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.

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[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.]

[curlytop]

[There is a slight moment of disorientation when George wakes and his not in his cot in the room next to Lucy's. He startles and then smiles as she settles on top of him.]

Good morning, m'eudail.

[His voice is sleep-rough and rumbling.]

[illuminescent]

You're awake.

[She says it gently, and leans her chin on his chest, just against his tattoo.]

And here. With me. In my bed.

[And her smile is sweet, and happy.]

In our bed.

[curlytop]

I am.

[He smiles as well, sleepy and pleased, and far more content than he's been in a long while now.]

And so are you. No royal summons.

[illuminescent]

Perhaps Susan came to my rescue.

[She says it, and she nuzzles closer to him.]

She is soft for newlyweds.

[curlytop]

We'll have to thank her.

[His voice is hushed, and he brushes her hair back from her face, leaning in for a kiss.]

What would you like to do this morning, my lady wife?

[illuminescent]

I wish to laze on my husband.

I wish to-

-no. That is it.

[But she smiles a little.]

But you must tell the rest of my guard about everything.

[curlytop]

Well, if anyone wishes to rouse you from your bed, they'll have to get past your husband first.

[His arms curl around her comfortably.]

I will. This afternoon.

Though I reckon they'll've heard already.

[illuminescent]

Perhaps so.

But even if they have, you should tell them anyway.

[She thinks the entire country has likely heard by now. She doesn't think of the parties that will happen, late at night; the queen is married, to someone she loves, the queen is happy.]

[curlytop]

[George tries not to think of the grumbling that must be happening. The queen is married to someone undeserving.

It doesn't matter here, anyway, because Lucy is happy, and that makes George smile.]

I will do.

[They, at least, will be happy for him. And for Lucy.]

But that means getting out of bed.

[illuminescent]

[She wiggles against him.]

They will think you very lazy.

[She's teasing, now, and it's so good.]

[curlytop]

[George laughs and kisses her forehead.]

They will think something else entirely.

[They may love and respect their queen, but once rumors of marriage start flying, they'll come to the logical conclusion.]

[illuminescent]

Will they?

That we are making them a prince?

[She laughs a little, but presses her nose against his neck, kisses him.]

Perhaps we will go on a grand tour. Make everyone in Calormen pretend they are happy for us, and know they are seething.

[Narnian whore, they would call her, behind her back. Where George might just be able to hear it. Lucy doesn't know that. George would.]

[curlytop]

[He kisses her happily, nuzzling into her hair.]

That's exactly what they'll think.

[At her suggestion of a grand tour, he shakes his head.]

I don't think we should leave Narnia again. Not any time soon.

[illuminescent]

Well, perhaps we should make it true.

[She laughs a little, because she's not ashamed of it. Why should she be?

He holds her and she feels whole.]

No? I do not particularly wish to leave Narnia either.

[They may have to, in the future. Lucy doesn't always get to stay; she may have to go, and George will go with her. That much is certain - she refuses to be parted from him.]