Weightless in Love: A Sequel

Chapter Four

Notes: I own nothing.

Acknowledgements: This could not have been done without the great help from mrstater that was my beta for this chapter.

Dedication: To all my readers of the first story, you have all been so kind. I hope this meets both our expectations.

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The announcement that Queen Lucy was to marry Tumnus the Faun quickly spread throughout Narnia, to the joy of all. None, however, were happier than Lucy's siblings, though they were quite anxious to know at what kind of ceremony they would be wed. The couple merely looked to one another and said, in all honesty, that they had not yet discussed it.

When they finally had a private moment, free of friends offering congratulations, Lucy cast a half-exasperated look at Tumnus. What was he doing? Reading. Pursing her lips, she took the maroon book from his hands. "You have some question unanswered, my Tumnus. I believe it is high time for you to own up to them."

"Here I thought you loved me my mysteries," he said, knowing full well that she was joking. Ht took the book easily from her, set it aside, and folded his hands together, awaiting her questions.

Hesitant now at his sudden attention, she looked to her own hands. "Why wasn't I allowed to come with you this year to your parents' graves?"

The smile faded from Tumnus' face as he took her hand in his. "Another secret ritual. I'm to go alone on the year that I ask for a wife. Then, the day before we are to be wed, we go together. I have no doubt that they would have liked you very much."

"I thought I had upset you somehow when you left. Please tell me that you won't have to do that again."

Chuckling, he kissed her hand. "I'm afraid you are going to get quite tired of having me by your side the rest of our lives. Was that your only question?"

"How are we going to be wed? Human or Faun way?"

Tumnus looked taken aback. "Is that really one of your questions? I thought we would do both."

"What, two separate-"

Shaking his head, "I know that brides are to be a bit … absent minded … during planning their weddings, but I'm afraid that you've become a completely different person! No, Dear One, it will be one ceremony but sharing our traditions like always."

"How is it that you know so much about Humans? Seems a bit unfair that you have things to look from and I don't," pouting playfully, she looked away, "And here I thought I was going to get to tell you all about Human weddings…"

"But you do get that chance, do you not remember those books in my library? I merely looked at the pictures just so we could have this very discussion. I didn't want to spoil the joy of your telling me all the secrets."

Her eyes found his, along with a smile as bright as day, "I fear Human weddings are far boring compared to Fauns, and my curiosity won't handle as I go on about the gowns and all. So you go first."

Laying a gentle kiss to her forehead he laughed "My Lucy, so much the child…but I cannot say no to my wife, so I shall indulge you." Sitting up straighter to appear more regal, he began, "The male receives a scarf. A new one, one of Gold, the Twelfth Color," At her confused expression, he smiled, "Yes, there is another Color, but this is saved for wedding. The two that he was given from his parents are laid aside for the week of the wedding. During the ceremony, his wife lays the third scarf over his shoulder. The third new scarf represents moving away from his parents and moving forward with his wife. The wife also receives something, a kiss to the lips. We Fauns are very private in our affections as you have noticed these two years, and it is quite a special moment." A shine could be seen in his eyes, and he cleared his throat. "As for the rest of the tradition, you shall have to wait until the night of that day."

A slight blush came to Lucy's face as she leaned closer to him. "Have you been to many Faun weddings?"

"A few, but I was young and didn't appreciate the simplicity of it as I do now." Tilting his head to the side, he smiled. "I believe it is time for me to learn of Human weddings now."

"Well, there are a lot more details, I'm afraid. Let's just start with the rings, they're gold as well, and both the wife and husband get one to be worn on the ring finger, left hand. That is supposed to be the one closer to the heart. They're to symbolize the love that never ends for each other. The bride wears white, with a veil." At this, she giggled like a young girl, "I used to love this part. So sophisticated, how the groom lifts the veil to see her and they kiss…" Shaking her head to clear the dreams, she continued, "And candles. There's one for me and one for you and then there's one in the middle. We each take a light from our own to light the middle one; I always enjoyed that as well. Then, after the ceremony, there's a party and the bride and groom dance a song by themselves."

Tumnus counted off the things on his fingers, "White. Candles. Dancing. Rings. Kissing. Scarf. Lucy, I do believe we can properly do a full Human and Faun ceremony."

The planning took only a month since deciding whom to invite and where to have the ceremony was so easy to cross off their list. Chairs were lined in the throne room, since it was the largest in Cair Paravel. Also, there was standing room available for those that hadn't properly notified their wanting to come. Tumnus and Lucy spent their days fleshing out the details of the ceremony, the order of things when he suddenly became quiet. Looking to him, she frowned slightly, motioning to those that were helping to decorate to give them a few moments alone.

Tumnus, realizing what had happened, looked to his hooves as Lucy stood back to look him over. "I know your secret now, Tumnus. If you are ever nervous, you are about to say or ask something regarding our relationship."

He held up a hand as if to argue that this wasn't true, but his smile betrayed him, "You are right. I only just realized that you would be walking down the aisle alone."

"Alone?"

"Yes, you mentioned that the father brings his daughter down the aisle. So you would be walking alone."

"Peter is a fine substitute." She realized that he wasn't satisfied. "Was there something else?"

"The groom and bride, when they have their one dance… it is not like Fauns', is it?"

"No," thinking of the cheery way the Fauns would dance along to music that could lift the deepest of sorrows, "no, it is more thought out than that.

"Slow, you mean."

"Yes, Tumnus, slow. Do Fauns not have slow songs?"

"Only the Mourning Songs, but those are not to be danced to." He cast another glance to his hooves. "Would you mind teaching?"

Taking his head without another word she smiled at his shy attitude about dancing. The balcony proved to be the only space large enough that wasn't surrounded by chairs and so she led him there, calming his fears all the way.

"Now, I lay my hand upon your shoulder." As she did so she realized that it was bare, no scarf to cover it and so it meant a week from now they were to be wed. Catching his eye, she nodded. "And you take my other hand as your other-"

It was already there, pulling her closer so that their noses were practically against one another. "Tumnus, I do believe you already know about this."

"I confess I have looked at those images more than most and wanted to try it out before the moment arose." Grinning, he started to dance, taking her hand and twirling her more than a few times, both of them lost in their thoughts of the coming week and what it would bring.

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Author's Notes: No, this isn't the end. Sorry for the terribly long wait. And I hope to get out chapter five soon.