Orphic || Prince Caspian

thirteen

Caspian awoke the second time to the clatter of utensils against wooden bowls and the muffling of voices. As his mind rose from the safe slumber, other senses regained function. He could smell hay and the scent of stew mixing in with smoke from the fire. There was a warm weight of arms and something pinning down his left shoulder. He had tangled his own arms around it, clutching the weight tight to feel the breath slowly slipping in and out of its lungs. Caspian slowly blinked open his eyes.

Evening must have fallen during his nap. The cave was lit by oil lamps and flickering torches that lit the outside of the pale red curtain from the outside with an orange glow. In the little bed nook carved into the wall, Caspian had just enough light to take in the features of the boy in bed with him. Ahren was still sleeping. Face relaxed and mouth slightly open as his breath dusted Caspian's collar bones with each exhale. Wavy brown hair hung around his eyes and cheekbones. His skin was still pale but with a slight golden sheen from hours outside. Through the material of their shirts Caspian could feel the weight of muscle. Ahren had grown. He was no longer the boy Caspian remembered. 

"Oh", he let out a soft breath. "It wasn't a dream".  The gust of air stirred a lock of hair and it tickled Ahren's nose. Caspian stared as the other boy frowned then stirred. There was a sleepy whine then big brown eyes were blinking at him blearily.

For a second Caspian held his breath as Ahren stared. The smaller was obviously still half asleep. A moment seemed to last an age. "You're warm", Ahren mumbled as he closed his eyes and nuzzled his head back into Caspian's shoulder.

"It's strange being bigger than you", Caspian hummed as he took the chance to run his fingers through the wavy strands. 

That seemed to wake Ahren up a bit more. He raised his head again. The light from the room made soft by the curtain smoothed over his face. "Caspian? Oh". His eyes widened and he blinked again, then smiled so wide his eyes crinkled. "I thought I dreamed you". He tightened his arms and squeezed the taller. "How long have you been awake?"

Caspian didn't know. "Not long".

Ahren began pulling away and the absence left the taller feeling cold. "Willa?" Ahren called as he pushed off the blankets and swung his legs out of bed. Caspian followed him and winced as the curtain was pushed back and the light of the room blinded him.

"Is there food?"

"Finally. I thought you two would sleep forever", it was the blonde satyr who spoke. Bree, Caspian recalled. The man was sat on a mat on the ground by the fire pit. His sister next to him and Willowbranch across the fire. The redhead was stirring a bubbling pot held over the flames. The smells of rabbit stew filling the air.

"You're just in time", the centaur chuckled. "Would you like some Caspian?" 

The prince stood up, wincing as his stomach rumbled in answer for him. He nodded and the satyr, still feeling strange at this new norm. A day ago he thought that narnians did not exist and his best friend was dead. Now he was standing next to a seventeen year old Ahren, grown and so different yet so much the same, and sharing a room with a centaur and two satyrs. Caspian would probably be much more scared and uncertain if he wasn't still emotionally exhausted from crying into the other boy's shoulder. 

 Ahren was moving to take a seat on one of the benches surrounding the hearth. Caspian jerked and stumbled to follow him, limbs uncharacteristically uncoordinated and lacking his trained grace. He could feel everyone's eyes on him as he sat down at Ahren's side. Their legs touching and part of Caspian was afraid that if they weren't touching the wavy haired boy would disappear. But Ahren didn't move away so maybe he felt the same. 

Ahren took a bowl offered by the male satyr and handed it over. Caspian cradled the warmth and let it settle some of his nerves. "Bree", Ahren gestured at the Satyr. "I already told you but might as well make introductions. Caspian. Bree. Summer. Willa, or Willowbranch".