31. Arrival.

31. Arrival.
Caspian

I do not stop, I will not stop. I could not even if I wished to.

I finally have her, my Catherine and I am taking her home where she belongs, where she will be safe. The knowledge sends me into somewhat of a frenzied swim. But, my bride is taking what feels like forever to sleep, and she must sleep. I can feel her pain through the tether, the tether which is keeping her alive, activating the mating serum that's laid dormant in her system for all this time. However, it cannot change her fully until she is unconscious. It is a process that takes mere seconds on a child when the serum is fresh. But, my Catherine is a woman grown, and this is a new form of torture for us both.

And I hate myself thoroughly for it.

In my beast form, I am used to travelling at immense speeds, so fast I can barely see what is passing by around me, but for now, I am forced to slow, determined to protect my cargo from the rough undercurrents she will not be equipped for; even though I can still feel them bashing against her, as if it were myself who was hopelessly being mauled by the water surrounding us. It also allows me time to peruse my surroundings more carefully, there will be no risk of nets today. I will not lose her a third time.

Besides I am in open water now, away from the areas human fishermen frequent. But, I am still on guard, I cannot allow any risks of losing her.

Not now, not ever.

Finally, after what must be three excruciating hours, Catherine's body succumbs and she passes out, allowing me to now make my way home. I have manipulated the waters about us to move her body over my back, needing contact with her to reassure myself of her presence. I cannot lie, it makes me feel complete to have her there, in a spot that is meant for only her.

Our palace is home to many of our kind, though most live in their own dwellings, but I can feel the anticipation of our people about my arrival as I return. Their excitement buzzes easily through the currents, the vibrations washing over me and allowing me to feel the ripples of joy they share with me. The news will travel quickly, and my confidence in my family and my people is renewed when I step foot into the dry of the entry hall and am met by my family as well as a team of our healers.

It is my mother and sister who step forward to lift Catherine from my back. It is a task no male would dare perform, even the healers present are women, and the male guards who normally patrol this entrance have turned to face away.

I shift back, my arms suddenly aching to bear her weight; my mother and sister are waiting, knowing exactly what I need, as Catherine is wordlessly passed back to me. I nod in appreciation of the well-meant tears that shine in their eyes, before I turn to follow the healers to their part of the palace. The journey is deathly quiet, a mark of respect given to all newly arrived mates. There is no one present in the corridors and halls, and all guards turn away upon our approach. It is the way of our people, until she is conscious to take in their presence, they will not allow their curiosity to take in hers. Only family members are permitted such access, but even then no words can be spoken.

It takes about forty minutes to journey to the wing used by the healers, and once the door is closed, the women's voices return.

Questions that must be asked and answered for the well-being of their future queen.

"How long did it take?" Comes the leader's voice.

She is the most senior of our healers and a woman whom I have trusted all my life, she used to care for me as a child whenever I got into scrapes that I undoubtedly was told to avoid.

"At least three hours, Marjorie," I answer upon a sigh, laying Catherine reverently onto the bed prepared for her. "I'm not sure I will ever forgive myself."

Marjorie and the others turn to look at me, all of them understanding my guilt. There are a few reasons we claim our mates so young, but predominantly, it is a safety reason. The transition is quicker, and thus it puts less strain upon the mate's body. In my mistake as a boy, I have condemned my mate to a tortured transition and it is something I will carry all my life.

"Well, it is done now, Prince Caspian. Now is not the time for self-condemnation, but the time for healing." She answers matter of factly, before moving to examine Catherine's face.

"Your Highness?" Another member of Marjorie's team speaks for my attention, "We must remove her human clothes to proceed, do we have your permission?"

"Yes, of course," I nod, turning to leave the room.

"Wait," Marjorie calls, "You cannot leave her."

I frown, it is not that I want to leave her, but I will not expose her to my sight unless she is aware and permits me to gaze upon her, herself. I know from the talk of Edward Sorrell and his cohorts, the type of treatment she has had and I will not disrespect her in such a way.

"I..."

But my objection is cut off abruptly.

"Prince Caspian, let me be clear, until she wakes she will need your strength and the strength of your mating bond to sustain her. Separation could be fatal at this point. We are unsure, and must not risk it." Marjorie scolds me.

I nod, and make my way to Catherine's head, before turning my back to allow them to work without my gaze upon her.

Marjorie frowns as she sees my response, nudity is not normally a concern of our people, even I myself am stood here uncaring of it. My actions will indeed seem strange to her.

"She has trauma, inflicted by others," I explain myself, garnering a look of sympathy from Marjorie towards my unconscious mate. "They would expose her for their amusement. I will not treat her dignity so disrespectfully."

Marjorie offers me a kind smile, placing her hand gently on my arm.

"You, My Prince, will make her a fine mate." She concludes before returning to her work.

Her kind words mean more than I can say. Marjorie always did know exactly what to say to heal my heart as well as my body.

Without turning, I listen as the women bustle about Catherine's sleeping form, tending to any minor scrapes she will have received and cleaning the ocean's residue from her form. Her old clothes are discarded in a corner and I find again I am thinking of an element which is not my own. I want to burn those clothes, I want to destroy all reminders of her mistreatment.

"You may turn now, Your Highness." Marjorie's assistant calls out.

Slowly I turn and gaze upon my beautiful bride. She is dressed in a pale blue sleep gown, her soft hair delicately framing her face. The freckles across her nose and cheeks seem less prominent than they once were, but her beauty is beyond compare. My hand moves to her head, commanding the water away from her and drying the remaining dampness in less than a second. She may no longer have to worry about a chill but, I do not wish her to be uncomfortable either.

"Is she?" I hesitate in my question.

Marjorie smiles, "She is sleeping and will be for as long as her body takes to recover. As I said, it is imperative that you stay by her side. However, I cannot find anything unusual or harmful in her condition. It should just take a bit of time now."

"How long?" I ask, wanting desperately to see her beautiful eyes open again.

"It will take as long as it takes, we do not have records that go far enough back to when adults used to be taken as mates. This is somewhat new territory for us all. You must keep an ear out for her heart rate, but her heart is strong and beating quite contentedly. I believe she will be fine."

I nod in understanding, my fingers absently stroking her hair, as I gaze upon her beauty

"You may take her to your rooms, Caspian," Marjorie informs me, all formalities gone. "She will need to be by your side constantly till she wakes, but that needn't be in these cold sterile chambers."

"Thank you." I offer up to Marjorie and her team.

Without a second glance at them, I lift my mate into my arms once more, I cannot help but marvel at just how right I feel having her there. It doesn't take me long to get to my chambers, and I find Mira is waiting for me when I arrive.

"I thought you might want some assistance." She states as I approach. "I'm not staying, I have pulled the bed covers back, and there is a tray of refreshments for you inside, brother. I will bring more food soon."

Before I can respond she walks away. I appreciate her efforts more than she knows, but I understand this is hard for her, especially after her own loss. I do not push to engage with her for now though, my priority is purely Catherine. I enter my room and walk straight to the bed, gently laying my bride down before pulling the bed covers up and over her sleeping form. I move to my door and close it again, turning the lock to keep all others out. My next stop is to dress, I do not wish to terrify her when she does wake, and after a quick wash to remove the salt from my skin, I am clothed in a loose shirt, the same colour as Catherine's sleep gown. I then approach her sleeping form, desperate to be close yet terrified of making a mistake. I listen as her heart rate seems to relax the closer I become and it is the final push I need to slip beneath the covers beside her. My hands reach for her unbidden, and I am surprised that as soon as they touch upon her waist she stirs.

The softest noise escapes her lips before she turns her body and moulds her form to my own. I'm not sure how long we lie here, with myself too terrified to move in case I disturb her. But, it is the most precious and blissful fear I have ever carried; because she is here, in my arms, safe and content.


I drift off eventually, never ceasing to stop in my thanks to my ancestors, the ancient gods who chose such a perfect person for me to have by my side.