“A rose?” Alistair asked, a small smile on his lips. The breeze brushed back his light blue hair, pulling loose strands out of his short ponytail. 

“Mm, care to guess what they symbolise?” Caspian leaned against the railing of the building, eyes fixed on the distant buildings. The palace guards kept their respectful distances, not eavesdropping, yet Alistair could still feel his nervousness and anticipation. 

“Well, I think even someone as uneducated in flower language as me can understand,” he replied languidly. He pulled closer to Caspian, fingers dancing up his arm and leaning against the railing alongside him. 

“Love,” he pulled on his arm until they were face to face. 

“Desire,” a small step forward and then they were mere centimetres apart. It was just the two of them, on the balcony of the palace, overlooking the now peaceful city. 

Caspian swallowed, breath stuttering. Alistair huffed out a laugh and let himself be pulled in. 

“Passion,” he murmured, as lips sealed over his and he was swept off his feet, literally. He wrapped his arms around Caspian’s neck, and let himself bask in the feeling of bliss for this moment. 

“Right, now, let’s start working shall we?” Caspian said, adjusting Alistair’s collar until it was straight. 

Alistair smiled, “of course, we have lots to do.” He peered into the distance, far north near the Memoriae River, expression softening. 

“What’s wrong?” Caspian asked. 

He shook his head, “it’s nothing, I just used to live there. Before, you know. It’s all in the past now.” 

Caspian clasped their hands together, tugging him back into the palace. “Let bygones be bygones.” 

The balcony doors shut behind them, and the sun set gently on new beginnings.