[for Anne] went back to what you knew

[navixator]

Being back at all, he knew, was a blessing. Being back and able to hold Anne tight certainly also was. Being back and also on his feet again?

He didn't want to diminish the other two genuine miracles, but he also couldn't help being entirely elated.

The first day, of course, he had been told not to push himself. It had been enough, at least, that he was able to walk through the Cair again--had been able to stand at the tallest spire and make his way down to the shore. It had been enough to stand on the dock and greet the newly returned Lord Drinian. It had been enough to lean on Anne's arm at the end of the day and feel himself fully, properly a King.

The next day saw him rising properly early of his own accord. It saw him strapping on light armour before the morning meal, feeling entirely secure in his own body again.

And meant, at the end of the meal, that his hand found Anne's with an entirely cheerful smile as he pulled her knuckles up for a soft kiss.

"Come. You're a woman of Narnia now. I want to show you what that means."

Comments

[happyfalcon]

There was indeed a certain primal rush upon pulling the trigger. An even bigger rush came from hitting the target. A slow smile crept across her face as she stared long and hard at the bolt in the target. She giggled a bit at the kiss, pride swelling inside her.

"I can hardly claim credit, Majesty," Anne nudged him playfully. "I had an excellent teacher after all."

And it certainly wasn't her father. Or George.

[navixator]

"A teacher who can hardly claim the credit himself for such an incredible first attempt."

He moved to the pile of bolts again, moving this time to free the rope pull from among them to help her pull the string back herself this time around.

"How did it feel?"

[happyfalcon]

"It felt..." she searched for the proper word, the ladylike word. "Exhilarating."

She had never felt such a rush before. Writing poetry, playing her lute, nothing like that had given her such excitement as she had just experienced. The only thing that could be compared was...well, certain bed-themed activities.

"Does it...always feel like that?"

[navixator]

It's certainly a more feminine word than he'd ever been taught to use, but he recognizes the feeling instantly the moment she says it. There was absolutely a beaming smile on his lips as he nods, twisting the rope around his fingers for the moment.

"Almost always."

It always felt more... complicated in actual battle.

"Again?"

[happyfalcon]

"If I can, yes please!" Anne couldn't help her own excitement as he proposed a second attempt.

She set the bow on the ground again, steadying it by putting her foot in the stirrup, but then it occurred to her that he had retrieved something else amongst the bolts.

"What's the rope for?" She asked.

[navixator]

"So you can have a go at cocking it yourself."

It was, after all, lifting against the force over a hundred pounds to pull the string back with one's bare hands. The rope would halve that, although he couldn't begin to explain the physics behind it.

"We just--" It took a moment, leaning over her again, to set the middle of the rope on top of the bow and lace the lengths down either side, twisting lightly around the string. "--like this." The ends of the rope were offered to her grip. "Tug them both straight up at the same time. It's-- still quite heavy, so easy does it."

[happyfalcon]

Anne watched warily as he moved, studying the way he secured the rope. She took the rope ends, thinking it couldn't be as heavy as he said. For a brief moment, she got cocky. Anne moved to pull back, easy like he told her, but the rope didn't budge. She put all her strength into it and the string moved a little. Anne gave a displeased twitch of her lips. She didn't like not being able to perform what she perceived to be a relatively simple task. Then again, she'd never done this before.

[navixator]

"--easy."

He remembered, after all, the frustration of being younger and unable to cock his own bow. It had been tempting to all but throw out his own back trying to force it.

"Here. You take the left."

And he'd take the right, shoulder some of the weight for now.

[happyfalcon]

Anne blushed, embarrassed at not being able to complete the task on her own. But she obeyed, taking the left side in her hand and leaving the right for Caspian. She waited until it was in his hand, and she pulled back slowly, carefully, as he had instructed.

It came a bit easier with him helping her, but not completely. Anne pulled steadily, bringing the string back to cock the bow, relieved when it slipped into place.

[navixator]

It was a bit of a struggle, perhaps, but there was absolutely a proud smile on his lips when the string clicked into place, limbs perfectly bent.

"Very well done." One hand left the rope to briefly squeeze her arm. "That's honestly the only tricky bit--and you're already good at the important part."

Cocking the bow came with muscle. Aiming came with time and experience. Of the two to be a natural at, he felt firmly she had picked the better.

[happyfalcon]

Anne had to fight the urge to breathe a sigh of relief when the string clicked. She couldn't fight the smile though as he gripped her arm and praised her.

"You're too kind, Majesty," Anne smiled.

She brought the bow up again, resting it in the hollow of her shoulder. Then it was a simple matter of releasing the safety and taking aim. Though Anne paused, glancing to Caspian, looking for approval to see if she'd indeed done right thus far.

[navixator]

Her grip looked infinitely more natural, this time around. His fingers moved briefly to nudge for a bit of relaxation in her shoulders, but then fell away quickly, his entire stance fully approving.

"Whenever you're ready."

[happyfalcon]

Per his direction, Anne relaxed her shoulders. Then her attention went back on the weapon. Her finger released the safety, then fell back on the trigger. Dark eyes focused on the target for a moment, both eyes open. She pulled the trigger and loosed the bolt.

A little better, a little closer to the center, but not much. It was only her second shot, after all.

[navixator]

There's another bright, cheerful laugh for that, his hands clapping together with genuine pride. It's wonderful to see her taking to this so naturally.

The Sons of Adam and Daughters of Eve from England really were made of stern stuff.

"Excellent, Anne."

[happyfalcon]

She lowers the bow, smiling at the reaction she gets from him. In her opinion she could have done better, but she wasn't about to be self-deprecating now. Besides, Anne loved his praise and recognition.

"All thanks to you, Majesty," Anne bowed her head a little. "Thank you, my king. I'm sure there are better things you could have been doing with your morning than showing me how to use a crossbow."

[navixator]

"Nonsense. I'd only have been down here myself. It's-- important."

And he was certain she could understand that. He was certain she didn't need it explained that, after his near-death, the army needed to see its king up and battle-ready again.

"But it's that much lovelier if it happens with you at my side."

[happyfalcon]

Anne nods - she does indeed understand. She had expressed that very opinion herself.

"Then I'm glad to have been a comfort to your Majesty," Anne curtseyed a bit - as best she could with the weapon in hand. "As your presence is always a comfort to me."

She smiles, pausing a moment.

"I should like to return the favor, Highness," Anne spoke softly. "I mean, surely your knowledge is great but, is there not something I could teach you as well to repay your kindness?"

[navixator]

This wasn't a place to be openly affectionate. True, there weren't courtiers about, but each passing hour brought more soldiers out into the training field. There was no need to test the bonds of their loyalty.

So, instead, his hand only moved to again squeeze affectionately at her arm, just above the elbow. It would have to suffice until they were properly away from prying eyes again.

"There's nothing owed, Anne, although I confess it difficult to turn down such a tempting offer."

[happyfalcon]

She smiled, glancing up to him as possibilities flurried in her mind.

"Nothing owed, no. Simply a means of thanks, Majesty," Anne replied. "So, what is it that I could teach you? I'm quite well-versed in poetry, I'm certain I could teach you that? Though Highness is well-versed with words without my help, I'm sure."

[navixator]

"Could you teach me the poetry of England, perhaps?"

There wouldn't be any books to help them, of course. There wouldn't be anything to test or prove by but her memory. Still, it was what was being genuinely offered.

[happyfalcon]

"Of course," Anne smiled, though she looked beyond him. "This is hardly the place for such a lesson though. Shall we retire to someplace more quiet? A garden perhaps, or the library?"

She was hardly a poet like Thomas Wyatt, but Anne could hold her own.

[navixator]

A glance over his shoulder certainly confirmed it, if there was any doubt that the training fields were a less than ideal place to study quieter arts.

"The library, then." But his hand did catch at hers to pull her fingers briefly up to his lips, entirely courtly and softly apologetic. "This afternoon?"

She, of course, was free to go if she liked, having been more than patient with this lesson, but the King would have to stay at least a while longer--actually spend time with his troops, no matter how lost in love his heart had become.

[happyfalcon]

There was no need for any apology in that kiss. Anne smiled though, always happy for his kisses, be they on her hand, her lips, her neck. It didn't matter. Any physical contact from Caspian was welcomed and treasured by Anne.

"The library it is - I'll be there, I shall familiarize myself with Narnian literature until you arrive," Anne smiled.

Keeping up with propriety, Anne curtseyed and flickered her eyes up to convey the message of devotion that she could not speak aloud. Not here.

"I shall eagerly await your Majesty."

[navixator]

"This afternoon, then, Lady Anne."

He did do his best not to run off too quickly. He did bow properly to her, and did glance back at her as he headed to get his own bow, but... it couldn't be helped that he did look quite excited.

Caspian was a man of peace in his heart, but he had been raised as a son of Telmar for years. There was joy, for him, in spending time at the firing range. There was excitement and pleasure in sparring with his men, spending his morning clashing swords with soldiers--winning some of the time and being lifted from the dirt others.

He did do his best, of course, to clean himself up when he was done. He looked properly appointed again when he did make his way to the library, back out of his armour and into his tunic, breath only slightly laboured from the exertion on his newly-healed lungs.

Here, at least, alone, he could greet Anne with a proper kiss pressed to her cheek.

[happyfalcon]

As she'd said, Anne left to the library - though she did catch herself looking out the window to observe the sparring. She couldn't help but appreciate his form. But, she poured herself over reading poetry of Narnia. It was not altogether different from the poetry of England, but with subtle differences.

Once she heard Caspian come in she looked up from her book. She smiled and even blushed a bit as he kissed her cheek. She looked up to him and chuckled a little.

"Been waiting for that all morning," Anne smiled. Her fingers reached out and gave his arm a squeeze. "You were marvelous today, Majesty."

She gestured to the far window. "I was able to watch from there."