[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]

He nods, his gaze thoughtful. "If you do," he begins, and stops, shakes his head.

"I see how His Majesty looks at you, Susan, Daughter of Eve. And my heart is glad for his happiness, after so much sorrow. I pray you will not take offense – it's only that I swore allegiance to the Queen, just as I did to him."

[sai_delgado]

She turns pale as salt, and puts out one hand to steady herself against the railing, but he's every right to say it and not wrong to do so.

(gilly-girl)

Wind whips at her golden hair, tossing it around her as she nods to him, and oh, but her fog-gray glance is clear as it meets his.

"Ye've given no offense, but only said true out of love for yer friend and his wife, and I'll not ever hold that against ye. And I'll cry yer pardon, if I've brought aught of harm or distress by my being here as I am - to ye, to others dear to him, or to the lady queen."

She's proud that her voice doesn't tremble.

"I'd never wish to do so, nor to cause him hurt of any sort. He's one of the most honorable and best men I've ever known in all my days and after, ye've my word on that, if ye'll take it."

[the_seafarer]

"The only distress I feel is at harming your feelings, miss – Susan," the older man says, in swift response to the way she pales and sways. "Please pardon an old sailor for speaking his mind without thinking. Truly, I could never think ill of my friend and king, nor of any he cares for. And it's been long years since the Queen was lost."

He grimaces, conscious of his failings of speech. "Forgive me. I spoke out of turn."

[sai_delgado]

"There's naught to forgive," she replies, swiftly. Susan keeps herself braced, but reaches out her other hand to him to try to reassure. "Ye've every right to want to protect the ones ye care for."

[the_seafarer]

He takes her hand and squeezes it gently in his. "You're right, you know," he tells her. "He is the most honorable and best man I have ever had the privilege to call 'friend.' What I meant to say – what I ought to have said – "

His smile is a little wry, but warm all the same. "If you meet the Queen... I think you'll like her. And she you."

[sai_delgado]

"I'd hope she would." She'd hope so indeed, although she's far less certain of it than Drinian seems to be, especially now. "I've only ever heard well of her."

[the_seafarer]

"She was as wise as she was kind, and as kind as she was beautiful," Drinian agrees. "A daughter of the stars, as you know. And much beloved by all Narnia."

He squeezes her fingers once more, then lets her hand go. "I say this not to hurt you, Daughter of Eve, only to... well, it's hard to explain. You'll understand when you see her, I think. For my part, I saw my friend choose to give his affections wisely and well once, and I can see he has done so again now, with you. It gladdens my heart, truly. I wish you joy of one another."

[sai_delgado]

(give ye joy)

“Thankee-sai,” Susan says, soft but clear. She couldn’t ever imagine comparing herself to such a queen, but she can tell that’s not what Drinian’s trying to say, and it’s strangely reassuring for all that she feels more fragile now, mayhap, than before.

“I’d only ever wish—-“

(bird and bear and hare and fish)

“—-for him to be happy.”

[the_seafarer]

"That is my wish, also."

He gives her a slightly rueful look. "I hope I've not ruined your enjoyment of the Treader."

[sai_delgado]

“Ye haven’t,” Susan tells him, and as she does her smile curves her lips once more and grows. “Ye couldn’t, I wot. Just look—-“

She crosses the small space to stand at his side, and waves down at the ship below.

“She’s wonderful, and I’d never thought to have the chance to see her. Ye must be so proud of her!”

[the_seafarer]

"That I am, lady, that I am."

He clasps his hands at the small of his back and gazes down on the ship with pride. "And I am very glad to have the chance to show her to you. As is His Majesty, I wager."

[sai_delgado]

“Oh, he were,” she agrees. “Ye kennit, how much he loves this ship and the sea beside.”

Susan peers down again, taking in every detail she can. “I may have grown up by the water, but I don’t ken ships the way the two of ye do - it were horses, for me - but I ken enough to see she’s trim and well-crafted.”

[the_seafarer]

"Would that you could see her under sail," he says, regretfully. "But that would require a crew greater than two. One day, perhaps."

[sai_delgado]

“Mayhap.” Susan throws him a sparkling smile. “For if ye can’t find new waters to sail in Aslan’s Country, I can’t think where ye would. How many sailors does it take to crew her?”

[the_seafarer]

Drinian considers the question thoughtfully. "I should say no fewer than six, to take her out safely. More, of course, if we'd need to row."

[sai_delgado]

“Well, there’ll be water if ka wills it,” she says, practically. “And sailors too, come the right day, when it’s time.”

[the_seafarer]

"Plenty of water," Drinian chuckles. "Wind, too. I expect we can't hope for everything on this one day, but you'll get your cruise, my lady, I promise."

[sai_delgado]

Susan smiles up at him, bright and shining. “I’ll be glad to see ye again, come the day, say true.”

[the_seafarer]

"And I to see you," he promises, and glances down. A familiar golden head has reappeared on the deck, and Drinian smiles.

"Shall we rejoin His Majesty?"

[sai_delgado]

“If we don’t he’ll climb up,” she laughs. “Aye, best we do.” Susan moves to climb from the fighting-top to the rigging.

[the_seafarer]

"You're right," Drinian chuckles, but comes to halt her before she can climb down. "Allow me to go first, in case you slip."

[sai_delgado]

She searches his face and decides not to protest overmuch. “If ye’d have it so, but I’ll not slip.”

[the_seafarer]

"I've no doubt, my lady, but kindly don't ask me to risk it."

He swings himself back onto the rigging and climbs down a bit, then waits for her to follow before he continues, looking up constantly to ensure she's safe.

[sai_delgado]

She descends carefully, not wanting either to fall or to cause Drinian any alarm by a haphazard scramble, since he's so determined to see her secure.

Once she's close enough to the deck, Susan hops down and lands lightly. "It's such a lovely view," she tells Caspian, smiling, before she busies herself with taking her hair down and retying it back in a loose tail.

It gives her a moment to mind herself carefully, aware now of his friend's keen eye.

[the_seafarer]

"It is, isn't it?"

He offers her a hand to step back onto the deck as Drinian ensures she descends safely. Not that either of them need worry; Susan is as adept on the rigging as she is in the saddle. "A little less so when a storm is blowing up, though."

The quiet joy that's suffused him ever since they arrived through the door is even brighter now; he looks like someone with a delightful secret they can't wait to share. "Thank you, Captain, for offering the tour."

"It was my pleasure, Sire," Drinian tells him, smiling.