[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]

His glance goes from the horses to her, then turns from thoughtful to mischievous. Caspian lets go her hand so he can cup both his around his mouth like a speaking-trumpet, then inflates his chest and calls out, his voice sure and strong.

"Hail, friends! How goes the day?"

The lead horse – or Horse, as he suspected – lifts its head, then wheels the whole herd around to come and approach them, shaking the ground with their approach. As they come nearer, he can see the lead Horse is a large gray stallion, mane and tail white as snow, flanks thickly dappled. "Greetings, Son of Adam," it says, politely, and flicks its tail. "Daughter of Eve."

[sai_delgado]

And oh, but she's glad in this moment that she's had the meeting of Reepicheep, and lady-sai Neysa before that even, or else Susan feels sure she'd have been knocked over with a feather for all that Caspian's told her before of such things.

(the stories are true)

Susan drops into a graceful half-curtsey, making her manners proper, jeans or not. Her smile is a bright and shining thing. "Sai Horse," she greets the stallion. "Long days and pleasant nights. It's so lovely to meet ye."

[the_seafarer]

The Horse paws at the grass, pleased with her manners. He seems a bit vain in the way of most Talking Horses, and Caspian hides a smile. "I am Rhinny-Hinny-Neny-Wiehy-Haah, but you may call me Rhin."

"May I introduce Susan Delgado," Caspian says, politely, in return. The herd clusters a little closer, soft noses nudging curiously at Susan.

"Long days," Rhin says. "Pleasant nights! Yes, we enjoy both, here in His country. But we don't often see Sons and Daughters of Adam and Eve up here in the high meadows."

[sai_delgado]

It's too bad that she doesn't have a handful of sugar cubes to offer, but she'll just have to make do. Susan's entirely unconcerned by being surrounded by the curious herd, and offers nose-pats to any Horse that wishes without being so foolish as to touch where not invited.

"'Tis a visit only," she tells Rhin. "Caspian - I mean His Majesty," she corrects herself hastily, a little flustered, "-- he were so kind as to bring me here to see these lands."

[the_seafarer]

"Hmm?" Rhin noses at Caspian, curious. "A bit coltish to be Caspian, isn't he?"

"By the grace of Aslan," Caspian says, mild. By Susan, a gleaming bay mare, the sunlight touching her coat with glints of gold and copper, seems more taken than the rest and nudges shyly forward for more petting and attention.

"Indeed," Rhin agrees. "By His grace are we all here and restored. Well then, good day, King Caspian, and we-he-helcome back from the Shadowlands."

[sai_delgado]

She raises her hand to rub the mare's poll and pet the arch of her neck, doing it slowly enough that she could react to any objection, and manages to swallow the giggle that wants to emerge at the idea of a coltish, wobbly-legged Caspian.

"Ye say true," she says, instead. "The Lion's well known and loved in many and many-a world."

[the_seafarer]

The mare stretches out her neck, long and reaching, in pleasure at the attention, then nuzzles at Susan's pockets, which probably smell like the treats she sometimes carries. "You're nice, Susan, Daughter of Eve," she says. "You smell like hay and roses."

For his part, Caspian addresses Rhin. "If you see any horses in your roaming, would you send them our way?" he asks.

The stallion nods his head, ears flicking. "This land is wide for those with such short legs," he says, comfortably. "And only two each! How you get anywhere at all is a mystery to me."

[sai_delgado]

"Thankee-sai," Susan tells her. "I'm fond of both, say true. If we're ever to pass this way again, I'll bring apples and sugar to share."

She glances over at Rhin and smiles at him. "Slowly, I wot."

[the_seafarer]

"I'd like that," the mare says. "And there's nothing wrong with going slow. Take some time to roll in the grass, Daughter of Eve. It's lovely and soft up here."

[sai_delgado]

"I will," she promises, petting her again. "Ye can set yer watch and warrant on it."

Not that a horse or even a Horse is likely to have either, but a saying's a saying all the same.

[the_seafarer]

One by one, the Horses begin to wander off, some nosing at the grass and nibbling on it, and the gray stallion tosses his head. "Well, better to be off while the sun's still high. If we see any dumb horses, we'll send them your way."

"Thank you," Caspian says, politely. "It was a pleasure, Rhin."

[sai_delgado]

"Go yer course in peace," Susan agrees, lifting her hand from the mare's neck as the horse moves off to join the others. She herself shifts sideways a step or two, coming to stand beside Caspian.

[the_seafarer]

He takes her hand in his as they watch the herd shift almost as one into a trot, then a canter, until they're thundering over the high meadows once again.

"They're a beautiful sight, aren't they?"

[sai_delgado]

"They are." She sighs it out on a wondering breath as she watches them race over the grass. "Oh, Caspian, look at them."

[the_seafarer]

"Dreadful gossips, Horses," he murmurs. "News of us will be all over, soon."

He smiles over at her. "Did you like them?"

[sai_delgado]

Susan wrinkles her nose at him. "Could thee not tell?"

She shoves her braid back over her shoulder with her free hand and considers. "I'd not ever have thought of horses as gossips, but I can see it."

[the_seafarer]

"Chatterboxes, the lot of them," he laughs, and coaxes her to start walking with him again. He lifts his free hand and points toward the gleaming sea. "Do you see that shining point there, where the sea meets the shore?"

There's a gleam as off white marble, brilliant as a star. "There sits the castle of Cair Paravel."

[sai_delgado]

Susan stops walking, and her hand tightens on his. "Oh," she breathes, staring at the shining glint of light.

For a moment, what she's seeing now blends with a flicker in memory of the sending Alain had gifted her, the stained glass and brilliance of the Castle o'Barony, the gleam of the filament-lights in the Westr'd Hall, the only time she's ever seen such in life or after, say true.

"The castle thee told me of before? Where the Sons of Adam and Daughters of Eve were kings and queens?"

[the_seafarer]

"Aye," he confirms. "Where the kings and queens of the first Golden Age sat and ruled, and then the Pevensies. It fell into ruin in the time of my ancestors, but in my reign was rebuilt into a great and thriving port city."

[sai_delgado]

Susan looks away from the distant castle and up at him. "Thee truly must have been a great king." She's absolutely serious, and deeply certain, even as she smiles.

"Oh, I kennit that I'm no expert on such, but still - I'm sure I'm right in this."

[the_seafarer]

"I hope I was a good king," he admits. "I suppose history will weigh my faults and victories as it does any other. But rebuilding Cair Paravel was a dream of mine, and I was glad to see it completed within my lifetime."

He smiles down at her, then coaxes her to start walking with him again. "It's my hope Rilian and his sons and daughters and grandsons and granddaughters will have long and happy lives there, now."

[sai_delgado]

"Practical of ye, for I'd expect there's histories and tales passed down for children in their lessoning - at least in places less removed than Hambry were, but even we had knowledge of some of what were done at the Seat o'Barony. I can't think Narnia'd do any less."

She swings their hands a little. "I hope so too, and the castle all filled with their laughter and joy."

[the_seafarer]

He smiles, as much at the ease in her voice when she speaks of her home as at the image she paints for him. Every mention of Hambry lately has been laced with stress and strain, and it's like night and day to hear her speak of it now.

Before he can respond, another set of hoofbeats sound, and his grin flashes. "I think the Horses have sent us mounts."

[sai_delgado]

"That were quick as quick," she says, pleased, and turns to look in the direction of the sound. It's not a herd entire, she can tell that much from the drumbeat of hooves, and evidently Caspian's able to do the same.

It's two horses only that come over the grassy rise and canter toward them, one of which is a cloud-and-grey dapple that veers toward her.

[the_seafarer]

The two horses that appear are clearly not of the Talking variety, and yet Caspian stares anyway, letting go of Susan's hand to run forward with a shout of joy, for the other animal is his own old Destrier, saddled as he used to be and calling a deep-chested whickering whinny as he jogs towards his old master.