Caspian was forced to focus on preparing for war. There was quite a lot to do. Apparently 'fight for Aslan and justice' was to vague to be an efficient directive... 

In his spare moments he would think of Celine. [i]She must think I am horrible, to kiss her and then hardly speak to her afterward...[/i]

The mouse duelist, Reepicheep, was the only one to confront him on that particular matter. 

"My King! Have you spoken with your beloved since the day of thy fateful duel!?" He bowed low and spoke cordially, but that question among all the questions related to war, battalions, food rations, numbers, diplomacy, and weapons threw him quite of his guard. 

"Ah... well... only... a few words here and there..." [i]My beloved...[/i] He felt his cheek turn red.

"Sacrilege! Have you not pledged your heart and allegiance to her?"

"Dear Reepicheep, there has not been time we might be at war..." Caspian fumbled for excuses.

"But you had time to steal a kiss!" Reepicheep raised his tiny mousey brow at the young King. Only in Narnia could a mouse speak so go a King... and such a speech be welcomed. "You dishonor your lady... y-you've done it all backwards!" The little mouse huffed. "My King, you must first confess yourself, humble yourself before her... imagine if she did not return your feelings, you would surely have embarrassed or dishonored her. Your station in our country makes it even more important to act with chivalry and humility!" the little mouse was getting worked up now. Speeches about honor were his favorite. 

"Aye, you are right. Yet... she [i]does[/i] return my feelings... or... at least I think she does..." Or had she been only afraid to reject him as the mouse had suggested, they were in a public garden after all... The more Caspian thought of it the more guilty he felt for avoiding Celine afterward. "Oh, I am a fool!" Caspian threw up his hands. "What do I do now?"

"The brave an honorable thing my King!" There was a twinkle in the mouses eye. "Go to her!"

"But what of the war? I am needed..."

"Do we not fight a war to preserve love?" The mouse swooned.

"You are right. I will go to her now and--"

The door to the chamber opened. There was a bear with a message. "The Calormen Ambassador is here. He is quite cross. And threatens to leave if you do not speak with him immediately."

Caspian gave the mouse a helpless look. 

"I shall deliver a missive to your lady, my King!" He bowed low, and began to leave.

"Wait!" Caspian stood, "I have not yet told you the message for her... I'd like to... say... um... er... ah..." Caspian found himself floundering under the steady gaze of the bear and the mouse.

"Fear not my King! I know exactly what you might say!" And the mouse disappeared.

Caspian went with the bear... 

The meeting with the Ambassador did not go very well.

"Have you any proof that your Ice Queen has returned? Perhaps this is only a tale you tell to put [i]our[/i] armies at [i]your[/i]bidding!" The Calormen scowled as Calormen often did. 

"We have testimony from the Princess of Mathias, and we have sent forth our own Ambasador--"

"Who has conveniently not-yet-returned! Yet you demand action immediately!" 

"Please, I do not demand, I only warn you. If Jadis has taken one country and she will not stop until she has frozen them all---"

There were horns heard from afar, and the bear returned. "Lysander's ship has landed."

"I hope your Ambassador has brought proof with him, I will await his testimony." The Calormen crossed his arms and would stay there, stubborn old man.

Caspian nodded and took his leave of the Calormen. 

~~~

Lysander was glad to be off the boat, he found himself to be clumsy, still on his sea-legs. Narnia felt so warm compared to the land of ice... oppressively warm and humid. He found himself sweating and weary. He sat in an armed chair "I'll speak to Caspian... and maybe Celine... no one else...." He told the Narnians.

He wanted to sleep, he had not been able to rest at all upon the ocean. Every time he closed his eyes he had nightmares. 

The king and the princess would not want to wait for this... news...

Lysander smiled.