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

[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.]

[illuminescent]

I should be glad that you are nor trying to kill me.

[She spins, and between his grace and hers, it works out well enough.]

My lord, my love.

[She's giggling, now.]

[curlytop]

[When she's back in his arms he kisses her forehead.]

Yes, mo chridhe?

[She's happy, and it does make his heart lighter to see it.]

[illuminescent]

I am in deep with you.

[She smiles up at him.]

I have yet to find the base of this love.

[curlytop]

Perhaps there is no base to it.

[He holds her close, more like the dancing he's used to from home than what he's seen in Narnia.]

[illuminescent]

[This is a strange way to dance, but Lucy does it anyway, letting him lead. She dances as the stars seem to shine brighter.]

I should like to think that.

I think you should, too. That way I will allow you to get away with any mischief.

[curlytop]

[George laughs.]

I think you mean that I will allow you to, and you know that isn't true, majesty.

[illuminescent]

What manner of mischief might I be able to get up to, sir?

[She's giggling, now.]

I am a bastion of goodness!

[curlytop]

Aye, but you can be good and mischievous at once. You seem to be especially good at it.

[He spins her again, just because she's giggling already.]

[illuminescent]

What mischief have I done to you?

[She laughs and laughs, and her skirt flutters.]

I have been nothing but sincere!

[curlytop]

You made me fall in love with you. But maybe that's more witchcraft than mischief.

[He pulls her back to him and kisses her cheek.]

[illuminescent]

Oh, I did not make you.

I simply risked for your freedom, and raced for it.

[curlytop]

That's not why I fell in love with you.

[That would have only been gratitude.]

[illuminescent]

[She smiles at him, and tangles their hands together.]

Come back with me, then, George.

[curlytop]

[He brings her hands to his lips to kiss her fingers.]

As you wish, my love.

[illuminescent]

[And they head back.

And they dance through the night, and Lucy is going to bed when Edmund catches up with her, and with George, and asks - for the sake of your sister, and to unman our sister's dark lover, that George accompany them to Calormen the next day. He presents good arguments - George knows the lay of the land, that he will startle and unsettle those around them.

And Lucy wants to be selfish. She wants to say no, but she doesn't. She says yes, and instead of coming back with her, George goes with Edmund to talk and to plan and to make this official, and she goes back to bed. The next morning she wakes to ostensibly bid her sister farewell, and here in public she can only press a packet into George's hands and whisper for him to be careful, to take care.

And she thinks her heart goes when he is gone.

For weeks, she is not herself. She wanders Cair Paravel, distracted, she goes to dinners and parties and she can't seem to get herself together. She does as she's meant to, and she feels lost.

And even when they return, they are almost to war at once, and she does not get to George until well after all the fighting is over and Aslan has turned the tide, and they have all gone back to Cair Paravel.

He's in the guardhouse, when she finally manages to slip out and see him, when she finally manages to sneak into the bathhouse in there to see him, closing the door behind her. She feels shy and tongue-tied, for some reason. She should not.

But she does.]

George?

[curlytop]

[George wants Lucy to say no as well. He has no desire to return to Calormen, now or ever, but he can see the wisdom in it, and Lucy doesn't protest, so he doesn't either.

In Tashbaan, George's purpose is largely to look intimidating and make sure the prince doesn't get into too much trouble. He can tell that his presence makes Rabadash more irritable than usual, and Queen Susan sees it as well. If that's the only good to come of this trip, George will be glad of it.

In the battle in Archenland, George fights like a Shadowhunter, and the Calormene soldiers, who had seen him fighting before, cower in fear. He does the work of ten Calormene warriors and at least five Narnian ones, flitting across the battlefield like a graceful angel of death.

He is washing the blood from his arms when Lucy enters. His face brightens when he sees her, and he goes to her immediately, reaching for her before realizing he's still bloody and pulling back again.]

Lucy!

[illuminescent]

[Her heart stumbles in her chest and she resists the urge to fling herself at him. He's beautiful, even covered in blood, and she hasn't seen him in an age. Seeing him like this - mostly nude - makes her heart stammer even more, this time with desire.

Lion help her, but she missed him.]

Wash up, clean it off, please.

[She is holding her hands behind her back, so she can keep herself together.]