Chapter Twenty-Eight
Happily Ever After? – Lucy
I got off the carriage slowly after Catherine. With permission from the Ambassador, Catherine had asked to be able to come back to Anne's mansion for a while before she would return to Cair Paravel and resume her duties as governess, and of course, the Ambassador granted her request.
"Lucy! Lucy! Lucy!"
I heard a squeal from somewhere and somebody threw their arms around me. The person was shorter than me – with dark hair. Gael.
"Gael!" I laughed in delight. I hugged her hard.
"You're back!" she squealed, "Oh, Lucy! I thought you would never come back!"
I kissed her forehead gently, "Gael, you know that I'll never leave without coming back"
I felt a firm hand on my shoulder, and I looked up at Catherine. "Father and Anne are coming" she said in a reserved voice. "Keep calm, Lucy"
I released Gael and I realized that now, she looked so much more like Mother than ever before, but I realized her eyes – her eyes were those like Caspian Martin's. I bit my lip, wondering if she knows.
"Sister" a smooth voice greeted me and my head snapped up. Anne walked down the main path, balancing a small child in her arms – her daughter, my niece. "You have the nerve to come back, I see"
I flinched at the coldness in her voice. Anne's eyes pierced as she stared me up and down.
"Anne, hasn't the matter already been settled?" Catherine replied, glaring at our oldest sister defiantly.
I realized that the relationship between them had grown brittle and thin. Catherine detested Anne, and Anne suspected Catherine of helping me escape. The bond that used to be strong was gone now.
"She is still a traitor" Anne said. "I do not have a sister who is a traitor"
"Oh, Anne!" Catherine sighed, looking exasperated, "Build a bridge – and get over it!"
"Lucy is no longer my sister" Anne continued, glaring at Catherine and me. Her glare almost withered me – it was intense, hard and frightening.
"Yet it is not in your place to disown her, daughter" a deep male voice said. I turned around and saw Father striding towards us, "I have decided not to let matters with the Martins come between my own daughter and the Count of the Western March"
I smiled hesitantly at Father. "You are not angry?"
Father smiled at me, "Aren't you supposed to be the one who is angry, Lucy?"
I shook my head, "No, Father. I understand that you felt hurt about what Mother did" I hesitated slightly, "I felt hurt too…having her betray us like that"
Father nodded, "Well, Lucy, can you ever forgive me for acting so rash?"
I nodded, "Of course" I hesitated again before I flung myself onto Father – hugging him with all my might.
When I pulled away, he smiled, his eyes showing his gratefulness, "Now I believe that you have a certain boy to meet…."
I laughed out loud and hugged Father once more, then Gael, and Catherine – even Anne and rushed off to the stables.
"Why!" Mr. Beaver gasped when he saw me enter, "Miss Lucy! Is that really you?"
I nodded and grinned, "Yes, Mr. Beaver! I need a horse quick!"
Mr. Beaver helped me with one of the horses, Marygold, and I quickly rode her to the gates. When I passed by the porch, Father, Jill, Aravis, Gael and Catherine were talking, and then I saw Alana enter and Jill gasped. But I didn't see any more after that, since I was already riding off to Martin Manor.
Excitement rushed through me as I approached Martin Manor. I jumped off Marygold, hardly bothering to tie her up and rushed to the door. I tried to compose myself as I finished knocking and waited for the doors to open.
A faun opened the doors and looked at me inquiringly.
"Is the Count home?" I asked.
He nodded, "Yes, my lady. He is upstairs in his room – if you'd like to come in?"
"Yes!" I replied, a little too eagerly. I coughed slightly, "Yes, thank you"
The faun nodded and led me inside. He soon disappeared up the stairs, leaving me alone in the sitting room.
"Lucy Pevensie?"
I whirled around and saw Caspian Martin standing in the doorway to the dining room.
"You're back" he smiled, "Good. Edmund could act like a human being again"
I laughed, "Well, I am glad to be back"
He nodded, "Now, you can cause as much public displays of affection" he grinned, "I'll just be outside trying to do the gardening. My mother and sister are out and my nieces are with Lilliandil and my son at the orchard so you'll have no interruption" he smirked and left.
I blushed slightly and nodded back, turning my gaze to the painting. I didn't turn around until I heard footsteps go down the staircase.
"Look, if you don't mind, I'm not up to seeing – "
I turned around and smiled at Edmund. His face, which at first looked irritated, turned to shock, and then turned to joy.
"Edmund" I whispered.
"Lucy"
He rushed up to me and pulled me into a hug, I felt my eyes fill with tears as I clung to him. I felt Edmund pressing kisses onto my hair.
I pulled away but kept my hands around his neck. Edmund's hands were placed firmly on my waist – our foreheads touching.
"You're back" Edmund whispered softly, one hand leaving my waist and going up to stroke my cheek. "Oh Aslan, Lucy" he murmured before crashing his lips onto mine. I pulled him closer, my hands burying themselves on Edmund's hair, tugging none too gently. I groaned slightly as I felt him bite my lower lip and his tongue slither into my mouth.
Moments later, we both pulled away gasping. The emotions running through me – well, I could barely understand them myself. I was laughing – feeling so happy, that Edmund was finally with me again – and then I felt warm liquid run through my cheeks, and I realized I was crying.
Edmund gently wiped the tears away with his thumb, "Why are you crying, Lulu?" he whispered softly.
I laughed, "I'm just – just – I'm just so glad that I'm back. That I'm with you again" I pulled him into another kiss – although a brief one. Once I pulled away, I continued, "And I so dreamed and hoped that I would be back in your arms quickly – And it was so long, so long" I gave a sob, overwhelmed with all the emotions. "I love you Edmund, I love you so much"
"I love you too Lucy, more than you can imagine" Edmund replied, pressing another kiss onto my lips gently. "I missed you, Lulu, I missed you so much. I love you"
I giggled, kissing his lips once more, "Your uncle said you didn't act like a human being at all – more like a vegetable"
Edmund grinned sheepishly, "Well, more or less like that"
"I'm sorry you had to act like a vegetable" I smiled teasingly, running my hand across his hair.
He scowled slightly and I laughed again, pressing another kiss on his lips, my lips lingering on the corner of his mouth. "Well, I'm here now, no need to act like a carrot" I giggled.
Edmund laughed with me this time, bringing me down with him on the settee, so I was sitting on his lap. I leaned in and he met me half-way, my hands going around Edmund's neck. He sucked on my lower lip gently, inducing another groan from me.
Somehow, my still conscious and logical thoughts wondered what on Narnia would happen if we get caught – I gasped softly as I felt his tongue trail down to my neck, his mouth sucking on the skin gently. I stifled a moan as his lips ran up and down my neck.
"Edmund" I whimpered softly. "My lips aren't on my neck"
I heard Edmund chuckle and he then brought his lips back onto mine. "I. Love. You. Lucy. Pevensie" he murmured between kisses.
"I love you, Edmund" I murmured back. I pulled away from him and slid off his lap, settling myself next to him on the settee. Edmund placed his arm around my shoulder, and I buried my face onto his neck, breathing in deeply.
To be completely honest, this is probably the best day of my life.
Okaaay. :D So hai! So this is the *sobs* third to the last chapter. Anyway, I'll post maybe….tomorrow? I think, yeah probably. I can barely keep my eyes open now *_* I'm just keeping my eyes open to watch The Tudors.
