cribellate | narnia au;

[For anyone in Narnia, it's practically vulgar. George's eyebrows jump, and his face darkens.]

Well, for starters, I've not tumbled you anywhere.

[He does let go of her ankle then, crossing his arms over his chest.]

I don't care what they say about me. I don't want any rumors about you, though.

[She looks down and suddenly she wants to be on the same level as him, so she reaches her hands out to him.]

Catch me, please?

[She doesn't drop like a stone, but waits until he's reaching up, reaches for him, and the transition happens smoothly. Once she's safely in his arms, her toes on the ground, she takes his hand.]

Well, that is something to discuss, at some point. When we intend to become lovers.

Rumors will happen.His royal pratness King Edmund is. More perceptive.

[George catches her easily, lightly. He weaves his fingers through hers.]

What is worrying you, then? Is your brother upset with me? Are you?

[He lifts her hand to his lips and kisses her palm.]

I don't care what any of them think, so long as you're not upset.

I am not.

[And she isn't. He kisses her palm, and she leans against him, and then puts all her weight on him, her face against his shoulder entirely. He smells familiar. This is what she chose him for, for the way he makes her feel. Safe, and loved, and warm, and wanted.]

I am not upset with you, my love.

I do not want any to think poorly of you.

[George's arms wrap around her. If they could be like this always, if it were always this easy to keep her safe, he wouldn't care about anything else at all.]

People will always think poorly of me, majesty. I was a slave when I came here, and even if you don't think so, they will always see me as a barbarian. I'm never going to be good enough for Queen Lucy the Valiant.

But you are mine. I am yours.

[She says it as if the world will forgive that.

She looks at him for a long moment.]

There is some lordling in Archenland the High King has asked me to entertain. I have never chosen any suitor, but I wanted you to know. Before he begins to court me.

[George stiffens slightly, and his face drops into the emotionless mask he'd perfected for Radabash. It's a reflex he can hardly control when an unexpected emotion hits him. It's not that he didn't know Lucy would have suitors. He just hasn't let himself think about it.]

I see. Thank you for letting me know, majesty.

George.

[She says it as a request.]

Please. Do not be jealous, please.

[He closes his eyes rather than look away.]

How can I not be? He might get what I can't even ask for.

Do you think me faithless?

I would never do such a thing.

[She looks stricken, horrified at the mere notion.]

[George frowns down at her.]

Then why are you entertaining his suit?

[She takes a step back.]

I am not.

The High King asked me to. But I will not and have said it. Still he will try.

[She scowls.]

But I wished you to know.

[George stays where he is for a moment, though he wants to reach for her, get that scowl off her face. This is a situation he doesn't know how to navigate, and none of his training, either in Calormen or at the Academy, prepared him for this.]

And what if this lordling is charming and brave and handsome and...can marry you?

But you are the one I love.

[She says it, clutching her hands to her stomach.]

I am sure he will be kind. And charming. And likely handsome.

[Not helping.]

But you are the one I choose. You are the one I want to hold me at night.

[He reaches for her then. He can't not, when she looks like that. There's so much more he could argue, but it won't matter, so it's yet another pointless question.]

Aye. And I want to hold you every night.

So remember that when he is wooing me with flowers and pretty words.

That I have chosen you by my side.

[She comes in closer, and finally breathes when he’s holding her again.]

[It isn't his pretty words George is worried about. It's his lands and titles. But he offers what he can, which is just to hold her, so he pulls her tight to his chest.]

And you remember that I meant it when I said I'll stay at your side forever.

I would not forget it.

[She reaches for him and kisses him on the mouth, once, and then again.]

I would never forget such a promise. I keep it close to my heart.

[George holds her face in both hands as he kisses her.]

Then the rest is...manageable.

Are you sure?

[She looks at him with her head tilted.]

If you wish to return to Cair Paravel, I will not blame you. I will let you go, and you may wait for me.

[She doesn’t want that but it would keep him from watching someone flirt with her and dotes on her.]

Do you think that would be any easier? To be miles away from you while another man tries to win your heart?

[He'd much rather be scowling over her shoulder the whole time.]

I want to be at your side even when it's...[painful] difficult.

No.

But I do not wish to make you do anything-

[She pauses.]

I wish you to have choices.

I have choices, majesty. I choose to stay and watch rather than go and wonder.

[Either is painful, but going would be worse.]

Tell me-

[She takes his hand, and holds it tightly. She loves to hold his hand, and she presses it to her chest.]

-tell me what I can do to make it so that you know I love you. Let us find some manner of signal. That when I do it, you will know, even when we are in public.

[He smiles softly and his finger finds the chain where she wears his ring.]

Touch this, and I'll know you're thinking of me.

I swear I can html. for real

We all have our moments

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