Chapter 69

Evening came and Caspian lay on his bed, but sleep alluded him. He could not find a sweet spot on the bed. He kept on turning but he was not finding a comfortable position.

He was not finding it, he got up and got dressed. He went outside and he went back to the forest path that he walked with Aurora.

The moon was full tonight and it cast soft light, the breeze was warm, how he would love to walk with Aurora during this moment, he wanted to share it with her.

He remembered her words, as long as they were under the same moon they would find their way back to each other.

He stood in the middle of the forest, he would never forget the moment when he had turned and saw Aurora walking down to him.

Caspian came to realization that he knew where Aurora might be, why had he not thought of it earlier. He went raced back to his chambers and he took out a scroll, he was going to leave soon to go find her.

He prayed that she would be where he thought she was. The next morning Caspian summoned Douglas to be bought in.

"What happened?" Douglas asked as he made his way into his chambers.

"I might have an idea where Aurora might be."

"How do you know this? Did you find something?"

"No, but I remember the first time that Aurora had left, she came back and during one of the nights together, she told me where she had gone and how free she felt."

"That could be a lead, but what if she is not there?"

"I have to take a chance, I won't know unless I try."

"Why not send guards to go check and if she is there, they can bring her back and you would be safe."

"No, I want to find her myself, and with regards to safety no-one would know."

"You have to be careful Caspian, the kingdom can't afford to lose another king, and there is no heir."

"I'm astounded that you are giving me your blessing."

"There is no stopping you is there Caspian? I know how much Aurora means to you and if I were in the same situation, I would go and find my wife."

"I appreciate it Douglas."

"When are you planning to set off?"

"Tomorrow at dawn."

"Are you taking guards?"

"No, I'm not."

"Won't you be putting your life at risk?"

"I can't trust anyone besides you and Rurina, I know I'm being watched."

"How will you leave without being spotted."

"That's were you come in, you will come in here in a cloak and I will come out in your attire with a cloak, pretending to be you."

"I hope this works, are you sure about going alone?"

"I'm taking Rurina with me."

"Are you worried about her being alone here?"

"Not necessarily, she wants to come and I can't refuse her as we have travelled together."

"Noted, well you have to prepare for the journey, I will leave you to it."

"I need you to prepare two horses for me and have them wait outside the palace as I would raise suspicion if I did."

"Noted."

Caspian had to get everything ready, when Douglas left he summoned Rurina, and sent the servants to get him a lot of food under the guise of him thanking Rurina for rescuing him.

"You called for me?"

"We are leaving tomorrow at dawn, you must prepare later on tonight so that we don't raise suspicion and no-one is to know that we are leaving."

"Got it."

Douglas came back later, "I arranged the horses, and it would be wiser to leave later at night, dawn is too risky as there could be some light and you would be spotted."

"Fine we will leave later on tonight."

Caspian let Rurina know about the change of plans, he decided to go and do some of his usual activities so that he would not raise any suspicion.

He decided to go see his mother, he did not know when he would be back, and if anything happened to him he wanted to at least have this memory with her.

Caspian sat with her by the table, "How have you been fairing mother?"

"It is wonderful to have you back, I have managed to have a break. When your father was ill, I had to manage the affairs of the kingdom whilst tending to him and having to suffer the heart-break of your none return."

"You do seem a whole lot better."

"What do I owe this visit?"

"I just wanted to have tea with you."

His mother nodded, "You make me happy my son."

"I'm pleased to hear that."

"Nadia has been telling me how you have been working hard and also catering to her needs. She is overjoyed by your return and how you are paying attention to her. That is all we could have asked."

"Of course." Caspian was afraid that soon he would have to disappoint her as he would be going to find Aurora.

He would deal with the consequences later on, he would cross that bridge when the time came. He would leave them notes.

When they finished tea, Caspian embraced his mother, he pulled back and smiled down at her.

"It is wonderful to have you back."

"Thank you mother, I too have missed you."

With those words he was on his way,

"Caspian?"

"Nadia what brings you by?"

"I am here to visit mother, I thought she could use some company."

"That is much appreciated, she is in."

"Is there some sort of crisis going on?" Nadia replied.

"No, what would make you think that?"

"I thought you and mother were discussing about urgent matters."

"We weren't, I needed some fresh air and decided to pass by my mother."

"She has been in a pleasant mood with your return."

"She told me so, I don't want to keep you Nadia."

"Not at all, let me walk you back."

"You don't have to and besides you're already here, might as well go in."

"A bit of a walk won't take up all of my time and besides I do too need some air."

Caspian nodded, there was no use in arguing the sooner she would walk her back the sooner he would be able to be rid of her.

They walked back slowly, "The festival intention is going well, I have arranged a few commodities and I will be inviting Rurina soon."

Caspian knew that Rurina would not be here, "She would love that I'm sure."

"I'm still waiting for you to come visit me at my chambers or for you to summon me to your chambers, it would be ideal for us to be trying for sons, if something had to happen to you, we would have an heir to the throne."

"Give me a few moons and everything will be set."

"I look forward to it."

"Well this is me."

"It was soothing to walk with you Caspian and I do hope we can have more moment such as these."

"Me too, I have to leave, I will watch you walk."

Nadia smiled, and she made her way, she turned around and waived at him. He waived back at her, when she was out of sight her, he made his way to his chambers.

He had told Rurina to try sleep in the afternoon too as they would be travelling at night and they could not be fatigued.

Caspian told his guards that he shall not be interrupted whilst he was resting. He woke up as the sun was setting, he ran through everything that he needed.

Dinner came, and he ate, his heart was pounding, he hoped that he could execute this plan without any problems.

Night time came and Douglas came to his chambers,

"You're early Douglas."

"I know, I wanted to have a brief conversation before you left, who knows when I will see you again. I don't want it to be as the last time when you went to war."

"You're about to make me cry." Caspian teased him.

"Knock it off, the horses are loaded."

Douglas went to the restroom and they swoped clothes,

"How do I look Caspian?"

"You are a true prince, you are a natural."

"Right, I done it better than you I suppose." Douglas replied in a teasing manner.

"What will I do? I have been dethroned from being the most handsome man in the kingdom."

Douglas laughed, "I suppose it can't be helped."

"Where is Rurina?"

"She should be here anytime now."

"Try to not be gone for long, don't forget you are the king. I can only cover for you for so long."

"I will try my best to return early but it is not guaranteed."

There was a knock and he knew it was Rurina, he opened the door for her and shut it after her, "You chose everything you need for this journey?"

"Yes, I did."

"We will be making stops at some areas to purchase some meals along the way and for baths."

Rurina nodded, "How long are we going to be gone for?"

"Hopefully not long."

"It would be great if we could go for a while." Rurina replied.

"Do you dislike it here?" Douglas asked her.

"No, of course not, I just prefer being with Caspian the whole day and we can have long conversations."

"Very well." Douglas replied.

"I hope you don't get lost out there." Douglas added.

"We will use the sun, that is how Rurina and I found our way back here."

"Very well, you will have to set out soon as the guards are having their shifts." Douglas replied, "Don't stop riding till noon as they could come after you and you need to be far, I will try to make an excuse for you."

"Do you have any in mind?"

"I will tell them you went hunting to clear your mind from the horrible memories that you endured, and you want to be alone." Douglas replied,

"What of Rurina? They would be doubts in your tale."

"I will tell them that you went with her as she is not comfortable being alone in the palace and granted her to come with you as she saved you."

"Some sappy story." Caspian replied touching his heart.

"I know they should cast me in plays, I would steal the hearts of all the women in the land."

"Just not mine." Rurina replied to Douglas.

"Why is that?" Douglas tilted her head.

"I don't fancy you."

"Then who do you fancy?" Douglas replied.

Rurina was silent and flustered, "Quit teasing her Douglas."

"Why not? I was getting to the fun part, why do you have to ruin our moment."

Caspian turned to Douglas and they embraced, "You better come back soon this time."

"I will Douglas and send my regards to your wife, apologize to her for me for not having not met her in person yet."

"I will be sure to send your word, but she is not offended as she knows how much work it takes to run the kingdom."

"When I come back, first priority would be to have a meal with you and her."

It was time to leave, Caspian and Rurina made their way to the palace gates with dark cloaks so that they would blend in with the dark, the guards were not there and he knew that he had a split second for them to get going.

The horses were exactly where Douglas said they would be and he was grateful for his brother, he would make it up to him.

They got on the horses and they made their way into the night.

CH 70

Caspian had headed Douglas's words and he had told Rurina that they would not be stopping until they were in the clear.

All he had was faith, and hope that he would find her, he felt sick at the thought of her not being where he thought she was.

Only time will tell when he go to the destination if she was there or not. The day progressed bit by and when noon arrived they were searching for an area where they could eat as they were famished.