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WHO: Athos and Lucy
WHERE: de Chima
WHEN: Evening of the 6th
WHAT: A conversation on important subjects. Namely: The Bastille
WARNINGS: Athos.

[Lucy has, of late, come home exhausted and unwilling to speak much; between school and work, and her odd mood from the other day (that she still refuses to explain to its fullest) she hasn't been much herself.

Her choice of books has not proven to help that much. Lately she can be found curled up, eyes wide, reading some enormous tome or another, absorbing information in a way one does not expect from a girl who prefers to be out and about than trapped indoors.

So but tonight she's just come home, things still hanging from her arms (bags and books and stuff) when she seems to realize something.

But Lucy can't just start a conversation simply, can she?]

Athos, can you tell me something of France?

[A more specific question does not follow.]

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It was in my book.

[She seems a little surprised at his reaction, her eyes but a little wide.]

Be careful lest you spill and burn-

[She's not reaching out though.]

I have been reading books on France, or that take place there, and it seems to be a country with many prisons with very formidable names.

That is because the Bastille is the most formidable of all prisons.

[ He has always been thankful that he never ended up inside of it. Although the Châtelet had not been much better. ]

It is where we hold the most unrepentant of criminals.

Oh, and, um.

[She pauses, and then she mispronounces:]

Château d'If?

[She frowns a bit, like she knows she said that wrong.]

That is where they sent Edmond Dantes. In my book.

[She just wants to know more about where you come from, Athos.]

[ He repeats it for her in the correct pronunciation and then picks up his wine glass to join her at the table. The food can simmer. ]

Then he must have done something truly atrocious. The Château is impenetrable.

Oh no, you see, that is the tragedy! His rival had him framed for a crime he did not commit, so that his rival could marry the woman that they both loved.

I have not yet finished the book, so I do not know how it ends.

[There's a pause, and she reaches for the pitcher of water to pour a glass, then very carefully nudges it Athos' way. Wine, please.]

Are there so many criminals in your land, that you should have more than one prison?

[ He gently touches his fingers to the stem of her glass and turns the water red and alcoholic. ]

Ah. Then I understand the poor man's feeling. [ GUESS WHO GOT LOCKED UP BECAUSE HIS WIFE IS EVIL? ]

Not any more than most countries. But there has been an upsurge of protestant activity lately. That fills the prisons quite rightly. Civil unrest usually does.

[She takes the wine back and takes a sip.]

We have one. There is little unrest in Narnia, right now. I hope it remains so.

[And a pause.]

Have you been falsely imprisoned?

[ He tilts his head a little. She already knows some of his past and so he does not try to clam up as much. ]

Anne had me framed for several murders, d'Artagnan's father included. I was forced to spend a night in the Châtelet before I was to be executed. Thankfully that was easily disproved and they let me go.

[ He takes a deep drink of his wine. ] That was how d'Artagnan and I met, incidentally.

Edited 2015-10-10 22:24 (UTC)

[She frowns at that first part; she intends on having a very stern conversation with Anne if she ever meets her. But then at the second part, she brightens right away.]

Did you know you would grow to love him from the beginning, or was it very fraught?

He challenged me to a duel.

[ Athos smiles a little, refilling his glass and doing his peculiar magic. ]

And then he stopped me from being shot by firing range. And yet I did not know. It took a while.

[ It took days. Athos has always been strangely protective of d'Artagnan. ] I think I saw something in him then, though. Something that cheered me.

[She takes another sip - it really is very good wine - and she sits up, moving so she's up on her knees in the chair (yes, the royal throne of Narnia does often have a queen do this, so she can bounce a little, it's very dignified, thank you) and she leans a bit towards him]

Did you win?

It's very hard to miss how special he is. I would have had him in my guard in an instant, if he were in my rule. I would have fought Susan for him, and Peter both.

We were interrupted.

[ By Red Guards. He knows he would have won though, if he had felt like harming the young boy. But he had not. ]

I think I understand that. There was a great potential in him even then. He stormed a garrison full of trained soldiers and did not think anything else but that he must fight. I had not seen such spirit in a long time. It was hard not to be enamoured.

[She sighs - the drama of it is very romantic for a young girl, okay - and sits back a bit.]

You see, I find it all very exciting. My life is quite boring in comparison, for all that we see war every two years or so. Mostly whenever Susan plans a party that Peter has no desire to attend.

I should like duels and adventures, too!

[ Athos makes a small, amused noise. ]

It might seem exciting, but believe me, I would like to live a life where we did not have to fight off so many villains.

You're living one now! Should I make more men offend me, so you may take them to task in my name?

[She's laughing, though, it's cute.]

Did you think you would find so placid a ruler as me?

[As if she stops moving for any purpose other than sleep.]

There are still many villains in this world.

[ Crane, Lucifer ... A lot of people he would like to stab. ]

But no, you are a kind ruler, my lady. [ He offers her a gentle and teasing smile. ] But your independence makes it harder for me than Louis ever did. At least he relied on our protection.

But I do not believe he could love you half as well.

[She thinks they are her favorite people outside her own family, sometimes. More than Tumnus, or her friends in Narnia.]

It is not just independence. I worry you will get bored, following a girl around everywhere she goes.

[ Well, of course. Louis does not care whether he lives or dies. He is the Captain of the Musketeers now and yet he means very little. ]

Bored? No. I enjoy knowing you are safe.

[ She may be a Queen, but she is his friend also. ]

[She ponders this for a moment.]

All right.

[That's it, it's that simple. All right.

Maybe she'll stop leaving him behind.]

So what else of the Bastille?

I have dispatched many a man to it.

[ He keeps drinking his wine, his posture easy and relaxed as he looks towards her. ]

Are prisons the only thing you wish to know about?

What is Notre Dame?

[That's also a recurring character. Place.]

And why are all the kings named Louis?

It is a Cathedral. A very charming one, though not some
place I often attend.

[ And then he laughs. ] Ah, most fathers like their sons to have their name. It is not always just royalty.

[AND THAT'S WHEN SHE REALIZES-]

Athos.

What is your full name?

[ She asks, because of course she does. Because she's always been asking him things he does not usually speak about. Athos lifts an eyebrow and drains the last of his glass, leaning forward to fill it up again and perform his special trick. ]

Comte Olivier d'Athos de la Fére. [ Because that's how Musketeers roll, adding their home into their introductions. He grimaces, swallowing down more wine. And he adds his title because Lucy already knows. ] A little of a mouthful, do you not think?

[She looks at him for a long moment, and then covers her mouth after a moment. Noble names.

They're so long.]

Will you protest if I call you Olivier?

[Oh, she's teasing.]

[ Athos narrows her eyes at her like she's a small child in need of scolding. ]

If you wish us to remain friends, my Lady, then I would refrain.

[ He's playing up to a certain role of course, he is not actually angry with her despite how little he would enjoy her using his Christian name. ]

[Her eyes widen a little, innocently.]

You could call me Lu, then.

[He would never, she knows it, and she's not at all frightened.]

And if you think I would ever refuse to be your friend, you're sorely mistaken.

[ANOTHER PAUSE.]

What is d'Artagnan's name? How do I not know this?

[ Lu sounds like something you would call a pet. He doesn't tell her that. ]

You know, you could ask him.

[ He takes a sip of his drink, a little smug in the expression. ] And because we introduced ourselves by what we go by, of course.

Would he say?

[A pause.]

But you live with me! I should know all your names, do you not agree?

Presumably.

[ Athos is fairly certain he could freely give it and yet he does not want to assume. He has never called him by anything else. ]

I do not know, my lady. It is a custom I am used to. But if you do wish to ask, be gentle when you do so of Porthos. [ His friend can be prickly when questioned as to anything close to his origin. ]

Oh-

Yes, I will be gentle.

I am not as gentle as Susan, but I can be kind, do you not agree?

[She takes another bit of her drink.]

You can be very kind, my lady.

In fact I so rarely see you being anything but.

[ In fact he doubts she could be unkind in any way. ]

It is because you have not had the unfortunate luck to see me cross.

[Or fighting a privy but she's not bringing that up, Athos does Not Need To Know.]

And I hope you will never have that displeasure.

[ He smiles as he finishes his second ( or third, who knows ) cup of wine. ]

I hope so too.

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