the_seafarer: Hollow Art (a knife in the dark)
Caspian X ([personal profile] the_seafarer) wrote2023-11-18 11:07 pm

[ AU ] to break a curse

Reap is past, and Susan is looking brighter and happier by the day, and now true winter is beginning to settle over this strange bar at the end of the universe. Caspian hauls the Hope up into the stables to be wintered and works long hours at the sleigh he'd designed, losing himself in the simple pleasures of working with the wood, sanding and carving in turn.

It's after one such day spent in labor that he comes to the bar proper, freshly showered and comfortably attired in a loose linen shirt and breeches, to join Susan by her spot at the fireside. He's chatting amiably with her about the horses, about how Corella is coming with her harness-training, and has just begun pouring her a glass of wine with the door opens and Caspian freezes. In the next moment, the glass overflows with the rich red liquid, but he doesn't notice; his eyes are locked on the tall, fair young man who has come in, dressed all in black.

Even to those who have never seen him, there may be something familiarly of Caspian about his face... but Susan has seen him, and she'll know as soon as she looks that Rilian, Prince of Narnia and Caspian's son, has returned.
sai_delgado: (thoughtful considering)

[personal profile] sai_delgado 2023-12-01 08:44 pm (UTC)(link)
"Temper, temper," Cuthbert cautions, lazily, but there's nothing lazy about the hard, sharp look in his eyes as he watches the Knight. "Mind your manners. Susan's done nothing but try to help you, more than you realize. Alain, I don't suppose you could...?"

The sudden surge of hope that rushes through her dies as Alain shakes his head. "Not with him as he is, more's the pity. Walls are up. It'd be a different kind of fight, one that might cause more harm than good."

Susan takes a deep breath and squeezes Caspian's fingers as she looks up at him, her fog-gray gaze meeting his sea-colored one. "Don't let him hurt thee," she says, soft. "For his sake, and mine, and all who love thee."
sai_delgado: (thoughtful determined)

[personal profile] sai_delgado 2023-12-03 01:47 am (UTC)(link)
"I'll not leave thee to face this alone, and I'll not turn away from what's to come, either."

Soft it may be, but it's fierce with determination. She cups his face in her hands for a moment. "Come whatever storms."
sai_delgado: (thoughtful determined)

[personal profile] sai_delgado 2023-12-03 03:16 am (UTC)(link)
Susan follows them out into the cold night and stands to the side, watching as she'd promised. Cuthbert looks at her, then trades a swift look with Alain, receiving a nod in answer before he goes to stand on the other side of the field, across from Peter, ready to guard or interfere as needed.

For his part, Alain takes up a post beside Susan. "He's planning something, I wot," he murmurs, for her ears alone.

Susan nods, her gaze not leaving the two of them for an instant. "He's trying to - to distract him. To delay him. As long as he can. But he'll not hurt him, Alain, nor try, and Rilian - he doesn't ken him."

Alain lets out a harsh breath. "Then we'd all best hope he's as good a swordsman as he and yon Peter both think he is."

Steel rings as the younger man strikes out, and Susan clasps her hands tight in front of her.
Edited 2023-12-03 03:22 (UTC)
sai_delgado: (shadowed)

[personal profile] sai_delgado 2023-12-03 04:01 am (UTC)(link)
Steel flashes under the night sky, and she prays to her father that the lady-star isn't watching this night. For herself, she'd never seen one of Anthy's duels, for all that she kens of them. She'd not pressed the purple-haired girl for aught of detail that she'd feared it'd hurt her to give, but Meg'd held many thoughts on the matter and shared them freely. And swords hadn't come into part of the show of skill that'd been shared when those of Serenity and the Ka-Tet of Nine had come together here, either.

In fact, she's only witnessed such a fight once in her life or after, here outside near the lake, between Roland and the angel Aziraphael. A sparring-fight, that had been, with naught of harm and even much of a strange, wondrous joy in it, almost like a dance.

This is nothing like, for all that she can see how skilled Caspian is - there's naught of joy in this, only Rilian's - the Knight's - anger and coldness and his father's pain and quiet, grim determination.

The Knight's sword slashes through the air and she can see the dark stain of blood beginning to paint Caspian's clothing at the edge of the leather, and she could no more stop herself from crying out than she could stop breathing.

"Enough! Is it not enough?" she pleads - appealing to Rilian. Even knowing what Caspian's trying to do, she can't help it. Surely there's some other way to distract him, to prevent him from leaving, to hold him here, there must be.
Edited 2023-12-03 04:02 (UTC)
sai_delgado: (cuthbert allgood)

[personal profile] sai_delgado 2023-12-03 04:30 am (UTC)(link)
"Bar the passage!" Cuthbert yells to Alain, even as he himself springs to the fight. His son's desperate now, fighting with a wild, madness-driven strength, and he catches a glimpse of Peter coming to Caspian's aid on the far side.

Blonde hair flashes in the corner of his vision, and at first he thinks it's Alain coming back - but in the next second he realizes that it's Susan, moving forward to stand at Caspian's shoulder, placing herself in the Knight's view.

"Rilian," she calls, in a soothing tone, and he thinks he can see both grief and a deep, bitter understanding in her eyes. "Rilian, I kennit, but it's all right. Be easy, be easy, it'll pass in but a moment--"
Edited 2023-12-03 04:37 (UTC)
sai_delgado: (thoughtful considering)

[personal profile] sai_delgado 2023-12-03 05:00 pm (UTC)(link)
The shock and horror on Rilian's face nearly breaks her heart. Susan moves a little closer so that she can rest a hand on Caspian's shoulder in a silent promise of support.

Behind her, she hears the rustle as Alain leaves his post by the door and comes to join them, circling around to stand near 'Bert. Both the gunslingers are still wary, she sees, and she can't say they're not right to be.
sai_delgado: (thoughtful determined)

[personal profile] sai_delgado 2023-12-03 08:18 pm (UTC)(link)
"So that's the Overworld-land ye spoke of," she breathes, going pale again and then flushing bright with temper in her helpless fury at the willful maliciousness of it. "Oh, she's a hateful cruel thing, she is."

"There's the cells," Bert puts in, focusing on the practical. "No one gets out of those without we allow it. Or a room, as we did with Jake, but he wasn't trying to escape - and I think you will be, say sorry."

"We can't keep him a prisoner," Susan protests, her hand tightening a little on Caspian's shoulder. "Alain, thee can help him, aye? Thee freed me of Rhea's glam--"

"I can but try." Quiet and calm. "But it's not like to be easy, as long as he's been held, and we'd best be sure and secure him, any road."

Edited 2023-12-03 20:19 (UTC)
sai_delgado: (thoughtful considering)

[personal profile] sai_delgado 2023-12-04 01:02 am (UTC)(link)
“They’re surprisingly comfortable cells, all things considered,” Cuthbert drawls. “For what it’s worth.” Alain gives him a speaking look, but holds his peace and his counsel for the moment.

Susan ignores all this in favor of going to her knees at Caspian’s side, heedless of grass and dirt and damp, so that Rilian doesn’t have to look up at her. Mindful of Caspian’s wound and the surprise and speculation she’d seen in Drinian’s eyes the day they met, she holds back from slipping an arm around his waist, for now.

“Say not so,” she entreats him, gently. “Ye’ll find we’re all too familiar with the cruel ways of witches’ tricks, and we’ll not blame ye for what ye were forced to under such an evil spell. For now, won’t ye come in? Both of ye. There’s time yet, and ye should spend it together.”
sai_delgado: (alain johns)

[personal profile] sai_delgado 2023-12-04 04:12 am (UTC)(link)
Cuthbert gives Susan a hand up while Caspian assists Rilian. Alain nods agreement with Peter's observation.

"We'll bide," he says, simply. "Hard by, in the bar, until the quarter-hour." Seeing Susan start to open her mouth and the way her worried gaze goes to Caspian's side, he adds, "Best quick-bind that wound for the meantime, if you're planning to wait for aught else until after."
sai_delgado: (brown leather jacket)

[personal profile] sai_delgado 2023-12-05 12:44 am (UTC)(link)
“An hour a day clear, aye?” Alain asks. “Sue thought that’s what it was, but wasn’t sure of the why of it.”

She’s already moving as Alain speaks, uncoiling herself from the couch corner across from Bert to rise and cross to Caspian. Susan reaches to take his hand.
sai_delgado: (brown leather jacket)

[personal profile] sai_delgado 2023-12-05 12:56 am (UTC)(link)
“As likely a reason as any,” Cuthbert agrees. “Or for the pure meanness of it. But I have to say I agree with you there - ending the witch to end the curse and the greater trouble seems the clearest path.”

“Which isn’t to say I’m not willing to try, if you’d have it so,” Alain puts in, quietly. Susan stays silent for now, holding on to Caspian’s hand as she listens. “But it’s more hope than certainty, I reckon.”
sai_delgado: (cuthbert allgood)

[personal profile] sai_delgado 2023-12-05 01:39 am (UTC)(link)
“They lay their plans long,” Cuthbert murmurs, trading a grim look with Alain. He knows, as clear as if shared an-tet, that they’re both remembering Marten Broadcloak’s poisonous workings. “And like nothing more than to see the White brought low.”

“She’ll not have it so in the end, but that doesn’t make yer pain any less,” Susan says, soft. “Or his, or any of ye who suffered with her cruelty.”

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