narnia / year 2546

word count: 724

tirian & jewel requested by leah

xXx

Silver moonlight splashed over pale paving stones, Cair Paravel's clustered towers and turrets edged as if with gleaming white thread as Prince Tirian stepped out into the central courtyard under their noble silhouettes and hugged his arms around a flimsy nightshirt.

Sixteen years old and still he forgot to wear a cloak in the dead of winter. At this rate it was a miracle he'd even remembered his boots.

A guard at the gates nodded as he passed, and Tirian smiled back as he wandered vaguely in the direction of the stables: a trip he made often, regardless of the hour, though now his pace quickened against the nip of the midnight breeze, disheveled golden hair fluttering lopsided over his eyes.

He cracked a real smile the moment he ducked under the stable awning and into the warmth of dry hay and torchlight to find Jewel lounging in its entrance.

"Well, you're up early," rumbled the Unicorn's soft voice as he raised his noble head, sapphire blue horn glinting orange as if cut from fire crystal. "Or late, as the case may be."

"Neither," said Tirian. He flopped down onto the cushy bed of hay, leaning back against Jewel's soft white flank.

A chilly breeze still brushed the outermost wisps of straw, but Jewel's steady heat radiated up through his ribcage just as well as any hearth fire.

"It's that bloody bird again."

Jewel craned his neck around to rest his huge head beside the Prince, blowing softly in understanding.

Tirian closed his eyes, the graven vulture's head flashing just as vividly as he'd seen it that summer in Tashbaan, carved into the altar at the temple of Tash, eyes set with blazing rubies that blinked at him whenever his sleep became particularly fitful. He sighed. "Can't the rotten thing go back where it came from and leave me alone?"

"Why didn't you sleep in the King's room?" asked Jewel. "That seems like it would be a great deal more… convenient."

Tirian shrugged and opened his eyes. "Father is snoring tonight. And besides, I like the lights out here."

The city glittered frosty gold beyond the awning, candles flickering in every window up the street past the courtyard walls, like a sea of stars hovering over the earth meant only for them.

There was almost something exhilarating in the midnight stillness, in knowing that almost every other man and mouse in the city still slumbered, lost to the lonely beauty of a pale white moon and candle-lit glass, and the very faint sound of waves breaking over sandy cliffs.

"You are a strange Son of Adam," chuckled Jewel, "who finds himself so at home in a stable."

"Mm, well…" Tirian blinked with a lazy smile as his eyelids grew heavy. "It's your fault for being so comfy, you great giant pillow."

Jewel snorted. "I come from a noble line of Narnia's greatest and most fearsome warriors, have care how you speak."

"Oh, pillows, the lot of you." Tirian yawned and rolled over. "It's the best kept secret of Unicorn kind." His words slurred ever so slightly with comfortable drowsiness. "That mus' be why you lot're so picky about being touched. We'd all find out your secret. That you're really, really, really soft."

Jewel flicked his tail. "Your Highness seems perfectly bold touching a Unicorn, for someone who thinks we're not so very fond of such things."

Tirian only grinned stupidly, eyes closed, burrowing deeper into Jewel's neck. "You can't kill me, you'd be executed for regicide."

"I could make it look like an accident."

"Ah, yes, gored through the heart in the royal boarding stables, who could possibly be responsible." His fingers tangled through the Unicorn's silk-soft mane, stroking it absently as his friend's heartbeat thumped beneath his ear.

"Oh, bother, I suppose I'll have to let you live. Consider it your Christmas gift."

Tirian blinked, gazing hazily up into Jewel's delicate face. "It is Christmas already, isn't it?"

"Mm. It's been Christmas for nearly three hours." The Unicorn's inky black eyes sparkled down at him, dancing in mingled torchlight and moonlight.

Tirian smiled and breathed a deep sigh. "Merry Christmas, Jewel."

Jewel shook his mane. "Merry Christmas, dear Prince."

A sea of candles blurred into golden mist.

And no vulture invaded the dreams of the Prince of Narnia for many, many years afterward.