Winter Wonderland

[youngestqueen]

The day broke crisp and clear like so many days before it now. Lucy had dug through the backpack of camping supplies that Scout had left behind, taking the thermos and leaving the rest. Bundled up, she said her goodbyes for the day, not surprised that Shadow came with her as she trudged down the paths to the compound

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[infathersimage]

Rilian stopped, dusting a bit of snow from his cloak. He smiled down at Lucy, finding her enthusiasm quite infectious. "I wouldn't know, Lucy. This shall be my first time riding a sled such as these. I would imagine, however, that we are high enough so that nearly anything could happen!"

[youngestqueen]

Shadow was still near to her heels, sitting on her haunches to look up at the two of them in curiosity. "I flew once, you know. Here, it was a day of magic, and a boy showed me how."

An unbelievable story, likely, but not a lie. She looked down over the island, the snow and the buildings all changed. "This won't be quite the same, but it will be great fun."

[infathersimage]

"Truly, you flew?" he asked, mouth gaping open the slightest of degrees. The Prince had seen and heard of many things, though perhaps nothing so wondrous as that which Lucy had just described. The very sound of it was glorious in and of itself. The Prince's enthusiasm, I believe, might quite match that of you and me.

"I expect you had never felt freer that day, Lucy." The corners of his mouth crinkled jovially and he cast a glance upon their sleds. "Indeed, we certainly will have fun."

[youngestqueen]

"It was terrifying at first," she admitted, her smile a bit shy as she thought back on it for a moment. "But once that was past, oh, it was so free. Exactly that Rilian."

Setting the sled to aim down the hill, she nodded to his. "Should we make a race of it?"

[infathersimage]

"I would dare to feel so free," he murmured, more to himself than to Lucy. While Rilian had experienced a number of adventures prior to the Lady of the Green Kirtle's enchantment of him, Rilian had never flown -- in any manner.

Following Lucy's lead, Rilian positioned his sled and stood beside it, a broad grin cutting its way across his regal features. "Lets. I do enjoy competition."

[youngestqueen]

"Maybe someday it might happen again?" Lucy said it with the hope of one who believed that it very well might. In no way was she trying to placate Rilian, not after the things she had experienced both here and in Narnia.

"Oh, good. You won't mind when I beat you then?" Lucy laughed and started counting down, "from three!"

[infathersimage]

"Perhaps someday," Rilian agreed, a hopefulness evident in his own tone. He had not wished for such fanciful things before and yet, somehow, hearing Lucy speak so highly of it made him ache for such an experience.

"As long as you won't mind when I beat you." His grin grew playful. "From three!"

[ooc: you decide who wins!]

[youngestqueen]

She shrieked with laughter as they pushed away after the count down. Her own sled was lighter, and skimmed over the snow, but perhaps it was Rilian's weight that carried him faster. They stayed neck and neck as they skidded down the slippery incline, his sled inching her out barely as they reached the bottom. Her cheeks pink from wind and cold she tumbled off her sled, "Best two out of three?"

[infathersimage]

The wind chilled every bit of exposed skin as Rilian and Lucy raced down the hill. Snow dusted up as they descended, melting quickly as it lit upon their cheeks.

As his sled skidded to a halt, Rilian fairly rolled off the device, laughing almost absurdly from the rush of adrenaline. "Two out of three, indeed!" he cried, staggering to his feet and already hauling his sled upright.

[youngestqueen]

He had a head start, but she was fast, and quickly caught up with him on the trek back up the hill. "Is it like what you'd imagine flying would be?"

[infathersimage]

When Lucy reached his side, Rilian slowed his step just a bit. It would not have been fair otherwise, as she would have had to double-time to keep up with his long strides.

Her question was a good one, and he considered it carefully as they continued up the hill. "I do not know," he finally confessed. "I should like to imagine that perhaps it is very similar. At the very least, the feeling of excitement that overcomes the body may be?"