milliways_bar | (no subject)

"I think she might, at that. I suppose I could... borrow... some of her clothing for you, so that you could get the right sizes?"

He grins, a bit wryly.

*Alanna tilts her head and grins back.* I suppose.... or I can ask Bar to estimate. She's good at delivering things that fit. Bernard had her give me a sweater my first night in, and I returned the favor for Peter.

Not your Peter. *She snickers.*

He chuckles as well.

"A foolish mistake to make, considering, although perhaps not quite a surprise even so. And then, too, Peter's not exactly an uncommon name, even if I've yet to meet someone else who shares it."

He picks up his own half-eaten apple, feeding the rest of it to Rachât as he strokes his free hand over the horse's neck still.

Not foolish at all, Edmund. I would have done the same. *She smiles, smoothing the horse's forelock while he's occupied with the apple.* I've met two Peters here, and heard of at least two others. I've yet to meet an Edmund, however. Or another Alanna. I prefer it that way, I think.

*She starts in on another apple.* What does his name mean?

"Also just one Kitty, which... makes things a bit simpler, I think. And, well. It's just a name, really. The sort of name we had back in Narnia."

Just a name. *Alanna gives him a Look.* Names are very important, and they all have meaning. *She sighs.* It's lovely, regardless.

"Yes, well..." He looks ~~shifty~~ sheepish. "Thank you."

*Jon enters the stable and sees the object of his search. He does not pause in his stomping as he roars*

ALANNA!

*Alanna stiffens, turning slowly to give Jon a look much like the one she had just given Edmund.*

Here, Jon. No need to yell and cause a stampede. *She quirks an eyebrow.* Goddess, did one of the palace pages pu itching powder in your crown?

Really honestly it's just as well that the sword Adam had given him is upstairs in his room, because his instinct had been to reach for it.

A moment later, though, he's perfectly calm, hands rubbing over Rachât's neck and face again to soothe him from the shouting, and raises an eyebrow at the intruder.

"Alanna," he says rather dryly, "would you be so kind as to introduce me to your rather loud friend, here?"

*Jon glowers at Alanna and tries very hard to stifle the urge to strangle her.*

*through gritted teeth* No, my dear Lioness, nothing of the sort. Though I have an inkling you know why I'm here. Your lack of surprise is giving you away.

*He spares a glower for Edmund, ignoring his comment for now.*

*She blinks.* I have no idea. Oh! Is this about Ghost? Jon, you know he belongs to Alex. I figured you would work it all out in your head. It wasn't stealing so much as... returning to the rightful owner.

*Biting her lip, she gives him a skeptical look.*

Edmund, this is my oldest friend and ruler of Tortall, King Jonathan. Jon, this is Edmund. *An unholy glee fills her eyes.* King of Narnia. Oh, and Duke... of Candle Waste, was it?

He casts Alanna a rather amused glance, quickly, before stepping away from the horse just slightly and bowing most politely, as one king to another.

"Edmund Pevensie, King of Narnia, Duke of Lantern Waste, and Count of the Western March, and Knight of the Noble Order of the Table, as it happens."

*Grits his teeth harder* Alanna. You play innocent quite badly, you know. And I learned that look from when you used it every day when we were pages.

*He starts and his eyebrow goes up at the litany of titles. Remembering his place, he bows the same in return.* Jonathan of Conte, simply King of Tortall, I'm afraid. Oh, and the Voice of the Tribes of the Bahzir. But that is enough - especially since I can't stop my own Champion from stealing my horses.

*And he returns to glowering at Alanna*

*Alanna is honestly baffled as to why Jon is so miffed. She glances sideways at Mithros. Stefan would have told her if anything serious would come of his owner... misplacing him.

Wouldn't he?

She swallows, watching the two kings display their feathers, as it were. Jon's last statement, however, causes her to pale.*

Your horses? Ghost belongs to Alex! *She sticks her chin out.* You can't take him back, it would break Alex's heart. I'll pay for him just as I paid for the other.

Edmund...

... looks highly amused, actually, as he pulls out his brushes and keeps himself busy giving Rachât a rather more thorough going-over.

Further introductions with Jonathan will continue later, no doubt.

*Jon's face is slowly turning a dangerous shade of red. He struggles to keep his voice under control.*

Alanna. I could care less about Ghost. I want to know what you did with Mithros.

Use the brain the Goddess granted you, Jon.

*She makes an annoyed gesture and takes another bite of her apple.

And pales, choking slightly.*

"In the interests of preventing apoplexy, as I'm not sure where my sister is with her cordial should anything happen to either of you, I feel obliged to point out that the horse in question - and he's quite lovely, by the way - is over there, across the hall, two down from Ghost."

Edmund does not look up from Rachât's coat.

*Jon stomps down to Mithros' stall and relaxes slightly when he sees that he is fine. He turns back towards Alanna and growls*

Care to explain this, Lioness?

*Alanna hurriedly tosses her apple in a nearby feed bucket and races forward, her face still devoid of color. She maneuvers herself between Jon and Mithros, ducking into his stall. Leaning into the large gelding, Alanna takes a deep breath and faces her King.*

Mithros... Stefan... implied that it wouldn't be too much of a bother if I took him. He said I'd like him as we were both stubborn as mules. *Mithros affectionately butts her with his head and she smiles at him.* He's wonderful. I left plenty of coin, Jon. Truly, I did.

*She bites her lip.* Who is the owner? *Screwing up her face, she turns her head, almost certain that she will hate the answer.*

Edmund continues to brush Rachât, because he has the feeling that if he says anything he will laugh, and it won't be terribly helpful to the situation.

*His face turns an even deeper red*
*in a low growl* I am going to kill him, I swear I will.

*He turns slowly to Alanna.* I. Am. The owner.

*He puts his hand on Mithros' bridle*

*Alanna stares at him with very wide eyes indeed. Chin wobbling ever so slightly, she lifts her head and glares at him indignantly.*

You? You saddled him with the name Mithros? *She covers Mithros' ears with some difficulty. He's very tall.* Don't you think that was a touch presumptuous? How's a body to curse properly?

*Breathing heavily now, she falls back on her heels and tries to makes sense of the situation.*

Stefan... Goddess, he's probably laughing hysterically at me right now. *Her face falls.* I'm sorry, Jon. I did not know you had a new mount. Is Darkness ill? You know I would never take your horse on purpose.

*Alanna chews on her thumb, praying to the Goddess that Jon NEVER finds out she has been running her mouth about Mithros' owner's obvious inferiority complex and need to compensate for something.*

Edmund speaks up, absently~~, from the peanut gallery~~.

"She does have a point, you know. If Mithros is one of your gods, as I'll assume, it does seem a bit much to name a horse after him. I'd hardly try to name a horse Aslan. No better a horse than a donkey, to try to use that name."