CHAPTER SEVEN
vol i — family feud

ALEX AND CASPIAN had followed Peter as he gathered up a few Narnians and brought them to the Stone Table. Everyone settled around it, taking a seat on the steps, leaning against the wall, or just standing there as they waited for the High King to speak. "It's only a matter of time. Miraz's men and war machines are on their way. That means those same men aren't protecting his castle," Peter said, making eye contact with everyone in the room.

"What do you propose we do, sire?"
"We—"
"Our—"

Alexandra muffled out Peter, turning to Caspian with her eyebrows knitted, looking at the hurt expression on his face. "Why did you step down? It's your battle, not his."

"We both know that I would have lost. High King and all that speaking. Arguing with him would be pointless," Caspian huffed out, not looking at the girl at his side.

"You're being stupid again. You are in the right here, this is your life that we are fighting for. Your throne that is on the line. The Narnians agreed to help you, not that barbarian speaking in front of us. He just waltzed in and you let him take what is yours from under your feet," Alex harshly whispered. She was done with the boy allowing Peter to walk in and treat him like his was just the dirt under his show, not respecting him like he should.

"I don't want to talk about it," Caspian said, turning away from the girl completely, letting her stare blankly at his back. She let out a huff, knowing that nothing was going to get through his head in this moment in time, letting her head fall into her hands, allowing Peter's words to flow through her ears again.

"Our only hope is to strike them before they strike us."
"That's stupid..."
"But that's crazy. No one has ever taken the castle."
"There's always a first time."
"If you have a death wish."
"We'll have the element of surprise."
"But we have the advantage here."
"If we dig in, we could hold them off indefinitely." "I, for one, feel safer underground."

Peter was fed up with everyone taking Caspian's side, feeling that he should be the one they follow because he was a king. "Look, I appreciate what you've done, but this isn't a fortress, it's a tomb."

"For the love of everything Aslan, shut up. I get that you may have more power than us, being a High King and all that, but you can't just walk in and demand everyone to follow you. Sometimes you need to think with what is in your head and not what is in your pants," Alex snapped. She had walked closer to Peter, staring up at him with a blaze flaming in her eyes, wanting him to make a move so she could kick his arse.

"If the Telmarines are smart, they'll starve us out."
"We could collect nuts."

Reepicheep didn't like that suggestion, turning to point his sword at Patterwig. "Oh, yes, and throw them at the Telmarines...Shut up! I think you know where I stand on this, sire."

"If I can get your troops in, can you handle the guards?"
"Or die trying, my liege."
"That's what I'm worried about."
"Sorry?"

"Well, you've been acting like there are only two options: dying here, or dying there," Lucy said. She had pushed herself off the Stone Table, making everyone look at her.

"I'm not sure you've really been listening, Lu."
"Have you forgotten who defeated the white witch, Peter?"
"I think we have waited for Aslan long enough."

Peter stormed out, everyone following him eventually, leaving Alexandra and Caspian alone in the room. The tension from the conversation before was still thick as Alex sat in the room, the tension flowing around her body and suffocating her. Caspian could tell that she was getting stressed out, leaning over to wrap his arms around her, wanting to have her calm down before she worked herself up. Alexandra stiffened for a moment, before relaxing in his hold, welcoming the comfort that his arms brought.

"You okay?" he asked looking down at her. She refused to show her face, too busy thinking about the possible outcomes that could come of this idiotic plan.

"I guess. But does this boy have a death wish?" She reached up to grab her hair by the roots, pulling on them to try and get her brain to stop overthinking everything. She felt a hand intertwine with her own, pulling her fingers from her hair, encompassing them in warmth. Caspian's hand found their was into her hair, playing with it in a soothing way to help her.

"Turn around," Caspian said, a plan formulating in his mind about how to make her focus on him instead of the turmoil they were going to endure later on. She turned around reluctantly, a puzzled look crossing her features as she turned to stare into his eyes. Caspian brought his hands to the front of her hair, separating it into three parts, starting to braid it. Alexandra let out a hum of satisfaction, enjoying the comfort that was brought to her body, closing her eyes in bliss. He would always braid her hair whenever she was feeling frustrated, knowing that it had calmed her, spending hours practice to perfect the talent.

"You haven't done this in a while."
"Well, we haven't had the time."

Alex just let out a hum, knowing that he was correct, thankful for the time that there was time to help her calm down. Caspian's only caused a few brief moments of pain, always muttering a brief sorry before carrying on. Alex's eyes were closed, picturing the look that was on Caspian's face, the poked tongue in the corner of his mouth, eyebrows knitted in concentration. Her mental image was broken when she felt him tap her shoulder, silently asking for a ribbon so he could tie her hair. She handed him the red ribbon that had been tied to her wrist since they left the castle, not moving until she felt the bottom of the braid softly hit her back. She could feel her body being pulled into his chest, her eyes still closed as he grabbed a few baby hairs, bringing them out to frame her face.

"I want a pet."
"What?"
"I want a pet. When we get back of course."
"Yeah, alright. It'll be your next gift."
"It should be."

babies are having a moment <3