Orphic || Prince Caspian

twelve

"Ahren?"

Ahren felt his breath stutter. Caspian was standing by his bed. The young man had grown and he had grown up much better than Ahren had. Caspian carried himself with a certain confidence, a regal posture that immediately set him out as the prince he was. His dark hair brushed his shoulders and his features were fine, handsome. He was taller, broader than Ahren and that was a surprise. Ahren had always been the taller one but now it seems that it was different. He watched as Caspian dropped the sword and gaped at him

"Caspian", the name was out of his mouth before he could stop it. His prince was right there. Rumple, dirt stained shirt and breeches. Yet right there and he was beautiful. He was striding across the floor as fast as his feet could take him.

(When he was a child his father had told him of their family's famous loyalty to the crown. Never had their ancestors betrayed the Telmarine royal family and many a member had died as a cost of that loyalty. It was a famous loyalty. Ahren had not understood it until he had met Caspian. Now it felt like he had been drowning and he could finally breathe. His family loyalty might be legendary, but he doubted that any of his ancestors had felt like this. It felt like he was himself again, like having Caspian near had returned some forgotten pieces to his soul. It was heady, overwhelming in the best ways).

"Wren!" Summer called out in concern. There was no need for her to be concerned. Caspian would never hurt him. He would never hurt Caspian. It was as true as the blood in his veins. Ahren had known he would give his life to the moment he met Caspian's gaze. There was no denying this.

Ahren was almost close enough touch him when Caspian moved. "This must be a trick". The whispered words were what made Ahren pause. They were inches away. Close enough to feel the warmth and breath of each other yet still not touching, not crossing that barrier just yet. Caspian blinked teary eyes. "You're dead. I was told you died in the fire". He was gazing at him like all the stars had swum into clarity for the very first time.

Ahren held his gaze, feeling the air rushing from his lungs. It almost hurt to be looked at like that, like he was a dream made flesh. "Othello got me out", his voice had slipped, telmarine accent flowing through. His childhood returning to him. "He died. I almost died. These people saved me". He gestured to the people behind him. He glanced back and met Willowbranch's gaze. She smiled at him and began ushering the satyr siblings out of the cave. Summer went with a frown while Bree made some stuttered protests. Their hooves echoing as their voices faded.

As soon as they were gone, Ahren made an aborted attempt to reach for him. He was almost afraid to touch him. Caspian had no such fear. The prince fell into his arms. It took a bit manoeuvring to get them into a position where the hug was comfortable. Caspian being three inches taller than Ahren and broader, but he folded into the touch like a small child. When he clutched at the smaller man's waist it was a tight grip as if someone would take Ahren away. "Ahren", he murmured like a prayer into the junction of his shoulder. "Ahren. Ahren".

"I've got you. I'm here". Caspian's hands were leaving fingerprint bruises on Ahren's skin through the thin material of his shirt. He was holding him like he was his last breath of air. Ahren was pretty sure that he was gripping the prince back just as tightly. His fingernails creasing the fabric covering his shoulders. "Caspian. My prince. You're safe here. I'll protect you. I promised, didn't I?"

It took several long moments of muttered soothings and soft sobs buried into warm skin before they were able to part from their death grip. Ahren grinned as he rubbed the wetness from under Caspian's eyes with his thumbs, fingers combing back the prince's long hair. Caspian blinked at him, face lost in a look of dazed wonder like a child seeing coloured lights for the first time. "You're still crying, huh?" Ahren smiled at him.