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Post by Tristan Harrigan on Jul 13, 2008 23:24:25 GMT -5
Tristan rubbed the back of his neck tiredly as his feet took him off down the street. The sun was shinning brightly ahead, not any trace of clouds. Everyone was housing through the busy streets trying to get to their final destination. Some Narnians were talking in groups, while others were selling various items from the stands. There were many levels to Cair Paravel. The one that Tristan lived in was the busiest. It was the knights housing quarters. Tristan didn’t mind the small space, it was just he couldn’t sleep much at night. Well, he didn’t sleep much period. Tristan preferred to throw himself into his work. Whether that be patrolling the streets, or following the kings around to meetings, Tristan was doing something. Today though was Tristan’s day off. That meant he could sleep in, or hang out with his friends. Well, Tristan was trying too. He needed to relax more. Everyone thought of the knight as uptight, and they were right. Tristan was considered tense, cold, barely speaking to anyone. He didn’t care what everyone thought. It was who Tristan Harrigan was. There was no need to change. No one would be able to have that kind of impact on him. Not even some of his closest friends.
“Catch!” came a voice from a short distance causing Tristan to look around. His brown eyes landed on a small apple that was heading his way. Holding out his hands, Tristan caught the fruit in his right arm, his eyebrow rising curiously. A woman with long blonde hair made her way to his side, rubbing her own apple against the front of her green dress. “Don’t worry. I didn’t put any of my experiment plants on it to poison you. Hearing Amelyn chuckle softly next to him, Tristan shook his head, rubbing the side of the apple against his wool shirt. It was his favorite. The one he wore when going to the beach all the time. There was a secret spot in the save that Tristan liked to be. It was secluded quiet cave were someone could hear the sounds of the ocean roaring outside. It was one of the only places Tristan could go to be by himself. The sound of the ocean always calmed it. Reminded him of Ireland, back when his family was still a family.
“Thanks. Why are you in such a good mood?” he asked his friend with an inquisitive look before biting down. Chewing softly as he stepped forward, Amelyn followed his lead shrugging her shoulders. “What makes you think I’m in a good mood? You’re the one who seems to be gleaming today. Is that a smile I see, Tristan?” Tristan sighed at her perkiness, running his fingers through his curly mess of brown hair. “Its not frequent when I get a day off…thinking of going to the beach…or the library. Tristan said, more to himself than to his friend. He didn’t know what to do with his free time. Maybe that was one of the reasons why he worked himself to death. Tristan would just pick out a nice book to road by the beach. It would take him ages to finish, but still something for him to do. “I would love to join you in your quest of fulfillment, but I’ve got to go try to find this one plant for this new herb I’m working on. Don’t miss me too much. With that, Amelyn smiled brightly in his direction before heading off in the opposite direction.
It didn’t take long for Tristan to be walking through the long, complicated corridors of the castle. He head cleaned up nicely, but he always did when he went into the castle. Mostly Ladies or Lords of the courts, or the kings and queens themselves resided inside the stone walls. Tristan was just an exception because he was a knight. There were some quirks to the job. When he rounded the final corner to the library, Tristan pushed the door open stopping in his tracks as he noticed Queen Susan on a ladder reaching up for the top shelf. Closing the door softly behind him Tristan made his way over to the woman looking up at her struggling face. She couldn’t reach the top shelf even on the ladder. “I can reach that book for you if you want, My Lady.”
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Post by Queen Susan the Gentle on Jul 13, 2008 23:51:38 GMT -5
"You cannot be serious…" Susan looked up at her older brother over her book, which was nearing its end. Peter was dancing around his room, a goofy smile on his face, "Peter, what in Aslan's name has gotten into you?" She closed her book over her thumb as Peter did some weird butt shaking thing and then stopped dancing to pull his younger sister up and grab her hands, shaking them awkwardly as if to get her to dance. She just stood there, her eyes wide as she watched her brother do something completely absurd. Peter was childish sometimes, but this was out of hand. She pulled her hands back and folded them over her chest, looking stern.
"Aw, come on, Su! You've been depressed ever since we returned from Tashbaan. Don't be so upset, little sis." He had stopped dancing now and had either hand on her arms, staring down into her eyes with his own blue ones. She looked up at him defiantly and then let out a lengthy sigh and hugged him, burying her face into his chest. He held her tight as she shook in his arms, a few tears slipping out beneath her closed lids. The decision she had made in Tashbaan was weighing heavily in her heart. It meant betraying Narnia, and she was certain Aslan wouldn't have approved of it; but there was no way out of it. She knew it, and Peter was determined to find another way. Lucy and Edmund didn't know about her decision yet, but they would soon enough – as soon as she found out a way to tell them. After a moment, she pulled away and wiped at her eyes, hurriedly searching for something to distract herself from the despair.
"I'm going to go to the library," she told Peter in a rushed tone as she snatched at her book that had been discarded on her armchair, "I've finished this book and I haven't another to read. I'll be at supper, perhaps you should go and find Edmund – talk to him about the council meeting he absolutely has to sit in on." Peter groaned at that idea, but didn't argue with her. No one argued with Susan. Even though she was "gentle" she was most certainly argumentative, too. She kissed her brother on the cheek briefly and then hurried out of his bedroom, willing her legs to carry her to the library as quickly as they possibly could without appearing to be running from something. Which she was.
Soon she was at the library and she prayed to Aslan that it would be empty. Thankfully, her prayer was answered. She let out a big breath of air as she closed the wooden door behind her and started to find the spot where she had taken her current book from. Shoving the book back into its spot, she then began to search for a new one. She wanted a romance, one that would end happily. Narnia had a collection of amazing authors, but Susan found that some of the best romance novels came from Earth. There was one book that had arrived with a Lady of the Court when she first found Narnia, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Susan had read it at least 6 times, and now she thought it was about time to make it a 7th. The only problem was it was on the highest shelf, which Susan couldn’t reach even on a ladder.
With a determined glint in her eyes, she pulled the rolling ladder over to the area that the book was located and then she started the climb up. She stood on the tallest rung she could without hitting her head on the ceiling and then stretched her hand toward the spine of the hardback book. Susan groaned slightly, shuffled her feet a bit to gather her deep blue dress in her hands and hike it up a bit off her ankles, and then reached forward more – leaning off the ladder a bit. That was when the door opened and someone walked in. She didn't look to see who it was, but they recognized her and immediately offered their assistance. "No, thank you, I can get the book on my own just fine. Just because I'm Susan the bloody Gentle doesn't mean I can't get a book on my bloody own." With another determined grunt, she reached out a bit further and then launched herself forward –grasping the spine of the book and yanking just in time as she fell to the ground.
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Post by Tristan Harrigan on Jul 14, 2008 0:21:14 GMT -5
Tristan leaned against the shelf, his head tilted upwards to stare into the Queen’s face. She was still trying to reach for the book, her outstretched hand shaking to just barely brush across the spine. What was so special about this book that made her want to fall from such a height? She could have someone easily get it for her. Tristan could easily reach it and as soon as he offered his help, Susan denied his help. Well, she certainly wasn’t in the best of moods. Either was Tristan, but at least he was being polite. Women were complicated. He would never understand them. Sighing, Tristan just shrugged his shoulders as he pushed himself off from the bookshelf. “If that’s what you wish, My Lady. Good luck on trying to even lay a finger on the cover,” he told her simply with a pointed look before heading off to the opposite side of the room. It was rude of him not to help, but he did offer and Susan declined. That didn’t make him a bad person. Plus, it was amusing to watch her struggle for something so little. Susan didn’t need to know that, but she probably would after a few more moments.
Hearing a gasp, Tristan immediately spun around watching the free falling woman. Racing forward before she could even touch the ground, Tristan caught Susan in his arms. Her back was supported by his right arm, as he left held up her legs. He could smell the soft scent of her perfume as he held the woman gently in his arms. “What did I tell you, My Lady?” Tristan asked, his voice holding amusement as he set the woman on her feet. Tristan watched her for a moment his brown eyes darting to the book that clutched tightly into her hand “Tell me, what book is so special that you would fall on your arse for?” Mouthing the title, Tristan then looked into Susan’s eyes. He didn’t know the queen personally, but from her choices of books she seemed to fall under the hopeless romantic section. Then again, what did Tristan know about her? Just like Susan knew nothing about. She probably didn’t even know his name. “I prefer works by the Narnian author Giggs. His books are quite fascinating, though a bit on the dark side.”
Offering a small nod Tristan stepped forward, making his way around Susan to stare blindly at the many rows of books. He wasn’t trying to be rude, but he wasn’t exactly in the mood for company. “I’m Tristan Harrigan, he introduced simply pulling out a dark crimson colored book from the shelf. “Do you usually spend most of your time in the library sacrificing yourself for books?
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Post by Queen Susan the Gentle on Jul 14, 2008 0:39:39 GMT -5
"Yes," Susan had replied through gritted teeth as she reached for the book, "That is exactly what I wish." She probably should have accepted his help, though, but she was feeling rather stubborn at the moment. She didn't like feeling like she was helpless, and that was exactly what she was feeling at that moment – first Peter and now this man. When would they stop? Of course, her being stubborn led to her falling from the ladder – leaving her even more helpless. Susan closed her eyes tight and hugged the book to her chest, waiting for the sharp sting of the floor on her back; but instead feeling something catch her. She waited a moment and then opened her eyes to peer up at the man who had caught her. Immediately, she tensed up at his words. She didn't need an 'I told you so.'
He set her on her two feet and she let out a breath, releasing her grip on the book enough to relax. With a steady gaze, she looked at him, "Pride and Prejudice. It's a book from Earth." She didn't give much more information than that. If he wanted to know what the book was about, he could read it himself. If he even read, that is. It wasn't often that you found a man who read. Even Peter didn't read. "Too boring" he called it. Susan just thought he hated the idea that someone could find the time to sit down and write when he wasn't even allowed two minutes for his own sanity. She shook her head slightly, pulling herself back to the conversation, taking care to notice that he wasn't bowing to her or trying to make her feel as comfortable as possible. It was nice, but Susan was in too foul of a mood to take it as a good thing.
"Yes…" Susan breathed after a moment, "I've read Giggs' works. He's quite phenomenal." She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and looked at the man before her. She recognized him easily enough. She made sure to know at least all the knights by name and face. You never knew when they would be united in battle. Susan cringed unnoticeably at the thought. Battle. She watched him walk around, looking at the books, and then she raised an eyebrow at his introduction, "I am aware of who you are, Sir Harrigan. Do you forget to whom you are speaking with? I make it my business to know the knights of Cair Paravel." With a quick glance in his direction, Susan made her way to a table in front of a large window – the sun was shining through it.
She sat down and pulled out a piece of paper and an ink pen, writing down the title of the book and the date of which she took it from the library, "No. I do not," Susan replied coolly, looking up from her writing to watch Tristan looking at a crimson coloured book, "That is a good book. It's a dark mystery written by Pomra," she looked back down at her writing, let the ink dry and then tucked the paper into a ledger on top of the desk, "I spend most of my time with my archers, my siblings, and making sure Narnia doesn't go to ruins. What do you spend your time doing, Sir?"
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Post by Tristan Harrigan on Jul 14, 2008 1:12:49 GMT -5
Earth. The word ringed in Tristan’s ears as he stared into Susan’s face. He never talked about his life before entering Narnia. Tristan didn’t want people to know his past. He didn’t want them to know that he did miss the little cottage in Ireland in which he’d grown up in. How he missed his mother, and resented his father. Everything the word came up, Tristan just froze as his mind began to wander through the memories. It was hard not too. Entering Narnia was the best thing that could ever happen to Tristan Harrigan. It was everything he dreamed of as a little boy. Who didn’t want to become a big, strong knight in shinning armor who saved damsels in distress? Well, Tristan didn’t do it for the women, but himself. He didn’t have any kind of infatuation toward any of the opposite gender. There wasn’t one that interested in. “I know it’s a book from earth. I also know the author had a awful love life of her own, but gives the happy ending for her characters. Not every romance has that kind of ending, Tristan told her, not caring to hold out the bitterness in his voice. He didn’t care much for love. It would happen to him though. Sooner than he would thought.
Tristan nodded slowly in approval for Susan’s respect toward his favorite author, Giggs. There were many people who were on the border line of liking and disliking the books the Faun had written. Some of the messages puzzled people, but not Tristan. He understood them clearly. “What book does My Lady enjoy the most? I prefer Restarting Dawn to all o his work. The main character is quite….relatable.” With a simple nod of his head, Tristan tore his gaze away from Susan. His eyes scanned the different titles, trying to decide on which to give his time too. Yes, Tristan did judge a book by its title and cover. Hearing Susan’s voice made Tristan turn his head sharply in her direction. So, she did know him. He should have known. All the Kings and Queens knew the knights. They had too. “I’m sorry to have offended you, My Queen. Just wanted to introduce myself properly since we’ve never met face-to-face. His brown pierced hers for a moment, watching as she sat down at the table in the far corner of the room. Looking away, Tristan finally found something that interested him, pulling the book slowly off the shelf.
Turning the book over in his palms, Tristan listened to Susan speak, mentioning the book that he held would be a good read. Flipping his thumbs through the ends of the pages, Tristan turned on his heel, making his way over toward a free chair by the window. He was only a few feet away from Susan, but he continued to keep his ears open as she spoke about what she normally did with her time. Tristan closed the book, looking up until their gazed locked. “I usually do as what I’m instructed by my King and Queen, which means most times to attend council meetings, watching over the streets and other various activities, Tristan stated looking down into the cover of the book, his arms moving to open up to the first page. “Do you wish for me to stop speaking, my lady? Because I seem to put you into a bitter mood.”
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Post by Queen Susan the Gentle on Jul 14, 2008 1:31:42 GMT -5
Susan looked at Tristan curiously, hoping her curiosity didn’t show in her eyes as much as it probably actually did, "Well, that's refreshing…" she said softly, tapping the cover of the book, "Not many know Earth books. We don't get many here." She continued to look at him and then she looked down at the book. Susan couldn't remember too much from Earth, she only remembered that it was duller than Narnia, not as pleasant. She remembered that it rained a lot, and that there was a war that was ten times worse than the one they had fought against the White Witch. It wasn't a place she wanted to go back to, but it also had a lot of great books. She had always been a fan of reading. "And, you're quite right," Susan stated suddenly, "Romance usually doesn't end happily…" Her eyes teared up and she closed them, trying to keep the emotion from rising in her chest.
With a heavy heart, Susan tried to keep her mind clear enough so she could continue the conversation with Tristan. When he asked which book was her favourite and then gave his, she felt a smile tugging at her lips; "That's mine, as well. But I like it for the symbolism behind everything, not so much for the character." She eyed Tristan and then that was when she had turned to go to the desk and mark out her book. Her annoyance and her sadness were mingling, leaving a weird feeling in her chest as she wrote everything down. Perhaps Peter was right, perhaps there was a way out of this. Was she just being hopeful? No. She was being logical, as she always was. But could she betray Narnia this way? Could she betray her country? Her life? Her siblings? Her chest constricted at the thought. She needed to forget about it for a little while.
"No offense taken, Sir Harrigan," she stated blandly, "I would introduce myself, but that's unnecessary…" then in a smaller, more bitter tone she said, "because I can't go anywhere without people knowing who I am." She shouldn't have been so bitter about her title, but at times it became quite tiresome. She didn't know how Lucy and Edmund dealt with it, or if they had as hard a time as she and Peter did. It was easier to be like everyone else, and not these amazing people that everyone looked up to. It just made it easier for people to be disappointed in them. Susan frowned at that thought. They would all be disappointed in her soon. But it was for their own good. Surely they would understand that.
After she commented on the book he held in his hands and then replied to his question, she felt him move to a chair near her. Then he answered and Susan sent him a wry smile, "Peter has you sitting in at council meetings? My, my, he must need some company then. He hates those things just as much as the next person." She shook her head at the memory of her brother groaning at the thought of a meeting. He was a funny man. She took out another piece of paper as she listened to Tristan's next question. With the pen in mid air, she stared at the blank page before her before turning to look at Tristan, "Bitter? Why, yes, I do believe I am quite bitter… aren't I? Don't worry, though, it has nothing to do with you. I was rather bitter before I even came into the library. If you wish to stop speaking, be my guest, I have a letter to write to my sister." She pulled a thin smile over her lips and then turned to write again, wondering which he would choose.
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Post by Tristan Harrigan on Jul 15, 2008 0:04:46 GMT -5
Tristan watched Susan’s fingers tap in a rhythmical pattern across the cover of the book. She was right. Not many Narnian knew of any novels that were written on earth. They thought of humans as a mythical existence, just like humans thought of fauns, unicorns and even wood nymphs as imaginary. Even some of the humans that were already residing in Narnia couldn’t recall, or even recognize some of the various titles Tristan could remember. Most of them didn’t come into this world from a wardrobe, or even abounded house. They were all born here in Narnia after the downfall of the White Witch, or from other countries such as Archenland and Calormen. Just like his close friend Amelyn, but no one knew of her background. That was top secret. “I’m actually from Ireland, my lady,” Tristan began his eyes tearing around from her dancing fingers to her face. His own brown eyes held her gaze, noticing the glaze of reverie glazing across her lids. Tristan could tell Susan was trying to remember her life before entering Narnia. Everyone knew of the Pevensie’s heroic tales.
“I can’t remember much of how everything functioned back on earth, but I do remember the roar of the ocean by my parent’s cottage, and the miles of green, lush hills.” Looking away from her quickly, Tristan stared absentmindly into the book shelf wondering what possessed him to say what he spoke. He didn’t say anything to her last comment, but he could hear the sulkiness in her tone of voice. There was something much deeper than he would know. Instead he just pulled out a book from the shelf, his hands opening to the first page. “You don’t find the main character intriguing? I agree with the symbolism within Gigg’s writings, but the man in that book was a troubled, lost soul. We all can relate to that at times, my lady,” Tristan mentioned, thumbing through the edges of the book, his eyes never leaving the beige colored paper. “We all feel helpless one time in our lives. That character showed it brilliantly.” Nodding, Tristan couldn’t help but also hear more bitterness in the queen’s tone when she spoke about people always knowing who she was. He had never really thought of it as a burden to be royalty, but never cared for it. Ruling wasn’t something he wanted to do. Tristan could plan attacks and fight with all his heart; that didn’t involve taking care of a whole nation.
He was now sitting in the chair opposite of Susan, the book opened up to the first page in front of him. The sun was gleaming in from the window, leaving a glare that burned his eyes. Susan words caused Tristan to chuckle deep within his throat. He had an interesting relationship with the High King. They were friends, yet they were comrades. That had to mean something, and it did to Tristan. “Your brother finds it amusing to try to make me smile since he thinks I’m suffering from a cold heart,” Tristan began a slight raise of his face as he turned the page of his novel. “Only works sometimes, but he did ask me to attend the meeting tonight, my lady.” Tristan really did dislike those meetings. They were boring, but he somehow managed to sit through them, listening to every word that was spoken. It was his duty to. When he offered not to speak, Susan didn’t object to his offer, but he took it anyway. Tristan just stared over his book at her for a moment, shrugging as he glanced back down into pages. “My lips are sealed, your majesty.”
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Post by Queen Susan the Gentle on Aug 19, 2008 22:53:18 GMT -5
Susan looked at Tristan, her eyes holding slight disbelief, but then she looked down and said nothing as he spoke of Earth. Susan would not remember the place, not only could she not... she refused to. It was tricky, probably wrong to do so. She would betray herself, her brothers, and her sister if she thought about the home that once was. Peter, though he never spoke of it, surely remembered. Edmund didn't believe in thinking about things that were not part of the present. Lucy, well, Susan wasn't quite sure what Lucy remembered from their time on Earth. Susan didn't remember much herself, but what she did remember was enough to make her wish she hadn't ever remembered it in the first place. So, why would she feel guilty about thinking about her past home? Quite a few reasons, surely; but none she wished to think of in this present moment.
Tristan was speaking of the book by Giggs and Susan found herself able to focus on what she was supposed to be focused on. Books were easy to talk about, because they were safe ground. Anyone could think what they wanted to about them, no one had to agree or everyone could agree. A healthy debate about a book was a good thing, and Susan hadn't had one in awhile. So, when Tristan mentioned the fact that he found the main character intriguing because he could relate to him, Susan found herself shaking her head in disagreement, "Quite the contrary," she told him in a tone that said she had thought this through quite often enough, "I find a character intriguing when I can not relate to them." Then, because she couldn't help herself, she pursed her lips together and stated rather bitterly, "And it would figure that you found a lost, lonely character relateable."
Perhaps Susan was being too bitter toward the knight, but she didn't do well with people - or rather, people who found a way to push her buttons without even trying. She was a rather likeable character, someone who got along with plenty of people, but sometimes she wanted to be alone, and sometimes...people weren't what she needed. Of course, she could just send Tristan away with the flick of her wrist, but Susan wasn't that cruel and after all the library was public domain - even though it was considered the Kings' and Queens'. Susan wasn't selfish, she was willing to share. She just wasn't willing to get along with just anyone so easily. "Hmm. Yes, Peter does have that annoying tendency to try to get people to lighten up a bit, doesn't he? It's as if he has nothing better to do with his time than to annoy those around him by dancing and making a complete fool of himself." She doubted Tristan knew exactly what she was talking about, but that hardly mattered - she was speaking to herself.
Tristan then said his lips were sealed, and Susan looked up from her letter over at him for a moment before returning to it. The room was uneasily quiet now, and for some reason that bothered Susan more than the talking had. She bit her lip, internally torn now, between continuing a conversation with Tristan or remaining stoic in her decision to not speak at all. As her pen scratched against the thick paper, Susan spoke in an even tone, still not looking over at Tristan; "You must spend a lot of your time out on location if you are so close with my brother..."
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