kitchen_maid | (no subject)

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In the two weeks since the Ordinary Princess was last here, autumn has arrived in the Forest of Faraway. But this is that perfect moment in autumn, the one you remember. The leaves have turned, but few have fallen. The weather has turned cooler, but it's still warm in the sun. It's a beautiful day for a picnic.

The Ordinary Princess stands very still in the clearing, head tilted back to look at the trees and the sky, the squirrels chasing each other around her feet. "This is the Forest of Faraway," she says, eyes still on the trees. And then she turns to look at Caspian. "This is home."

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"Oh, anywhere. It's not very grand, I'm afraid."

It's apples, slightly stale cake, odds and ends of bread, and walnuts they'll have to share with Mr. Pemberthy.

"Near the pool, maybe, so we can get the blackberry juice off our fingers, and the water will be near at hand if we get thirsty."

"It doesn't need to be grand," he says, "I'm just glad to be out here with you, Amy."

He heads towards the pool and lays out a cloth for them to sit on a short distance from the water.

As the Ordinary Princess sets out the food, Mr. Pemberthy comes hopping over (walnuts!), alone.

"Oh, dear," she says. "He's lost Simon Perryvall again. Caspian, would you excuse me for a moment?"

And she's off without waiting for an answer.

"Of..."

He looks up, and sees that he's alone, for the moment.

"Course?"

Shrugging, he continues setting out the food, whistling a bit.

"You are not meant to be here, young man."

If Caspian turns around, he's going to a woman standing half in, half out of the pool behind him. She's leaning on a knobbly branch of coral, and her long grey green hair is dripping onto a robe that appears to be made of seaweed. She's regarding Caspian steadily through horn-rimmed spectacles.

Caspian turns, and gives a short yelp of surprise. There are some things fifty years of kingship simply can't prepare you for, and the sight of an old woman regarding you from a pool through horn-rimmed glasses is one of them.

Recovering, he makes a graceful bow, and stands straight.

"I cry your mercy, madam, but I don't know what you mean."

"I suspect you know exactly what I mean," she says, drily. Or, well, not drily but . . . nevermind.

"You're not a part of this world, are you? How did you get here?"

"No, madam, not part of this world. I came here with my adopted sister, Amy, who offered an outing and picnic during her afternoon off."

"That would be Amethyst, then, would it?"

She looks at him. "I had not heard that King Hulderbrand was adopting any sons."

It's not quite an accusation.

"As far as I know, he isn't," Caspian says lightly. "Amy and I know each other from outside this world. She is very dear to me."

"I think," says the old woman, "that you had best start at the beginning."

A pause.

"The beginning being, of course, your name."

"My name is Caspian."

A pause, and he raises his eyebrow in a fairly cheeky manner.

"Would you like all of my titles as well, or will my name suffice?"

"If you think they matter," she says, in a tone that implies they probably don't, "by all means, include them."

He only gives a short bow in reply. "Perhaps you'd be so kind as to give me your name, madam? It is only fair, I think."

"I am Crustacea. Amethyst is my goddaughter."

"Ah," he says, understanding dawning. "She who gave the gift of Ordinariness."

"Yes. She told you that, did she?"

"She did, among other things. Such as a plan to lock her in a tower until she could be rescued, simply so she could be married off to an unknowing prince or lord, and how she escaped into the Forest."

He keeps his tone light, but there's anger clear at anyone who would try to lock Amy up, for her own good or no.

"There's no need to take that tone with me, young man. I've never shut anyone up in a tower for any reason at all. I happen to think Amethyst is a very sensible child."

"I didn't mean you," he says. "And she is. Very sensible, and sweet, and kind, and wise." He looks a little amused. "Along with all those other gifts."

"None of which explains where she got a brother."

He sighs, a little.

"No, I suppose not. Well, then, let me start at the beginning. I am Caspian the Tenth, and when I was a mortal man, I was king of Narnia, a country not of this world or time. When I died at the age of three score and six, I was woken with my youth and health restored, by the gift of Aslan. At that point in time, I opened a door in a wall and found myself at a place where worlds and times and universes meet.

"That is where I met Amy."

He takes a beat before continuing.

"We were good friends right away, and she was a great comfort to me and, I hope, I to her, when it was needed. Last week we adopted each other as brother and sister. She is beloved of me, and I have taken it upon myself to ensure that nothing save our separate bloodlines prove us to be less than brother and sister."

He waits.

There's a long moment, as she looks at him, and then her eyes begin to twinkle.

"You'll do," she says.

"So tell me how Amethyst is doing, in this place 'where worlds and times and universes meet.'"

Caspian looks steadily back at her, and then the corners of his mouth begin to quirk.

"I am glad to hear it," he says, his eyes twinkling right back at her.

"And she's doing very. She has many friends, and is currently capturing the heart of one of the best men in that or any other world, my lord and friend Peter Pevensie."

"And I trust you're keeping an eye on her?"