milliways_bar | (no subject)

"She is." Simply. "Every king there was came to seek her hand, and some fought wars in hopes of it. But thank you," blushing a little. "And Alanna, then. Your horse is lovely," as she pulls out her knife and cuts a few piece of apple for both horses below, dropping them carefully.

*Alanna wrinkles her nose. No disrespect is meant to Susan, but Alanna thinks such behavior is silly.*

Two of my fellow knights once fought a duel over Lady Delia's glove. Beauty does odd things to people, but as far as I'm concerned, it's what's inside that counts.

*She grins, watching Mithros snatch a piece of apple enthusiastically.*

Thank you. He's a war horse. I inadvertently stole him from my King, but I promise you that I did not mean that to happen. Your mare is lovely as well. I confess I've slipped her an apple a time or two. I try to help Caspian out now and again, and the horses get spoiled under my watch, I'm afraid.

(Frankly, so does, and did, Lucy. But shhh.)

"I don't think it was ever Susan's doing, really. She never played them. They just...loved her," with a shrug. "Or wanted her, anyway. And I believe you," smiling, a little. "And Caspian spoils her so much, I don't think anything anyone else does can make it worse. She's a dear, Corella is. And a brat, but it's been said her rider is too, so I suppose that's fair enough."

Caspian does a wonderful job with the horses. It can't be easy.

*Alanna snickers, her cheeks reddening as she thinks that thus far, it seems like she and Lucy are rather alike in some respects.*

I've not been called a brat in awhile, but I hear 'demon' quite a lot. Actually, I take that back. Jon called me a brat the last time I put frogs in his bed.

*She looks ever so innocent.*

I've not met Susan, but I know Edmund and Peter. Peter, of course, is on Security with me.

"He's talented," she agrees, and smiles a little.

"The frogs, I am certain, were happier in his bed, though! And Su's a recluse." Shrugging. "Or something of one, anyway. And I promise, we're not all as big gits as Peter makes us look."

My brother is rather reclusive as well. *Alanna sighs, the corner of her mouth tilting up in a wry smile.* I've learned not to harass him about it.

Peter did no such thing. *The grin returns.* Truthfully, our last conversation still makes me laugh. We got so giddy at the idea of a tournament. *She gestures to Lucy's knife, quite curious about it. Eyeing the sheath, she draws a few conclusions.* That's a nice knife. Am I wrong in suspecting you don't just use it for slicing apples?

"Thank you," she beams. "I had a nicer one, once, but not for a very long time. It was left in Narnia. And no, not just for apples. Susan is the archer in the family, and Peter and Ed are best at swordplay--though I beat Peter once in a tournament, but that was mostly to embarrass him--and I am best with knives."

*At the mention of Narnia, Alanna sighs a bit wistfully. She smiles at the mental images that arise of all four Pevensie siblings, despite the fact that she's never met Susan.*

For a long time, I was a much better archer than anything else. I was horrible with the sword when I first began to train. I'm not too bad with a knife, but my aim isn't perfect. My friend George taught me lots, but I never beat him. We should throw one day.

*She takes a bite of apple and chews thoughtfully.*

Edmund's a gifted artist as well.

Lucy pulls one knee up, carefully, and rests her chin on it. "I wasn't ever really supposed to fight. Not proper. But..."

She's silent for a minute, and then, "But I would be damned before I'd stay home and let my brothers die fighting for a kingdom that was as much mine as theirs. And I was never very good at being queenly the way Susan was, anyway. So I learned to shoot, and to use the sword. The knife's always been easiest for me, though, and my favourite." She grins a bit. "Though I liked the sword rather well when I beat Peter with it and saw his face."

Younger sisters. What can you do?

"We should throw. That would be great fun. Su and I practice, and it's lovely, but it's always nice to do so with someone else. And yes," affectionately, a bit, "he is."

*Alanna smiles as she listens, scraping at a piece of bark with her nail. It's odd, really, how the little silences don't feel awkward. She takes her time thinking about what she wants to say, watching Mithros shake his head.*

When I was ten, I was to be sent to the convent. My twin brother was bound for Corus and the life of a knight, but he didn't want that, and I didn't want to be a lady. We switched places, and he went off to learn magic at the convent while I trained to be a knight. As a boy. For eight years, I was Alan of Trebond. Now I'm the only lady knight in Tortall.

*Pausing, she gives Lucy a shy glance.* Some rules, as they say, are made to be broken. I had a chance to be Queen, but I wouldn't have made a very good one. *She nods.* Aye. One of the first things he told me about you was that you had a gift for storytelling. I suggested that he do drawings to go along with your stories, but it made him... nervous almost. Like he was worried about detracting from your words.

"Some rules," she agrees, "are meant to be broken. Su's never quite, I think, approved of how far I've taken that, but it's true. And you are a fine lady knight, I am certain."

She munches the apple for a bit, and then, "Did you ever wonder about what life would have been like if you hadn't switched? And I don't know," glancing at Alanna. "No one would have thought I'd make a very good queen at nine either, and I've been told I did all right. Maybe you would have."

Her smile's faint. "I'm not that good. I just remember things well. I always have."

*Alanna flushes, shaking her head with a small laugh.* Jon and I would have killed each other within a month. Tortall is truly better served with me as his Champion, not his wife.

*She nods.* I used to wonder that all the time, especially when I became Jon's squire and had to pretend to court the noblewomen fresh from the convent, as I would have been. I wonder, but I know I made the correct choice. The Goddess helped me along my path, so I think she approved.

It is hard to forget. *Said quietly, with a touch of remorse.* I- I went to Narnia, Lucy.

Her eyes close, at that.

"Then I am glad for you," she says after a moment, not opening her eyes. "And oh, I envy you."