Disclaimer: I don't own Narnia or any characters you may recognize from the books or the movies, I wish I did but I don't...

Summary: Fireworks... They can cause an uproar, set plans awry, or even be a pleasure.

A/N: This story is part of my A Light in the Darkness universe. Enjoy!

Fireworks

Part One: Planning

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1 Greenroof 1009

"Fireworks!"

Someone please kill me now. Not one person in that room noticed my, ahem, less than enthusiastic reaction to the latest suggestion for the much anticipated (and ridiculously delayed) wedding of Oreius and myself. Lucy's grin was infectious and then Susan nodded. "It will be perfect!"

Where's a Fell invasion when you need one? I decided to get out of there before my nerves frayed the last centimeter or so that was left. Susan, Lucy, Tuulea, and the rest of the wedding planning cohorts were too busy chattering to notice that the bride-to-be was leaving. Which says so much about how the wedding planning has been since the first time we had to move the wedding in Quickening. Not that they didn't mean well…their enthusiasm was just completely overwhelming and was increasingly carried away.

I hurried out of the Cair, not even bothering to let Ptah know I was no longer among the wedding planners, as I found my way to the hill overlooking Cair Paravel and the sea. Oreius was already there and I must have looked more upset than I intended to because he immediately held his arms out and drew me into a tight hug. He pressed my head against his shoulder, his fingers running over my hair and toying with the strands that had worked their way loose of my chignon, before murmuring, "What troubles you, love?"

"We need to elope." I felt more than heard his chuckle and I pushed back enough to scowl up at him. "I am not joking, Oreius. This is getting so out of hand, it's ridiculous! The guest list has officially mutated into some sort of living entity with hundreds of names as its plunder or perhaps sacrifice would be the better word. I am more than ninety-nine point nine percent certain that the guest list for our wedding has surpassed the guest list of Peter's wedding. I don't care how many people are in the army, that's just not right. The decorating committee has so many ribbons and doodads that we might as well just wrap Cair Paravel up twice and we would still have enough ribbon left over to put a bow on top of each tower. And tonight they have decided that it simply wouldn't be a wedding without fireworks. Fireworks! Lion preserve us!"

He wanted to laugh again. I could see it in the amused glint lighting his dark eyes. I scowled at him more and he brought his hands up to cradle my face. "Alambiel. Surely it cannot be so terrible as all that. Perhaps if you voiced your preferences-"

"They wouldn't hear me."

"I did not think the wedding plans were proceeding at such," he paused, obviously weighing his next words as I continued glaring at him, then continued, "that is, I was unaware of the fact the wedding plans were such an alarming and inconvenient activity."

"Don't even go there."

"I have not moved," Oreius replied in utter seriousness and with just a hint of confusion.

I rolled my eyes. "Oreius. Have you considered the fact that you aren't really aware of how stressful the last four and a half months have been is because the matchmakers turned wedding planners are not troubling you with the wedding details because you're just the groom? I, on the other hand, as the bride must listen to all these increasingly enormous and elaborate plans and I am pretty sure that the rest of my hair is going to turn white by the time we reach the twenty-seventh."

Oreius reached out to touch my hair again, this time gently working loose one of the white streaks and curling it around his finger. A smile played around the corners of his mouth as he mused, "You would have the loveliest white hair in Cair Paravel."

I hit him in the ribs.

He grunted. "That was not the right compliment?"

"No!" I giggled in spite of my best efforts then planted my fists on my hips. "No, what you should have said is that you would hate to see me gain any more white hairs and that in order to prevent such a fate we are to run away together!"

Oreius' mouth twitched into a half smile and he raised his eyebrows as he folded his arms over his chest. "I see. And may I ask if this is a particular set of rules?"

"Yes, it's all written down in A Centaur's Guide to Elopement: How to Keep Your Betrothed from Going Stark Raving Mad before the Wedding. Honestly, you really should be aware of these things." I heaved a dramatic sigh then turned to the edge of the hill. "But it's too late now, I fear. There's only one option left to me. I'll have to jump."

"Alambiel."

I ignored him. "Should have eloped the first time I suggested it. Now it's all for naught."

A moment later, his arms went around my waist and pulled me back against his chest as he rested his chin on the top of my head. "Alambiel. Delightful Minx that you are, have you quite finished?"

"No. I haven't defenestrated myself. Delightful? I thought I was cheeky."

His laugh rumbled in his chest. "You are without a doubt most cheeky and a little minx. I happen to find you delightful as well…from time to time. But, I do not think defenestration is your last resort."

"Why not? I know everyone expects it to be Werewolves but I could settle for defenestration."

His hold on me tightened. "Now why would you plot your own demise?" His breath tickled as he whispered in my ear, "Should not your thoughts be filled with joy? We are to marry."

"It's not so much plotting as it is likely to be a side effect of too much planning and too much delaying of the wedding."

"I see. And what is your solution besides defenestration?"

I twisted around in his hold so I could look up at him. I wanted him to see that I wasn't quite joking anymore. "We should run away together. Just long enough to get married. We can go down to the Cair, rope Edmund and Peter into performing the wedding and witnessing it, respectively, and then we can honeymoon for a couple of months until Susan and Tuulea calm down after finding out what we've done. Oooh, or we could always go to Stormseer. I'm sure he would perform the wedding for us and he has enough attendants who could serve as witness. And then we can honeymoon for a couple of months until Susan and Tuulea calm down after finding out."

Oreius kissed my forehead then caressed my cheek. "It is impossible, Alambiel. You know this is true. However, I think what you need is a fortnight where you need not think of wedding plans or guest lists or even fireworks. Let us accept the invitation to Solon's presentation to the herds of his dam and sire. We can go and enjoy the ceremony. I can also take you to meet my own herd since it is quite close to Alithia's herd. You do need to meet Alcippe as she is the matriarch of the herd and I suppose Alcippe would be less vexed with me if I introduced the two of you before we wed."

I hesitated. "Aren't Tuulea and Stonebrook and the rest of their family going as well?"

"Yes. But I shall have their promises that they will not mention any wedding plans during the trip. Consider it, if you will, a holiday of sorts."

I considered the alternatives for a long moment then nodded. "All right."

"Good. You will enjoy this, Alambiel. I am certain of it." He smiled.

"Wait, aren't they all leaving tomorrow?"

"Yes, but not until two hours before noon and we will be traveling slowly enough for the colt's sake that you can walk instead of bringing Pepin."

"Lovely." I crossed my arms. "Any other ideas, Kentauri?"

Oreius considered then held his hand out to me. "Only that you might permit me to tell you what the stars speak of tonight."

With a soft laugh, I set my hand in his and let him hold me close while he whispered in my ear the doings of the stars (supposedly they had a lot to say about how lovely I looked that eve…can't say the Kentauri isn't smooth when he puts his mind to it). Maybe a holiday would be just the thing to keep me from tearing my hair out or strangling Oreius for agreeing to not elope almost five months ago. Maybe.

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A/N: Please Read and review!