For Caspian: The King is Dead?

[happyfalcon]

The messenger had been clear: The flagship of Caspian X, King of Narnia, Emperor of the Lone Islands, had been sunk by the enemy.

There were no survivors.

Anne fell to pieces.

She barricaded herself in the library, knees tucked to her chest, fingers tearing at her dress. Anne had seen death before, God knows that in England death was a frequent visitor. But this place, this Narnia, it just seemed so surreal, like paradise. Death couldn't possibly have happened here, could it?

Evidently. Because the man she loved had drowned.

While the courtiers debated over who would take over stewardship of Narnia until a proper heir could be chosen, the kingdom prepared for a grieving ceremony. Anne attempted to get up a few times, but she just couldn't find the strength.

So she stayed in the library, buried her face against her knees and sobbed hysterically.

Comments

[happyfalcon]

Anne rapped her knuckles gently against his chest - taking care not to hit any of his wounds.

"Mind the sass, Majesty," Anne teased.

[navixator]

Her tap hardly hurt, but the chuckle in him certainly had him briefly twisting in a mild shock of discomfort through his core. She was right, after all; he needed rest. To recover. To find himself strong again.

"I'm certain I don't know what you mean, my Lady."

[happyfalcon]

Anne didn't protest further, she merely settled beside him, and drifted off to sleep once again. She kept her grip around him firm, but not so tight as to hurt him. Anne wanted to make sure he knew that he was safe, he was in bed, with her. That nothing could hurt him.

She wouldn't allow it.

Morning soon broke over the horizon, and Anne's eyes fluttered open slowly. She adjusted her position a bit, just to look at Caspian and make sure he was still all right. Good, he was still breathing. He looked so peaceful, so serene in his slumber that she could hardly help herself from watching him.

[navixator]

It was entirely easy to sleep beside her. The nightmare gone from his mind, he drifted gently back into far more pleasant dreams.

He kept sleeping past the dawn, although it wasn't the norm for him. The healing elixirs coursing through his system kept him groggy and resting even after the light was properly bright in the early calm hours of the day.

Likely it was the change in her breathing more than anything else which eventually had him stirring, a stretch moving through his shoulders before the slight dull ache dragged him toward wakefulness.

Words were mumbled and incoherent on his lips for the moment.

[happyfalcon]

Anne couldn't help but laugh a bit as he attempted to speak. She leaned forward, pressing a kiss to the corner of his mouth.

"You might try that again, love," Anne suggested. "Only this time, try speaking in a language that I might understand. English tends to work well."

She teased, giggling a little as her fingers played up and down along his chest. Again Anne nuzzled his neck, the scent of the sea was nearly gone now, the chill of the water completely banished from his skin.

"You feel much better on the outside than you did last night - but how are you actually feeling?"

[navixator]

His smile stayed soft and easy as he focused properly on the fact of who was with him. This was much, much better than nights alone on his bunk between night watches.

"...good morning."

It was repeated just before a quiet yawn, his body shifting back to attempt a soft stretch.

"I feel... sore, still."

An understatement, really.

[happyfalcon]

Anne smiled, leaning to kiss him gently.

"Good morning."

She studied the movements of his body carefully. Watching for any hitches in his movements, trying to identify problem areas.

"Is there any place in particular that is sore? Perhaps if I massaged you gently, some of the pain would fade?" She would have to be careful, of course, but Anne knew how to be gentle.

[navixator]

Kisses were one of the best ways to begin the morning, he was fairly certain. Contemplating the pain still throbbing through him was somewhat less so.

"My... my ribs. The mast-- hit me on the way down."

It had been part of what kept him from surfacing right away.

[happyfalcon]

Anne's expression went soft, sad. She couldn't massage his ribs without doing further damage. So instead, in some attempt to soothe him at least, her fingers smoothed down his chest, near his ribs, trying to give him some sort of comfort.

"That sounds terrible," Anne sighed. "I just...thank God you were able to come back to me."

Anne leaned in to kiss his cheek again, relieved that he hadn't been more severely hurt, or worse.

[navixator]

"The Lion was with me," he affirmed, shifting to lean his cheek more fully against her lips. The bruised ribs would take time to heal, there was no help for it, but at least that seemed to be the worst of it.

He had to thank Aslan for that, given the depths he had been plucked from to live again.

"And now, so are you."

[happyfalcon]

"Of course I am," Anne smiled, tenderly pushing his hair out of his face. "I was with you before you left, and will be, as I promised."

She smiled, sitting up a bit and resting one hand in her lap.

"You should probably be as still as possible today - I'm certain your healers will be here soon enough," Anne suggested. "Frankly, I'm surprised that they're not up and about here already."

[navixator]

There couldn't help but be a brief flicker of frustration in his expression. The impetus to go back to the sea--back to the ships guarding Narnia--clearly hadn't worn off any.

"Will you speak to the court, then?"

Since he was meant to be staying still, and likely that in bed.

[happyfalcon]

Anne wasn't happy about it, but she had already agreed to do it and he needed her to do it. How could she refuse? Especially when he looked at her like that...

"I said I would," she nodded. "What shall I say, Majesty? I don't wish to speak incorrectly if I'm speaking on your behalf."

She would have to change...her slightly torn dress was definitely not fit to address a crowd in.

[navixator]

"Tell them I'm well."

There's briefly wryness to his smile as he closes his eyes, exhales a slightly shaky breath.

"Tell them I'm-- well enough. That I'll be on my feet again soon. Tell-- tell them how proud I am of our soldiers still keeping the kingdom safe."

[happyfalcon]

Anne nodded softly, kissing him on the forehead before moving to stand up.

"Think you can handle being apart from me for a little while?" She teased.

But she needed to change and get herself cleaned up if she was to address the court on Caspian's behalf.

[navixator]

He couldn't help the low chuckle. He couldn't help reaching, just one moment longer, to tug at her shoulder in request for a soft kiss.

"It will be less long than the voyage to France. I suspect I'll survive it."

[happyfalcon]

Anne was only too eager to lean in again to press her lips softly against his, lingering for a moment longer than she intended just to savor it. Slowly she pulled away with a smile on her lips.

"Won't be long, I promise."