[X] Come Away, Human Child... (Open to anyone) [Inactive]

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[Character of the Month]

Character of the Month
Prince Caspian

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Played by Cara

"Cara has managed to...create a character that is both mythical and life-like. Impulsive, moody, and yet kind and good-hearted, Caspian is just beginning to show the makings of a true leader."
Character of the Month Archive

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[Tarkheena Samaah Selim]

All night, owls and flapping things that screeched softly--bats, her nurses had called them--stayed awake prowling and keeping watch on the dark land. Unseen, creatures stalked the forests with hungry glowing eyes. Fig slept shallowly, an ear occaisonally flicking in the direction of an unexpected or unfamiliar sound. He had become accustomed after the past few days, to keeping watch over his little Mistress as she slept. No different, really, than when he would stay vigilant for predators or enemy soldiers in the desert as his master and grooms slumbered.

Nothing bothered them that night; the wolves and foxes and serpents seemed to prefer the sheltered shadow of the forest to risking the exposure of the open plain. When the sky brightened, the young Tarkheena sat up, wiped her eyes and patted Fig. He was such a good guard-horse. Samaah had personally never heard of anyone having a guard-horse before, but now that she thought of it it seemed a wonderful idea. When she got home she'd have to ask mother and Father and her nurses about it; surely, seeing Fig's courage and loyalty, they could not but agree! That would be something sure to be woven into the tales that would surely be spun about her journey--Fig would be the noble steed forever at her side, a rolemodel for young horses everywhere. What were young horses called, Fig?  Did Fig remember being little like Samaah herself was? What was his mother like, did he remember? She must have been a very pretty mare; in the little Tarkheena's mind she was nearly black, with a pepper-streaked mane and tail and a white spot called a star on her forehead. Her name would be Jewel.

The fish in the pannier were beginning to smell bad, but she ate a few anyway. The moss was no longer needed; now they had access to grass. And good grass it seemed, too; Fig had a nice long graze as Samaah bathed and washed her hair. The comb at last found its use in untangling and brushing out the stray sand and bits of grass that she'd picked up in her odd sleeping arrangements. She wished she'd brought some of those lovely-scented soaps and lotions that her nurses used when they washed her--and maybe a means of warming the water--but it would do for now. Perhaps some could be had in the next city they came to. what manner of city would it be, did Fig think? Did the people in this country have slaves? Meanwhile, she tried to bathe Fig, but he kept whickering and darting away from her splashes. Giggling, she chased him up and down. This was great fun! Even if her slippers became rather wet and muddy in this game it was quite worth it.

When they'd tired of that, she tugged sharply on the reins and tried to get Fig to understand 'Down'. As wonderfully brave and clever as he was, he simply couldn't quite understand. Perhaps a tree could serve as a step-stool? Taking the reins, she led Fig over to the edge of the nearest thicket, where some decent-sized trees grew. Fortunately there was one with a wide bole where the main trunk split in four, near enough to the ground that she could climb into it. As long as she had the reins to make sure he couldn't run off, she could use the tree for a mounting block! Yay, notw they could go!

The pair continued following the river so as to always have a drink at hand. It was a lovely spring day, beautifully warm. Butterflies danced in the grass, and on more than one occasion Fig shyed from a rabbit or vole as it abruptly crossed his path. It was such a treat to be riding out in the open in a beautiful place like this, that for once the young Tarkheena actually fell silent with wonder. Far in the distance it looked like there was another group of mountains--on no, suppose they had to cross over those to get into Narnia?! Well...but she had Fig with her and Fig could do anything; she earnestly believed.

[Lilla Rosalba]

It was a pleasant day, and it had been a pleasant ride. Lilla had been needing such a reprieve for weeks now. Between dull court-talk with the ladies and political discussions witnessed from a silent corner, Lilla had felt like a caged bird.

But the feel of a swift horse, brought to a full gallop by her hand, the wind in her hair, the breathtaking vistas-- that was power. She had been gone a full five hours now and was certain she would be missed. That was exhilarating, she thought as she pressed her knees into the side of her horse even more, leaning close to his neck to see what it must be like from her view.

She laughed as her headscarf, hanging on by a pin, finally broke free and flew into the air.

They were approaching a brook now, and Lilla, seeing now that they were not alone, brought the steer to a sensible trot, then a walk. She attempted to reaffix her hair with some dignity until she noted that it was only a child. And what a child!

Muddied and care-worn, and in the garb of a Calormene. And not just any garb. Though threadbare, Lilla could easily see the gold of those threads and frowned. The child had become separated from her group, perhaps? But Lilla had heard of no royal envoys being sent. She would have been the first to know. Perhaps they were separated in Calormene.

This being the case, it fell upon the Castle to take her in and care for her. And so, slowly, Lilla made her way, proclaiming a formal "Hail!" before drawing too close, not wishing to startle the young thing.

[Tarkheena Samaah Selim]

The girl was startled out of her reverie by the sound of hoofbeats approaching from the opposite side. Samaah hadn't expected to meet anyone else coming along here! Oh, maybe it would be a Tarkhaan who knew her Father and could tell him about the Adventure she was going on! Maybe he'd even want to accompany her; he could be the faithful companion like the stories always told; wasn't that right Fig? Fig snorted, beginning to toss his head uneasily--the approaching horse was another stallion; there might be a fight. His mistress had no idea of this, however; she took the response as agreement.

The little Tarkheena was surprised to realize that the approaching rider was not a Tarkaan at all, but a Tarkheena--and an ill one, at that! She was so pale, the poor dear! She needed to take some of that yucky-tasting eelikser like Samaah's nurses gave her when she felt bad, and to curl up in a soft bed and have her hair stroked and stories told until she fell asleep. When she woke up, she'd feel much better, and they could go exploring together! Though it was odd; for one so clearly ill as this lady was, she didn't seem to feel especially bad. In fact she could distantly be heard laughing, and tossed her brightly colored scarf away to see it flutter. How odd....

Samaah smiled back.

"Hail," she called in response, intensely curious about this light-skinned strange person.

[Lilla Rosalba]

The child smiled and seemed eager to speak, rather than what Lilla had anticipated: fear and retreat. Good. This made things much easier for her and, now coming up to the child, she dismounted. The thing looked wild. Perhaps ravenous. She only wished she had thought to bring food. She risked either the King's displeasure of Calormene's gratitude in doing this, however, and that was nearly enough motivation for her course.

"My name is Lilla Rosalba; I come from the Telmarine castle. . ." she said, slowly approaching as she would a cornered rabbit and gesturing over her shoulder to the fortified city which could be seen in the distance. "What is your name? Where have you come from?"

[Tarkheena Samaah Selim]

Smiling brightly, Samaah patted Fig's neck. Why did he seem so nervous? This Lady seemed nice and she was dressed so well; she must be very respectable and therefore nothing to be feared. She also slid to the ground when Lilla dismounted; it must look comically strange to see a little girl leading a big warhorse by his reins like that! He stamped but followed her as the child went to meet the newcomer.

"Hail, Tarkheena Lilla Rosalba! I'm the Tarkheena Samaah Selim, and I came from Tashbaan to have an Adventure and find some Talking Beasts!"

A pause, then the child canted her head like a bird.

"Does your husband know you're all the way out here by yourself while you're ill?"

[Lilla Rosalba]

"Talking Beasts, you say?" Lilla said with a merry laugh. "And then you might dance with the Stars on the green in the moonlight!" she proclaimed.

Here she hesitated; the girl was still very young, and it was very likely that she would not understand the bite of sarcasm -- the fashionable manner of speaking of the court these days. Lilla had not known where her own fluency in this language had come from.  It dawned on her in a soft, grey sadness. Would that she could be like this child: bright as the morning, innocent.

"I'm afraid," she said, expression softening, "that we do not have such things here as Talking Beasts in Telmar." Even if they did, they wouldn't have them much longer, if Miraz had his way -- and he usually did. It was best, then, not to let the child know of her disappointment. "But," she said, holding up a finger, "my grandfather is very much like a Talking Bear. I am sure he would be happy to tell you stories of his travels. And perhaps you might tell us of yours! Is this your first time travelling alone, Tarkeenah Samaah?"

Certainly it was her first time alone. The child's condition and wretched state attested to this, but Lilla was not about to insult the daughter of a foreign nobleman by observing this!

At the child's odd inquery, however, Lilla also tilted her head, wetting her lips. Surely she did not look as old as that! They married very young in Calormene, for certain. . . but the thought of her! Married! Lilla could not help but laugh, a light, bubbling laugh at this thought. "I often ride alone; I, too, like a little adventure!"

But there was one thing . . . "Ill?" she echoed, not understanding this last bit.

[Tarkheena Samaah Selim]

Lilla was correct in assuming that her bit of sarcasm would fly right over the child's head; her little face lit up in wonder and delight at the idea of dancing with the stars as she assumed the woman spoke the truth. Oh, what a wonderful thing this Adventure was proving to be! Just think of Mother's face to learn Samaah had held hands with a Star and waltzed with it! Would a star feel silvery-cold, she wondered, or bright-hot like the sun?

For a moment the girl's face fell as the lady added that there were no Talking Beasts in Telmar, though she brightened up again at the idea of hearing more stories. Finally, someone to talk to!!

"Yes, I don't think I was really 'sposed to...Fig took fright when I got on his back, and then we were running and it was a very long long way! The desert is soooo dry; did you ever see a Dragon?"

Once again the girl's active imagination kicked up a head of steam, imagining the lady's fine charger racing across the dunes pursued by a massive serpentine beast, ooh, with big horns on its nose, and fire spitting from its mouth!

She nodded earnestly to the woman's confused expression.

"Oh, yes Tarkheena Lilla! you're so white--you must be feeling poorly! You ought to at least bring a slave with you--what if you'd fallen right off your horse?"

Probably it wasn't  right for a child to chide an adult, but one could tell by the way the girl wrung her hands that she was honestly worried.

[Lilla Rosalba]

OOC: Excuse central but I DID have a draft of this written up! I found it after a month; I thought I had posted it!

IC:
Lilla held back her alarm that the child, far from being a quixotic runaway, was in fact victim of an accident -- or at least misunderstanding -- that led her here.

"I've never seen a dragon, though I have seen," Lilla said, trying to lure the wild child in so that she might take her to the castle, "tiny little ones, the size of my finger," she said, holding up her pinky, "in the ocean. One of the nobles here who is very fond of exploring, brought back many creatures in the ocean and we keep them in a menagerie. Is there a managerie at your home?" she asked, testing to see if she were perhaps the daughter of the Tisroc. (Lilla didn't much matter if he lived forever or no.)

At her explanation, Lilla could not help but laugh lightly, shaking her head. "This is how we appear in these parts," she said, though, certainly, she was rather more pale owing to the fact that she did not spend much time out-of-doors and when she did, kept her head covered. Well, usually, she mused as she thought of the scarf which had been lost during her last great race with the winds.

"And," she added, "I perhaps ought to have brought a servant," she said, emphasising this last word, "if I did not enjoy being alone quite so much. It is hard to find an opportunity to hear oneself think. And as I am an expert horsewoman," she said, raising a brow teasingly, "I think there is no need for supervision." She turned her eyes to the horse. Fig.

"Do you think, Tarkheena Samaah, that you are up for a gallant race to the castle? We shall have pastries and pretty dresses all waiting for you," she enticed.

[Tarkheena Samaah Selim]

((How did I only just today see this had been replied to?!?))

Her recollection of what seahorses were like had the desired effect--the little girl's eyes went wide with wondering delight and without thinking she moved closer, hands fluttering excitedly. Tiny dragons, no larger than a finger! Tiny water dragons! Mother would be delighted to see those swimming in the fountain; they would make her happy for certain! Who might have imagined that such wonders existed? She shook her head earnestly at the question of whether they had a 'menagerie' at her home. According to one of those boring lessons, a menagerie was where people kept all kinds of animals, for displaying.

"No, but Mother says the Tisroc--may he live forever!--has the biggest one in the entire world! I might get to see the Tisroc--may he live forever!-someday, like when I'm big enough to get married to my husband  and our wedding happens--he might like a tiny water dragon, don't you think?--and get dressed up in the pretty robes and jewels and we get to have children and so does Fig, then the Tisroc--may he live forever!--might come see the wedding, and I can show him Fig!"

Clapping exciedly, the child briefly hopped up and down in a way quite unbecoming a Tarkheena. She looked very curious at the lady's statement that she might have brought a servant with her, but she liked being alone.

"But doesn't that get sad, being alone with no one to talk to? Fig is nice to talk to but he can't talk back; just horsey grunts and snuffles and sometimes he moves his ears like this." Here she helpfully demonstrated with a brisk shake of her head.

"Besides, what if you get lost and the pretty lady-horse doesn't know her way back?"

She looked delighted at the idea of a race, nodding eagerly.

"Fig can outrun the wind and the lions in the desert! He used to run in races in the desert for Father! I think Father's losing the races right now," she added conspiratorily, leaning beriefly towards Lilia as she reached for Fig's reins.

"Down Fig. You remember how; you did it earlier! "

[Lilla Rosalba]

The child's enthusiasm was infectious. Lilla could not remember the last time she had laughed, even when holding her young nephew, still just a baby.

The child's speech, so revealing of her upbringing, did raise some sobering thoughts, however. Already thinking of marriage. An arranged one, no doubt. They did that here, too, though Lilla had managed to make herself a prize worth bartering for and, thus far, no one was worth the price of exchange. There had been talks to pacify Lord Drinian, the dauntless explorer. Then Sephen Brascoe. It had been long since since she had had to meet either; she hoped this was a sign of good fortune. While certainly worthy gentlemen, she had no impulse (though certainly compulsion) to be married.

"Mayhap," she said deviously to the child, "you bring a water dragon back to the Tisroc and he, in gratitude, shall show you all his creatures." This would prepare her for the thought of returning -- for the certainly couldn't keep her like a stray off the streets -- and give her something to hope for. Something beyond a marriage to a worthy ("worthy" was such an illusory word) man.

Lilla's smile grew cryptic as the girl-child expressed concern. "To be with others is sometimes  nice. If you want to be with them. But it can be lonely as well, even in a room of people. Sometimes, I do not have the good fortune to be around nice people. But I am glad to have met you, Tarkheena Samaah." She giggled at the horse-like impersonation.

"You have a good friend in Fig. Let us try his speed; we need not lions to press us on! If we fly, we can, perchance, return for tea and reading!" She would need to clean the child up, settle her, introduce her -- the ladies were gathering tonight for conversation. Perhaps she might introduce her there.

No sooner had Samaah risen to her saddle than Lilla drove her heels into the sides of her steed, taking off like a bolt before, several feet away, slackening the pace considerably. The appearance of speed while yet maintaining the close distance of supervision.