livingintrinity: (Sherwood)
[personal profile] livingintrinity
The pool opened into a bower of sun streamers and green in the shades of fading new spring and the whisper of promised emerald summer. There was a rock formation which jutted upward for twenty feet in the Northern area just beyond them, trees crowning onward from it, and just beyond westerly was a worn path with rivets from cart wheels which wound its way through the dappled grove.

"This," Marian said, with an awe and love that was never, and would never, be tarnished by time. "Is Sherwood forest."

Date: 2007-04-21 08:23 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fortuneoftarva.livejournal.com
Warmer, aye, it must be.

"A fair?" His attention is caught. Caspian is not so very old, after all, and the word conjures up images of silken Calormene tents and their bazaars of sweets and savories, of bright Archenland banners snapping in the wind, of tournaments that he is now old enough and skilled enough to ride in. "I'd like that. Lead on, lady, and on the way mayhap you would be so kind as to tell me what a 'beltane' is?"

Date: 2007-04-21 08:40 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fortuneoftarva.livejournal.com
They--

Oh.

Oh.

His cheeks go bright red and he looks away, uncomfortably aware of her own awkwardness.

Caspian was made king at the age of thirteen, and he'd had to grow up quickly, but between Dr. Cornelius and his old nurse and those around him who loved him, he had reached this age, a week shy of seventeen, without ever growing too old for his age, and without, mayhap, losing much of his innocence past that which had been sacrificed on the battlefield.

He's nearly seventeen, and speaking of such things to a lovely and noble young lady is...well, he isn't sure that it's proper at all.

"Your people must be happy for the chance to celebrate," he says, gallantly attempting to clear away the uncomfortable pause. "We've festivals in Narnia, but they rarely fall on the same day--or for the same reason--from year to year."

Date: 2007-04-21 08:52 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fortuneoftarva.livejournal.com
"Aye, fairs are great fun, and part of their delight is the people that they bring. And you say it is beginning now?"

The sun hits their faces as they step into the cleared area, insects buzzing lazily around them, weaving through the tall grass. He looks ahead to the hall--a small, neat building that reminds him of a few of the larger houses of Beruna--and nods to it.

"Your home, lady?"

Date: 2007-04-21 09:06 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fortuneoftarva.livejournal.com
Knighton Hall--it's old but well-kept and Marian is obviously fond of it. It is certainly more appealing than the cold stone castle of Miraz where Caspian had spent his childhood, and when he turns to her with a compliment for the house and the lands, he is sincere.

Her frown causes him to bring his own eyebrows together, and he nods. It might be...awkward, explaining his presence to Marian's father, should the man be about, and while Caspian balks at the thought of sneaking about underneath notice, he would not want to compromise her.

Date: 2007-04-21 09:15 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fortuneoftarva.livejournal.com
Caspian crosses his arms, and considers. On the one hand, it might be detrimental to Marian if they were seen.

On the other hand, he hates the idea of waiting out here. It rubs him the wrong way, and for all he knows, there's no reason at all to worry. "I'll come with you," he decides, "but there's no harm in being quick. Do you think your father would be alarmed if he saw me?"

It's a little bit of a joke, and he speaks it lightly, grinning down at her as they make their way towards the house and stable.

Date: 2007-04-21 09:27 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fortuneoftarva.livejournal.com
"Tell me about your father," he invites, as sweet hay-scented air surrounds them, and before she can speak, he has stepped over to one of the stalls to look the horse there in the eye, a small unconcsious smile coming to his face.

One thing Marian needn't tell him is that her father has fine taste in horses--the one Caspian is greeting has large mild eyes and a proudly arched neck. Saddle horse, likely, far lighter than his own Destrier at home, but fair indeed.

"Hello, thee beauty," he tells it, his voice low and cheery. The horse's ears flick forward, and he reaches up to rub at them.

Date: 2007-04-21 09:54 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fortuneoftarva.livejournal.com
He turns to her with an eyebrow lifting and a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth, while Lineave nudges at the cupped palm of his hand with her soft nose, looking to see if he'd brought her any treats.

"Is there much proof of that required?" It's a little bit of a tease, and he nearly ends it with her name, but they've met so few times that calling her Marian rather than by a title might seem rude, if not unforgiveably forward.

It's followed with a nod, and he steps away. "Aye. Which horse ought I to take? And if you'll show me where the tack is...?"

Date: 2007-04-21 10:26 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fortuneoftarva.livejournal.com
They switch stalls and Caspian goes to the tack, lifting it into his arsm to hang on the stall door while he readies Sorely, who looks around with ears pricked at this strange young man who is at his side.

"Changing?" he asks, lifting the saddle up, and bending to fix it properly. "What do you mean?" The word 'sherriff' means nothing to him, but it must be some sort of nobleman. And he serves now as an advisor? But not very successfully, if he is understanding Marian correctly.

Date: 2007-04-21 11:09 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fortuneoftarva.livejournal.com
His own hands fall to his sides and Caspian stares at her, sea-gray eyes intent on her face. "Is that true?"

It isn't that he believes Marian might lie--in their short acquaintance, she has been nothing but honest and the trust she shows in him by telling him of these things would be heartwarming if he weren't so aghast at the subject.

"And the king--he has left no one behind to punish such acts?"

Date: 2007-04-21 11:34 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fortuneoftarva.livejournal.com
He finishes readying Sorely in silence, his jaw tight and his mind racing.

Usurper! it cries, thief!. But this brother of the king, he is not Miraz and this is not Caspian's land.

The injustice of it burns him, though. I think your king and I might have some things in common, Marian.

"That is something," he agrees finally, leading Sorely out of his stall and waiting for Marian. "It is good that there those who are fighting for what is right, and not simply hiding away or allowing themselves to be beaten down.

Date: 2007-04-22 02:42 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fortuneoftarva.livejournal.com
"Nay," he says, looking at her hard, "such a sacrifice is bravely given."

He steps up and settles lightly into the saddle as Sorely moves beneath him. Marian was right--though the horse was powerful, he was well-trained. Caspian could feel him mouthing at the bit, and when he jerked in surprise at Marian's words, the horse moved with him, its ear flicking back.

"The Lionheart?"

It's...he remembers being thirteen, and tucked into the deep corners of Trufflehunter's home. He can still smell the loam and the moss, can still taste the wine they drank as they toasted in low voices to the Horn, to King Caspian, to the return of the Lion.

And there's something else, as well; some strange hesitancy in Marian's voice, in the way she does not look at him. he does not wish to pry, and yet it intrigues him.

Date: 2007-04-22 03:05 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fortuneoftarva.livejournal.com
Caspian says nothing to that--what could he say? That his own shield at home was a golden lion rampant, and that the banner waving from the tip of the Dawn Treader's mast might as well be the same as that she had just described to him?

"By the Lion, I hope that he returns soon."

The words might not even reach Marian's ear, spoken as they are out towards the land around them. He rides Sorely up to Marian's side and they stay there, riding together down the road.

Date: 2007-04-22 03:34 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fortuneoftarva.livejournal.com
Sorely snorts beneath him and Caspian watches in amazed admiration as Marian pulls away, her laughter singing like a bell. He leans over to whisper into the horse's ear.

"Will you stand for that?"

A shake of Sorely's head, and Caspian crouches in the saddle, the breeze that kicks up about them tossing his hair and tugging at his tunic until he has to laugh out loud for the joy of it. Sorely's powerful strides shatter distance as they chase the fleeting white tail ahead.

Sorely is faster but Marian knows these woods better, and though Caspian nearly catches her, she and the mare always manage to flick ahead, as though they were fairies.

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