Apologise
CASPIAN'S POV
All three of us watch in silence as Juliette storms off and when she shuts the door of her shelter behind her, Nik sighs harshly.
Bjorn gives him a cold look and walks off too.
Bjorn isn't someone who's able to communicate his feelings clearly and when he's angry or upset he tends to leave so he can process his own emotions.
Or he grunts at you.
Nik watches him leave, and the slightly hurt look on his face makes me tug him into my arms. I wrap my arms around him and the height difference between us means his chin rests on the top of my head.
"You didn't handle that very well."
His warm breath shifts my blond curls as he sighs again and nods. "I know." We stay like that for a moment and I savour the sound of his heartbeat beneath my ear and his comforting smell of oak trees and sandalwood.
Stepping back, I grab his hand and lead him away from Juliette's shelter.
Nik and I stop in a clearing and sit down leaning against a tree.
"What was that about Nik?" My voice breaks the silence and he glances at me then roughly rubs his face and groans.
"I've got no idea Cas. I've got no fucking idea why I said any of that.
She's not some weak princess. She's so incredibly strong and. .." he trails off at my look. "What?"
I laugh softly and run a hand through my curls, "you like her."
He stiffens and growls at me, "No!"
I laugh louder and lean against him, "it's okay if you do, love. Trust me I... get it. She's amazing."
God, Juliette. She's... perfect. I never thought I'd ever feel any way towards a woman but she's flipped my heart upside down.
She's fierce and kind and sweet. The way she smiles triggers butterflies in my gut and makes my heart swoop.
I feel like I'm a teenager all over again and seeing Nik and Bjorn for the first time.
Nik groans again and rubs his face, "we can't go there, Cas. It's not fair to her or Bjorn." That makes me frown because part of me knows he's right.
"We don't know if Bjorn doesn't like her! And she might..."
Nik shakes his head in frustration, "what, Cas? Juliette, the beautiful princess, might want to be in a relationship not with one but three thieves? Be serious."
I'm about to reply when loud footsteps crunch to the left of us and both Nik and I turn to see Bjorn coming towards us.
His face is stony but he sits down next to Nik and pulls Nik to him roughly.
He squeezes him once and then lets him go and meets my eyes.
I smile softly to tell him I'm proud of him and he grunts back and looks away.
Bjorn leans against the tree with us and we all silently watch the starry night, listening to the sounds of forrest wildlife.
My thoughts spin back to Juliette and before I can help myself in turning to Bjorn.
"What do you think of Juliette?"
Nik gives me a warning look but I ignore him, my stomach twisting in knots as I await Bjorn's answer.
He studies me for a long moment and then sighs roughly. "I... She... reminds me of you two." Nik raises an eyebrow at that.
"Oh?"
Bjorn grunts and looks away, his cheeks reddening. I laugh softly at his reaction making him blush even more.
Even after all these years the fact that I have the power to make him blush... astounds me. A sudden surge of indescribable love for these men overwhelms me for a second and I have to look away to gather myself. I turn back to face them and Nik takes my hand and squeezes softly.
Bjorn watches the exchange silently before answering, "looking at Juliette feels the same as when I first met you two."
The confession is a little shocking coming from Bjorn, especially because I know he doesn't like acknowledging feelings. A heavy silence sits between us - all of us wanting to say and admit more but none of us daring to intrude on the bond we share.
Bjorn clears his throat breaking the tension and shoves Nik's shoulder, "I love you but you were an asshole."
Nik groans again, "yes I know. Cas's already given me that lecture."
I laugh softly, "that was hardly a lecture, Love. You're getting softer if you think that was a hard time."
Bjorn grins and says "She should come with us. On the campaign." Nik turns around to face him quickly, clearly a little shocked.
"She wouldn't be safe on this campaign." His voice is serious. "She's not included in my security plans for this trip and it's all the way to Collingridge which is a one day journey each way. Including the fact that we're robbing people. She... wouldn't be safe."
Bjorn lets him finish before speaking, "She's not soft. She'll be fine. You remember how she handled getting robbed."
I nod in agreement, "Yeah. She didn't show a sliver of fear at all. She's so badass."
Nik sighs and nods, "She is." He slouches back against the tree clearly thinking. He's so hot when he's thinking. His handsome face is twisted in concentration and I can almost see his mind working overtime. Finally he nods clearly having thought of an answer.
"She'll join us on the campaign afterwards. It'll give me more time to prepare her place on the campaign and the next one is only a one day trip. It'll be a nice introduction." His voice is smooth and confident.
I consider his logic and nod. "I agree."
Bjorn nods as well and then laughs at his own thoughts. "Good luck apologising to the Princess."
Nik curses softly.
The next morning, I wake to my body feeling achy and exhausted. I'm so emotionally drained from all the crying and thinking last night that I honestly believe I could sleep for the rest of the week.
After getting dressed I'm half expecting to open my shelter door to an empty camp and discover that they've left without a word.
However I'm somewhat surprised when I see the familiar men walking around camp.
They're all heaving carts or getting dressed in the same half armoured clothing they wore when they were robbing me.
It's a little weird to watch them get ready in the same way they would have when they set off to rob me.
I make my way over to the fire pit to grab some breakfast, making eye contact with Bjorn who offers me a quick nod and hands me my plate. He doesn't look my way again and I sigh.
The fight from last night still stings and Nik's words play on repeat around my head. Soft. Weak. The words themselves are ridiculous. There is no universe that I exist where I could be described like that. The King ensured that.
I'm broken and shattered, trying desperately to not let my sharp, jagged edges cut others.
A shiver runs down my spine suddenly and I glance up. The feeling of eyes watching me makes my skin crawl and I abandon my mouthful to look around me. The only people I see are the many men getting ready for the campaign but no one's looking at me.
I've lived through too much to not listen to my instincts now. You're getting paranoid, Juliette. Another example of how your father's broken you. It's true though. I'm always tense like someone's about to get me.
I run my eyes over the crowd again but the feelings gone and I can't see anyone that makes my gut twist. Instead I lock eyes with Nik. Who's walking straight over to me in long determined strides. For gods sake.
He stops in front of me and I raise an eyebrow as he simply stands there watching me sit in silence. I refuse to be the first to break the tension so I wait. Nik's face is hard as he searches my face and I tense ready for another fight. Instead he surprises me.
"I'm sorry." The words are quick and low and I barely hear them over the rush of everyone else.
"Excuse me?"
Nik runs an agitated hand down the side of his face, "I'm said I'm sorry, Juliette. You're not... weak or soft or pampered and I should never have said you were. You're an incredibly strong woman who's managed to stay kind despite everything that's happened..."
My body tenses slightly at that... did he know? Surely not.
He continues, "with the marriage to King Dick of Gilchokeonacock. You escaped. And you fought."
I choke out a surprised laugh at the title he used for Richard. "Ha! Oh my gods. I don't think I've heard that one before."
He chuckles with me and I take a moment to appreciate his beauty when he laughs. He somehow manages to pull off the nice sweet laugh despite his obvious danger.
"Um. Anyway. I'm sorry." His voice trails off as he gets a little embarrassed. I smile slightly watching him.
"Hm. I'm not sure you've done enough grovelling.
" I say half teasing. Nik's eyes narrow slightly but his relaxed posture reveals his amusement.
"Oh? What else does my Princess require for an apology?
"
I ignore the butterflies "my Princess" sets off when he says it in his smooth, low voice and reply, "Attendance. On the campaign."
His face turns serious again and he nods slightly.
"You can come... on the next one." Before I can protest he interrupts me with a stern look.
"I'm not prepared for an extra body on this trip.
Every campaign is planned down to the person and what they bring to the campaign.
I don't have time to rework my security plans for you to come this trip.
But you can come on the next one in two weeks. Deal?"
I consider his words and then nod, "Deal."
Nik grins and straightens out his white button up shirt. "Excellent. Glad we could come to arrangement, Your Highness."
"Your Highness? Really?"
Nik laughs, "See you in two days, Princess." He turns to leave and before I can help myself I shout after him.
"Be safe!" He pauses and half turns around sending me a winning smirk. "I knew you cared."
He leaves before I can reply and soon most of the camp is on the road.