[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

[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?”

[the_seafarer]

"I think so."

The little rabbits hop about, leaving their small prints in the snow, and he smiles to see them – this normal thing, even out here in this impossible place.

[sai_delgado]

“They don’t seem bothered, too much,” she murmurs. “Mayhap they’ve other visitors.”

Susan turns to smile at him. “I’m glad thee found them.”

[the_seafarer]

Caspian beams back at her. "As am I," he agrees.

It makes him wonder what else might be in these woods. Foxes? Owls? Badgers? Which only makes him think fondly of Trufflehunter, amused at the line of his own thoughts. "I wonder how they all got here."

[sai_delgado]

"They can't have all come from the Dream-lord's realm," she says, practical and certain. "But I've no idea how such a waystation as this could even exist really, so..."

She shrugs. "Tonks said something about - about a wizard of her world having something to do with it, but I'm not sure of aught beyond that."

[the_seafarer]

He nods – it's as good an explanation as any here. "I like it," he says.

"It makes this place seem more real to have some woodland creatures about."

[sai_delgado]

"Even if they're not talking ones," she says. "Other than Jah-lila and Neysa and now Sir Reepicheep, I've not known any here who are."

[the_seafarer]

"There were plenty of non-Talking animals in Narnia, too," he tells her. "Though I do miss them. A conversation with one of the Badgers or Horses or Foxes was always a good way to gain new perspective."

[sai_delgado]

Ghost shifts under her, and she controls the sidle, but then turns him in a circle to keep him from being too restless. The rabbits alert slightly before dismissing the horse and his rider as a concern.

"I'd imagine," she laughs. "What kinds of things would they tell thee?"

[the_seafarer]

"Well, it depended," he laughs. "With the Horses it was all grass quality and gossip. And Badgers are very down to earth – as you might guess. But the Foxes were often very good problem-solvers. Excellent scouts and messengers, too."