Later that afternoon, we had to withdrawn to the terrace for tea. The scenery was always soothing and acted as a stress reliever for the both of us. The wind had picked up, bellowing into the jasmine vines that covered the trellis. Caspian had filled delicate cups to the top with scalding tea, he poured it in with his strong steady hands. I sipped, feeling the warmth and the tranquility the tea appeared to cast upon my weary and tired nerves.
"How did he take it when you talked to him?" I whispered.
Caspian put down his cup, wrapping fingers around it. "He was surprised," he told me. "He was looking forward to blowing his top, to hitting me. But what did I do instead? I told him the facts: that you are forever mine to lose, and I would never allow that to happen."
I looked at him, as my chest heaved in pride. "You didn't. you didn't beat him up?"
He shook his head, eyes flashing dark. "I thought about it for a second. Then I thought some more. I'm not the kind of man to solve all his problems in a fight. I wanted him to realize what 'losing you' would be like—and for me." He said with a smirk on his face.
His enthusiasm was bordering on torturous. I crept forward, my hand bracing on the top of his. "You're incredible," I whispered. "He is never going to emotionally hurt me again."
Caspian made a mark on the lines in my palm with his thumb. "No he would not dare do that anymore," he said quietly. "But please promise me this: if ever he attempts anything like that with you, I'll do everything in my power to protect you."
Emotional tears welling deep inside me—a flood of love and appreciation. "I know," I whispered barely, fighting to keep shaking. "And I love you for telling me."
He raised my chin gently so that I could meet his gaze, his shining eyes on mine. "I want you to believe me," he said. "Because you're the one I'd die for."
I kissed him, my lips hard but soft, fierce but gentle, a kiss that was one of trust and union. "And I do believe you," I promised.
\---
Early Evening, The Garden Path
When the sun was low in the sky, the golden and rose-colored sky, Caspian and I took a walk down the garden path. Our roses which we planted were so bountiful in flowers, their petals were the same color as the sun that was setting. My hand was in Caspian's, and our fingers entwined.
I recalled what Nathaniel told me—die before I lose you—and recognized that those words no longer had control. For now, I knew that my heart remained irrevocably here with you.
Caspian stopped beneath the girth of the ancient oak and looked at me, his black eyes pulling on me like a shard of sun. "Lily," he whispered, his voice low, "today I learned something special."
I caught his eye, my own eyes shining at twilight. "What?"
"That you can't be won," he told me softly. "You're not something to be won. You're a brain and a heart and a will of your own. And no one—not any one—is entitled to win you except by your fullest, freest will.And that he needed to back of permanently or there would be consequences if he ever disturbs you again"
I was enveloped in love so great that I was unable to breathe. "You're the one I choose Caspian," I said to him, determined. "And I choose you willingly, day by day. My heart beats rapidly for you and I am happy we ran into each other on that very day"
Caspian's lips had contorted into one of those smiles that shattered my heart into a million pieces. He shut the last inches between us, his lips crashing onto mine in the dimness. All the tender presses of his lips, all the warmth of his breathing, served as a reminder that I was safe in his arms.
We sat on the villa steps that evening, the stars in the sky illuminating our faces, wide and broad, wrapped in a blanket, and gazing upwards at the stars. The villa was quiet, the world quiet. Caspian's arm was around me, his hand resting across my waist and caressing me with the most delicate touch ever know to man.
"Do you ever think about what would have been if we'd never been?" he whispered.
I snuggled in deeper into his side. "Sometimes," I said. "It would have been… empty.". I said with all seriousness.
He grinned, his tough eyes on me even under starlight. "You fill my world, Lily."
I shut my eyes, feeling his words wash over me. "And you fill mine too Caspian."
We stood there in silence, the stars whirling above us. I thought back to Nathaniel's final message —the darkness he had tried to create—but I knew those words were never going to come anywhere close to the light we shared.
Caspian's voice broke the easy silence. "I know there will be challenges," he said to me. "Some outside of us, some inside. But by the gods, I will never lose you. Never. Not as long as I can help it. Nothing will come in between us, I promise you this Lily."
I opened my eyes and met his fierce ones. "Nor I you," I whispered. "We're in this together—no matter what."
He leaned in, kissing my forehead gently. "Mine to lose," he whispered.
I grinned on his face. "Yours to keep." I said sheepishly.
And under the quietness of that night sky, hearts open wide, we pledged it again. The cracks Nathaniel had tried to make larger were sealed with something is strong that it felt like glue—faith, truth, and love that time and risk could not shatter. We slept wrapped around each other, the "mine to lose" vow the indomitable truth: "mine to keep."