Inheritance: Threads of Fate

Chapter Nineteen - Fireworks

The sun began to set while you waited for Zumi and Raxe, and you suddenly felt completely drained, and were fighting back yawns.
"When is the last time you slept?" Caspian brushed your hair back.
"Last night, with the rest of you." You lied.
"My Starlight..." He scolded you knowingly.
"I mean I layed down... and my eyes were closed."
"Real sleep." He insisted. "Where you were unconscious."
"I don't know...it's been a few days..." You admitted.
"Why didn't you tell me you weren't sleeping?"
"Because it wouldn't have made a difference..."
"Why?"
"Because the only way my mind would be at ease enough to sleep is if we were back on the Shade, away from this horrible country, with my parents in tow."
"Death by denial might not be real, but death from lack of sleep is." He warned. "Can you please go lay down and nap? I'll wake you when the guys return."
"But..."
"Ok, I'll phrase it another way. Go lay down and nap. That's a command from your King." He tried to be stern but was smiling with his eyes.
"Ugh. Fine. I'll try." You huffed and lay on the bed.
As soon as your body was enveloped in the fluffy mattress you felt exhausted and began to drift off into uneasy sleep. You kept tossing and turning, waking up from bad dreams, then falling back asleep only to drop right back into the same nightmare. You felt the mattress move next to you, and Caspian scooped you up and pulled close. He began brushing your hair with his fingers, and started humming a song you didn't recognize, but you could feel the vibrations from his chest. Then he quietly started singing:

"Stars shining bright above you
Night breezes seem to whisper "I love you"
Birds singin' in the sycamore trees
Dream a little dream of me..."

You felt as if the second you closed your eyes, you were woken up by the door opening.
"Shh." You heard Caspian whisper.
"Oh. Sorry. I got the fabric... I'll put it next door until..." Raxe was whispering but you were already awake.
"It's ok. I'm up." You mumbled and found you were still on Caspian's chest.
"Sorry Bun, I didn't know you were sleeping." Raxe apologized "Whenever you're fully up, just come get me." He softly closed the door.

"Go back to sleep. It was just a dream..." Caspian put his hands over your eyes playfully.
"Nice try," you giggled. "How long was I out?"
"Only about an hour."
"You... layed here for an hour while I slept?" You asked guiltily.
"Yes. And I enjoyed every minute of it." He smiled down at you, and kissed your forehead.
"Thank you...I was having really bad nightmares...I couldn't fall asleep until..." You were half asleep, but you remembered the tune he was singing to you, "what was that song? I've never heard it before."
"You know, I have no idea." He chuckled. "I heard Queen Lucy singing it and thought it was lovely. It must be from her world. It gets stuck in my head at times."
"I didn't know you could sing." You smiled up at him.
"I don't, usually. Not in front of others at least. I'm a bit self conscious of my voice." he admitted shyly.
"I love it. You can sing to me any time."
He laughed, "It makes it easier when you're half asleep. I honestly didn't think you'd remember."
"And now I'll never forget it."
"I expect you'll be demanding performances from me like a trained animal now?" He smiled down at you.
"Mhm. I'll get you an outfit and everything." You giggled.
"Oh really?" He flipped you on your back and started tickling you, "You can't make me do anything when you're pinned down like this."
"I'll...even... build... a little... stage..." you gasped between laughing.
"Yea? I suppose you're going to charge admission too?" He laughed.
"Ok..." you laughed... "ok.. you win!"
He relented, and held himself above you, looking into your eyes. "I'll sing for you whenever you desire."
You pulled his head down and kissed him. "I love you." You whispered.
"And I love you, My Starlight."

You sighed happily. Wishing more than anything that this could be your whole world. No break-ins, no danger, no empires or kingdoms. Just you and Caspian. It didn't matter where you were as long as he was with you. But that's not reality.
"We better get to work on those robes...." You said reluctantly.
"You're probably right." He smiled and rolled off the bed. "I'll go get Raxe."
You sat up on the bed, still very tired but better rested and looked around. Working on the floor would be easiest, you'd have enough room to spread out. Caspian and Raxe came back with handfuls of ugly brown cloth.
"Special delivery. Where do you want it?" Raxe asked.
"On the floor there is fine." You answered and he dropped everything in a heap.
"Oh here." He handed you a little package and you unwrapped your thread, needles, and a little pair of scissors.
"Thanks. Ok, luckily you guys are close enough to the same size that we can just make three the same. Mine will have to be a bit smaller so I'll work on that one." You spoke to Caspian.
You held up each roll of fabric against Caspain and Raxe, taking measurements by eyeballing them. You set Caspian to work cutting the length for each of the mens, giving specific instructions as you went. Raxe grabbed some fruit out of the bowl on the counter and flopped onto the bed. As you worked, you realized Caspian was actually very good at working with his hands, he picked up sewing quickly, although his stitches were not as neat and straight as yours. "Better for authenticity" you commented. Zumi rejoined you at some point, confirming that the man he found will set up near the entrance to Ishta's estate and will wait until he gets the signal to set off the display.
"It took the rest of our Crescents to get him to do it though..."
"No matter. If we are successful we would be getting out of this city tonight. OW." Caspian poked himself with the needle.
"The goal is to get him out without anyone noticing." You added. "Obviously I want to get out of this city tonight but hopefully we won't have to run."
"I'm going to get our things packed and ready...just in case..." Raxe rolled off the bed and went to his and Zumi's room.
"He has a point. Things haven't exactly been going our way when we plan them." Caspian noted. "We're better off planning on being caught, at least then we can expect the worst and hope for the best."
"Alright so... we get caught smuggling him out." Zumi thought aloud. "We should have the animals nearby waiting instead of coming back here."
"And one of us should stay with them, it will make it less suspicious." You added, finishing another robe.
"Raxe did say he wouldn't recognize your father anyway." Zumi pointed out. "If he gets the bars cut for us then stays behind, that's less of us to have to sneak around."
"Good idea." Caspian agreed, finishing the last robe. "Goodness mine look terrible..." He held his up against your two."
You giggled. "No one will notice, it'll be dark."
"I call yours." Zumi grabbed the one from in front of you. "I am the nobleman after all."
You and Caspian rolled your eyes.

You all loaded everything and went up the hill back to the estate. Raxe showed you where the back gate was and you found a dark alley to hide the animals.
"Everyone ready?" Zumi asked, holding Kex on his arm. "Here goes." He released Kex, signaling the firework merchant. In a matter of minutes the first firework went off and you watched the two gate guards look up and over in that direction. After the second or third, they both decided to head over to watch the show.
"That's you." You gestured to Raxe. "Be careful."
Raxe took a small saw and clamp over to the gate. In the dark against the sporadic lights of the fireworks he just looked like a shadow balled on the floor. You couldn't hear a thing. Just as he anticipated, ten minutes later he signaled you all over.
"I'll stick this back in after you get through, so it looks intact." He whispered, holding up the section he cut out. "Just push it and it'll fall back out. Good luck. Be safe."
You nodded, and the three of you snuck into the grounds one by one.