milliways_bar | (no subject)

The Knight inclines his head.

"My Lord. I apologise if I startled you."

"Nay--not startled," Caspian says, untruthfully. He takes his sword from the table and sheathes it, the bronze lion upon the pommel gleaming brightly in the room's firelight.

"It has been many longs days since I have had the pleasure of your company, sir knight. Come, would you share refreshment?"

He eyes the lion pommel, but nods courteously enough.

"As you will, sir."

Caspian goes to the bar, his mind whirring, and makes an order for he knows not what--wine, some bread and cheese and fruits that appear after a moment. He offers a goblet to the knight.

"I'd drink your health, good sir knight."

And not that of his lady.

The Knight smiles, and raises his goblet.

"And to yours, my Lord."

Caspian takes only the smallest sip, wetting his lips, and puts the goblet back down quietly, watching his son.

"I hope your days have been well and happy since last I saw you, my lord."

"Well enough, all told, though my Lady's arts have yet to discern the way I may be released from my curse. I am amenable to waiting, however; a life with her, albeit one in which I must be bound each night, is better than a life without."

"I wonder how much you remember of your life without her," Caspian replies, drily. Twice now he's seen this man who is Rilian-and-not, and helf his tongue against the witch. His patience is beginning to wear thin.

"I remember nothing of my life before her," he says easily. "But my life with her has been but marred with my curse, little else."

"Such a small flaw in the light of your lady's grace, is it?"

Caspian's tone is suitably easy, but a hand clenches at his side.

"I wonder that you leave her at all, then, for this. Is it so soon to your hour again, my lord?"

His eyes narrow.

"My Lady does all she can for me, sir, and I am not so churlish as to discount her care for me. I would not speak thus of her, were I you."

"Do you not find it strange, my lord, that you have no memory of your life before you came to be with your lady, and have suffered since then under a curse of most horrific strength and subtlety?"

Caspian can feel his blood begin to rise, but a stange sense of calm is taking over.

He stands, speaking slowly.

"It would be best for you, my lord, if you ceased implying such things of my Lady."

Caspian only looks at him with contempt.

"And should I fear you, good sir knight, who hides behind a woman's skirts and fears his own freedom?"

The Knight's eyes go cold, and he draws his sword.

"Rescind your words, boy, or draw your sword and face me."

Caspian only stares levelly down the blade.

"There are rules of battle here, my friend. No violence inside the bar proper. If you'd step outside with me, I shall happily prove my honor in clean battle."

Peter reaches them moments later, having begun moving as soon as he heard the swish of a blade being drawn.

"Put up your blade," he says to Rilian, voice firm and cold. "As Caspian says, there are rules here that cannot be broken without repercussions."

Coldly, he says, "duels are permitted outside, or so I was led to believe. I will not stand for the insult he has dealt me and mine. Stand aside."

Caspian doesn't look at Peter, but goes to the door which leads outside, and opens it.

He looks back at his son, and beneath the anger in his eyes, there is only pain.

"This is not your fight, High King."

He steps outside, and draws his sword.

"Your loyalty to your duty is commendable, sir, but as he has said: this is not your fight."

The Knight pointedly steps around Peter, making to follow Caspian.

Peter moves to block Rilian's path, pulling Rhindon half out of her sheath.

"You will put up your blade while you are in the bar," he says. "And it would also serve you well to reconsider this folly. Caspian is a practised swordsman. What would your lady think if you were injured here - or worse, killed?"

The sound of swords being drawn is such a small sound, yet it draws attention so quickly.

And if anything could keep Eustace's attention, it would Caspian heading towards the outside door, looking determined, and Peter and --

It can't be Rilian.

But can't be doesn't mean isn't.

-- Peter and Rilian facing off.

Which is a lot of lead-up to say that there is a very intense Eustace standing nearby, trying to figure out how to help -- or even who to help.

Remarkably enough, Eustace is perhaps not the only one whose attention is drawn.

Edmund is frowning, somewhat, as he walks up, stopping between Peter and the Knight.

For aye, he knows them both, although perhaps the one far better than the other.

And this is his home, and his place of employment now, and it is not right that his brother risk his own employment; for it occurs to Edmund that perchance it might be read as business from outside the bar, to have the High King of Narnia fight with one who is also meant to be a King of Narnia.

Admittedly his own position is no better, this is true. And yet, he worries far less for his own position than for that of his brother; for indeed, Peter is the one who is High King.

"My lords," he says, coolly, glancing out the open door to include his dear friend Caspian in this number. "I fear tempers have grown heated. I implore you all, therefore, to consider your actions well. This place is a home to many, and should not be marred by violence."

He glances from Caspian to the Knight, before turning his gaze on Peter. And there, in a private look, perchance Peter can read a note that is almost chiding; for he is High King, as well as Security, and should know that if violence is imminent instead of actual, further violence should never be the first resort of action.

Alrighty folks, this has done it. Jill shoots out of the booth at the sound of the swords being drawn and shakes her head.

"Wait. We cannot just foolishly rush into this."

She looks back and forth between everyone, having ended up standing near Scrubb. Plus, the Knight was quite cordial in helping to clean up the spilt tea.

"I do not think that this is the right time for a quarrel....anywhere."

"I rush into nothing, but I will not stand meekly by and allow this boy to insult my lady and my honour. I charge you, stand aside."