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 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.]

[illuminescent]

Perhaps.

[Her heart beats a little faster.{

I think he knows that would kill me. To lose both my lover and my child.

[curlytop]

[His arms tighten around her unconsciously.]

How could we send our child away on its own?

[He thinks of the tiny baby left on the Academy's steps, and it feels a dozen lifetimes ago.]

[illuminescent]

[Oh.

Oh, that's it.

She bursts into tears, sobbing against his chest.]

What do I do?

[curlytop]

[George chokes back his own tears as he holds her, but his voice breaks a little.]

Well...first we have to...find out if you really are pregnant, eh?

[Narnia, he suspects, does not have pregnancy tests you can pick up at the corner store.]

[illuminescent]

[She holds onto him as she cries some, because she needs to get this out, first.

And after a few moments, she takes a breath.]

I will find a physician I can trust.

[curlytop]

[He holds her through it, arms tight around her, like he could protect her from any pain that way.]

How...um...how long has it been since you've...you know...bled?

[He doesn't even know how to talk about this sort of thing at home, let alone here.]

[illuminescent]

[He asks a good question, and she is quiet, and she shakes her head.]

Weeks, I think. Certainly, it has been a time.

[She's due any day, if she isn't pregnant.]

[curlytop]

[George frowns as he nods.]

Okay. Well...okay. We'll find you a physician, then, and...

[He trails off because he doesn't have an answer for what they'll do.]

And whatever happens, we'll handle it together.

[illuminescent]

[She wants to kiss him, only she doesn't. She closes her eyes and stays close for another moment.]

I will not let them send you away. I promise.