The Immortal and The Undying

Life in the Royal Guard

After the chaos of the royal ball, things slowly settled into a routine for Kaelin. She quickly found herself adjusting to the daily rhythms of life as part of the Astorian Royal Guard, though "routine" was a loose term when it came to her. The guards' tasks ranged from patrolling the capital's grand streets, dealing with minor disturbances, and, of course, keeping an eye on Prince Caspian, who never failed to find some way to make life interesting.

Kaelin, however, was still recovering from the events of the ball. Though none of the nobles had been seriously injured, her multiple accidents throughout the night had earned her some stern words from her superiors. Queen Adalynn herself had scolded Kaelin after witnessing one of her infamous deaths—where she'd slipped on the polished ballroom floor, fell into a table, and cracked her head, only to pop back to life an hour later with a sheepish grin. Thalion had tried to stay stone-faced throughout the incident, but Kaelin swore she saw the hint of a smile on his lips when no one was looking.

"You're lucky the queen found it... amusing," Thalion remarked dryly one afternoon, as they strolled through the castle courtyard. "But you really need to watch yourself. The next time it happens, we might not be so fortunate. That was the second time you fell that night."

Kaelin shrugged, her usual carefree attitude intact despite the reprimands. "Hey, I can't help it if floors hate me. Besides, everyone loves a good laugh. It's my way of breaking the ice—literally, in some cases."

Thalion shook his head, but there was a warmth in his eyes that hadn't been there before. It had been weeks since the ball, and Kaelin had grown into a strange but comforting presence in his life. Despite her clumsiness, she brought a lightness to his otherwise grim existence, her constant teasing and upbeat personality a balm to his brooding nature.

Still, the other guards were adjusting to her in their own way. Gareth, who had been at her side during the ball, had taken to placing bets with the other guards on when Kaelin would "die" next. He often joked that her bizarre ability made him feel like his job as a guard was practically redundant.

But for Kaelin, there was something calming about the life of the royal guard. The structured days, the camaraderie among her fellow soldiers, and even the tension of keeping Prince Caspian in line offered a sense of purpose. And despite her constant accidents, she was slowly proving her worth.

Meanwhile, Thalion remained the same—aloof, brooding, and ever-watchful. His immortality, a curse he could never shake, weighed on him like a constant shadow. But somehow, Kaelin's presence began to chip away at that armor, little by little.

Whenever they had free time, Kaelin would sit with him, either on the castle ramparts overlooking the bustling city or in the training yards when the day's duties had come to an end. She would talk about her recent adventures, throw in a joke or two, and then, inevitably, the conversation would turn to Thalion's immortality.

"So, tell me," Kaelin said one evening, leaning against a stone wall as she watched the sun set over the distant hills. "What's it like knowing you can't die?"

Thalion sighed, his usual response whenever she prodded at the subject. "It's... complicated. I wouldn't call it a gift."

"Yeah, I figured. You don't exactly look thrilled every time I bring it up," she said, a teasing smile on her lips. "But it's just... I don't get it. I mean, I die all the time, and I keep coming back. It's annoying, sure, but I can't imagine being... trapped forever."

He glanced at her, his expression softening for a brief moment. "It's not just the not dying. It's the loneliness. Outliving everyone... knowing you'll lose everyone you care about."

Kaelin frowned at that, her usual carefree demeanour fading. "Well, you won't lose me. I mean, I'm stuck with this whole revival thing, so maybe we'll be stuck together, huh?"

Thalion looked at her, a rare smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "You're impossible."

"And you're miserable," she shot back, grinning. "But at least we balance each other out."

As the days went by, their bond deepened. Kaelin's constant antics kept Thalion on his toes, but he found himself looking forward to their time together. Whether they were sparring in the training yard or sharing a quiet moment in the castle gardens, her presence had become a steadying force in his life.

One day, after yet another of Kaelin's mishaps—where she accidentally tripped while sparring and impaled herself on her own sword—Thalion stood over her as she lay on the ground, clutching her stomach with a pained expression.

"Are you ever going to stop dying?" he asked, exasperation and amusement blending together in his voice.

Kaelin, her face pale but still managing a smirk, replied, "Not anytime soon, Thal."

Thalion shook his head, a rare chuckle escaping him as he reached down to help her up. "Alright, Kai. Let's get you patched up... again."

It was the first time he'd called her that—Kai. A nickname that, for reasons she couldn't quite explain, made her feel closer to him than ever before. She smiled, grateful that even in this strange and often dangerous world, she had found someone who understood her in ways no one else did.