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]

[He laughs and stops at the edge of the tub.]

In my clothes? If you insist...

[illuminescent]

[The water was brought up earlier, clearly, and it's still hot.]

But then what will you wear to our wedding?

[She kicks her legs just a little, but she's laughing.]

Do you not wish to be with me?

[curlytop]

[He sets her carefully on the edge of the tub, laughing, and kisses her nose.]

I do want to be with you. If you'll let me get undressed first.

[illuminescent]

[She sits, and waits, and nods just a little.]

But only because you have such a good reason.

[curlytop]

I'd still marry you if I had to go naked, but I think we'd have a hard time finding someone to do the ceremony.

[He steps back to peel off his clothes quickly.]

[illuminescent]

George-

[She smiles, and it's shining, almost, she reaches for him as soon as he's naked.]

Come here, please.

[curlytop]

[He moves to kiss her, smiling against her lips.]

Yes, my love?

[illuminescent]

[There's a lot she wants to say, but instead she stands on the side of the tub, balanced there, and is tall enough that he has to look up to kiss her on the mouth. She has to bend down just a little.]

You still smell.

[curlytop]

[George laughs and kisses her, and for half a moment contemplates pushing her into the tub.]

Aye. So do you.

[Instead, he sweeps her off her feet and into his arms and steps into the tub to lower them both into the water.]

[illuminescent]

[The water is blessedly warm, and so is he. She reaches for the small cake of soap and laters it up a little, and then runs it over his chest.]

I do hope everyone is taking care, at home.

[curlytop]

[George sinks gratefully into the water. After days on horseback, the warmth feels heavenly on his sore muscles.]

I think everyone at home is more worried about you than themselves just now. Abducted by a savage with ignoble intentions.

[He reaches for her hair to let it down and untangle it as best he can.]

[illuminescent]

No one imagines you to be a savage.

[She helps him with her hair - it's been in braids since they left, getting messier, but it's still relatively clean and tangle-free, so his job is not too difficult.]

No one thinks you would ever hurt me.

[curlytop]

[He smiles as her hair falls around his fingers. It's such a simple thing, but something a queen and her lover never do.]

Perhaps they'd stopped thinking of me like that. Some of them will change their minds after this.

[He encourages her to lay back so he can work the soap through hair. It doesn't bother him to know that some of the Narnians will never look at him the same again. Not really. It's a worthwhile trade.]

Your brothers...I think they do trust me. I think they still will.

[illuminescent]

[She does as he tells her, and eases back against him. This is a luxury beyond words; and oh, how she loves him for this.]

I think so too.

My people-

If they love me, they will love you.

[curlytop]

[He likes to touch her like this, not sexual but sensual. He takes his time, massaging his fingertips against her scalp.]

I hope so, m'eudail.

[He does hope so. He's not sure how far that hope goes.]

[illuminescent]

[She rests against him, and takes his hands to lay them over her belly. Just so they're curled around each other. Just so George is holding her.]

They will.

[They have to.]

Do you wish to know a secret?

[curlytop]

[George lays his palm flat over her belly and keeps her cradled against him.]

I want to know all your secrets.

[illuminescent]

One at a time.

I think I fell in love with you when I first saw you smile.

[She means it.]

[curlytop]

[George smiles and kisses her temple.]

I think I fell in love with you as soon as I saw you.

[illuminescent]

But you would not let me have you.

You were as shy a maiden as any.

[She's laughing a little, but pressing into his body, not sexually, but because-

-because she can. Because this is a moment for them, where they can be close, in a place where no one will interrupt, where no one will know.]

[curlytop]

[He laughs as well, picking up the soap and washing her lazily.]

I wasn't shy. I was frightened.

[His voice is soft, and he kisses her shoulder, lips trailing over her skin.]

[illuminescent]

Of me?

[She knows what he was frightened of. She traces her fingers over his hand.]

I know I am terribly frightening. I am pleased you saw past it.

[curlytop]

You're surprisingly fierce for someone so small.

[It's one of the things he loves most about her.]

But you've a kind heart. That's what made me love you.

[illuminescent]

Oh yes.

[She agreed with that.]

I would do anything to protect those I love. And to protect us.

[curlytop]

[George's hand settles over her belly again.]

All of us, eh?