A lingering kiss before a long trip apart.
It was early on what was shaping up to be a very bright morning, early enough that the lawns of the palace still glittered with dew. In the palace stables, Caspian was putting the finishing touches on Lysander’s tack, tying on their saddlebags securely. Tamburlaine had nestled himself under the pommel of the saddle, sound asleep.
It was going to be a long ride to Firent, and probably an even longer one back, not counting the three weeks Caspian was spending there as an emissary. Behind them, Nadia held their cloak and scarf, ready to pin it onto their shoulders. She was very quiet, her lips pressed carefully shut. This was the first time since she and Caspian had married that they were going to be apart for more than a week or so, and in all honesty Nadia wasn’t ready. She was immensely proud of her spouse for electing to take on the duty, and Nadia knew that she’d be more than fine in their absence, but it didn’t make it easy. Caspian tightened the last buckle on their saddle and turned to face their wife,
“There, I think I’m rea- Nadi? Are you alright?”
Nadia nodded, swallowing hard,
“I am, darling. Don’t worry about me. Here, I’ll put your cloak on.”
“I think that’ll be easier said than done,” Caspian murmured, “I know you’re not on your own here but…”
Nadia swept the heavy red material over Caspian’s shoulders, then turned them to face her again so she could pin the clasp shut,
“As dashing as ever,” she said, smiling slightly. It then fell and she sighed, “It will be a long three months.”
“It will, I wish you could come too... Oh… Nadi I’m going to miss you,” Caspian replied, pulling Nadia into a hug.
Nadia leant up and pressed their lips together, weaving a hand into Caspian’s fluffy golden locks. Caspian kissed her back, holding her to them tightly. They both savoured the moment, the feel of being in each other’s arms, and committed it to memory. It would be far too long before they got another chance. Neither of them wanted to pull away, but eventually Caspian reluctantly broke the kiss,
“I should probably get going, the rest of the party is probably wondering where I am.”
Nadia nodded, and stepped away out of Caspian’s embrace. It wasn’t a chilly morning, but she already missed the contact. Caspian looped Lysander’s reins over his head and led the stallion outside. Sure enough, the rest of the train were mounted and waiting. With one final kiss to Nadia’s hand, Caspian placed a foot in Lysander’s stirrup and gracefully swung over onto his back. Tamburlaine immediately scrambled up their arms and took up his usual position in Caspian’s collar,
“Yes, Tam, ready.” Caspian sighed, glancing down wistfully at Nadia, who offered them a loving smile,
“Good luck, my love,” she said, half drowned out by the bugle call that marked the start of the journey.
“I love you,” Caspian replied, urging Lysander into a trot to keep up as the travelling party began to file out of the grounds.
They turned round to wave every few paces until Nadia was little more than a speck on the horizon. It was definitely going to be a long three months, but at least they knew their homecoming would be all the sweeter because of it.
