(Natalie)
While Natalie could appreciate a good dress, she knew practicality had to win out. Sage's pants were rolled thrice so that they would not drag the ground. The loose shirts sleeves were pushed up to her elbows in the cool autumn and a royal cloak was tied around her neck. When in Narnia she had to be prepared for anything, whether it be chasing after Samira when she stole her lime green bra or running to embrace the King of Narnia.
Caspian grunted, body no longer the force to be reckoned with it had been in his youth. Once he caught his footing, he hugged Natalie back readily. A boy a few years younger than Natalie lingered back beside Sage. Samira kicked his shin and he caught her into a squealing hold.
"How are you here?" Caspian pulled back to ask. "Darius, put your sister down before you break her." He turned his diverted attention back to Natalie and ran a hand through his all grey beard. "Never mind. I just sent Puddleglum with Eustace and Jill. If you hurry you can catch up with them."
"Who's Jill? What kind of name is Puddleglum? Eustace!" Natalie's voice caught as she thought of the boy she'd known so briefly. He was here too. She burst with laughter, hugging Caspian again, not bothering to listen to the answers of her questions.
"Why aren't you with them? We could use the help. It could be just like the old days," Natalie begged.
Caspian kissed her forehead and she braced herself for the let down. He even smelled different. Natalie felt a knot form in her throat as Caspian explained that he couldn't just take off on another adventure. He had a family, a nation, and a peace treaty to negotiate. On top of all that he was much too old to be traversing across country and sleeping on rocks.
Sage came forward, taking Caspian's hand in hers. "We have complete faith in you and the others, Nate." He finished.
They wanted her to leave them behind. They wanted her to travel alone. Natalie swallowed down the change like a lukewarm soup and pulled the cloak tighter around her arms.
"Which way did those hooligans head?" Natalie strode out the great oak doors that appeared to have the height built in to accommodate even the tallest giants. A black horse with white spots stamped her hooves in anticipation of the journey. "Why hello, gorgeous." Natalie threw her arms about the horse's neck and it huffed in complaint, nipping at a loose curl.
"Jill said north," Caspian said as Sage tied a bag of provisions to the saddle.
"This was Rilian's horse, Cleo. She's fast and true and will serve you well. Bring her back. Bring my son back." Water filled the brims of Sage's eyelids but her firm nature held. She would be strong for her lost child.
"Also, you and Eustace please resist the urge to strangle each other. I know how you get after spending too much time together." Caspian helped Natalie swing her short legs onto the tall mount and leveled a knowing grin up at her. That was the same, she decided. Caspian's teasing. Sage's mothering.
"I'm all an adult now. I make my own Doctor's appointments and everything. No need to worry, Cassie." She kicked his chest playfully.
"Wonderful, so we're adding adult hormones to the mix," Caspian deadpanned.
Sage pushed him aside and squeezed Natalie's hand fiercely. Looking down at her, Natalie saw how she burned to be on her own horse, preparing to face anything and everything that dared stand between her and Rilian. It took more courage for Sage to stay, to leave her oldest son's fate in the hands of others.
The trees bent in a gust of wind, whistling for Natalie to begin. Even the sun winked out behind a cloud in encouragement. Natalie glanced back at the ivory courtroom with its warm halls and food that smelled like it could have been plucked straight off Aslan's table. To her other side stretched a garden she could just picture Sage tending with equal dedication as she might show her own children. Before her stretched a cobblestone road leading out of the palace.
"Aslan will be with you," Sage spoke.
"And you. Don't let his head get too big for that crown of his. I hear they're a dick to resize," Natalie called, kicking off when she saw amused smiles grace both of the royals' faces. That's the image she wanted to carry as she rode.
Before long the sun came back out. Though it beat down relentlessly, the brisk wind kept its warmth from reaching through Natalie's cloak. The neatly maintained road transformed into gravel and then dirt. Cleo kicked up a sand storm in their wake, but Natalie did not relent behind the reins until her panting joined in the horse's.
A patch of wild yellow Narnian flowers beckoned her to join them in the shade of an ancient elm tree. Natalie slid off Cleo and face planted into the orange leaves, breathing in the fresh Narnian dirt. Cleo whinnied and stamped her hooves to continue.
"You need a break too. I know you want to find Rilian but you're no use worn out." She spoke without raising her head. The tree blocked the majority of the wind's wrath allowing sunlight to peak through the meagerly inhabited branches and nuzzle Natalie's skin. A strange bug crawled across her shin as if to inspect the newcomer and approve her like Aslan himself.
"Didn't Aslan say I wouldn't come back?" Natalie was in no way complaining; she was just confused and seeking answers from a bug who turned its antennas up and trotted back to disappear into the grass.
Cleo reared up and smashed both of her front hooves into the dirt so hard a cloud welled up in Natalie's face. She coughed, waving it away so she could scowl up at the controlling horse. How Rilian managed it, she could not fathom. Natalie sipped at her supply of water, and nibbled at the crust of a bread slice. The sun was sinking lower in the sky and she wondered what she would do if she didn't find the trio before nightfall. Cleo did not give off the impression that she was the cuddling type and Natalie doubted the blankets in the saddle bag would do much to ward of the nighttime chill. She'd have to find some sort of shelter, think back to her family camping trips and attempt to replicate her father's perfect fires.
A head-butt from Cleo drew Natalie out of her thoughts before she could dwell on her family too long. That was probably for the better. She didn't want to get homesick just yet. Another head-butt and an irritated huff caught Natalie's attention. Cleo was pacing madly, head shaking back and forth as if she was considering leaving her rider behind.
"Ok, I'm up. Show me what you want then we call it a night. Deal?" Cleo only inclined her head, hearing something Natalie could not make out.
Gathering her belongings, she clambered ungracefully into the saddle and they set off once again. This time it was all of half an hour before Cleo skidded to such a hasty stop, Natalie was thrown from the saddle to straddle the horse's muscled neck.
"Ok, ow. Cleo we need to work on your communication skills. Next time warning would be appreciated." Natalie eased her sore pelvis to the ground, wondering why Cleo felt so anxious to show her a cottage straight out of a horror movie. A man with a chainsaw could jump out at any moment.
The door flew open and Natalie screamed, throwing herself behind Cleo. This was her fault after all.
"By Aslan, Cleo, how did you get all the way out here?" a shriveled and petulant voice asked.
"Puddleglum what was that noise?" a female voice joined the other.
"A sign, maybe. It seems the young prince's mare has found us," the first replied.
What had been the names Caspian mentioned? Natalie racked her brain, cursing herself for not having better information retention or being able to pay attention in the first place.
A pair of large feet in brown boots strode forward. Natalie squeaked and moved as far away from them as Cleo could shield her.
"I hope you know I can see your pants, mate." A man stepped around Cleo. She nestled her head against his broad, towering shoulders contentedly.
Natalie narrowed her eyes at the display of affection wondering why Cleo never did that with her. She was so distracted she did not notice the man's face as it contorted from suspicion to recognition. "Nate?"
Natalie knew that nickname. She knew those pale blue eyes and that thick British accent. But paired with the overgrown body, it took a minute to connect together. Finally, she staggered back to crane her neck at the man whose height she'd once matched. "Stacey, how the hell did you get up there?"
He smiled endearingly, and she felt her heart hiccup. That feeling was new. Maybe not entirely, but to this extreme it definitely was. "Did your parents not give you this talk?" he mocked. Definitely Eustace. He'd just grown in to his eyebrows.
She was a split second away from barreling into his arms to test out what new strength he possessed when a girl walked around Cleo. The horse pressed a kiss to her cheek before trotting over to befriend the one called Puddleglum. He wasn't human, but Natalie's knowledge of Narnian creatures was limited. Cleo's tail swatter Natalie's face as she left and the girl stomped her foot in irritation.
"Nate from the Dawn Treader?" the girl asked. She and Eustace shared the same accent.
She was younger than both Eustace and Natalie, but her heart shaped face told of wisdom beyond her years. Short lobbed off brown hair brushed just under her chin and dark green eyes peered down beneath blunt bangs. Natalie was not sure what to make of her or how closely she stood to Eustace. Or the pang that resonated in her chest for that matter.
"I'm from Minneapolis, but yeah. I was on the Dawn Treader too," Natalie responded, strangely devoid of emotion.
"That must have been amazing. I'm Jill Pole." Jill stretched out her hand.
Natalie considered making a stripper reference, but decided it was still too early in the relationship for that. She settled on a nod and shook the girl's hand. "We just heated up some food. There's only three rooms, but you can share mine since you'll be joining us." Jill was all business and she strode away with a confidence Natalie found herself jealous of.
Puddleglum called for them to hurry up so the food wouldn't get cold. Eustace just rolled his eyes and lilted his head towards the cottage. Natalie followed him in, hands stuffed deep in her pockets. Jill was quiet and thoughtful throughout the meal. Puddleglum occasionally complained about the weather or the road ahead. Eustace would joke with him and keep the conversation from stilling. Natalie, for her part, sleep ate. She had never known horseback riding could be so draining. Jill led her to the room farthest down the hallway and helped her set up a pallet on the floor.
They had no candles so it was pitch black as Natalie lay on her back, exhausted but unable to find sleep. Her eyes adjusted lethargically, and she could make out the rotting overhead beams. They would be lucky if this place didn't collapse around them during the night. When she could see the door, she gathered her blanket around her shoulders like a cape and slipped out of the room.
The first room she checked was inhabited by a snoring Puddleglum who, as she had learned, was a marsh-wiggle. Eustace was in the last room, sitting up in his blankets with his elbows proper against knobby knees. He looked up hearing Natalie enter and pushed himself to his feet.
"Missed me already?"
"Shut up," Natalie said and dashed into his waiting arms. Her hands locked behind his neck and her face buried into his short dark blonde hair. Her toes dangled from the ground as he lifted her up in the hug. This was what she needed, to properly greet Eustace. His breath was hot against her temple and his hand strong along her lower back. And the feeling like her heart was about to take flight had returned.
"Hello," she breathed. "I never go to say that. And yes, I've been missing you for seven years."
Well? Much awaited reunion! How are y'all feeling so far?