Lost boy || Prince Caspian

3

No sooner than as he door clicked behind them did Caspian surge forwards. Otto found himself thudding harshly against the wood as their bodies were pressed together. He gasped as Caspian cupped his face in his hands, thumb tracing the white line on Otto's cheek. A scar won in a battle which had almost killed him. Otto held his breath as Caspian's eyes traced the movement. Then his hands dropped and he rested his forehead on Otto's shoulder.

"I searched for you", Caspian's voice was barely more than a murmur. His accent coming in thick as his voice grew more distressed. "From the river to the shore to the farmlands but nothing. I thought you had died. That you had been killed and I was too late. What happened Otto? I awoke to you screaming and the clearing empty".

"You were sleeping", Otto recalled slowly. He reached out and brushed back Caspian's dark hair. His chest seizing as Caspian leant into the touch. "There was a narnian asking for help. I didn't want to wake you. I thought I'd be back soon but it was a trap. The wolf beast attacked and blocked me from you. I'm sorry. One minute I was just trying to get away from it, the next I was falling into my world and the doorway was shut. I'm so sorry. I did not want to leave you. I could hear you calling for me. I'm sorry".

"You don't need to apologise", Caspian hushed. His hands strayed down to the teeth marks in Otto's arm. His gaze turned dark as he spread his hand over the scars. His fingers weren't able to cover them all. Otto didn't mention the long claw marks on his other arm. They were hidden by his shirt. "I'm sorry I was not fast enough. I did not wake up in time. It is my fault".

"I'm back now".

"Yes", Caspian leaned over and pressed his lips to Otto's. It was light and Otto sighed deeply before returning it. They kissed slowly, gently until something seemed to click. This was real. Otto was really there. The kiss turned pressing and he rested his hands in Caspian's hair. When they parted after several minute, both of them were breathing hard.

Caspian blinked and smiled widely. Otto grinned back. "I'm cold", he complained as he shivered.

Caspian laughed and stepped back. He turned around as they both started pulling off their wet clothes. Otto turned and faced the door as he struggled with his shirt. "So how old are you now?" He asked, tone deliberately light. "I'm sorry I missed it".

"Twenty one", Caspian's voice sounded. "You?"

"I think I'm eighteen. My birthday passed once in narnia then again in England. So I think I'm eighteen. I don't really know".

Caspian hummed behind him. Otto pulled on the rest of the clothes hastily. The trousers were simple but the shirt had laces round the cuffs and neck. Otto struggled with them, still clumsy with narnian clothing. "Do you need a hand?" He turned to find Caspian smiling at him. The king was dressed in a brown leather waist coat. The waistcoat was decorated in red patterns and Caspian had tied up the top half of his hair.

Otto smiled defeatedly and Caspian chuckled. He strode forwards and quickly tied the cuffs tight around Otto's wrists. Once both were tied, Caspian paused. Otto reached up and brushed a stray lock of hair behind Caspian's ear. "Twenty one", Otto sighed. Caspian peered at him, eyes dark. Otto smiled widely. "You look good".

Caspian let out a burst of air as a smile stretched his face. "Thank you. You do too". Otto blushed and Caspian leant forwards. He rose up on his toes to press a kiss to his forehead. "Come on", Caspian grinned as he pulled away. "Let's not keep them all waiting".

Otto grinned and took Caspian's hand as they left the navigation room and crossed down to the main deck. Edmund grinned at them as he emerged from below. "Looking good Otto". The two boys grinned at each other. Edmund had a tunic of dark grey with a sleeveless leather coat on top. The sound of footsteps behind them caused them to turn as Lucy bounded down the stairs. She had an outfit similar to the rest of them but her tunic was a pale red, almost pink shade of well worn.

"Excuse me, but have you seen a young girl anywhere?" Caspian joked.

"Shut up", Lucy huffed. She smacked him on the arm as he and Edmund laughed.

"You look fine Lucy", Otto offered. She smiled at him.

"Everyone!" Caspian called. The crew turned as he skipped up the stairs to the wheel. "May I introduce our castaways. King Edmund the just, queen Lucy the valiant". Edmund nodded and Lucy offered a small curtsy. His eyes drifted down to Otto. "And king Otto the loyal". Otto ducked his head with a sheepish smile as the crew all dropped to their knees. Lucy laughed as he blushed Otto fought the urge to make himself smaller, still unused to the attention.

"Alright everyone", the captain called. He was a bald man with a stone face. "Back to work". The crew all rose and continued with their duties.

"What the bloody hell is going on?" Eustace demanded as he stood up. "I demand to know where in the blazes am I!"

"Your in the Dawn treader". A Minotaur answered, voice gruff. Eustace took one look at the narnian and promptly keeled over in a dead faint. The Minotaur blinked in confusion as Otto sighed. "Was it something I said?"

"Could you attend to him?" Otto asked. "If there's a hammock below he could use? Thank you". The Minotaur looked towards Caspian for permission then picked up the limp form of Eustace with a huff. Otto smiled at the narnian in thanks and left to rejoin the others.

Caspian was showing Edmund and Lucy into the navigation room when Otto caught up. Caspian shut the door behind him. The navigation room was ornate but not over the top. Glass cupboards lined the walls and the main space was taken up by a oak table. Opposite them was a long line of windows with leather cushioned bench underneath it.

Lucy and Edmund were looking around the in wonder at the maps and artefacts on display. Otto crossed the room to peer through the glass. He could see beautiful illustrations of narnian history drawn on scrolls of parchment. There were leather bound books that his fingers itched to touch.

"Susan's bow and quiver", Lucy exclaimed. There on a stand was the familiar bow.

"Lucy", they all turned as Caspian held out a box. Lucy lit up in surprise.

"My healing drought and dagger!" She held out her hands but hesitated. "May I?"

"Of course", Caspian grinned. "They're yours". She took them eagerly and added them to her belt.

"Edmund", Caspian turned and held out a sword. The light gleamed on the lion headed hilt.

"Peter's sword". Edmund had awe and nostalgia in his voice. "You should keep it. Peter left it to you". He gently pushed the sword back. Caspian looked at him with an unreadable expression but strapped the sword to his belt.

"Otto", Caspian turned to him with a eager expression. "I have something for you". Otto stepped forward curiously as Caspian opened a cupboard. He reached in and Otto gasped as he withdrew a spear. It was taller than him, almost reaching to the low ceiling. The wooden pole was a varnished dark oak with a silver tear drop that gleamed in the sunlight. The blade was beautiful. The metal etched and sharp.

"I had commissioned this as a gift for you". Caspian looked up at the blade then back at Otto. "Before you disappeared. You can have it now". He held out the weapon and Otto took it reverently.

He gaped at it, feeling the weight in his hands. It was perfectly balanced. "It's amazing. Thank you". He beamed at Caspian. Caspian paused, eyes fixed on Otto's face.

"Caspian", Edmund called. "So why are we here?" Caspian jolted. He blinked and chuckled.

"Our lands are prosperous. My kingdom is safe. There's no need to worry".

"If there's nothing wrong, then how come we're here?" Lucy asked.

"When my father was murdered my uncles chased away his closest supporters", Caspian gestured to a wall where seven portraits were pinned. They were all sketches of men in ornate robes with coats of arms drawn in the corners. "These seven lords fled to the lost isles". He pointed at the small isles on a map. "I am on a quest to find them and hopefully redeem them to their place".

The quest sounded just and very like Caspian. But for some reason Otto had a feeling that this would not be as simple as they hoped.

Unedited