Chapter Forty-Eight : Bloom

Little Caspian was in a hospital when he got back to his senses. The bright light reflected off the white ceiling made him blink a few times. The memories of Athereld getting pinned down by the rogues in the woods came to Caspian's mind. Caspian's tiny body was close to jumping on the bed to look for Athereld. "Getting all worked up just when you wake up?" Athereld asked calmly, crossing his legs in the chair by the bed. "You are alright," Caspian said, bawling his eyes out. "I thought, I thought..." Caspian couldn't finish his words as he continued sobbing. Athereld was unprepared for the suddenness—he thought the kid would mock him for his helplessness. Caspian's innocence surprised him. Athereld had always put a blind eye to Caspian's admiration for him. Athereld couldn't hold himself as he stared at those wet eyes and fluffy cheeks. Athereld pulled Caspian's cheeks hard and asked, "What were you thinking following me in the woods like that?" "Hurs, hurs," Caspian struggled