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]

I...am not going to ask how you know that.

Anyway, you're much prettier.

[He kisses her throat, just under her jaw to soothe away that sour expression.]

[illuminescent]

Of course I am.

[Her sour expression does go. She settles her head against his chest.]

Thank you for the sweets, my love.

[curlytop]

[He rests his cheek on her hair.]

You're welcome, mo chridhe. Honestly, if I'd brought back everything that made me think of you, I'd have all of Calormen with me.

[illuminescent]

Even the terrible things?

[She smiles just a little, but she keeps him close to her her.]

If you sleep now, perhaps I can manage through the night.

[curlytop]

Everything I see reminds me of you, Lucy. The terrible things make me think of how not like you they are.

[He tugs the blankets more closely around them.]

You'll sleep as well?

[illuminescent]

I think I may manage it now.

[She presses herself against him, and finally does, in fact, manage to sleep.

And the days go by.

There is nothing really too terrible; they pass slowly, and the summer begins to fade, and Lucy gets sick. It's an illness that strikes her rather randomly, leaving her vomiting at times and well at other, and making her a bit more tired and - dare it be said - irritable than usual.

George has to get up every day and leave Lucy's room before the maids arrive, and one morning, while Lucy is puking her guts out, a pair of them pass George. If I didn't know better, I would say her majesty is pregnant, giving George a little nod as they leave her apartments.

Lucy herself is on the bed, a damp cloth over her eyes.]

George?

[curlytop]

[George has been worried about Lucy since she started showing signs of illness, but when he hears the maids whispering, his worries take a new bent.

He hurries into Lucy's room, moving to perch on the edge of her bed.]

Lucy. How...how are you feeling?

[He's not sure how to broach the subject he only just started considering.]

[illuminescent]

[Her damp cloth is still there, and her breathing is just a little shallow.]

It happened again.

[She reaches her hand out, but she can't see anything, since her eyes are covered.]

Susan has told me I do not have to go to court if I feel poorly, but I have missed too much.

[curlytop]

[He takes her hand in one of his and moves the cloth to feel her forehead with the back of the other, though he's not sure what he'd do if she felt hot.]

Has the physician been to see you?

[illuminescent]

[She doesn't feel warm. She looks at him, and she moves a little, until her head is in his lap.]

No, do you think I should summon him?

[She has been a while, ill, and she hasn't asked for any help yet.]

[curlytop]

I don't know.

[He frowns as she settles into his lap, and he brushes her hair back from her face.]

The maids were whispering that you might... [He bites his lip, fear spiking adrenaline.] That you might be pregnant.

[illuminescent]

[She sits up, suddenly, and she realizes exactly what he's talking about. Fear isn't just spiking in him, now.]

What?

[She looks a little pale, but that might be because she was throwing up.]

Pregnant?

[Oh. She hadn't even thought-]

[curlytop]

[George's brows knit and he holds her gently.]

Aye. Do you...do you think it could be true?

[illuminescent]

[She goes quiet a moment.]

Perhaps.

[She goes into his arms.]

I do not know.

[And she's quiet.]

Would that upset you?

[curlytop]

[He tightens his arms around her, and it's a moment before he answers.]

Not upset, no.

[There's a flutter in his chest.]

It would make things difficult.

[illuminescent]

What will we do, if-

[They will have to find a solution. Lucy doesn't like most of the options.]

[curlytop]

If you are pregnant?

[He takes a breath.]

We will...find an option. We would have to tell your brothers.

[illuminescent]

Do you want-

Would you want children?

[She has a family, but does he?]

[curlytop]

Yes.

[He holds her tighter.]

If we could, if it were allowed? I would want children with you.

[illuminescent]

[Lucy has never let her fears dominate her.

But Lucy has never been afraid like this. That George deserves more than she can give him. He deserves a whole family. She is selfish for keeping him; she knows it. She puts her arms around him.]

Are you afraid?

[curlytop]

Yes. [His answer is whispered into her hair.

He never learned the Fearless rune, but somehow he thinks even it wouldn't help him here.]

Are you?

[illuminescent]

Yes.

[She says it with a breath. She doesn’t know what she’ll do if she is, and if she isn’t. Both-

-both make her fear.]

I want a child. But-

[She has a responsibility. There is succession to think of.]

[curlytop]

Yes, but.

[He huffs out a breath, ruffling her hair. Now that the possibility exists, he'd be devastated to lose it.]

What...what do you think your brothers would do.

[illuminescent]

I cannot say.

Edmund would be cross. Peter would-

[She goes very quiet.]

Susan might understand. I think Peter would, the High King would say we should send it away for fostering.

[curlytop]

Aye, and me along with it.

[That's his real fear. If there's a child, it will be sent away, and George will have to go as well. Or at the very least have to choose between Lucy and their child.]