[AU] to find all you seek

[the_seafarer]

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?"

Comments

[the_seafarer]

The light of adventure glints in the Mouse's eye.

"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."

[sai_delgado]

Her breath stops in her throat as he throws himself into the air, only to resume with relief as he lands so gracefully.

"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.

[the_seafarer]

Reepicheep considers her with a pleased, interested eye: this Daughter of Eve is clearly a lady of some distinction and responsibility, here at this strange place at the edge of the world. "Stables, mistress?" he asks, but then they stroll outside and he forgets his manners in favor of pure wonderment.

"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.

[sai_delgado]

"Aye," she tells him, waving toward the neatly-kept building and paddocks beyond. "I'll show ye, if ye'd have it so. We've a goodly number of threaded stock under our care."

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.

[the_seafarer]

The Daughter of Eve lifts her hand and waves, and the young man looks up, his expression brightening as he recognizes her. As he does so, Reepicheep gasps.

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 – !"

[sai_delgado]

She catches up in time to hear this last, and goes suddenly more pale herself as she realizes what she's done by not warning him. Susan gives Caspian an apologetic look as she drops gracefully to the grass near the Mouse, so that he doesn't have to look up at her. "Nay - sai Reepicheep, fear not, say true. Yer King has been restored here as ye see him, but all is as ye hoped 'twould be when ye met again."

[the_seafarer]

If his head had rolled off, Caspian could hardly be more surprised than he is in this moment. "Peace, Reepicheep," he says, coming back to himself. "The lady speaks true. I lived long and well back in Narnia, and though I perished I was restored to my youth and strength by the grace of Aslan, in his country, in almost the same moment."

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."

[sai_delgado]

She remains seated on the grass for now, but smiles up at Caspian at that.

"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."

[the_seafarer]

"And what manner of villain blames a lady for his own shortcomings?" Reepicheep says, turning to her.

"Daughter of Eve, I am in your debt."

[sai_delgado]

She blinks fog-gray eyes at him in surprise and shakes her head.

"Ye aren't, and I'll not hear it. There's naught of debt between us, sai Reepicheep, say true."

[the_seafarer]

"Be that as it may," the Mouse says, and makes an elegant leg to her. "If ever I can aid you in any small way, you need only call upon me."

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?"

[sai_delgado]

“Sai Gimli can help, I wot.” Susan looks up at Caspian. “Have thee met him?”

[the_seafarer]

"I have. He forged my own blade."

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."

[sai_delgado]

Susan looks slightly alarmed at this, but follows Caspian’s lead and turns to Reepicheep.

“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.”

[the_seafarer]

"If it helps, there really shouldn't be too many opportunities for a duel or a challenge," Caspian says, as a bewildered Reepicheep looks his way, though there's a moment where he seems to be considering something.

"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."

[sai_delgado]

Susan blinks at the authority in Caspian’s tone, and glances from him to the Mouse.

(dinh)

“He is respected, though,” she says, softly, after a moment. “If that helps.”

[the_seafarer]

"As is only correct," Reepicheep says, but it's lost a bit of heat.

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?"

[sai_delgado]

For all that Susan’s ever been taught to make her manners proper, she’s never faced a situation quite like this. Still, she decides her course immediately and climbs to her feet only to sink into a deep curtsey before settling back to the ground beside Caspian.

“I’m ever so pleased to make yer acquaintance, sai- Sir Reepicheep,” she corrects herself, with a faint blush.

[the_seafarer]

Reepicheep bows, graceful and trim. "And I yours, Susan, Daughter of Patrick, Daughter of Eve," he says. "I am grateful for your friendship with His Majesty. I hope you will accept this offer of my own, as well, poor though it may be."

[sai_delgado]

"Aye, and gladly," she tells him, while she busily fixes all of his titles in her memory as best she can. Susan's smile is warm.

[the_seafarer]

"There," Caspian says, and he looks very pleased with himself. "Two of my dear friends met; a joyful moment indeed. Now! Reep; You've come from the last leg of our journey together, eh?"

(you're to go on, and I'm to return – alone and at once)

It was long and long ago for him, but there is still something faintly wry in his expression. "And did you reach Aslan's Country?"

"I did, Sire," Reepicheep tells him. "I came from there, after wandering untold days among the fields and forests of His lands."

[sai_delgado]

"Oh, how lovely," Susan breathes.

(peace of the clearing)

"And to be able to come here, as well."

[the_seafarer]

"An unlooked-for blessing," Reepicheep agrees. He looks to Susan, his black eyes bright and intelligent.

"There was a prophecy sung over me when I was but a pup in the cradle," he says. "By a Dryad. Where the sky and water meet, where the waves grow sweet, doubt not, Reepicheep, to find all you seek; There is the utter east. It was with this prophecy in my ears that I joined His Majesty's voyage to the Eastern Edge of the world."

[sai_delgado]

“A dryad - one of the tree-ladies?” she asks, glancing to Caspian for confirmation.

“In the world I’m from, ye’d be thought to be marked by ka with a speaking like that.”

[the_seafarer]

Caspian nods to her, while Reepicheep cocks his furry head.

"Ka? he asks. "I have never heard the term."