Chapter 56 – The Captain and the Cat

Okay folks, again, I apologize for the late update. For those who waits for Varian, I promise it won't be long, but before wwe return to him, I have an important angle of the story that needs to be shown.

This is a real treat that I've planned, and I'm curious at what reaction it will get. I was planning for this chapter to come later, but I see now that it fitted rather well here. It's a while since I wrote the Captain. And I'm glad people liked to have things viewed from Caterpillar's angle, so I wanted to include him more. I guess the name of the chapter speaks halfway for itself.

After the failed attempt on getting a breakfast in the garden, Caterpillar had moved on towards the stables. There was always something to find there, and he knew his presence were allot more appreciated.

At least by most of the stable dwellers.

As he walked past the back doors, he peeked carefully through the doors to see who was there, as he had a habit of doing. When he found no others but the horses, he went through the door and jumped up at the box frame on the left side. As he balanced his way through the frames, he had a glance at the horses inside. They all knew him, and while some of them gave him a glance and even a neigh for greeting, some were too busy with their eating to pay notice.

He puzzled a little over the two new horses that had arrived. He had never seen horses like these. They were yellow, rather chubby and muscular and had black and white manes that were cut in a way that made them look like the brushes that the humans used to groom them, while their wigs in front of their faces were kept long. They also had this odd black stripe going all the way from their manes and down their backs, and they were both too occupied with their food to pay him any notice. (1)

Not that he blamed them. Food was important. That's why he was here.

He had a short glance at the box where the brown horse with the black braided mane normally stayed. He stood there a moment and looked at it while he sniffed the air a bit. Her cent was practically gone, and it was a while since she and the commanding white horse had been attached to that peculiar looking wagon and went off.

Fidella, as she was called, was one of the horses he had most joy of seeing, and she would always greet him with a little nuzzle with her mule. She had a good nature, and she liked other beings. He missed having her around, and he hoped she would return.

The same couldn't be said about her rider.

The short haired girl that often groomed and rode Fidella was nowhere to be found. She hadn't seen her in a while now, she too seemed to be away, most likely where Fidella had gone. But Caterpillar was well aware that she didn't appreciate his presence. He still recalled the last time he had been unfortunate enough to bump into her, and he had been careful to enter the stables ever since.

He was looking for food and was hoping to stay hidden. He heard chattering, immediately recognizing her voice and hid behind a pile of hay. However, she didn't come alone this time. There was another one joining her. Odd he had thought, as the girl were mostly by herself. But he puzzled when he recognized the other voice. So to satisfy his curiosity, he peeked from his hiding place to have a look.

"I don't mind helping you, Cass. It's not a big deal."

"It is actually a big deal, Raps. I can't allow having you being seen grooming your own horse. Imagine what your parents might say! Besides, your dress will get dusty and imagine what that'll do to your hair; it'll take HOURS to get out!"

The bright girl gave a heavy sigh. "I'm I allowed to do anything here?" she mumbled low to herself.

It had been her, the new being in the Castle. She had been standing and watching as the other girl prepared Fidella and Maximus. She was a peculiar one that he had yet to completely understand, but he had noticed that everyone made a big deal about her presence. In his eyes she looked big enough to be at the age with the short haired girl, but she acted like… no, his Karen didn't act like that. She'd had to be younger with that behavior.

But her appearance made him puzzle as well. When she first arrived, she had short, brown hair, same length as Fidella's rider. However a while later she had somehow grown new hair, longer and brighter. It wasn't the first time he had seen women in the Castle suddenly change their looks from time to time, like they tried to be a different person. As if they thought it changed much; he saw right through them. However, it seemed odder with this girl. It was almost as if… was there something with that hair… it was almost as if he could feel something around her. He couldn't define it, but there was something about if… not being like hair normally would.

Although, unlike her grumpy friend, this one had at least been glad to see him. He got a chance to meet her properly when the short haired girl disappeared for a moment.

"Agh!"

"What is it?"

"The rein snapped. I'll be right back. Don't move!" the short haired one said strictly and made her way out of the box.

"Oh… okay." The bright girl replied meekly and stayed put.

He made sure to stay out of sight from the short haired girl when she passed his hiding place. Then he decided to approach her and make up his mind of what he thought of the bright girl. So he jumped up at the box frame she leaned her back towards and fiddled with her long hair and made his approach, balancing on the frame and gave a meow. The moment she discovered him, her gloomy face immediately broke up in a smile.

"Why, hello there. Where did you come from?" she reached out her hand. "Hey, come here! Don't be scared. I won't hurt you…"

Her gentle appearance gave him courage to approach and greet her. After a quick sniff of her hand, he stroked his head against her hand and purred.

"Oh, you're vibrating! It's so fantastic!" she said exited. "Hey, where are you going?" she reacted when Caterpillar started walking to the end of the box and jumped down on the floor. The girl followed him and Caterpillar rewarded her by immediately stopping and sitting down, giving another meow.

«Aaawwww, that's so cuuute!» she said and got down at his level and stroked her hand over his head and ears. She had been tender and respective in the way she touched him, and Caterpillar realized that he had her. Then heplumped on the ground and rolled around back and forth while he was doing whimsy movements with his head the way his Karen liked so much, trying if it worked on this one too.

She was immediately attached as her green eyes got bigger and she continued to gasp of amazement."Naaaw, you adorable thing…" It was almost too easy to impress this human he thought.

However he heard footsteps, and moments later he heard the short haired girl made a moan of disgust. «Uugh! Come on, it's just a cat.» When he turned his head to see her, she was giving him small eyes and a frown.

«But look how he's rolling around! It's so adorable!» The long haired girl said excited. Sensing she liked him, Caterpillar did another attempt of impressing her. He rolled up and didn't just expose his belly, but made sure to gather his paws in front oh him before he started to swim with them.

The girl was immediately attached and gasped of adoration. "Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, that is so cuuuuute…"

And then he dropped the bomb: while he gave her his biggest eyes, he let out the most puny meow he could.

The long haired girl were immediately caught cried out in delight, reached out her hand and the moment her hand touched his belly, he explored in purring, closing his eyes and raising his chin as far back as he could. He did sincerely enjoy the belly rub, but not half as much as he enjoyed the fact that he had managed to wrap this girl around his little claw.

«Oh look at him, look at him, he's so cute I don't know if I can take it. He's belly's so soft, and that sound is so dreamy and he's so cute I think I'm gonna cry…»

«RAPS!» The short haired girl shouted out. «Seriously, this is embarrassing! » she came forward with stomping steps, and Caterpillar, who had gone into alert position when she yelled, rose and ran off faster than a blink.

"Cass, he didn't mean any harm…" He heard the long haired girl say, but he didn't stay long enough to hear the other one's response.

He woke up from his thoughts when he suddenly heard a familiar voice. He recognized the low, muffled mumbling.

He was here! The cat turned around and saw the tall, steady figure by the side door. He stood there with his horse, busy giving it a groom, but he didn't look like his normally determinant self. He looked troubled.

Caterpillar jumped down and speeded up right towards him.

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He had taken his armor and jacket of and wore a leather apron over his clothes and thin leather gloves instead of his white uniform gloves, and while he was wearing these he was giving his crème colored horse with brown dots a good grooming while he was having a deep debate with him.

"I don't know what to do anymore, Romulus." The Captain muttered as he ran the bushy brush through the horse's white mane. "In my opinion we're taking an enormous risk here." He gave a heavy sigh. "I sort of feel a need to do more, but without the King's consent, I'm all… I feel like I'm being the one wearing shackles… if you get me!"

The horse peeked at him from the side and gave a light neigh to encourage him while he touched his arm with his mule. The Captain's concerned face broke up in a smile and he returned the kind comforting act by stroking his hand down his nose and mule a couple of times.

"Although I miss her, I'm glad my daughter isn't here to witness this. Cassandra would never forgive me if she knew how much of a slack he's been given… and that I had to allow it." He made a frown. "And I won't even think of what Eugene would say." Then smirked and gave a chuckle. "Oh boy… I would never her the end of it-Ever!"

A sudden feeling down his leg made him stop and look down. And there the orange striped cat was stroaking his leg with his body. Then he sat down, looking at him with his greenish eyes, blinking to greet him.

The Captain's disturbed face broke up in a smile. "Well, hello there, Little Major! Here to do your daily inspection?"

Caterpillar replied with a short croaking meow.

"Well, if there's intruders here, I'm certain you'll find them." The Captain said and knelt down and Caterpillar let him pet his back, and he replied with deep intense purring. Then he meowed a short goodbye and set off back to the stables.

"Make sure to give your report!" he waved after the cat as he disappeared back into the doors. Then he returned back to Romelus and gave him a scratch behind his ears, something the horse enjoyed so much that he lifted up his upper lip and exposed his teeth. "If only humans could be as easy to deal with…."

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Elfried stood by the stable corner, watching him as he stood there and groomed hos horse. Her blue eyes were looking rather concerned behind her glasses. Her small fists were also starting to tighten up and she was practically clinging to the wall.

While the Captain himself seemed way too occupied, she was uncertain at how his reaction would be. She hid herself behind the wall, leaned backwards to the wall. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath.

"Come on, Elfried. You can do this… You can do this!" she whispered to herself.

Slowly letting the air out of her lunges, she opened her eyes, feeling more determinant. Then she took a step and walked out from her hiding place, ready to step forward.

However, she stopped once she came out, being whipped of her branch by what she saw. He wasn't grooming his horse anymore; Caterpillar had made a sudden approach, and now he had knelt down and petted the orange striped cat. It was rather obvious that he found the little mouse hunting creature's presence welcome.

While he himself stood occupied with the cat, his horse turned it's head, and discovered her. He raised his head, and Elfried had the feeling that he was staring at her.

Her first thought was to run. But then she changed her mind, as if the horse would judge her depending on what she did. So she made up her mind. She had come this far, she wasn't backing down now. So she took a deep breath and grabbed her skirt and lifted it up just a bit to make it look like she was avoiding dust on the ground, while in reality she needed an excuse to tighten up her fists without making it look like she was uncomfortable.

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"Well boy!" the Captain said. "Let's finish of your grooming, shall we?"

"By the time you're done with him, you're gonna be the one needing a groom!"

The brush the Captain had been holding fell to the ground and he became rather stiff when he turned to see where the voice came from. His mouth fell open and his eyes went wide as he saw Elfried approach.

She gave a solid smirk with half closed eyes. "I would change that before I go inside. My girls won't be satisfied letting you back in at once!"

He looked down and found his shirt covered in dust, despite him wearing a leather apron. He got a bit disturbed when he suddenly saw Elfried came closer and with an elegant grip she removed a long horse hair that had gotten itself stuck in his mustache.

Romulus gazed at both the Captain and the maid and then at the Captain again, immediately reading how obviously uncomfortable his master suddenly became. And even though she didn't show it, the maid too was struggling where she stood. He had seen how she had hesitated, and she wasn't comfortable being there.

The tension was to grab a bit of.

The Captain found himself blushing by the sudden move, but quickly cleared his throat, perhaps maybe more than necessary and took a short breath before he spoke.

"Ehm-Was-eh… Is there anything I can help you with?" I… I doubt you came here to inspect

"In fact there is. That's why I'm here."

"Oh…?"

"You know what happened yesterday. It caused quite a commotion."

The Captain sighed. "Ah, yes. I can assure you that it's been taken care of!"

"That's what I was wondering about; WHAT exactly has been taken care of? The prisoner or the guest?" she gave him a raised eyebrow.

"Erhm-Uh… What do you…Guest? You mean one of the guests that arrived yesterday?"

"So it's one of the royal guests who lies at he sickroom right now?"

"No no! that's where we keep the prisoner at the moment."

"Then what about the boy?"

The Captain felt how the color was fading from his face. "What… boy?"

Elfried drew her breath slightly before she spoke, not loosing face and remaining calm.

"You see, that's what happens when the girls starts to talk with what little information they get; they make up their own conclusions. Now I know that there was a rather big deal made from the escaped prisoner the other day, but now I get to hear that he's not in the sick room. Instead I hear about little Karen finding a young boy being wounded here at the very Castle, and all of a sudden the King has a personal guest that he's been having here at the Castle starving without anyone of us knowing. I've heard so many different stories now that I'm confused. So tell me, Captain; what is going on?"

The Captain was completely thrown off the branch by her speech. In fact, Elfried noticed him paling and that seeing panic in his grown eyes. For a moment she regretted being so harsh, but she held her facade and as she kept her eyes on him.

Indeed, the Captein was panicking. Slightly raising his pulse, he struggled to keep his breath under control. The silence between them was growing awkward. Romumus felt bad for his master and gave a short neigh and touched his hand from behind.

His touch seemed to wake him up from his state, startling him and make him turn back to him. The compassionate eyes the horsegave him seemed to have an effect, and he blinked and gave a pet on his mule as he sighed heavily.

"Sorry buddy. I… I'll have to come back and finish your mane later." He said and untied his horse from the pole. "I… need a word with… the Lady here. It's rather… important." He walked inside with his horse and Elfried waited outside. She was actually glad when he disappeared out of sight and she could let out her breath. She took a couple of new slow inhales to calm herself. She tried not to look too strict when he came out again, with his jacket and armor on, his helmet under his arm and most of the dust away from his face. And now he had the solider mask on. He looked, not too stern, but strickt enough to make people follow his orders.

"Look! What I am to tell you now is utterly secret. We cannot let this get out, or there will be grave consequences. I know that… among the maids… you are known for keeping your tongue to yourself, and I need you to keep this to yourself no matter what!"

Despite his strict voice and attitude, Elfried noticed that he had trouble keeping his voice. This gave her confidence to lift her head a bit more, as if she was nobility and he just a servant. "You can rely on my descry, Captain." She looked at hm with half closed eyes and a slight frown on her lips. "Provided that what you tell me, is the truth and nothing else!"

"Good!" he cleared his throat. "Follow me, eh… please. There's something… or actually someone, you need to see. I… I'll explain on the way!"

"Very well." She replied and followed him, and despite walking behind him, she kept her head high.

From the stable door, Romulus watched as his rider walked with the woman that made him feel uncomfortable and had a short glance at his left, where Caterpillar stood on the frame. The horse gave a short concerned neigh, and the Cat replied with a nonchalant meow.

(1) For information, the horses I described here was Frjordings, horses known in Scandinavia. They are known for their funny haircuts, and they can be seen in the Frozen movie. Even Hans has one. We will eventually get back to these later.