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.

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[curlytop]

And you'll wake me, so I can go with you.

[He's still the queen's guard, whatever else he may be.]

[illuminescent]

But what if you're sleeping so peaceably?

[She is teasing: of course she'll wake him.]

[curlytop]

As soon as you leave the bed, I won't be.

[He knows. And he wouldn't sleep through her summoning anyway.

He nuzzles into her hair, relaxing under her warm weight.]

You'll sleep too, hm?

[illuminescent]

I will try.

[That's as much as she can manage, she thinks. She won't lie to him.]

You really would wake, if I left the bed, wouldn't you?

[curlytop]

[He wishes he could give her a peacefulness rune, something to help them both sleep better.]

Of course. I always know when you're not there.

[illuminescent]

When will I learn that talent?

[She wants to know when he's not there, she wants that secret. It would make everything better.]

[high_warlock]

He's smiling broadly now, delighted by her delight, so the kiss catches more of his lips than perhaps she even intended. Definitely more than he wants, however.

The smile doesn't fade exactly, but freezes, and he stills. Obviously he's uncomfortable, but obviously too he's trying to hide it, trying to move on, trying not to make her uncomfortable.

He turns his head away.

"Even a man as handsome as me has to cheat a little sometimes," he says, trying to play it off. "We were having fun and I wanted to keep it that way."

[curlytop]

It's not one you'd care to learn.

[It comes from long years of training both in Calormen and in Idris. Much of it painful. It's born of fear and paranoia.]

[illuminescent]

She knows, then.

His heart belongs to someone else. Well. That is just fine, for Lucy; she is not one to be bothered by that, and she knows she is the one who overstepped. Her smile softens, and it's still warm. "Yes," she agrees, carefully. "It should just be fun, and nothing more," she tells him.

[illuminescent]

[She kisses him.]

Sleep, my sweetheart.

[She won't leave without him.

In fact, the next morning, no one comes to get them and she wakes up with him right there against her.]

George.

[She whispers it, and crawls up on him, so she's straddling him.]

[high_warlock]

"Depending on how long I'm here though, I'm going to need friends," Magnus reasons. He doesn't want Lucy to get the wrong idea, that this is just him playing with her, that he's only flighty and fun and nothing more. He needs something more in his life just... not what she had just offered.

He doesn't think. His heart hurts so much and for a little while there, it hadn't. He wants that, without strings. Perhaps that's selfish, but that's the way of it.

"Maybe a little more than fun, in that sense."

[illuminescent]

She laughs a little, and takes him by the hand again. “Well, then, what manner of fun should you like? I think I owe you a favor, sir.”

She means for him coming here, taking her time from others, for teasing her and laughing with her and dancing with her.

He did not have to. But he did it.

[high_warlock]

"You owe me nothing. I owe you for a beautiful night."

Magnus is gracious, sometimes to a fault, but he won't let Lucy think that he's done anything but enjoy himself tonight. He has. Even if he stumbled over that kiss, the whole evening has been near perfect.

"Show me something beautiful. Your favorite place, if it's near."

[illuminescent]

Something beautiful.

She takes him and slips him out the side door, and then they’re going through the castle, down the sides and through the gardens, until suddenly they’re at the beach. The water is to but blue and clear, and the sand is fine and soft.

She leaves her slippers. “Here. We are going to the end of the beach.”

It isn’t terribly long, but it’s long enough. She takes his hand. “From there I will show you the best thing in all the world.”

[high_warlock]

There's a giddy sense of adventure building inside of him as they pass through the halls and exterior of the castle, the moon and stars lighting their paths. He ditches his shoes as well -- though they're not slippers and take a minute to untie -- and follows her, hand in hers.

"All of this world or all of them?"

[illuminescent]

“You will make me show my bias,” she tells him.

The sand is getting caught in her skirts but she doesn’t care. Everyone who knows Lucy, who has ever spent more than five minutes with her knows that her skirts get messy and her dresses get muddy, and it never matters.

She doesn’t have a single regret.

At the end of the beach is an arcing rock, that goes well over the ocean. She ties her skirt up into her bodice, and starts climbing up. At the top they can look right into the crystalline water, and even in the dark the moon and starlight shine down and show right to the bottom.

Down there there are ripples of blue and green light. Lucy takes a pebble. “Here. When you throw a pebble, and give the ocean a bit of Narnia, the ocean will tell you a secret.”

[curlytop]

[There is a slight moment of disorientation when George wakes and his not in his cot in the room next to Lucy's. He startles and then smiles as she settles on top of him.]

Good morning, m'eudail.

[His voice is sleep-rough and rumbling.]

[illuminescent]

You're awake.

[She says it gently, and leans her chin on his chest, just against his tattoo.]

And here. With me. In my bed.

[And her smile is sweet, and happy.]

In our bed.

[curlytop]

I am.

[He smiles as well, sleepy and pleased, and far more content than he's been in a long while now.]

And so are you. No royal summons.

[illuminescent]

Perhaps Susan came to my rescue.

[She says it, and she nuzzles closer to him.]

She is soft for newlyweds.

[curlytop]

We'll have to thank her.

[His voice is hushed, and he brushes her hair back from her face, leaning in for a kiss.]

What would you like to do this morning, my lady wife?

[illuminescent]

I wish to laze on my husband.

I wish to-

-no. That is it.

[But she smiles a little.]

But you must tell the rest of my guard about everything.

[curlytop]

Well, if anyone wishes to rouse you from your bed, they'll have to get past your husband first.

[His arms curl around her comfortably.]

I will. This afternoon.

Though I reckon they'll've heard already.

[illuminescent]

Perhaps so.

But even if they have, you should tell them anyway.

[She thinks the entire country has likely heard by now. She doesn't think of the parties that will happen, late at night; the queen is married, to someone she loves, the queen is happy.]

[curlytop]

[George tries not to think of the grumbling that must be happening. The queen is married to someone undeserving.

It doesn't matter here, anyway, because Lucy is happy, and that makes George smile.]

I will do.

[They, at least, will be happy for him. And for Lucy.]

But that means getting out of bed.