[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]

"As the High King himself always had," Reepicheep notes, and again, Caspian feels that ache in his chest.

(You're to go on, and I'm to go back. Alone. And at once.)

"True enough, Reep," he says, as lightly as he can. "They never could stay."

[sai_delgado]

"Ye say true," Susan agrees. "Ka like a wind."

"Other worlds than these." Alain's tone is mild and easy as he repeats it. "Sue was saying that yer Narnia's no stranger to magical doors, either."

[the_seafarer]

"Not in the least," Caspian confirms. "Although they aren't always doors, precisely. The Pevensies first came through a wardrobe."

He considers, sipping his tea. "Although I suppose the wardrobe had a door."

[sai_delgado]

Alain nods. "We've both types as well - the magic ones in the middle of the air, and the ones made by the Old Ones, in buildings and what-have-you."

Susan scowls at the mention of the Old Ones, and curls a little more comfortably against the back of the couch. Cuthbert rolls his eyes at Alain. "You always did pay more attention to Vannay's lessoning."

She perks up a little at this. "He were the one like yer Doctor Cornelius," she reminds Caspian and tells Reepicheep.

[the_seafarer]

"Of the doors in the air, the only I've seen outside of Aslan's Country was the one Aslan created when he sent the Telmarines back to their world," Caspian tells him, before smiling at Susan.

"Aye, I see. A tutor, of sorts?" he asks the gunslingers.

[sai_delgado]

"Yar. Books and magic and knowledge handed down," Cuthbert confirms. "Vannay for the mind, Cort for the body."

[the_seafarer]

"I had only Doctor Cornelius," Caspian admits. "And a series of sword-masters."

None of whom he liked enough to remember all that clearly. "Did you have to learn Grammar, too?"

[sai_delgado]

Cuthbert grimaces, and Alain gives him a mildly exasperated look. "As 'Bert said, he didn't enjoy his lessons all that much," he observes, turning back to Caspian. "But aye - language lessons for the High Speech and the low, history and physics and chemistry and leadership and more."

Susan leans her head against Caspian's shoulder, listening with dreamy interest. "So different," she murmurs.

[the_seafarer]

"Rhetoric," Caspian says, without enthusiasm. But when Susan leans against his shoulder, he lifts his arm to put it around her, fond. "Do you want a little supper, Su?" he asks. "Before turning in, when you're ready?"

[sai_delgado]

She shakes her head, and her hair makes a soft sound against his shirt. "I'm not hungry, say true," she confesses, but glances around at them. "But ye all should have something, if ye've not already."

[the_seafarer]

He looks as rueful as he feels, he imagines, but she's not looking up at him, so he doesn't try to keep the expression off his face. "I'm alright," he tells her, and makes a mental note to bring a little something for her to snack on later, if she changes her mind.

[sai_delgado]

"Already did," Cuthbert assures her. "Don't worry about us, Sue."

She makes a face at him. "Someone should."

[the_seafarer]

He rests his cheek on her hair a moment, before he lifts his head so he can sip at his tea, not wanting her to worry over him, either.

"Doctor Cornelius was quite taken by Susan," he tells the gunslingers, returning to their previous topic. "As was one of the Horses we met."

[sai_delgado]

"He were very kind," she agrees, brightening a little. "And the mare as sweet as any, and pretty and clever as Jah-Lila -- do'ee ken her, Alain?"

The gunslinger nods. "Aye," he says. "The red unicorn. A healer among her people, didn't ye say, Sue?"

Susan smiles and nestles a little more closely to Caspian's side. "Aye, she's that. Skittish of people still, but I'm hopeful in time she'll be happier, like these Horses were."

[the_seafarer]

"They certainly seemed to be having a wonderful time," Caspian agrees. "I'll have to keep an eye out for this Jah-Lila – it's always worthwhile, meeting a unicorn."

[sai_delgado]

"Mayhap she'll come in again soon." Something shivers in her voice, just for a moment, before she braces it. "She were cold, last I saw her, and - and trying to start a - trying to get warm. But she let me groom her, a bit, and I showed her a paddock-shelter, so mayhap it'll help."

[the_seafarer]

"I'm sure it will," he says, gently. "And if she doesn't mind the company of the normal sort of horses, it's lovely and warm in the stables themselves. Or perhaps she'd like a blanket."

[sai_delgado]

"We'll keep a watch," Alain affirms, quiet and steady. They're all being so kind, Susan thinks, and as she does she has to fight back exhausted tears, for oh, she kens why, and she can't bear to see what their concern for her is doing to them.

"Aye," she says, after a second to gather herself. Help me, da', to be as strong as needs must. Susan looks around at them, her smile carefully fixed. "Ye will, I kennit."

She starts to sit up, bracing herself with her hand against the couch. "My wits have gone wandering, and mayhap I'd best follow them," she says, trying to make light of it. "I'll give ye good-even, and wish ye long days and pleasant nights."

[the_seafarer]

Instantly, Reepicheep runs to the floor. "Shall I escort you back to your rooms, Daughter of Eve?" he asks, politely.

Caspian leans forward to set his empty teacup down. "No need, Reep," he says, as lightly as he can. "I'll see her safely back."

[sai_delgado]

"Thankee-sai, all the same," she manages, finding a warm smile for the Mouse.

Cuthbert stands up and takes her hand to draw her the rest of the way to her feet, then wraps her in a tight embrace. "We'll see thee in the morning," he murmurs. "And if there's aught thee need, I'm right down the hall."

"I kennit," she whispers, and finds a smile for him and for Alain too as he loosens his hold and looks down at her. "All's well enough, don't either of thee worry."

[the_seafarer]

They all of them must know how impossible it will be for any of the men presently standing here – any of the knights, truly, including Reepicheep – not to worry, but not a one of them is apt to contradict her in any way.

Caspian stands, stepping back so she has room to embrace the gunslingers. "'Til the morning," he says, by way of farewell. "Goodnight."

[sai_delgado]

Susan waits only for the others to bid Caspian farewell before she starts across the floor to the staff hallway, making her way with sheer determination. Each breath is shallow and far too rapid, and she struggles to try to control it.

[the_seafarer]

He comes swiftly to her side and puts an arm about her to support her. Each light and ragged breath hurts his own chest, as though he's the one feeling the desperation, the panic. "Come now, my darling," he murmurs to her, voice low and steady and calm.

"Slowly, Su. I'm here."

[sai_delgado]

"Sorry -- say sorry," she gasps, even as she leans into the curve of his arm.

"I don't want them to see--"

[the_seafarer]

"We're nearly to the hall," he promises. "You're doing brilliantly, Su. My brave dear. Just a little further."

From behind, it ought to look just as though she's cuddling into his side. No one need know how much he's supporting her.