𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙋𝙄𝙍𝘼𝙏𝙀𝙎 𝘿𝘼𝙂𝙂𝙀𝙍 • caspian

part ten

𝘼 𝙉𝙄𝘾𝙀 𝙏𝘼𝙇𝙆

𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙂𝙍𝙊𝙐𝙋 𝙎𝙏𝙊𝙊𝘿 𝘼𝙍𝙊𝙐𝙉𝘿 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝘿𝙄𝙎𝙏𝙍𝙀𝙎𝙎𝙀𝘿 𝘿𝙍𝘼𝙂𝙊𝙉. Poor Eustace was biting at the golden cuff on his wrist with pained whines. Daria walked towards him, lightly grabbing his paw and studying the troublesome bracelet.
"He must have been tempted by the treasure." Daria spoke softly.
"Well, anyone knows a dragon's treasure is enchanted." Caspian glanced around causing Eustace to growl lowly.
"Really, Caspian?" Daria shot the king a glance.
"Well, anyone from here." He corrected with a small shrug. Lucy sent him a curt glance and walked to Daria, both shaking their heads at him. The Lynx woman stood and held her hands out towards the dragon resulting in Eustace grumbling in pain as he moved. Daria grabbed the cuff and yanked it off, sending the dragon a sheepish smile with the jewelry in her hands.
"Is there a way we can change him back?" Edmund asked.
"Not that I know of." Caspian looked to Drinian who shook his head. Eustace huffed in annoyance from their lack of knowledge.
"Aunt Alberta will not be pleased." Edmund mumbled with a shake of his head.
"Sorry about the hand, old boy." Reepicheep piped in. "I can be a little overzealous at times." Eustace huffed again and Lucy patted his paw to reassure him.
"The boats are ready, sire!" Travors yelled from the shoreline.
"We can't leave him alone." The high queen immediately stood her ground.
"Well, we can't bring him on board, Your Majesty." Drinian sighed.
"Then you go. Me and Lucy will stay with him." Daria crossed her arms stubbornly.
"Drinian, you and the others take one boat back." Caspian handed his sword to the captain. "The rest of us will stay here till morning and...work something out on what to do."
"But you've have no previsions, and no means of staying warm, Your Majesty." Rhince mentioned. Caspian glanced at Daria but was taken aback by Eustace blowing fire onto a discarded stick. The group gasped and jumped back at the sudden action.
"You were saying?" Reepicheep asked rhetorically while Lucy and Daria chuckled. Everyone else followed suit, Caspian keeping his eyes trained on Daria's smile.

-

Once it grew dark, the group that stayed behind with Eustace stared up at the stars. They were more visible than ever considering there was no light pollution.
"I've never seen these constellations before." Edmund said as he looked up.
"Me neither." Caspian glanced up from where he sat. "We're a long way from home."
"They are gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous." Daria smiled softly from her spot next to Edmund on the ground.
"When I was a boy, I used to imagine sailing to the end of the world...finding my father there." Caspian told the two softly.
"Maybe you will." Edmund glanced at the king.
"Caspian?" Daria sat up on her elbows. "Can we talk? Alone?"
The king in question looked away from the sky and towards the barmaid. She stood and walked away from the fire without hearing his answer.
When she was outside of view, Edmund and Caspian shared a glance. The former smirked.
"Well, I guess you should go and talk to her." The Pevensie boy laughed.
"Why'd you say it like that?" Caspian stood slowly.
"Lucy told me. And I saw a scratch or two on your shoulders earlier." Edmund laughed and nudged his friends leg.
"Alright, stop that." Caspian chuckled and shook his head.
Ed smiled cheekily. "I'm just saying, she did almost die. Let her thank you for saving her."  The king rolled his eyes as he walked after the Lynx woman.

"Dar? What's the matter?" Caspian called as he left the firelight. "Where are you?"
The barmaid reached out, grabbing the front of his shirt and tugging him into the shadow of a rock with her. "I'm here."
"What's troubling you, darling?" The king wrapped a hand around her waist absentmindedly.
"I was thinking...after this adventure, what will become of us?" Her voice was soft and fearful, this was one of the rare moments she'd shown her vulnerability.
"What do you want to become of us?" Caspian spoke softly back to her. "Do you want to part ways?"
"No, of course not." Daria shook her head. "But what of the other suitors? Of all those women praying for your time?"
"They won't get it." He said firmly. "You're all I care about."
"You mean that?" She avoided the eye contact he wanted to make. After her run in with potential death, a lot of questions and concerns clouded her mind.
"I do." Caspian was happy to reassure her. "Don't forget what the professor said, these places are meant to test and tempt us. But we'll make it through this. We always do."
"No, you're right." Daria shook her head, still avoiding his eyes. "I don't know what I was thinking. I guess I'm just tired or shaken up." Caspian nodded before grabbing her chin gently. He tilted her head up to his, leaning down to her lips slowly. Her breath caught in her throat, as if they hadn't kissed before and her face flushed ever so slightly. Her eyes fluttered shut as his lips brushed hers, and in an instant they were pressed together.
Caspian kissed her slowly, trying to take things one step at a time. Daria appreciated his thoughtfulness, but just a mention of Caspian touching her made her weak in the knees.
The Kings hand on her chin moved to the front of her stomach, resting there and feeling the raise and fall of her breathing.
Daria pulled away from the kiss, catching her breath while studying Caspian's face. He smiled softly and pecked her lips before kissing her cheek.
"We should probably go back." He muttered, even though he continued to kiss down to her neck. "Edmund's already teasing."
"As is Lucy." Daria gulped, her head tilting back slightly. "Wait until the crewmen find out."
Caspian's hand grabbed hers, bringing her knuckles to his lips, placing a kiss along them. Her cold rings sent a shiver down his spine.
"Come on then." The Lynx woman moved from the wall. "It's late, and we have a long day ahead of us."