Orphic || Prince Caspian

Seventeen

Caspian half lifted, half dragged Ahren behind a tree. The curly haired boy was muttering about something, hands distractedly trying to yank his sword free from his belt despite his limp limbs and glazed eyes. "No no no", he was muttering in his concussed daze, tone panicked. "Not again. Not again. Tello, I'm scared". The name, slurred as it was, only made Caspian clasp him closer. 

"Ahren. Ahren!" He called, capturing the boy's face in his hands. Fingers brushing against blood and smearing it over golden skin. "Listen to me. Look at me". Dazed honey brown eyes seemed to focus slightly. A soft look returning to Ahren's face. 

"Caspian. My prince". Ahren smiled and then frowned, brain catching up as it fought against the dizzying effects of the concussion. "Did you blow the horn? Help will come". He sounded so sure of his words but Caspian did not have the heart to believe him when he could hear the footsteps of the soldiers coming ever closer. He glance up, shooting a wide eyed look at where Summer and Bree were sheltered. Summer had tied the makeshift bandages over the wound and Bree was still awake. His face lightly sheened with sweat and pain but still awake. 

Then something rustled in the bushes. Caspian almost missed it if it wasn't for Summer's head flicking around towards the noise. Another rustle, closer this time and Caspian surveyed the tall grass and ferns around them suspiciously. His grip on the body slumped half against him, half against the tree tightening as he reached with his other hand for his sword. Had one of the soldiers snuck up on them? Circled around to catch them by surprise? Were they about to die? He could not see anything other than the tall grasses surrounding them. 

A soldier cried out and he peered around the tree trunk to watch as the man fell into the grass. Form disappearing from sight and going silent. The other soldiers were glancing around with sudden fear, blades jabbing at the ferns and grass as if to prevent another attack. It was unsuccessful and there was another scream as a second soldier dropped. The only sound echoing back was a dying death rattle. 

Caspian glanced at Summer and watched as her shoulders fell in relief. Behind him another soldier went down. "Retreat!" One shouted and the men promptly fled back the way they had come. Caspian watching as their black armour disappeared into the forest. 

"Told you", Ahren muttered with a groan. "Urgh my head hurts". 

"That's what happens when you get knocked unconscious", Summer grumbled at him. Ahren merely leaned further into Caspian's hold and leant his head against his shoulder with another groan. 

A rustling broke the leaves and Caspian tensed as something rolled out from the bushes. It was a large mouse, the size of a cat but with a belt around it's waist and a very slim, small but very sharp rapier held in it's paw. The tip of which was pointed right at Caspian. "What be your final words telmarine scum?" The mouse, a he judging by the voice register, spoke with a surprisingly clear narnian accent. 

"You're a mouse", Caspian stated dumbly. Ahren sniggered. 

The sword lowered a bit as the mouse sighed. "That's original". 

"Reepicheep. This is Caspian. My one", Ahren giggled. "He is of no threat". 

Reepicheep stared at Caspian for a moment before sheathing his blade. "Why did you not say so? I might have speared him through". 

"I sincerely agree with you, noble mouse. But we must get aid", Caspian spoke smoothly. "My company is hurt". Now that the danger had fled, he turned to Ahren and cupped his face in his hands just has he had moments before. Dark eyes scanning golden toned skin as he took in the other's injuries again but without the pressure of advancing soldiers. The blood on Ahren's temple had dried, wound having stopped bleeding and his eyes looked less dazed. But still, Caspian was not liking the pale flush to his skin.