#apprentice caspian

She smiled at the rumble of laughter as he looked at her, quirking an eyebrow and asking, “Comfortable, lass?”

“Hm, I’m not quite sure.” Raelynn mused, trying to not grin too broadly at the roll of his eyes as she continued, “I’m still not convinced we couldn’t watch the shower from the comfort of our own bed.”

He scoffed, “Aye, if we were aiming to miss it all. Skies are clear as could be out ‘ere on the beach, not a cloud or building in sight. The lull o’ the waves against the sands. It’s perfect, or, well, almost perfect. It’d be even better on a ship with clear waters fer stretches around, when it turns to a mirror o’ the skies.”

Settling on top of his shoulder, Raelynn watched his profile with unrestrained tenderness, letting the sound of his voice wash over her and settle into her bones. “That sounds lovely, Cas.”

“It is,” he agreed, fingers absentmindedly playing along her exposed side and sending comforting tingles up her spine. “We would-” Caspian stopped, bitterness flitting across his face before he could stop it.

Her heart clenched, understanding all too well the taste of bitter memories. When he didn’t continue, she thought hard, trying to dredge up the skeletons of lost memories without ripping herself open. “In my village, we would sneak out at night to watch the southern lights play over the fjord. The best views were always found on the beach, and on the gentlest nights we could see them in the skies and on the water. But it was often so cold we could only stay out for a few minutes before scurrying back to the hearth fire, at least until I was able to conjure fire.” Raelynn could just barely remember the feel of the freezing cold wind on her face, making her eyes water and huddle into her furs and shiver next to her twin. Their mother’s frown as Mama Magnhild built the dying fire back up and pushed the freezing twins towards the warmth. The faint taste of warm honey and mint “tea” as their mother brushed through their tangled hair and carefully rebraided every plait by the midnight fire. She stopped the memories before she could dwell on the emptiness of the hearth after her mother’s and mama’s passing.

Caspian’s hand moved from her side to her arm, giving a comforting squeeze and helping to draw her from her memories. “A good memory, by the sounds of it.”

“Definitely one of the better ones,” Raelynn joked, settling into the quiet and warmth. Her hand crept under his open vest and spread over his chest, the steady thump of his heart anchoring her to this time and place. “Maybe one day we’ll be able to watch a meteor shower from the sea. I think I’d like that.”

“I think you would too,” he turned his head to look at her, inches from his face. “’N mayhaps we could visit your ol’ village and watch the southern lights.”

She grinned at him, “I’d like that. And I could show you all the secrets on the island that only the locals know about.”

“An adventure?” His eyes gleamed and he carefully sat up, pulling her along so they looked across the dark ocean. “You should know I’m always ready to sail for an adventure.”

“Where else would we go on this grand adventure?” She shook some of the sand from her hair and clothes, watching Caspian’s mind begin to whirl at the possibilities.

He leaned back on a hand to run the other through his beard, “Anywhere we’d want to! There’s so much of the world to see… The salt flats o’ Nevivon are too obvious, absolute tourist trap that is, same with the grand capital o’ Prakra. But there are hidden gems in each. We would just have to find them!”

“Sounds an awful lot like a treasure hunt, Mr. Ex-Pirate.” Raelynn teased at him, but his growing excitement was infectious, and she wondered just what the rest of the world looked like. What could she learn from such places?

“Only the grandest kind o’ treasure hunt in all o’ existence!” He hopped to his feet, beginning to pace, “O’ course, it will take a while to be able to afford it, but I’m sure between the two o’ us we could figure it out. Maybe start off with the northern jungles? There’s a river that has these beautiful fish that shimmer like opals, and the waterfall has a cave that legends say was carved out by two magicians looking for a secret  well to the center o’ the earth.”

Raelynn didn’t think she could smile any bigger as he continued on, listing wonder after wonder that he wanted to take her to. Getting to her feet, she dusted off more sand as he started pointing out directions, glancing up at the stars to make sure he was correct, and growing more and more animated.

Then suddenly his arms were around her thighs and he was lifting her into the air with a yelp, his smile brighter than the stars as he exclaimed, “I want to show them all to you! Every last nook and cranny until we are full on all life has for us!”

Laughing, Raelynn cupped his face in her hands, “I like this excited side of you.”

“Well, I’m better when I’m with you, so you better get used to it, lass.” He grinned, “Cause as long as you’re with me, I know we can take on the world.”

She bent down to kiss him, loving how his arms tightened slightly as she did. Pulling back, she looked up to the stars to see the meteor shower had begun. “Let’s start our adventure right now, love.”

Fun Facts

very skilled archer, they own a longbow with magic infused into the wood

accomplished dancer, in the modern AU they’re a professional danseur with Vesuvian State ballet

speaks Langue Venterraise, and its regional dialect (analogous to Provencal) 

also fluent in sign language

fabulously bisexual

left handed

they and their twin sister were adopted on the same day at the exact same age, thus they say they’re twins

their mothers aren’t magical, but they and their sister are and were taught by their aunt merveille

bigger wine snob than Valerius

also hates Valerius