the_lioness | (no subject)

(no subject)

*Every day, Alanna finds herself getting more and more used to the cold. Perhaps it's simply that she spends more time outside than she used to, or that she has warmer clothes, but part of it is sheer determination to overcome this lifelong weakness of hers.

She squints at the bright sunlight reflecting off the mostly frozen lake and adjusts the string on her bow. It's a lovely afternoon, and she has no duty to worry about until this evening. Thus, her pack rests at her feet, her sword and dagger are buckled on and a quiver of arrows is slung over her shoulder.

Target practice seems like a grand idea today.*

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Lucy's whistling (whistling girls and crowing hens may come to some bad end, but they also have more fun, you see) as she walks, hands behind her back.

No real purpose in mind. Just being outside. (Though she vaguely was thinking of a snowman.)

And then she spots Alanna and grins, heading her direction with a, "Hullo!"

*Alanna was vaguely thinking of a snowball fight, so perhaps some combination of the two could be arranged.

The whistling catches her attention, and Alanna turns to wave as Lucy greets her.*

Hullo, Lucy! It's not a bad day for a stroll, is it? And that's saying something as I usually spend winter grousing about the snow.

"It's rather nice out," she agrees, "and as for the snow, it can't really last much longer. How are you, Alanna?"

*Grinning, Alanna nods enthusiastically.*

There is that. Me? Oh, I'm doing quite well. I spent the morning in Olau showing Adam the orchards and what not. It's a bit warmer there, but not much.

*She tilts her head, resting the tip of her bow on her foot.*

How are you?

"Very well," she answers with a grin in return. "A dear old friend of mine came into the bar last night, Mr. Tumnus, and...and really, everything is rather wonderful. If cold," wrinkling her nose. "I enjoy snow, but I'm truly ready for the spring."

Goddess, so am I, no matter how well I might claim to be dealing with Winter.

*Alanna watches her very closely.*

Mr. Tumnus? Is he from England or Narnia?

"Narnia," with a bit of a blink. "He's the very first person I ever met there."

Really? *Alanna forgets to be suspicious for a moment and instead leans forward with interest.* The first person I met wasn't a person at all, but a horse. So this Mr. Tumnus... he explained where you were?

"Well, Tumnus is a faun," she grins. "And yes, thank goodness. I don't know what I would have done if he hadn't been there. He's very sweet. You'll like him so much, Alanna."

A faun? Mithros. I can not wait to meet him then, if he comes with such a glowing recommendation. Is he as enamored of tea as the Pevensie clan?

*Smiling, she strings an arrow and eyes the target she'd brought outside with her - a gift, and a well used one at that.*

How is Caspian?

"I think more so," she grins. "The first time we met, he invited me to have some." Granted, with other thoughts in mind as well, beyond just tea, but that need not be gone over.

"And he's...I think he's doing well," after a moment, smiling still.

He sounds like a considerate faun, indeed.

*Alanna smiles to herself and lets the arrow fly. It strikes very close to center, and she slowly lowers the bow with a satisfied look in her eye.*

Archery came naturally. That was not so with the sword, unfortunately.

*She turns, eyes curious.*

I'm glad he's doing well. Blodwen has been checked, in case you didn't hear. He need not worry about her. You, either, for that matter.

"You sound like my sister. Lovely shot, by the way."

Her smile is a little colder for a moment. "That's very good to hear." And then it softens again. "Very good. And I'm glad he is too." At the very least comparitively so.

Thank you.

*Alanna looks a bit curious at the mention of Susan, but as always, thoughts of Blodwen drive all others from her head.*

Someone dropped a house on her head. *There's an almost savage glee to her smile.* A girl. I say she did us a favor.

Lucy stares.

And then laughs with delight. "Did she have a dog?"

*Alanna tilts her head and thinks back to various rumors she has heard since that day.*

Actually, I believe she did. Oh! You've heard the tale, then? Adam tried to explain it to Alex and I, but it was all rather confusing. *She grins.*

"The Wizard of Oz. Yes, I've heard it," giggling still. "It is a bit confusing, yes. Well, good for her for dropping the house," firmly.

Though really, Lucy wanted to meet Blodwen, but it's very, very good she did not.

*Alanna is personally pleased as punch that Lucy didn't get that chance. She takes a deep breath and nods, fingers clenching around the bow.

Truth be told, she'd longed for a chance to tackle Blodwen herself.

Literally.*

I confess, it is not a tactic I had considered. Would you like to shoot?

She grins a little. "Certainly, if you don't mind."

Lucy was not so much thinking out what to do, beyond, Blodwen hurt Caspian. And then a rather large amount of rage.

Details, bah.

I'd love it if you would. Target practice is much more fun with two. I've my daggers with me as well. I'd like to see your technique.

*Relaxing, she hands Lucy the bow and removes the quiver, letting the other girl select her own arrow. Such things are important.*

Of course they are.

It's a moment before she picks one, fitting it, and ducks her head a little to align her shot.

It lands a bit next to Alanna's, a good shot, if not what Susan could manage.

Lucy offers the bow back after studying the arrow and deciding to be satisfied. "And what else, besides orchards and learning of houses dropping, have you been up to?"

Well done. *She smiles, soon lining up another shot.* Trying to squeeze a few more usable hours out of every day. Sadly, I think the gods conspire against me.

*Letting go, she bites her lip as the arrow soars. It's not as good as her last shot, and Alanna wrinkles her nose.*

But Bernard will be having his baby soon, or rather Tonks will, and I hesitate to bother him with security issues at the moment.

"They have a tendency to do that, conspire," solemnly.

"I hope nothing terrible happens, then, that requires more attention from you."

That they do. Conspire and move mortals about like chess pieces, although when it comes down to important battles, they tend to take a step back. For what is the purpose of mortals if not free will?

*She shakes herself a bit.*

So said my cat.

Aye, I hope it as well. I fear that we'll have to hire more security members soon. Have you seen Peter recently?

"Your Cat was very wise," because such a cat deserves a capital C. "And no, though I haven't been on the best of terms with him, these past months," she admits, "so I'm not the one to ask."