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]

Do you regret I am not with child?

[They haven't really talked about it, have they?]

[curlytop]

[George lowers his head, hesitant. He isn't sure how he feels about it. There'd barely been time to get used to the idea, and it was such a fraught situation.

He's silent as he thinks it through, washing himself methodically so he has something to do with his hands. Eventually, very softly,]

Yes.

[illuminescent]

[She goes very quiet.]

I am sorry, my love.

I am.

[As though she is at fault for it. She's not, but-]

[curlytop]

[George moves immediately to take her hand, splashing a little over the side of the tub.]

No, mo chridhe. You have nothing to be sorry for. Don't...I'm sorry.

[illuminescent]

[She laughs just a little, but she's so close to crying that it's clear that she's trying to keep herself together. She kisses him on the mouth, and presses their foreheads together.]

I think we are both tired, and too terribly stressed for this. Can we-

-finish here, and come to bed. All right?

[curlytop]

[He closes his eyes a moment as she presses against him.]

Aye. Do you want to go on, and I'll be in when I've finished?

[He doesn't want her to go, but he only needs to rinse his hair.]

[illuminescent]

[She gets up, and she nods. She undresses and curls in her bed, and knows he won't be long.

When he gets there, her hands reach out for him, first.]

George.

[She smiles just a little.]

[curlytop]

[He slides into bed with her, wrapping his arms around her. When she's so close to him, the rest of it doesn't matter so much.]

Lucy. I'm sorry, love. I hope you know I don't blame you. I don't...none of this was your fault.

[illuminescent]

I do know that.

[She tangles close to him, her head against his chest, so that she can hear his heartbeat.]

It has been a very tiring day. It is a miracle that we did not say a word that we could use to harm each other.

[curlytop]

Aye. I think you're right about that.

[He holds her close against him, one hand curled around the back of her head.]

I love you, and I'm so happy to have married you. Whatever else comes with it.

[illuminescent]

I love you.

[She says it, and she smiles just against his chest.]

I love you, and I do not regret that I love you. You are meant for me.

[curlytop]

[He smiles as well, into her hair, and relaxes a little.]

And you are meant for me.

[He's quiet a moment.]

Do you know what I think? I think Aslan brought me here for you.

[Or the Angel sent him, but he's been in Narnia too long not to have realized who it was who found him in that cave.]

[illuminescent]

[She smiles.]

You do not oft speak of the Lion, my love.

[She keeps her body pressed up against his.]

I think so too. I think you were lost, and only I could find you.

[curlytop]

It feels...strange to talk about him.

[People don't talk about Raziel at home. Not like he's real. Not like they talk about Aslan here.]

I'm so glad you found me.

[illuminescent]

Will you sleep?

[She asks, and she presses her head against his heart.]

I will be here when you wake. And you do not have to leave.

[curlytop]

Aye.

[He trails his fingers over her back, up the back of her neck.]

Will you? I'll still be here when you wake this time.

[illuminescent]

Perhaps I will not.

Perhaps the High King will summon me early to tell me a new rule he has concocted to make me regret marrying you.

[Joke's on him - she will not regret it.]

[curlytop]

And you'll wake me, so I can go with you.

[He's still the queen's guard, whatever else he may be.]

[illuminescent]

But what if you're sleeping so peaceably?

[She is teasing: of course she'll wake him.]

[curlytop]

As soon as you leave the bed, I won't be.

[He knows. And he wouldn't sleep through her summoning anyway.

He nuzzles into her hair, relaxing under her warm weight.]

You'll sleep too, hm?

[illuminescent]

I will try.

[That's as much as she can manage, she thinks. She won't lie to him.]

You really would wake, if I left the bed, wouldn't you?

[curlytop]

[He wishes he could give her a peacefulness rune, something to help them both sleep better.]

Of course. I always know when you're not there.

[illuminescent]

When will I learn that talent?

[She wants to know when he's not there, she wants that secret. It would make everything better.]

[curlytop]

It's not one you'd care to learn.

[It comes from long years of training both in Calormen and in Idris. Much of it painful. It's born of fear and paranoia.]

[illuminescent]

[She kisses him.]

Sleep, my sweetheart.

[She won't leave without him.

In fact, the next morning, no one comes to get them and she wakes up with him right there against her.]

George.

[She whispers it, and crawls up on him, so she's straddling him.]