[Milliways, Outside]

[called_lioness]

It's much easier to shoot when it's not freezing outside, really.

This is not, Lucy feels, an excuse to be lazy however. And she really does need to practice her archery.

It's not that cold, anyway.

Really.

Or at least, she's telling herself that.

(It's also nice to have something to do. A distraction for the insanity of late.)

Comments

[narnianknight.livejournal.com]

He's been back less than ten minutes, and has seen no sign of Caspian, no sign indeed of anyone he remembers from here, and thus he comes outside to walk, whiling time away until it's more likely that people he recognises will be downstairs.

He wasn't expecting to see a anyone, woman or man, outside with a bow and arrows, and he stops for a moment, startled, before approaching.

"...my lady?"

...Lucy. Caspian's lady. His father's lady. Queen of Narnia before his father's line. 'My lady' seems inadequate.

"Queen Lucy?"

[called_lioness]

She whirls, startled, eyes wide, and then wider when she sees who it is.

"Rilian!"

Son. Of Caspian. Son of Caspian.

Let us process this.





Yeah, no, still hurts the head.

"Just Lucy, if it pleases you, sir."

[narnianknight.livejournal.com]

"If I am to call you just Lucy, you ought not to be calling me sir," he points out, smiling a little.

He looks rather unsure of what the best thing to say is. Lucy. His father's lady. Nineteen. Rilian's twenty-five.



Ow.

[called_lioness]

"Oh." A little weakly, looking about before something like determination shows in her face.

"Would...would you walk with me?"

[narnianknight.livejournal.com]

"Of course." He bows slightly, no more or less than he would to any noble lady, and extends his arm. "It's a little cold to be practicing archery, I would have thought."

[called_lioness]

"Too cold by far, aye," she agrees, taking the arm gracefully, "but I sought some distraction, and it's what came to mind. Have you been well? It's been long since you've been to Milliways, I think."

[narnianknight.livejournal.com]

"Aye, too long." He's quiet for a moment. "Longer by my reckoning than yours, I think; it's nearly a year gone since Pole and Scrubb delivered me from that pit. I'd begun to think that this place was nothing more than a dream."

[called_lioness]

She smiles, and it's genuine. "I'm glad to hear that you've been freed, my lord. And I suppose you've changed your mind on that by now, then."

[narnianknight.livejournal.com]

"For all it still seems a dream, even now, I think I can believe it isn't," he agrees, turning to smile at her. "And I thought it was not to be formal between us, or am I to call you my lady?"

[called_lioness]

She blushes. "I'm sorry. Rilian, then. I find I'm...uncertain what to say to you."

[narnianknight.livejournal.com]

"You are the beloved of my father, and a Queen of Narnia from times past, not to mention one of the fondest figures in my childhood bedtime stories." He smiles. "I think I'm as much uncertain as you, as to what to say."

[called_lioness]

Lucy sighs at that. "Most likely. It's not that I didn't know Caspian had a son. I just never pictured speaking with you," she admits, ruefully.

"It's all very mixed-up."

[narnianknight.livejournal.com]

"Very mixed-up," he agrees. "Were I a different sort of man, no doubt I would be angry at you for usurping my mother's place. But..." he shrugs. "My father loved her, but he has ever loved you, I think. His stories said as much."

[called_lioness]

"I feared you'd feel that way," she says after a moment. "And desperately hoped you wouldn't, because Aslan knows I'd have no idea what to do if you did."

The walk, for a bit, before she says, "I met your mother, you know. She was very beautiful."

[narnianknight.livejournal.com]

"Aye, she was." He smiles fondly, remembering. "I miss her. But I don't begrudge you my father's love, nor him yours. There can be no replacing my mother, but I believe I can say neither of you mean to do that, and I would not have him alone for the rest of his time."

[called_lioness]

"I'm grateful you feel that way," and her voice is relieved. "And I never wished to replace your mother, nor could I. Just...to love your father." And then she bites her lip. "About your father. There's been--he's fine now, but something happened."

Well.

"Fine."

[narnianknight.livejournal.com]

His expression turns alarmed.

"What happened?"

He doesn't question her word that Caspian is fine now. He knows enough of Lucy, from the tales and from what Caspian said while Rilian was a boy, to believe her.

[called_lioness]

She looks at the lake for a moment.

"There's a woman, Blodwen Rowlands. She enchanted him, stole his will."

("She isn't a real queen at all; she's a horrible witch, the White Witch.")

"He's--he's free now, but...I think, perhaps, you might be able to help him more than most," looking back at him.

[narnianknight.livejournal.com]

Rilian turns pale, and his jaw tightens, before he nods.

"Aye, I think perhaps I might. You'll forgive me if I go, I'm sure?"

[called_lioness]

"More than forgive, I'll thank."

[narnianknight.livejournal.com]

He smiles tightly and kisses her hand, bowing again.

"We'll speak again soon, I hope. Goodnight, Lucy."

[called_lioness]

"Goodnight, Rilian," quietly, eyes following him as he goes.