[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

[sai_delgado]

"Mayhap," she agrees, and cheerful, wry amusement's clear in her expression. "Or like the tales of Gilead and the gunslingers and those of the line of Arthur Eld that I grew up with."

[the_seafarer]

"I imagine the historians have written of you, too, Sire," Reepicheep says, and Caspian looks momentarily dumbfounded.

"I suppose that's so, Reep. I can only hope they've gotten it all right."

[sai_delgado]

She can't help herself - she puts her hand over his and squeezes his fingers in comfort.

"It's unsettling to think of, I kennit," she murmurs. "But surely they'll have told yer tale well."

[the_seafarer]

He presses her hand and smiles at her, offering silent thanks for her comfort.

"Trumpkin will see to it," he says. "And Glenstorm the Centaur. Neither will allow too many flights of fancy. And after that, they'll do better to focus on Rilian and his descendants."

"Rilian, sire?" asks Reepicheep, curious, and Caspian winces, very slightly. Of course, the Mouse could not have known.

"My son," he says. "And now King of Narnia."

[sai_delgado]

Her hand tightens on Caspian's at this, remembering the night Rilian had arrived and not known his father, or his own country, or anything. Susan stays silent, not wanting to give anything away, uncertain of how much Caspian would wish to tell.

[the_seafarer]

He knows why Susan's hand tightens as it does –

(I tell you, I cannot be mistaken! Are you not Rilian, son of Caspian, and king of Narnia? Could I mistake my own son?)

– and he meets her glance with his own wry, understanding one as Reepicheep gasps his astonishment. "Your son! Why, Sire – "

"Yes," Caspian says, and hopes, even as he hates himself for it, that the door will remain closed and the Knight will not enter again. He's not sure he could bear it. "So, you see, Narnia is in good hands."

[sai_delgado]

"Thee say true," Susan tells him, softly, before turning to Reepicheep with a warm smile.

"It can be startling to hear of what came after for those dear to us, and well I kennit," she sympathizes. "Ye'll get more used to it in time, Sir Reepicheep, say true."

[the_seafarer]

"I expect I shall have to, if I wish to spend any amount of time here," he says. "If it's true that anyone can come here from any time or place, then it's possible to meet those from both the past and the future."

[sai_delgado]

"Both, aye," she agrees. "It's a wonder to be sure."

[the_seafarer]

"And here I thought I had seen all the wonders left to behold," Reepicheep says.

"I am thankful, indeed, to have found a new adventure in this place."

[sai_delgado]

"Aye, and in the worlds beyond it as well, if ye'd have it so," Susan says.

[the_seafarer]

Reepicheep, lost in the possibilities of adventures in other worlds, thankfully misses the pang of real pain in Caspian's face as he imagines the Mouse running rampant elsewhere.

"But not without cause," he says, quickly. "And I'll ask that you speak to me before making any rash decisions."

"Of course, Sire," says the Mouse, though the light of adventure is in his eyes.

[sai_delgado]

Susan bites her lip and gives Caspian an apologetic look. Mayhap she shouldn't have mentioned it?

[the_seafarer]

Caspian squeezes her hand and winks at her.

"It's only that Reep here would willingly charge into whatever world or situation where someone might require aid or defense," he says. "A fine and noble instinct."

"Am I to simply stand by when my sword could be used in protection of those weaker than myself?" Reepicheep asks. Caspian, through long familiarity with him, doesn't laugh but instead only nods solemnly.

"I would never ask that of you, Reepicheep," he says. "Only that you look before you leap."

[sai_delgado]

She smiles, relieved, and looks back at Reepicheep. "Of course ye wouldn't. Ye're a knight."

[the_seafarer]

Reepicheep bows, and Caspian looks thoughtful.

"Still," he says, almost to himself. "We'll have to make sure you get that sword sooner rather than later... just in case."

[sai_delgado]

"If it's like a gunslinger being without their guns, then thee say true," Susan observes.

[the_seafarer]

Caspian's mouth twitches.

"I would say that was more like when Reep lost his tail," he says, and the Mouse gives him an unhappy look.

"Sire, please," he says. "And in front of a lady!"

Caspian has to look away quickly to hide his smile. "My apologies, Sir Mouse," he says. "But Aslan grew it back even more handsome than before."

[sai_delgado]

"It is," Susan tells Reepicheep, wanting to reassure him. "And ye've met the Lion yerself as well, then? But of course ye would have, with him helping see Caspian to the throne."

[the_seafarer]

"I have," Reepicheep tells her. "That day, when we proved victorious over the treacherous Miraz, and again later."

"He owes a special debt to the Mice, you see," Caspian tells Susan. "In the last days of the Witch, it was mice who bit through the ropes that bound him to the Stone Table and released him. And ever since then, their descendants numbered among the Talking Animals of Narnia, as his gift."

[sai_delgado]

"Oh," she says, understanding.

Susan opens her mouth to ask something else and almost visibly shakes herself before switching to instead ask, "But here I am asking ye all sorts of questions, when ye're the one new-come. Not that Caspian hasn't done a fine job of telling ye what ye need to know, I wot," she adds, with a teasing glance for Caspian.

"But is there aught else I might help with?"

[the_seafarer]

"Daughter of Eve, all I desire is your fine company," Reepicheep says, his manners as courtly as any knight of greater physical stature might be.

"After all, you are my first friend here."

[sai_delgado]

Susan laughs, even as a light pink blush tints her cheeks.

"Ye are very kind, say true."

[the_seafarer]

Caspian grins. "Charming, isn't he?" he asks Susan, his smile broad and bright. "Next thing you know he'll be asking you for a favor to carry with him."

"Sire," says Reepicheep, pained. "I understand you mean no insult, but I wish you would not make light of my respect for this lady."

"Not at all, Reep," Caspian says, and his smile is very fond. "Forgive my teasing."

[sai_delgado]

"A favor?" she echoes, blankly, then shakes her head at Caspian and gives him a look that tries for stern and fails utterly in its fondness. "Thee are such a mischief for teasing him so."

Susan turns to Reepicheep and says, "Ye are charming, though, and gracious as well as kind, if ye'd not mind my saying so."