Caspian X (
the_seafarer) wrote2021-12-08 10:53 am
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[AU] to find all you seek
It is hardly unusual that the door opens.
It is slightly unusual, perhaps, that it opens seemingly on its own, onto a warm green land bordered by a calm, gleaming sea that smells of salt and something like lilies.
With such a view, anyone glancing out the door might be forgiven if they did not see the individual for whom it opened – not unless they glanced down.
And then down some more, where a mouse – a Mouse – stands on its back legs, studying the room before it with a soldier's practiced eye. It is about a foot high, darkly furred, and a scarlet feather nods rakishly from a golden circlet it wears about one ear.
Apparently making up its mind, the Mouse enters, and the door closes.
(One story ends, and another begins.)
The Mouse scurries – er, climbs – to the top of a seat at the Bar and lifts its small, impatient voice. "Hey there!" it calls. "Who is master of this alehouse?"
It is slightly unusual, perhaps, that it opens seemingly on its own, onto a warm green land bordered by a calm, gleaming sea that smells of salt and something like lilies.
With such a view, anyone glancing out the door might be forgiven if they did not see the individual for whom it opened – not unless they glanced down.
And then down some more, where a mouse – a Mouse – stands on its back legs, studying the room before it with a soldier's practiced eye. It is about a foot high, darkly furred, and a scarlet feather nods rakishly from a golden circlet it wears about one ear.
Apparently making up its mind, the Mouse enters, and the door closes.
(One story ends, and another begins.)
The Mouse scurries – er, climbs – to the top of a seat at the Bar and lifts its small, impatient voice. "Hey there!" it calls. "Who is master of this alehouse?"
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At the patron's cry she looks up, a welcoming smile on her face, even as her eyes widen.
"Long days and pleasant nights, sai -- sai Mouse," she decides. "Are ye new-come, then?"
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"I am newly arrived at this place, yes. A door appeared in the air; what choice had I but to follow?"
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(other worlds than these)
But it's the way the talking mouse addresses her that causes a visible flicker of surprise and a sudden dawning realization, and she sets her letter aside to get to her feet and return his bow with a deep curtsey and a bright, warm smile.
"We're well-met, I hope," she tells him. "I'm Susan Delgado, late of Hambry in Mejis, and I'll answer yer questions as best I can."
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"Well-met indeed, sai Reepicheep," she tells him. "Nay, this place isn't in Aslan's Country, but ye can reach it from there. It's a waystation - we'd say a waystation on the side of the Tower - that connects worlds, and there's all sorts that come here."
She pats the top of the bar, murmuring a request to hold her letter and her drink for now.
"There's someone else I know who'd be delighted to see ye, say true. Would'ee do me the kindness of coming with me outside?"
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"Lead on, Susan, Daughter of Eve," he tells her, and leaps from the bartop, tumbling lithely through the air before he lands with perfect balance back on the floor. "I shall follow with a will."
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"It's this way, an'ye would," she tells him, matching her pace to his. "Ye asked about the Barman - that'd be sai Bernard, Bernard Wrangle. He oversees all of it, I wot. I report to him for matters to do with the stables, do'ee ken?"
She opens the lake door and glances around for any sign of Caspian. A flash of movement near the Hope catches her eye, and she starts that way.
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"By the Mane," he gasps. This isn't Aslan's Country, no – it's some other world entirely, he thinks. He gazes at the smudge of dark forest at the edge of the grassy area near them, then follows her glance down towards what looks like a large lake, where a bright-haired young man works on small boat that has been pulled in to shore.
There's something familiar about him.
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There's pride in her voice, but she doesn't turn her steps that way. Susan's very clearly leading him toward the boat and the young man working there, as she raises one hand and waves, trying to catch his attention.
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Only his courtliness keeps him from dashing to the lake without another word; he turns to the girl beside him and looks up. "Pray, excuse me," he says, as politely as if he were not visibly thrumming with joy and anticipation. "I believe I see an acquaintance of mine."
He sketches a short bow and is off like a shot, his dark-furred little body arrowing in long bounds towards the Man, whose glance shifts from Susan to the Mouse racing toward him.
"Good heavens," Caspian says, blankly. "It can't be Reepicheep?"
"Sire!" The Mouse is panting for breath by the time he pulls up by the boat. "My King! I thought never to set eyes on you again, not until – "
A thought strikes him, and he stiffens with dread; were he a human, he would be pale as salt. "Sire, I hoped that when we met again you would have lived a long, full life – what has happened? And I not there to defend you – !"
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The Mouse appears almost wholly overcome by this news; a fat tear rolls down his cheek as he absorbs the information that his King has met his mortality. "Sire," he says, and kneels as well as he is able. "Then I am glad – I am honored – I am beside myself with joy to have found you once again."
"Most noble and loyal of Mice," Caspian says, smiling. "We are delighted to meet you once more. And to find you have made the acquaintance of our dear friend, sai Delgado, as well."
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"We are well-met," she tells Reepicheep. "Caspian's told me of ye before, and I'm so glad to see ye. But cry yer pardon, I do, for not warning ye who it was ye'd be meeting here."
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"Daughter of Eve, I am in your debt."
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"Ye aren't, and I'll not hear it. There's naught of debt between us, sai Reepicheep, say true."
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He turns back to Caspian, who is studying him with no small amount of delight. "I don't think I've ever seen you without your sword, Reep," his king says. "Whatever happened to it?"
The Mouse sets a paw at its empty swordbelt. "When I approached the edge of the world with their Majesties and Eustace, I, feeling I would not need it any longer, flung it into the water, where it landed and where I imagine it still stands, if it has not rusted away to nothing."
A rueful expression settles on his furry face. "But now that I have found you here, Sire, in the place outside Aslan's Country – I wish for it once more. How am I to serve at your side and as your protection without a blade?"
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But Caspian is more concerned about something the Mouse has not said aloud. "Now, listen, Reepicheep. We will find you a blade if you wish for one – but this is a peaceful place. There's to be no fighting of any kind in the bar area proper, do you understand me?"
The Mouse looks taken aback. "But – Sire – if someone should challenge me, or insult your honor – "
"Not in the bar," Caspian says, firmly. "If you must duel, do it out here."
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“He’s right,” she tells him. “There’s a security team meant to keep the peace inside. And one of my dearest friends is among them.”
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"You may find this an uncomfortable surprise, so I'll tell you now, Reep: titles don't mean much of anything here. Most people here call me Caspian and treat me as they would anyone else."
The Mouse, aghast, appears lost for words for a long moment. "Sire," he says, finally, his voice strained. "You cannot ask me to stand by and accept less respect to you than is your due – "
"I can and I am, Sir Mouse," Caspian says, and there's the ring of command in his voice. "This is not Narnia. And I'd be a bit of an ass if I went around trying to convince everyone they ought to bow down to me."
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(dinh)
“He is respected, though,” she says, softly, after a moment. “If that helps.”
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Caspian comes to kneel before Reepicheep, near Susan, and smiles at the unhappy Mouse.
"There is much here that is strange and wondrous," he tells Reepicheep. "And I am glad, my old friend, my most loyal knight, to be able to share it with you at last."
The Mouse sighs. "As you will, Sire," he says. "My sword – such as I have – is yours to command."
"Good!" Caspian sits back and turns his smile on Susan. "Then proper introductions are in order. Reepicheep, you've met Susan Delgado, daughter of Patrick. Su, may I introduce Sir Reepicheep of Narnia, Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Lion, sometime Chief of the Talking Mice, and my good friend?"
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“I’m ever so pleased to make yer acquaintance, sai- Sir Reepicheep,” she corrects herself, with a faint blush.
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