the_seafarer | [AU] to find all you seek

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 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."

“Oh, let me be just Susan to ye, I pray,” she says. “And I were glad to see to it, say true.”

Reepicheep glances from her to Caspian, who nods, and back to her once more. "As you will," he says, in a way that makes Caspian think it won't be the last time he tries to bestow a title on her.

It's well-meaning, at least. Caspian takes his arm back from around Susan to reach for her hot chocolate and offer it to her, before he passes the small glass of wine to Reepicheep and retrieves his own. "To reunions," he says, lifting his glass. "With dear old friends."

She raises her cup in turn, and sips after they do, then settles back against the couch again.

“Truly something to celebrate,” she agrees. “I remember what it were like to see Alain and ‘Bert again. I’m glad ye have that joy.”

"And I," says Reepicheep. "Though to think time has passed so strangely! How could it have so many years since I saw you last, enough time for a full life, while it felt like so little to me?"

"Did it truly?" Caspian asks, sipping at his wine. "Has it seemed so few days?"

Reepicheep shakes his head. "Perhaps. It is hard to say. All times are soon to Him, after all."

“Time is a face on the water,” Susan murmurs. “It were one night for me, and ten years for Alain and ‘Bert, and many and many-a year for Roland, to be met here once more. Mayhap it’s like that for ye, too.”

She shrugs, and leaves it at that.

"It is not for a simple Mouse like myself to question the nature of the universe so," Reepicheep says. "I am only satisfied to be back by my King's side, for as long as he will have me."

Caspian nods to him. "As long as you'd like to stay, Reep," he says. "And should you wish to go back through the door, I'd not stop you."

The faintest chill runs through her, and Susan wraps her hands around the mug to draw in its warmth.

(come, Reap)

She nods in support of Caspian’s words, but says nothing.

It's possible Reepicheep can go back and forth between the bar and Aslan's Country, as he can, but that will need to be something they discuss later, he thinks.

For now, he gestures for the Mouse to eat if he will, and Reepicheep falls to with a will. "Thank you, Sire," he says. "And you, La – Susan. It is so strange – there is food enough and more in His country, but I never feel all that hungry, unless I wish to eat. And when I do, it is like the waters of the Last Sea, leaving me utterly sated. And yet here, I am ravenous."

"Eat, then, good Mouse," Caspian says, smiling as the small knight neatly devours some bread and cheese. "I promise that the food here is as fine as the company."

Caspian seems so pleased to have his friend here, and Susan's delighted for his sake, and equally so by Reepicheep himself. "Ye can get almost anything from Bar," she explains. "The bar, but it's more than that, so she's called Bar as her name, too. Magic, I'm told --"

And oh, she realizes, she's not certain if the Mouse would be wary of such, and hastens to explain.

"-- but not of the evil sort, do'ee ken? Nymphadora tried to explain how the spell worked, but I wager no one truly expected what came of it in the end."

"Ah," says the Mouse, in the ones of one who now understands. "Like the magic that keeps the table at Ramandu's island filled, I suppose."

"Not quite," says Caspian, "but I suppose you could think of it that way. Certainly it is a kind and well-meaning sort of magic."

"If you say it is no threat, Sire, and you, Daughter of Eve, I trust your word," Reepicheep says. "I suppose that is the only explanation for finding Archenland wine beyond the edge of the world."

Caspian laughs. "Archenland wine and much more," he promises.

"No threat," she promises, firmly. "Nymphadora - ye'll kennit, when ye meet her, she has pink hair - she's sai Bernard's lady, and a witch, but one of those who works to protect others," Susan clarifies, as best she can.

"She's to be trusted, ye've my watch and warrant on it." And a promise from Pat Delgado's daughter isn't to be taken lightly, not that Reepicheep would have any way of knowing that, and this one the more so for offering faith in a witch. "She were telling me that the one who cast the spell to begin with were from her world, years ago. She knew him, before."

"I've never heard of a 'good' witch before," Reepicheep says, doubtful, but it's against his nature to question the word of a lady.

"But protective magic; that I know. Wasn't it that which brought the Kings and Queens of Old back to us in our hour of need."

"It was indeed," Caspian says, and smiles at Susan. "When I winded Queen Susan's horn and called them back to Narnia."

"I hadn't either, until I came here," Susan agrees. "Most aren't. But Nymphadora is."

She smiles back at Caspian, bright and shining. "All four of them, thee said."

"Yes; all four."

"If I remember correctly, your Majesty's tutor dabbled a little in magic," Reepicheep says, and Caspian nods.

"You remember rightly, good Mouse. Doctor Cornelius did a little magic, as a sort of hobby, but nothing anyone might call a working of any real power."

Fog-gray eyes widen at that.

"Did he teach thee?"

"Only theory," Caspian says, a little rueful. "He thought the practical part was not proper study for princes, though I would certainly have preferred that to some of my other lessons."

She's not entirely certain what to think of that, although she believes deep in her heart that Caspian would be one of those few who could be trusted with magic, if he chose to pursue it.

Susan glances at Reepicheep, to see if this is surprising in any way to him.

"And right he was," exclaims Reepicheep. "What use has a soldier and a knight for tricks and spells? Give me a sharp blade of good Dwarven steel any day and I will prove its worth in clean battle over that of any so-called magician."

"I believe you would," Caspian says, amused.

Susan beams at the Mouse. "Caspian'll see to getting ye exactly such a blade," she tells him, completely certain of her words. "Sai Gimli does fine work."

"He does indeed," Caspian assures Reepicheep.

"As fine as the work from the Seven Brothers ever was. And he has a great many stories I think you'll enjoy, Reep."

"Did he tell thee of the horse people? Those of Rohan?" she asks Caspian, and then explains to Reepicheep, not wanting him to feel left out.

"Rohan's a country in his world, with plains and grasslands and fine horses kept by the people there, and mountain strongholds and fierce fighters who held against a great enemy."

Caspian shakes his head, but Reepicheep grows animated, getting to his feet on the chair seat, his warrior's blood up and singing at the mention of a stand against the forces of evil.

"And did they win the day?" he asks, in his high, clear voice. "These warriors?"

"They did," she assures him. "Rohan held fast, and others joined them, and the great enemy Sauron were defeated and driven from their world forever."

"Sai Gimli's a fine storyteller, and nothing loath to tell the tale, which he says is written in books besides."

(the stories are true)

Something a little wry flickers across her expression at that, but her smile remains warm and bright.

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