A/N: In the process of writing What Grows, I'm accumulating a LOT of deleted scenes - some that missed the character or plot point, some casualties of chapter rewrites, and some extra scenes that ultimately didn't fit the tone. So, here we are. Some of these fit within WGCBS canon, others are alternate versions of chapters or scenes, so please consider this unofficial content.
No update schedule for these since I don't have deleted scenes for every chapter, but I'll post when I have something fun. When I do have something to post, it'll go up on a Wednesday to help tide y'all over until the next WGCBS chapter on Sundays.
This first deleted scene takes place in Chapter 5 after Caspian notices his Narnian books have been disturbed and he plants the note. This was originally the last scene in Chapter 4, but as fun as this scene is, it didn't really fit the tone and angst build-up before Chapter 5. So, sadly, it had to come out and I dialed up the pain meter. If you're craving Cas being an awkward himbo and Addie giving absolutely no shits in the most playful way, please enjoy these two idiots being… well, idiots.
Content Warning: humorous situation around male genitalia
A Reason for Propriety
Caspian
The next night, Caspian lies in wait in a hidden nook in the stairs up to the west tower. He waits until it's far past the hour Professor Cornelius would wake him for the stars, until the sky begins to lighten with the first gray of dawn. Nothing. The patrols only cover the halls, never the full stairs up to the small towers like this one. And none have come up this way to the supposed meeting place. The note never moved, but still. He had to be sure. He is a few hours' sleep poorer for it, however.
It's fortunate that his professor's astronomy excursions always require sneaking about at night, else finding his way to his room without alerting anyone would be nigh impossible when Caspian's eyes are sore and dry from the sleepless night. Relief will be short, but Caspian falls into his bed anyway without bothering to get undressed.
He wakes to the click of a door and the soft chatter of voices beyond. Likely some early morning castle activity - nothing to concern himself with. Caspian turns onto his side and tucks his face into the pillow to block out the light. Just a few minutes more. His uncle won't find it too odd if he misses breakfast; it's common enough to go unnoticed thanks to his Professor's late-night astronomy lessons. So long as he manages to arrive to his lessons on time, it's no concern, and neither are the raps on the door. Perhaps a morning patrol knocked a torch, or his sword hit the wall outside Caspian's chambers.
Caspian is moments away from oblivion when something bangs infernally loud and a feminine voice bellows out a good morning worthy of Tash's hells.
He jolts half a foot off the bed, his tongue fumbling uselessly over some mismatched mess of curses.
Who, in the name of the Lion, even has a voice at such an hour? Who would barge into his chambers and use such a voice? What sort of person has such a lack of decency, of proper courtesy, to speak in anything louder than a gentle whisper when the sun is only just getting acquainted with the sky?
"Come now, Your Highness, best greet the day!"
He knows that voice. Caspian only just has time to realize who's barged into his room before the curtains snap open and jerk him the rest of the way awake as daylight floods into the room. Caspian groans as he rolls onto his back once more and rubs at his eyes, praying for patience only the Lion can give.
"Have they neglected to teach you knocking?"
Unfortunately, the effects of his prayers haven't arrived in time to catch up with his mouth. But surely that's excusable. He simply can't be expected to have all his wits about him after being woken so rudely.
She answers far too cheerfully, given the circumstances. "We did," Addie says, "but your royal snores drowned out all five attempts."
She's enjoying this; the self-satisfaction is brighter than the sun currently streaming in through the windows, never mind that Caspian's only just now blinking the sleep fog from his eyes and still can't properly see much of anything.
A snap, then a rush of cold.
Caspian gives his eyes one last good rub and opens them in earnest only to find Addie standing at the foot of his bed, coverlet in hand. He gapes, and naturally she takes the opportunity to seize the blanket and yank that off too, rolling it into a quick ball and dropping it to the floor beside her with the coverlet. By the time he finds his voice to object, she's taken hold of the sheet too. The chill isn't so bad this time, but Caspian quickly finds there's another very pressing reason to wish he'd grabbed even just the sheet.
There's always been a good reason for Bruna to wait until he's gone for the morning. Precisely so situations like this won't occur. Especially with the curtains open; perhaps if the room were darker, he could still hide it.
His morning situation is annoying at the best of times. But sitting up with his trousers tented, Addie at the foot of his bed, Bruna standing in the door to the study looking apologetic, and no bed covers to hide things is enough for Caspian to internally curse his anatomy like he never has before as he tries to slump so his nightshirt hangs over his thighs.
At least his day trousers are thicker. At least he knows how to adjust, how to tuck the offending appendage so it's barely noticeable. His night trousers, loose as they are… they're not quite forgiving. This is precisely why propriety exists.
By some miracle for his dignity, Addie's bent down and scooping the pile of linens from the floor. Caspian takes the opportunity to get to his feet and hurry to the wardrobe, where the doors will block everything and he can find something, anything, to say.
Another snap from the bed, and then Addie's calling a brusque goodbye and marching out with the bed linens. The study door clangs shut behind her, and at last Caspian is left in peace. He changes out of his night things so quickly he nearly tears his shirt.
Impossible woman. Perhaps changing her new posting to one involved with him wasn't his best idea. If only he'd just asked his aunt about good postings out of the kitchen, gotten her advice. Perhaps out in the city would have been best - but no, Addie really would've had his head then. Still, there must have been a better idea he could have acted on if only he'd stopped to think about it.
The only consolation is that Addie seemed not to notice, or perhaps not to care as she marched out. It's not much to hope for, but it's enough to salvage his mood in time for morning lessons.
A/N: Originally I just posted these on Ao3, but I'm planning some shenanigans this week sooo y'all get the extra content on here as well 👀