[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]

"It seemed to help, a little."

Beside them, Duncan walks lightly along, steam rising from his coat. "Cuthbert thought, perhaps, because it wasn't part of that memory."

[sai_delgado]

She frowns over that too. "Mayhap," she allows. "The Lion weren't part of any of it, so mayhap. And then thee touched my hair, I felt it, and I knew thee wouldn't -- that thee wouldn't -- and I woke the rest of the way."

[the_seafarer]

"That's right," he murmurs, frowning as he recalls. "You said something about – nay, Su, I'd never have thee cut your hair."

It's shining now in the morning sun, golden and glorious, rich as a sheaf of wheat. "Did she tell you to do that, before? The witch?"

[sai_delgado]

"Every lick and lock," she says, softly. "Every strand, down to the skull, so she did. And so I would have, had Roland not stopped me."

[the_seafarer]

He grimaces, and leans to press another, lingering, kiss to her crown of golden strands.

"What a hateful, jealous creature she was," he says. "Never fear, Su. Your locks are safe even from Kiseki."

[sai_delgado]

She smiles a little at that. "Ye'd best watch him. If ever he succeeds, he'll start trying for more, thee ken."

Susan sighs and tips her head back to look up at him. "And aye, she were. Jealous, and vicious, and powerful. The grapefruit made it worse, but she were always those things, even before."

[the_seafarer]

"She'd have got on well with my uncle," he says, dry. Her and Susan's horrible Aunt Cord, both. "But she's gone now, Su."

He does his best to stamp out the insidious whisper that's been circling his head since Cuthbert's comment earlier.

(who ever heard of a witch that really died... you can always get them back)

" – and she'll not trouble you again."

[sai_delgado]

"Thee say true." She stops and stretches up to press a quick kiss to his cheek, then lets go of him and turns to Duncan.

"Well now, beauty, are ye cool enough?" As she asks it, she runs her hands over him, checking for warmth.

[the_seafarer]

Duncan noses at her with interest, smelling the apple she'd had in her hands earlier, and Caspian chuckles. "I think he's about ready for some grazing."

[sai_delgado]

Susan laughs. "Aye, I'd agree. Come on then," she coaxes, leading Duncan to the pasture gate.

"Caspian, would'ee help me with his tack?"

[the_seafarer]

"Of course."

He comes along with her, and once she has Duncan tied up, he gets to work on the saddle. "Here you are, old fellow," he murmurs to the gelding. "Well done, today. Peter will be proud."

[sai_delgado]

Together, they work to strip Duncan of his tack before Susan swings the gate open for him. The big gelding promptly goes the ground for a good roll, and Susan can't help but smile.

"Here," she says, holding out her hands to take half the tack from him. "Let's get this all put to rights. 'Bert and Alain should be near through with Kiseki by now, too."

[the_seafarer]

He gives her the bridle and blanket, but keeps the saddle for himself and grins at her. "As you will," he tells her. "Lead on, lady."

The stables are as neat as anyone could please when they enter; Susan and Alain clearly hadn't wasted time or effort with the chores.

[sai_delgado]

They're met by Alain and Cuthbert, also bringing tack for storage. Susan doesn't miss how 'Bert's glance goes to her, as if checking her over for harm, and she shakes her head at him. "I'm all right," she says.

He nods. "Caspian told you, aye?"

[the_seafarer]

"Aye," Caspian confirms, storing away Duncan's saddle. Once it's set, he turns back to the others.

"I told the birch-woman we'd be there before sunset. I suppose we'll want some time to make plans."

[sai_delgado]

"Yar," Alain confirms, almost lazily, but there's nothing lazy about his keen gaze. "Sue and I've taken care of most things that need tending here, but it'd be best for someone to keep an eye out between now and then, with all of us gone."

Susan frowns over that. "Lisa, for one, and mayhap sai Josiah. Mal, if he's about, but - but that might be hard to explain."

[the_seafarer]

"I can stay, for now," Caspian offers. He's certain the gunslingers have plenty to talk to Susan about, and his part of the planning is largely done.

"And then hand it over to Josiah."

[sai_delgado]

"Josiah?" Cuthbert asks. "Scurlock," Alain explains. "Called 'Doc' by many."

Susan ignores this, mainly as she's fighting back a flurry of distressed nerves. Stop it, ye silly! she scolds herself. Don't be foolish.

"But," she says aloud. "Caspian-- I have to tell Reepicheep something, else he'll worry."

[the_seafarer]

"Aye, he'd appreciate that," Caspian agrees. "Have you seen him yet this morning?"

[sai_delgado]

The faintest hint of exasperation flickers in her eyes. "Thee kens he doesn't like the stables."

Which means there's no hope for it, and when there's no other way, Pat Delgado's daughter kens very well that hesitation were ever a fault. Unconsciously, she draws herself up straight.

(you were fearless once - take back your birthright)

"I'll go and seek him out."

Alarm flashes in Cuthbert's glance as he also straightens. "Um, Sue, the bar's - you might not want--"

"I've seen it," she says, a little curtly, but softens her snappishness by laying a hand on his arm in apology. "Early this morn. It'll be all right, 'Bert."

[the_seafarer]

He eyes her carefully, but when she only exhales and draws herself up, he nods. "He'd go with you somewhere else," he reminds her. "Out by the lake, or to the staff quarters."

Caspian offers her a smile. "I'll join you a little later, shall I?"

[sai_delgado]

What chance I'll see thee back? whispers her treacherous memory. Even toss, echoes the answer, in Roland's deep tones.

Susan Delgado pales to the lips, save for two spots of hectic color high on her cheekbones, but she makes herself smile back all the same and even means it. "Aye, when it's time," she agrees. "I'd best go--"

She's already turning without waiting for any of them to answer, her step brisk as she starts back to the bar. Cuthbert trades a glance with Alain and hurries after her.

[the_seafarer]

Caspian frowns after her, uncertain what has her so pale, and catches Alain's eye with a question in his glance.

[sai_delgado]

He's also looking after her, sharp concern in his eyes, but when the man beside him shifts he turns to meet his gaze.

"She worried over ye while ye were gone," he says, quietly. Best Caspian understand the way of things to the full measure, with what's likely ahead. "Over both of ye."

The touch is a tricky gift at times, and he'd not for all the world have Susan think him prying, but he's grown accepting of the little insights it sometimes brings.

"She's in the thick of it already now, and fighting to keep it from affecting her. It's not the fire alone, ye ken. They took her before dawn that day, a year ago."

[the_seafarer]

He nods, his heart sinking. But one of them, at least, will be with her at all times, and he has to hope that their plan – the vigil, the garden – will give her the support she needs to keep battling against memory and oblivion. "It's going to be a long day," he murmurs. "And a longer night."

Caspian looks over at the other man. "Thank you, Alain. I'll find you all in a few hours, when Josiah can take over, all right?"