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]

[That doesn't escape his notice, though he's not sure what to make of it.]

Mo chridhe?

[He kisses her forehead.]

[illuminescent]

If I am-

If we are to have a child-

Then we must marry.

[If they marry, then no one can separate them, not even Aslan.]

[curlytop]

Oh.

[Hope flutters in his chest, so much of his worry could be alleviated if they were married.]

Must we? [He wants to, certainly, but he's afraid to let himself think that.]

[illuminescent]

They cannot separate us. Even the High King cannot undo that bond.

[Her hands catch his, and she kisses them, one at at time.]

[curlytop]

[He searches her face intently, though he's not sure what he's looking for.]

Then we should marry.

[illuminescent]

You're certain?

I am.

[She doesn't want him to do this if he's not perfectly certain.]

[curlytop]

Yes. Yes, I'm certain.

[He wanted to marry her anyway, only it hadn't seemed like it would change anything, but this...this is a reason he can't deny.]

You know I want to stay with you forever. Anything we can do to ensure that...I will do. We must do.

[illuminescent]

[She takes a breath, thinking.]

If we leave soon - tomorrow, perhaps, if I feel well enough, we can go to Telmar. They'll marry us there, I think, without much fuss. And they will not recognize me. I have never been to Telmar.

[curlytop]

[A kick of fear stirs in George, but he shoves it aside. Now is not the time for cowardice.]

I'll arrange it. We'll need supplies for the journey.

[illuminescent]

[She presses her nose against his. Her forehead.]

We will be all right, my love. All will be well.

[curlytop]

We will. We'll be together.

[He presses a kiss to the corner of her mouth.]

You should stay away from court. If they think you're ill today, there won't be so many questions tomorrow. At least not so early. Can any of your maids be trusted with this?

[illuminescent]

[She knows that Peter will worry, but only because he is her brother. He will not worry for her safety, not with George with her. He knows Edmund and Susan will listen to anything that Peter say.]

Yes, one of them. She knows everything.

[Lucy needed to tell someone.]

[curlytop]

[George nods, already thinking of what they'll need for the trip and how he can gather it without suspicion.]

Send the others away, then. Tell them...I don't know. That you're feeling too unwell, and they make you anxious or something. Then we can leave before sunrise tomorrow, and your maid can say you're resting for as long as people will believe it.

[illuminescent]

[She nods, smartly.]

Pack my bow; and I will tell my maid to give you some of her dresses, because they are simpler, and it will be easier to ride with them.

[She takes his hand, and holds it tightly.]

The stable boys idolize you. I think they will keep any secret for you.

[curlytop]

Aye, I know who I can trust there. Can your maid find food for us?

[Water they can get on the way, and George can take some stores from the barracks if he needs, but people tend to be on higher watch there.]

[illuminescent]

I think so. I will tell her to pack sturdy things, and give them to you later.

[They are both smart, and Narnia is a tender country, where the land welcomes its rulers fondly. That will help.

She thinks a moment.]

I have some coin here, I'll take that as well.

[curlytop]

Yes, and I'll take what I can as well.

[He doesn't have much, but he has enough for a few days travel.]

I'll gather everything and have horses saddled a half hour before sunrise. Can you meet me at the stables?

[illuminescent]

Yes.

[If there's one thing that Lucy can do, it's sneak out of Cair Paravel.]

You must tell my guard something.

[George is their Captain; in Narnia she rarely has more than two or three men assigned to her detail, but still George has to explain something.]

[curlytop]

[She's right, of course. And that will be harder. His men trust him, but they love their queen, and they have ears. They've heard the rumors.]

I'll tell them tonight that with the queen indisposed, they've been given the morning off. I'll give them wine to celebrate.

[They're good men, but they work hard, so they drink harder.]

[illuminescent]

[She kisses him.]

Yes, all right.

[She kisses him again, and touches her mouth.]

I will write a letter. For my family, so they do not panic.

[curlytop]

[He smiles faintly against her lips, pressing his forehead to hers.]

Leave it with your maid, to be delivered after we are discovered missing.

[illuminescent]

All right, yes.

[She feels a slight burst of fear, but also of excitement. They're getting married. they'll marry soon. They will travel to do it, but they will do it.

She reaches and puts her arms around him.]

[curlytop]

[George pulls her close against his chest. The exhilaration of adrenaline and endorphins flooding through him has him torn between joy and fear.]

I wish it wasn't happening like this, but...I am glad to marry you.

[illuminescent]

I am glad beyond reason.

[She feels warm, happy, despite everything.]

You are the most glorious thing that has ever happened to me.

[curlytop]

[When she agrees with him, he laughs, pressing a lingering kiss to her temple.]

As are you, mo chridhe. And I will be proud to be your husband.