[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]

"I defy any Man – or Mouse – or Talking Beast of any kind to defeat me in clean combat," Reepicheep says, proudly, and Caspian sighs.

"In our time and place," he explains, "close quarter combat with a sword is the honorable method. Difficult to fight an enemy that stands at a distance with a weapon that can cut you down before you're close enough to strike. That is what he means. It's no mark on the gunslingers' honor, Su, just a... different style of fighting."

[sai_delgado]

She listens carefully to Caspian’s explanation and nods. “I kennit,” she says, mollified.

Susan turns to Reepicheep and adds, sincerely, “And I’ve no doubt ye’re a fine knight and a fine warrior both.”

[the_seafarer]

"The finest," Caspian says, firmly. Reepicheep bows his head.

"Your Majesty is good to say so," he says, and Caspian relaxes slightly. He will, he thinks, ruefully, have to explain some of Reepicheep's background to Susan when they're alone. It's only a matter of time before some poor soul here insults the Mouse's honor and forces Reepicheep to demand satisfaction.

[sai_delgado]

“And if ye—“ Susan starts, but she gets no further before a cheerful voice calls out, “There you are! Goodeven, Sue.”

Cuthbert, who’d seen them on coming out of the Security corridor and made a prompt beeline across the room, leans over the back of the couch to tug playfully at a lock of her hair before he comes around the end and claims the empty armchair for himself. “Caspian,” he adds, with a friendly nod, and a curious glance for the — not a waitrat, he realizes. Huh.

[the_seafarer]

Reepicheep stiffens at the familiarity of this newcomer and the lack of respect he shows to Susan Delgado. "Sir," he says, coolly, and glances to his king, who looks, for no reason Reepicheep can adequately parse, somewhat pained.

"Cuthbert," says King Caspian. There seems to be a warning in his glance – it must be that his king does not trust this young man. "This is Sir Reepicheep, a knight from my homeland."

All the same, Reepicheep can hear the request in King Caspian's voice; he gets to his feet and makes an elegant leg, sweeping off his gold circlet and feather as he had before. "Pleased to make your acquaintance, Son of Adam," he says. "Will you join us? There are still plenty of refreshments."

[sai_delgado]

Cuthbert blinks in surprise, but promptly gets up to return the bow, leg extended, triple-tap and all, and never mind that it’s to the biggest mouse he’s ever seen. There’s stranger far at Milliways, he knows.

(other worlds than these)

“Long days and pleasant nights, sai,” he returns. “Pleased to meet you as well. I’m Cuthbert Allgood, of Gilead.”

“‘Bert’s one of the gunslingers I were telling ye of,” Susan puts in, smiling at them both. “And a dear friend.”

[the_seafarer]

"Ah! Then I am doubly glad to meet you," Reepicheep says. "This lady here was just speaking of the gunslingers and I admit a feel a sort of professional curiosity, or perhaps a kinship."

For his part, Caspian relaxes when Cuthbert returns the greeting as politely as can be and manages – mostly – to mask his surprise. "Reepicheep was one of my captains during the rebellion," he tells Cuthbert. "And a good friend from that day onward."

"The honor was always mine, Sire," says Reepicheep. "I regret only that I could not have stayed longer by your side."

[sai_delgado]

“Oh, she was?” He raises his eyebrows at Susan, who wrinkles her nose at him. Cuthbert laughs at her and looks at the mouse.

“If it’s curiosity, I’ll happily answer questions,” he says, easily. “This’d be the rebellion against your uncle?” he adds, to Caspian.

[the_seafarer]

"The same," Caspian says. "Reep was Chief of the Talking Mice then and was an integral advisor during our campaign against the giants on the northern borders a few years later."

Reepicheep bows his head in modest acknowledgment and turns to Cuthbert.

"I am most curious about your weapons," he says. "We have no 'guns' in Narnia, although I seem to remember their Majesties cousin, Eustace, mentioning them once or twice during our voyage."

"Mainly in the sense that we had none on board," Caspian murmurs, half to himself and half to Susan. "Thought we were right dolts about it, even though he claimed to be a pacifist himself."

[sai_delgado]

"Aye, well, then mayhap his time as a dragon helped his good sense," Susan says. "For there's more to the use of a gun than just having it, and far more than the having that makes a gunslinger, do'ee ken?"

A faint shudder runs through her at the memories that attempt to intrude. Susan pushes them away, trying to hide her reaction, and knows from the look in Cuthbert's eyes that she hasn't been entirely successful... and that he's guessed the direction of her thoughts, as well.

"Susan's right," he says, and oh, it's almost impossibly gentle as his glance meets hers for a moment before he looks back at Reepicheep. Cuthbert sits forward in his chair and touches the grips of his guns, deliberately drawing their attention away from her. "But as for the weapon itself, here."

Moving with care so that there's no confusion, he draws one and holds it so that the others can see, although he makes no offer to let them take it. "Bullets go in the chamber here, and fire through the barrel with a speed that's faster than an arrow and goes much, much further."

[the_seafarer]

He doesn't know what causes Susan's shiver or the understanding glance Cuthbert sends her; all he can do for the moment is squeeze her hand as Reepicheep leaps nimbly from chair to tabletop so he can peer more closely at the gun, looking at it with interest. He is careful not to come too close or to touch it, instead linking his paws behind his back just as a man might to thoughtfully peer at a piece of art hanging on a wall.

"It seems a fine piece of worksmanship, Son of Adam," he says, "though unfamiliar to me. Is it Dwarf-forged?"

[sai_delgado]

She twines her fingers with Caspian's and leans a little against his shoulder as she listens to 'Bert and Reepicheep talk, attempting to give comfort at the same time she allows herself also to draw it.

"Nay," Cuthbert says, "or at least I doubt it. We've no stories of dwarven forging in Arthur Eld's time, and these were passed down the generations between. Twenty-nine of them."

[the_seafarer]

Reepicheep looks impressed, though his understanding of twenty-nine generations is a good deal shorter than that of the humans here.

"Like Rhindon, Reep," Caspian says, referring to the sword of High King Peter, which the High King had gifted to him on his coronation day. "This would be like having something passed down in your family from the Golden Age to yours and mine."

"A treasure indeed," Reepicheep says. "And in fine condition still."

[sai_delgado]

Cuthbert nods. "They'd better be," he says, a little dry. "We're taught the care of them as part of our training."

[the_seafarer]

"As is only proper," Reepicheep says, approvingly. "One ought to care for one's weapon as though it were part of themself."

He gestures to his empty sword-belt. "I am present unarmed, but His Majesty believes I will find a suitable blade here."

"Gimli the dwarf has his forge out by the stables," Caspian tells Cuthbert. "He made my own blade. I think he would be up for the challenge."

The requirements of a blade to be worn by a Mouse being, after all, somewhat different to those for a Man.

[sai_delgado]

"Yar," Cuthbert agrees, holstering the gun with unthinking ease and sitting back. "He likely would. He's the one made the horses' new shoes, aye, Sue? I've seen him working on much more besides."

Susan nods. "I were that grateful for it," she says. "But it's not his greatest skill, I ken, although he took pride in doing a good job of it all the same. Swords he does, aye, and gold-craft too."

[the_seafarer]

"His work is both beautiful and functional," Caspian agrees. "He manages some very fine filigree work, especially when working with a particular type of silver from his own world."

"I shall look forward to meeting him, Sire," says Reepicheep. "I have missed the company of our dwarf friends a great deal."

[sai_delgado]

"Gold-work, hm?" The shadows have faded from Susan's gray eyes, but her smile's not as bright as he'd prefer, and thus Cuthbert falls back on a ka-mai's bag of tricks and teasing. With near-uncanny speed, he snatches a straw plait from her workbasket and coils it around his fingers to examine it with overly-attentive focus. "Looks like ye could teach him a thing or two yerself, mayhap."

"Oh, stop it," Susan scolds, and leans forward to try to reclaim her braidwork. He holds it out of her reach, laughter in his eyes. "Give it back, 'Bert, I've not sewn the ends yet."

[the_seafarer]

Reepicheep frowns. "Kindly return the lady's property, sir," he says, in his chirruping voice, and Caspian grimaces, very slightly.

"It's all right, Reep, he's only teasing."

"Be that as it may," Reepicheep says, stern. "I'd expect any knight – though they may not use that exact title – to treat a lady with the respect to which she is due."

[sai_delgado]

"Oh, believe me, I am," Cuthbert says, even as his eyebrows rise at the mouse's demand.

Susan huffs an exasperated breath at him. "Keep it up and see if I don't swat ye with yer own hat next," she warns, and sits back against the couch. "Sir Reepicheep, there's naught to be concerned over, say true."

[the_seafarer]

Reepicheep bows to Susan, though he keeps one bright eye on Cuthbert. "If you wish, madam," he says, a little stiffly.

Caspian, familiar with the frown on the Mouse's face, glances around the room before interjecting. "You needn't fear, Reep; 'Bert and Susan are old friends. She's used to his teasing."

Reepicheep looks unconvinced that any teasing ought to happen at all, but subsides.

[sai_delgado]

Cuthbert's eyebrows are even higher than before, and temper of his own snaps in his glance - well-controlled, but there, as he looks back and forth between the Narnians. "You're not seriously implying I'd mean Susan insult? Or hurt her in any way?"

"Of course thee wouldn't, 'Bert," Susan interjects, trying to soothe any and all ruffled feathers now. "Mayhap it's only that he's not met a ka-mai before." She looks back to the Mouse, golden hair shifting around her like a cloud with how quick she turns.

"It's all right, say true," she promises. "It were kind of ye to be concerned, but 'Bert would never seek to upset me, never in life."

(we'd all protect her if we could)

"It's a ka-mai's way to tease so and make others laugh."

[the_seafarer]

"I certainly hope not," Reepicheep says, bristling slightly. "Though I fail to see the respect in petty theft and teasing."

One paw settles at his empty swordbelt, and Caspian, keen both to keep Reepicheep from getting in trouble on his first day and not to lose what small ground he may have made with Cuthbert, breathes out through his nose before he speaks. "Reepicheep!" he says, sharply. His expression is stern, and that faint ring of command from earlier by the shore is clearer now.

The knight snaps to attention, both eyes fixed on his king. "Your valiance does you credit, but you will kindly not pick a fight with our friend Cuthbert, please," says Caspian, stern. "Particularly not over so small a thing."

"But, Sire – "

"Peace! There's no insult here. You do not know him yet and so I forgive your ignorance, but there is no one here more devoted to this lady than he. Am I quite clear?"

Reepicheep, somewhat forlorn, nods and turns to Cuthbert, squaring his small shoulders. "My apologies, good sir knight. This place and its patrons are still strange to me."

[sai_delgado]

Susan looks completely startled by all of this, and sits very still, fog-gray eyes wide and uncertain as she watches.

Cuthbert gives Caspian a very sharp, searching look indeed before nodding to the mouse.

"Other worlds than these," he says, easily enough. "I've seen worse trouble from people while they're getting used to the bar. Apology accepted."

[the_seafarer]

Caspian relaxes slightly and glances at Susan, smiling slightly as he squeezes her fingers to reassure her.

"I wish you could meet Glenstorm the centaur, Cuthbert," he says. "Now there's a fellow who would prove a challenge even for a ka-mai such as yourself. I don't think I saw him laugh even once in all our long years together."