[au] Narnia and the North

[the_seafarer]

There's a chill bite to the air, these days. The horses have been growing out their winter coats, and they look shaggy and plump as Caspian turns them out into the paddocks. Behind the stables, in the makeshift woodshop he'd cobbled together, the sleigh from his drawings is starting to come together. 

He hopes he'll have it finished by Christmas. With a little luck, and maybe some assistance, he thinks it should be possible. The tack, he's largely left up to Susan's devices, though he'd commission Gimli the dwarf for the various buckles and other metal pieces they'll need.

Once the horses are turned out, he gets to his other morning chores with a will, whistling cheerfully as he does. The stable stays strangely quiet around him. It takes him the better part of an hour to realize the strangeness is because he's become accustomed to Susan's cheerful presence working alongside him, talking or humming or simply working in companionable silence. 

Caspian pauses in his task – refilling the grain chest – and looks around. Susan's nowhere to be seen, and when he later wanders through the stables, checking each stall and outside, he can't find her there, either.

Comments

[the_seafarer]

"And they were done," he comforts. "Not to worry, Su. It's not such a hard thing to do them myself. But we ought to go back before 'Bert and Alain really get worried."

Reepicheep, too. He half expects the loyal Mouse to have already rallied half the bar to a search for Susan.

[sai_delgado]

"I kennit, say true." Big Pat's daughter has always known not to shirk her duty, whatever form it took. Reluctantly, she sits up, out of the shelter of his arms, and starts to push herself to her feet.

[the_seafarer]

He begins to get up, meaning to help her to her feet, but pauses, horrified. "Su – "

Any exposed bit of skin is scratched and dirty; her clothes are studded with twigs and dried leaves. She looks as though the forest had swallowed her whole with no possibility of ever letting go.

[sai_delgado]

She bites her lip against the shock on his dear face, willing herself not to start crying again.

"I lost my way," she says, softly, so softly. "When - when I were panicked."

[the_seafarer]

He cups her face in his hands a moment and leans forward to gently kiss one of the scratches that runs across her cheek. "All right," he murmurs, although of course nothing is right about this.

Letting her go, he reaches into his pocket to retrieve her gloves, then holds them open one at a time for her to slip her hands inside, protecting her fingers and palms and nails from any more abuse.

[sai_delgado]

Meekly, she complies with his gentle concern, then brushes fruitlessly at her jeans with her newly-gloved hand before giving up.

Susan turns to the birch-woman and drops a small curtsey before shifting to press herself close to Caspian's side. "Thankee, lady-sai," she murmurs. "For yer kindness. I'll not trouble thee so again."

[the_seafarer]

The birch-woman sways and murmurs something softly unintelligible, but sympathetic. Caspian's not wholly sure the tree-sisters quite understand human emotions – they're so rapid and intense and changing – but the sentiment is clear: You are welcome, sapling. No need to hide your pain from us.

"Come along, Su," Caspian says, injecting warmth and confidence into his voice. He takes out her scarf and tucks it warmly around her throat, then reaches for her gloved hand with his. "Kiseki is this way."

[sai_delgado]

She lets him lead her across the garden to where the gelding waits. "There's a dear," she tells Kiseki, who tears up another mouthful of grass as he tosses his head.

[the_seafarer]

"Allow me," Caspian says, genteel, and moves beside the gelding to form his hands into a stirrup for her, meaning to help boost her up.

[sai_delgado]

She accepts his assistance and settles into the saddle with somewhat less than her native grace, but collects Kiseki immediately when he tries to sidle in his surprise. "Hold still, thee silly. Make yer manners proper."

Susan waits for Caspian to mount, then asks, "Is - say sorry, for worrying everyone."

Him first and foremost.

[the_seafarer]

"I'm not," he says, mildly. "Sorry, that is. All it means is there are people who care deeply for you. And I think every one of them will understand."

They'll wish, as he does, that she might have run to them instead of into the woods, but what's done is done. "But you may need to submit to being fussed over, a bit."

[sai_delgado]

She tips her head forward, letting the golden cascade of her hair hide her face, and says nothing. Once she's sure he's settled behind her, Susan clicks her tongue to Kiseki and starts him back down the path to the stables.

[the_seafarer]

The gelding carries them at an easy pace back toward the stables and bar, and Caspian keeps any further comments locked behind his own teeth. She'll get more than enough from 'Bert and Alain, no doubt, and so he spends the time making plans of his own.

If the gunslingers will agree to take over her chores for the rest of the day, he thinks it's more than possible.

[sai_delgado]

It's a much quicker trip back than it had been out, not that that's a surprise. Susan stays quiet as they go, unable for once to take pleasure in the ride.

Light flashes from Alain's hair across the paddock as his head jerks up when they emerge from the forest. He turns to look in another direction, calling something she can't make out, before he cuts across the field to meet them at the stable.

[the_seafarer]

He waits until they've reached the stable before he dismounts, slipping Kiseki's reins over the gelding's head and handing them to Alain before offering to help Susan down. "Here we are," he says, cheerful, though he glances at the gunslinger. "And Kiseki's had a little exercise now, too."

[sai_delgado]

A single swift glance is all Alain needs to take in the way Susan's avoiding his eyes and just how much disarray she's in. He nods assent to Caspian and keeps his gaze on her as he wraps the reins around the post hook. "Aye, and he'll be the better for it, I wot."

As soon as her feet are on the ground, Alain steps to her. "Susan. Are thee harmed?"

She shakes her head. "I'm all right, Alain, say true."

[the_seafarer]

He steps back, but stays nearby, listening to Alain and Susan talk as he moves to remove Kiseki's saddle and blanket. Close as he and Susan are, there's some connection between her and the two gunslingers he feels he should be careful of. And today, certainly, isn't a day to insert himself into it.

[sai_delgado]

Alain cups her chin in his hand and tips her head up. Her fog-gray glance is shadowed, he sees, and she's on the verge of tears. "Ah, now, Sue." He takes one more step and wraps her in his arms. "Shh, now. I kennit."

"Susan?" Cuthbert vaults the paddock fence on the side of the field and bolts across to the gate.

[the_seafarer]

A small, brown-furred figure scrambles over the paddock fence in pursuit and streaks across the grass. Reepicheep can move rapidly when he wishes, and now he bounds on all four paws and must dig them in to halt himself before crashing into Susan's legs. "My lady," he gasps. "Are you well? We feared the worst – "

"Reep," Caspian says, quiet but with an air of command. When the Mouse looks his way, he gives a speaking look towards Susan, Alain, and Cuthbert. Reepicheep wilts, slightly, but steps back to give the gunslingers room.

[sai_delgado]

She pulls away from Alain, her distress visible, and shakes her head at Cuthbert before she drops to her knees and holds out both gloved hands toward the Mouse.

"I cry yer pardon, Sir Reepicheep," Susan says, her voice clear for all that it's wavering a little. "I didn't mean to worry ye."

[the_seafarer]

At this earnest apology, Reepicheep's gallantry cannot be held back. "Dear lady, nay," he says, and takes one of her hands between both his paws, patting the back of it gently. "I am only relieved you are back, and unharmed."

He'd been frightened right down to his whiskers, Caspian knows, but his relief is visibly all-consuming. "I would never have forgiven myself had some danger befallen you when my sword might have come to your aid."

[sai_delgado]

She cannot, she cannot look up at either of the men who she knows have never forgiven themselves for just exactly that. Her fingers tighten slightly on Reepicheep's paw.

"I kennit," she whispers. "But ye've naught to - I'm all right," she shifts to, quickly. "Forgive me, I beg."

[the_seafarer]

"Yes, of course," Reepicheep is swift to reply. "There is little enough to forgive, Daughter of Eve."

"It's a knight's prerogative to worry over a lady," Caspian says, as lightly as he can. Reepicheep may have only known Susan a short while, but he knows the Mouse feels his loyalty and duty toward her keenly. "And Reep is the finest knight of my acquaintance."

[sai_delgado]

"Still. Thankee-sai," she says, simply, and lets go of his paw. Susan pushes herself back to her feet with a slight wince that she tries to hide, and turns to Cuthbert. The gunslinger rests his hands on her shoulders and gives her a gentle shake. "Thee should've come to us," he scolds, although more gently than she feels she deserves.

"I kennit, but - I, I couldn't," she tries. "Not thee, nor Caspian, or anyone."

[the_seafarer]

Reepicheep bristles at the scolding, however gently it's spoken, and Caspian shifts just enough to catch his glance and give the Mouse a warning look of his own. Kiseki, meanwhile, lowers his head to sniff curiously at the Mouse.