Temeraire does begin to topple at the sound of a new voice, albeit thankfully in the wrong direction: he jerks back, startled, and the movement upsets his already precarious balance.

Any other human would fling out an arm in a vain attempt to stay upright, futile though the attempt might be. Temeraire does not. Instead he falls with a curious expression on his face, as if he is struggling to move appendages that are not entirely there, and when he hits the ground--more or less at Robin's feet--he lies there, a little dazed, and not entirely convinced that gravity has taken hold.

It is a moment before he can muster up the energy to look up, and when he does, his eyes are unfocused, his eyebrows drawn together in confusion.

"Laurence," he murmurs. "Whatever are you doing up there?"