Fandom: Narnia (Books - so don't expect it to be like the movies.)
Pairing: Caspian/Edmund
Summary:A slashy version of the book The Voyage of the Dawn Treader – this is not move related. Part 2 of the Kings series – sequel to Kings Comfort. This is SLASH – you have been warned.
Ages: Caspian-20; Edmund-16; Eustace-14; Lucy-14. - I had to work out the ages myself; Yes, I'm aware that these ages are older than the official timeline from CS Lewis, but I'm not gonna write slash about a 12 year old, so I've aged them from the first story (Kings Comfort) and then continued from that. I'll give the ages for each story as I write them.
Disclaimer: The character's belong to CS Lewis. The blame is mine.
Warnings: This is NC17 rated so graphic descriptions of m/m sex.
Author's Note: I wrote the first draft of this story back in 2000, long before the movies were even announced. I've been working on it, on and off, since then and I'm finally close to completing the entire series - there are two more stories in this series after this one.
Kings Love - Chapter 14
It was still dark when Edmund woke suddenly and completely out of such a deep sleep that for a moment he did not know where he was. Expecting the tight confines of the bunk he was confused not to feel Caspian's body pressed up against his and he rolled over, his arms searching for the King, and found nothing but an empty space.
"Caspian?" Edmund sat up, staring at the bed in confusion.
"Over here."
Caspian's voice came from behind him and Edmund turned his head to see that Caspian was leaning against the wall, looking out the window, his naked body bathed in the strong moonlight.
"What are you doing?"
"It's a full moon," said Caspian. "It's the brightest moon I've ever seen, and some of the stars look different. We're getting very far east now."
"Drinian was saying something like that about the stars the other day," replied Edmund, suppressing a yawn. "But why aren't you sleeping? You must be tired too."
"I was thinking."
It was a short reply and something in the tone of Caspian's voice made Edmund's heart sink. He thought back over what they had done that night. He had to admit that he'd behaved in a way that he'd never thought he would and that he'd enjoyed every moment as he'd never thought he could – the satisfaction he'd felt was still affecting him, making his body heavy and relaxed – but perhaps it had not been what Caspian had expected or wanted.
"Oh," Edmund said finally. He heard the forlorn note in his voice and winced, hoping that Caspian would not hear it as well.
It seemed that Caspian had though, because he straightened up and came over to sit on the bed facing Edmund. Leaning down he brushed a soft kiss over Edmund's mouth and then quickly lit the candle on the table beside the bed. Edmund blinked as his eyes adjusted to the flickering light.
"I don't want you to misunderstand me," said Caspian softly. "Tonight was… incredible. You just keep surprising me Edmund, in ways that make me-" he broke off and grinned. "Although more surprises like that one might give me a heart attack. In a good way."
Edmund smiled at Caspian tentatively. His words had relieved Edmund of the niggling doubt he'd been feeling about what they'd done but he could see that Caspian was still tense.
"Something's bothering you though," he said.
"In a way," replied Caspian, with a slight nod of his head. "You see, I'm going to have to talk to you about the way I'm feeling because even though you might not be ready, I don't think I can really continue this without being honest with you. It wouldn't really be fair to either of us."
A moment of sheer panic ripped through Edmund and then settled into rough anxiety. Was it possible that after Edmund had finally openly acknowledged their relationship Caspian was going to say it was all over? And while a couple of months ago he might have just put up with it, Edmund thought angrily, that wasn't going to happen now. He'd changed, Caspian had helped with that, and Caspian was going to have to live with it.
Edmund sat up quickly, leant back against the bed head, and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Well, yes, why don't you just say whatever you've got to say, Caspian," he said. "I assure you, I'm quite ready."
Caspian was staring at him with a surprised look on his face.
"Why are you…?" he began and then frowned. "I really am an idiot," he finally continued, and Edmund blinked in surprise but didn't disagree.
"Look, I'm sorry, Edmund. I'm making rather a mess of this and it's because this is something I'm not very experienced with." Caspian took a deep breath, heavy with frustration and shook his head. "I've never done this before."
Edmund knew the disbelief he was feeling must be clearly apparent on his face because he knew of at least half a dozen lovers that Caspian had himself told Edmund about, and he'd suspected that there were more and he couldn't for the life of him think why Caspian would suddenly start trying to lie about that.
"Honestly, Caspian…" he began and then broke off when Caspian clapped a hand over his mouth. He glared indignantly over Caspian's fingers but Caspian's only reaction was to tighten his hold and grin.
"Well, this is certainly not how I imagined this going," he said. "But I think it's going to be better if you just don't speak for a while. It might be even better if I didn't, but I'm thinking that's not really an option anymore. If I take my hand away will you just listen?"
Edmund nodded slowly. He was actually starting to worry a little about Caspian's state of mind because he was not acting like his usually confident self at all.
Caspian removed his hand and they both took a deep breath and when Caspian grinned again, Edmund found himself returning it with a smile of his own.
"You know that I've had lovers," said Caspian, his face becoming serious. "Some of them I've had more feelings for than others but I know that I've never been in love with any of them and the reason I know that is because it's never felt like it does now. I know you're young, but you have a unique maturity, so I feel like I should tell you this even when perhaps it's too soon. I could say that I love you, Edmund, but it feels more like every day I'm falling in love with you and that quite probably I shall continue to do that for the rest of my life."
And it was a very good thing, Edmund thought, that at this point Caspian leaned forward and pressed his lips to Edmund's in a deep and hungry kiss because Edmund really had no clear idea of what to do, say or think next. It was simply so much easier to lose himself in the sensation of Caspian's mouth against his, of Caspian's hands sweeping up Edmund's arms to hold his face as the kiss deepened even further. This sort of response was so familiar and easy, to open his lips to Caspian, to slide his arms around Caspian's waist, to moan his approval when Caspian's tongue slid along his.
Then, when Caspian whispered in his ear, "I want you again," it was surprisingly easy to reach for the bottle of oil and hand it to him and then rise to his hands and knees when Caspian pulled him around on the bed. The slide of Caspian's erection inside him was simple and perfect, and when Caspian pulled him upright to sit on Caspian's thighs it was deep and perfect. Caspian's hands sliding along his chest and stomach, and Caspian's mouth sliding along his throat made it so easy for him to moan Caspian's name even when he wasn't sure he could remember his own. The release that came with Caspian's hand, hot and slick, stroking his shaft, was easily accepted as a simple and intense gift of pleasure, a pleasure that was easily returned when Caspian's last few, hard thrusts pushed them forward to collapse on the bed.
It was a few moments later that Caspian rolled them to their sides, his arm still wrapped around Edmund's waist.
"This bed's a bit of a mess," he murmured into Edmund's shoulder. "But I'm too tired now to care."
Edmund mumbled his agreement.
"Edmund?" Caspian's voice was tentative and Edmund fought to keep his body relaxed. Deep down he knew he'd have to respond to what Caspian had told him eventually, but his mind still shied away from it, not yet ready to think about his own feelings.
"Edmund, there's something else you should know."
"What?" Edmund whispered.
"Well, in the morning, you might want to be careful about the way you get out of bed."
Edmund frowned. "Why?"
"Well, we got a bit out of hand and you're not used to that yet," Caspian answered, the amusement clear in his voice. "You might be a bit tender, and I thought I'd better warn you."
And it was remarkably easy, Edmund found, to hit Caspian over the head with his pillow.
The next time Edmund woke up, pale dawn light was struggling through the window and Caspian was sprawled out in deep sleep beside him. Edmund stretched luxuriously, feeling languid and content and then mindful of the warning Caspian had given him he sat up gingerly and moved to the side of the bed.
The movement caused a couple of twinges of discomfort more than actual pain and Edmund breathed a sigh of relief. He suspected that he and Caspian were going to be the focus of attention for the next couple of days anyway and he really hadn't wanted to add the inability to walk properly to the situation. That would be more embarrassment than he could handle.
He poured himself a glass of water, drank it thirstily, and then wandered over to the window to watch for the sunrise. The freshness of the morning made the whole night seem dream-like and surreal. Had it all really happened? Had Caspian really said the things that he'd said?
It had been a shock to hear Caspian speak like that and the surprise had been amplified by Caspian's obvious nervousness beforehand. And Edmund couldn't deny that through the daze he'd felt afterwards there had also been the thrill of knowing that he, Edmund, had affected Caspian in that way.
Suddenly, a warm body pressed up against Edmund's back and Caspian's arms slid around his waist and Edmund nearly jumped out of his skin and only just managed to suppress the undignified squawk of fright that rose in his throat.
"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you," Caspian murmured against Edmund's throat.
"Yes, you did," Edmund corrected him.
Caspian laughed softly and they both stood in silence as the sun rose over the horizon and light flooded into the room, warm and bright.
"You're not pressing me to respond to what you said last night," Edmund finally said. He'd been wondering about that, he knew that Caspian was patient but he also knew that Caspian would have to be anxious about what Edmund would say about it.
"No," Caspian answered. "I know you well enough to know how cautious you are, Edmund, and that you like to think something through before you talk about it - just as I did. It's your turn to think now, love."
Edmund felt his face heat in response to the endearment that Caspian had seemed to make unconsciously, but the King's answer was reassuring. So much seemed to have happened between them in the last couple of days, so much had changed, that Edmund knew he needed time to get it all straight in his head before he could say how he felt.
"Thanks," he said.
"Hmmm, you're welcome," Caspian murmured against Edmund's ear. "Are you in any pain?"
Edmund managed to stop himself from squirming in embarrassment but his face flushed again.
"Not really."
"Good." Caspian's lips brushed Edmund's throat and Edmund shivered.
"We should probably get dressed," Edmund said as Caspian's arms tightened around him.
"And why should we do that?" Caspian asked, his teeth nipping the skin behind Edmund's ear.
Edmund could not suppress a grin as a loud thumping noise echoed along the path outside their window.
"Because," he said, " we are standing naked in front of an open ground-floor window in a household that is waking up."
"Good point," Caspian said, raising his head from his exploration of Edmund's jaw.
"I mean do you want to explain to one of the Dufflepuds what exactly we're doing here? Because I don't."
"No, no, I really don't."
"Of course, if you really want to stay here, I'd be quite curious to hear what you come up with. Unfortunately I'd probably get to hear it a thousand times while it's repeated to everyone on this island. But, it's up to you."
"Edmund," said Caspian, dropping his arms from around Edmund's waist and turning to search the room for his clothing. "If you don't stop talking and get dressed, I shall push you out the window and you can explain that to the Dufflepuds."
Edmund's laugh turned into a startled yelp as Caspian threw his tunic at his head.
They washed and got dressed quickly and met the others in the dining room for breakfast. Edmund avoided Lucy's amused look and concentrated on the delicious food that the Magician provided. The rest of the morning was spent stowing supplies onto the Dawn Treader and then shortly after lunch, and after exchanging fond farewells with the Magician, and even the Dufflepuds, the Dawn Treader finally sailed away towards the eastern horizon again.
Throughout the afternoon, as they settled back into ship-life, Edmund noticed a few curious looks cast in his direction and he knew that the news of his relationship with Caspian was starting to spread through the ship. It was hard not to meet those looks with an embarrassed flush and eventually he wandered over to the deck railing and leaned over to watch the foamy sea below. Deep down, he knew he was waiting for Lucy to find him, that eventually she would get over her amused teasing and that her usual generous concern for others would make her want to ask him a lot of serious and probably uncomfortable questions.
He didn't have to wait for long.
"Edmund," Lucy's quiet voice came from behind him and she settled next to him, leaning on the railing.
"Lucy," he acknowledged.
"How long have you and Caspian been together?"
Edmund smiled to himself, Lucy had always been direct and it seemed that she would never change in that respect.
"For a while," he answered.
"Hmph," she snorted and he knew she wouldn't give up. "Is that why you were both so strange on Dragon Island?"
Edmund sighed. In the end, he decided, it would just be easier to answer her questions as clearly as possible.
"Yes, it was sort of starting then."
"It's been that long," said Lucy. "I really had no idea but Eustace told me that he knew. I suppose that's why he moved out of the cabin." She didn't sound resentful but Edmund could imagine just how she had questioned Eustace and smiled again. Poor Eustace.
"You've never done anything like this before," she continued. "Not in England, and not in Narnia. Is Caspian so special?"
Edmund glanced down at her and found that she was watching him expectantly.
"What do you think?" He'd avoided answering her, and he knew she knew it when she grinned at him.
"I think that when we first came here, you shouldn't have suggested that I'd be the one to go all funny about him."
And she had him there, Edmund had to admit, as he felt his face flame and Lucy laughed.
"He is special though, isn't he?" Her face was serious again and she was watching him carefully.
"You're worried about it, aren't you Lu?" Edmund again avoided her question but with what he felt was an important question of his own, because he could see that she was worried.
"A little," she replied and her voice had the same grave tone that he could remember it having when they had discussed something important as the rulers of Narnia. "This is a little different from the sort of thing that Peter, or Susan, used to do when we were in Narnia before. Peter knew his duty to Narnia, Edmund, and as the King, Caspian has the same duty. I want to see you happy but I don't want to see you caught in the middle of something that could hurt you."
Edmund nodded, not yet able to speak, she had surprised him so completely. It was easy, when she was the youngest, to forget just how wise Lucy could be, and she was so caught up in her own world of Aslan that it was also easy to forget that sometimes her vision of what was happening around her was clearer than anyone else's.
"This is important for Narnia, Edmund," continued Lucy. "You know her history, you know what happens in Narnia when there isn't a stable line of Aslan's Kings. We restored Caspian as the rightful King in order to ensure that line and we can't jeopardise that now, but of course I know that you understand this. My concern now is for you. We don't know how long Aslan will allow us to stay here, but if you remain with Caspian, is he special enough that you can stand behind him, in the shadows, while another stands by his side?"
Edmund's heart was hammering in his chest for in one sentence Lucy had managed to voice all of his unspoken fears. How long did he really have with Caspian? And what would happen if they were allowed to stay. And, of course, underneath all of that, what exactly did he feel for Caspian. He knew that the breathlessness he felt when he looked in Caspian's eyes, the way his skin burned when Caspian touched him, was desire. But what about the way they could sit for hours and talk about anything, the way his heart warmed when Caspian laughed, the fear and despair he'd felt when he'd imagined Caspian in danger of injury or worse.
"You're asking me if I love him," Edmund finally said.
"Yes," said Lucy.
"And you're also telling me that I will have to love Narnia more."
"In the end, you're both Kings of Narnia, so in the end you'll have to. But you know that, Edmund. And it doesn't mean that you can't love each other, but to take the risk, you'll need to be sure."
She was right of course, Edmund knew that, and in the end there was really only one answer, and it was surprisingly easy. He only had to imagine Caspian's face in his mind to know it.
"I'm sure," said Edmund. "He's really that special."