[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]

"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."

[sai_delgado]

“Ye might call it fate, or destiny,” Susan tells him. “My da’ always used to say ka were like a wind, and none could stand against it.”

[the_seafarer]

"Ah! Destiny, yes!"

The Mouse draws itself up, proud. "It was my destiny to sail the Eastern seas and to reach the place where sky and water meet. I believe that as strongly now as I did before His Majesty even had the Dawn Treader commissioned."

Caspian's mouth twitches. "Reep and his Mice were a large – a great part of the Rebellion, as well," he tells Susan. "That was how we first came to know one another."

"And how I came to swear myself to the service of His Majesty, King Caspian," says Reepicheep, who is getting rather excitable. "What glorious days those were?"

"Were they?" says Caspian. "I recall them being cold and wet and everyone out of sorts."

[sai_delgado]

“Oh, surely not always,” Susan protests - to Caspian - before turning back to the Mouse.

“Clearly it was,” she agrees. “If ye found the Lion’s country so.”

[the_seafarer]

"Not always," he admits, laughing. "But a good part of the time."

"Sire, please," Reepicheep says, pained. "Yes, we had some hard days – I seem to recall a certain giant ruining our carefully laid plans – "

He stills sounds somewhat crisp at the mention of Giant Wimbleweather, who, though a very good sort, was not at all clever and had in fact ruined their best chance at routing the enemy simply by not remembering the timing of the attack correctly. " – But we fought bravely and with honor, which is more than your Majesty's uncle could say, and prevailed in the end."

[sai_delgado]

“So thee did,” Susan agrees, fog-gray eyes bright. “Sir Reepicheep, I’ll hope ye’ll be willing to share more stories of Narnia and yer adventures while ye’re here. I’ve coaxed some from Caspian, but I’d love to hear more.”

[the_seafarer]

Caspian can see the moment where Reepicheep longs to – politely; Su is a lady, after all – correct her with his title and is pleased when the Mouse refrains.

"I shall be happy to regale you with as many stories as you might wish to hear," Reepicheep says, instead. "I am a better warrior than storyteller, but you will find none more willing to speak of his Majesty's great deeds and those of his friends and companions."

"Now, Reep, you know I hadn't done so many as you're saying," Caspian says, a little embarrassed.

The Mouse only pats his foot. "Modesty is a welcome trait in a ruler, Sire," he says. "And I love you for it."

[sai_delgado]

“Thankee-sai,” she says, sincerely pleased. Susan casts a teasing glance at Caspian and adds, “I’d listen to all ye’d tell, say true.”

She shifts, then, preparing to rise. “But I’ve not - ye’re only just arrived, and I brought ye here without ye having a chance to arrange yer lodging, or anything. Will’ee let me see to it for ye, while the two of ye catch up?”

[the_seafarer]

Caspian gives her a rueful glance, but the Mouse appears delighted.

"That is very gracious, Daughter of Eve," he says. "I thank you for your kindness."

Caspian, giving up, nods. "That would be lovely, Su," he says. "Shall we join you later?"

[sai_delgado]

“Whenever thee like,” she tells him. “Thee’ll find me as usual—-“

She turns to Reepicheep. “—and I’ll have what ye need ready for ye there.”

[the_seafarer]

"Very well; we'll met you inside soon, then," Caspian tells her, and smiles a little crookedly.

"In the meantime, I'll try to explain this place to Reep as best I can."

[sai_delgado]

There’s something very understanding in the fog-gray eyes as she nods. “Take yer time,” she murmurs. “I kennit, from when Alain came.”

Susan gets to her feet and gives a small curtsey, then heads inside to see to matters for the new arrival, finish her letter to Bernard, and eventually settle in on the couch by the fireplace with her work basket - having placed an advance order with the waitrats, as well.

[the_seafarer]

Evening has settled by the time the lake door opens and Caspian enters, a small furry figure at his side. Reepicheep, it seems, is still full of questions, and he answers in a warm low voice as he looks around, before he brightens and ushers the Mouse over toward the couch.

"Here we are," he says, taking the seat right by Susan – he's grown somewhat accustomed to it – while Reepicheep perches in a too-large chair by the fire. "I tried to explain everything I could think of, but this place has mysteries I may never understand."

[sai_delgado]

“If there’s aught I can answer, I will,” she offers, as she sets her straw-plait aside and digs in the work basket for a packet made of a bit of parchment that unfolds to show a drawing as well as a scrollwork key.

Susan slides from her seat and brings it to Reepicheep before settling back beside Caspian. “It’s a key to a room upstairs for ye,” she tells him, “And a bit of a map to guide ye through the halls to find it, when ye’re ready to rest.”

[the_seafarer]

The key is perfectly sized for the Mouse's claws; he studies the parchment for a moment before tucking it and the key both into his swordbelt.

"I am grateful, Susan, Daughter of Eve," he says. His eyes brighten as Caspian shifts beside her and puts his arm about her back, but his manners overcome his curiosity. "This is a strange sort of place where both those who live and those who have passed on may mingle. My king assures me it is not part of Aslan's Country, but what else could explain such a thing?"

[sai_delgado]

She leans just slightly into the curve of Caspian’s arm as she nods to Reepicheep. “More of a place that’s betwixt and between, from what I’m told,” she says. “What ye call Aslan’s Country, we call the clearing at the end of the path. This is a - a waystation, to the side, on the way to the clearing, do’ee ken? It’s how the alive and dead can both be here.”

A faint squeak draws her attention and she beckons to someone across the room. A waitrat hurries over, carrying a tray with a full dinner service - bread and cheese and a large mixed plate of fruit, a savory dish of baked grains and nuts, water and a sparkling golden wine with glasses for both Caspian and Reepicheep and a cup of cocoa for Susan herself.

“Sir Reepicheep, please let me introduce ye to Holly, of the waitstaff here. She’s not a talking Rat as ye are a Mouse, exactly, but as smart as any and kind as well.”

[the_seafarer]

The waitrat stands twice or a little more as large as Reepicheep himself, but the Mouse leaps lightly from his seat and sweeps a bow. "Madam," he says, and Holly squeaks at him in surprise.

If Reepicheep is let down by her lack of speech, he shows no sign of it, only courteously clears a place on the table for Holly to set the tray. "A feast," he says, "to rival that at Ramandu's Island. Your thoughtfulness, Lady Delgado, knows no bounds."

"It's lovely," Caspian agrees. "Thank you, Su."