[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]

Caspian frowns, listening, even as Reepicheep perks up at the mention of the High King.

"Old Ones?" he says. "What ways were those?"

[sai_delgado]

"They poisoned the world," Susan says, softly. "With their technology and their machines and their lack of care for aught else."

"She's right," Cuthbert says, more than a little grim. "Pollution and radiation and chemicals and all kinds of destruction. It's been thousands of years, and ... well. So long as the Tower stands, there's a chance of recovery."

[the_seafarer]

Caspian looks rather stern, but it isn't at either Susan or Cuthbert.

(Have you no idea of progress, of development?
I have seen them both in an egg – we call it 'going bad' in Narnia)

"I see," he says. "Then it seems your Arthur Eld did for your world what the Pevensies did for Narnia; set it back on the right track."

[sai_delgado]

"He did, aye," Cuthbert says. He looks for an instant as though he's going to say something else, then glances at Susan and doesn't, focusing instead on taking a long drag from his cigarette.

"He were the first Lord of Light in Gilead," Susan says, looking at Caspian and having not noticed Cuthbert's evasive glance. "Roland were descended from him."

[the_seafarer]

"A noble lineage," Caspian says, thinking of his own rather tarnished ancestral line.

[sai_delgado]

"Oh aye, all of ye here are noble except me," Susan teases, laughing.

[the_seafarer]

"Nobility of ancestry is far from the only mark of character," Reepicheep says, courtly, and Caspian smiles; the warmth in his eyes is just for her.

"Reep's right," he says. "Believe me, I've known plenty of nobles who don't deserve the title."

[sai_delgado]

She flushes pink at their courtliness and turns to ‘Bert, who shakes his head at her.

“I’m in agreement with them.”

He manages to swallow back the second half of his observation, how she’d have made a lovely Lady of Light, before he can stick his foot all the way down his own throat.

[the_seafarer]

She's lovelier than ever with that pink tinge to her cheeks; Caspian smiles and nods at Cuthbert.

"Besides," he says. "Here, you outrank all the rest of us stable workers."

[sai_delgado]

“Thee knows I don’t think of it like that!” she protests.

“Can I be the one to tell Alain?” Cuthbert asks, innocently, and Susan scowls at him.

[the_seafarer]

Caspian laughs and turned to Reepicheep.

"Susan is stable-mistress here," he says. "I work with her during the days."

"Ah!" says Reepicheep, understanding blossoming. "A fine occupation, madam... although I, truth be told, am not much for horses."

Obviously.

[sai_delgado]

“Not everyone is,” she assures Reepicheep, kindly.

“My da’ were a drover, and the stockliner for the Affiliation in Hambry. I learned from him.”

[the_seafarer]

"In the family line, then," Reepicheep says, approvingly. "Your filial respect does you credit, Daughter of Eve. It is sometimes a rare thing to be able to follow in the footsteps of one's father."

Caspian smiles a little wryly. "You speak truth, Reepicheep."

[sai_delgado]

Her smile is sweet and bright at once on hearing that. “I’d always hoped he’d be proud of me,” she tells the Mouse.

“And he was,” Cuthbert murmurs.

[the_seafarer]

"Of course he was," says Caspian, firmly. "How could he not be so?"

He looks to Cuthbert. "And those guns of yours, they belonged to your father too, aye>"

[sai_delgado]

“Aye,” he agrees, completely serious. “We’ve a saying, in Gilead: to do something shameful is to have forgotten the face of one’s father.”

He lays a hand on the grip of one gun. “I carry the guns of my father, Robert Allgood, and I remember his face.”

“He’d have been proud of thee too, ‘Bert,” Susan says, softly. “He were, I’m sure of it.”

[the_seafarer]

"Sire?" says Reepicheep, for Caspian has turned pale as salt at the words so easily spoken –

(I know nothing of what you speak – I am the Knight of the Underworld, loyal to my Lady of the Green Kirtle)

"Peace, Reepicheep," says Caspian, regaining his composure. "I am perfectly well."

He isn't; he looks ill. "I'm certain your father is very happy that you do, 'Bert," he continues, low.

(Could I mistake my own son?)

"Wherever he might be."

[sai_delgado]

She realizes what’s happened an instant too late, and her hand tightens on Caspian’s.

Cuthbert’s gaze sharpens, and Susan darts a fierce, pleading look at him. “Thankee-sai,” he says, simply, without pressing matters.

[the_seafarer]

He hardly feels her fingers in his, but he smiles at her all the same, weary and wry with a look in his eyes that says not now.

"Sire," Reepicheep repeats, alarmed. "I would never contradict you, but you do not look at all well."

"Not to worry, Reep," Caspian says, attempting a lighter tone. "It has only been a long day and I expect this wine has gone to my head, a bit. As pleasant as this evening and this company is, I may beg to retire soon."

[sai_delgado]

“A long day for ye as well, I wot,” Susan says to Reepicheep. “With much of surprise in it, too.”

Caspian’s lying, oh aye, and she kens all too well why and will not see him pushed if there’s aught she can do to prevent it.

“Mayhap we’d all do well to call it an evening.”

[the_seafarer]

"More wisdom from you, Su," Caspian says, his crooked smile rueful. He lifts her hand to his lips and kisses it, brief and warm, before he rises.

"Come along, Reepicheep. I'll show you to your room."

Reepicheep, already on his feet, nods agreement before turning to bow to Cuthbert. "Sir," he says.

He leaps to the table and then to the seat Caspian has vacated, taking Susan's hand and pressing a whiskery kiss to it as well. "Madam. It has been a rare pleasure."

Caspian huffs a near-silent breath of wry laughter and turns to Cuthbert. "Good night, Cuthbert," he says. "Until tomorrow."

[sai_delgado]

"It has," Susan murmurs, surprised and yet not at the courtesy. "Give ye goodeven, Sir Reepicheep."

Her glance flicks to Caspian as Cuthbert nods to both Narnians. "Long days and pleasant nights," he tells them, his gunslinger's gaze clear and sharp. "Until tomorrow."

[the_seafarer]

Reepicheep doesn't seem convinced, but then, he knows Caspian too well. Still, he's far too polite to press for the real reason why they're leaving for the evening. He chats lightly until they reach his new rooms, and Caspian waits in the door as Reepicheep explores about.

"What do you think?" he asks, his smile slight and crooked.

"More than adequate," Reepicheep promises. "I have bivouacked in much worse places, Sire, as you well know. These rooms seem quite comfortable."

"I am glad," Caspian says, and he truly is. "Rest well, my friend."

But before he can turn and leave, the Mouse comes back to him, looking up at him with those bright, intelligent eyes. "Sire," he says, "if there is anything you need, if it is in my power to provide, you may be sure that I will do so."

Caspian's smile tilts wry. "I could never doubt it," he says. "Good night, Reepicheep."

"Good night, Sire."

[sai_delgado]

Cuthbert waits until they're out of earshot, watching, then shifts his gaze to Susan. "Was it something I said?" he asks, lightly.

"Please don't ask," she murmurs. "It's not yer fault, 'Bert. But it's his story to tell, if he wants, and I'd not speak of it without knowing."

"If ye'll have it so." His tone is gentle. "But thee are all right, Sue?"

She gets up and comes to hug him, fiercely. "I am. Say true."

[the_seafarer]

He isn't actually tired; what he wants is to go out to the peaceful stable, where the horses will not ask any questions aside from soft, curious inquiries about their next meal.

But going back out into the bar area would ruin the lie, so he returns instead to his rooms, his mind troubled and his ears full of Rilian's voice stating unequivocally that he has no idea who the man before him might be.

He can't sit and he can't rest, so he paces instead, worrying it over and over in his head like a dog refusing to let go of a bone.