# [closed post]

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan has devised another activity to occupy her days. By the calendar's reckoning, the start of spring is roughly a week away. Between her and Tress, they've got the outline of a plan for the next Dark, and Susan is happy to rely on people who've got greater interest in and skill for growing things insofar as agriculture goes. But the growing season here shall be longer than usual, and Susan should like to have some idea about what that might mean for the ecosystem,

This is her flimsy excuse to pardon the latest stack of books she's currently carrying out of the library. There is a marginal off-chance that preparatory reading on soil biota could, potentially, be useful. Perhaps she might even talk someone else into reading on the subject as well, so that they might discuss it.

Comments

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Anything written? Letters, novels, scientific articles?"

[onthewillowsthere]

"Yes. Anything written. Not pictures."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"That sounds tremendously convenient," says Susan, thinking of the dozens of times she'd sometimes pour over a textbook to try and fully commit it to her understanding prior to an exam. Imagine if she could instead have pulled direct quotes from her memory!

[onthewillowsthere]

"I learned my catechism very quickly," Galahad says, with a flash of that occasional wryness.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan huffs a half-laugh. "I imagine so!"

[onthewillowsthere]

He considers, rubbing the band of his watch. "It must be something that is part of me, and not a power from God, or I would have lost it too."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Yes," with a soft look. "I would think so."

[onthewillowsthere]

"Good."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I'm sure most things are yours and not God's," she says, which is equally based on her observations of the many things that consistently recommend Galahad as a thoughtful, talented young man with a keen eye for detail, science, and fashion, and on her distaste for what God might have to offer.

[onthewillowsthere]

Galahad looks at her for a moment, and then softens with pleasure at what he obviously sees as a compliment. "Thank you," he says.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan looks back at Galahad for a long moment, then nods to herself, then says, "Do you know, when I was in Narnia, I was rather good at archery. I won any number of contests. And then when we went back, I'd forgotten quite a bit -- it had been an age since I'd shot seriously. But it was like there was something in the air, there, and - Aslan ensured Father Christmas gave me a bow and quiver that allowed me to pick it up immediately." She's quiet for another moment. "I forgot about Narnia for nearly nine years, and didn't practice once. I haven't got a magic bow any more." A fierce flash of a smile. "I'm nearly as good as I used to be."

[onthewillowsthere]

"You've been practicing."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I have," proudly.

[onthewillowsthere]

He nods, pleased for her. She's good at this because she's worked for it. She should be proud.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Can I tell you a secret?"

[onthewillowsthere]

Galahad nods.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Do you know that Lancelot and Gideon train together?" Susan asks. This isn't the secret, of course; it's a prelude to it.

[onthewillowsthere]

"No."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"They do," Susan says, and her eyes sparkle as she adds, "Gideon bested him once. I should have liked to see that."

[onthewillowsthere]

"He didn't mind?" a touch surprised.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"No, of course not," says Susan; this is a matter of course for her. "He was impressed by her, ah, ingenuity." She leans forward. "In any case, the secret is that I've found rubber arrows with soft tips. I believe I might... surprise them during training one day."

[onthewillowsthere]

His eyes widen minutely as he realizes what she means. The Lancelot he knew... would have been dangerous in the face of such a game. But this Lancelot is capable of being playful, it seems, and losing without flying into a rage.

It's not a surprise, exactly. Lancelot has been so much softer-spoken and gentler, and the fact that Susan loves him and Claudius has chosen to forgive him are both things that certainly couldn't have happened if he were anything like the Lancelot Galahad knew in Camelot. It's just a jarring remind of how far those differences go.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I've told Janet as well," Susan continues. "But I believe I should like to thoroughly surprise Lancelot and Gideon, at the outset."

[onthewillowsthere]

"I think you will."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Oh, splendid."