A/n:

First of all I'd just like to say a massive thank you to those who reviewed. You've submitted creative and thoughtful suggestions and I want to let you know that I really do appreciate that you've taken the time to do that.

Secondly, though the Olvin/Fern/Enrique love triangle isn't the focus of the recent chapters, I realize that there are still some of you rooting for Fern/Enrique to happen. Well, according to my plans for the rest of TSOU at the moment, it is not the end for the Telmarine Princess and the Master of the Horse; I assure you their paths will still converge. It is possible that he will still be a part of her life even if she ends up as the Princess Consort of Archenland and subsequently Queen Consort of Archenland, so don't lose hope.

However, I also want to let the Fern/Olvin and Enrique/Iris fans know that Iris, too, remains an integral part of Enrique's life, just as he is an integral part of hers, so don't lose hope either!

So, as promised, in this chapter I have arranged for Lady Letitia Howard to make an appearance. Additionally, Lisa will be bonding with two Princes and she will find out something about Levin's past that nobody knows yet...

~Narrator's POV~

It seemed that those who called Cair Paravel their home had a tendency of sneaking out at night to do things that society generally would not have approved of. First it was Princess Fern, next it was Princess Helena, then it was Lady Felicity. And now, this time, it was Lady Letitia.

"Letitia," a voice hissed. Letitia held back a sigh and turned around. The corridors were too dimly lit; she recognized her niece by her voice first.

"You should go back to sleep, Felicity," Letitia said softly, no weariness detectable in her tone.

"You're really going to follow through with the plan?" Felicity said sadly.

Letitia drew her niece in for a hug. They both really needed it. "I think you and I both know what's going to happen if I don't follow through with this."

Felicity's voice quaked. "Is it true…is it true that he…that he killed his first wife? When she tried to stand up to him."

Letitia hesitated for a bit before telling the truth by nodding. "Yes," she said gravely. "It's true."

Lord John's first wife did not want to be a part of his games and tried to stop him from committing evil deeds, but once she got in his way and threatened to expose him to Caspian VIII, the King at that time, he knew he had to get rid of her. Riddance became death. His second wife, Letitia's mother and Felicity's grandmother, was much more obedient and agreeable, he found, and never got in his way.

"Oh my goodness," Felicity broke into tears, choking on her words. "I don't want that to happen to us."

"I don't want that either. I don't like this. I don't like this at all. But I have to do this," Letitia said ruefully.

"Just…promise me you'll stay safe, alright?" Felicity sobbed. "I'm not even so worried about the Queen; I'm worried about you. You could die!"

"No, I won't. I won't, Felicity. Listen to me. I won't die," Letitia said firmly. It was supposed to sound reassuring but the younger Lady's mind could not be put at ease. "I have another bottle of perfume, given to me by your grandfather. I sprayed it on my neck and wrists. Nagini has, apparently, been trained to not bite anyone who wears my perfume. Father wears the cologne version of it every day. It should keep me safe."

Felicity nodded. "I'm scared," she breathed in deeply. "I shouldn't be. But I am. I feel…useless sometimes, like I can't even do something…significant, for my family, to make my family proud. But you, Aunt Letty, you've done so much for us. And at such great risk. You're selfless, and brave. May Aslan have mercy on your soul. Good luck."

Letitia nodded. She walked down the hallways to meet up with her father.

"My lord father," she curtsied at the intimidating Lord.

"Letitia," John said emotionlessly and handed a cloth bag to her. Her hands were shaking as she accepted it.

"Nagini is inside," he explained. "So handle with care. Don't fret, though. I've injected it with a substance that's going to make it dormant for about 18 hours. It's unconscious now. Tell me again what you'll do."

"Tomorrow, the Queen will attend a concert at the Home of the Children. I will present a gift to Her Majesty, the perfume. I would see to it that Queen Kalyn wears it. Its scent would entice Nagini, who will be well hidden in the wardrobe. Nagini will be induced to bite the Queen," she paused, still not approving of the idea of a possible assassination. But what other choice did she have?

"Yes, very good. And then?" He looked at her expectantly.

"Just before Nagini can attack Her Majesty, I will stab it and kill it with a knife so that I can save Queen Kalyn's life. To repay me, the Queen might offer me a reward. If I am given a free choice, I will ask Queen Kalyn to bestow upon you, my Lord, the county of Wiltshire."

"Yes, and if Her Majesty questions you – if Their Majesties question you – if they ask you why you choose to confer this honor on me, instead of claiming Wiltshire for yourself, how would you respond?"

"'Well, I owe it all to my kind father. Ever since the Calormenes' attempted an assassination on the Narnian royals, my lord father, as the head of the house and responsible for the safety and welfare of all his family members, wanting to keep us safe, had instructed us all to carry a weapon with us at all times, not to attack others, but to defend ourselves. Without his advice, lives would have been lost. And so, to thank him and credit him for the love and care he has shown to us, the Howard family, I ask that he, in my stead, shall be rewarded with an earldom, if it pleases Your Majesties'," Letitia recited.

"Excellent," John smirked. "Now, run along. It won't be long till we make history."

The whole royal family of Narnia was involved in helping Lady Lisa detox. She had been cooperative so far, and now the next step she was going to take, according to the plan Viscount Jim, her financial consultant had set out for her, she was going to give away any articles of clothing or jewelry that she did not need. She got teary eyed when she had to say goodbye to her precious dresses, but her family and friends were more determined than ever. And today, Prince Rilian and Prince Olvin had just accompanied her to the Home of the Children.

"Are you having second thoughts?" Olvin asked when they were walking down the hallways on their way back to the palace.

"Yes, I am," Lisa said, looking depressed.

"You know where Fern and Laurel are right now?" Rilian teased.

"No; where?" Lisa shook her head.

"With the dressmakers," Olvin revealed.

"That is not helpful at all! Stop making me feel worse," Lisa smacked each Prince on his arm and glowered at them both.

"Precisely, Olvin. Stop making the girl feel bad about donating her pretty, pretty clothes," Rilian said singsong, once again earning Lisa's glare.

"Oh, sure, it's completely my fault, isn't it?" Olvin said jokingly.

"Are you two going to attend the concert at the Home tonight?" Lisa inquired, feeling the need to change the topic.

"No, not me. Just my parents, my brother, and the High Princess," Rilian answered. "Originally Helena wasn't going but now, she is."

"The present King and Queen of Narnia, and the future King and Queen of Narnia. Archenland approves," Olvin chuckled.

"I'm just glad, and relieved too, that Levin and Helena are talking to each other again," Lisa commented.

"The real question is, did he talk to her first or did she talk to him first?" Rilian remarked.

"Well, does it matter? As long as they're both willing to admit their shortcomings, willing to make up for the lost time and for their wrongdoings, that's true love," Olvin shrugged. He grinned when they reached his room. "Well, here I am. I shall sup with you tonight." He waved and backed into his room while the Prince and the Lady carried on.

"If you ask me, I would say it's Levin who talked to Helena first. Because it means he's ready to lower his ego and swallow his pride to make amends. He needs to. His previous failure to do so had led to their fallout. So, it's actually the perfect solution, I say," Lisa explained her viewpoint.

"You're right. I'm betting on my brother too," Rilian nodded in agreement. "And," he said dramatically, "I know something about them – technically about Levin, only – that you don't know."

"Are you teasing me? Or are you actually going to tell me?" Lisa enquired. "Because I don't want to be a backstabber, blabbing secrets."

"Well it doesn't count if you're – if we're – just giving hints," Rilian said slyly. He meant that in return, he wanted Lisa to tell him something about Helena and Levin that he didn't know.

"Alright. Fine," Lisa agreed.

"Ladies first," said Rilian.

"Hmm…" said Lisa. "Levin may not be Helena's first boyfriend – courter, I mean – but he's her first in…another way."

"Hmm?" Rilian sounded amused. "I knew it."

"That he's her first?" Lisa frowned.

"No; that they're…intimate," Rilian replied, shrugging.

"How?!" Lisa gaped at Rilian.

Rilian looked even more amused. "You just seem very surprised that I would even have knowledge of it. Intriguing."

"Well, tell me!" Lisa got impatient.

"Well, how did you know about them?" Rilian threw the question back at Lisa, dodging it strategically. Well perhaps he does have the makings of a diplomat although he is not the Crown Prince, thought Lisa.

"Helena told me. I'm her cousin, best friend, and lady in waiting," Lisa said. "What's your excuse?"

"Levin told me," Rilian said coolly. "I'm his twin, brother, and best friend."

"What?!" Lisa gasped.

"And by the way, it's not an excuse. It's a legitimate reason," Rilian added smoothly.

"I…I thought it was just girls who would…share the news; I didn't know boys would too."

"You can say…it's a twin thing. Even when I was in Galma and he stayed in mainland Narnia, when something good happens to him before I even know it, I'm in a better mood. When I get angry because some insolent fools get on my nerves, he tells me he's unusually irritable as well. We have this magical connection that's not just between siblings; it really is something unique and exclusively shared between twins. Well, at least we've never experienced this with Fern before. She's our sibling. My mother the Queen tells me that she has this connection with her twin brother too. My uncle Caleb," Rilian explained.

"I wish I could feel that connection myself too, but I don't have a twin," Lisa giggled. "Now it's your turn to spill the beans."

"Are you sure you are ready for the truth to be unraveled?" Rilian said dramatically.

"No, I'm not ready at all. Please, never tell me," Lisa said sarcastically yet playfully, and giggled.

"To tell you the truth, Helena isn't Levin's first, regrettably," Rilian revealed darkly.

"What?!" Lisa said again in disbelief.

"It's true."

"Go on…" Lisa listened intently.

Rilian sighed. "It was…about two years ago. We were on a visit to Archenland. As you know, Felicity is Fern's lady in waiting, so naturally she would be part of our –"

"It was Felicity?!" Lisa had to clamp her hand over her mouth. How dare she?! She was supposed to be with Sal, and she's not pure? Lisa thought to herself.

"No," Rilian said, chuckling at Lisa's reaction. "Just…try to calm down and listen to me." That's funny, he thought silently. It's usually people telling me to calm down and now it's the other way round.

Lisa nodded. "Alright. I'm listening."

"Felicity was supposed to go to Archenland with us. But she had fallen ill and was not fit to travel with us. In her stead, her family had arranged for one of her cousins – I forgot her name – who was also trained to be a handmaiden, to join us. One early morning during our stay in Anvard Pass, I saw them exiting his room together, both of them looking besotted. Aslan knows what they could have done the night before. He was 17; she was about the same age as well. That would explain the noises I heard at night, actually. It's hard to not know what's going on that way. I don't want to give you more descriptions, but that, my friend, is my brother's…dark past."

"Oh," Lisa still looked shocked. "Oh." It was all that she could say.

"Be assured, though. He never saw her again. She went to the Lone Islands for her education shortly after our trip to Archenland. I don't think they ever shared any true affection. He was young and stupid – well, he still is, but he was younger and stupider back then. Whereas she was just one of the many ladies lusting after him. Over time, I got used to it. He got used to it. It was just one night, I'm rather sure. So I am convinced that this wouldn't get in the way of Levin's…sometimes rather fragile, pretty delicate, and potentially volatile relationship with Helena," Rilian explained. "He knows that I know what he's done that night."

"Does Fern know then?" Lisa asked hesitantly.

"I'm not sure, actually. I don't think she does though," Rilian answered.

"And does Felicity know?" Lisa asked cautiously.

Rilian paused to think. "Well…" he drawled the syllable.

"She does know," Lisa guessed. "Because it's her cousin. The girl must be bragging about it afterward."

"I can't confirm or deny that," Rilian said, choosing his words carefully.

"But I thought…I thought Levin and Felicity were…I don't know, I thought they liked each other?" Lisa asked.

"They did. But I think they only liked each other after he gained his…experience, in Anvard," Rilian confirmed. "'The Anvard experience' was the term Levin made up when he and I talked about it afterward."

"It must have been awkward," Lisa giggled.

"You bet," Rilian said knowingly. "Alright, you know, we should really change the topic. I'm running out of euphemisms."

"What's something that could take my mind off things? I can't go back to my room now; I can't stand the sight of my emptied wardrobe," Lisa flinched.

"It's not empty; it's still packed with clothes!" Rilian laughed.

"It's like someone emptied out my heart!" Lisa grimaced. "And don't laugh; I'm serious!"

"Well, since you've already donated some of your clothes today, I say you go join my sister and my courter with the seamstresses. You'll see why soon enough," Rilian suggested with a wink.

"Alright. That might cheer me up a little. See you at dinner then! Supper, I mean. Oh, whatever," Lisa chuckled then turned around to walk down a few connecting corridors to where the Princess and the other Lady were.

A/n:

In the next chapter, I am proud to announce that it will be mainly about Helena and Levin making up! Yay!

In addition, I need to tell you all that Jim will no longer be bearding for Helena, as she wishes to mend her relationship with Levin. But I probably won't be writing a scene between Helena and Jim just for the sake of letting you know that she's ended things with him. Jim will still remain a friend to Helena, though, and to Lisa as well since he's trying to help her with her shopaholic tendencies. STILL, I am not ruling out the possibility of Jim becoming a potential love interest to Helena once again. Teaser: there will be a situation in which Levin and Helena are forced to end their courtship, and Helena has to venture to Calormen with Jim as her escort.

But, before we forget, Levin was not a virgin before Helena came into his life! It turns out he has had a one night stand with Felicity's cousin, a couple of years ago! How do you feel about this? Please tell me in the reviews below!

P.S. Felicity's cousin, who was Levin's first, will be making an appearance in a later chapter.