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

[curlytop]

Well not sir, for starters.

[He says it without thinking, and then immediately stiffens, his head down because he's gotten in trouble more than once for being too familiar, especially with the ladies of the court.]

Forgive me, your majesty. It's all the same to me, you may call me what you like.

[illuminescent]

[She laughs, bright and sweet.]

Easily forgiven.

George, then. The Lion is something entirely different, in Narnia.

[She walks, gently, all the way to the end of the balcony. She takes him there, and sits up on the balcony, her feet dangling a little.]

Do you like Calormen?

[curlytop]

[George doesn't quite smile when she says his name, but something at the corners of his mouth relaxes.]

Aye, I see it in your tapestries. It means something different in my home too.

[Yet another reason he's not sorry for the nickname. The question catches him off guard, and he answers automatically.]

Calormen is a great empire, majesty.

[illuminescent]

[She sees that, and she kicks her legs a little.]

So I am told.

[She sighs a little, but she raises her head and looks up at him.]

I want to know what you think.

[She pauses for a moment, but she shakes her head.]

I am no great friend of the Tirsoc or his son.

[curlytop]

[Even if his lips don't cooperate, there's something in his eyes that softens as she kicks her legs. Such a simple thing to take joy in, and it reminds him of a world a million worlds away from here. His gaze flicks toward the ballroom where Rabadash is dancing with Queen Susan, and his tarkaans are otherwise occupied. For once, no one is watching the barbarian.]

You shouldn't let your sister marry him.

[If this meant he left with Rabadash tomorrow and was punished, so be it. Queen Susan was such a sweet, harmless thing, a little silly, from what George had seen, but not deserving of a life in Tashbaan.]

[illuminescent]

[Oh.

She looks at him, and then she looks over at the ballroom. Susan is laughing, now, and she's so beautiful the entire room is staring at her, unable to look away. Susan is kind, too, and it shines through her skin. Lucy loves her so much; she cannot bear the idea of anyone harming her.]

I don't know if we can forbid it if it is what she desires.

[But that said.]

Has he hurt you?

[curlytop]

[For a moment, George's brow furrows in confusion. No one in Calormen would ask that of a slave. It would be an absurd thing to even consider.]

No, your majesty. He doesn't touch me. It wouldn't do for his guard to appear weak and beaten.

[He doesn't try terribly hard to keep the bitterness from his voice.]

But he doesn't hold back his hand from others, and he doesn't show mercy to anyone.

[illuminescent]

[She looks distressed for a moment.]

He would hurt her?

[She puts a hand over her mouth.]

If you were to go back with them, and she chooses him, would-

Would you protect her?

[curlytop]

I can't say if he would dare raise his hand to a queen.

[He turns to look at her, and he knows what it would cost to stand between Rabadash and his prize, to defend that which is human and mortal. Maybe this is why the Angel sent him here.]

But if he tried, I would protect her.

[illuminescent]

[Oh.

Her breath eases, and she calms, and swings her legs a little. There are still weeks between any decision. There are weeks between any requirements.

She smiles again, and this time it's gentle. Pretty.]

Do you want to stay here? If Susan were to stay, would you be happy to stay?

[curlytop]

[George can't answer that because he can't let himself think that way.]

I will go where my master wishes.

[illuminescent]

He is not-

[She shakes her head.]

You are not a possession! You must have your own decisions!

[She hates slavery so much, and she wants so much for George to be free, even though she knows that it would be complicated to keep him in Narnia, but Lucy is not intimidated by such things.]

[curlytop]

[George watches her outburst with warm eyes. She reminds him a little of Marisol, or maybe Clary.]

Forgive me again, your majesty, but I am. A possession, I mean. And it doesn't do me any good to pretend otherwise.

[illuminescent]

You do not have to pretend-

[She feels like her heart is breaking a little.]

Come with me, please?

[She lifts herself up from the bannister, and her feet land on the ground.]

We are close to the beach, as it is just down there. And I do not like to go unaccompanied.

[curlytop]

[George's attention flicks back to the ballroom. He's not sure he remembers the last time he was this far from Rabadash, but he supposes that if Queen Susan doesn't want his services tonight, her sister is a reasonable option for him to protect instead.]

As you wish, your majesty.

[He offers his arm this time.]

[illuminescent]

[She takes his arm, and takes him down to the beach. Even in the dark, the beach is beautiful, quiet, the sparkling light of the stars reflecting in the foam and in the waves. It is so shining, and the sand is soft. The Narnian sea is Lucy's domain.

She takes them down to where the water is breaking against the rocks.]

When Radabash presented you, you were looking at me.

Why?

[curlytop]

[George can feel his cheeks flushing and he's grateful for both the breeze off the sea and the darkness of the evening. That's the sort of question that can get you in trouble in Tashbaan. Still, he feels like he has nothing to lose by honesty.]

Because when you looked at the slaves, you didn't look away.

Most of the Narnians I've seen...they don't know what to make of us. They know it's wrong, and it makes them...I don't know. Uncomfortable? So they look away.

[illuminescent]

You are a person.

I hate that Radabash has made you think otherwise.

[She leans against him a little, because he is a person, because he seems like he's been a little broken by what he has endured. Slavery is abhorrent. It destroys people, and Lucy knows it.]

You can stay here. If that is what you choose. I can find a way.

[curlytop]

[People have touched him a lot since he came into Rabadash's household, but this is the first time someone has touched him without a demand. Hesitantly, he places his hand over hers.]

He hasn't made me think that. I know I'm a person, majesty. I just also know that I'm his possession.

If your sister refuses him as she should, he will want his pet back, and he'll find someone else to give me to.

[illuminescent]

You are not-

[A pet.

She thinks he knows that.]

I am sorry. I do not like injustice when I see it.

Will you stay close to me while you are here?

[curlytop]

[He almost smiles then. There's a faint brightening to his expression. She cares so much it almost breaks his heart.]

If the prince and your sister allow it, I will.

[illuminescent]

You may know everything about the prince, but I gather you have never seen your prince on a diplomatic mission.

[She can almost see the smile, then, and it makes her wants to make him smile more.]

They will agree, if only to keep me from making their joy into misery.

[curlytop]

[He dips his head, his curls falling into his face.]

I can well believe it, majesty. You seem quite the force to reckon with.

[illuminescent]

Yes.

And I will make you smile, as well.

[She brushes his curls away from his face. She's very close to him, now.]

I promise.

[curlytop]

[She's too close, and he steps away. When the women of the court get too close to him, it never ends well.]

The prince doesn't like me to smile.