Chapter Two : The Pond

Soon 3 months had passed since I had arrived at Lord Caspian's residence. Life at the Villa took a lot to get used too. I was expected to attend the lessons and training with the other boys and I was no longer treated like the top priority Young Master like I was in Cairer which had humbled me a little. The biggest difference here that I still couldn't get used to was that Lord Caspian used slaves and not servants like I'd previously presumed.( We do not have slaves at Cairer although I later learned that we import them)

Outwardly they were not treated to badly the had clean clothes and decent quarters but Lord Caspian made their "other" uses known and flaunted having hand-picked them from the lands he had invaded on behalf of Helios. Over the last three months I had come to greatly dislike Lord Caspian and his chauvinistic attitude.

The only reason I had persevered in that place and not returned home for Cairer was Aurelius. Just getting to glimpse at Aurelius's curly read hair made the aggravating lessons and training worth it.

Sadly that's all i was getting glimpses and glances. Aurelius would often disappear to private lessons or training and when he was there he was always swarmed by the other boys, and apart from on the first day Aurelius didn't even look in my direction. It was like he was unattainable to me, I doubted he even knew my name.

To get through the monotonous days I spent most of my free time after lessons reading in my room (thankfully as the Young Lord of Cairer I was awarded the luxury of having my own room). I read anything I could get my hands on, from cook books, to scrolls and even Lord Caspian's old strategic journal's. My room was in the smallest guest room in the left wing of the house overlooking the plant garden and I enjoyed looking over at the colourful array of plant life as I read.

One particular night, I was so greatly absorbed in reading a book about mystical creatures my father had gifted me, I fell asleep in my chair in my usual spot near the window. When I awoke the full moons bright light as well as the stars still illuminated the sky. I rubbed my eyes and stretched my aching body, ready to position my body in my bed when out of the corner of my eyes I see the similar red curls reflected in the moonlight, Aurelius. His handsome features looked even more enthralling under the moonlight. Before I even thought twice about what it was I was doing I wore my sandles and followed him out into the forest.

If I was caught I would've been strictly punished or I could've been injured or got lost, but back then when it came to Aurelius I seldom thought rationally. I found it extremely hard to keep up with his pace while also trying at the same time to remain hidden. After walking for what seemed like an eternity i appeared at the destination. It was a small pond.

I was unaware there was such a thing tucked away in the forest. Aurelius walked toward the centre of the pond and perched himself upon the smooth large stone that was at the centre of it. The moonlight seemed to be exactly overhead the pond making it and Aurelius glow. Aurelius who seemed unfazed by the beautiful glow of the pond simply looked towards the direction I was standing and said clearly and coldly, "come".

There was no mistaking that it was I who he was talking to, I stepped forward. His green eyes looked extremely harsh and unfeeling making my heart swell up in sadness. I opened my mouth to try and explain myself but he cut me off and simply said "come" this time he used a hand gesture to beckon me closer. I complied and took my first step into the water.

Somehow the water appeared steeper than when Aurelius went through it. For him it was like he simply walked atop of it but for me it reached my knees, then my elbows, until it was barely under my chin. I looked down and the water seemed almost bottom less. I wanted to return back to the other side but when I saw Aurelius's seemingly worried face, I pushed the thought out of my head and persevered until I finally made it to the large stone at the centre of the Stone. Aurelius was wearing the biggest grin as he stretched out his hand and pulled me out of the pond and onto his lips.