Otto couldn't keep the delighted grin from off his face as he twirled across the deck. Around him the crew cheered and shouted excitedly, enjoying the entertainment. Opposite him, Caspian was grinning as well. The sword in his hands steady as he lunged again. Otto batted the blade away with the pommel of his spear. The weapon spinning in a wide arc around him, forcing Caspian to jump back. "Come on Caspian!" Edmund shouted from where he was leaning over the railing by the wheel. "Put your back into it".

"It would help if I could actually get close!" Caspian laughed back, ducking under another swing of Otto's spear.

"Go Otto!" Lucy whooped next to her brother.

"Traitor", Caspian called. Lucy just giggled.

Otto flipped the spear expertly round and leaned against it with a smirk. "Come on darling. Those three years must have done you some good".

Caspian narrowed his eyes playfully and stepped closer to lunge. Otto chuckled and spun his spear round, intent on trapping the blade against the wood to twist it out of Caspian's hand. It was a clever trick when disarming someone but Caspian spotted the move. Before Otto could react, he was bending with the movement of the sword. Keeping his hold, he ducked between the twisting staff and grabbed a hold of Otto's shirt with his spare hand. Otto gasped was he was pulled forwards. A blade pressing against his throat as a arm snaked round his waist, dipping him back like a dance. The dip removing his balance, leaving him with no where to go. His spear too long for such close combat.

Caspian smirked, panting at the exertion. Otto could feel the movement of his chest against his. He was panting too, eyes wide at the sudden close contact. He licked the sweat off his lips. "You've gotten good", he smiled. Caspian's eyes darkened then he grinned. Around them, they could hear the crew Wolf whistling and cheering.

"You were marvellous", he complimented as he removed the sword and pulled Otto back up onto his feet. Otto ran a hand through his hair and beamed, propping his spear up and leaning against it. Above then, the captain ordered the crew back to work and their crowd dispersed.

"How did you know I was going to do that move?"

"You used it against me once in training", Caspian replied. A crew member handed him a cup of water before doing the same for Otto. Both men thanked him.

"Really? And you remembered it to learn how to counter it?" Otto blinked.

Caspian smiled softly. "I was practising it for our next sparring session then you disappeared", he shrugged and downed his water, turning to face away. Otto faltered for a second then moved closer so that their shoulder brushed. Both of them having gravitated to the rails to look out over the sea.

"Well, it definitely caught me off guard. I am going to have to train a lot to catch up". Otto leaned his head on Caspian's shoulder. The king's long dark hair ticking his forehead. "It was rather attractive actually". Caspian twitched in surprise and glanced at him.

"Oh? Where did the shy Otto I met back in those woods go?"

"He grew up and found a place where he could be himself", Otto grinned. "And a certain prince who was devastatingly handsome, and interested". He felt Caspian chuckled.

"I have missed you so", he murmured, pressing a kiss to Otto's forehead.

"Land ho!" The cry came from above them. Otto straightened as Caspian stepped away. The king jumped up the steps to the upper deck to see better while Otto remained where he was to peer at the sliver of green in the distance.

"By my estimates we will reach it by nightfall", the Captain boomed loudly. Otto leaned further out over the rails, excitement and nerves sparking in his veins.

——

They did reach the land before nightfall. Dusk and golden hour was colouring the sand stone buildings Orange as the ship dropped anchor in the harbour. Otto stood at Caspian's side, eyes scanning the costal city across the waters. It was silent. Creepy silent. Boats were tied to stone steps leading into the water but no one manned them. There were no visible signs of life visible other than the worn buildings and bobbing boats. In the distance, near the centre of the city was the spire of a church but no bells rung. In the dusk light it looked gloomy and still. Otto wasn't sure if he liked it.

"The lone islands", the captain announced next to them. The man lowered his telescope and passed it to Caspian. "The ports of Narrowhaven".

"Strange", Caspian commented. Accent thick on the word as he surveyed the city. "Not a narnian flag in sight". He lowered the telescope and passed it over to Edmund.

"But the lone islands have always been narnia's", Edmund voiced. Otto remembered learning about the lone island in professor Cornelius's narnia history lessons back when he lived in the castle.

"Seems suspicious", the captain commented. Edmund handed the telescope to Otto and he peered through it. The city seemed even creepier magnified. The captain, Drinian Otto recalled his name to be, was right. It seemed very suspicious.

"I say we prepare a landing party", Edmund announced as Otto handed the telescope back to Caspian. "Drinian?"

Drinian and Caspian shared a look. The captain glancing at his king, then at Otto for a brief second. Otto wasn't sure what the look meant. "Forgive me your majesty", he inclined his head politely. "But the chain of command starts with king Caspian and"- he paused and glanced at Otto and Caspian again -"King Caspian on this ship".

Edmund blinked, expression shuttering. "Right", he nodded.

"We'll use long boats", Caspian ordered. "Drinian, pick some men and come ashore". Then Caspian was turning and descending the stairs onto the lower deck. Otto followed him.

"What was that about?" He asked in a hushed voice. "His pause and glance at me. You're the king of Narnia".

Caspian stopped and turned to him. His expression was calm and slightly sad. He placed his hands on Otto's shoulders softly. "You're the king of narnia too", he reminded.

Otto shrugged. "Yeah. But so are Edmund and Lucy. But you have taken Peter's place as the high king. You are the one who lives here and has earned the loyalty of your kingdom. I can't expect loyalty I haven't earned, which means my title is just a name until other believe it".

Caspian was staring into his eyes with a look of love but also slight sadness. It made Otto feel prickly and uncomfortable. His cheeks warmed and he dropped his gaze to Caspian's shoulder, feeling too seen under those brown eyes. "Come here", Caspian murmured. He gently steered Otto to a empty corner of the deck. Around them the crew busted, lowering the two longboats into the water and grabbing arms for their trip to shore.

"Otto don't you remember what happened after we defeated my uncle?" Caspian asked.

"Of course I do", Otto scowled. "Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy left to go back to England. And I", his cheeks coloured and he smiled slightly. "I kissed you and made my promise to stay".

"That is what I'm talking about", Caspian muttered with a grin. "You kissed me in front of all my people and promised to stay. I declared you king beside me and you stayed with us. You learn our history and travelled our streets. You made friends and trained with our soldiers. You were only there for six months but people grew to love you. And when you kissed me and promised to stay as long as I would have you, it told our kingdom that we were courting. Which meant you were my betrothed, my partner. And when you disappeared, people mourned with me. And now you're back". Caspian paused and took a breath. He pressed a peck to Otto's lips.

"You have just as much power as me. You earned it. It may have been six months but you made an impact love".

Otto blinked wide eyed at him. "Was I worth that much?" He murmured.

Caspian moved his hands to cup Otto's face. "Love, you are worth that and more". Otto closed his eyes and leaned forwards to press their foreheads together. In the back of his mind, his father's words were still playing. He guessed that they always would but here, in love, respect and loyalty, he could block them out.

Unedited

An: Caspian is president of the Otto protection squad, with Lucy as co-president. Baby Otto needs to learn more self love and that he doesn't need to be a follower all the time.
Also, 'Never let me go' Andrew Garfield is basically Otto's whole look.