Lost boy || Prince Caspian

10

The locals paraded them out down to the harbour. Caspian leading the crew, his hand linked with Otto's as they walked back towards the boats. Drinian and the crew were busy filling the boats with supplies that the locals had cheerfully spared. Otto walked with his spear at his side. A search of the slaver's stores having given back their weapons. Caspian had the familiar golden lions head sword at his belt and Lucy had her cordial and dagger back. She had taken one of the slaver's swords as well and it hung on her belt. Otto had also taken a dagger which he had stuffed into his boot. Just a back up weapon in case he lost his spear.

"Your majesty!" A man called. Drinian caught him before he could get too close. Caspian stopped, his movement bring Otto to a stop as well. It was the same man who had chased the wagon this morning. His daughter was a few feet away, still in her pink dress. "My wife was taken just this morning", he pleaded.

"It's alright Drinian", Caspian nodded and the captain let the man go. He stumbled forwards pleadingly. He was middle aged with skin worn form the sun and hands used to labour.

"I beg you. Take me with you".

"Daddy!" The little girl ran forwards to grip the back of his shirt.

"Gael!" A woman called, trying to pull the girl back. 

"I want to come", she stated.

"No Gael. Stay with your aunt", the man replied. He turned back to Caspian, eyes flickering down to his and Otto's linked hands, then onto Otto and Edmund curiously. "I'm a fine sailor. Been on the seas my whole life".

"Of course", Caspian nodded understandably. "Of course. You will do anything to get your partner back. You must". He patted him on the shoulder.

The man exhaled in relief. "Thank you". Caspian nodded again and they moved onwards, letting the man say goodbye.

"That was nice", Otto commented. Caspian smiled at him.

"He wants to bring back his family. I would not deny him that chance". Otto squeezed his hand and Caspian squeezed back.

They were just walking down the slope to the harbour when a second man called out. "My king! My king!" He was a old man, with a long grey beard reaching down to his thighs but he stood straight and was offering something up. Caspian turned and he must have recognised him as he began walking quicker. Otto, Edmund and Lucy a step behind.

"This was given to me by your father", the old man held out the object. It was the shape of a sword but barnacles and crustaceans had covered the blade until it was barely recognisable. "I hid it safely in a cave all these years".

"That's an old narnian sword", Edmund stated. Otto wasn't sure how he recognised it but the boy had lived and grown up here hundreds of years ago, so if anyone would know, it would be him.

"It's from your golden age", the man smiled. "There are seven such swords. Gifts from Aslan to protect narnia". Otto blinked and realised that this old man must be one of the lords Caspian was searching for. That made sense. "Your father entrusted them to us. Here", the man held out the sword. "Take it".

Caspian looked up, expression unreadable. He let go of Otto's hand and stepped forwards. "May it protect you", the lord bowed his head. Caspian took the sword gently, almost reverently. Above them, the people began to cheer.

"Thank you my lord. And we will find your lost citizens", Caspian promised. He turned towards the boats then paused. "Edmund", he held the sword out. Edmund took it in confusion and Caspian patted him on the shoulder, leaving the sword with him. Edmund held it up and beamed.

——

They set sail with new previsions and a few new sailors. Everyone had a job to do on deck. Lucy helped mend the clothes and keep track of the provisions. Edmund learnt how to tie knots and  helped the crew around the deck. Every spare second of his was spent carefully chipping the crustaceans off the sword and polishing it. Otto had taken a liking to the crows nest and the rigging. He liked the view and the thrill of being so high. He would spend a few hours a day up there. Just watching the blue sea and the clouds above while Caspian kept track of their navigation with Drinian.

He was swinging down from one of these look out shifts to find Eustace and Reepicheep running around the main deck with blades. He jumped down from the rope ladder and crossed over to Caspian. The man put an arm round his shoulders. "What's going on?" Otto asked.

"Reepicheep is trying to teach the boy how to fight", Caspian chuckled. They watched as Reepicheep smacked the blade against Eustace's legs while calling out instructions on lunging. Otto chuckled.

"Reminds me of my grandfather", he commented.

Caspian's eyebrows raised in interest. "Oh? Is he the one who taught you how to fight with a spear?"

Otto nodded. "He had this weird fascination with proper weaponry. Said a gun was like cheating and that the only good and fair way to fight was with a blade. He taught me to use a sword as well but he had this great big spear, designed like ones from Africa. He travelled a lot. But well , I knocked it over and it smashed a vase. In punishment he made me train with it for about a hour a day all summer. Then he taught me how to fight". Otto chuckled. "It looked a lot like this".

Caspian listened to the story with a fond smile. "Sounds like an interesting man".

"He was", Otto nodded. "He never like my father, which said a lot. After my mother died, the man showed his true colours". He shrugged slightly.

"You don't talk about your father", Caspian muttered. Otto winced.

"Let's just say that he and your uncle would get on very well. Actually, I think he might be worst".

Caspian paused, he seemed to be thinking about something. He opened his mouth to speak but there was a shriek. They both turned towards the noise. Eustace had fallen, knocking over a large basket covered in tarp. The crew had fallen silent and Lucy had stepped forwards as a small figure crawled out. It was the little girl in the pink dress from the islands. "Gael?" Her father, who was called Rhince, said in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

Gael stood up, eyes wide. Rhince sighed and walked forwards to pull her into a hug. He turned as Drinian approached. He opened his mouth to say something but the captain held out a hand. Rhince fell silent. "It looks like we have an extra crew member", Drinian announced. Rhince smiled as the captain held out an orange. Gael took it nervously and the tension broke. The crew began turning back to their business.

"Welcome aboard", Lucy greeted. Gael curtsied.

"Your majesty".

"Call me Lucy", she waved a hand. "Come on". Gael took it and allowed the older girl to lead her away.

"Come on", Drinian called. "Look lively, back to work". The men all set to work.

"Well", Otto muttered, leaning against Caspian. "That was surprising".

"Quite", Caspian nodded. "I've got maps to look over. Want to help?" Otto nodded. He needed to brush up on his knowledge of narnia. Together, the two of them headed into the maps room.

Unedited