Tumbling Down

Chapter Five

The World For You

It was all too soon that a ship arrived at the Eastern Port, bearing from the South gifts, news and the bridegroom-to-be. Lucy had to be very nearly dragged from her room to meet him; though endless preparations had been made, she still felt slow and ugly as they waited for the ship to moor and for the Prince to disembark.

"Smile, Lucy," Susan urged her little sister, tilting the circlet back a little on Lucy's head. "You must at least pretend to be welcoming."

"Of course," Lucy said in a hollow voice, faking a brilliant smile. Her scalp hurt from all the adornment; her golden hair was pulled back tight, braided beautifully, and shining like wealth in the noon light. Her face was heavy and thickly caked with makeup; her lips were pink and her freckles invisible. Her eyelashes were heavy and black with mascara. "Is this better?"

"You are a jewel," Susan gushed, squeezing her hand. Lucy was cold, even in the sunshine. She could feel Tumnus' presence behind her. She had insisted on his coming; though she knew he would support her, she ached to stand at his side and have his hand in hers, watching a Prince for Susan coming in. Nothing was working out like she had dreamed it would be.

"Thank you," Lucy replied automatically. Peter stood on her other side, Edmund beyond him, looking rather irate. Lucy couldn't imagine why. The ship was tied up and a plank lowered. An entourage of servants scurried off, all of them tanned and dark-haired. Lucy was unimpressed. She stood, impassive, as a tall man stooped and stepped onto the dock amid cheers and waving handkerchiefs.

She blinked suddenly; she hadn't realized he was already before her. His face was tanned and his goatee neat. His eyes were a very deep blue, and his teeth were white and strong in his smiling mouth. He was handsome, with a strong nose and arched black brows; his hair was thick and wavy, not much longer than Peter's. His jaw was sure and his shoulders broad; he wore rich clothing in bright hues. She longed for gray hooves and slender, callused hands. He wore a ring set with a green stone on his index finger.

"My dear Queen Lucy," he said in a smooth, deep voice, taking her hand. She allowed him to kiss it. "You are even lovelier than I had hoped you to be."

"Welcome to Narnia, Prince Noor," she said in a voice much more formal than she thought she had in her.

"I am indeed welcome," he grinned, looking about him. "What lovely citizens here! And so friendly."

"We keep our friends close," she said, without realizing it. She felt brown eyes on her back. "Surely you are tired after such a long journey."

"More hungry, actually," he said, and she realized he was teasing her. "Shan't you feed a guest?"

"Of course we will," she said snappishly, and suddenly she was smiling back at him. "You would like to freshen up, of course. Before a great feast and dancing."

"Is every event in Narnia large and well-attended?"

"Yes, of course," she said, pushing back a loose golden lock of hair. "A greater love for parties no land has ever had."

"Lead the way to the castle," he said grandly, giving her a sweeping bow. She smiled again, despite herself. Noor took Lucy's arm and allowed her to guide him up. Susan beamed enthusiastically. Lucy smiled back, and as she did so she turned and her eyes fell on Tumnus.

He looked as though he hadn't slept in weeks. His face was ashen, drawn and grim; his eyes were sunken and dull. His hair was wild in the stiff ocean air. He looked out of place, in his bright red muffler; the sun caught the broken horns, unhidden by his curls. His beard was scraggly, unkempt and rather mangy. He looked terribly beastlike—nothing like the proper, quiet faun she knew. At times, she hadn't even remembered he was not human. She remembered now.

He managed a weak smile, but she could tell his heart was not in it. As she passed him, she reached out for him. He caught her hand, eyes still flat with despair.

"Dance with me tonight," she demanded, and she knew with his hand in hers how much she needed him.

"Every one I save for you," he told her as she was pulled away from him. "Whichever one you like, I will be there waiting."

"My dear friend," she managed to say, before their hands were wrenched apart by distance and she lost sight of him. No one, no matter how handsome, could ever replace him. The knowledge made her heart sink. There was no hope of happiness for her. Not any more.

She was ready for the evening before anyone else; she did not change dresses, much to Susan's frustration. She did not speak much during the feast, nor did she eat, though both Susan and Noor tried to engage her. She insisted that Tumnus be allowed to sit at their table at the feast; she ignored Peter's objections and, backed by Edmund, Tumnus joined the Pevensies and their guest. He sat directly next to Lucy. Once, during the meal, Peter asked Lucy why she seemed to be having a hard time managing her silverware as she moved the food around on her golden plate.

"You must be imagining things, Peter," she said lightly, squeezing Tumnus' hand under the table.

And though Noor held his hand out to her for the first dance, he found (to his dismay) that her arms were already about the neck of that rather awkward faun. He moved well, for someone part-animal, Noor thought, watching him turn Lucy about the room. Still, though, if he could not dance with his fiancé, he could at least admire her from afar.

"So," Edmund was next to Noor suddenly. "What do you think of my sister?"

"She is beautiful," Noor said sincerely. Edmund tried not to frown.

"Yes, she is," he agreed. "You'd better treat her right, or I'll have everything you love destroyed."

"Excuse me?" Noor said, turning to look at Edmund, but the King was gone.

The rest of the night, he spun Lucy; the youngest Pevensie was his for each dance. Noor tried to see if any looked dismayed; all the Narnians seemed pleased enough. He caught the faun staring once, face pale and eyes hard, but the next time Noor looked for him he was no where to be found. Noor found he didn't mind the absence. There was something strange between the Queen and the lowly creature, and though he couldn't place it, he wondered.

Lucy excused herself early, complaining of a headache. Noor took her hand and kissed it gently.

"It has been an honor, my queen," he said in a voice he imagined to be sultry and romantic.

"Yes," she replied absently, beating a hasty retreat. Peter looked livid, and Edmund smug. Susan was Noor's partner for the last few dances (her beau was taken ill and unable to come). She made him laugh, and he wondered why it wasn't she he was engaged to.

As the rest of the guests trickled home, Noor said to Peter: "Your sisters are certainly the most charming creatures."

"Yes," Peter replied quietly, his blue eyes fixed on Susan as she laughed and bade the company farewell. "I think so too."

Lucy sat down heavily on her bed, flinging her crown onto her bedside and ripping her hair down roughly. Cera looked alarmed as she came in with fresh water for Lucy to wash her face.

"Are you all right, my queen?" the young dryad asked, pushing a strand of rosy hair out of her eyes. She set the pitcher down on Lucy's bedside and retrieved the circlet, setting it on the vanity. "You look awful."

"I feel awful," Lucy said quietly, standing up and going out onto her balcony. As the queen stood looking out to sea, Cera placed a nightgown on Lucy's bed.

"Shall I help you to change?"

"Cera," Lucy said after a long moment, leaning upon the ivory railing, "have you ever wanted something so badly you could hardly bear it?"

"Yes," Cera replied, "I once wanted a new dress and my mother wouldn't buy it for me. I was inconsolable." Lucy turned around with a smile. "I was only seven."

"I feel as though I'm dying," Lucy said miserably. Cera drew the curtains on the bay windows in Lucy's room, when she turned, on her lips there was the ghost of a smile.

"That's how you know it's love," replied the dryad. "Goodnight." She left Lucy looking stunned, closing the French doors behind her.

Cera passed Edmund on his way in for the night. "Your sister is quite passionate, King Edmund," she said with a smile. Edmund turned to look at her. "I'm pleased that the engagement suits her. I was worried she would resent being forced into it." Edmund didn't reply, and Cera passed him by. He watched her go, and then sighed, leaning against the wall heavily. He ran his hands through his hair.

"Damn it," he said.

It was late the next morning when Noor knocked on the door to Peter's study. He had been watching Lucy as she prepared for tea with the faun; he had seen clearly Tumnus' eyes the night before. He knew what the name for the unease in the pit of his stomach was, for certain.

"Come in," Peter's voice came from the dark room.

Noor entered and Peter smiled warmly to him. "Ah, Prince Noor. How are you enjoying your stay?"

"Very much, King Peter," Noor smiled easily in return. "But I'd like to talk to you about something which concerns me."

"Speak," Peter replied, closing the large account book he was making notes in.

"I have noticed the close friendship between your youngest sister and a certain faun," Noor began.

"Yes," Peter confirmed, "Mr. Tumnus. They have been the best of friends since we first came to Narnia, years ago."

"Yes," Noor said. "They do seem close. Almost…inappropriately so." He chose his words carefully. "I do not believe the feelings between them to be entirely platonic."

"What do you mean?"

"The faun clearly cares very deeply for Queen Lucy," Noor emphasized. Peter was quiet.

"I have noticed something odd between them lately, as well," Peter was thoughtful. "What would you have me do? Shall I speak to Lucy?"

"I would prefer they not be alone together," Noor said, trying to look concerned for Lucy's honor. "It would be simply dreadful if something…improper should occur."

"Prince Noor," Peter said sternly. "Neither my sister nor Mr. Tumnus are like that. They are entirely appropriate."

"Sometimes emotions can get the best of us," Noor said quietly. Peter considered this.

"Very well," he said, after a long moment. "I will tell Lucy no more of these private teas and walks. Of course they may spend time together around Queen Susan, or King Edmund, or myself—or even in your own company."

"I would certainly enjoy getting to know both of them better," Noor said gracefully.

"That's settled, then. Thank you for thinking of my sister's honor," Peter sighed, and Noor bowed as he left, pleased with himself. Peter had just opened his book again when Edmund threw open the door.

"Something's the matter with Lu," he announced, shutting the door behind him.

"Not more about Lucy," Peter groaned. Edmund looked confused, waiting for an explanation. "Noor has already been in with a complaint."

"What can he possibly have to complain about her?"

"He says she spends too much time with Mr. Tumnus. He doesn't think it proper."

"That's bollocks."

"We mustn't anger him. This marriage is about union, not splintering everything to pieces."

"So what are you going to do?"

"What else can I?" Peter replied, taking up his quill. "She just can't be alone with him any more, that's all. They can still have tea, with an escort, of course. Just nothing unsupervised anymore." Edmund looked shocked at first; his expression quickly melted to one of barely concealed anger.

"She's going to kill you."

"No, she won't. She's a big girl, Ed. She'll understand."

"She is not going to condone a chaperone, Peter! She is going to hate it, and she's going to rebel."

"Lucy's not like that."

"You don't even know her," Edmund spat. "You're too busy being a king to remember your family."

"Someone in this family needs to act like a ruler," Peter said shortly. Edmund's blue eyes were hard.

"This is going to blow up in your face. You are insulting your youngest sister—who, might I add, idolizes you and always has—and you are breaking her trust and respect for you. You won't be able to get it back." Edmund paused for breath, trying not to yell. "You are destroying your relationship with her."

"Lu's not irrational, Ed. She'll get over it. She doesn't know what's best for her. She's only a child"

"She's twenty-one, for Aslan's sake! I think she knows better than you."

"Oh, Ed," Peter cried, exasperated. "What am I to do? I can't antagonize the very Prince I'm trying to align with."

Edmund stared at his older brother for a long moment.

"If you do this, it won't be just Lucy who will no longer respect you." he said shortly, turned on his heel, and left the study. The door closed with a bang.

Peter sighed, stiffened his shoulders, and went back to copying tiny figures into the book.