Fic: Pat the Bunny
Title: Pat the Bunny
Author: omteddy2006
Words: 623
Rating: PG
Pairing: Little John, Queen Eleanor
Summary: Queen Eleanor wants John to know all about the finer things in life, but John may have figured out some of those things already!
Author's Note: When your plot bunny comes from a trip to the petting zoo, you can't help but write silly fluff. Even the title is ridiculous. (Remember, this is not my normal pairing so please be gentle with me.)
Little John dozed fitfully. It had been an interesting few days. He was not sure how he had been talked into accompanying her to the coast, but somehow he found himself in the continued presence of Queen Eleanor. It was both exciting and unnerving, and he needed sleep. It was not to be. He felt a stirring in the air and then heard a loud "whump" as if a shaggy beast had just flopped down beside him.
John opened his eyes to see the queen standing at his bedside with one of her men behind her, holding an armload of pelts. Whump! Her personal guard deposited the second load of pelts and Eleanor dismissed him with a courteous wave.
"What's all this?" John asked.
Eleanor replied, "If you are going to be part of my entourage, then you should know about the finer things in life. I decided to start with something easy for an experienced woodsman...furs."
"Joining your entourage? I never said I was joining your entourage. Robin..."
The queen said nothing in response to John's attempted protest, but instead, silently pulled a silk scarf from her bosom.
John swallowed nervously, having completely lost his train of thought.
The royal mother continued, "Now, these aren't just simple woodland creatures. There are some exotic varieties as well. And since many are easily identified by color, we'll be doing this by touch. Are you ready to begin?"
In a million years, John would never be "ready."
Undaunted, Eleanor continued on. "Good!" she said, tying the silk blindfold around his eyes tightly. "Let's start with an easy one. Something with which you are undoubtedly familiar."
John felt the queen grasp his hand firmly and place it upon something soft and smooth. Someone had done a fine job of tanning this animal's hide. It was an excellent..."Deer," John proclaimed.
"Very good. I would have been disappointed if you hadn't known that one. Now, for something a little softer."
She repeated the test.
"Rabbit," John said without hesitation.
"Excellent!. Now, this next one is just for this exercise. I certainly wouldn't be caught dead wearing it, but let's see how acute your sense of touch is, shall we?"
John felt the small pelt and took a moment to think. "Squirrel," he finally said.
"Are you sure?" Eleanor asked, testing not so much his answer, but his confidence.
"Quite sure. Please don't ask how," John said firmly.
"Well, there's nothing wrong with your sense of touch, John. Now, I want you to feel some other pelts and furs with which you might not be familiar. This. This is sable."
It was luxurious. John had never felt anything quite as soft in his life. Next, there was mink, lynx, fox, leopard, and lambswool.
"Could you feel the difference between them?"
John nodded. "I think so. Can I take the blindfold off now?"
The queen stayed his hand, which was attempting to do just that. "One last test, John, and then I will leave you be."
There was a pause and then a slight scuffling as the queen moved to produce the last specimen. John noted that it was heavier than the others as she deposited it in his lap. His hand gently reached out and found the pelt. It was soft., but not a fur. It was more like a mane than a hide. Horsehair? He'd never felt horsehair this smooth or silky. Suddenly, John found an ear...a very human-like ear.
"Any idea, John?" came the queen's voice - quiet, husky and from below.
"Er..." John swallowed nervously and his mind raced. "Fox?"
"Good guess, Big Bear," the queen crooned. She reached up and tossed his silk blindfold aside. "I knew you had the best hands in the forest."
Author: omteddy2006
Words: 623
Rating: PG
Pairing: Little John, Queen Eleanor
Summary: Queen Eleanor wants John to know all about the finer things in life, but John may have figured out some of those things already!
Author's Note: When your plot bunny comes from a trip to the petting zoo, you can't help but write silly fluff. Even the title is ridiculous. (Remember, this is not my normal pairing so please be gentle with me.)
Little John dozed fitfully. It had been an interesting few days. He was not sure how he had been talked into accompanying her to the coast, but somehow he found himself in the continued presence of Queen Eleanor. It was both exciting and unnerving, and he needed sleep. It was not to be. He felt a stirring in the air and then heard a loud "whump" as if a shaggy beast had just flopped down beside him.
John opened his eyes to see the queen standing at his bedside with one of her men behind her, holding an armload of pelts. Whump! Her personal guard deposited the second load of pelts and Eleanor dismissed him with a courteous wave.
"What's all this?" John asked.
Eleanor replied, "If you are going to be part of my entourage, then you should know about the finer things in life. I decided to start with something easy for an experienced woodsman...furs."
"Joining your entourage? I never said I was joining your entourage. Robin..."
The queen said nothing in response to John's attempted protest, but instead, silently pulled a silk scarf from her bosom.
John swallowed nervously, having completely lost his train of thought.
The royal mother continued, "Now, these aren't just simple woodland creatures. There are some exotic varieties as well. And since many are easily identified by color, we'll be doing this by touch. Are you ready to begin?"
In a million years, John would never be "ready."
Undaunted, Eleanor continued on. "Good!" she said, tying the silk blindfold around his eyes tightly. "Let's start with an easy one. Something with which you are undoubtedly familiar."
John felt the queen grasp his hand firmly and place it upon something soft and smooth. Someone had done a fine job of tanning this animal's hide. It was an excellent..."Deer," John proclaimed.
"Very good. I would have been disappointed if you hadn't known that one. Now, for something a little softer."
She repeated the test.
"Rabbit," John said without hesitation.
"Excellent!. Now, this next one is just for this exercise. I certainly wouldn't be caught dead wearing it, but let's see how acute your sense of touch is, shall we?"
John felt the small pelt and took a moment to think. "Squirrel," he finally said.
"Are you sure?" Eleanor asked, testing not so much his answer, but his confidence.
"Quite sure. Please don't ask how," John said firmly.
"Well, there's nothing wrong with your sense of touch, John. Now, I want you to feel some other pelts and furs with which you might not be familiar. This. This is sable."
It was luxurious. John had never felt anything quite as soft in his life. Next, there was mink, lynx, fox, leopard, and lambswool.
"Could you feel the difference between them?"
John nodded. "I think so. Can I take the blindfold off now?"
The queen stayed his hand, which was attempting to do just that. "One last test, John, and then I will leave you be."
There was a pause and then a slight scuffling as the queen moved to produce the last specimen. John noted that it was heavier than the others as she deposited it in his lap. His hand gently reached out and found the pelt. It was soft., but not a fur. It was more like a mane than a hide. Horsehair? He'd never felt horsehair this smooth or silky. Suddenly, John found an ear...a very human-like ear.
"Any idea, John?" came the queen's voice - quiet, husky and from below.
"Er..." John swallowed nervously and his mind raced. "Fox?"
"Good guess, Big Bear," the queen crooned. She reached up and tossed his silk blindfold aside. "I knew you had the best hands in the forest."