This castle has been home for so long; what makes it seem so different now? More full of light, more full of laughter (Lucy's mainly, trailing after Reepicheep and teasing Trumpkin).
He lays a hand on the stone. Familiar. There are four more steps leading down to the courtyard where Susan stands, smiling--he'd run down them hundreds of times since a child. But everything is new, these days, and the steps don't seem as steady as they used to be. He almost oversteps the last, but rescues himself in time to return her greeting. The near fall makes him feel awkward, too large.
The greeting confuses her, as it has since she arrived this last time. Queen, your majesty, your highness, Susan, Su - who is she, really? She doesn't notice his faltered step. She just sees the tall, handsome prince before her, and her confusion increases.
"We've been through battle together. You needn't stand on ceremony."
She remembers to add a faint smile to this. She hasn't smiled nearly enough lately.
"Perhaps not." He can see just the slightest twitch of her lip--is she laughing at him? But no, surely that's not true. He smiles a little in response, shy.
"I did not mean to interrupt your walk." She'd ridden behind him, hands at his waist. He remembers that vividly. "Are you..." Confused, he makes an awkward movement with his hand. "I hope everything is to your liking. I know it is not like what you knew before."
"Everything is quite fine," she says, and this time she allows herself to smile. "Your castle is most handsome indeed."
This castle is handsome, impressive, but not beautiful. Cair Paravel was beautiful. In Cair Paravel, a lifetime of dreams ago, she was known for her smiles, her gentle nature. She does not feel like Queen Susan the Gentle. She feels more like Queen Susan the Brittle.
"You're not interrupting in the least. It is I who interrupt you."
Comments 18
He lays a hand on the stone. Familiar. There are four more steps leading down to the courtyard where Susan stands, smiling--he'd run down them hundreds of times since a child. But everything is new, these days, and the steps don't seem as steady as they used to be. He almost oversteps the last, but rescues himself in time to return her greeting. The near fall makes him feel awkward, too large.
"Queen Susan."
Reply
"We've been through battle together. You needn't stand on ceremony."
She remembers to add a faint smile to this. She hasn't smiled nearly enough lately.
Reply
"I did not mean to interrupt your walk." She'd ridden behind him, hands at his waist. He remembers that vividly. "Are you..." Confused, he makes an awkward movement with his hand. "I hope everything is to your liking. I know it is not like what you knew before."
Reply
This castle is handsome, impressive, but not beautiful. Cair Paravel was beautiful. In Cair Paravel, a lifetime of dreams ago, she was known for her smiles, her gentle nature. She does not feel like Queen Susan the Gentle. She feels more like Queen Susan the Brittle.
"You're not interrupting in the least. It is I who interrupt you."
Reply
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