Prompt: "the Golden Age lasts for much longer than 15 years"

Pairings: Susan/male oc, Edmund/mystery male character (oc? Peridan? You pick), Lucy/Sea Girl

Content warnings: N/A


Chapter 71: Delayed Exit


Word comes to Cair Paravel of the White Stag being in the Western Woods, but the day of the hunt, it pours rain; they take it as an omen and go home. Life continues on, but not without its little interruptions, the first of which is a wedding. Most surprising was that it was for Edmund-he and his groom cut an handsome image, but everyone spends the entire day wondering how it wasn't Peter or Susan that got married first.

Which is not to say that Susan doesn't marry, although the foreign powers all weep when she chooses a Narnian noble to take as her husband. He's a good man, but not up to Peter's standards. Still, the two are united on their love for their children, and everyone else has to make due around them.

"That's fine though," Peter admits over a cup of strong morning tea, three months shy of the thirtieth anniversary of their coronation. "If anything should happen, we have a proper heir now."

"You're just saying that because you're too obsessed with work to pick out a bride-or groom," Susan adds after a nod to Edmund who shrugs in turn. "Although I'd thank you not to try and poach my children for an heir."

"Being High King is a lot of work," Peter scoffs. "If I don't chose a spouse, what does it matter? You and Ed found yourselves partners. Let me and Lucy go without. Right, Lu?"

Lucy is oddly quiet as she spreads marmalade on her piece of toast. At last, she takes a bite, chews thoughtfully, and says "Actually, I, um, have someone I'd like you'd all to meet. Soon, if that's alright?"

Peter falls back, jaw hanging. "Lucy!"

"Oh, Lu! You mean-" Susan begins, eyes glittering.

"You mean you've been holding out on us," Edmund laughs. "You've been hanging back and letting Peter tease me and Susan all this time when you were no better than us!"

"Hush, Edmund," Susan huffs, swatting at him before turning back to Lucy. "Who is this person? Someone we've met?"

"Well, no, not precisely. You remember that voyage that I took a year ago?"

They all scoff. "The historic one?"

"The one that took you so far east, I'd thought you'd come home from the west?" Edmund adds.

Lucy smiles. "That one. You-you remember the friends I made along the way? The sea people?"

"The ones that threatened me with fish until you told them off?" Peter asks dryly.

"Them. Although not that one in particular. No, ah, it was one of their number. Sao's much more polite than him."

"Is Sao the lad with the spear or the one with-?"

"Sao is the lady with the trained school of fish," Lucy answers primly. Edmund laughs and claps her shoulder and Susan is all aflutter, but Peter sighs.

Damn. Now, I really will have to find someone, or I shall never hear the end of it.

Not that he had to worry long; one week later, the four of them set off for a leisurely hike in the woods of Lantern Waste and do not return.