"Have you ever heard stories of the Narnia of old?" Caspian asked. Ahren looked up from his book to look over at his friend. The winter had only crept on and the snow had grown heavier. This was his second time visiting the prince after the king's funeral a week ago. His father and the six other lords of the inner court busy with the sickness flooding the city and ascension of lord Miraz as regent.

Caspian glanced around nervously but the only adults in the room was Othello and one of the queen's ladies in waiting. The guard was in his customary armour, dark skin almost matching the tone of his leather breastplate. His green eyes, unusual in Telmar, were carefully fixed on the window to give the boys the sense of privacy. Ahren knew that Othello was aware of what they were doing, but the guard allowed them to play like the children they were with little intervention unless they were in danger. It was why the guard was one of his favourite people. He never snitched to his father when Ahren stole treats from the kitchens. The man having been his guard since he was a toddler.

"Like the stories about the men who have the body of a horse and the dwarves?" Ahren sat up, interest in his book successfully lost. Around them, the prince's study was warm and quiet. It was up in one of the castle towers and out of the way from most of the castle bustle.

Caspian eyed the lady in waiting but she was across the room and concentrating on her embroidery. He put his own book away and gestured for Ahren to come closer. Interested, he got up and crossed to the couch where the prince was seated. He sat at the prince's side and turned to face him, leaning close. Caspian wasn't a very talkative child. He said what he deemed enough and no more. This was the first time he had spoken to Ahren first and the taller was interested in what he had to say.

"Yes. My nursemaid told me about them. She says that the creatures that lived here before we arrived are still around. There are rumours that they live in the great forest". His voice was quiet and excited.

"Wow", Ahren breathed. "The forest that everyone says is full of monsters?"

"There were apparently kings and queens of old and they governed Narnia with a talking lion called Aslan".

"A talking lion? Animals can't talk", Ahren frowned.

"My nursemaid said that Narnians can. That some of them are animals who can talk like we can". Ahren wanted to say that those stories were silly but Caspian looked so fascinated that he didn't want to ruin that. The prince was almost smiling and that was not a common thing.

"What would animals even talk about?"

Caspian frowned in thought. "Maybe about food?"

"That makes sense. We talk about food too". He paused, head spinning. "Do you think we'll ever see a Narnian? I've heard the servants talking about them. They say they're dangerous savages".

Caspian seemed to think about this. "If we don't hurt them, then they won't hurt us right? I want to meet one someday".

"Maybe one day, when we're big enough and have swords we can go and look for them", Ahren grinned. He reached forwards and interlocked their hands. "We can swear it".

Caspian beamed. He was missing one of his teeth and it was adorable. For a moment he didn't look like a boy who had recently lost his father. He looked like a seven year old boy with his friend. "I swear it. We can go together. When I'm king, I'll let the narnian's come back. I swear it".

"I swear it too", Ahren giggled, excited at this future adventure. "But we have to do it together or it doesn't count".

Caspian's smile fell. His voice grew hesitant and he clung tightly to their intertwined hands. "Will we still be friends when we're older?"

"Of course!" Ahren shifted closer to that their thighs were touching. "Why not?"

Caspian looked down, ears flushing a pretty pink as he smiled happily. "You have to swear to be my friend forever too", he stated seriously. His big black eyes wide.

"I swear". Ahren swung their joined hands. Even though they had been friends for less than a week, he felt the need to protect this smaller boy. There was something he understood about Caspian that he hadn't felt with the other children he'd met. Something just clicked and he did not know what, only that it was good. "I swear I'll always be your best friend".

"Best friend?"

"The bestest", Ahren swore. It shouldn't have felt so heavy. "What other stories about the old world did your nursemaid tell you?"

Caspian leaned in close, a secretive smile on his lips. The two boys making a show of leaning their heads together close enough for the smaller's longer hair to brush Ahren's cheek. "There were four rulers of Narnia. High king Peter, the magnificent. Queen Susan the gentle. King Edmund the just and Queen Lucy the valiant. They were siblings that fought with Aslan to defeat the white witch".

"Wow", Ahren exhaled. "How did they do that?"

"There was a big battle. The stories say that Peter and Edmund teamed up with Aslan to defeat her". Caspian paused and grinned excitedly. "I get to start sword training soon, when the spring comes. So that when I get older I will be as good as them with a sword".

"I started sword training last month", Ahren sighed. "But I'm not very good at it. The last time I tried I tripped over and accidentally hit Tello with my sword". He shot a glance at the mentioned guard who smirked slightly at the reminder. Ahren scowled at him and turned back to his friend. "Don't laugh!" He cried out as Caspian sniggered.

"That sounds funny".

"I tried really hard", Ahren sulked. "I'm just really bad".

Caspian saw the down turn to his face and the snigger abruptly stopped. "I wasn't laughing at you! Don't cry". Ahren sniffed and the Prince reached up with his free hand to awkwardly pat his head. Fingers brushing over wavy black locks. The taller boy stopped sniffing and leaned into the touch. It felt nice even though Caspian's movements were clumsy.

"I'm not going to cry", Ahren protested through a pout. "I'll get better with a sword. I'll be really good!"

Caspian relaxed now that the threat of crying was off the table. "You will be so good! Then the two of us can have adventures together like the kings and queens of Narnia".

Ahren perked up and smiled again. "Can you tell me more about them?"

Caspian returned the smile happily. "High king Peter fought with a sword with Aslan's head on the hilt. It's in the drawings. Oh! And Queen Lucy apparently has a magic potion that can stop people from dying".

"That's amazing", Ahren breathed as he leaned in close to listen to more magical tales.

Unedited

Aren't they just adorable? I wanted to try the childhood friends to lovers trope.