Sorry I'm late y'all, I had one gnarly return to the work week lol
But enjoy, lovelies!
xoxo
(Another unedited one just fyi cause y'all deserved a lil sumtin sumtin... so let me know if you see errors)
P.S. playlist is updated and the song is added above

Alistair

This one day had added just about ten or so years to my already immortal life.

There wasn't really anything that had ever called me to end my life at sea before, but if being with Caspian was going be anything like our first day in Azul together, I had maybe forty or so more years of my youth before I might have to retire this life for good.

I still wasn't sure how I had found the words to talk through this with him, nor the gall to still touch someone of such royal blood, but we had already done so much more with each other that at this point, whoever wanted to carry that burden and lay down the punishment for my actions, I welcomed them to try. I'd even help them tie the noose.

My lips found his again with such ease, especially after the words he spoke to me. I wanted him to understand that some of us... some of us were old enough to remember. Some of us would never forget the night Azultia became Azul. And now knowing just what Caspian had to sacrifice... if he wanted to claim a life of a simple merchant, I would let him. Gladly.

He could be whoever he desired to be with me.

Caspian hadn't pushed against me, nor against the claim I made on his lips. He simply pulled me closer to him, meshing the skin of my dry cheeks against his damp ones, and all I thought was that if I could dry those tears completely, I would. And if I could promise he would never shed them again, I would.

My hands reached for his legs, slipping under his thighs before I raised him up along with myself, and placed him gently back onto the empty table in front of us. My lips never once left his as his back arched off the surface slowly, welcoming more of me against him once his back grew flushed against the wood.

I wasn't sure whether it was the sheer feeling of his vulnerability, and the way he welcomed me to it, however the front door unlocking hadn't even found its way to my ears... Caspian's heartbeat occupied every bit of it.

As soon as it did open, I was the first to pull away from this man whose lips had now grown swollen due to mine.

I was starting to mind my own actions on this land, for enough things had taken me by surprise, however due to the entire basket Dreska had dropped at the entrance to his home, more revelations were in store... for him.

He scrambled to collect the items he had since allowed to tumble to the floor, while both myself and Caspian scrambled to collect ourselves. As soon as that door closed behind him, I watched him lock every lock with spirit.

His head whipped around to mine first, but I had no answers for him.

Whatever he felt about this, he was going to have to walk his own self through it. I didn't care enough to do the work.

When his eyes cast to Caspian who was now taking a seat in the very chair I had pulled him from, his eyes refused to meet Dreska's.

I watched this short man open his mouth, before he close it a moment later... only to open it again a moment after that.

"When you said-"

"He's mine." I clarified, not bothering to conceal whatever this was any longer.

Dreska remained quiet as he brought the remainder of the fruit in his basket, to his kitchen. The silence that hung in the air now was more deafening than the silence between Caspian and I as we had sat quietly, staring at the stone wall ahead.

Once Dreska returned from the kitchen, he took a seat where he originally had, which was across the table from Caspian and slightly diagonal to me.

"Are you aware of who he-" Dreska started, but Caspian silenced him.

"I'm very aware." He told this man...

To which I added "Incredibly aware. More aware than you."

That earned me a swift, cutting glare from the shorter man. His green eyes looked to be on fire as they attempted to stare me down. The attempt, however, was futile.

"Alistair Melek don't flatter yourself. Caspian may be too young to understand just what he's doing-"

"Too young?" My words cut back with a startling amount of hostility. "Too young was what he was when his parents were slaughtered, and home was burnt. Respectfully, you don't know a single thing about what he's experienced since then. Don't insult his intelligence like that." Caspian's gaze shifted to mine a moment at this sudden threat in my tone, yet I wasn't finished when I found myself continuing. "I already harbor no respect for you, for you've done nothing to earn it. But if you're so hellbent on having me show you just how little I respect you, that's a wish I'll happily comply to."

"Alistair," Caspian started, already sensing where this was heading. I allowed the anger to seep through me too easily.

In my defense, I had thought myself to be quite civil, especially considering everything I had just learnt about this white haired man and the unprecedented suffering he had been forced to weed himself through... if anyone wanted to further push these limits of mine, I'd handle it accordingly.

"This is who he is," Dreska insisted, but I just watched as Caspian slowly shook his head.

"I've seen who he is. And I promise you this... no amount of years gained or learned could ever give you, Dreska, an accurate depiction of this man. I know you want the best for me, but hear me when I say that this is. He is."

"If Lemont was here-"

"If Lemont was still alive, he would repeat the very words he somehow always found the energy to. The words instilled into you both by the crown." Caspian cut in again. His own words were taking an edge that was slowly starting to lift the edges of my lips into a slight smile.

There was something about the way he spoke to this palace's advisor, that felt like something I had seen before. A change in tone that I had heard before.

It was that touch of an authoritarian tone that pulled to me. The same way he spoke when he addressed the two pirates left on Gaelick's ship besides Gaelick himself. That tone that carried the orders of a man who knew he could influence them.

I found it to be rather alluring, and the fact that it was further angering Dreska in the process only made his confidence all the more beautiful.

I hadn't realized how little Caspian carried confidence until I was starting to be exposed to the moments when he felt more sure of himself.

"Do you think it to be a coincidence?" Dreska pleaded. "Both you and your brother living?"

I watched Caspian closely now, attempting to read those features as if they'd allude to what his next words were... however the words he spoke next surprised even I.

"No," he slowly shook his head. "I don't believe a single thing that happened to my family was a coincidence. Everything that has unfolded since has felt tied to this string. Perhaps one threaded like the stories you and Lemont once told us. The stories of three sisters, and the bidding they did using the strings connecting souls."

That only made my smile further widen.

I liked hearing of this side to this white haired man. He couldn't have told me anything about his life at the palace before, but now that he no longer needed to hide with me, I wanted to hear him speak more of it. To speak more of his family. I had inadvertently removed the only person who he could have spoken freely with about it, that being his advisor Lemont, but now I questioned how free he really felt he could've been with the man.

As his eyes glanced over to meet my own, I realized that if nothing else, I wanted to create that space where this man could speak with no heavily sifted filtrations. The gods know I did. I wouldn't hold him to duties I believe no man in their right mind would devote themselves to now, especially not after how his very people were the ones who brought this upon themselves.

Whatever reasoning Dreska was trying to call upon in this moment, it made me realize just what ridiculously idiotic pressures may have weighed on Caspian all these years. His loyalty to the throne should've been shattered the night his once loyal citizens burnt that too.

"But hear me when I say... I'm done being threaded along. I wanted death itself to find me for so long, that I would do all that longing a grave disservice if I were to finally choose life, and live it as if isn't my own. As if it was something I couldn't decide for myself."

Dreska listened as this royal blood spoke, and what it sounded like was that this was the first time he truly spoken his mind regarding this. Regarding his fate.

"I understand," Dreska nodded, "but you must understand something too. If anyone is to reach your bother, it's you. There isn't anyone else that could sway his spoilt judgement."

I remained silent now as I digested each of these men's words. I, myself, took the side Caspian was on completely. I wanted to tell him that he was not his brother's keeper... but then I knew it also wasn't my place to. This wasn't my home that was destroyed, nor my family that was killed. My family was long gone now, a thing of the past that had ran its course, regardless of how much I didn't want it to be true at the time.

I wondered how Caspian would see things. If he were to meet his brother again, would he see him for what he was? Regardless of whether or not what he found was good. Could he really make such a decision once faced with the only family he had left?

The decision was difficult, yet it had to be one he made. Regardless of whether I wanted to put his brothers face in molten hot coals... Caspian resenting a decision I made that wasn't of his control was not something I was willing to compromise on for my own revenge.

"Is it possible for me to see him?" Caspian asked Dreska, to which Dreska slowly, eventually nodded.

"I could arrange something, but it would have to be well into the night. It will not be safe for either of you if The Holy Men are still patrolling, but they do not carry through the night. The unrest amongst the citizens have made a nightly patrol dangerous for The Holy Men themselves."

Interesting, I thought to myself. I wasn't sure exactly what I had felt once Caspian I were forced to adjust to the silence on this land, but I believe I was now starting to understand. Something had changed.

"Caspian," I turned to this white haired man who's eyes found mine almost immediately. "Why don't you stay here tonight. I must return to the ship as promised, but if you feel safe here, I'll allow it."

Caspian didn't necessarily feel the most ecstatic about this idea, I could see the uneasiness in his features as he took a moment to respond, but he eventually nodded. My left hand stretched out beside me to him again, and the look he gave it as he ripped his gaze away from mine to acknowledge it, looked even more wearily. In his defense, the last time I took his hand in mine, it led to the discoverance of our true relationship by Dreska.

Now that this short man knew however, I didn't care to conceal it any longer.

And when Caspian finally slid his right hand into it, I surprised him by bringing the back of that hand gently to my lips. His face grew flushed almost immediately, whilst Dreska withdrew his gaze from us completely.

Once I finally let go, that was when I stood. "Dreska," I turned to the man that was practically forcing his eyes to find mine. "Show me out."

I could see the protest forming on his tongue with ease, but he held it. Instead he rose from this table as well, choosing to lead as he walked me towards the door. I followed him as he unlocked every single unnecessary lock and stepped outside, welcoming the now setting sun into our view, but before I could leave him fully, I turned to him.

"I assume you have still maintained your title as Hodrus's advisor."

Dreska's eyes diverted their gaze from mine, but he nodded. "I can assure you, Hodrus becoming Zirion was not of my own doing. I didn't advise this chaos."

I slowly nodded at the man myself, choosing my next words carefully. "And if you were forced to weigh your loyalty between Caspian and his brother, who would you favor?"

"I-" Dreska started to say something, but stopped himself. This was no trick question, yet the answer he gave would question his purpose. What direct orders he was given by who I assumed to be Caspian's mother and father. "My loyalty lies with the throne and its people." He decided on finally. "I would not choose a side."

I brought my left thumb up to my bottom lip, scraping it against the surface as I thought a moment of his own answer. "And what if, for the good of the people of Azul... of Azultia... what if their well being was brought upon directly by that throne remaining vacant? Who would you serve then?"

This question took Dreska even longer to answer. I could see the weight of his answer- I could feel it, before he spoke any words. And when he did, that wavering look in his eyes had told me all I needed. I knew now where his heart really laid whether he would choose to be honest with me or not.

"I would serve the people of Azultia, as the Lockehearts did... until the very end."

"Aye" I nodded, my feet slowly starting to carry myself further and further away from this little cottage, and this even littler man. I couldn't spend long here. Cael would already be questioning my return.

That answer had served him well... and it would do him good in good time, I thought as I felt the winds slowly starting to pick up. Dependent on the answer from Caspian, Dreska's words may be tested. Whether he cared for them to or not...

For there was a change coming, and it rested just upon that burning horizon.

••