Rating: PG for slashyness
Diclaimer: Narnia and all characters belong to CS Lewis. I'm just borrowing them. I've also
borrowed on or two lines of dialogue to tie this in to the frame of Prince Caspian.
No disrespect is meant by this. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
A/N: This will become slashy. Very, very gently slashy, but it will focus on m/m romantic
relationships.
I wrote this in response to a request from my very dear friend AngelHair, and it's dedicated
to her.
Chapter Four Caspian POV
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It was such a jolt seeing Edmund in the clothes of his own land again, just before he left.
He looked a boy again, no more the warrior, the hero, the king. Perhaps you might have
thought that the change would have been more noticeable in Peter, but you would have been
wrong. Peter looked a king still even in the dingy, grey, ill-fitting clothes.
Edmund looked little more than a lost child. Crumpled, and fed up, and uncomfortable and
horribly miserable. In Narnia, in his own time, they called him Edmund the Wise. But now,
he looked a reluctant scholar. Though his clothing had been cleaned and repaired of all
the wear it had suffered in Narnia, I noticed that his had a little splattering of ink
around the right cuff.
He looked up and met my eyes, just once. But they were not empty, as I had feared they
might be. Instead they shone with something that might have been regret.
He forced a smile. That stretched, hopeless smile was such a characteristic expression of
his, one I had come to know so well in the short time I had known him. His true smile, I
had only seen once or twice. It was a slow, quiet smile, dignified but joyful, and it made
my heart leap and my face flush.
And now, even as I forced a smile back, I feared I would never see it again.
Was I imagining the hint of unshed tears glistening in his eyes? Perhaps not. I certainly
wasn't imagining the stinging behind my own eyelids.
I wanted him to stay. It was as simple as that. I didn't want to lose his friendship, or
his quiet confidence, or that smile, or those eyes.
And I didn't want to let him go without…
… without what?
'You are troubled, son of Adam,' a soft, heavy voice murmured in my ear. 'And yet your
battle has been won and your kingdom restored.'
I felt his breath hot on my neck, and didn't dare turn around.
'What is it you desire, King Caspian?'
I swallowed hard. It felt like a test. I forced all thoughts of Edmund from my mind, and
tried to give the best answer I could.'
'Peace and prosperity for my kingdom. The strength and wisdom to be a good King. Loyal
advisers, faithful servants, loving subjects.' It was the only answer I could have given.
But more than that, it was the truth.
A purr that might have almost been a growl. And then a long silence.
'You have answered selflessly, my child,' the Lion said eventually. 'Turn now. Look into
my eyes. Do not be afraid of what you see.'
I had to take my courage in both hands just to turn and face him. And I looked into his
eyes.
And reflected in them, in many shades of gold, were twin reflections of Edmund, standing
forlornly in the Gateway between our worlds, staring directly back at me.
I choked back a cry, and spun to look at him. Our eyes met, and for a moment, I still did
not understand.
Then, unexpectedly, as though he had seen something in my face that made him truly joyful,
he smiled a true smile.
And something within my heart gave way.
Suddenly, I was weak-kneed with the shock of understanding. It was not friendship I feared
to lose, not comradeship, or brotherhood, but love, pure and simple and painful and
beautiful.
Whatever it was that I had seen in his eyes he had also seen in mine, for in that instant,
he knew it too, and I knew that he knew, and we stared and stared as though seeing each
other for the first time.
'Go bid your liege goodbye, King Caspian,' Aslan whispered. For a moment I remained frozen,
and then I crossed the clearing and stood before the Gateway. I bowed to Peter, a little
stiffly, but then he smiled at me, and we embraced as brothers. And Queen Lucy I also
embraced, and I kissed Queen Susan's hand.
And then Edmund was standing before me. I was overwhelmed. I loved him, and I was still
going to lose him, and perhaps never see him again.
And I had no words.
It was the same for him, I could tell. We clasped hands in silence.
Perhaps three times, I have seen him truly smile. Perhaps three times, our hands have
touched.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Diclaimer: Narnia and all characters belong to CS Lewis. I'm just borrowing them. I've also
borrowed on or two lines of dialogue to tie this in to the frame of Prince Caspian.
No disrespect is meant by this. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
A/N: This will become slashy. Very, very gently slashy, but it will focus on m/m romantic
relationships.
I wrote this in response to a request from my very dear friend AngelHair, and it's dedicated
to her.
Chapter Four Caspian POV
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It was such a jolt seeing Edmund in the clothes of his own land again, just before he left.
He looked a boy again, no more the warrior, the hero, the king. Perhaps you might have
thought that the change would have been more noticeable in Peter, but you would have been
wrong. Peter looked a king still even in the dingy, grey, ill-fitting clothes.
Edmund looked little more than a lost child. Crumpled, and fed up, and uncomfortable and
horribly miserable. In Narnia, in his own time, they called him Edmund the Wise. But now,
he looked a reluctant scholar. Though his clothing had been cleaned and repaired of all
the wear it had suffered in Narnia, I noticed that his had a little splattering of ink
around the right cuff.
He looked up and met my eyes, just once. But they were not empty, as I had feared they
might be. Instead they shone with something that might have been regret.
He forced a smile. That stretched, hopeless smile was such a characteristic expression of
his, one I had come to know so well in the short time I had known him. His true smile, I
had only seen once or twice. It was a slow, quiet smile, dignified but joyful, and it made
my heart leap and my face flush.
And now, even as I forced a smile back, I feared I would never see it again.
Was I imagining the hint of unshed tears glistening in his eyes? Perhaps not. I certainly
wasn't imagining the stinging behind my own eyelids.
I wanted him to stay. It was as simple as that. I didn't want to lose his friendship, or
his quiet confidence, or that smile, or those eyes.
And I didn't want to let him go without…
… without what?
'You are troubled, son of Adam,' a soft, heavy voice murmured in my ear. 'And yet your
battle has been won and your kingdom restored.'
I felt his breath hot on my neck, and didn't dare turn around.
'What is it you desire, King Caspian?'
I swallowed hard. It felt like a test. I forced all thoughts of Edmund from my mind, and
tried to give the best answer I could.'
'Peace and prosperity for my kingdom. The strength and wisdom to be a good King. Loyal
advisers, faithful servants, loving subjects.' It was the only answer I could have given.
But more than that, it was the truth.
A purr that might have almost been a growl. And then a long silence.
'You have answered selflessly, my child,' the Lion said eventually. 'Turn now. Look into
my eyes. Do not be afraid of what you see.'
I had to take my courage in both hands just to turn and face him. And I looked into his
eyes.
And reflected in them, in many shades of gold, were twin reflections of Edmund, standing
forlornly in the Gateway between our worlds, staring directly back at me.
I choked back a cry, and spun to look at him. Our eyes met, and for a moment, I still did
not understand.
Then, unexpectedly, as though he had seen something in my face that made him truly joyful,
he smiled a true smile.
And something within my heart gave way.
Suddenly, I was weak-kneed with the shock of understanding. It was not friendship I feared
to lose, not comradeship, or brotherhood, but love, pure and simple and painful and
beautiful.
Whatever it was that I had seen in his eyes he had also seen in mine, for in that instant,
he knew it too, and I knew that he knew, and we stared and stared as though seeing each
other for the first time.
'Go bid your liege goodbye, King Caspian,' Aslan whispered. For a moment I remained frozen,
and then I crossed the clearing and stood before the Gateway. I bowed to Peter, a little
stiffly, but then he smiled at me, and we embraced as brothers. And Queen Lucy I also
embraced, and I kissed Queen Susan's hand.
And then Edmund was standing before me. I was overwhelmed. I loved him, and I was still
going to lose him, and perhaps never see him again.
And I had no words.
It was the same for him, I could tell. We clasped hands in silence.
Perhaps three times, I have seen him truly smile. Perhaps three times, our hands have
touched.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*