narnia au;

[illuminescent]

how did you get here? through a wardrobe, or through death, or maybe a portal gone terribly astray. a ring. the roar of a lion. in the bottom of a cup. because you were looking for something, or missing something. no matter how you got there, this is where you belong.

Comments

[illuminescent]

cont.

[curlytop]

[George could kick himself for letting the slaver get in that one, lucky blow. He's faster, stronger than humanly possible, but he can't heal himself without help, not in the middle of a fight.

He refused the drugged wine the healers suggested, and his side throbs where the scimitar had sliced him across the ribs. He takes her hand in both of his and kisses her fingers.]

Soon. Will you bring me my pouch?

[Someone must have taken it off him while they were cleaning him up, because it's no longer around his neck.]

[illuminescent]

[His pouch.

She doesn't want to let go of his hand, but he asks, and so Lucy gets up. His things - they were bloody, dirty, so she has to really hunt for it, but finally she finds it where it was discarded with his things, specifically with the things that were going to be cleaned. She takes it and she brings it back.]

Here.

[She hands it to him, and she wants to crawl into the bed with him, but she won't, not yet.]

[curlytop]

Thank you.

[He takes the pouch in one hand and her hand in the other, and he looks at the pouch for a long moment. This is a secret he's been keeping for a long time now. He'll trust Lucy with it, but he's not sure how to broach it.]

My queen...Lucy, I need to tell you something about myself. It's nothing bad, only, I haven't told anyone in Narnia or Calormen.

[He lets go of her hand to open the pouch and pull out his rod of crystal, warm and glowing faintly in his hand.]

[illuminescent]

[She watches him, carefully. She watches him move and she does not want him to speak - she wants him to sleep. To heal.

But she nods just the same.]

Then you should tell me.

[curlytop]

[George nods. Words are not his strong suit, and even without the wine, his mind is a little muddled from the pain.]

Might be easier to show you. At least to start.

[He takes the crystal in his hand like a paintbrush and pushes down the blankets with his other, baring his torso. Just above the bandage wrapped around his middle, he draws a rune. As the crystal moves over his skin, there's a soft hissing sound, as though it burns, though George doesn't even feel it over the pain of his wound. The crystal leaves a thick, black line in its wake, but once George has finished, the rune begins to fade, and in a few moments, only a pattern of faint, silver-white lines like scars remains.

George relaxes, easing back into the pillow with a sigh as his wound starts to heal, the pain easing immediately.

He looks to Lucy for a reaction, to give him some idea of how to proceed.]

[illuminescent]

[Her eyes widen,

This is magic; this is the best, most beautiful kind of magic, the magic that heals people. Her hands go to the scars, and run over his skin, gently, her fingers finding the tiny ridges and just feeling over them.

She looks up at him.]

I did not know you knew spells. I should have thought it. You told me a warlock was your teacher.

[Her fingers go to his face.]

George, I am so sorry.

[curlytop]

[George lifts his hand to cover hers on his face, his brow furrowed.]

What do you have to be sorry for? I'm the one who should apologize.

[He kept this from her, something so important, for so long, and he shouldn't have.]

[illuminescent]

[She knows he is healed, so she hiccups, almost crying.]

You were hurt, to protect me, and I was the one who led us astray.

[She dips her head.]

You should not apologize for your magic.

[curlytop]

Majesty...Lucy...

[He reaches for her, pulling her against him. The wound isn't healed completely, and he winces slightly, but he holds her anyway.]

That is my job. What else is a guard for but to protect you?

[A proper Shadowhunter, one born to the Nephilim, would argue that runes are not magic, but George doesn't quite see the distinction, and the work of the Angel is a lot like the magic of the Lion.]

I should have told you, though. I'm sorry I kept it from you.

[illuminescent]

But you should-

[She wants to argue. He shouldn't be hurt for her, but he is right.]

I was so afraid.

[And she curls against him, because she can, her head against his shoulder. Oh, she loves him.]

I will forgive you.

[curlytop]

[George holds her close against his chest and rests his cheek against her hair.]

Well, now you know you don't need to be afraid for me.

[illuminescent]

Of course I will always fear for you.

[He holds her and she holds his hand, hearing his heartbeat.]

But I will try better, to know that you can heal.

[She goes quiet.]

But by the Lion, George. I have never seen anyone so fast or so strong.

[curlytop]

[He kisses her hair, quiet for a moment as well. It's such a strange thing to try and explain.]

Aye. That's because I'm not exactly human. Not really.

[illuminescent]

[She looks up at him.]

You do not have to tell me all your secrets, if you do not wish it.

[curlytop]

[He smiles and touches her cheek.]

I want to, though. I want you to know everything. It's just...there's a lot. I hardly know where to begin.

[illuminescent]

[He leans up to press a kiss to his mouth.]

You can say it in pieces.

You can sleep if you prefer, as well.

[curlytop]

In pieces then.

[He kisses her again, though, because he will always prefer kissing to talking.]

[illuminescent]

[Theyre kissing, and Lucy prefers that to anything.]

We should not say you are healed. I will have them bring me a spare cot and tell them that is where I will sleep but truly sleep here curled next to you.

[curlytop]

[George smiles as he presses a kiss to the corner of her mouth.]

You wish to sneak me into your bed, majesty? How scandalous.

[Another kiss and he pulls back a little.]

You come to bed with me, and I'll tell you a bedtime story, how's that?

[illuminescent]

It is your bed, now.

No one would deny you deserve such treatment.

[Someone will grumble, maybe. Not a Narnian, though. They should know better.]

I will look forward to waking up with you hard against my back.

[curlytop]

[George arches an eyebrow and a smile spreads slowly across his face.]

I suppose if there are noises coming from your bedroom, people will just assume I'm still healing.

[illuminescent]

Yes.

I think so.

[She's giggling a little. Lucy, on the whole, does not lie. She does not do it to be kind and she does not do it for any other reason.

But it would not be a lie in this scenario, would it? It may not be healing of his body, but it certainly is of Lucy's heart.]

But that must mean I must be extra quiet.

[curlytop]

[George smiles broadly and kisses her again.]

We'll both have to be careful, then.

[illuminescent]

You’re a wicked boy.

[She laughs, but then she’s kissing him again, this time desperate.]

I know it is your duty, but I thank you for it just the same. My lion.