Navene focus

Navene takes a deep breath resetting his blade at-a-ready. Artemis lunges forward cutting her sword. The young man acts quickly to block the attack. Metal clashes against metal. The sound drawing all eyes to them. The two continue dueling striking at each other. The king watches on intently astonished by the precision of the two. Young Navene showing his incredible swordsmanship that could surpass some of the King's men.

Navene turns abruptly swiping Artemis' arm causing her to hiss. Navene instantly drops his sword rushing to her. The blood soaking her arm. The king moves forward instinctively reaching for her. Artemis closes her eyes taking deep breaths as her hair begins glowing and her arm illuminating as the cut closes up. The king can't help but stare.

"What happened?!"

The bellow from behind had the King turn to see his son rushing forward. Artemis is still healing herself so she doesn't comment. Caspian quickly looks at her arm to see the blood on it. His heart pumping wildly.

"Caspian, control yourself."

Caspian whips to his father with narrowed eyes. His fear turning to anger. His father keeps a calm face towards his son.

"She was injured! How could this happen?!"

Navene stands there focusing his attention on Artemis' arm feeling his stomach turn knowing he caused it.

Don't Navene... That was a good strike

He looks up to see Artemis' eyes still closed. He steps back trying to let her concentrate while the King and Prince continue staring each other down. Artemis slowly comes back to everyone as her hair returns to normal and arm goes back to it's jet black inkling. She looks around to see the sorrow face of Navene, to the angered face of Caspian and the firm face of the King. She reaches out to Caspian making him turn to her. Cupping his cheek, she pulls his gaze to her. Foreheads connected he closes his eyes letting his emotions simmer.

"I am okay." He pulls back giving her a look of disbelief.

"You were sliced half way through your arm!" His emotions coming back ten fold. Artemis sighs knowing he is concerned but he can't seem to control his emotions.

"Son, come with me." The king says lowly stepping away. He glances over his shoulder to see Caspian still standing there. "NOW CASPIAN!"

Caspian practically growls stomping behind his father. Artemis sighs a breath of relief now looking to the teary eyes of Navene. stepping quickly, she gathers him tightly in her arms. He begins to cry into her chest and shake. Artemis rubs his hair pressing his head into her chest firmly. She can feel his regret rolling off of him.

"Navene do not be upset. You are doing well." Navene looks up to his guardian with red rimmed eyes. She cups his cheeks as she sees his doubt. "I am training you to become a warrior, I am not hurt!"

Navene reluctantly nods while she pulls him back into her chest hugging him to help ease his mind. While Artemis comforts Navene, the King leads Caspian inside the castle shutting the doors behind them. Caspian's face hardens looking to his dad.

"Caspian, you have to calm down."

"She was HURT DAD!" He yells now catching the attention of the queen at the other end of the hall. The queen steps forward which captures Caspian's attention. He gestures to her still talking to his father. "What if that would have been mom?!"

The king takes a deep breath trying to keep his cool. "There is a big difference between Artemis and your mother."

"What is going on?" The queen ask standing beside both men glancing between the two.

"Dad just let Artemis get stabbed!" The queen looks to her husband who looks tired and irritated. She turns back to her son. "What would have happened if it had been her neck!"

"Son, Artemis is a warrior. She knows how to fight and defend herself. She also has the capability of protecting herself."

"Dad-"

"NO! You are allowing your emotions to rule you and you need to calm down!"

The king has had enough and pushes the doors open causing them to bang off the walls as he goes back outside to Artemis and Navene. The queen standing there trying to calm down her racing heart turning back to her son. Caspian stands there running his fingers through his hair trying to reign in his frustration. He looks to his mom sighing heavily.

"Mom, she was hurt."

"I understand son..." She rubs his shoulder looking towards the door. "But you also have to understand that she CAN protect herself. What exactly happened?"

"I don't know... I felt her pain when I was inside speaking to some guards. I came out to find her holding her arm while blood was running down it."

The queen nods her head taking her son's hand leading them outside. Artemis is sword fighting with Navene while the King stands watching. The queen strolls over standing next to her husband. Caspian standing rigid watching on tensely. Artemis becomes aware of Caspian's return with his emotions over ruling hers.

Stop Navene

Navene instantly halts his sword along with Artemis. Navene bows respectfully to her before stepping back. She turns to Caspian along with everyone else.

"Come Caspian"

Caspian's eyes go wide looking to her. She moves her sword in a come forward motion. The king watches on intently while Caspian takes timid steps forward. She raises her sword ready for the dual. He doesn't pull out his sword but raises his hands in a surrender form.

"Artemis, I am not-"

"Do you trust me?" He lowers his arms instantly answering her.

"Of course I do."

"Then raise your sword." Caspian looks to his parents for help. His father gives him one firm nod. He hesitantly unsheathes his sword before Artemis strikes at it. His muscles instinctively reacting and blocking before striking back. Artemis quickly deflects his strike. She whirls around her blade following through. Caspian stumbles back to dodge the slice. She stands strong with her sword firm in her grasp next to her. "Do you trust me?"

She asks again and he looks to her confused. She stands firm waiting for him to reply.

"Do. you. trust. me."

"Yes." He answers her searching her eyes. She drops the sword walking directly to him. Cupping his cheeks, she makes her silver irises connect to his emerald ones.

"Then trust me."

He sighs knowing what she is telling him. He drops his swords wrapping his arms around her pulling her in. Dropping his head to her shoulder, he breaths her in. She wraps her arms around him soothingly. His heartbeat matching hers.

So lost in their own little world they don't even notice the King and Queen looking onto them. The queen links her arm through her husbands leaning her head against his shoulder. The king smiles down to her before kissing her temple.

"He needed that..."

The king's whispered words making the queen nod in agreement. Caspian cares deeply for her, there is no denying that, but he needs to learn to trust her. Artemis has taken care of herself long before Caspian came along.

"Your Majesty!"

Everyone turns to the guard racing towards them. He points to the skies where a dark silhouette flies towards them. The guards begin coming to surround the royal family. Artemis steps forward recognizing it. Caspian grips at her not letting her move.

Artemis

Kaleo's voice filters into her head. She begins getting pulled back by Caspian. She cups his jaw making him look into her eyes. His eyes holding worry but her gentle smile reassuring him. She kisses him softly before stepping away from him and the army of guards. Everyone watching as she steps forward while a fierce growls erupts from the heavens. The king holds firmly to his queen while Caspian stares at his beloved stepping forward.

Kaleo, what is wrong?

Kaleo is close enough that everyone can see the large winged beast. The queen gasping while the king engulfs her frame to his. Caspian goes to step forward but a hand clamps on his shoulder halting his steps. The black winged creature comes down landing right before Artemis. The guard's bodies shaking in fear still holding their swords.

Kaleo lands with a thud causing the earth to tremor below their feet. He growls at everyone with swords. The king looks around at his guards.

"Men, lower your swords." The men are reluctant to do so. "Now!"

The swords lower and Kaleo closes his mouth. Artemis steps forward with a raised hand. Everyone watching onto her braveness. She places her hand onto his nostrils making the beast close his eyes.

"Remarkable."

The queen's words low but loud enough for the king to agree. They watch as Artemis turns back to them. Her eyes looking directly to Caspian. The king watches the exchange until his son turns to him.

"Artemis says the baby is coming."

The queen's eyes bulge looking back to the beauty who now is climbing onto the creature. Caspian goes to step forward when his mother grabs his arm.

"Mom, I have to go with her."

Much to her surprise, The king relinquishes her grasp on their son give her a reassuring nod. The queen is confused but her heart beat rises as her son steps towards the terrifying beast. He places his hand on the nose of the dragon just as Artemis did before rounding his head to climb on. The queen's heart beating wildly watching as the creature takes off from the ground.

"My queen he has rode her before." The queen whips her head to her husband who nods with a soft smile.

"AND YOU NEVER TOLD ME?" The king winces pulling his wife back into a hug feeling her racing heart against his chest. He strokes her lovingly while looking to the silhouette as it fades into the heavens.