Chapter 8 ||News about Caspian||


Cerlesta knocked at the door of her uncle and aunt’s suit.

“Come in,” her aunt’s voice called out. She took a deep breath and got in.

“Uh Cerlesta, it was you!” said Prunaprismia “I see, uncle called for you, right?”

She nodded, “Yes, where’s he?” she asked.

“Freshen up, he came back just some moments ago. Come sit, he’ll come now.” Prunaprismia said with a smile, motioning to the free spot next to her.

“Thanks,” Cerlesta said and took her seat, “What’s the matter? Did he have any news about Caspian?” she asked.

Prunaprismia shrugged, “He didn’t tell any details to me, but he gave the topic, it’s a news about Caspian –”

Cerlesta cut her off, “They...found him?” she asked.

Prunaprismia frowned, “Honey, I don’t think it’s a pleasant news at all. Well on one hand it is, he’s alive and s-safe but on the other hand….” She stopped when she noticed the door of their bedroom opened and her husband coming out.

Cerlesta stood up as she saw him, “Hello uncle,” she greeted him with a plastered fake smile. She began to hate him ever since she learned the truth from the Professor.

“Uh Cerlesta!” he exclaimed, “You’re in time!”

“Hush! Not that loud, the baby’s asleep!” hissed Prunaprismia.

Miraz Chuckled, “Oh I must get used to that or perhaps, he should.” Prunarismia rolled her eyes. He took a cup, filled wine and sat opposite to them.

“How was your journey to Beruna?” asked Cerlesta.

“My journey was fine, but something dreadful happened to my men in Beruna.” He said, taking a sip from his wine.

“Dreadful? You didn’t mention that to me!” argued Prunaprismia.

“No, I only mentioned about Caspian.” He shrugged.

“What’s about Caspian?” Cerlesta asked, hoping they didn’t got him.

“Oh yes! About Caspian, I have dreadful happy news for you.” He said. For the first time ever, Cerlesta felt uncomfortable before her uncle.

“Um… wh-what’s that?” she asked.

“Well,” he leaned forward with a devilish look on his face, “Didn’t I tell you, both of you just yesterday, that Caspian is abducted by Narnians? well I apologize for that because that isn’t the truth,” he paused.

Cerlesta went pale; her hand began to tremble as her heard hammered inside her. ‘What is he going to say? I don’t want him to tell me the truth! I fear, I’ll do something to him which will make him to turn against me, I can’t control myself if he’s going to tell me!’ Cerlesta’s mind screamed, her eyes smoldered.

Miraz straightened himself in his chair and continued, “I only came to realize it just today. Yesterday night, your beloved brother led an army of bloody Narnians to Beruna, to the worksite. Three men were killed at the attack and weapons for two regiments were stolen. I know you can’t believe me, I would haven’t known or believed either if it wasn’t for the message he left at the door of the cart that had weapons in it,” he paused again.

“Message? What message?” asked Cerlesta alerted, swallowing her hardness.

“The message was; ‘You were right to fear the woods, X’ , ‘X’ means Caspian the Tenth, isn’t it?” he asked.

You better expect something more than that for trying to take his future- kingship.’ She said to him inside her but asked innocently,

“Yes but why would my brother do such a thing?”

“He’s forming an army against me, what else does that means?” he asked.

Cerlesta felt her blood boiling inside her, she grinded her teeth, “My brother isn’t a kind of person to form an army against someone at least that someone tries to harm him. Why would he turn against you? Have you done any harm to him?” she asked him.

“Me? You don’t know that, I raised him as the heir to my throne? Now he has spoiled it for himself.” He exclaimed.

She grinded her teeth again, “That still doesn’t change anything! He’s the Crown Prince, nothing can change that!” she said sternly.

“He was, but now his cousin is the Crown Prince since he has formed an army against me.” He said.

“That’s totally unfair! No one is going to agree on that with you as long as my brother is alive!” she almost shouted.

“A king needs no one to agree with him when he declares something, even the law is in his hands.” He said in a wicked tone.

“No uncle, you’re wrong!” Cerlesta sound raised like a matured lady, filled with wisdom and bravery, “It isn’t anything that make one a King other than the law.”

“I don’t want someone who formed an army against me to be the heir to my throne since I have one on my own.” He jeered.

“You meant to say –” Cerlesta started but cut off by a knock at the door.

“Come in,” Miraz called.

The door was opened and Lord Sopespian entered, surprised at the growling face of the King and the Princess.

“Sorry for interrupting your majesty, but you’re needed at the grand counsel now.” He said.

Miraz groaned and stood up lazily, “Let’s go,” he mumbled to Sopespian.

Before he closed the door behind him, he said to Cerlesta, “You better not turn against me as your brother has, it’s a warning.” He said harshly.

Cerlesta said nothing but held up her head high. She has never seen her uncle’s worst before. It would’ve been very hurting if she had this argument with him before she had learned the truth.

“I’ll see you later, I need to get some fresh air.” Said Cerlesta quickly and shortly. Her tone still hard from the argument, filled with rage. She got up from sofa and walked over to the door. Prunaprismia just nodded in agreement, slightly shocked at her niece’s outburst with pure rage.

“And will you ask uncle to make sure that Professor is cared enough?” Cerlesta asked.

“I will, dear.” She nodded.

“After all, it turns out my uncle has mistaken our innocent Professor since he’s claiming Narnian Kidnapping isn’t the truth.” Cerlesta muttered under her breath, loud enough for Prunaprismia to hear as she exited their suit.

She closed the door behind her and sighed. ‘At least they didn’t get him. Honestly it’s really interesting to find out uncle is kind of shocked or even scared that my brother has formed an army and led them against him last night.’ She thought as she made her way down to the grand library.

She couldn’t help but smile as she thought of her brother led an attack with the Narnian army he has formed. She felt extremely proud about her brother.

I wonder what he is doing now. Would he be thinking about me?’ she asked herself and shrugged her brows and shoulders.

She walked to the library, grabbed a book and made her way to the favorite part of the garden.

“-always welcomed over here to see her royal highness. Go ask her if you can’t believe my words! The guys at the gate let me in, now you’re asking me to get out? Try that on some other girls!” She heard a familiar female voice yell.

She walked towards the place this yelling came from.

“Get off me!!” she heard again. But this time, followed by chuckles of men and the frustrating growls and shriek of that same female voice.

Cerlesta knew exactly to whom the voice belongs and it made her walking pace speed up. She clenched her jaw and fist as she neared and heard men’s laugher.

STOP IT THIS INSTANT!!!” Cerlesta shouted commandingly in outrage. “IS THIS HOW YOU TREAT A FRIEND OF YOUR PRINCESS, YOU IDIOTS? I’LL HAVE YOU ALL PAY FOR THAT!

“We’ll see about that.” Someone muttered under his breath which Cerlesta didn’t heard but her friend the girl did.

HOW DARE YOU TALK AGAINST HER?” The girl shouted at that man.

“Come on Aquila, let’s go. Let them dare as much as they want, they’ve got a slight luck my brother isn’t here to kick them right on their faces.” She said ignoring their grimaces.

“Are you alright?” asked Cerlesta concerned as Aquila came closer.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” she said throwing a glare back at those idiotic guards.

“I’m very sorry Quilly, did they hurt you?” asked Cerlesta.

“Hey don’t apologize for them, you did nothing but saving me, I owe you a big thanks.” Said Aquila.

“Don’t even mention that, I’ll see if they are punished enough for treating you like that.” Cerlesta assured her.

“Do you really think you can do that? Uh, you didn’t hear what they protest when you say that they’ll have to pay, did you?” asked Aquila.

“No, but I expected though. Tell me what did they say?” Cerlesta asked.

“Some of them smirked and some chuckled; and it was that annoying guy who muttered ‘We’ll see about that.’ ” she said.

Cerlesta sighed in frustration, she clenched her jaw and fist, “If I had my brother here –”

“Speaking about your brother –”

“Let’s walk over to the fountain there and talk.” Cerlesta interrupted.

“Alright and by the way, belated Happy Birthday Cery.” Said Aquila.

“Thanks dear.” Cerlesta smiled.

Once reaching at the fountain, they both sat on wooden chair either side of a round wooden table. Soon some maids served them desserts and left. Cerlesta nearly chuckled at seeing her friend attacking her dessert.

“No one’s going to steal that from you,” she teased.

“Easy for you to say because you have desserts every day.” laughed Aquila.

“Alright, now about my broth –”

“Yeah about your brother, IS THAT ALL TRUE?” asked Aquila in loud excited whisper.

“Yes but not that loud. Just let’s talk coolly, avoiding whispers like saying secrets so in that way no one will notice us. It’s really dangerous to discuss in public. And one more thing, you watch my back and I’ll watch yours. Change the subject into something if anyone comes, okay?” asked Cerlesta.

“Deal! So that’s all true, isn’t it?”

“I know the truth but how were you told about his missing?”

“Um…Honestly I feel crazy about it but I was informed, we all were, that the Prince has been kidnapped by Narnians. Now please tell me that not the truth, but Narnians still exist.” Aquila said.

“Well the kidnapping thing isn’t true at all but Narnians still exist.” Said Cerlesta briefly.

Aquila gasped, “So it really was true! I mean, all the stories. If these all are true, Aslan and the Kings and Queens……oh it could be true too!” she squealed in joy. But soon it melted into a frown,

“Then why did the King abandoned us all from being told about it?”

“That I don’t know.” Said Cerlesta.

Aquila sighed, “If it wasn’t a kidnapping, exactly what happened to your brother?”

“I’m not sure,” Cerlesta lied.

She wasn’t sure about telling her the truth. Aquila had so many questions about Caspian and the Narnians, to which she patiently replied. Of course, Aquila asked Cerlesta that how can she prove that Narnians didn’t kidnapped him. She bravely replied, avoiding the exact truth she knew yet told her about the red dwarf her uncle told and also what he said today about the attack.

Aquila was more excited by now and finally said, “As you are, I too am abandoned from Narnian tales. My dad began cursing the Narnians as soon as he got the news of their existence and the kidnapping news. But as you did, I too didn’t believe it. However, I’m glad he’s safe with Narnians yet we have no clue about his departure. What I’m going to say is…..”

She paused and took both hands of Cerlesta in her and continued,

“I’m with you and Caspian and the Narnians, no matter what. It seems like my greatest dream has come true, now I just need to see them with my own eyes.” She said, her eyes went wet at last.

Cerlesta pulled her into a hug, “Quilly, you’re the best! Your support means the world to me! There are so much I needed to tell you but that’s a tale for another time. Now you must head back before it’s dark, I hope to see you soon.” She said and almost cried slightly because of the nice and warm company Aquila gave her.

She needed it since she was missing the priceless company of her most beloved person, her brother. After Quilly left, Cerlesta head back inside the castle. She went straight to her room to avoid meeting her uncle again.

Thoughts about Caspian overwhelmed her, she sobbed once she got inside their suit and then to Caspian’s room.

She sat on his bed and whispered, “I really don’t know how am I ever going to survive without you, Cas. I’m weak, broken and alone without you. Home doesn’t feels like home anymore without you here. Life is going turn into hell-like living for me if we are not going to be reunited any sooner. I can’t bear this anymore! I really want to see you! Please come to me and save me from here, I’m dying to be with you. If you can’t, then I’m coming to the woods to find you. But thinking about leaving Professor here behind, I can’t…..” she trailed off.

She found herself falling to sleep after a fine time sobbing. Later her maid came and called her to have dinner.

‘I wonder what Cas’s doing now. Maybe he’s thinking about me.’ She thought.

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