A shadow of a smile flickered across Lysanders face. “Oh?” it wasn’t hard to figure out what kind of ‘fate’ the former captain of the guard had in mind. The man was dripping with envy and lust every time the princess was mentioned, and now that the future was considered there was the pleasant tingling of anticipation. [i]Useful indeed[/i].

Lysander found himself comparing this man to Caspian. Their differences were obvious in mind and body. But each would find a worthy foe in the other should they ever come to quarrel over what they had in common. [i]The girl.[/i]

[i]Will Caspian go to war and risk his own country for a girl? Would that make him so different from this man who has betrayed everything he was once loyal to... for a girl?[/i]

Lysander also heard the echo of a thought before it manifested in a quickstep to trip up the prince. He didn’t trip as the captain had planned, but he didn’t keep up either, he stood on the spot as the guard wheeled around toward the door. Dumas delighted at first, thinking he had bested the boy, but as Lysander stood still, waiting with his hands folded as Dumas knocked and announced him. Lysander looked at him as he would a servant attending the door. It might remind the captain of what he once was… and what he [i]still[/i] was to Jadis. If Lysander had a coin he would have tipped the man to drive the point home, but he didn’t, so he kindly [i]thanked[/i], and breezed by the man toward the new queen of Mathias. 

A vision in white. Lysander's eyes widened to behold her. She was [i]different[/i] from others, she felt [i]different[/i]… and her mind… 

… [i]was so cold[/i].

~~~

Celine moved swiftly and gracefully and suddenly Caspian found himself nose-to-nose with the princess…. and blade to throat.

He swallowed hard, his brow was moist with sweat, and little tendrils of his dark hair stuck to his brow and were beginning to spiral out of control. 

His face was so close to hers, he was stunned. Sure he was shocked that he had lost, but more so, he was struck by her blade [i]and[/i] her loveliness. Her wild red hair was like a flaming crown, her lips and eyes smiled at their victory. He was sweating too, the adrenaline pumped in his ears. He wanted to lean forward, right then, and kiss her. Taste her smiling rosy lips with his own… it was only inches away...

[i]She’ll cut me for sure[/i]. He thought hazily, aware of the cold steel at his throat. He’d lean forward anyhow, slowly, in that moment death seemed to small a risk to be bothered over. She might slit his throat, or top him otherwise… or maybe… just maybe… she’d allow him to steal this one kiss...