A/N – Is anyone still there? Well here I am and here is the new chapter, guys! Its extra long but that doesn't make up for my horrid absence, even though it should soften the blow a bit I think xD. Anyway, here is the latest installation to Infallible. Enjoy and please let me know what you think!

Infallible

Chapter Five – A Tempestuous Sea

Early afternoon brought with it bright sunlight and the gulls calling on the wind. Lucy relished in the breeze and the familiar salty sweet air as she wandered out onto a sweeping balcony, having left Caspian, Edmund and Hadrian to their lunch. She'd had little appetite since their rough arrival, and much preferred to admire the sea from her sunny perch.

She'd been able to get rid of her skirt in favor of tan breeches and a jade green blouse, cinched at the waist by a thick leather belt. Oh, how she'd missed wearing breeches! She had half a mind to burn her former clothes. Maybe a bonfire? She mused, and immediately amended that a bonfire was indeed necessary. Just the thought of dancing around the flames as she did so long ago sent a thrill thudding through her veins.

The quiet let her begin to grasp what had happened in the last few hours. One, she'd dropped from the sky and into Narnia, a fact she could hardly believe or even begin to describe the elation it caused. Wind tossed her hair and she grinned in delight. She hadn't realized exactly how much she'd missed it. There was an unabashed freedom that had come upon her, a lightness of spirit she'd not had for years.

Number two, she'd challenged not only Caspian, but his entire personal guard to a race on horseback. And then subsequently won said race. Now that is an accomplishment, I think. One that will prove I'm to be respected and that I'm unafraid to stand before them. Pride swelled in her chest. The unattainable woman she feared she could never be was budding inside her, threatening to break free; the cold chains she'd kept over herself while in England were crumbling at her feet.

Fact number three, Caspian was absolutely delicious. And judging by the way his eyes strayed to her, the appreciation was mutual. Okay, so we made eye contact a few times, nothing to get too excited about Lucy. She cautioned herself. But honestly though, could his pants be any more formfitting? She snorted and crossed her arms.

Lucy turned her attention to her view, which was so vastly breathtaking that she was certain she could spend every day of her life there without a single regret. Sunlight shone blindingly brilliant on the waves that beat against the shore, and on the magnificently sculpted towers and battlements. The emerald green flags flew high and adamant, declaring proudly that this castle and all its grandeur was the Kingdom of Narnia. Her heart soared in the whipping wind, unchained and free as the wheeling gulls above her.

Fingers drifted across the marble railing. Here, she knew she would be Queen Lucy the Valiant and nothing less. It rang clear in her blood like a bell, vibrating deep into her bones. She sighed in contentment and closed her eyes.

0-0-0-0-0

Caspian wasn't quite sure when she'd slipped away, but when he found Lucy he nearly felt as though he'd been intruding on something bordering on intimate. He allowed himself a moment to simply observe her.

Hands rested tentatively on the railing, shoulders lifted up and head tilted back while the wind blew in her golden brown hair. She was radiant, luminous and fierce. He could barely see her closed eyes from his angle, but the unadulterated wildness in her face and in her very being left him speechless. It reminded him of the trees and nature; the very essence of an untainted wilderness coupled with the capability of being both inviting and perilous within mere moments of one another.

A thought came upon him, and the veracity of it sent a thrill through his veins. If there was ever a living incarnate of Narnia, she would be it. Caspian felt a heady need stir in his belly, an ache that he quickly shoved aside. Alright Caspian, perhaps now isn't the time. He mumbled to himself.

"If I'd known you'd prefer the balcony over my company I would have just lead you here earlier." He said lightly, annoyed with himself when his voice came out a little huskier than he intended.

Lucy turned slightly toward him, seemingly not alarmed at his presence.

Well crap. I hope she didn't know I was there the whole time. Now I definitely look creepy. Great. Caspian leaned against the archway leading back into the palace, observing her with dark eyes.

She laughed; a high note that carried on the wind and danced in his ears. "Caspian, if I didn't like your company, trust me you would know by now." Was her voice an octave lower, or was that his imagination? "Besides, I haven't been here for five years. It's… Indescribable, being able to see this again." She sighed happily.

Turning, she leaned backwards against the railing and crossed her arms. In that moment Caspian realized two things: One, Lucy Pevensie was sharp, and most definitely sharper even than any blade in his armory. Two, she was decidedly observing him just as keenly as he was her. He could see a perceptive glint in her stares. Also three, I think her eyes get bluer every time I look at them. At this Caspian abandoned his hopeless train of thought with a shake of his head.

"Is your world so much different?" He asked curiously. Not once had he ever heard anything of her and Edmund's world. He watched her eyes take on a faraway look. She looked forlorn for less than a moment before the expression was gone.

Lucy took a few steps toward him, her arms still crossed. "There is no magic in that world. It's hard to explain, Caspian. Perhaps I could tell you more thoroughly about it after Edmund and I get settled in?" She had no real wish to explain the cold, desolate world she'd come from, but she understood his curiosity. Some small part of her wanted to know how he would react to it all.

"No magic at all?" Caspian asked dubiously, half distracted by the way her hair whipped around her as she approached him. "But how—", He cut himself off. "Right, I'll eagerly wait hearing more." He grinned and stood straight while brushing his tunic off, noticing how much shorter she was than he. In some dark, closeted part of his brain he was immensely pleased at her short stature.

She giggled. "Well then Caspian, have you any great adventure planned for us today? A grand tour perhaps?" Her eyes glittered with excitement and he realized she was just as enthused to see the palace as he was to show it to her.

Nearby someone cleared their throat, and Caspian found Edmund and Hadrian both standing shoulder-to-shoulder, an amused quirk on their lips. Strangely similar he thought. Lucy raised an eyebrow at them.

"Is there a problem, boys?" She asked, cocking one hip to the side.

Oh, Lucy you are a woman after my own heart. Caspian grinned as their amusement faltered.

"Of course not, My Lady." Hadrian demurred, quickly making eye contact with Caspian. He'd known Hadrian for years, and he definitely knew mirth when he saw it in his Captain's eyes.

"Good to hear it, Hadrian. Well, I've heard that Caspian plans to take us on a tour around Cair Paravel, shall we go?" Lucy sidled up to Edmund, her shoulder leaning toward him.

"Actually, Lu, I think Hadrian was going to show me the armory and the barracks." Edmund bumped her shoulder gently. "We'll meet you at dinner. " His stoic response didn't faze Lucy in the slightest, and she nodded happily.

"Your Majesties." Hadrian bowed at the waist before leading Edmund on with a gesture of his hand.

Lucy curtsied with a saucy grin on her lips, and Hadrian smiled back.

"I do believe Reepicheep has left us for the time being." In truth, he'd left not long after lunch, off to take care of informing some of his other council of the recent events. He offered Lucy his arm while gazing at her from under his lashes. "Shall we?"

She grasped his arm with a gentle hand, and Caspian would be damned if her blue eyes got just a little bluer.

0-0-0-0-0

Hadrian was not a man of many words. This was acceptable for Edmund, who spoke only when he felt it was needed. They made their way quietly through the armory, stopping only when Edmund wished to inspect something more thoroughly. He silently cataloged Hadrian's features and began to analyze him. His short white-blond hair tapered slightly above his forehead. Heavy brows shadowed icy blue eyes that Edmund was sure scared the piss out of any recruit witless enough to sass him. A silvery white scar dragged across his left cheekbone and ended on the bridge of his nose. His mouth naturally turned down into a scowl, but there were hints of laugh lines in the corners of his eyes.

Edmund had learned quickly growing up that one need only observe to learn a man's darkest secrets. They spilled and tumbled out not only in body language, but posture, tone, and even in the way eye contact was made. And Edmund, well, he had a keener eye than most. Hmph. Not even Peter could lie to me when he was upset. Keener eye indeed. He harrumphed to himself and continued his discreet observation.

Shoulders brought high but tilting inward just the slightest degree, eyes flicking occasionally in his own direction, spine ramrod straight; and if he listened carefully he could hear Hadrian's boots hitting the tiles harder than he thought was warranted for a man of his size. He and Edmund were fairly close in both height and build, but he knew that not even his own adept skill with a sword would be lost against Hadrian, rusty as it was.

He was wary of Edmund, threatened even if he did not consciously realize it. Edmund pondered this silently and they continued on.

"Have you many castles like this where you come from, Your Majesty?" Hadrian ventured sounding uneasy but tentative all the same. Suspicious.

"I am not your Majesty, Lord Hadrian." Edmund said plainly, planting his feet on the hard marble beneath him and crossing his arms. He'd understood quickly. "Your Majesty is King Caspian, and I have not the intention of changing that fact."

Silence drew thickly between them while Hadrian scoured his face for deceit. Finally he shifted his weight backward and onto his right foot. Edmund noticed with slight amusement that Hadrian stood squarely in the light of a window, and it illuminated a patch of freckles laid haphazardly across his cheeks. Women must fall all over themselves at his feet.

"I believe you." Hadrian relented with a gusty sigh.

Edmund extended his arm for Hadrian to clasp with his own, and smiled slightly when the man did so heartily. "Perhaps we should make sure my sister hasn't gotten Caspian into any trouble?" He remarked dryly.

Hadrian chuckled and they started their walk anew. "If there's trouble to be found, Caspian is usually ass-deep in it by the time I'm called to clean it up."

Edmund snorted, surprised by his own mirth. "It's exhausting, isn't it? Running about worrying your days away, only to find that despite all of your careful precautions that they've somehow ignored every single thing you've ever warned them about." There was fond irritation in his eyes.

"And that they still refuse to listen after it's all said and done?" Hadrian grumbled with an exasperated gesture of his hand.

Edmund grunted an affirmation and they moved on toward the battlements, a friendly ease spreading between them.

0-0-0-0-0

Several hours later found Lucy leading Caspian through one of the many corridors, much to his surprise. She was marveling at the halls, the rooms, and they'd been waylaid by the library for at least an hour. All in all, Caspian was having the best day he'd had in a quite some time. "Although I know we recreated the castle as best we could, I didn't think you'd know it this well." He admitted, an amused smile curving his lips as he locked his hands together behind his back. He found just watching Lucy react to her surroundings was an adventure in itself.

"Oh, hush Caspian. I lived in Cair Paravel for decades!" Lucy cast a glance at him over her shoulder with a wink, waving a hand at him to hurry up. Suddenly he remembered her ferocity after he'd offered her a gift of her choosing. She'd seemed almost insulted. Perhaps a bit ungrateful or perhaps I have no knowledge of her aims. I thought of it as she wished to prove herself. Years of dealing with the other ladies of court were wasted here, and he was glad of it. He relished a challenge. Caspian reminded himself that she had actually ruled Narnia for years longer than he, and vowed to keep that in mind.

He was content to follow her, his eyes straying maybe once or twice to her hips. I never claimed to be a strong man. I hope. "Forgive my grievous oversight, My Lady." He said offhandedly, flourishing his hand in an over-exaggerated bow.

She laughed loudly and clearly, and the sound carried throughout the fairly abandoned corridors. A few servants bustled around, either pushing metal carts laden with trays, bedding, and other various things. All of them paused and bowed deeply to their King and newly returned Queen with small smiles on their otherwise somber faces.

The halls were adorned with incredibly detailed tapestries, and The Stone Table was her particular favorite. Aslan rose above the cracked rubble, silhouetted in shimmering gold. Two girls flanked him, both with eyes of deep blue. The one portrayed as Susan stood taller and darker; her own portrayal had hair as bright as Aslan's mane. Susan held a bow in one hand, and she her red cordial. It was quite the experience to see herself in such a lavish tapestry, and it sent shivers of nostalgia flowing through her.

Lucy noted that aside from the servants there weren't many people in the castle at all; at least that's how it had seemed to her eyes. In the original Cair Paravel, it was a constant rush of people from one place to another. She quickened her pace and hoped against the odds that she was correct in guessing the location of her favorite balcony. It was the farthest reaching tower of the castle, located at the very tip of the cliffs. When stood upon it, she nearly felt as though she'd drop right into the sea from its precarious height.

"Are we almost there, Lucy?" Caspian murmured, suddenly much closer than she remembered. His voice rasped pleasantly in her ear. He could say her name for eons.

She rolled her eyes and ignored the warm tingle in her belly. Now he's just being an ass. Was it really necessary to lean that close to my ear? I could practically feel his breath on my skin… Wait. That wasn't where this thought was supposed to go. Was it?

Choosing to ignore her wild hormones for the time being, she danced away and through a nearby doorway. She had a King to interrogate.

Elated at the sheer coincidence, Lucy grasped the railing and looked down. Heights absolutely delighted her. The rocky cliffs gave way to thundering waves that she followed to the darkening horizon. "This is it." She breathed, chancing a glance to Caspian behind her. Now she could assert herself.

Periwinkle curtains framed the open doorway that led onto the large balcony. Light from a small lantern made the balcony seem warm and inviting. She turned completely toward him and her eyebrows dipped. "Now, I'd much appreciate it if you could explain to me what you meant by your boon." Her voice was steel and silk all at once, a dangerous cadence that rang in his ears, both tempting and dangerous.

Caspian met her bright eyes with a guarded one of his own. His left hand drifted to his hip and propped itself there. Waves crashed below. He was surprised that she'd brought it up, though upon further thought he should have expected it sooner rather than later. "While I only wished to give to you what was rightfully yours for winning the race, I do admit that the effect it will have on the people is somewhat different." He watched her face carefully.

Lucy remained impassive. "And how would that be?" She thought it to be something relating to some sort of bothersome social protocol, and she had no aims for providing any sort of guidelines on a 'lady' and her behavior.

Caspian looked almost sheepish under her gaze for the tiniest of moments. "It could have been perceived by them that I was placing a claim over you, of sorts." Her eyes became thunderous. "Which I wasn't, mind you." He added hastily, a slight whorl of dread forming in his stomach. If I survive this I might like to, though. Is that masochistic?

She crossed her arms. Well that's never a good sign. Lucy paced to one side of the balcony. "While your primitive claim is unappreciated,"—ouch—"and the ramifications could lead to all sorts of court ladies declaring their undying hatred of me and a few random lords trying to fight this 'claim', I cannot say that it was entirely unwelcome." Lucy finished softly and cocked a hip out before turning back to the waves.

Caspian was a smart man. But perhaps not necessarily a quick one; no, he preferred to take his time and assure himself of success before taking any uncertain steps, and in the end he controlled the outcome. Lucy however, threw not only a wrench into his proverbial engine, but tossed the whole lot off the balcony and into the ocean.

So. Wait. Oh. Caspian ran a hand through his hair. Oh. He glanced up at her relaxed, confident posture. She had laid out her cards, and now it was his turn. Her golden, reddish-blond hair curled down her back and it was only sheer force of will that kept him from reaching out to see if it curled around his fingers as well.

Lucy stood, fearing that she'd pushed Caspian away and daring not too look back at him. Her bravado and self-assured posture held no sway if he'd simply walked away. She'd gone out on a limb, but it had been strangely exhilarating to see the effect she had on him.

She was nearing the end of her patience and was about to see if he'd left when she heard him step closer.

When he spoke his voice lingered hotly on her skin and she had to fight a shiver. His unshaven jaw brushed her neck. "This is a game that I am all too willing to play with you, my Queen." She relished each syllable that skittered against her nerves, buzzing and humming in her blood like a thousand fires just leaping out of her control.

Caspian leaned back from her, reluctant to leave the smell of her skin. Perhaps he could take his time, after all.

Lucy grinned as she heard his retreating footsteps. Oh, it would be fun indeed.

A/N – Thoughts?