[au] an early snow

[the_seafarer]

It's only mid-autumn, as the Bar-year reckons, but one morning Caspian wakes early to find that the light coming through his window has that particular muted quality to it that only comes from sifting through clouds and a veil of snow.

And snow it is indeed, when he comes outside: it crunches pleasantly beneath his boots as his breath freezes in the air and his cheeks turn pink with the cold. Snow; and still it falls, silent and light.

He heads to the stables with the intention of finishing his chores quickly so he can let the horses out to frolic in it, whistling as he goes.

Comments

[sai_delgado]

“He’s a darling,” she tells him, smiling. “I can just see him, off on some adventure with one of those he’ll meet here. Mayhap Wash’d like to meet him, or Mal, or Kaylee or River.”

[the_seafarer]

"I think he'd like Wash a great deal," Caspian agrees. "Kaylee, too, and River."

He considers for a moment. "The chances are good Mal would say something that would make Reep challenge him to a duel, though."

[sai_delgado]

“Oh, surely not,” she protests, shifting with Ghost as he sidesteps a larger rock. “He’d never mean to insult him!”

[the_seafarer]

"Mean to, never," Caspia agrees. "But you know Mal, he can be a little... familiar. And Reep really hasn't a sense of humor."

He shakes his head. "But it'll probably be fine. Especially since Reep knows he can't fight anyone in the Bar proper."

[sai_delgado]

“He calls me little sister, did’ee ken?” Susan frowns, considering. “Mayhap if I ask him to make his manners proper with yer knight.”

[the_seafarer]

Caspian laughs. "It's all right. If they meet, I'll be sure to keep things from getting out of hand... if it's even a question."

[sai_delgado]

"He loves thee dearly," she agrees. "It'll all come right."

She slows Ghost a little as they come around a piece of shore that's rocky at first before leading to a more gentle slope that reaches back toward the trees.

[the_seafarer]

"He is one of my oldest and dearest friends," Caspian tells her. "I can still hardly believe seeing him again after so long."

[sai_delgado]

"He's very dear," Susan murmurs, and hopes that Reepicheep doesn't find her wanting when it comes to his beloved king.

[the_seafarer]

"He is that," Caspian says, smiling. "And he simply adores you; rightly so. I expect when he resurfaces from his time with Gimli and their storytelling sessions he'll come talk your ear off again."

[sai_delgado]

A faint pink stains her cheeks. "I'd like that," she says, simply.

[the_seafarer]

"So would I," Caspian tells her, giving that flush on her cheeks an admiring glance.

He still hasn't found a way to tell Reepicheep about Rilian, about his wife, about any of it. He doesn't know how he'll bear the Mouse's sorrow once he does. "I enjoyed watching the two of you together that night he came in."

[sai_delgado]

"I should have warned him before bringing him to thee, mayhap, but I couldn't think how to explain," she admits, a little sheepish.

[the_seafarer]

"This place defies all logical warnings," Caspian tells her, amused. "I honestly don't think it would have made a difference, and as surprises go, it was a lovely one for us both."

[sai_delgado]

Susan beams at him, and then suddenly reins Ghost to a stop as a flicker of movement ahead catches her eye.

"Is that--?"

[the_seafarer]

"Hmm?" Caspian is all innocence as he reins up beside her.

"What do you see, Su?"

[sai_delgado]

"How many of them are there?" she whispers, watching in utter delight as a second rabbit pokes its nose out of the warren.

[the_seafarer]

"I've no idea," he admits, resting his hands on the saddle and enjoying the look on her face.

"But seeing as it's rabbits, I'm assuming quite a few."

[sai_delgado]

This one is a mottled brown and gray, the kind of color that’ll help it blend in with fall grass and gray stone but which is perfectly visible in the snow.

“At least they’ve fur coats and won’t be cold either,” she decides.

[the_seafarer]

"I'm sure they'll be all right," Caspian agrees.

"And we could always come back with food for them once it gets really cold."

[sai_delgado]

She laughs, keeping it as quiet as she can so as not to scare them.

“They’d like that, I wot. I would, too.”

[the_seafarer]

"So would I."

He watches her, pleased, more than the rabbits – another of which has hopped its way out of the warren, digging in the snow to search for the grass beneath. "Sweet, aren't they?"

[sai_delgado]

“Aye, they are, and not a mutie among them,” she replies. “They’re adorable, Caspian, say true.”

[the_seafarer]

"I forget sometimes that there were mutated animals in your world," he muses. "Is it strange to see so many here that are clean bred and natural?"

[sai_delgado]

“Mayhap a little,” she says, after a moment’s thought. “But here’s so different anyway, it seems right, do’ee ken?”