Otto woke up to see the fire had faded into nothing but smouldering ashes. He watched the light smoke for a minute before yawning and sitting up. He glanced around and spotted that Peter was already standing and tying his sword to his belt quickly. The blonde had his back to him and had not noticed that he was awake. Edmund, Susan and Trunpkin were still asleep in the grass. Lucy was missing, her imprint in the dew empty.

Grabbing his spear, Otto got up and followed Peter into the woods. Peter found Lucy standing amidst a clearing filled with moss covered boulders. Something large moved around nearby. Thumping footsteps and the cracking of twigs. Otto ducked down under another rock as something thumped past. Nearby, he spotted Peter grab Lucy and pull her down out of sight. Muffled voices sounded ahead. He gripped his spear more tightly, ready to use it at a moments notice.

Peering out, Otto saw a humongous creature lumber past. It was humanoid but had the head of a bull. A Minotaur, he recognised the creature from Greek myths. They were one of the species of Narnians that the siblings had told him about. But it was stilll surreal to see the creature in person. Otto glanced towards Peter and Lucy. Peter was standing up and drawing his sword. Swallowing down nerves, Otto slowly stood and gripped his spear with both hands. He was a knight and Peter was his king. He had to stop him from doing something stupid.

Peter was creeping after the Minotaur when there was a yell. A dark haired boy wearing a dark grey breastplate jumped down, sword raised. Peter reacted and the blade met his with a clang. Otto skidded over to Lucy, who was watching the fight in panic. They exchanged a few blows before Peter managed to knock the sword out of the dark haired boy's grip. It flew into a bush out of reach. He swung and the guy ducked. Peter's sword bit deeply into the trunk of a tree, sticking there as he tried to pull it out. The boy kicked Peter back, causing him to tumble into the earth. His sword remained in the tree and the boy grabbed at it.

Otto rose and ran out. The boy was struggling with Peter's sword, trying to break it free. It came out of the tree and he turned, pointing the blade at Peter. "Don't move", Otto commanded fiercely as he pressed the point of his spear at the boy's back. Peter had pulled himself to his feet and was clutching a rock in his hands defensively. The boy froze, shoulders heaving.

"Stop!" Lucy yelled. Everyone turned to look at her. Both Peter and the boy pausing their fight. Around them, beings emerged from the woods. Otto gasped as centaurs, animals, Minotaurs, Satyrs and other creatures Otto had not name of appeared. They surrounded them, all looking down at the dark haired boy as if waiting for instruction.

Peter looked back at his opponent, realisation settling in. "Prince Caspian?" He asked.

"Yes and who are you?" Prince Caspian replied, slightly panicked. He had a slight accent that Otto had never heard of before. It curled his words slightly, made some of them sound softer. He lowered Peter's sword slowly, now that Peter proved no threat. In return, Otto gently lifted the tip of his spear from Caspian's back.

"Peter!" Susan's call echoed around the clearing as she, Edmund and Trumpkin sprinted over. They stopped next to Lucy, looking at the Narnian's in surprise. Seeing no danger, Otto lowered his spear fully and walked round to stand slightly defensively in front of the Pevensie siblings. He rested his spear at his side with a nonchalance which concealed his anxiety and panic, eyes darting around at all the creatures. Inwardly, he wanted to start asking questions, but he kept silent. He was so out of his depth here.

Caspian looked over at the rest of the newcomers then down at Peter's sword. He must have recognised the lion headed hilt in his grip, for he swallowed nervously. Otto looked the prince over. He had long dark hair that brushed and dark brown eyes. He seemed older than them. Probably around seventeen or eighteen. A year or so older than Otto. He also noticed that the prince was the same height as him, both of them taller than the Pevensie siblings. With high cheekbones and olive toned skin, Caspian looked truly like a fairytale prince. It was slightly off putting.

"High king Peter", Peter introduced. Otto rolled his eyes at the arrogant title. Peter had fallen into arrogant king mode again. Otto was getting used to seeing the persona. He understood why Peter did it, but he really did sound like a prat. "I believe you called".

"Well yes but", Caspian glanced around at the Pevensie siblings. Eyes lingering on each of their faces and weapons, glimmering with recognition and astonishment. He turned and his eyes met Otto's. Otto lifted his head and rested his weight against the spear at his side, meeting the dark gaze with a steady look of his own. The prince swallowed visibly and turned back to Peter. "I thought you'd be older".

"Well we can come back in a few years".

"No! No. I'm glad you're here", Caspian replied quickly. Peter stopped and glanced around. The narnian's were all bowing at the Pevensie children. All of them having lowered to the floor as soon as Caspian had acknowledged them. Otto stepped back, feeling slightly out of place. He looked down at his feet, bending his head but not bowing.

There was a rustling noise and a mouse the size of a small dog rolled down a slope and onto the earth in front of them. It uncurled itself and Otto could see the thin rapier handing from its belt and the red feather over one ear. The mouse bowed. When it rose, so did the rest of the Narnians.

"Reepicheep", the mouse introduced. "Pleasure to keep you kings and queens. I am at your service".

"Oh my god he's so cute", Lucy whispered to Susan.

"Who said that?" Reepicheep declared, pulling out his sword. Otto couldn't help blinking. It was a giant talking mouse with a sword! This was by far the weirdest thing he'd seen so far. He wanted to laugh, but forced himself to keep a calm face.

Lucy stepped back. "Sorry".

"Oh", Reepicheep calmed once he realised that it was queen Lucy who had spoken. He sheathed his sword. "May I suggest courteous or courageous instead?" He asked hopefully. "I am your valiant knight".

"Well at lest someone knows how to handle a blade", Peter remarked. Otto frowned at the rude dig at Caspian. Was Peter really that annoyed that the new prince had almost beaten him. He was being salty.

Otto huffed and grinned at Peter. "Excuse me for not being good at a sword", he teased, defecting the comment away from Caspian. "Perhaps if you had a spare blade maybe. But all you gave me was this spear". He spun it in a fluid motion from one hand to the other behind his back. Peter rolled his eyes, struggling to keep up his kingly attitude.

Edmund didn't care. He laughed. "Well get you a sword eventually. But you're pretty handy with a spear. So maybe stick to that huh".

"Speaking of blades, you should probably have this back", Caspian handed Peter his sword. Peter sheathed it and turned to look around. Notably ignoring Caspian behind him. The prince frowned and his gaze turned back to Otto. He watched as Otto ran a hand through his sandy brown hair, one hand twirling the spear in a silent threat. It was a silent blurred circle in his hands as Otto watched the Narnians with anxious eyes. The spear head a flash of gold.

"Have we got forces and supplies?" Peter asked, immediately assuming control over the situation.

"Yes. But there are forces gathering at the river", Caspian replied, tearing his gaze away from the twisting spear.

"Then we need every blade we can get", Peter stated.

"If you will follow me your majesties", Reepicheep bowed again and gestured towards the forest. "I will show you to our fortress". Peter stomped after him and his siblings followed. Otto hesitated next to the prince.

"Prince Caspian", Otto smiled at him. The sound of his name jumped the prince out of his thoughts. He turned to look at Otto in surprise. "Otto Birch. Knight to the royal siblings", he jerked a thumb at the retreating Pevensie's backs. "And probably Peter's best friend. Nice to meet you".

"Oh. I'm Caspian the tenth", Caspian replied hesitantly. He was still staring at Otto. His gaze penetrating in a way that made him feel like Caspian was trying to figure him out.

"Um aren't you going to lead the forces to the base?" Otto asked with a nervous smile. Caspian jerked and began walking. Together, they caught up with the others. No more words said between them.

Unedited