"Sire?" Caspian asked, approaching the High King along the banks of the Beruna river. "You wanted to see me?"

Peter nodded, gesturing Caspian closer. "I wanted to talk to you," he said. He picked up his sword belt and shield from where they had been carefully propped up against a tree. "I want you to have these when I leave."

Caspian accepted them reverently. "I'll make sure they're kept safe, for your return," he said.

Peter shook his head. "That's just it. I won't be returning. Aslan says Susan and I are too old, that we have to learn to live in our own world. These are yours now. Bear them well."

Caspian stared down at them. The High King's sword and shield... His. He was almost dizzy thinking about it. "Thank you," he said, putting as much of his honor and gratitude into the words as he could. "I shall."

The rest of what Peter had said caught up to Caspian's brain. "You said you and Susan aren't coming back. What about Edmund and Lucy?"

"That's the other thing I wanted to talk to you about," Peter said. "If they come back while you're still around, will you look after them?"

Caspian nodded. "Of course I will. They're not my siblings, but... I almost think of them like they are."

Peter smiled at that. "I would be honored to count you as another brother, Caspian." He held out his hand and Caspian gladly took it.

"I will try to be worthy of it," Caspian said.

"You don't have to try, Caspian. You already are. You've more than proven yourself." Peter clapped him on the shoulder. "You're a King of Narnia now. Have some faith in yourself."

Caspian ducked his head. "I will try," he said again. "It's all still so new to me."

Peter nodded. "I remember when I was first crowned," he said. "Listen to your advisers. Don't try to do everything yourself - there were four of us, and even then, there was a lot to do. You're going to have to trust people to help you."

Caspian nodded, absorbing the advice. "Thank you."

Peter squeezed his shoulder, then let go. "It's almost time to gather," he said. "We should go." He smiled. "Aslan doesn't like to wait."