The Princess's Secret [completed]

44: Confirmation.

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Herschel.

Everything ached and stung. He groaned, somewhat surprised at the sound. If he could hear himself… He was still alive! He dragged his eyelids open and tried to raise his head to check his injuries, but the cold muscles in his body cramped, sending flashes of sharp pain through his head. He flopped back down into the snow.

Now he could feel his injuries. He was certain his chewed-up leg wouldn’t support him, and his left hand had also been bitten, causing it to swell up beyond use. His entire body was covered with various other cuts, but thanks to his armour, that was the worst of it.

He squinted at the bright sky and tried to think. If he was still alive… Something had to have scared the wolves off. Something either more dangerous, or more numerous… Crunching snow drew his attention, and he slowly turned his head to see the source…

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Tamar.

Her stomach flopped over inside. She had to speak to first the soldiers, then all the people? She bit the inside of her lip, trying desperately to push back the fear. But the silence only made it worse. Silence?! She blinked and lifted her gaze quickly, finding Caspian’s waiting.

He seemed to have sensed her nerves and had stopped speaking. She swallowed and forced an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, where were you?”

He just shook his head and took the seat across from her, leaned back comfortably, and waited. She lowered her gaze again and tried to sort out the thoughts in her mind. “I can’t speak to all these people!” She finally blurted, breaking out of her usual calm reservation.

He nodded, as though agreeing with her. She frowned. “Why are you nodding?”

“Because you’re right.” He replied easily.

She stared a moment, opening her mouth to speak, only to close it again, flustered. Finally she found her voice. “But if you don’t think I can do this, then why are you asking me to do it?!”

He raised an amused eyebrow. “Because you have to.” She stared at him, mind scrambling to sort out his logic. He finally pitied her and continued. “All throughout history, there are examples of people who couldn’t do something, yet they did it anyways because they had no choice.” He glanced towards the window, then stood and paced to it.

“The fact is, there are many things which we cannot do until we have no other choice. It is in those moments that we grow, that we gain the ability to complete the necessary task at hand.” He paused and turned back to her, leaning against the windowsill.

“When I first became King, I was not expecting it, and therefor not near prepared for such a task. I had to learn very quickly, and depended heavily upon my close friends. I still do, though as my generals and bodyguards rather than as personal supporters. Though they still do a fair amount of that as well.”

He paused, regathering his thoughts.
“My point is; you don’t know what you’re capable of until you are being stretched to your absolute limit. And even then, you can usually stretch further.”

He returned to his seat, leaning close to her, expression earnest. “I for one know that you are more than capable of this job. With some aids at your side, I believe you could do it even better than I.”

She bit her lip, though this time not entirely out of anxiety, but out of overwhelm in the midst of this man’s gentleness. She couldn’t recall the last time someone nearly made her cry out of joy… Out of overwhelm from recieving such… Love? Was that the word for it?