CHAPTER ONE
vol i — FAMILY FEUD!

THE WARM SUMMER wind blew through the air, making the yellow wildflowers in the field flow back and forth. The trees on the outer-edge of the field swayed with the breeze, losing a few leaves in the process. In the field, tangled up in the tall grass and wildflowers, we're two teens. Swords —which they stole from the armory, held in their hands. One boy and one girl, equal in strength and fighting skills, were sparing, hoping to best the other. Their swords made a zing every time they connected.

"Come on, Cas, stop fighting like a wuss," Alexandra grit her teeth as she pushed her sword against his.

"I am not fighting like a wuss, you're just scarily strong." Caspian drew his sword back, hoping to get a better angle. Alex blocked his blow, again. Her only hope to win was to put the famous move into play: the 'Caspian cares too much'. When he came back in for another blow, she allowed it to get caught in the bottom of her dress, ripping it as he pulled back.

"Ow! Caspian!" Alex whined, trying to play off the injury. Her head peered down at her blue dress, feeling his worried gaze on the side of her face.

"What? What happened?" Caspian asked. He went to move closer, dropping his sword to his side. It gave Alex the perfect opportunity to attack. She tightened her grip on the sword in her hand, and brought it up to be placed against his neck. Caspian took a minute to understand what happened, but when he did he sent her a playful glare.

"You care too much. It's going to get you killed one day." Alex brought the sword back to her side, gazing up at his face. His body eased up when the sword was removed, bringing him peace over the fact that she wouldn't be killing him today.

"Yeah, by you," Caspian teases. "I piss you off too much. I'll get myself killed." aAex rolled her eyes, knowing that he wasn't wrong. Caspian pulled her into his side, ruffling her hair.

She let out a whine. "What the hell? That was so unnecessary." Alex reached up, going to mess up his own hair. She was unable to, due to her height. He stood a solid seven inches taller, he was a giant compared to her 5'4 frame.

Caspian glanced up, noticing the lack of light. "We should get back to the castle. The sun is setting." Alex nodded her head and allowed him to grab her hand, intertwining their fingers. He led her back to the castle, sneaking into the armory to place their swords back. It was a miracle that they hadn't been caught returning them, but their luck was soon going to run out. The two ended up back in the main part of the castle, Caspian walking Alex to her room. Just as they were going to round the corner, voices echoed through the halls, bouncing off the walls.

Alexandra glanced around, trying to find a hiding spot. She was not in the mood to get lectured about being out late at night, and with a boy of all people. "There." She pointed towards a statue that had an alcove hidden behind it. She grabbed his hand, pulling Caspian to the alcove. She ended up with her back pressed against the wall, Caspian's hands tight on her waist. Alexandra peered up at him as he watched the hallway, trying to figure out if the coast was clear.

"We can go—" Caspian was cut off by a pair of lips landing on his own. He closed his eyes after a moment, sinking into the kiss. He pushed her already pressed body further into the wall, making her frame even smaller. She hummed, wrapping her arms around his neck, fingers playing with the hair at the base. He broke away from the kiss for a moment. "Want to spend the night in my room?"

"Yeah. You have something I can wear because I need to get out of this corset," Alexandra said. Caspian nodded his head, knowing that he had something that she could end up wearing. He reattached their lips, trying to lead her back to his room with their lips still attached. The task was a lot harder than anticipated, kissing and walking was not an easy task. They had to stop kissing for a moment, getting into the room they continued the attack on each other's lips.

Caspian broke the contact first. "Want a shirt?" Alex nodded her head, catching the shirt he threw at her. Caspian helped her untie her dress, then moved away to let her change in peace. He heard the dress hit the ground, and her telling him he can turn around a moment later. He turned around, hopping into his bed, Alexandra following a moment later. She threw her right leg over his hips, her head resting in the crook of his neck. He placed his arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer, virtually on top of him. His body shivered as her breath tickled his neck.

Hours had passed, the two teens sleeping peacefully in Caspian's bed, snuggled up. Caspian was awoken by a hand covering his mouth, peeing up at the culprit, he sees that it is his professor. "Five more minutes," he mumbled, laying his back onto his pillow, wanting to sleep.

"You won't be watching the stars, tonight, my prince," Caspian opened his eyes, curious about the statement. "Come, we must hurry. Wake up Alex, she is going with you."

Caspian shook Alexandra awake, making her open her drowsy eyes. "What's going on? Oh, hi professor."

"We have to go. Miraz has been blessed with an heir."

( ...🌼... )

ALEXANDRA AND CASPIAN shared a wide-eyed look — this wasn't good. Miraz was going to attempt to kill Caspian so he could take his place on the throne as the rightful heir. They moved swiftly, trying to get out of the room as fast as they could. The professor moved toward the wardrobe and beckoned them to follow him. as they stepped into the wardrobe, Glozelle and his men surrounded Caspian's bed. They load their crossbows, shooting into the bed, shredding everything the arrows touch. Destruction all around, reducing the place he once felt safe into a living nightmare.

The curtain moved slightly, giving the men a perfect view of the empty men. Alex shut the wardrobe, grabbed Caspian's hand, and drug him down the path. They ran through the tunnel leading to the armory, their hands on their knees, trying to catch their breath when they arrived. Alex rushed over to the wall, moving one of the stones, grabbing a blood red corset she had placed there. Her clothes were strewn around the castle, always available to her. She throws the corset over Caspian's shirt, tying it to the best of her ability, not wanting it to fall off her body while riding. Caspian grabbed their swords, handing it to Alex — who was littering a few knives around her body.

Her sword crossed her body, resting comfortably on her hip as she ran towards the courtyard, Caspian on her heels. The cool wind sent chills from her bone, the absence of the sun not helping with the chills spreading throughout her body. Alex caught the eye of the professor — who was gesturing towards their horses, wanting them to get on. Caspian helped her up on her horse, Regulus who had a dark brown coat, a small star on his nose, one that resembled the main star in the Leo constellation, giving him his name.

"You must make for the woods," The professor whispered. His eyes were darting around them, scanning their surroundings.

"The woods," Caspian questioned. Alexandra raised an eyebrow, wondering why he wanted them to go there.

"They won't follow you there," he said, almost like he was reading Alexandra's thoughts. He reaches into his pocket, pulling out a wrapped object, handing it to Caspian. The two teenagers look at it, wondering what it was, and how it could help them. "It has taken me many years to find it. Don't use it except at your greatest need."

"Will I ever see you again?" Caspian asked. His eyes watered at the thought of never seeing the man who was like a father to him.

"I hope so, my dear prince. There is so much I meant to tell you. Everything you know is about to change." Well that wasn't ominous. The fact that he was sending them on an unknown adventure without any information was startling to Alex, but she couldn't do anything about it, knowing Miraz was after Caspian. "Now go!"

The two nudged their horses into a gallop, knocking down a guard in the process. Their horses hoofbeats loud against the cobblestone ground, echoing along the walls of the castle. Alexandra looked back, noticing the fireworks bursting colors in the dark sky, shouts of congratulations flowing through the air. She can hear the shouts of the guards chasing them, encouraging her to push Regulus faster, her hopes high to escape them. Her hair was pushed back by the wind, swaying as it was dancing to a beat.

They ended up in the woods, steering their horses through the trees and brush, trying not to get caught by the guards. The two turned around, trying to see how far away the guards were, only to turn around and knock their heads on a low hanging branch. Alex fell off, her horse racing off, looking up, she notices Caspian being dragged along by his horse. She chased after the boy, crouching by his side after he stopped, wanting to check up on him.

"Hey, are you alright?" she asked. She placed his head in her lap, running her fingers through his dark shoulder length hair, picking out any knots present.

"I'm okay. My arse isn't though." Caspian let out a wince, trying to hide the pain from Alexandra but not quite succeeding.

"Oh no," Alex says in false concern, his arse being the least of her worries at the moment, wondering how hard he hit his head. "Your poor arse. How ever shall you live?"

Caspian's face dropped to a deadpan expression, not impressed with the sarcasm that rolled off her tongue. "You love my arse, don't lie."

Alex let a scoff go past her lips, the sound of shouts drowning it out. The two snapped their heads towards the shouting, concluding that it was Miraz's men getting closer. As Alex was going to suggest something, a door — one that appeared out of nowhere — opens, seemingly coming from inside of a tree. Two dwarves make their presence known, running over to them, yelling at how stupid they were.

"They have seen us."
"Well, yes, you are in front of us."

The dwarf with blonde hair charged towards the two Telmarines, sword raised, only changing course at the last second. He looks over at the sound of hoofbeats and the Telmarine soldiers getting closer with each passing second, yelling to his friend to watch over the two, before running into the line of fire. Odd. Caspian, who was obviously panicking, grabs the horn from his satchel, bringing it up to his mouth and blowing it. The loud noise ricocheted over the trees, bringing its message to the owner — who was still unknown to the teens. The last thing Alex heard was the strangled shout of "No!"

Before the world turned dark.