[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

[sai_delgado]

"There were apple orchards north of Hambry," Susan says, and though her voice is soft with memory, a slight smile curves her mouth. "Sai White, Jake White, saw to them. But we had windfall-rights, for the horses, of courses."

[the_seafarer]

"Of course."

Destrier lifts his head and sniffs the air, scenting the sweet fragrance of apples. "That must have made for several pleasant outings."

[sai_delgado]

"It did, say true. I'd go with my da', betimes, to collect them." Susan tosses him an amused smile. "He said I were closer to the ground, so it were better so."

[the_seafarer]

Caspian chuckles, imagining a small Susan collecting fallen apples, enchanted by the image. "I can only imagine attempting to use the same logic with Reepicheep," he says, amused. "But it sounds as though you were a fine apple-picking companion."

[sai_delgado]

"I'd never," she laughs. "I'd not want him to feel insulted, never in life."

She can see the orchard now, the trees healthy and their leaves bright, and has to coax the mare out of hurrying toward them.

"It were more play for me than work. And once we had enough for the horses, Da' always had us set aside a few for cider and pie. He called it payment for the picking."

[the_seafarer]

"Fresh cider and pie sounds a fair exchange for the labor," Caspian laughs. "I always liked the apple-picking, too, but I liked even more the work to clear the orchard and ready it in the spring. The apple tree dryads had blossoms in their hair, and..."

He trails off, his glance caught by a flash of motion among the trees ahead. Something paces through the orchard, but in the dappled shadows he can't tell if it's gold or brown.

[sai_delgado]

Caspian's attention shifts, and Susan turns to look with him, automatically gathering the mare beneath her.

"Caspian?" she murmurs. "What is it?"

[the_seafarer]

He shakes his head, collecting Destrier with a quiet word and his legs. "I only thought I saw something," he says. "Shall we go in and collect some apples?"

[sai_delgado]

A spark of nervous alarm thrills through her in the instant before she scolds herself not to be silly. This is Aslan's Country, there's naught to fear here - and even if there were, in some other place, she's safe with Caspian, she's as certain of that as she is her own name.

"Let's," she says, determinedly cheerful. It's not hard, she finds, and is glad of it. "Else these two'll never forgive us."

[the_seafarer]

Neither the horses nor Caspian appear concerned, though Caspian peers through the trees as if expecting to see something in particular as they start into the orchard. After a few moments, the figure he'd noted before paces across the path once more, and this time he laughs.

"I think you're about to meet an old friend or two," he tells Susan, amused. "That looks like one of the three Bulgy Bears."

[sai_delgado]

She brightens like the sun itself. "Oh! The ones that helped thee during the rebellion?"

[the_seafarer]

"The very same. And, look – "

He points ahead to where one of the trees waves like it's caught in a tiny storm. "I shouldn't be surprised if there were someone interesting over there, too."

[sai_delgado]

"Thee mischief," she teases. "Will'ee not give me a hint as to who?"

[the_seafarer]

"I'll offer a hint," he laughs. "It's not likely to be someone small."

In fact, as they come closer, the horses start dancing as the ground trembles underfoot. Another turn in the path, and a line of trees becomes visible – along with a large brown bear, scratching its back luxuriously against a gnarled trunk, and a small giant shaking another, sending a storm of apples pattering down onto the grass.

[sai_delgado]

"Hush, thee silly," she coaxes the mare, trying to reassure her and get her to stand. "They'll not harm thee, never in life."

She raises her voice, then, and calls out, "Long days and pleasant nights." They'll likely both recognize Caspian, but that's no reason for her not to make her manners proper, not for Pat Delgado's daughter.

[the_seafarer]

Wimbleweather looks slowly around and then down, scanning the ground for the source of the voice. "Greetings, Daughter of Eve," he says, in his rumbling voice, each word ponderous and deliberate.

The Bear stops his scratching and squints nearsightedly at them, then gets up and lumbers over. "It isn't," it says, in a growly voice. "Oh, it is. Good day, sire. Have you seen any beehives on your way?"

"Good day, my friends," Caspian laughs. "I'm afraid not, good Bear. But this is my dear friend, Susan. Won't you make her welcome?"

"Yes, of course," the Bear responds. "Only will you check? About the hives? These apples would be just right with a bit of honey."

[sai_delgado]

"We'll keep a sharp eye out," Susan promises, beaming at the Bear. "It's lovely to meet ye both. His Majesty's told me of ye, and I'm delighted to have the chance, say true."

[the_seafarer]

The giant ponders for a moment. "Apples?" he wonders aloud, then turns back to the tree.

"Oh, Wimbleweather, no – " Caspian begins but it's too late: the giant gives the tree a good shake and apples fly off in all directions, thudding to the ground at the horses feet and zooming past their heads.

[sai_delgado]

The mare shies at the storm of apples, half-rearing and letting out a shrill whinny. Susan balances with her with graceful ease, bringing her back down to all four hooves and turning her in a large circle. "There, now," she praises, low and soothing. "It's all right, there's naught to fear."

She throws Caspian a laughing glance, then looks up at the giant. "Thankee-sai," she calls, "we've enough now and to spare, so no more, I beg."

[the_seafarer]

Caspian gives her a half-wry, half-amused glance and smoothly dismounts from Destrier as Wimbleweather visibly thinks through Susan's response. Eventually, the giant arrives at an understanding of her thanks, and smiles beatifically at her.

The Bear, meanwhile, ambles through the fallen apples, picking carefully through them with one paw while sucking distractedly on the other, like a baby with a pacifier.

[sai_delgado]

She can tell when it sinks in for Wimbleweather what she'd meant, and beams back at him. Susan dismounts and leads the mare to the side of the little clearing, where there's plenty of grass and shade, and piles up several apples for her. Once she's contentedly munching, Susan leaves her there with a pat and comes back to join Caspian.

"How goes the day?" she asks the Bear. Susan's not entirely sure of what sort of conversation they'd like, but that'll not stop her from trying all the same.

[the_seafarer]

The Bear sits heavily in the shade of another apple tree and mumbles something impossible to decipher around the paw in its mouth. Caspian clears his throat, politely gazing up at the sky, and the Bear whips its paw out of its mouth and puts it behind its back guiltily.

"Oh, fine, fine, Daughter of Eve," it tells her. "Though it may rain to-night."

"It looks clear thus far," Caspian opines, and the Bear nods comfortably along. "Yes, yes it does. It does look clear. So perhaps it won't, after all."

[sai_delgado]

Laughter sparkles in her glance at the way Caspian so gently and deftly manages the Bear, but she keeps it inside, not wanting to offend the dear creature. Susan bends down and scoops up a particularly nice apple, which she offers to Caspian before she observes, cheerfully, "Mayhap not. But rain helps the apples grow, so it'll all be to the good any road."

[the_seafarer]

"And flowers," Caspian agrees, accepting the apple with a twinkle in his eye. Destrier is moving from apple to apple on the ground, munching away, and Susan's mare seems to be equally enjoying herself. "Which is good for the bees. And therefore, for the honey."

The Bear brightens. "What a good point, sire. Daughter of Eve. Aren't you clever. I do like honey. And apples."

[sai_delgado]

"I knew someone once who made a mead of apples brewed with honey," she muses. "It were always welcome at the Fair-Days."