the_lioness | (no subject)

(no subject)

Not long after feeding time, Alanna enters the stables with a bag tucked under her arm and a pleased smile on her face. She's wearing her new riding boots and stops every few paces to admire the shine. It's not vanity, she decides. She simply knows that never again will they gleam in quite this fashion. Whistling, she drops the bag outside of Mithros’ stall and pulls an apple from her pocket. The big gelding is far too interested in his food to greet her just yet.

"Do leave the bucket, you oaf."

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"I'm afraid you shan't get much of a reaction from him just yet," comes a cheerful voice from one of the other stalls, and Caspian smiles over at her.

"As I've just finished feeding them all. Hullo, Sir Alanna! I understand I am to wish you joy."

Tossing the apple over her head and catching it again, she grins and wanders over to the stall where he's working. She takes a bite, thinking it's a very good thing that she brought another.

"Good day, Caspian! Thank you very much, and I wish you joy in return, even if there is not necessarily a standard reason to do so."

She's in a disgustingly good mood.

Caspian's smile is a little rueful, but for all that it is bright and cheery, and he swings the stall door out and pushes the inquisitive horse away as he steps out to speak with Alanna.

"Lucy told me right away, as soon as she returned. Better news I have not had in months."

"Well, we have her to thank for it. Had I not known before, it would have become quite obvious that she spent time as a queen. She must have had diplomats well in hand. The ones she wasn't befuddling with mischief, that is."

She laughs lightly.

"I hope she enjoyed her trip."

"Oh, aye, she certainly seemed to," Caspian tells her amiably, and leans against the stall door, toying with a piece of straw.

"I heard the story. I suppose I should simply stop being surprised by what she manages to do, shouldn't I?"

Another laugh, followed by an almost sympathetic smile.

Almost.

"People so frequently say the same of me. I knew I liked her for reason. Did she tell you about the woman in the bookstore?"

....

"No," Caspian says, looking at her curiously.

"I'm afraid we got rather," a pause, and he looks wry, "sidetracked.

"What happened at the bookstore?"

"We were accused of being heathens, actually. She came at us with accusations that our mothers would keel over if they knew what had become of us. Lucy mentioned dryads, I mentioned the Antichrist, and the next thing we knew we were under attack. Umbrellas make quite ineffective weapons, I might add."

Her lips twitch.

"Next time, you must come along. I do hope the twins didn't give you too much trouble?"

She fails to look innocent.

He blinks, and then shakes his head with a smile.

"Well, I do mean to go to London myself, one day. Susan has offered to take me before, and I may well take her up on the offer. And no, as a matter of fact they didn't."

His eyes twinkle with laughter.

"At least once I evened the odds slightly."

"Evened the odds?"

Alanna looks at touch worried. If something had happened to the twins, Puff would have her head.

Mama dragons are very upsetting.

"Though I suppose you have every right to fight back. Adam would certainly agree. Have they stolen your toothbrush yet?"

"I," Caspian says, a little smugly, "have moved all of my things into my sister's room, as she is away and shan't be using it. It is something of a hassle to get dressed and cldan my teeth there rather than in my own rooms, but the clothes at least remain unburnt."

Alanna looks at Caspian with new respect.

"That," she says after a long moment, "was a stroke of genius. Well done. Perhaps you should suggest something similar to Adam, if only to show him there is hope."

Trying to imagine the dragonly reaction to this, she laughs.

"He will either feel inspired, or very, very jealous."

"I'll mention it to him, the next time we speak," Caspian grins.

"Which I hope will be soon. I really must talk with him more often--you and he are both so close to Lucy. After all, I have to extend my congratulations to him, as well, do I not?"

"I think he would like that a great deal. You're both welcome whenever you wish, you know. Besides, I have a mural I've been told I simply must show you."

There's absolutely nothing mischievous about her smile. Really.

"Oh no," he says, promptly.

"No. You must give me a little time, Alanna, to recover from this last interaction before showing me whatever it is that I will likely be horrified, attacked, or embarrassed by. Please."

He looks somewhat woeful.

Oh, dear. His woeful look is particularly effective. Alanna almost looks contrite.

"Very well, Caspian. Take all the time you need, but when you wish to have a good laugh, I will show you."

And then take a picture of his face, as promised to Lucy.

"How are things in the stables? I'm sorry I haven't been able to give as many hours in the morning as of late."

"All has been well, thankfully." He walks to a bin of grain and scoops up a handful to feed to Corella, who lips it off his hand neatly.

"My employees seem to come and go as they please, or as they must, but the work gets done and it remains peaceful for most. I admit that I rather miss seeing you out with Mithros of a morning, however."

He smiles back over at her.

"I suspect that I will have more time for such things soon, so perhaps we should start organizing a weekly ride."

Still thinking about the stables and all inherent duties, she catches her breath.

"Have you heard about Bernard?"

"About Bernard?"

Something in her expression make shis own sharpen, and Caspian frowns.

"Nay. What happened?"

Alanna sighs and kicks her foot in the sawdust, not mindful of the shine now.

"I'm not quite sure. There was a fight over the war in Tonks' world, I believe. Bar left him and fled to Mike. I rather thought it was a temporary thing, but apparently not. For all intents and purposes, Mike is the new Head Barman."

"I see."

He looks thoughtful for a moment, and then squints slightly at Alanna, reaching up to rub the back of his neck.

"And who is Mike?"

"Michelangelo. He is a very dear friend, and lives with Indiana Jones, Mel and Lilly."

Or as good as lives with all three, in any case.

"I suppose he's your boss now, as well as mine."

"Then I will have to meet him."

Caspian nods, thoughtful.

"I didn't know Bernard well, you know. He was terribly close to Susan, and I'm not at all certain he was happy that her position had been filled. My being stablemaster is just more proof that she left, after all."

He smiles, a little.

"But he is a good man. I hope he's all right? Have you heard?"

"He is indeed a good man. I believe the argument was a result of his desire to protect his family, and how can one argue with that?"

There's a wistful smile as she thinks of Susan.

"And he may have been close to Susan, but everyone knows what a wonderful job you do." She breathes then, slowly. "I'm not sure. I hope he's all right. He loved Bar."

Caspian's smile mirrors hers.

"I hope so, as well. And nay--I could never tell a man who was trying to protect his family that he was doing the wrong thing. That is our first duty, is it not? Although some familes are small, and some," his smile grows, slightly, "are the size of a country."

"Quite."

Smiling, Alanna turns to watch as Mithros hangs his big red head over the stall door. He stretches his neck, trying to reach the apple in her hand. Rolling her eyes, she lays her palm flat and feeds it to him.

"I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help before," she says, stroking the horse's soft neck. "About Blodwen."

Behind her, Caspian pauses for a moment as he dips his hand into the grain for Kiseki.

"I thank you for your concern," he says, after a short moment. "But I remain gladdened by the knowledge that you--and other friends of mine--were not directly involved with her through me. At times it seemed as though no one in the bar was untouched by her plots and revenges."

Thinking of the way Adam looked when he returned with Raven, Alanna curls her arms around the horse's neck.

"I think we all were, in one way or another. But at least all of that is over now."

"Thank the Lion," Caspian says, and though he smiles slightly, he is in earnest.

"And I think I can wait rather a long while before the next crisis strikes."

"I agree," she says, ducking her head under the gelding's in order to smile at Caspian. "The question is, can Milliways? It seems like there's always a new crisis. And that knowledge makes it very hard to do what I must do."

"Do?"

Kiseki lips the grain from his palm, and he absent-mindedly strokes the horse's soft nose.

"What is that, then?"

"It is not yet public knowledge, but I plan to step down as Head of Security. My duties in Tortall have become much more pressing. I cannot let my king down."

Moving away from her horse, Alanna stands proud and straight, gaze level.

"Nay, of course." He considers her, and nods. "You will be missed, but there are those things each of us must do. You are indeed a fine knight, Sir Alanna. Your king is fortunate to have such a warrior as you."

Blushing faintly under the praise, she smiles.

"Thank you, Caspian. That means a great deal coming from you." Scooping a handful of feed from a bucket, she lets it sift through her fingers. "I'm not disappearing entirely, I assure you. Simply demoting myself to deputy. That way, when issues do arise, I can leave for home without worrying about who is in charge here."

He leans back against Kiseki's stall, listening to the quiet movements of the horse within.

"And who do you think you'll have to replace you?"

"Archie Kennedy," she replies with a smile. "He's a dear friend, and I trust him to watch my back any day."

Biting her lip, she doesn't mention that he's dead, and therefore not doubly committed as she is herself. It is, however, one of many reasons she wishes him to take the job.

"He recently married Svava."

"I see there are several people that I need to meet," Caspian laughs, "for I fear I haven't the pleasure of your friend's acquaintance. I've no doubt he'll be a fine Head of Security."

"You would like him, I think." Her eyes light up. "Yes, indeed. He was a British naval officer, and as such, is quite fond of sailing!"

She says it as if this somehow makes up for the fact that she despises boats.

"Was he?"

Caspian looks delighted by the news.

"Do you know, he'd be the second I've met here. Amy has a friend, a Mr. Wellard, who hails from the British Nacy as well, and has offered to help me with the Hope. I believe he has some rather grandiose ideas for shipbuilding, himself."

Alanna nods eagerly.

"Aye, they were on the same ship and count each other as friends, I believe. How goes the Hope?"

"She fares well, I thank you," is the cheered answer, and Caspian's expression brightens at the thought of the little boat riding easily out on the lake. "Launched and eager to set sail. I've been enlisting near anyone who comes by and who'd like a sail as crew."

Laughing, she holds up her hands.

"I shall cheer you on from the shore and await your return with tea, I think. I have no wish to sully your boat."

She glances at the light coming through the stable door.

"I must be off, but I do hope we speak again soon. Take a ride, certainly."

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