Eustace woke and he was burning. His throat was dry, his tongue thick and sticky inside his mouth. His dreams chased once around and then were gone, leaving him with a fading vision of bathing in the sea on holiday, drinking saltwater until his mouth stung and collecting seaweed to plait into a chain around his neck.
He pressed his hand to his forehead and felt how hot he was. Feverish, he was sure. He looked out into the dim room and wanted nothing so much as to see Alberta come through the door with an iced lemonade and an aspirin tablet.
She'd have a thing or two to say about the state of this backwards tub, no doubt. No aspirin, no proper ventilation, shoddy workmanship. They couldn't even make a water cask that didn't leak.
If she were there, she'd make them give him water. He was sick; he needed it more than the others. And it wasn't as though Caspian had been fair with the rationing.
Eustace looked over at Edmund and Caspian. Faint lamp light lit Caspian's face and it gleamed with a sheen of sweat. Edmund snored softly, his hammock swaying.
Selfish pigs. Eustace was sick and all they cared about was sleeping. He turned his face to the wall. Nobody cared if he was sick. Especially Caspian. If he were really a king, shouldn't he spend more time looking after his people instead of striding about showing off? Not that Eustace was one of Caspian's subjects. But he really might have more consideration.
Eustace felt his forehead again. Still feverish. What if he became delirious or fell unconscious? He rolled over again, slid into his clothes, and picked up the tin cup lying beside the bunk. He crept softly out of the cabin and headed fore towards the water cask, stepping from bench to bench, taking care not to trip over an oar or pitch into the supply pit that ran along beside. It was a tricky business.
At least the bloody storm was over. His gut clenched at the thought of it, the days and nights through the gale, wondering at every moment if the ship would break to matchsticks and they would all be drowned. He almost missed the next bench, but caught himself and balanced. Nearly there, and then he stepped onto the deck and reached for the cover on the barrel.
"Hold!" a shrill voice piped. Eustace jumped a foot and the cup clattered onto the deck. That mouse, of course, with his paw on his rapier and a nasty look in his beady eyes. Just waiting to cause trouble, as usual, swaggering about armed and seeing the worst in everyone.
"Can't a fellow take a walk without being followed about?" Eustace watched Reepicheep closely and tried to edge away from the water cask. "Don't you have anything better to do than spy on innocent people?"
"Innocent, are you?" Reepicheep's whiskers twitched. "Then explain to me, miscreant, why I catch you with a cup in one hand and the other on the cask? You are nothing but a common thief and it is high time you were treated like one!"
"For God's sake, keep your voice down," Eustace hissed but it was too late. People were beginning to come into the room and make their way down to the end. Including Edmund and Caspian.
Everyone was muttering and crowding near. Caspian passed through and stood between Eustace and Reepicheep. He rubbed his eyes before he spoke. "What is going on?"
Reepicheep began to speak, but Eustace raised his voice and overbore him. "I was simply going for a walk on deck, it's so beastly hot and stifling down here. And I found Reepicheep skulking by the water cask, doing God knows what."
"Blackguard," burst out Reepicheep. "You lie, and to the king's face. Your majesty," he said, turning to Caspian, "your pardon for my excitement. I was doing sentry over the water, as I do each night, when this person came in, cup in hand, to help himself to water. I caught him with his hand upon the cask. I offer him to you for punishment."
"Punishment?" Eustace was aghast. "I've done nothing, unless it's a crime to take a breath of air instead of choking down below."
Reepicheep's hair began to bristle and he reached for his rapier.
"Peace," said Caspian, holding up a hand. "I think I have the right of it." He looked at Eustace and frowned, then looked away. "Thank you, Reepicheep, for your diligence."
Eustace's shoulders sagged. Of course Caspian would believe a talking mouse over him. Of course everyone would.
"From now on," said Caspian, raising his voice, "anyone found stealing water will get two dozen. Now off with you all."
"Two dozen what?" Eustace whispered to Edmund, and then blanched when he heard the answer. Caspian was no better than a barbarian. He started to creep off with the rest of the crew, but a heavy hand on his shoulder stopped him.
"Stay, Eustace," Caspian said. "I want to speak with you. Reep, you go too. I'll fetch you when we've done."
Eustace's stomach turned over. What more had he to put up with yet tonight? It wasn't enough that he was sick and humiliated, he was going to get a lecture too.
And so he did. Caspian kept his hand clamped to Eustace's shoulder as he spoke. "I am sorry, Eustace. But you must know that everyone feels just as you do, hot and feverish all the time. The men have to work and to do that, they need water, so we must be fair, and give the same to all. You see, we must all pull together if we are to get out of this."
Eustace shifted from one foot to the other. Could Caspian be any more patronizing?
"Can I count on you, then?" Caspian looked down at Eustace with earnest eyes.
There was nothing for it, so Eustace nodded. The hand fell away at last. But Caspian laid it on Eustace's brow for a moment and it was almost cool against his skin. Then Caspian picked up Eustace's cup, opened the cask, and drew a drink of water.
Eustace didn't wait to be told; he lifted the cup and drained it. It was only a few swallows of tepid water, but it washed the tackiness from his mouth and eased the pain in his throat. It was better than any glass of iced lemonade and he tipped the cup high, trying to get every drop.
When he was done, he saw Caspian watching him. Probably going to give him another lecture. But Caspian just started back over the benches, looking back to be sure Eustace was following him.
Caspian's stride was longer and he took the benches more easily. Now and again, he held out his hand to help Eustace over. This bothered Eustace -- he'd made it down here all by himself -- but he was too wary of Caspian to refuse. Caspian's grip was strong and it did make the journey easier.
Eustace crawled into the bunk while Caspian went off to take have a word with Reepicheep. Edmund was already snoring. Eustace lay with his face to the wall and swallowed twice. Not dry again yet, but sure to be soon. Still, it was better than before. He was beginning to drowse when he heard Caspian come back into the cabin.
There were soft sounds which Eustace supposed were Caspian stripping off his tunic and trousers. Then the pad of bare feet on boards. Then the rapid beating of his own heart as Caspian climbed into the bunk behind him.
Eustace wondered why he was surprised. It was more surprising that this hadn't happened before, really. And he should have known when Caspian gave him the water. He tried not to wonder if he would have taken it anyway.
Caspian's arm slid around Eustace's chest. This had happened before, at school, would happen again, and Eustace knew that all he could do was set his teeth and wait it out while he paid for his drink. But Caspian turned Eustace in his arms, drew him close, and kissed him.
This was new.
They were pressed together, bare chests and legs and arms. The night was sultry and their skin was damp. Caspian smelled of too many nights at sea and too few baths and he tasted much the same. His lips were dry and cracked and he stroked the back of Eustace's head, ruffling up his hair.
Eustace was hot, almost too hot to bear. It was too close, it was smothering. He put his hand on Caspian's arm, just below the shoulder. His heart throbbed wildly now, and his stomach fluttered. He was opening his mouth to the kiss, hating the taste, but drawn in all the same. His fingers tightened and he felt the muscle beneath Caspian's skin.
Caspian shifted and his weight bore down on Eustace, twisting his arm beneath him. He'd be crushed, his elbow strained. Eustace pushed at Caspian's chest, squirming out from under.
Caspian pulled back and leaned on his elbow. "I ask your pardon," he said. The light was so faint that Eustace could barely see Caspian's face, but his voice was low and troubled. "I thought you...I was mistaken..."
Oh, so Caspian thought. What would make him think that? Eustace looked at Caspian, and didn't speak. Was he still thinking? Expecting Eustace to lean forward and put his arms around Caspian's neck. To kiss him, slide in close.
He was just starting to reach out when Caspian got up and climbed into his hammock, stretching out with his arms beneath his head. The beams creaked as the hammock swung.
Eustace turned onto his back, eyes open, stomach churning, and waited for his pulse to slow. He could still feel Caspian's body against his, over-hot and over-large. He must be delirious; it was the only explanation. Nothing else could have made him act this way.
He looked over at Caspian and couldn't tell if he were asleep or awake. Eustace rolled over, face to the wall, and thought about water instead.
FINIS
Aloe @ February 17, 2004
I have, at long last, found Narnia slash!
Lovely. I love Eustace's reaction and thoughts.
Have you written more Narnia slash?