Orphic || Prince Caspian

eight

"We need to give you a new name", Willowbranch stated as she redressed the arrow wound on Ahren's shoulder. It had been healing nicely, much better now that his fever had broken. He was spending more time awake and had moved on from the broth they had been feeding him to soft foods. The centaur tied the bandages and he winced at the feeling.

"Why do I need a new name?" Ahren asked as she helped him pull on a shirt. It was a leather thing that was too big on him. It had once been Bree's. The mentioned satyr was seated by the fire with his sister. The two of them were busy grinding herbs for his medicine.

"Because the regent tried to kill you", Summer replied before the others could. She tossed her braid over her shoulder and met his gaze. "If the city finds out that we are harbouring a human child, much lest the son of one of their lords? They will hunt us and kill you. It will be an excuse for war".

Ahren squeaked at the word. "War? I don't want war. I don't want more people to die". Tears welled in his eyes. He couldn't help it. The thought of death made Othello's face flash across his mind, the way he fell and hit the ground, the way Caspian had cried alone at the funerals of his parents. He wished to be back in the castle with his friend, where he could be strong and everything was just was it was.

Bree smacked his sister's shoulder. "You've made him cry! Stop scaring him", he scolded. He pushed himself up, goat hooves clopping on the stone and earth as he crossed over to the bed. "Hey hey. Don't cry". He reached out and Ahren allowed himself to be picked up and balanced in a hip. He was a take seven year old but the satyrs were both much stronger than they looked.

Narnians were also very tactile, he had learnt. They love to pick him up, or smooth back his hair. Touch seemed to reassure them and the more time he spent with them, the more he also grew to find it reassuring. Othello had only been physically affectionate in private, while his father was often busy. It was strange to be picked up and carried like a much younger child. Not that he could protest. His body was still regaining strength from his fever.

Willowbranch sighed and crossed her arms, her horse tail flicking in thought. "We do need to give him a name though. Something that draws less attention. Ahren is a telmarine name".

"Sorry". Ahren ducked his head, voice small. He was a danger and a burden to these people.

"Oh little one", Willow branch reached down to cup his cheek in her hand. Something she had started doing a lot. "You don't need to apologise. We just need to make it safer for everyone if you're staying here. A new name would make you safer".

"I'm staying here?" Ahren asked hesitantly. He did not know where he could go. As much as he wanted to go back to Caspian, he knew that he could get his friend hurt if he did so. Also Miraz was scary.

She sent him a warm smile. "Yes. You can stay here if you want. Live here, with me".

"Summer and I live just down stream", Bree added cheerfully. His arms strong and warm as they held Ahren close. "We can visit all the time. I've always wanted a little brother".

His excitement was contagious and Ahren felt a small smile tug on his lips. He giggled s Bree booped his nose. "What name should we give him?" Summer voiced. She had also abandoned her work and crossed the room to join their huddle by the wooden cot. (Which Ahren had learnt that Bree had made it when they found out that Willowbranch only had hay as her bed). "Leaf? Twig?"

Bree pulled a face at his sister. "Eww no. That squirrel who lives in the oak tree by the flower clearing is called Twig. He's annoying, always shouting at us for collecting flowers".

Willowbranch laughed as she stepped back to continue grinding the herbs that the siblings had forgotten.

"You're right. What about Ash? Hawthorn? Birch? Oak? Cedar?" Summer began rattling off names.

"Those are all trees", Ahren pointed out. "Why would I be named after a tree?"

Summer blinked at him. "Because you're narnian now", she declared, booping his nose just like Bree had done. "If Willowbranch is keeping you then you are her child and a honorary narnian".

"Will I grow animal legs too?" The question made the siblings laugh.

"No. You're still human", Bree chuckled. "But that doesn't mean that you are not one of us. You are Willowbranch's child now. When you're better than you can meet the elders. They will tell the others that your are one of us".

Ahren nodded though he did not fully understand. "What if they don't like me? What if they want to send me back?" The thought made his hands tremble in fear.

Summer reached off and cupped his small hands in hers. He fingers were rough with calluses. "They won't do that. Ironhoof's dad, Glenstorm, is apart of the elder council. Ironhoof knows what happened. He won't let them kick you out".

"Neither will we", Bree added with a crooked grin. He adjusted Ahren's weight on his hip. The fur of his leg tickling the boy's bare feet.

"Are there any names you want to be called Ahren?" Willowbranch voiced.

"I like my name", he replied. "My mother gave it to me. Said I was her little wren", he beamed proudly at the memory. It was one for the very few he had left of her.

"Wren is cute", Summer considered. "That could work. Do you know any Wrens?"

"I don't know any. Bird or other", Bree shook his head. "Do you mind us calling you Wren?"

Ahren shook his head and the siblings beamed. "We need to work on his accent next", Summer continued. "Now we have a name, he can't go around speaking like the telmarines".

"What's an accent?" Ahren frowned. Everyone spoke the same in the city. Though he had noticed that the narnians did pronounce things differently to him.

"It's a way of speaking", Willowbranch explained. "The telmarines all speak with a different accent to us. If we want it keep you hidden as a Narnian, then you need to speak like us too. It will take time but you will learn". She seemed to read the worry on his face. "When it's just the four of us, you can speak however you like. But when we are out in the woods then you will need to speak like us. We are your new family, but we will not make you forget your old one".

"Hear that little Wren?" Bree exclaimed as he cuddled the boy closer, spinning them around excitedly. "We are family now. You are our little brother because was the one who found you. Willowbranch maybe the one taking you in but I found you and brought you here. You are our little brother. Okay?"

Ahren felt himself smiling slightly as he nodded. "Okay". He wasn't sure how he felt about the word family yet. He still had Caspian and his father out there, though Othello was dead and gone. It seemed that he just had to trust that these people would continue to be so kind.

Unedited

Ahren is adorable and deserves so much.