With Courage [King Caspian X OC]

Epilogue

Amber didn't realise that they had never drawn the curtains closed last night, or even shut the balcony doors, until she woke up with the sun burning red behind her closed eyes.

The morning air was brisk. Not cold enough to be considered out of season, but chilly enough for her to blearily paw at the bedspread until it was tucked beneath their chins before burrowing her face back into the warmth of Caspian's skin. A few more minutes, she thought to herself. When was the last time she had felt so well rested? She couldn't recall. Perhaps this was the first, near drunk on the ease with which she slept through the night.

Caspian shuffled beside her, placing a sleepy kiss against her forehead and humming contentedly as he ran his hand up the length of her arm. "We're getting married today." He murmured.

"Are we?" She blinked innocently up at him. "That's a shame, I already made plans."

The hand situated on her back dove for her side, tickling her with a suddenness that made her cry out in surprise. She fell onto her back as Caspian rose on an elbow above her, clamping one hand over her mouth. Their eyes grew wide as one, turning in sync to the door.

From behind it they heard a sniff and the shuffle of a guard long tired of standing upright. Distantly, Caspian thought he really should have heard her yell. What if she was in danger? He was quite literally being paid to protect her. No matter, he supposed now. As of tonight, they would never have to spend another night apart. The task of protection would fall to him, and he would take it with both hands gladly.

He removed the hand covering her mouth but remained propped on his elbow, looking down at her with unbearable fondness. The early morning light painted her in gold – from the sharp ridge of her collarbone to the slant of her jaw. He traced the fall of it against her hair, splayed across the pillow, ran a thumb underneath the swell of her bottom lip.

There was nothing he wanted more than to lay in this pocket of perfect domesticity with her, but soon enough there would be attendants at each of their doors, bustling through with a list of preparations before the wedding in the afternoon. Time was lost to them – it could happen in five minutes or an hour, but still he hesitated.

Caspian dipped his head to kiss her, languid and slow. "I should go." He said reluctantly.

"I wish you didn't have to." Her eyes flicked between his own, drawing him back to her with a hand curled into his hair.

"Don't say that because then I won't." He groaned between kisses. "We'll be found and completely disgraced."

Figuring that if they were to be disgraced already, he might as well make the most of the moment, his head fell below the column of her neck, brushing his mouth against her collarbone, following the curve of sunlight on her skin.

"Fine, you should go." She laughed, pushing at his shoulders. Her skin felt feverish under the featherlight path he was making.

"I've changed my mind. This is worth more than my reputation." The sentiment was punctuated with an open-mouthed kiss along the junction between her neck and shoulder.

"Quickly, before my other conquest arrives." And before I bar the door so neither of us must leave, her brain supplied unhelpfully.

After a moment more spent delaying the inevitable, he obediently stood and headed for the balcony. Amber winced at the thought of him making the same treacherous journey between their rooms again. Watching it once was more than enough for a lifetime.

"Please don't fall. I like having you intact." She frowned.

"You have my word." He replied with far more confidence than he felt.

Truthfully, the anticipation that had crowded his brain the previous night – that heady combination of excitement and affection – had completely overtook his senses. The idea of traversing near death in pursuit of his soon-to-be wife held far more appeal than doing it again now to leave her, especially when they were both still so limbless with the echo of sleep.

He continued blithely onwards. "It's not like I'll have much need for balcony jumping after tonight." They shared a smile.

He faced the balcony ledge and shook out his arms, trying to force some feeling into them before he made a grab for the wall. It really was a long fall to the gardens. That fact was made painfully evident in the light of day.

Amber gave him just enough time to place a knee against the ledge before she was at his side, her hand wrapped around his elbow. "Cas," she leaned forward to leave him with a goodbye kiss, her brow furrowed in concern.

"I'll see you at the end of the aisle." He said when she pulled away. "Okay?"

"Okay." She nodded. "End of the aisle."

There was a knock at her door. Their heads spun around so quickly Caspian nearly fell off from the pulse of panic that shot straight to his heart. No more time to waste. He hauled himself up and over her balcony, shuffling quickly along the edge until he could throw himself back onto the safety of his own.

Another knock – at both of their doors this time.

'At the end of the aisle' He mouthed to her silently.

At the end of the aisle, in this life and the next. Forever.

Well. She's done. Six years of my life. Over 120,000 words. Two jobs, three promotions. A global pandemic. Met Ben Barnes twice, wildly.

At this point in my life I've spent more years writing than I've spent not writing, but this is the first time I've managed to complete something on such a large scale. Thank you for reading it. If you have ever voted for it or left a comment, thank you for that also. It may have taken six years to finish this, but four of those were spent in near complete inactivity. Sometimes I would dip my toe back into it, write a couple words here and there, but that only happened after I read a new comment - or even an older one. It's that interaction, that connect, which serves as the greatest motivation.

<3