A/N: Don't have anything much to say this time, just a reminder that this is also posted on AO3 under the user name eliren.

Chapter 10

Edmund could feel Caspian's concerned gaze on him, but he couldn't respond. He was caught in his rapidly spinning thoughts. Was Caspian right? He and his siblings had always viewed it as Narnia needing them and their help to make things right. Sure, they had always left Narnia wiser and more mature than when they arrived but that was just… a byproduct of what they had gone through. Never had Edmund thought that maybe it was the other way around, that they went through those things in order to grow and mature.

Well, if that was the case, him falling in love with Caspian must've really mucked up Aslan's plans.

Hence this unplanned trip. Was this to show him Caspian falling in love with someone else so he could move on? And then he would be sent home again, perhaps even sadder than before.

He sighed and looked up, seeing Caspian now holding out one of the plates of food that he had brought in on that tray to him. He wanted to refuse, but then he saw Caspian giving him those damnable puppy eyes, pleading and concerned. Edmund challenges anyone to look into those eyes and not immediately crumble.

Sure enough, when he accepted the plate, Caspian's face lit up in a triumphant grin. Prat. He knows the power of his puppy eyes.

xXx

He and Edmund ate lunch silently, but it wasn't an awkward silence. He could practically hear Edmund's mind buzzing, and Caspian was perfectly willing to leave Edmund to his thoughts in peace. Besides, Caspian had his own thinking to do. Not anything nearly as serious as what must be going through the other boy's head, but still important.

Now that he finally has Edmund back (hopefully permanently), he needs a master plan to woo him. He was not going to let this opportunity pass him by again. The first time he met Edmund, he was impressed by Edmund's cool head under pressure, especially in comparison to his siblings, but he was too blinded by Susan's beauty to fully appreciate him. Then when Edmund and Lucy arrived on the Dawn Treader, his heart leaped in happiness to see them again. And from there it wasn't long at all until he was head over heels.

Caspian knows he should've said something before Edmund left the last time, especially since it was expected that he was never coming back, and that was his only chance. He came close to it before they battled the sea serpent but for some reason, what came out instead was that he thinks of him as his brother? What? That was not at all what he intended to say, but then it was too late. Edmund was agreeing and he couldn't take it back without sounding like a complete ass.

But now, Aslan has miraculously given him a second chance. Not that he thinks it was done for his benefit, though. He meant what he told Edmund, that Aslan did it for Edmund's health. That's why he broke out his sad eyes to get Edmund to eat, because just looking at him right now is painful. He's all skin and bones and even though he just woke up from five days asleep/in a coma, the bags around his eyes look painful.

Speaking of that, he looked over to see that Edmund had stopped eating, too caught up in his thoughts, and he nudged him with his elbow to get him back on track.

Edmund looked over at him curiously, and Caspian looked pointedly at Edmund's fork, paused in mid air on the way back to the plate.

Edmund blushed and resumed eating, but not before he said cheekily, "Yes, mum."

xXx

After Caspian ensured Edmund ate more than his fair share of lunch, he decided that it was time for stage one of his wooing plan. He used all the information that he had, both from personal experience and the lessons the Professor taught him about the Kings and Queens of Old. This, however, was something he discovered by spending time with his beloved.

At this very moment, he was putting that plan into action, striding quickly through the castle, with Edmund a few steps behind him, wearing a bemused smile at Caspian's obvious enthusiasm for what he termed "a surprise, Ed, come on!"

Edmund could tell fairly soon where they were headed; he used to live in the original Cair Paravel for many years after all. It may be a bit different than the original but the basic footprint is still very much the same. However, knowing that they were heading outside didn't really narrow down the options much. But he was willing to let Caspian have his surprise, not letting his curious mind cycle through all the options and therefore ruin said surprise.

Soon, Caspian stopped. Edmund looked around inquisitively, wondering what was so special about a field.

"Is this the surprise?"

Caspian laughed. "No, this is where you wait while I go get the surprise."

"What?"

"If you follow me to where I have to go to get the surprise, you'll know immediately what it is! At least allow me a few more minutes of secrecy before your brilliant mind figures out what I'm doing."

Edmund shook his head fondly, unable to tear his eyes away from Caspian's face, glowing with excitement and just a hint of mischief.

"Alright, alright, go on. I'll wait, but you had better dazzle me." He said in a mock demanding tone.

Caspian swept into a dramatic bow, and said, "I am at your service, my liege."

Edmund couldn't hold back his laughter at that, and pushed Caspian's shoulder playfully. "Get out of here, you scoundrel."

Edmund couldn't have been standing there for more than a few minutes before he heard Caspian's footsteps approaching from behind him. Except there were a few more than Caspian's footsteps he was hearing…

He spun around and gasped.

"Oh Caspian, they're gorgeous!"

He rushed forward and patted the neck of the gorgeous palomino mare on Caspian's right hand side. But while he did so, he couldn't help but stare at the handsome black stallion on the other side of Caspian. His attention was pulled back to the horse in front of him when she started nosing at his pockets for treats.

"Oh no dear one, I'm sorry I don't have any treats for you. Why did you let me eat that apple from lunch, Caspian?"

Caspian smiled fondly. "Because you've been in a coma for five days and it looks like you weren't eating properly for a while before that, while these beauties get spoiled with treats on a regular basis. I think you needed that apple a bit more."

As if he could understand the blasphemy coming from Caspian, the black stallion huffed, as in disagreement. Edmund grinned and reached over to stroke the horse.

"I know, he's crazy, right?"

"Excuse you, I am the king!" Caspian protested, puffing his chest out playfully.

Edmund didn't dignify that with a response, just shared a conspiratorial eye roll with the palomino, going back to petting her.

"You like her, huh?" Caspian asked softly, all the playfulness gone from his tone.

"Of course I do. You couldn't have picked a more gorgeous horse for our ride today. I assume that's what the surprise was?"

"Partly."

"Partly? What else is there?"

"She's yours." Caspian said, continuing on when Edmund looked confused. "The mare, she's yours now."

"What?" Edmund gasped, unconsciously moving closer to the horse in question.

"Well I figure that since you're going to be here for a while," Hopefully, he added silently, "you should have your own horse. And I felt like you and this horse would be a great pair."

Suddenly, Caspian's arms were filled with a happy young man. He was just barely able to keep hold of the horses' reins through his shock, but he quickly wrapped his arms around Edmund to return the hug.

"Thank you." Edmund said, his words slightly muffled from where his face was pressed into the crook of Caspian's neck.

"You're very welcome." He gave Edmund one last squeeze before regretfully stepping back. Any more of Edmund's lips moving against his neck as he spoke, and his body was going to betray him.

"So. What are you going to name her?"

"She doesn't already have a name?" Edmund asked.

"No, we just recently acquired her and none of the names I've considered seemed to fit. But now I'm grateful for that, because that means you can decide."

Edmund gave Caspian a shy smile before turning his full attention back onto the – no, his – horse. He considered her for a long moment before speaking, his voice strong and sure.

"Jasmine."

"That's a good name. Would you like a lift up into the saddle?"

Caspian was given a withering look for this suggestion. "I may be shorter than you, and I may have not been here in a while, but I'm hardly incompetent. I don't need a lift."

Sure enough, Edmund swung into the saddle with ease, looking down at Caspian with a smug smile.

"Are you coming?" Edmund asked.

And with that he was off, urging his horse into a trot as Caspian stood there smiling stupidly at the sight. Only the black stallion, Erus, shifting in place broke him out of his reverie.

He quickly got himself into the saddle, and set off after Edmund, calling out, "Get back here, Ed!"

He was met with only laughter.