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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[illuminescent]

[She doesn’t say a word, but she wants to kiss him, to reassure him. He is truly the love of her life, if she didn’t know it before.

She knows it now.

She steps out and Prince Corin is laughing and going to tug at her. Royal cousin, I did not know your temper was so rich! he says, and gets shy at George as he always does. She tells him if he still wishes to go to Narnia to go and get ready, with a smile and a ruffle of his hair.

And Lucy does not apologize.

Instead she summons every bit of her pride, her chin lifted, and says that while her actions were hasty she will hear nothing against the Narnian throne, and demands an apology.

And she gets one, groveling, and she does not like it, but it suffices. And she turns, to leave. She is not usually so stern, and by the time they are away from the city and the horses are tired, so is she.

She asks for her tent to be put up, and looks at George. For the first time since they left, she smiles.]

Could you come along, please? I have every wish to stretch my legs.

[Its a small band, and outside of the prince they are all Narnians. No one will follow.]

[curlytop]

[For once, George doesn't soften at Corin's appearance. His scowl stays in place until they're well clear of the castle. He knew, of course, that people had been whispering. He'd heard some things himself, but for Lucy to hear it is worse.

By the time they stop, he's exhausted himself, not physically but emotionally.]

As you wish, majesty.

[He doesn't quite smile, but his expression relaxes some.]

[illuminescent]

[They take a walk, and after about ten minutes, Lucy moves to take his hand away from the pommel of his sword, to take his hand and hold it with her uninjured hand. She holds it, and then she presses close to him.]

Hello, my love.

[She feels like she can breathe again.]

[curlytop]

[George's arms curl around her immediately, and he feels tension easing out of his muscles.]

Hello, mo chridhe.

Are you all right?

[illuminescent]

I am so tired.

[She presses against him.]

I am so tired, and I love you so.

And you?

[curlytop]

Aye, that about covers it.

[He holds her firmly, bending to rest his cheek against her hair.]

I'm sorry.

[illuminescent]

Why are you sorry?

[She asks, and her brow furrows a little.]

You did nothing wrong.

[curlytop]

No, but if I had never come here, you wouldn't be hearing such things.

[He looks down at her, his lips twitching upward.]

And selfishly, I'd come anyway.

[illuminescent]

What were you meant to do?

Your queen was going. Of course you should come too.

[She presses her head against his chest, which is, incidentally, where the top of her head lands.]

There was jealousy there, I think. Why should I love this man, they ask.

[curlytop]

I mean to Narnia. If I'd never come to Narnia, you wouldn't have to handle any of this.

[He keeps his arms wrapped around her at her shoulders.]

No, I think the question they ask is, who does he think he is.

[illuminescent]

I would not have a world where you were not in it.

[She reaches up, and she's on her toes, but he's still so tall. She puts her arms over his shoulders and tugs a little.]

Pick me up, dearest.

You are my sweetest and most devoted love.

[curlytop]

[George dips to lift her off her feet.]

Don't worry, my queen. I know who I am.

[He kisses the corner of her mouth sweetly.]

[illuminescent]

They have never taken a sword for me.

And I have never raced for them.

[She holds onto him.]

I never told you. That day, I was so afraid. That I would lose. That he would keep you.

[curlytop]

[He holds her tighter, burying his face in the crook of her neck a moment.]

But you didn't. You won, and now you keep me.

[illuminescent]

[She presses a kiss to his cheek.]

You may set me down now.

[She wants to take his hand.]

[curlytop]

[He gives a soft laugh and sets her on her feet.]

Yes, majesty.

Do you feel any better?

[illuminescent]

Certainly more myself.

[She's even smiling, now.]

But you. Do you?

[curlytop]

I feel calmer.

[There are things he's not hopeful about, but he's not going to focus on them right now.]

Do you want to walk more?

[illuminescent]

I wish to hold your hand more.

And kiss you if you should let me.

And not return to the world again, not yet.

[curlytop]

[He smiles, then, and touches her cheek.]

Then let's walk and hold hands and kiss, my queen.

[illuminescent]

[Like they are normal lovers. As though this isn't a secret, as if they could do this in a town square, and just be two people, two young lovers together.

Lucy knows it's not possible. But it's nice to imagine, a little.]

Perhaps I will take you with me somewhere where no one knows what I look like, and we can be together as any pair could.

[curlytop]

[George smiles faintly and takes her hand.]

Where can you go that they don't know your face, majesty?

[illuminescent]

Telmar.

[She presses against him, and her hand tightens against his.]

We could go to Telmar and-

-be normal. For just a time.

[curlytop]

[Not for the first time, George thinks about what it would be like if they'd met in his world. If he could take Lucy out to see a film or go to the pub or just have dinner with his family. Or hers.]

I will follow you anywhere in this world or any other, majesty.

[He brushes her cheek with his free hand.]

But I don't know that we could ever be normal.

[illuminescent]

I know you would.

[She says and it means a lot that he would say that, that he would mean it. She wraps her arms around his waist, and her ear is against his heart.]

No.

I do not think we will ever be normal.