"Ahren?"

Ahren felt his breath stutter. Caspian was standing by his bed. The young man had grown and he had grown up much better than Ahren had. Caspian carried himself with a certain confidence, a regal posture that immediately set him out as the prince he was. His dark hair brushed his shoulders and his features were fine, handsome. He was taller, broader than Ahren and that was a surprise. Ahren had always been the taller one but now it seems that it was different. He watched as Caspian dropped the sword and gaped at him

"Caspian", the name was out of his mouth before he could stop it. His prince was right there. Rumple, dirt stained shirt and breeches. Yet right there and he was beautiful. He was striding across the floor as fast as his feet could take him.

(When he was a child his father had told him of their family's famous loyalty to the crown. Never had their ancestors betrayed the Telmarine royal family and many a member had died as a cost of that loyalty. It was a famous loyalty. Ahren had not understood it until he had met Caspian. Now it felt like he had been drowning and he could finally breathe. His family loyalty might be legendary, but he doubted that any of his ancestors had felt like this. It felt like he was himself again, like having Caspian near had returned some forgotten pieces to his soul. It was heady, overwhelming in the best ways).

"Wren!" Summer called out in concern. There was no need for her to be concerned. Caspian would never hurt him. He would never hurt Caspian. It was as true as the blood in his veins. Ahren had known he would give his life to the moment he met Caspian's gaze. There was no denying this.

Ahren was almost close enough touch him when Caspian moved. "This must be a trick". The whispered words were what made Ahren pause. They were inches away. Close enough to feel the warmth and breath of each other yet still not touching, not crossing that barrier just yet. Caspian blinked teary eyes. "You're dead. I was told you died in the fire". He was gazing at him like all the stars had swum into clarity for the very first time.

Ahren held his gaze, feeling the air rushing from his lungs. It almost hurt to be looked at like that, like he was a dream made flesh. "Othello got me out", his voice had slipped, telmarine accent flowing through. His childhood returning to him. "He died. I almost died. These people saved me". He gestured to the people behind him. He glanced back and met Willowbranch's gaze. She smiled at him and began ushering the satyr siblings out of the cave. Summer went with a frown while Bree made some stuttered protests. Their hooves echoing as their voices faded.

As soon as they were gone, Ahren made an aborted attempt to reach for him. He was almost afraid to touch him. Caspian had no such fear. The prince fell into his arms. It took a bit manoeuvring to get them into a position where the hug was comfortable. Caspian being three inches taller than Ahren and broader, but he folded into the touch like a small child. When he clutched at the smaller man's waist it was a tight grip as if someone would take Ahren away. "Ahren", he murmured like a prayer into the junction of his shoulder. "Ahren. Ahren".

"I've got you. I'm here". Caspian's hands were leaving fingerprint bruises on Ahren's skin through the thin material of his shirt. He was holding him like he was his last breath of air. Ahren was pretty sure that he was gripping the prince back just as tightly. His fingernails creasing the fabric covering his shoulders. "Caspian. My prince. You're safe here. I'll protect you. I promised, didn't I?"

It took several long moments of muttered soothings and soft sobs buried into warm skin before they were able to part from their death grip. Ahren grinned as he rubbed the wetness from under Caspian's eyes with his thumbs, fingers combing back the prince's long hair. Caspian blinked at him, face lost in a look of dazed wonder like a child seeing coloured lights for the first time. "You're still crying, huh?" Ahren smiled at him.

Caspian sniffed and rubbed his red rimmed eyes. "I actually haven't cried in years", he let out a small chuckle. "Not since you. I guess you bring it out in me".

"I never used to cry. Not until that night. Now it's like I cry all the time and I can't help it", Ahren shrugged. His eyes were damp. "What have we grown into?"

Caspian snorted. It was an ugly wet sound quickly followed up by a wheezing giggle. He clutched at his ribs, other arm still wrapped around Ahren's waist. "I'm sure our fathers would be proud?"

"Well you haven't stabbed me for breaking my promise", Ahren retorted as he steered Caspian back to his bed. The taller male allowed the touching as he was gently pushed back onto the mattress. "What hurts?" Ahren's fingers pulled up the white shirt to see patches of blue black bruising covering his chest. He winced at the sight and got up. Caspian panicked slightly at the movement and made an aborted attempt to reach for him. His hand faking as the shorter male retrieved a clay pot of something from an alcove by the cave entrance. The prince breathing a small exhale of relieved air at the fact that he was not going to be left alone.

"Tell me what happened?" Ahren requested as he took a seat on the edge of the mattress. His hands scooping out clumps of a thick herb paste that he smeared over the bruising. Caspian laid back and retold the events of the night, voice growing shaky in parts. How his tutor woke him and they hid in a secret passageway to watch men fire on his bed with no hesitation. How he had rode for hours pursued by his uncle's soldiers. The branch hitting him off his horse and Summer saving his life.

"She is not the kindest of women", Ahren commented as he finished his task. Caspian had been watching him. Eyes scanning over his features to compare this teen to the boy from his memories. Ahren had grown up pretty handsome. Lightly tanned skin, fluffy brown wavy hair, big brown eyes that turned into crescents when he smiled. "That is only words though. She shows care through actions more often. Her and Bree were practically by older siblings the last ten years, though they are technically our neighbours".

"And the centaur?" Caspian asked. He had seen the fond and loving way the two had communicated through looks.

"She is more of a mother. Willowbranch, though I call her Willa sometimes, took me in when Bree found me dying on the edge of stream". Ahren then took his turn to tell his story. Caspian's hand on his knee as he recalled the night that ripped them apart. Now Othello had woken him and carried him out of the house. The fight to get a horse and the chase to the forest. How they had just reached the trees when an arrow found its mark and Othello dropped off the saddle. How seven year old Ahren had rode alone until the blood loss and exhaustion had almost been the end of him. Then the waking up surrounded by narnians and the plan to keep him safe.

"I wanted to tell you", he confessed. "I wanted to let you know that I was alive so badly. But if your uncle had found out then he wouldn't come just for me, he would kill the others too". This was what finally brought the tears to Ahren's eyes. They had lingered there the whole time, not yet falling until now. They traced lines down his cheeks so his voice trembled. "I'm so sorry".

Caspian did not say anything for a long moment. His hand coming up to brush the tears away. Slowly, he tugged Ahren down until they were both tucked into the safe nook in the cave wall. Caspian on his back with Ahren on is side. Both their heads turned to the other like seeking light. "I lost everything when I lost you", Caspian's voice was barely above a whisper. "My first friend. The first person I could trust . You let me be myself. I couldn't not be that without you".

His words made Ahren close his eyes at the guilt and hurt. He had not realised that he was causing Caspian this much pain. He recalled the years of nightmares, of waking screaming for his friend. Of days where he would spend all light hours up the tallest tree where he could see the castle, just so he could peer at the windows and imagine Caspian looking back. He had not realised that Caspian had grown up with as much yearning and grief as he did.

"I'm sorry". Ahren closed his eyes and began to sob. Deep chest wracking sobs. He had never been much of a crier as a child, yet at seventeen he sobbed like a five year old. Body curling in, little whimpers between every breath, hands reaching out to fist int he material of Caspian's shirt as if he would be taken from him again.

Caspian shifted painfully onto his side and curled his arms around the smaller boy. "I had not finished. I don't care about any of that, not anymore. I am just glad you are alive". He tucked Ahren's chin under his head and closed his eyes.

Ahren let his sobs calm against the prince's chest. Caspian was so warm. He pressed as close as he could and closed his eyes as he inhaled the warm scents of forest and warm skin and something that was just Caspian. When Willowbranch stepped back into the cave and quietly approaching the curtain. She pulled it back to find the two boys slumbering tangled up together. Ahren curled up against the side of Caspian's chest as the prince held him close. She noted the tight grip her adopted son had on the other boy's shirt and the matching grip Caspian held on Ahren's waist. Willowbranch sighed softly as she pulled a spare blanket from a chest and draped it over the two boys.

Caspian's eyes slid open slightly at the motions. She paused mid tuck in as he blinked at her. She waited for the shock, the freak out, but instead Caspian just blinked at her again. He raised a hand from Ahren's back, the other still on the boy's waist, to tangle his fingers in wavy brown strands. Ahren made a sleepy noise at the action but did not stir as Caspian closed his eyes again and fell back asleep. Willowbranch let out an exhale and finished tucking the blanket around their bodies. It was only once she had stepped away, hands drawing the curtain closed around the bed, that she allowed herself to smile.

She did not know of what danger the presence of the prince would bring, but she was glad that her little Wren got this at least.

Unedited

Awww they're adorable. They are now a pair, do not separate again. Let's eye how long it takes for them to become more.

Vote, comment, follow and all that.