The Legacy's Return (#2)

Astronomy

"Cas?" I asked as I removed my cloak, reaching the astronomy tower with a lamp in my hand.

The castle was pretty dark, the moon being less bright than it usually was and low over the trees. It was getting colder and colder every day. There was a strange feeling in the air. The hair on my arms stood up every time a wind swept past me and I knew that I had to talk to Glenstorm about that.

Caspian was sitting on the floor as I entered. He had spread a blanket on the floor and the overhead covering of the tower was opened above us. "Hello." He said, turning around. The hurt was back in his eyes. He wanted to tell something to me but didn't know how to.

"This is nice." I told him as I sat down next to him.

Caspian lay down and I did so as well, mirroring his position. We started gazing at the stars and talked about our favourite constellations. "That, Sophie, is supposed to bring about peace." He said, pointing to one of the constellations.

"Is that so?" I asked him with sarcasm and managed to make him smile.

There was a silence between us which was very eerie. There lay something very different about the atmosphere there. Again with the wind. I was always on the alert as I was waiting for something to happen. "Sophie, I need to tell you something." He said, finally breaking the silence.

I turned to look at him and a part of the 'something' happened. "I knew something was wrong." I said as I sat up and he did the same. "Is everything okay?"

"I'm leaving for Archenland tomorrow." He said. "We are going to work out a treaty with the Men there such that I have conquered their lands without any trouble."

"Why didn't you tell me before?" I was annoyed but I tried not showing it.

"I didn't know how to." He sounded hurt, but I knew that he was expecting that reaction from me.

"Is that what today was about?"

"I wanted to tell you today so that we could spend the rest of the day together." He said. "I really didn't know how to."

"I can't come, can I?"

"I need someone here. I was hoping that it would be you." I looked at him directly in his eyes and then sighed looking down. "Sophie?"

"Of course I'll stay here." I gave him a weak smile. "How long will you be gone?"

"It's only for two weeks. I'll be back before you know it."

"Two weeks." I repeated it. It was going to be a long two weeks.

I knew it was hard for Caspian to tell me and if I had created a fuss, it would be more dilfficult for him to leave, and I had to make his journey better. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you before."

"It's okay." I said. "I would've probably talked you into letting me come if you hadn't."

Caspian laughed, understanding my attempt at the joke. "You have a charm around that." He said, placing a hand on my cheek. I rested my head over his hand. He brushed my cheek with his thumb that induced a shiver down my spine.

"What time will you be leaving?" I asked him after some time.

"Early." I knew what he meant by that. "Would you like anything from the journey? It's the least that I could do."

I thought about it and only one thing came to my mind. "Remember when I told you about the fairy tales from the Other World? I want you to bring back the first branch that your back touches during the journey."

"Ella." He smiled. "Cinderella asked her father for the same when he went on his trip."

I nodded. "That way, you'll have something with you throughout the journey that will remind you of me. Every time you look at it, you would think of me. In a way, it will be like I'm with you."

"You'll always be with me." He kissed the palm of my right hand, leaving a tingling sensation behind. Once again, I was glad that he couldn't see me blush in the moonlight. "No one can separate you from my thoughts."

If I hadn't blushed before, I definitely did then. "How about we just enjoy the stars for now? We're together."

"Together." 

We lay back down and looked up at the stars, both wanting to tell each other a million things but not being able to think of one thing to say, maybe because nothing would come out.

I moved closer to Caspian and he put one arm around me. I wanted to freeze that moment and I wished that we could just stay there forever. But I knew that the morning sun would come up no matter what I wished. That was the way of life.

I could hear his heartbeat and it was quite fast. I guessed that he wasn't lying about his condition around me. His heart was beating fast because he wasn't convinced that I was okay with him not telling me. In fact, I wasn't. It was such a sudden information that definitely needed some time to take in!

But being with Caspian that night, or day to be precise, was more than enough for me. That was our last night together for a very long time. At least it felt like that. But that just made the reunion everlasting sweet and tearful.

"We should go back." I said after some time. I hated breaking that moment but I knew that I had to. I couldn't let him be distracted the next day because of the lack of proper sleep.

"I don't want to." He spoke for the both of us when he said that.

He caressed my arm and I almost wanted to give into the serene of that moment. Almost. "You'll fall asleep during the journey tomorrow if we don't." I said as I stood up. It was painful to move out of Caspian's arms. "You'll lose important planning if you do and Reepicheep would just become furious."

"All right." He got up as well. "I wouldn't want to face a disappointed Reepicheep."

I smirked. "No, you wouldn't."

I helped him fold the blanket and we made our way back to our chambers. All the way back, we didn't talk, but Caspian didn't let go of my hand the whole time. I had to find a way to distract myself from not feeling his absence.

"Am I really forgiven?" He asked me after we reached my chambers.

"You are." I sighed. I took his hands in mine and looked up at him. "I'll be counting the days till I can see you again."

"And I you." He said before kissing me softly on the lips.