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]

[George makes an effort to smile more, and with time, it comes more easily. As a result, the servants and Lucy's maids relax around him, and George finds himself making almost friends, which is something he hadn't even realized he had missed.

When Lucy slips away at the party, he sees her go, but she's not in any danger or distress, so he lets her have a moment to herself.

He isn't surprised to find her up a tree, but he is surprised by her question.]

What? Why...why would you ask that?

[The unexpected reminder of home slices through him, stealing his breath.]

[illuminescent]

[She comes down from the tree, one slippered foot at a time, but stops before she reaches the ground. She sits in one of the lower branches, and looks at him, perplexed a little. She's close enough that her foot can brush his arm.]

Aslan was here.

[She says it carefully.]

He asked me some things, and told me others. And he told me that-

Many things. One of them was that Simon missed you.

[curlytop]

[George looks past the tree as though he might see Aslan there. He shifts to lean against the trunk of the tree, his hand curling around her ankle.]

Simon is...my brother.

[There are many words for what Simon is to him, but that was the one they'd decided on together.]

[illuminescent]

[She's comforted by the touch of his hand on her, and she takes a breath.]

He told me, ah.

[She doesn't know how to say this.]

He told me that soon, I will have to make a choice, and that choice may change the entire world. And part of that choice includes you. I do not fully understand it. But it may mean that I can choose to let you go back. To Simon. And your family.

[curlytop]

[George frowns, his brow furrowing. He keeps his gaze on the grass as he considers her words. There's a lot to unpack, but he's learned to be patient with his emotions.]

You say 'let me' like you are holding me back. Isn't going home my choice?

[He looks up at her then, and he knows that's not really true. It wasn't his choice to come here in the first place. Who knows if he'll have a choice in going back.]

[illuminescent]

[She bites her lip a little.]

He said that I would know. When that moment came, and that I had the power. And you would not.

[She doesn't really understand; but she understands this.]

So I will ask you. And you must be honest. If you wish to go home, I will understand, George.

[It will break her heart, but she will understand.]

[curlytop]

Lucy...

[He straightens, moving to stand directly in front of her.]

Asked and answered, and my answer has not changed.

[illuminescent]

Hold out your arms. I will come down.

[She wants him to catch her, even though her dress weighs probably almost as much as she does.]

[curlytop]

[He'll catch her easily, just the same.]

I won't leave you. Not ever.

[illuminescent]

[She puts her arms around his shoulders as she settles into his arms.]

My love.

[And she hugs him, as much as she can, on her tiptoes. Her skirts practically insist on another person between them.]

Marry me.

[curlytop]

[George holds her close, arms wrapped around her, right until she says those last two words. Pulling back to look at her without letting go, he frowns, confused.]

If it were allowed, I would.

[illuminescent]

If it were private, would it not be enough?

George-

[She reaches up and touches his cheek.]

I would announce you as mine to the whole world.

[curlytop]

You would marry me in secret?

[It's a possibility he's never considered. He leans into her touch.]

I know that you would. I know you would dare the displeasure of the world, my valiant queen.

[illuminescent]

Of course I would.

Would you?

[A secret marriage is by no means an easy thing, and Lucy knows it.]

[curlytop]

[George doesn't answer immediately. It's no easy decision to make. Already he hates hiding what she is to him. How much worse would it be if she were his wife?]

What would change? I've vowed to be yours already.

[It's not a no. He just wants to consider it.]

[illuminescent]

I cannot say. Perhaps-

[She already will not let anyone separate them.]

Perhaps I should not have to make such choices. To allow you to stay, or to request for you to leave. Or perhaps it would just be in name, and nothing would change.

George-

[She presses her face against his chest.]

[curlytop]

[George holds her tightly as though if he can hold her close enough none of this will matter. Perhaps nothing will change, but--]

I would marry you. I would marry you in secret or before all the world.

[illuminescent]

[She tugs on him.]

I wish to dance with you in public, I wish that everyone sees how I look at you because I am in love.

[She has so many wishes.]

[curlytop]

I wish all those things as well.

[He bends to kiss her.]

I would dance with you whenever and wherever you asked me to, my love.

[illuminescent]

Here, then.

[She kisses him. Out here it is quiet, but it doesn’t matter. They can dance here, and pretend there is music. She takes his hands and puts them right where they belong, and she tucks herself against his body.

It is a slow, smooth movement.]

Like this.

[curlytop]

[George has seen the way they dance in Narnia and Archenland, but he has never danced himself, not here. He holds her a little stiffly for a moment and then relaxes into it.]

Like this?

[It's not like the dancing where he's from, but it's still something they've never done together.]

[illuminescent]

Yes, just like this. Breathe. You are very stiff.

You know my body. You know how to do this.

[This is a very simple step, almost instinctive.]

[curlytop]

[It doesn't take long for him to get it. It's physical. It's easy.]

Aye, I know how to move with you, but I don't know how to move with you like this.

[illuminescent]

You are a warrior. This is not so difficult.

[She’s giggling, and dancing with him, and she feels like a normal girl, in love and free, for just this moment.]

[curlytop]

[He laughs, feeling for once like the boy he was when he left home.]

Aye, only I'm trying not to kill you, and that's a different set of skills.

[He takes a risk on twirling her all the same.]