Tide {Caspian X/Reader}

You wake up with a pounding headache and on top of that- your entire body is sore with several bruises and cuts. You blink rapidly, somewhat clearing your bleary eyes, and shift around as best as you can until you find a position in which your back does not hurt quite as much.

And as you take in your dingy surroundings, everything comes back to you in a flash-

You had gone riding in the woods near Cair Paravel following a formal luncheon with a delegation from Archenland. It had been a warm day with the slightest of breezes- perfect for being outdoors, but Caspian had been unable to join you as he had withdrawn to his study with his advisers and the diplomats in order to discuss certain trade routes. Your fiancé had tried to persuade you to take some guards with you but you had refused, the thought of danger never even crossing your mind.

Now, trussed like a chicken and thrown in what appears to be a dungeon, you wish that you had listened to him.

But you are not one to meekly accept defeat and so you start looking around for some sharp object to cut the ropes binding your hands. Just as you think you have spotted a nail in the dirt by the door, voices drift in to your cell.

Two men—your captors most likely—are discussing their plans right outside your door. A part of you wants to laugh at their stupidity for speaking where you can so obviously hear while the rest of you is scared of what this could mean- that you are in some place so obscure that even if you do manage to get out of the room, you won’t be able to get too far before being recaptured.

“That is the king’s betrothed we have in the cell, of course he’ll come,” one man exclaims, his tone filled with irritation.

“I’m warning you pirate, if you are wrong.. Well, let’s just say I am not as merciful as my compatriot.” The accent is heavy, probably Telmarine- and that realization is enough to fill you with dread.

It is clear to you that your captors are using you as bait to lure in your beloved, and you have no doubt that their intentions towards him are nothing short of violent. Your heart clenches with dread and the importance of escape strikes you anew.

However, your luck proves itself worsening because just as you are scrambling towards the rusted nail, the door bangs open and the sight of the toothy grin on the face of the man who enters sends a bolt of pure fear through your heart.

And from there, everything goes downhill- your cell is thoroughly searched and rid of any possible means of escape and your captor spends what feels like hours gloating about all the terrible things that await you in the future. But a meal a day and three drinks of water is more than you had expected, what worries you more is what will happen if Caspian doesn’t find you, or worse- if he does.

What feels like weeks pass in this manner as you grow weaker and your captors become angrier, until one day there is a change in the routine.

Judging by the shadows on the floor, it is mid-morning, time for the day’s first jug of water to be brought to you. Minutes pass yet no one appears at the door, and that is when you hear the sounds of a fight. You draw yourself up, and ignore the spikes of pain shooting through your body as you crawl over to the window in an attempt to hear things better.

Yells, and thuds, and clashing metal create a clamor that has your heartbeat quickening. You are not quite sure how long it takes but slowly, the sounds die down and then the door to your cell swings open, letting in a burst of light that blurs your vision for a while.

When the spots fade away and you are able to see properly again, Caspian is standing in the doorway, looking around, not seeing you in your corner yet. You know how terrible you must look after days of neglect and mistreatment but when his gaze finally alights on you he looks at you as if he is seeing the stars in the night sky for the first time.

“____,” he cries out, and within seconds he has sheathed his sword and rushed over to you, falling to his knees on the ground as he tries to gather your form into his arms. Your whimper of pain halts his attempts and his face is consumed by a terrible guilt.

“Caspian,” you gasp, unable to contain your relief at seeing him, and even more important is the fact that he does not appear to have sustained any injuries.  You have never felt so happy in your life, except possibly on the day when he had asked you to marry him.

It is then that he notices the ropes binding your hands and immediately he begins to work them free.

“You are not hurt?” you ask as he finishes, drawing a short laugh from him.

“Only you, my dearest,” he cups your cheek, a gentle smile still on his face, thumb stroking your skin with the softest of touches, “would ask after my health when you yourself are in such a state.”

“It’s nothing, I’m fine” you tell him, as you try to get to your feet. He stops you with a hand on your shoulder, his brow furrowing, and it is the anguish in his eyes that convinces you more than anything else.

“Darling, try not to move. The healer will be here soon.”

You nod weakly in reply- the adrenaline burst from seeing Caspian fading away already, dehydration and fatigue taking over.  He begins talking to you, telling you how glad he is that he has found you, how worried he was, all the places he had searched, and over and over again he tells you how much he loves you and needs you.

You don’t even realize that you are slipping into unconsciousness until the world goes black.

X

When you wake again, it is in familiar surroundings- you are back in your room in Cair Paravel. You have barely blinked the bleariness of sleep from your face when Caspian is by your side. He looks weary, careworn, as if he has borne the weight of the world on his shoulders for days on end.

You smile and reach out for him.

“How do you feel?” he asks, sitting on the edge of the bed and taking your hands in his.

“Much better.” You draw one hand from his grasp and reach up to run your fingers over his face, unable to stop smiling.

“Oh my love, I thought… I thought,” he falters, squeezing his eyes shut, and you sit up slowly, drawing closer to him.

“I know, dearest,” you tell him firmly, “please, look at me.”  He complies within minutes.

“I am sorry I did not heed your words on that day. None of this would have happened if I had simply taken some guards with me. But I am well now, everything is fine.” You speak softly, keeping your eyes on his all along.

He stays silent and unmoving for a few seconds that seem like an eternity to you, and then in one swift movement you are in his arms and he is kissing you- soft and sweet. Your arms link around his neck almost of their own accord and you respond with abandon. You had only dared to dream of this during your captivity.

He keeps his arms around you and his forehead rests on yours even after he breaks the kiss.

“I could never bear to lose you,” he whispers, and the depth of suffering in his voice reveals what he has gone through in your absence.

“Nor I you,” you reply, fingers weaving into his hair. And you kiss him again.