sill nearby.

“I don’t like this. This crowd. These strangers living in our castle,” Natasha murmured as she chewed some peanuts with a crunch.

The midnight blue lovebird flew and landed on Natasha's left shoulder. “Why? They seem like a fun crowd. When else are we going to see a fire breather?”

Natasha chuckled. “They do know how to party, don’t they?” she commented as she watched the party of the Narrowhaven's emissaries brought along with them a group of fire breather just to impress Caspian and his officials with their culture.

And by the looks of it, they were impressed, for that kind of trick was new to them.

But not the redhead.

“So what are they mostly talking about Tilly?” wondered Natasha.

“You think I don’t know that you made me spying on them? I’m pretty sure it’s illegal,” accused the female bird with the deep voice.

“You think listening to the gossip from the ladies of the court is not illegal?” countered Natasha as she popped more peanuts into her mouth.

“Haha. Very funny,” Tilly snorted.

“So?”

“Lord Bern is very sick,” Tilly disclosed, “They’ve been trying to discuss about the position of the Governor of Narrowhaven. The emissaries are pretty pushy about having his majesty to appoint a successor since Lord Bern has no descendants.”

“Mmm… Now that’s juicy,” nodded the avenger. “Who are they vouching for?”

“Another lord named Teshran. He thicc. That tight breeches didn’t help,” sighed Tilly dreamily.

A chuckled at Tilly's comment. Lord Teshran, was indeed good looking, and from the looks of it was quite a ladiesman too. Already Natasha could see some of the ladies of the court eyeing him.

“What does his majesty do with that request? Him as the governor?”

“Undecided.”

“That’s good I think. He doesn’t know who this Thicc Teshran is yet,” teased Natasha, causing the female bird to giggle. “Besides, Lord Bern is sick, he’s not dead. Something’s fishy here. Politics always are fishy.”

“I like fish too.”

“Well since you like Lord Teshran so much, Tilly, would you keep an eye of him?” she offered her the rest of the snacks that she had for Tilly, “Please?”

“As long as you keep the peanuts coming.”

“You got it.”

After bidding Tilly goodbye and watched the bird flew happily home, the avenger climbed down the high walls easily, jumping over window sills and slipped into her room through her own window soundlessly.

Once inside, she unarmed herself and changed into her sleeping gown. She laid her head on the pillow and slipped her hand under it, feeling her knife tugged securely underneath.

With a sigh, Natasha closed her eyes and tried to sleep. That night, unlike her other peaceful nights in Narnia, her dream was restless. In the middle of the night, she heard a deep, timbre voice that belonged to Aslan, calling her name. Then a mighty roar that shook the ground in which shot her eyes open.

***

[Author's Note: Review? Fun fact, Natasha was also trained in Bolshoi Ballet during her Black Widow training. So, any premonition of what might come next? Theories are welcome.]