Happily Never After

2

As this was happening, just below Caspian's window a young thief grinned mischievously as he watched the Prince's light turn off.

"Perfect," he muttered under his breath. "I bet this family encrusts their golden carriage wheels with diamonds, the Prince is sure to have something expensive in here." His eyebrows furrowed in concentration as he hoisted himself onto the edge of the turret, gripping the Prince's window, which he had left open, allowing the summer air, and unknowingly the thief, entrance to his room.
Gently, the thief crawled through the window, tucking and rolling onto the ground without so much as a sound. He stood from his crouching position, walking with confidence at his silent entrance... directly into a bookcase. Several books clattered to the floor, the Prince awoke, turning on his bedside table lamp. Hopping out of bed, Caspian gasped at the sight before him.
"My books!" he cried, kneeling and gathering them in his arms. He delicately placed them back into their alphabetically organized slots in each respective bookcase. "That was seriously uncalled for." The Prince turned to the thief, who stood rigid, thinking previously that he had somehow escaped the royal's notice.
"Well?" Prince Caspian expectantly asked, a hand on his hip.
"Well what?" The thief suddenly regained his ability to speak and stood bewildered at Caspian's expectant manner.
"Are you not going to introduce yourself?" the Prince half-laughed, offering a hand up to the thief, which he reluctantly accepted. "You sneak into my room, attempt to burglarize me, abuse my beloved books, and do not even offer your name as compensation?"
The thief let out his breath in a relieved chuckle, surprised at the Prince's casual and calm demeanor, especially under the circumstances. He envisioned Prince Caspian to be the haughty, dramatic type. The trespasser extended his fingerless-gloved hand and the Prince took it with a firm shake. "I'm Bandit."
Caspian glanced at 'Bandit', in utter disbelief at the irony of his name, and searched for a trace of humor to indicate that he was joking, but found nothing except seriousness in his newly made acquaintances pale and freckled face.
"I think the universe played a really sick joke when it gave my parents that baby name idea," Bandit winced and shook his head.
"On the subject of parents... where are yours? Not to be intrusive, but they don't seem to care extensively for you if they allow these types of ventures." Caspian ushered Bandit to sit on the edge of his bed with him, closing his window as they walked toward his four poster.
Bandit lowered his head, his tuft of white hair falling into his face and covering his eyes. "They died about six years ago, just after my sister was born."
"I'm so sorry for your loss." Prince Caspian allowed for a beat of silence before gently asking, "What's your sister's name?"
Bandit's face lit up at the mention of his sister, which evidently was his favorite topic of conversation. "Her name is Baron, that's B-A-R-O-N, and she's absolutely the best. She's just about the cutest thing you'll ever see, and she's so smart. It's amazing how quickly and well she learns things. Talk about kind too! She's such a good kid. I'm the proudest big brother around." He sighed contentedly with a smile, then morphed his features into an expression of horror when he realized how long he had been rambling. "I'm sorry for talking so much- I should honestly get going- sorry for bothering you-"
"Hey," Caspian placed a hand on Bandit's shoulder to stop him from standing up. With a smile he pushed him back down next to him. "The entire time you were talking I was judging your character to determine whether I needed to call the guards on you or not. Luckily for you, I decided that would be unnecessary. You seem like a perfectly harmless, friendly human being. Anyone that is capable of raving to someone he's just met about the overall charisma and talent of his six year-old sister cannot be a hardened criminal." Caspian studied Bandit with the twinkling eyes of a person yearning for adventure. Bandit registered it as general curiosity.
"So, where do you and Baron stay, if not with your parents?" Caspian asked, lying back on his excessive amount of pillows.
Bandit mimicked Caspian's actions and replied dejectedly, "The streets. We move from alleyway to alleyway every night. I've been stealing to get by. It's been getting harder though," Caspian's eyes widened in horror that his situation could get any worse. Bandit continued, "Almost every street vendor and merchant in Evermore has posted a wanted sign for me outside of their shop, and I can hardly walk across the cobblestone without being recognized. I'm infamous. So, for the safety of Baron and myself, I decided to try stealing from the castle for a change." His face hardened. "And I would have gotten away with it too, if it weren't for your stupid bookcase."
Both boys laughed at the ridiculous statement, having now formed something of an alliance.
"Well, Bandit, I have another question for you."
Bandit sighed and rubbed his eyes. "Hit me," the thief spoke.
"Don't fret, this one shan't be as heavy." Bandit slumped in relief, and Caspian continued, "Why the different colored eyes?" Bandit glanced up and Caspian studied his left eye and it's icy gray-blue iris, as well as his right eye, and it's warm chestnut brown shade. Bandit raised one eyebrow, impressed at Caspian's observation.
"No one has ever asked me that before, not even Baron, and she's curious about everything," Bandit admitted. "Oh, and to answer your question, I was born with them, I've never really thought much of it."
Caspian smiled sheepishly and turned toward Bandit once again. "I think they're actually really beautiful. But... it's getting late. Baron is probably waiting for you." Bandit bit his lip, not wanting to leave his new friend.
"Oh, and how could I forget! How much will you need in jewels or gold?" Bandit's eyebrows raised in shock at Caspian's question.
"You're actually giving them to me? After breaking in and potentially endangering your books?"
"I couldn't be so cruel as to leave a cute boy and his sister hungry on the streets now could I?" Bandit interpreted the question rhetorically and accepted the small velvet pouch of rare gems and golden jewelry Caspian had dug of his dresser.
As Bandit was climbing back through Prince Caspian's window, this time with some assistance from the Prince, he stopped and turned toward Caspian once he was safely gripping the window sill.
"I have a question for you this time, Prince Caspian," Bandit announced.
"Ask away," the royal allowed.
"Why are you really being so nice to me?"
Caspian pondered how to phrase his response, then simply remarked, "On occasion, one must make unadvised choices to experience a little adventure." He half-smiled knowingly at his declaration, and at Bandit's confused expression.
"I'll be sure to mention to Baron how cryptic and vague you are," Bandit shouted as he slid down the turret connected to Caspian's room, and ran away into the night.
The Prince propped his elbow onto his windowsill and sighed bittersweetly. A faint voice in the back of his mind reminded him of Juliet Capulet and how absurdly cliché and predictable he was being, but for once he chose to ignore it. Caspian gracefully climbed back into his bed and for what has left of the night dreamt of white haired princes with multi-colored eyes and pale, freckled skin.