Chapter 36: chapter 36

At dawn, the King arrived at the camp. His entrance stirred unease among the soldiers, who stood stiff and silent, their faces pale with fear. They had failed to accomplish the task the King had ordered, and uncertainty loomed over their fates. The King’s reputation as a merciless leader—one who acted on impulse rather than reason—left them paralyzed with dread. What punishment awaited them, none could guess.The King's tent, the largest and most imposing structure in the camp, was situated at its center, a silent reminder of his absolute authority. Inside, the King removed his armor, his face dark with suppressed anger. However, his eyes narrowed in surprise when he saw Caspian standing near the map table."So, there you are," the King said, his voice sharp. "What are you doing here? Have you come to doubt my decisions again?"Caspian met his father’s piercing gaze, though his shoulders tensed. "After coming here, I realize you were right," he began cautiously. "But, Father, I don’t understand why we are fighting at all. Are we truly risking the lives of our soldiers for personal gain? This forest poses no threat to us. As far as I know, the creatures here harm no one. Why, then, are we the ones trying to hurt them?"The King’s expression hardened, his fingers tightening around the hilt of his sword. "Listen, son," he said coldly, his voice a low growl. "You don’t have to understand. You don’t even have to agree. What you will do is obey. You are my son, but that doesn’t exempt you from orders. If you can't follow them, leave this camp and return to the castle. Handle the matters I’ve left behind there. Do I make myself clear?"Caspian opened his mouth to protest but caught himself. He clenched his jaw, bowed stiffly, and said, "Yes, Father." Without another word, he turned on his heel and left the tent, his heart heavy with disappointment.The morning sun had barely risen when Christof entered the stables, carrying a small bundle of food. The faint light glinted off his sharp features, and his smirk deepened as he saw Amelia and her brother sitting by the stall. She was pale but defiant, her eyes burning with anger."It's been hours since I got here," Amelia snapped, looking upon at him, "You still haven’t released my brother. As a man of your word, you should honor it."Christof tilted his head, amusement flickering in his dark eyes. "And I will, girl," he replied with a smirk. "I’ll show you just how much of a man I am."Amelia’s hands curled into fists at her sides, but she kept her voice steady. "Then release my brother. Let him go home."The smirk faded from Christof's face, replaced by a cold seriousness that sent a chill down Amelia’s spine. "I will," he said slowly, "but only on one condition."Amelia’s heart sank, though she kept her face composed. "What condition?" she asked.Christof stepped closer, his gaze piercing. "You must promise to be mine. Forever."The words hit Amelia like a blow. Her breath caught, and for a moment, she was frozen by fear. But she forced herself to remain calm. "If I promise," she said quietly, "you’ll let my brother go? You’ll let him leave unharmed?"Christof’s lips curved into a cruel smile. "Yes. But remember this: if you break that promise, your brother will die. Do you understand?"Amelia swallowed hard, her throat dry. "I won’t break the promise," she said, her voice trembling. "I swear it. On God.""Good girl," Christof murmured, his tone mockingly soft. He reached out and brushed his fingers against her cheek. The touch was cold, and a shiver ran through her body, but she refused to flinch.Christof turned to Adam, who was bound to a post nearby. With deliberate slowness, he untied the ropes holding the boy’s hands. "Go," he ordered. "Your sister has taken your place."Adam stumbled forward, rubbing his wrists, his face a mixture of confusion and panic. "Amelia," he stammered, "what’s going on? You’re not coming with me?"Amelia knelt in front of him, cupping his face in her hands. "Adam, listen to me," she said, her voice soft but firm. "I’ll come home soon. But for now, I need to stay here. Do you understand?"Adam shook his head, his eyes wide. "I don’t want to leave without you—""You have to," Amelia interrupted gently. She kissed his forehead, tears slipping down her cheeks. "Go home, Adam. Stay safe. I’ll see you soon."Reluctantly, Adam nodded and began to walk away, glancing back over his shoulder until he disappeared into the trees.Amelia straightened, her tears flowing freely now. Christof stepped closer, his smile returning. "You’re a brave girl," he said, his voice low. "You have to stay here just for a while, sweet girl. Tonight, I’ll take you to my tent."Amelia stayed silent, her gaze fixed on the ground. She stood frozen as Christof turned and left, her heart heavy with dread. Tears began to roll down her cheeks, but she made no effort to wipe them away. The weight of her promise and the fear of what lay ahead left her trembling, yet she forced herself to remain composed, determined not to show any more weakness in front of him.