Disclaimer: I own nothing but my own original characters and a midi keyboard.
A/N: I lied. There's one more chapter after this one, THEN it'll be done, then I'll start on the second book, which will hopefully be up soon. Sorry it's taken a bit to get this up (especially considering it's been so short), I've just been discouraged in writing it lately. Also school started again, so there's that. Anyway, I hope you like this one. There's a lot of fluffy cute things and some serious things and some steamy things... and then after this will come the finale. So, enjoy.
The Glow
"Are you, or have you ever been part of the Lords of the Council's plan to overthrow the kings and queens of Narnia?" Every time Peter asked the question, his voice grew darker, deeper. His tone firmer. His eyes were narrowed to slits after a mere forty-five minutes of this, but with good reason. It was alarming how many traitors we had in Cair Paravel.
The council room was reassembled to accommodate all of us—that is, five thrones on the platform and room on the sides for our bravest warriors: centaurs, fauns, and some humans who'd sworn allegiance to us. The rest of the floor was used for the lords and ladies that came before us one by one, professing their everlasting dedication or confessing their deceit. Those who proved worthy stood with us at the front. Those who proved guilty were escorted to the dungeons. It was a crueler affair than what we were known for, in fact, our prison cells were never full until this day. But it was a necessary precaution to take, as we didn't want what had just come to light to happen again.
We didn't stop until every court member was tried. No meals, no breaks, just focus. There were a few hysterical cases in which a man or a woman cried for their friend or lover who was not on our side, and when they confessed, they were taken away. Hours upon hours later, when the sun had just sunk beneath the ocean's surface and the sky was a periwinkle blue, we emptied the council hall of everyone but the five of us.
Edmund sighed. "That was difficult."
"A good number of them started crying," Susan was fighting back tears, her voice hoarse.
"Why are you crying? They were against us!" Peter said, harshly.
"That doesn't mean they weren't human beings!" Lucy enveloped her into a hug.
I pulled Peter aside. "I think she's still pretty tender about Rabadash's ordeal."
"I think you're right. But I'm not wrong, either." He said, his jaw making its presence known.
"I understand that, but you have to be respectful of her."
He sighed, half-rolling his eyes. "I just wanted to be absolutely sure we were safe. That you were safe."
"And I do feel safe, darling. It's good to know what kind of people inhabit your kingdom."
"I am sorry, Susan," Peter gestured towards her. "I know this whole situation has been a bit much for you."
"You can say that again," Edmund muttered. Lucy shot him a look.
"Thanks, Pete." Susan said, drying her eyes with a handkerchief Edmund had given her. "I'm getting better. I am."
"Well then," I smiled, then addressed the group. "Shall we attempt to have some dinner?"
After the hearings, running a kingdom was both harder and easier. Easier because we could consult each other as equally reigning kings and queens, and harder because Aslan wasn't there every step of the way. The remaining court members fulfilled their duties quietly in reverence of our tasks. It was the first time we knew of that we were able to govern Narnia ourselves.
Over the weekend, Peter had the garden (and the statue) demolished by the giants. It was a poignant experience for all, because we understood that both Peter and I were being set free of all previous bondages between us. No one but the five were present, but afterward there was a grand celebration for us in the ballroom. We gave into our old habits; Edmund getting drunk and flirting with the Naiads, Susan rolling her eyes at him from across the room, Lucy falling asleep in her chair, and Peter and I leaving to retire early. We walked slowly to our room, his hand covering mine. When we got there, he opened the door, letting me walk to the bed and sit down.
"Well, that was awkward," I said softly, taking off my shoes.
"How do you mean?" He asked.
"They all know our business. What happened."
"Oh." He raised his eyebrows. "Yes, I suppose. But as long as they know we're good now" —he closed the door, walking to me— "everything is as it should be."
"Yes," I leaned in, taking his left cheek in the palm of my hand. "I suppose it is." I closed the gap. He smiled into the kiss, putting a hand on either side of my waist as I scooted to the back of the bed. He tasted faintly of spiced wine and smelled of a rich cologne. I took off his crown and felt for the nightstand as he began unlacing the back of my dress. Within minutes I was mostly naked and wrapped in Peter's tight embrace. He held me by my back and let one hand graze up and down my leg. At one moment he hit a sensitive spot on my hipbone (Sosorion left no part of my body undiscovered) and I cried out before I could stop myself.
"What is it?" He asked, concern washing over his face. "Did I hurt you?"
"What? No, no that spot is just a bit tender, darling—"
"Oh my God," he sighed, moving his growing bangs away from his face. "He got you there, too."
"Peter it's nothing I promise, just—no Peter don't—" He sat back and crawled off of me, hiding his head in his hands. No matter what I did, he seemed to retreated further and further into his shell. "C'mon, darling, come back to me. It's okay I'm okay. Still somewhat touchy, I guess."
I tried to get him to look at me, but he scooted away until he lay on the opposite side of the bed. He rested his chin on his lower neck and played with the tassels on his vest. "Are you sulking?"
"No, I am not 'sulking,'" Peter retorted.
"Then come back. You yourself said we were good. So act like it." He didn't move. I crawled to his side of the bed and straddled him, leaning in close to his face. "Talk to me," I whispered.
He sat up so his head was almost level with mine, however he didn't look at me. He put his hands—now cold—on my kneecaps, gently traveling upwards till they rested at my hips. He hardly touched the bruise there, then continued until he was at my stomach. I was breathing somewhat irregularly now, but I held it together. He moved on to my ribcage, hesitated before brushing against my chest. I let out a quick breath as he stopped at the height of my bust and looked into my eyes. I took this opportunity to lean in and kiss him, but he didn't respond. "Hey!" I whined. "Kiss me back." He remained motionless.
My hands trailed to his vest and undid it before moving onto his tunic. My lips never left his but when I tossed his clothing to the side. When I started on his trousers, I opened my eyes to find him looking at me gravely. I flicked him in the stomach, quipping "why so serious?" before kissing him again. He groaned melodramatically and chuckled in spite of himself. When I pulled his trousers down as far as I could, I left his face to take off his boots and socks.
"We don't have to do this, you know," I said, throwing one boot behind me, and then the other. "We can just... go to sleep. Pretend this never happened—"
"Oh shut up," He reached for my hand and pulled me to him so I was straddling him again. He sat up under me and kicked his trousers off his feet before taking my face into his hands.
"Wait!" I held up a finger and lightly licked his lips with my tongue. "Répétez après moi, s'il vous plaît."
"What?" He asked, trying to kiss me again.
"Repeat after me!" I translated, dodging him. "I am more than my scars."
He sighed. "You are more than your scars."
"I am not fragile anymore—oh!"
"No you are not." He closed the gap, and that was that.
A few weeks later, we celebrated the coming of fall. Wine was imported from the Seven Isles, and the best meat brought from the forest near Archenland. It was a great party, with everyone dressed in dark reds and shimmering golds, and even royal blue. There was dancing and eating until sunrise, and at the end: a bough of leaves dropped from the ceiling to the floor.
The following morning began late, with breakfast being served in bed. Peter had left quite some time ago, so I entertained myself with a book. All was well for nearly an hour, when all of a sudden, I felt my stomach turning. It grew infinitely worse within moments, and before I could make it to the toilet, I had wretched all over the marble floor.
I groaned, resting my head at the foot of the bed. Where did this come from? I was fine. Everything was fine. My stomach stopped churning and I rinsed my mouth out with water. Coming back out to the bedroom, I turned up my nose to avoid the lingering odor.
I sat on the bed looking at the mess I made. What, exactly, just happened? I thought. It didn't make any sense, and I couldn't trace it back for possible explanations. I had just thrown up, and I didn't have anything to show for it. To avoid making unnecessary work for Naramay, I found some towels in the vanity and began to clean up the fluids. If anything, I made it worse. Clearly I'd been lounging about for too long to know anything about effective cleaning. Eventually, I gave up.
I lay on the bed and attempted to rest despite the flood of scenarios entering my mind. Drowsiness overtook me soon enough, and the last thing I remember before being startled awake was someone yelling, yelling and calling out my name.
Later on, I found myself propped up on all the pillows in the bed, with a glass of water and a few wafers on the nightstand. I was surrounded by people; Peter, of course, Susan, Edmund, Lucy, and my ladies maids. Peter was grasping my hand, his expression bordering terror.
"My darling, are you alright?" He asked, his voice at least an octave higher than normal.
"I'm honestly fine," I nodded. "I just don't know what came over me."
"Naramay found you here and sent for all of us immediately."
"I know, I was there."
"I mopped the floors and went the extra mile just to make you comfortable," she said, smiling. "Do you know the cause of this sudden illness?"
"I was fine... I'd just woken up and eaten... and all of a sudden I was throwing up," I shrugged. "I don't know what's wrong with me."
"Well we're going to find that out, and quickly," Peter assured me, squeezing my hand.
"In the meantime," said Edmund, "you'll be taking it a lot easier. No spiced wine for you."
"I'm not the drunk, am I?" I managed to smile a little. He blushed and turned away. "Really, everyone, I'm okay now. It was probably just a one-time thing." Though I wasn't so sure myself.
"Susan and I will read to you, if you like." Lucy piped in.
"And tell you all of the latest news," said Susan.
"I should like that very much," I murmured, taking a deep breath. Peter kissed my hand, my wrist, my cheek and moved to kiss my lips but I moved away.
"That wouldn't be very hygienic, now would it?" I grinned. His eyes grew wide, and in response I giggled and ran a hand through the back of his hair. "Later, when I'm feeling up to it."
"Okay," he produced a well-meaning smile.
I managed not to retch anymore that day, but on the following days I wasn't so lucky. It happened the same way: I was perfectly well, and then the nausea came and often left a small puddle on the floor. Afterwards, I was fine. Most of the time I only threw up once, sometimes twice, and I learned how to clean it up so I didn't make more work for Naramay. Despite my ability to be on my own, Susan and Lucy kept their promise: I was well-learned in books and the latest gossip to hit Cair Paravel. I was all but bored, but I didn't like this. Sickness was never fun. I just wanted it to be over.
After nearly two weeks of this, it became known that Aslan was in Narnia. The knowledge of his presence had me feeling better than I since before the first morning of my sickness. He arrived around noon and made the rounds before talking to each of us alone. I don't know what he said to the others—things that were only to be kept between the two of them, no doubt—but Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy appeared afterward with a sort of glow adorning their face. I was last. We walked out to the courtyard and surveyed the various flowers as we spoke. Or rather, he spoke to me.
"As you may have guessed, I know what's been happening to you. I know what's happened recently," he said gravely. "And I know that many a time, you've cursed in my name wondering why I couldn't have come forward and slain your perpetrator."
"Yes," I said quietly, brushing my fingers against a set of rose petals.
"I am deeply sorry for what happened to you, Charlotte. To all of you. But what I did to finish the White Witch cannot be done to every evildoer in the world—both yours and mine."
"I understand," I nodded. "It's over now, anyways. Nothing to be done. We've all changed, sometimes I think we wouldn't know what it's like to truly be king or queen without the overall experience."
"Perhaps," he mused, stopping to look at the sea. "But there's something else. You've been ill recently, suddenly. You don't know what to make of it. Retching, nausea, occasional sweats... These are all symptoms of—"
"A simple stomach virus?" I said nervously. "Influenza?"
"No, Dear One, No." I daresay he laughed before continuing. "No, darling Charlotte, you're with child."
I froze, my eyes widening as we caught each other's stare.
"Shall I say it again for emphasis?"
"No, no I understood. I just..."
"You forgot that was possible?" He finished.
"Yes. I haven't thought about having a baby in earnest since Adelaide."
"Well, now you're having one. Congratulations. It might be a bumpy road, what with your experiences so far. But it's worth it. Raising a little one is a beautiful thing."
I nodded to myself, taking in shallow breaths. When I spoke, my voice was much higher than usual. "Do you think I'll make a good mother?" I turned to look at him, but as is his style, he was gone.
All I knew now was I had to tell Peter.
I left the courtyard and walked with purpose down the hall to the bedroom. Along the way, I was met by several bows and acknowledgements by the lords and ladies of the court. I smiled, managing a hello before disappearing. When I got there, I sat on the bed, unaware of what I was supposed to do next.
How was I to tell him? How did one usually tell him? How would he respond? That was silly, of course I knew he'd be elated.
Continuing my thought process, I washed and dressed for dinner. I was nearly ready when I saw Naramay coming in.
"Hello," she said, smiling.
"Hello, Naramay," I returned the expression.
"I'd like to be frank," she began walking towards me. I stopped applying my lipstick and turned to face her.
"What is it? I asked.
"You haven't bled since we were in Calormen. That was almost two moons ago."
I swallowed, knowing where this was going.
"When I assessed your symptoms, I knew," she said, smiling. "I just didn't want to say anything in front of the others."
"Well, I just found out myself," I chuckled, putting away my makeup and jewelry. "I'll have to find a way to tell Peter."
"When you do, let me know," she said, winking. "Did you need anything while I'm here?"
"No, thank you. I think you can retire for the day."
She curtsied, and left the room.
At dinner, I was—no surprise—on pins and needles. The slightest noises and movements got a reaction out of me and some made notice, though it wasn't made into a big ordeal.
"You really look quite lovely tonight, Charlotte," said Edmund.
"Thank you," I replied. "Is that coming from you or the alcohol?"
He laughed a little. "Touché. But really: you seem to be glowing. Your cheeks are the most appealing shade of pink."
"Oh! Well," I blushed. "Thank you."
"He's right, you know," Peter agreed. "You look beautiful."
I smiled at him and squeezed his knee as a thank you. After dinner, he was right at my heels as we went to retire for the night.
"So you're feeling better, I assume?" He asked excitedly, taking off his shoes.
"I'm fine, yes," I said, taking off my earrings and makeup. "It must've been Aslan. I haven't vomited once today. By the way, how was your visit with him?"
"Very enlightening," he said, coming to kiss me on the cheek.
"And what did you talk about?"
"Ahh... but that's between he and I," he said, kissing me on the mouth.
"I suppose... so..."
He wrapped his arms about my hips and walked me to the bed, never leaving my face. I lay down as he crawled on top of me, laughing a little.
"You're awfully excited, aren't you?" I managed to get in between kisses.
"Mhm," he murmured, lifting my legs, and my skirt with them.
He promptly left my lips and lay deep kisses onto my neck and collarbone before moving down to my stomach.
"Why must your bodice be so difficult?" He said, trying to go higher.
"You can't undo my dress with your nose, my love," I said, trying not to laugh.
"That's alright," he replied, kissing my bellybutton, then my hips, then my thighs...
"Peter?" I asked, the volume of my voice rising suddenly. "I have to t—I have to tell you something..."
He looked at me for a moment, then continued.
"I'm..." I tried to keep my tone level, but was failing miserably. "I'm—oh my God."
He chuckled.
"Stop" – I cleared my throat – "Stop laughing at me."
He didn't respond.
"I'm..." I reacted so quickly I almost sat up. "I'm... Oh, forget it. Nevermind."
Afterward (and he did manage to get through my bodice, though he needed help), I lay against his chest, holding each of his hands in mine.
"I don't remember you making those types of noises before—"
"Be quiet" I said sternly, hitting him with the back of his own hand. I felt him laugh under me.
"Oh, what was it you were trying to tell me earlier?" I turned to look at him and found a boyish grin.
"It's quite serious, actually," I hit him again. "It's about my talk with Aslan."
"Shouldn't that be kept between the two of you?"
"Not this one, no. This concerns us. All of us."
"Okay," He sat up fully and gave me his undivided attention. "I'm listening."
I took in a deep breath. "Um... how to put this lightly... I haven't bled in over a month."
He opened his mouth but didn't say anything.
"And this sudden onset of sickness came with a set of symptoms that were diagnosed by both Aslan and Naramay as.. pregnancy."
He opened his mouth again, wider this time. "Um... we're... you're... pregnant."
"I'm pregnant."
"But... but we just—"
"Had sex, yeah."
"Oh my God. Oh my God, my darling." He smiled bigger than I'd ever seen him do before in my life. I smiled in return and he showered me in kisses.
"You're going to have a baby. This is what you've wanted."
"Yes it is."
"Do you think the sickness has stopped for good?" His smile became concern in a split-second.
"From what I've seen I don't think so," I shook my head.
"And we just had sex."
"Yes," I said again.
"Do you think it'd be safe to do it again?" He asked, raising his eyebrows.
"What?" My eyes grew wide.
"Ha, I'm only joking!" He exclaimed, embracing me once again.
"No you're not," I sighed, kissing his chin.
"Well, I love you. And I'm so proud of this." He placed a [cold] hand onto my stomach and met my eyes.
"I know you are," I leaned back a little and ran a hand through his hair. "I am too."
A/N: I hope you liked it! I had fun writing it, especially the super serious part at the beginning. Please review and stay tuned for the finale chapter, which should be up REALLY soon because it's already done. (Although I think I'll wait a few days for effect.)