ikissdhimbck | OOM: In the Stables with Caspian

"I had a similar thought," he says, rueful, carefully rubbing the back of his head where a tender bruise has formed.

"And it's just Caspian, please. But I had another reason to meet you this morning. Would you come this way for a moment?"

He'd led Lineave to an empty stall near Corella, and the two mares nicker at the sound of their footsteps and the drifting scent of coffee.

"There was a new arrival last night." Stopping in front of the white mare, he rests a hand on the curve of her neck, smiling. "This is Lineave."

Edited 2012-04-03 20:08 (UTC)

She narrows her eyes slightly at his rueful words, watching the way his hand drifts to the back of his head. Her brow furrows in concern, but she doesn't say a word on it just yet.

"Oh."

The stunning white horse is visible from a few paces off. She's patient as Caspian leads her to her side, and gives her name.

"Lineave," she repeats, smiling. "She's gorgeous. Is she from your world?"

"Nay," he says, shaking his head, watching the mare with a fond smile that's as much for her mistress as for herself. "She's Marian's, from Nottingham. I happened to find myself there yesterday, rather by accident, and Marian asked that I bring Lineave back along with me."

The white mare snuffles at his sleeve, and he leans back against the stall gate to look at Kate.

"I hope you don't mind -- I didn't want to wake you. We got back quite late last night, and I still know enough here to settle a newcomer for a night."

"Nonsense. It's jus' a matter of adjustin' the books. I trust you."

She grins, and takes a step forward. Lineave has a beautiful, proud face. Her eyes are clear and healthy. She's obviously been well cared for, as she'd expect no less from Lady Marian — and the way she pins her ears forward speaks of spunk she'd also expect from a compatriot of Marian's.

She digs a sugar cube out of her pocket, and holds it out to the mare.

"Must'a been a short-notice decision; Marian didn't mention bringin' her back, last we spoke. Is she still sleepin'? I'd like t'catch up with her later on, if she ain't indisposed."

"It was something of a spur of the moment decision. I don't believe she knew Lineave was in the stable where we found her."

He can't forget the way Marian ran, caution thrown to the wind, to embrace the mare, can't forget the pride and love in her eyes as she stroked the white nose.

As the mare lips the little white cube from Kate's palm, Caspian leans back, crossing his arms to watch the two, careful to keep his coffee from sloshing, gray eyes thoughtful and a tad distant.

"I'm afraid Marian stayed behind in Nottingham," he says, after a moment. "She asked me to look after Lineave until she returns. You, too, naturally."

Edited 2012-04-03 22:12 (UTC)

"Of course. She'll have the very best care. I'll see to it myself."

Once the sugar has been devoured, she opens a quiet dialog with Lineave, gently stroking her nose. Caspian will have to forgive her the rudeness of excluding him, though it has to be said the conversation is rather one-sided.

Satisfied, she lifts her face to her human companion, some of the smile on her lips falling away as she gives him a careful looking over.

"Why've I got the feelin' this accidental trip of yours wasn't a pleasurable getaway for you an' Lady Marian?"

Lineave seems to enjoy the attention, and he can't say he blames her: it's unlikely the stable workers at Nottingham Castle made much of her or gave her much in the way of particular attention, and he watches with a faint smile as Kate gets to know her newest tenant.

Like hers, though, that smile fades when she turns her attention back on him, eyes questioning, and he shakes his head (carefully, it's still sore and aching) as he sips at his coffee.

"It wasn't. We'd gone for a ride yesterday and found ourselves in the middle of Sherwood rather than the Milliways woods. It took rather some doing to get back at all, and we both found ourselves the unwilling guests of the Sheriff for a time."

"The man who b — "

She pulls herself up short. Caspian's been gone a long time, and while she figures the two have spent a good while getting reacquainted, she knows how reticent the Lady Marian can be. She wouldn't want to overstep her bounds.

She chooses a more subtle tack, leaving the question of are you both all right? unspoken. Unless you count her pointed look.

"Way I understand it, he ain't the friendliest of folk. With even unfriendlier folk workin' under him."

"Aye."

Gray eyes flick from where they're watching the mare to meet hers, in answer to the shortchanged question. "I can't say he treated either of us as gently as a host ought, but we managed to slip away under cover of darkness."

Now his eyes return to Lineave, and soften to see the mare tugging bits of hay from her feed.

"Marian opted to stay, though admit I would feel easier if she were to return, and soon."

"She don't have a whole lot of choice, I guess."

She's frowning ever so slightly.

"Though, I'm with you. It don't sit well, thinkin' of her stuck in that castle, 'specially with the likes of the sheriff. Even though I know I don't have quite as much reason as you."

"No, I'm afraid she doesn't."

He thinks of the man who had spoken to him in the dark and cold of the dungeon, offering the small comfort of another human voice, though the things he was told could hardly be called the same.

His thoughts are shaken from their grim paths by Kate's comment, however, and he looks up at her, a little uncertain of her meaning.

"I suppose...I do feel responsible, you know, if she hadn't had to try to help me find a way back here. Without me there, she might have passed unnoticed, 'tis true."

"Well, y'can hardly be expected t'stay free of her world. Milliways shouldn't hafta be the only place y'can be together."

The most ideal place, perhaps. Both Caspian and Marian have the politics of their separate worlds to contend with, something Kate never had to worry on with Doc.

"I know if it were my beau stuck in conditions like hers, I'd always be tryin' t'find a way t'help. Y'couldn't hardly keep me a world away."

He looks at her, blank.

"My what?"

There's something in Kate's words that brushes straight past all his worries for Marian's safety and buries itself in deep confusion, and it's written clear on his face.

Beau isn't a word he's familiar with, but there's something else odd about her words, say true.

Her coffee is all but forgotten, as Lineave looks between them mildly.

"Marian — "

She's quietly stunned by the confusion on his face.

"You two are lovers, ain't you?"

It's perhaps a good thing Caspian isn't attempting to drink his coffee; as it is, he very nearly chokes on nothing at all.

"We --"

His face is terribly warm.

"No, no. I don't -- I'm not sure why --"

He looks to Lineave for help, but the mare only nuzzles his shoulder, snuffling gently. "She's a dear friend," he finishes, finally, feeling very unsettled. "Why would you think that?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean t'suggest your relationship is less than chaste."

Lover is, perhaps, a strong word. For a pair from a similar time and place as Kate, she wouldn't dare impugn their honor. It just seemed the safest explanation.

Which is why she pulls up short, shock now in her eyes as well.

"Friend?"

Kate, too, glances at Lineave. Certainly the mare must back up her impressions?

"I just assumed — y'both have such affection for each other."

This is hardly something he's ever expected to have to discuss, and Caspian finds himself somewhat at a loss.

Marian is...she's...Marian. His mirror. His friend. Aside from Amy, hers is the opinion he values most, the face he was most glad to see on his return.

But he doesn't understand why Kate looks so surprised.

"We're not -- courting," he says, carefully. "And Marian's affections are...otherwise engaged. But I count her among my closest and truest of friends."

"Oh."

The idea of another man in Marian's life surprises her. Not that it's beyond belief — she's a fetching woman, and a Lady — but the idea that there's a man out there who could make her look more in love than she does at the mere mention of Caspian is a shock.

She's careful with her words, wondering if she hasn't intruded on sensitive territory. Just because Marian is 'otherwise engaged' doesn't mean it's the same for Caspian.

"I beg your pardon. I must've jus' — " She shrugs, chuckling helplessly. "I was mistaken."

"It's quite alright."

He sips at his coffee, wishing his face didn't still feel so warm. The whole idea is absurd, of course, but perhaps Kate can't be blamed: they are very close, perhaps closer than most men and women would become without falling in love.

It's just odd to think about.

He smiles at her, hoping to assuage any embarrassment. "Though I must admit, I've rarely been so surprised."

His concern for her embarrassment is rather endearing, given his face is the one that's redder than a strawberry field in the middle of summer.

She still looks awfully confused, but she smiles in return, hiding her amusement behind her mug.

"I can't figure why; you two seem t'complement each other. An' y'obviously care a good deal for one another. It's not such a stretch."

If she's the first to ever think it, she'll eat her hat.

It's times like this when he's most glad to take refuge in any slight barrier he can find: the whole subject is frankly unnerving, and he's not at all certain that he agrees with Kate that it isn't a bit of an odd assumption to make.

Lineave, between them, appears to be reserving judgment.

"Well, I certainly owe her a debt for helping me escape Nottingham," he says, deciding to simply move on with the previous conversation. "Unfortunately, we weren't able to bring her Lineave's tack along with her, so perhaps that's a place to start."

To her credit, she doesn't laugh.

"A horse so fine deserves better'n loaner tack, even if it is up t'the standards of the stable masters here. I'll see about arrangin' somethin'. In the meantime, should we let her stretch her legs out in one'a the back paddocks?"

She looks well cared for, but that don't mean she hasn't been cooped up wherever she was found. Especially if her master hadn't even known she was there.

Kate grows a touch somber, coming back around to his first comment.

"I hope neither of you were hurt by the sheriff's hand? Or another's, for that matter?"

He'd appreciate her reservation, if he knew it existed; as it is, he simply continues on, giving her a wry sort of look and reaching up to touch the tender spot at the back of his head.

"Thankfully, Marian remains unharmed."

Physically, at least.

"Admittedly, the Sheriff's men were somewhat less gentle with me, but I'll be fine."

"Are y'sure?"

She knew there was something to the way he keeps reaching to touch the back of his head. Men can't be trusted to look out for themselves, even when you hit them upside the head.

"Has anyone looked at you? I can't hardly sneeze 'round this place without Dr. Sandhu pullin' me in t'look me over. If y'know how t'escape that, you're gonna hafta share your secret."

She's fond, truth be told. Guppy's dear to her.

"It's a bruise, nothing more," he assures her. "I made the mistake of being caught out by the Sheriff's men, and they managed to get a hit in while my back was turned."

If Kiseki hadn't panicked, he might have been able to hold them off -- but it was unlikely in the best of scenarios. One man on his feet, no matter how well-trained in combat, would never be able to hold off opponents on horseback with not only swords, but bows and arrows.

It would always have ended how it did: he's only grateful that Marian was hidden from their view.

"Scoundrels. An' that ain't hardly a strong 'nough word for the kinda folk who attack somebody while their back is turned, but — "

She lifts her chin, looking decidedly shifty.

"I am a lady, after all."

When it suits her.

"Let's get the two of you some fresh air, if you ain't opposed."

He ducks his head, smiling ruefully at her outburst and subsequent retraction before nodding, reaching for a halter and lead.

"Aye, I'm sure she'd like to be introduced to the paddock, given some space to stretch her legs."

She was almost certainly not taken out enough in the Sheriff's stable.

Kate may never admit it, but her motives aren't entirely pure. Part of her is eager to see the mare in action, giving her the space to stretch those gorgeous legs.

She finishes off about half the coffee, and sets the mug down on her desk.

"If you're feelin' too awful taxed from yesterday's adventures..."

She sighs, a touch on the dramatic side.

"I reckon I could handle Lineave."

It will be a sacrifice, but Kate's willing to do it.

For the good of Caspian.

The Milliways stable is full of beautiful animals, horses with noble breeding -- "threaded stock," as Susan Allgood might have said -- but Lineave is a particularly fine mare, carefully bred and trained to perfect behavior. Her action, what little Caspian has seen of it, is light and fluid, and he's as eager as Kate to take her out to the space beyond the stable and see how she works under the spring sun.

He'd never laugh at a lady, even one hinting so transparently as Kate, though the sea-gray eyes sparkle with amusement at her self-sacrificing sigh.

"Would you mind?" he asks, handing her the lead once the halter is buckled on. "Best not to accidentally jar my head, you know. And, being Marian's, I suppose she might prefer a lady's company."

Not that he won't be right there watching.

She's as solemn as a nun on Sunday.

"We wouldn't want t'jar your head, precious commodity that it is. I'm sure I'll find some way for you t'make it up t'me."

She takes the lead with tender care, stroking Lineave's neck. A touch of mischievousness sneaks into her expression, and she's biting back a smirk when next she speaks.

"Of course, I may call on you t'relieve me, if she proves particularly spirited."

Sacrifice begets sacrifice, and generosity begets generosity.

"Truly, you are ever thoughtful, lady," he tells her, quite as solemnly.

That twinkle in his eyes must simply be a trick of the light, but all he does is walk ahead to open the wide stable door a little further so Kate can lead the white mare out into the light.

There's no doubting Kate can handle the mare: she's well-mannered, impeccably trained, and Kate's as fine a horsewoman as he's ever known, but he nods at her comment just as though Lineave were as wild as any untrained stallion that's ever passed through their care (enough to give him a headache, he recalls).

"Give a shout," he says, walking with them out into the morning, smiling as Lineave lifts her head, pricks her ears.

"Seems she's ready."

Kate can withstand a little twinkle in his eye, and a little mischief on his tongue. While their conversation, on the outside, is all graciousness and good manners, it's the conversation that goes unspoken between them that interests her the most. She chuckles under her breath, grateful for the banter in the wake of such unpleasant news.

Marian's steed is everything Caspian sees in her, and more. Kate's accustomed to wild and woolly mustangs, hardy stock, and work horses. Lineave is as fine an animal as Kate could ever hope to see.

"I do believe you're right."

She smiles, the look she casts Caspian a touch wistful for all the joy shining brightly. This moment would be all the more complete with Lady Marian returned to Milliways, whole and well.

Soon.

Until then, they will join together to nurture what is hers.

OOM: In the Stables with Caspian

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