Request: Could I have a Caspian x Reader, where they have been friends since children and after the dawn treader the reader leaves and Caspian regrets not telling her how he feels. She comes back to visit Narnia and meets Caspian again and he tells her how he feels and she feels the same and they kiss, can you make the scene like the Rain Scene in The Notebook? Thank you!! (Maybe she could be a princess of Archenland).
This is also very late and I’m super sorry :/ This summer has been way busier then I expected and so I’ve not gotten much time to write lengthy oneshots for requests I’ve gotten.
I’ve also never seen The Notebook, so? I’m not sure what the Rain Scene is, so I hope the kissing scene is just as romantic as you wanted it to be.
The first weeks aboard the Dawn Treader were nothing like what King Caspian had expected. Of course he knew how to navigate and run a ship - everybody royal did. What made this so difficult was that everybody was in everybody else’s way. All day, every day, and even during the night. Really, the one creature comfort that Caspian had was the fact that as King, and ship captain, he had his own private quarters.
Caspian was a social person, and he liked being around others. But he wasn’t used to being on a ship and not being able to move around as much as he liked. Space was limited, food and water were limited, and every day the ship either seemed to be of an alright size or too damn small, depending on his mood.
He couldn’t complain, though. If there wasn’t so much camaraderie with his crew, Caspian wasn’t sure what he would have done. Searching for his father’s lost friends would have been excruciating if he and his crew didn’t share a tight bond.
“And have you find yourself a wife in those three years?” Lucy asked him playfully. She and Edmund - and their dreadful cousin Eustace, who Caspian was determined to not think about - were dry and aboard the Dawn Treader. All were dried off and in clean, Narnian clothes.
Caspian smiled, quick and soft and tightly. “None who have compared with your sister.”
The talk evolved into lost lords and updates about Narnia, but Caspian’s mind was still lost on why he hadn’t found a wife. It was true that no woman he’d met thus far could ever compare to Queen Susan the Gentle. It was also true that he’d met a few worthy competitors, but ultimately he and whatever lady of the week he’d met weren’t right for each other. For one reason or another.
Caspian had had feelings for Susan. He couldn’t deny that, but the truth was also that she was someone he could have fallen very much in love with, and he’d never been in love with her when she and her three siblings had been here four years ago. Caspian had played vaguely with the idea of what could happen if she’d stayed. But, no. Susan was from another time, a better time. He wasn’t sure if she’d have wanted to stay with a boy-king.
Besides, there was Y/N to think about.
“Cas! You’re really going? On the Dawn Treader?” Y/N asked. She sounded breathless even though she’d not exercised at all today.
Caspian looked up at her. He and Y/N had been friends since . . . well, he couldn’t remember how long. To him, it was just an accepted fact that they’d always been in each other’s lives, and best friends. “Why wouldn’t I be going?” Caspian was confused and unsure and felt more then a little bit off-kilter. “I said in my coronation I’d go, once Narnia was at peace.”
Y/N quirked her dark red lips. They looked like they’d been neatly stained with cherry juice. “I don’t know. I just supposed you’d stay here a bit longer. I’m going back to my home soon.”
She lived in Archenland. When Caspian’s uncle Miraz had been alive, he had planned to betroth the two of them. Before Prunaprismia had given birth to a son, Caspian had always assumed that when he was older, he’d likely marry someone like Y/N. Children didn’t much understand the concept of marriage, though. He’d always thought they’d just be friends who lived together and ruled together.
Prunaprismia had given birth to a son, though, and then the revolution in Narnia happened. The reign of Miraz came to an end, and Caspian was crowned king. Y/N hadn’t been in Narnia; she’d been busy in Archenland. A year after his coronation (which she’d attended heavily guarded), Caspian started to realize that he’d suddenly and awkwardly fallen in love with her. It made sense. He’d always felt like he was an odd duck for never really being attracted to women. Even his attraction to Queen Susan had been shallow, in retrospect.
But Y/N and himself? It just made sense. She was the one who held his heart and really knew him. Y/N with her tanned skin and soft hair, a voice that made him implode inside like a meteor had crashed into his body system.
Caspian faced off against sea serpents, slave traders, invisible jumping small men, and the green mist with Edmund and Lucy by his side, and Eustace in the air. It was still hard to believe he’d actually been turned into a dragon.
One by one, the lost lords of Telmar were found, and their swords recovered. It was difficult to figure out exactly what to do with them after each misadventure, but after restocking the ship’s provisions and supplies, some of the lords came along. Some of the other lords decided to stay in whatever town Caspian found them in, saying that they could wait for him to double-back.
They said it made sense logistically to accompany him back to Narnia, not to the end of the world and then back home. Caspian was loathe to do that, but they had a point.
So he kept pushing on, going further and further into uncharted territories.
You were nervous. You were worried for Caspian. Once the Kings and Queens of Old returned to Narnia, you knew you wouldn’t be seeing a lot of your childhood friend. There was a lot for him to sort through and figure out.
As a result, the two of you were left to send letters to each other, though that had grown infrequent. The letters you received were long and detailed, but few and far between. Caspian had grown up, and had had to shoulder a lot of new responsibilities very quickly.
The same could be said for you too, honestly.
“You don’t suppose he’s just - off finding new adventures and other people?” you asked Lasareen. Las was your lady-in-waiting, and the two of you were sewing a silk dress for you.
She just laughed, threw a braid of her own dark hair over her one exposed shoulder. “Perhaps, Y/N. But surely that’s expected. Caspian will encounter new people and find new lands. I imagine he might even find some new territory to add to Narnia’s.”
That wasn’t what you meant. What if Caspian had time while ashore to find some woman to fall in love with? That was the last thing you wanted. You’d been in love with him since you turned thirteen, and were convinced no other man would do.
“Maybe.” Your tone was a little bit more short and frosty; Las picked up on it. The atmosphere in your spacious room changed slightly. Neither of you commented on it. That had been happened a lot lately, you picking fights where you didn’t to do so.
Lasareen shifted. “He’ll come back. He doesn’t really have much time to do anything besides fulfill his coronation oath.”
You shrugged. “I suppose so.” Maybe Las was right. Caspian wouldn’t have time to talk to many people besides his crew . . . right?
The conversation soon changed to new fabrics you both wanted to buy at the next market, but your mind stayed fixed on your long-time friend. If he wasn’t going to be falling in love, then what exactly was he doing? Your heart seized up for a minute. There was always the possibility he’d die, but it wasn’t something you liked to think about.
All you could do was wait, and wait, and wait for him. Endlessly.
When they reached the shores of Aslan’s Country, the regret slammed through Caspian. He’d never really told Y/N how he felt. He’d spent his whole life covering up his feelings, thinking they were obvious.
But how obvious could they have been when she’d never even hinted she felt the same way?
Lucy, Edmund, and Eustace walked through parted waters, back to their Other Country, and Reepicheep sailed beyond the water to see what Aslan kept there. Caspian felt their absence already and keenly in his heart. Like his heart was scarring and wounded. He had no way to fix that, and wasn’t sure what to do.
He tried not to cry and succeeded.
Caspian winced, as he rowed back to the Dawn Treader. Things felt oddly colder now. He had fulfilled his oath. The lost lords were found. And Narnia had just lost four Friends. So much sacrifice in just a few hours, in a way, for him to succeed.
If it was too late to tell Y/N how he felt, when they returned to Narnia, Caspian knew part of him would regret ever leaving. Seven months was a long time to leave a princess, especially one he’d once been betrothed too. She could have easily found another betrothed and married him by now.
The voyage back to Narnia was much less eventful. Caspian wondered how he’d manage. He’d never see Lucy and Edmund again, not in this lifetime. Maybe that meant life would be more peaceful . . . on the other hand, Eustace would still be able to come back. Perhaps that meant Aslan had future plans for the two of them?
Caspian wanted to focus on that, but the pain of losing his friends - and the potential loss of Y/N - kept distracting him. He didn’t want to focus on anything sometimes, and then those were the only topics he could think about.
You had arrived in Narnia a few days ago when you heard the bells. Golden banners were being raised to fly - that meant someone was arriving in Narnia from a trip. Your heart leapt a bit. Maybe it was Caspian?
“Your highness?” Lasareen looked at you. “We should go see who’s come. I wonder if it isn’t King Caspian and his crew.” For once she was thinking the same as you.
“We could give him - them - a welcome surprise,” you said, breathless. After setting down your tea and picked at scone, the two of your hurried down out of the tea room and across a few rooms.
People were shouting and waving, cheering even, and the two of you exchanged a look. Adrenaline shot through your body. You felt light-headed. He was back; he was really back. The people wouldn’t look this overjoyed for just anybody.
That was about when you saw Caspian, walking back towards Cair Paravel, his crew behind him.
“Princess Y/N,” Caspian said, startled. He’d seen her standing near the entrance to the throne room, and wondered briefly at first if it was a mirage. How could she be here? Was it possible in any capacity - but no. Y/N wouldn’t have been able to leave Archenland purely just to see him. “It’s been too long,” he managed to say.
She laughed, and it twisted a dagger through his heart. How long had been since he’d heard that?
“Almost four years, King Caspian,” Y/N replied.
Her hair was braided and twisted elaborately to resemble a flower; decorative and sparkly things shone in her hair. She was more beautiful then Caspian remembered. It made him embarrassed to smell like the sea and leather and his own sweat. “Give me a few moments to change and bathe, Princess,” he finally said. “Perhaps after we could talk more over dinner.”
Caspian didn’t want to think about his royal duties just then. All he wanted was to see his old friend again.
You looked at Caspian, chancing your glances for when you were relatively positive he was looking somewhere else. The two of you had retreated to a balcony near the kitchen. There was to be a feast in two days, to celebrate the return of old lords. For now, a few of the cooks had given you both warm chicken, light soup, some bread with cheese and spiced wine. The air in Narnia seemed sweeter, lighter; you could almost taste it every time a breeze came by.
The moon was out in full and the night sky had been lit up with galaxies of stars.
“Tell me about your trip,” you invited him. Most of the food was gone by now; you were both sharing the last of the bread and cheese. There was half a pitcher left of wine. “I almost can’t believe you met King Edmund and Queen Lucy again.”
You believed in Tash, but sometimes, you felt very drawn to this God named Aslan. Could someone really pull kings and queens from the past and put them into the present? It seemed impossible.
Caspian winced and smiled. “Yes, they were there. We fought against enchantments and a sea serpent. It was difficult, a lot of the journey. We almost fell captive to slave traders in the beginning.”
“Almost?” Your eyebrows raised daintily. That was uncharacteristic. Ghost-fear swept through your body. Just now you were realizing how many times you’d come close to losing him and never knew it.
“Well, we did. For a few hours.” Caspian looked uncomfortable. It couldn’t be easy admitting that, you supposed, having to say you went from royalty to nothing in a matter of mere hours.
Still, though. “But what happened? You fought your way out?” There was usually hope in bleak situations. Caspian had come out alive, so they couldn’t have done much damage.
He smiled lightly at you. “My crew came to my aid. Not all went ashore there.” Caspian looked out over the balcony. Narnia was home, wasn’t it? Or could you find home in another person as well? Maybe it was a combination of both. Your country was the setting, but the person who held your heart was truly home. “Princess Y/N,” he finally said. “I would tell you more, but truth be told, I am weary. For now, I’ll say I realized . . . many things while away.”
“What things would those be?” You asked curiously. The tone had shifted. No longer were you both playful, laid-back. He seemed serious now.
Caspian looked at you, brooding and nervous. “In the years that we’ve seen each other, I have grown and I have learned much. And I have been in many situations where I could died. It’s - forced me to realize how much I haven’t done what I would liked with my life. Y/N, I hate to be so bold, but I’ve never felt as a friend should towards you. Not for many years now. And I’ve always wondered what would happen if I never said anything at all - and what would happen if I did - and I’ve never . . . quite been able to tell you. There was never a right time. Maybe now isn’t the right time, but I can’t keep waiting. I can’t keep wondering. I just - I need to know.”
You shifted. This was the absolute last thing you expected to hear from him. “You know, I remember when we were children,” you finally said. “Even then I felt a tug towards you. I always thought that everybody felt that way about their first friend, though, so I never paid it much mind. And then we became inseparable, and sometimes you were the air I breathed. I believe that when the whole of our world was created, it was from fire and glory and stardust. We were part of the same star; we came from the same atoms. You’re mine; I’m yours. It’s as simple as that.”
Caspian kissed you then; it was more expressive then anything he’d ever said to you.
