Summary: The whole of Narnia is taken with Queen Lucy's new suitor, and so is she. Only Tumnus feels something's not right...
Disclaimer: C.S. Lewis and I are two different people.
A/N: Please could someone go to my post in the Fun with Fauns forum, I must know the answer!
If you read my other story 'My Queen', there is a new chapter.
"Prince Lucian of Carron," read out the dwarf from his scrolls.
As the prince ascended onto the platform before the four thrones to kiss Queen Lucy's hand, the applause became suddenly even more raucous than before. He bowed gratefully and as he did, he marvellous curly blonde hair flopped about his face. He gave a white, dimpled smile.
Having kissed the Queen's hand, he stepped down.
"He's a goodun, Lu," whispered Kind Edmund, into his sister's ear.
Lucy nodded.
"Prince Harold of Krentia," read the dwarf. An awkward-looking youth, possibly even younger than Lucy (who was 19) stumbled up. The clapping subsided a little.
When all five most recent candidates for Lucy's husband were lined up before her throne, an awed hush fell: all the Narnian guests waiting to see if finally, they would witness a royal wedding.
Only one person in the hall did not wish for this. That person was the faun Tumnus, and he did not wish for this for the very simple reason that he himself wished for Lucy. He wore an empty smile, though, and pretended to give her an encouraging nod.
With a girlish smile, Lucy gave an obvious shrug, indicating that she desired better acquaintance of them before she decided.
There were scattered cheers, but nothing enthusiastic – 12 suitors had come before Lucy in the last month and none of them had been 'the one'. Lucy was very enamoured of the theory of 'the one'.
It seemed odd that King Peter seemed more keen to marry off Lucy than his other siblings, but it was probably because he thought she could best secure the next generation of one country's alliance with Narnia, whereas Susan may have to marry someone who was already King, rather than a Prince.
Having made her decision, Lucy retired with her brothers and sister, to great applause and fanfare.
When they were in their private hall, the other three turned to Lucy.
"Did you see that Lucian of Carron?" asked Susan eagerly. "He looked so charming!"
Lucy nodded happily. "But I must speak to him first," she insisted.
"Fine, fine!" assured Peter, finally believing that he may soon have married her off. "Carron has such great naval armies, though!" he added.
"Looks a great huntsman," said Edmund, who enjoyed hunting.
"But we must be fair," said Lucy. "What of the others?"
There was silence.
"Well," admitted Peter, finally, "they seemed jolly decent, but probably not completely apt... That last was far too young, I thought. The second, far too old, and the first looked a little boorish for you, Lucy."
Lucy nodded, seeming a little sad at talking about them behind their backs. It seemed so cruel. But as long as she could speak to them, she supposed it was fair.
Later, Tumnus clip-clopped into Lucy's private study, where he found her lying on a recliner, in the light of the waning sun, seeming to bring her hair and skin to life with its warm red glow. He edged toward her as silently as he could, wishing that he could get close enough without waking her, just to touch her gentle skin.
But no, just as he was reaching out to her soft pink cheek, she woke and gasped. She frowned bemusedly as she sat up and looked at the embarrassed faun.
"Why, hello, Mr Tumnus," she said, almost as a question.
Tumnus thought fast. "Oh, my dear!" he cried. "For a moment there, you looked so still... I was worried!"
Lucy's look of concern melted into one of affection – but merely friendly affection. "Oh, no, Mr Tumnus, I was just tired." With a heart-melting smile, she indicated for him to sit beside her. He did. "Now, what did you think of my new suitors?"
This was the question Tumnus had dreaded. "I," he began. "I suppose the choice is yours... But do not rush it!" he added, urgently. "You must be sure you love the man you marry, Lucy."
Tumnus had said that line with such delicate sadness that for a moment, Lucy wondered if maybe her old friend had finally found love. It had seemed to her for years that the faun thought such things unimportant, but not so long ago, that had changed. Now it seemed to her that he was always immersed in some distant, bittersweet thoughts. When he looked into her eyes, it seemed so passive and thoughtful that she could not help but feel his heart was elsewhere.
She could not know that in fact, he was so deeply in love with her that he had to swallow his emotions whole in her presence, for fear that he would act out his love, ruining their friendship, and never be permitted to see her again.
It was a thought that haunted his dreams.
A/N: Please, please review! Thanks!