Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or The Chronicles of Narnia, nor do I make any profits from posting this fanfiction.
Summary: Non-Epilogue compliant. Harry, mid fight against remaining Death Eater factions, finds himself somehow transported to a strange world, Narnia. He learns to live, to love, and eventually to be a little bit selfish.
Warnings: Slash. Cross dimension travel. Character death. Murder, violence, fighting.
Pairings: HP/EP.
Chapter 12
Narnia year 1007 – Christmas.
Harry clutched his sides as he laughed so much all his stomach muscles whinged in agony. Peter, Susan and Lucy's expressions were hilarious. They were open mouthed, gaping, wide eyed and unblinking, noises trying to form words but lips uncooperative. It was too funny! Ed was laughing just as hard and every time he caught Ed's eye they set about laughing even harder.
"That's barbaric!" Susan spluttered, horrified beyond articulation.
"It's amazing!" Peter breathed staring at the chess pieces with awe. Harry had gifted Ed with a wizarding chess set, animated by himself, for a Christmas present.
"No! It's completely barbaric! Why would you have a game that can destroy itself?! It's completely horrid!"
"Why would you make them do such horrible things?! That's such a cruel spell." Aww Lucy, ever the gentle hearted, compassionate soul.
"They don't feel anything, they are just animated." Harry managed to huff out between laughs. The girls still sent him affronted looks.
"Chess is a game of wits and strategy, all based around the idea of war. Would you rather they threw flowers at each other?"
The chess pieces remaining gave what could only be described as dirty looks to everyone then became rather petulant, hugging their swords and axes to their chests. Harry laughed again, doubling over in his chair and trying to wipe tears from his eyes.
"I'd rather they weren't smashing each other to pieces!"
"It's war Lu, how else are chess players to understand the casualties that come with war if they can't see it on a strategy board?"
"Oh make them stop! Make them stop!" Lucy moaned and spun away from the chess set.
"Why are boys so fixated on fighting and hurting everyone?!"
"We aren't!" Harry protested, his laughs easier to push down now. "It just adds a little realism to the game."
"Make it stop please Harry." Lucy pleaded and Harry sighed. Honestly, what was wrong with a little wizards chess? And why was he so wrapped around Lucy's finger? Harry glanced up to Edmund who smirked, rolled his eyes and mad a grand sweeping gesture to the chess pieces clearly communicating that it was fine by him if the animation spell stopped.
"I don't know what you are so upset about anyway Lu. It's not like it's your chess set, it's mine."
"Yes well didn't you ever learn to take care of your things?" Lucy retorted rather scathingly, which was odd for Lucy. Clearly she was feeling rather more upset by wizards chess than Harry had thought she was.
"Of course I did Lucy, but in wizards chess once you have finished a game the figures get repaired instantly ready to play again." Harry explained, but as Lucy started to open her mouth to speak again he hurried on. "But we won't play it with you here, how's that? Just normal chess with no animations."
Lucy didn't look happy but she did nod her acceptance. Peter and Edmund shared a look as Lucy moved away from the table and started up a conversation with Susan. Harry just sighed. Perfect. Just boring old chess.
Ed moved his piece and waved to the board, indicating it was Harry's move.
"It's not as fun without them moving on command is it?"
"No. It's not. Still, I bet you will completely obliterate me regardless of the magic being involved." Edmund grinned at Harry's words and Harry had to very strongly resist the urge to kiss him, or touch him in any way.
"You are getting much better though."
"Yeah but I should still be better than you, I taught you to be good after all." Harry tsked and moved his pawn. Chess really wasn't the same without them all fighting each other.
"Yeah but I have all that practise with real battle planning, tactics and actual war preperations. You know, I am a King."
"Oh haha." A foot nudged his under the chess table and Harry flashed a smile at Edmund.
Narnia year 1008.
Harry had to say that while everything he did with Edmund was amazing, the best thing probably had to be falling asleep next to him. They usually fell asleep completely wiped of energy from whatever pleasurable activity they had done that night. Harry would end up on his side with Edmund pressed u behind him, then, just before dropping into sleep, they would move apart a bit but still stay touching through the night. Once Harry woke up with his head pressed into Ed's back, another time he was on his front with Ed's arm and leg flung over him. Oddly, as weird as that sounded, it was very comfortable.
The mornings were less fun, truth be told. Ed would sneak out of Harry's rooms early so that Mr Tumnus wouldn't catch on to Ed having spent the night. Other times Harry would have to do some tricky transfiguration to change Ed's clothing from the day before into something different. That was what he had done that morning and Ed's once brilliant blue tunic and leggings were now red and silver. Not a bad bit of transfiguration either, considering Harry needed to make the neck of the tunic go a little higher up Ed's neck. There might have been marks left there.
"Training then?"
"Yeah, alright. Sword today?"
"Of course."
"You don't think we should keep our skills varied?" Harry asked and Ed frowned, thinking for a minute, then shook his head.
"Why? I can fight with a sword, shield, or if I need to any other hand held weapon. You can fight with a sword and you have your magic for both close range and long range. I don't see the need to branch out."
"Really?"
"No, not at all. I will always be in the thick of battle with one weapon or another. I've not lost my weapon yet so that point is moot. You are usually in the thick of it with me and I don't think I've ever seen you lose your weapon. Although…how's your wandless magic coming along?"
Harry groaned. He had made progress with his wandless magic in the last couple of years, but he wasn't able to do a lot without his wand. Simple things like levitation, summoning, making a light, cancelling spells, he could do all of those things without his wand. But the bigger things weren't possible. He should probably work on that.
"Yeah…I think I should really work on that."
"Well then. A brief sword practise then how about you practise that?" Harry pulled a face and looked away. He had failed so much with his wandless magic that he was completely uninspired to practise it again. Ed bumped into his shoulder then slung an arm around Harry. "I'll make a deal with you, while you practise your wandless magic, I will practise my archery."
Two things both of them disliked having to do.
"Sounds like we will both be miserable then by the end of the day."
Ed gave him a very cheeky grin and ran one finger over Harry's lips. "Yeah but I bet I know what we can both do to make us both feel better this evening."
Oh how Harry's body light up at that suggestion. Ed's eyes darkened and his smile held hint of something dark and lustful. Harry laughed and nodded quickly.
Had anybody told him before last night that one day he would have thoroughly loved having another man's family jewels in his mouth then he would have cursed them. Last night though he had tried it for the first time and the reactions it had drawn from Edmund had been so fantastic that Harry wanted to do it again and again and again. Ed had yet to try it, mostly because after Harry had pleasured him for a while they had both rubbed off together and Harry had been too tired to go again. If Ed was offering to try it that evening on Harry then Harry would not complain, and he was more than eager to drive Ed crazy once more.
"Alright, you're on. We setting a timer?"
"An hour?"
"Right then. Let's go!"
Harry disapperated them to the training courts then hastily cast a shielding charm as several of the other people practising turned to them ready to attack.
"Wow! Wow! It's alright! It's only us!" Harry shouted when an arrow actually struck the shield. Thank goodness he was able to block against those. The shooter was a young adult female centaur who got hit across her hind quarters by Phorcys the centaur who then proceeded to glower as he bowed in respect.
"Our apologies for the attack, King Edmund, Lord Wizard. We were startled by your…loud arrival."
"Yeah well, sorry about that, I haven't worked out how to make it silent yet."
Judging by the glare aimed at him Phorcys was not impressed with Harry's excuse. He was a formidable centaur, Phorcys, and he was absolutely ferocious in his training. Harry was going to be in a world of pain shortly if Phorcys took it upon himself to train him.
"Or in future I won't apparate into the training yard?" Harry offered and Phorcys nodded.
"That would be wise."
"Right, well, now that's sorted, who wants to train with me?" Edmund asked cheerily and scanned the officers in training. Nobody took him up on the offer, in fact a few people even took a step back from Edmund. Edmund almost looked disappointed then his eyes invariably landed back on Harry who had been cautiously glancing between Phorcys and his lover. Ed's eyes took on an excited glow in anticipation of a fight. "Come on then Harry. You and me!"
"Great." Harry groaned. Who was worse, Phorcys or Edmund? Um…well, Harry never really could decide.
An hour and a half later Harry was sweating and panting heavily. He was alone to the side of the training yard overlooking the sea and was trying his hardest to slice a training dummy with a severing hex, only it wasn't working.
"Damn it!" He cursed and ran a hand through his soaking wet hair. It might have been winter, and the air might have been very cold, but after his training and now his excessive stress on his magic, Harry was boiling. Thank goodness it wasn't summer.
"You alright Harry?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine." Harry steeled himself to try again, only to no avail.
"What is it you are trying to do, Lord Wizard?" Harry glanced over his shoulder to see Phorcys stepping up next to him, his huge black hooves thumping the ground even as he walked gently.
"I'm trying to cut the dummy. But it's not working."
"Ah…I do not believe that is a spell you often use on the battle field."
"No it isn't but it's a basic spell, an easier spell, so I should be able to do it."
"I know little of magic, but I do know a lot about training. The ease of a move is not necessarily a good thing if you are unused to such a move. Sometimes it is what we are used to that we need to practise and then alter."
Harry huffed out a breath and rubbed his forehead again. "Alright, so what do you suggest?"
"I suggest you use your magic in a way you are familiar with, you are comfortable and used to using it."
"Well that's with my wand, but I'm trying not to do that."
"Yes, but the spells themselves. Use spells you normally rely on. Your favourite spell on the battle field is the one that sends an enemy's weapon flying through the air, is it not? So why don't you try that?"
"But you always tell me…"
"I know what I always tell you!" Phorcys roared suddenly, his anger strange on him. He wasn't normally an angry man but clearly something was ticking him off. "But the fact is it is something you always do! So practise that without a wand!"
And with those angrily parted words Phorcys stormed off, his hooves a thunder on the stone and his face set like a storm cloud.
"Harry, what did you do to Phorcys?" Someone called behind Harry, only Phorcys' voice rang out through the training yard.
"BACK TO WORK! I WON'T HAVE LAZING AROUND IN MY TRAINING YARD!"
Harry did switch to his favourite spell, his go-to spell. He did have a particular fondness for it, and after several minutes of failing to successfully disarm his dummy opponent windlessly the sword in the dummy's hand fell through the ground just as a tingle went through Harry's body.
"Oh." Harry blinked then rushed over to the dummy and set the sword to rights. Stepping back to his original position once more he tried again, saying the word clearly and directing his thoughts to the sword. Once more the weapon fell to the ground.
"There. Sometimes this old centaur knows a thing or two!" Harry spun around to face Phorcys. There was pride in the old centaur's face, and a hint of a satisfied smile on his lips. But there was altogether something off about him.
"Yeah, thank you. Uh, Phorcys, is anything the matter?"
"Not especially." The centaur shrugged then crossed huge arms over his broad chest and stared down at Harry.
"Are you sure? You seem rather angry today."
"And would you not be angry by a sudden loud noise that sets off every nerve in your body ready for attack?" The blatant hint at the earlier apparition made Harry's face heat up.
"Well yes but our troops should be used to it by now!"
"Yes, however that is not my point!"
"They reacted really quickly! So imagine if we were in a battle and they heard a noise, they'd turn to it quickly and…"
"That is not my point either!" Harry fell silent when Phorcys interrupted him. "The point is Harry, you apparated into the training yard with his majesty King Edmund! Had you not been quick enough to magic yourself a shield, that arrow could have hit our majesty! You put him at risk!"
Harry didn't know what to say, so he stayed silent. He supposed that Phorcys had a point, but Harry hadn't seen the harm in it.
A heavy hand landed on his shoulder and Harry frowned a little as Phorcys leaned closer to him.
"There have been rumours stirring in the palace, enough to make everybody weary. Your place with the Kings and Queens of Narnia has been questioned by first suitors coming to Cair Paravel, and now by our troops. At first it was thought you were courting Queen Lucy." Harry pulled a face and went to dispute that, but Phorcys' hand tightened on his shoulder. "I know that to be untrue but never-the-less it was a rumour. Narnian's of course know the part you played in the War against the White Witch, and they know how essential you are in this army and how instrumental you have been to plans. But there is a lot of favour shown to you Lord Wizard, far more than many feel there should be shown. You and King Edmund are never seen far from each other's side. If you were his body guard that would be understandable, however there is also a rumour about the King's bed being perfectly made morning after morning, as though not slept in. Some helpers have seen him returning to his bedroom in the mornings, far earlier than anyone should be awake. This is concerning. And that you now, with these rumours had the audacity to put King Edmund's life in danger…there are whispers of you being bad for the king, of you being a danger to him. They whisper you are stealing him, or that you use your magic to have undue influence over him. Tread carefully."
"How could they think I'd ever hurt him on purpose?! I'd never do that to him! Never!"
"I am only making you aware of their point of view. Your magic, while once incredible and helpful, is now suspect of being used for foul play."
"I wouldn't do that!"
"That remains to be seen." The old centaur said and stepped back with a deep frown.
Harry couldn't believe it. Pain tormented his heart and lungs. His breathing became a little too light and quick and his thoughts ran through every occasion where he was with Edmund, doing things together without paying attention to anything and ignoring the stares and whispers of others. Whispers that could have been malicious or just rumour mongering. They suspected he would hurt Edmund! He would never, ever hurt Ed! He loved him! How could they…
"I would never hurt Ed," Harry declared and glared angrily at Phorcys. His voice must have been loud enough to carry because something in Harry became aware of the clang of sword on sword stopping. "I would never hurt him! I would protect him with my life. He is everything to me and you stand there and lecture me on the rumours idiots are passing around about me. Ed has – hell Narnia has – my body, my sword and my magic protecting them for years. I would never do anything to harm Ed, Peter, Susan, Lucy or any other Narnian! I have fought to protect Narnia as my kings and queens demanded, as my friends asked me to. They needn't have asked. I would have done it anyway. I use my magic for Narnia, not against it and I would certainly never use my magic on Ed unless it was to heal him. I am not deceitful, I do not lie, and I do not hurt people. I protect those I love fiercely so next time you hear someone spreading ridiculous rumours you can tell them to shove it! They are untrue and I won't have people trying to slander Ed or my relationship with him. Do you understand Phorcys?"
"Who are you to order me, Lord Wizard?!" Phorcys demanded and Harry hummed with anger.
"I'm just another Narnian, serving my king." Harry glared at the centaur then turned away and stalked through the training yard of stunned Narnians to the door.
"Harry! Harry wait!" Ed called and there were hurried feet behind him. Harry, because he couldn't ignore Ed, turned and stared at him waiting patiently for his lover to say something. Ed had a peculiar look on his face, a twist of various emotions giving him an astonished and perplexed look. It was like he was torn between intense anger and immense love, pride and shame, satisfaction and discomfort…satisfaction and fear.
"Yes Ed?"
"I'll meet you at the chess board in an hour?"
"Alright." Harry acquiesced easily, Ed's beseeching look beneath the attempted mask was more than enough to tie Harry to the request. Ed nodded and the mask settled firmly in place over his features.
"An hour then."
Harry nodded and continued to walk away, ignoring everybody around him. He stormed past everyone, looking at no-one and talking to no-one. He even ignored Susan who had a gaggle of men trailing after her when she waved to him. He pretended not to see. He didn't want to see anybody or talk to anybody until he had calmed down.
Once he reached his rooms he slammed the door shut and threw himself against it, banging the back of his head against the wood.
How could they accuse him of plotting against Ed? Because that was what Phorcys was hinting at. Harry would never harm Ed. He would never hurt any of the Pevensies. They were his family and he loved them. Ed was his…his lover. He loved Ed. There was no doubting that, he wouldn't dare to not after all they had been through. He would never deny what he felt for Ed, and he would never deny or dismiss what Ed felt for him. Ed was his lover, he was Ed's and he would not forget that. He might not tell the world they were in love, because Ed's family didn't know and he didn't know if they would accept him as a lover for Ed given the time they came from in England. Also, Harry couldn't claim Ed as his title in Narnia because the Narnian's had rules on that sort of thing and Ed was their King, he was special and they might not be accepting of Harry as Ed's significant other.
Damn it! Why did everything go so wrong after Harry had felt so on top of the world earlier that morning.
Harry threw himself away from the door, drew his wand and aimed a water spell at the gigantic tub in his room. It began filling so he set his wand down on the edge and started stripping off his sweat soaked clothes. After a few long minutes of shivering with cold and anger Harry stopped the water spell and cast a heating charm on the now full tub before getting in and soaking.
What had he done to earn such distrust, such dislike, from the Narnians? What had he done to deserve that?
Harry didn't know when he started crying.
Exactly an hour after agreeing to meet Ed, Harry apparated to the chess room fully clothed in clean clothes with his hair still dripping wet from the water. He hadn't bothered drying his hair, and he had only half-heartedly dressed. His clothes were very informal, too informal perhaps, but given how formally he had dressed so far and considering the Narnian's didn't like him any better for it, Harry couldn't be bothered to take care of how he looked. So, simple black legging type trousers, a very loose long white shirt that he left untucked, he didn't even bother to tie up the black leather strings around the shirt's neck. Harry had bothered with shoes and a cloak because it was cold, but he didn't do up his cloak, he just draped it around his shoulders for warmth.
Ed was waiting for him when he appeared and those clever eyes scanned over his appearance. Harry avoided the look and sat down on the sofa on the other side of the room to the chess board.
"Hi." Harry muttered as he sat and Ed raised one eyebrow.
"Hello." He said archly and got up from his seat so he could sit next to Harry. They were in a public room, or at least public room to the other Pevensies and whoever they chose to invite. It was a part of their private rooms after all, but there were the usual invitees like Harry, Mr Tumnus and others.
"Ed I-"
"Don't leave." Ed quickly said which had Harry startle a little.
"Leave?!"
"Yes, don't! Don't leave me again." Ed demanded and grasped Harry's hand.
"Ed! I wasn't going to leave! I'm not leaving you, not over this. Give me a little more credit than that." Harry huffed and squeezed Ed's hand tightly. He couldn't look at Ed though, couldn't meet those dark eyes that had a way of reaching into Harry's being. Harry couldn't take all that emotion, not on top of his own turbulent ones. His heart still hurt with the betrayal in trust the Narnians had apparently shown him.
"Good. What they are saying doesn't matter. They are only rumours, and nonsensical ones at that. I've talked to Phorcys about it."
"Yeah well not that it would do much good. Rumours will happen regardless of what we say or do." Harry's words were disheartened and earned him a tight squeeze to his hand.
"Yes they will, but they are only rumours. They won't do any harm Harry." Oh Ed, poor Ed. He didn't know. Rumours started Rita Skeeter's career…then it nearly brought the wizarding world to its knees. Rumours nearly killed Harry several times. Yes, rumours were dangerous. They were poison. And somehow they had appeared in Narnia, and once again they were against Harry.
"It's fine Ed, it's nothing I can't handle."
Ed was quiet for a long time.
Neither of them spoke for ages. Eventually the silence was broken by Lucy all but bouncing into the room with her usual glow of perpetual happiness and love for the world.
"Harry! Ed! There you are! I was hoping Harry could help with the– oh! What's the matter?"
"Nothing. Don't worry about it." Harry sighed and sat up straight, sliding his hand gently away from Ed's. Ed let him, pulling away a little himself.
"Oh." Lucy said, bright eyes staring between them with such a deep well of concern and compassion that it sent more pain through Harry's heart. Narnian's thought him capable of turning on Lucy?
"You said something about me helping you with something?"
"Oh yes! Well, the Christmas tree needs tiding up! And we have to get the spring decorations sorted out!"
"Alright Lu, I'll come and help." Harry stood up and pulled his cloak around him a little more to help fight the chill in the room.
"Ed? Do you want to help too?"
"I would love to Lucy, but I think I need to talk to Peter about something."
Harry shot Ed a quick look and frowned. "Ed…" He warned but Ed smiled and waved.
"It's alright Harry, don't worry about anything. I just need to see my brother. I'll find you two later. And Lu? Don't let him leave your sight."
"What?! Ed I promise I…" Harry tried to protest but Ed cut across him and stared at his sister. So Harry wasn't trusted by Ed now?
"Lucy. Promise?"
"OK Ed, but why?"
"He isn't very happy today. He needs cheering up."
"Oh OK well I'm good at that. Come on Harry! There's nothing like a little festive cheer to make everybody feel happy." She bounced and dragged Harry off down the corridor.
The day helping Lucy really took its toll on Harry. Lucy did manage to cheer him up for a bit, or at least distract him. Taking down all the decorations was finally fully completed, including all the hidden decorations that Lucy had thankfully noted down locations of in a little booklet. In the place of the Christmas decorations Harry charmed up new ones on Lucy's instruction, non-festive decorations. Harry had charmed lots of things to float around, to dance occasionally, and to twirl.
There had been a bang of various Narnians practising their pieces for a party in the great hall in a few weeks' time so Harry had also been roped into dancing with Lucy, even going so far as to partially learn a new dance.
Lunch was an on the go affair, snatching bits of food while going around casting spells and swishing his wand around.
By dinner time Harry was glad to sit down. The other Pevensies were joined by Princess Althea, Peter's beau, in one of the quieter dining rooms. Harry, as always, took his seat beside Edmund although he did hesitate. Apparently his hesitation was noticeable because Ed shot him a scowl.
"Harry, sit down for goodness sake." He rolled his eyes and Harry felt silly for wondering if he belonged at all. He moved quickly to his seat and felt his face heat up as some servants giggled and grinned to each other.
"What's the matter Harry? Don't you want to eat with us?" Lucy asked, sliding into her seat that was politely held for her by Mr Tumnus.
"Of course I do Lu, I didn't know it if was only family tonight." Harry stuttered and tried to shoot the girl a smile. She beamed back.
"But you are family!" She shot her best friend a loving smile and Mr Tumnus grinned back, cheeks pink with happiness. That poor faun had far too much humility. Althea, on the other hand, smiled widely since she was at the table too and that meant she must be counted as family. Harry wondered whether her beaming smile had put the scowl on Peter's face or if it was something else.
"Susan? You didn't invite anyone?" Peter asked coldly avoiding anybody's gaze except Susan. The gentle queen smiled gently and shook her head looking very content.
"No, not tonight."
"OK. Well, Lu, how's the decorating going?" Peter enquired which sparked Lucy's detailed explanation of everything she had done that day, and all the efforts of everybody helping her.
Ed took that moment to lean over to Harry.
"Are you still bothered by this morning?"
Harry sighed and shrugged. "Don't worry about me Ed."
"I do worry about you." Ed hissed, eyes sparking almost angrily in indignation.
"Well you don't need to. I'm OK." Ed scowled again.
"Yes, you're OK. That's why you are pulling away from me."
"I'm not pu-!"
"Yes you are. You aren't behaving like normal. I don't like it." Ed ground out then closed his eyes and paused, as if he was counting in his head trying to regain composure. "Harry, I love you. What others say doesn't matter. I love you, you love me, and as two of the most powerful people in Narnia people aren't going to question us. It's only rumours."
"You don't know the trouble rumours can bring." Harry hinted and stared into those dark eyes. He tried to pledge his love, but confess the trouble rumours could bring all at the same time. Ed stared back, taking in everything with a steely gaze that dismissed anything he didn't think was relevant or worth his time. Harry wished he had Ed's self-esteem. The once insecure boy had grown into a headstrong, confident, intelligent man.
"Yes I do, look what's happening to you!"
"That's not what I meant." Harry hedged trying to put off Ed's deeply disapproving look.
"No? Funny, because the only thing to change has been your behaviour. Do you not feel the same about me anymore?"
"What?! Of course I do!" Harry's voice was perhaps a bit too loud because chatting abruptly stopped at the table and Lucy, in the mid flow of her story telling, was staring at them in shock. Everyone's eyes were on them with shock, disapproval and upset. Harry felt his cheeks flame in embarrassment.
"Something you want to share Harry? Ed?" Peter asked, his voice still cold. Icy cold. What had got into him?
"Um…no." Harry mumbled.
"Yes actually." Ed said, leaning back in his chair. Harry sharply looked at him, alarmed.
"What?" Peter demanded with a look of steel.
"Harry claims I do not know the damage rumours can do. When I disputed that with him he got a little loud. So, is there damage in rumours that I do not know about Peter? Susan? Lucy?"
"Um…well…I suppose they can really hurt your feelings?" Lucy offered. "Or hurt other people's feelings and then that would mean two people aren't friends any more because they were hurt by rumours or lies?"
"Yes, that I was aware of already, but thank you Lu." Ed nodded to her then stared at his other siblings.
"They could lead you to make rash decisions, or make you very scared. I mean look at the recent war. That started because of the rumour we were planning to invade the Marches to build a city." Susan offered.
"Yes, I had considered that. False information is the stuff of rumours. Thank you Susan. Peter? Anything else?"
"Damage to a reputation." Peter offered succinctly. "If your reputation is damaged because of rumours, false or true, then it will diminish the respect people have for you. If that happens your life gets a lot harder. People will not trust you, or look up to you, and others can be damaged by association."
"Hm. I understand that one too and had considered it ridiculous in this case."
"Ridiculous, why?" Peter snapped back to Ed's quick dismissal.
"Because should reputation in one area take a hit, the other areas which earned the respect in the first place would still be there."
"And how does that relate to these specific rumours you and Harry are so concerned with."
"Harry has done too much good for Narnia to ever be suspected of foul play, and should people forget the good he has done, and how often he has fought for our people, then clearly it is their loyalty that should be questioned, not Harry's."
"People are saying you aren't loyal to us?!" Lucy blurted out. Her face was the picture of astonishment and grief. "But…but you love us! Of course you are loyal to us!"
"We have never doubted you Harry. Who has dared to?! You are family to us!" Susan cried, the gentle heart actually close to weeping.
"Um…it was just a rumour. Nothing specific."
"Then ignore it!" Lucy demanded, pressing her palm flat to the table. "What they think doesn't matter. We know the truth, don't we Peter? We know Harry is loyal to us!"
"Yes, we know. But if people are doubting…"
"Then we have to prove it to them!"
"And how would we do that Lu?"
"Well…well…oh! How about we do what we always said we would do? We should reward Harry for his loyalty, remind people of the good he has done for us that earned the reward, and then have a big party in his honour."
"What reward?" Peter queried, and even Harry felt confused. Peter had a frown of confusion on his face as he looked at his sister.
"We should give Harry a title! We said we would years ago and Harry always refused but we really should have given him a title because that shows how good he is to us, and that we value him. Lork Harry the Gallant! Something like that."
"That's a good idea Lu!" Susan said. "I know lots of people call him Lord Wizard, but we should make him officially a lord."
"How about a Duke?" Ed asked quietly but with such seriousness on his face it brought a solemn quiet to the table.
"Duke?"
"Duke Harry does have a nice ring to it." Susan mused and looked up to the ceiling as if imagining it.
"Duke of what? Dukes, and Lords, have lands. What do we gift to Harry?"
"How about the Marshland?" Came Lucy's suggestion.
"What, where the marsh-wiggles live?"
"Yes!" Lucy said. "There are lots of Owls there too! And Harry likes owls, he had one years ago didn't you Harry."
"Yes I did."
"What was your owl's name?"
"Hedwig." Harry offered quietly.
"Brilliant! See, we can make Harry the Duke of the Marshland."
"There is nothing there but owls and marsh-wiggles though Lucy. It's not exactly a prime piece of land to reward somebody with." Peter argued and Lucy huffed and crossed her arms.
"Well the Lantern Waste is taken by Ed, so is the Western Marsh. There aren't any more places left, unless you include the Dancing Lawns or the Stone Table is."
"The Stone Table is magic though, and Harry is a Wizard." Susan pointed out.
"Yes but it's where Aslan died, and where he came back. That's Aslan's land."
"All of Narnia is Aslan's land Lucy." That tidbit was pointed out by Edmund with a less than patient look.
"True."
"And going on that information, Harry turned up in Narnia about the time of the battle when Aslan died." Peter blurted, frowning heavily. "Didn't he? I mean he wasn't there at the start and from what I understand we were already fighting the Witch's forces when Harry turned up."
"Oh! So Aslan's death could have caused Harry to come here?" Susan queried, clever eyes glittering with the new information.
"No, Aslan died at night. He came back to life at dawn."
"And that's when Harry showed up, shortly after dawn." Ed's voice was satisfied as if they had solved some great mystery. Harry supposed they had. "You said the stone table cracked and Aslan was alive. I'm willing to bed that the table cracking and the Deep Magic pulled Harry into Narnia and right into the middle of the battle."
"Yes! That makes sense."
It did make sense…as much sense as anything could with Deep Magic. Aslan had confessed to not knowing the workings of the Deep Magic and he was the most knowledgeable, and the oldest, being in Narnia.
"Well, that's decided then. Harry shall be named Duke of the Dancing Lawns, that includes the Stone Table." Lucy decided with a flourish and sat back fully satisfied.
Peter was quiet and considering for a while longer before slowly nodding and offering everybody at the table a small smile. "Alright then. Harry the Gallant, Duke of the Dancing Lawns it is. You better start organising a Naming Ceremony then Lucy."
"Better Knight him too. Knight of the Noble Order of the Table."
"That's a lot of names to give in one Naming Ceremony." Mr Tumnus offered hesitantly.
"Yes, but it's long overdue." Lucy countered. "We should have done this a long time ago, but Harry always refused before. Oh you won't refuse this time will you Harry? Please say you won't." She pleaded, eyes beseeching Harry.
Something slid up and down Harry's calf. Something with a hard sole. A boot. Ed's boot, judging by the patient expression on Ed's face. Ed had the look of someone who wouldn't take no for an answer this time, and with Lucy's pleading on top of Harry's already damaged emotions, he was too weak to oppose the decision.
"A-a-alright." He caved and Lucy cheered and raised her glass in a toast that everyone joined in on.
"It's about time, I can't believe it took us this long! Oh! We have to put up new decorations! And make you a coat of arms! Oh there's so much to do! Susan, you will help me design a coat of arms for Harry? And the decorations. Harry I'll need your help with those. Oh if only we had decided on this earlier I wouldn't have taken down all the Christmas decorations. Harry loves red and green suits his eyes…he should definitely have green on his symbol. What do you think Ed? Green for Harry's coat of arms?"
"Well you know what I think of green."
"Yes, yes, it's your favourite colour. What shade though?"
"Emerald." Ed decided immediately. "And silver."
"Silver?"
"Yes." His tone brooked no arguments and Lucy immediately agreed with him. They started eating the dinner spread out before them and Harry felt distinctly like he had just been rail-roaded and manipulated into this situation.
He nudged Edmund who quirked an eyebrow at him questioningly. "Why do I feel like I've just been led through all this by the scruff of my neck?"
"Probably because that is exactly what happened." Ed shot back with a quirking smile. Harry gawped for a moment.
"You…you planned this!" He accused and Ed just smiled. "What…why?!"
"Because you are too important to me, to us, for all your greatness, to be ignored or pushed aside any more. I can do little about people talking, but I can add fuel to the fire and ensure that the fuel I add is of the finest, purest in quality."
Harry was so stunned he didn't know what to say. He knew Ed loved him, he loved Ed too, but the power of Ed's emotions were in every speck of his expression. HE meant every word he said, he had orchestrated everything that evening to his best advantage, and he had done all that to help Harry. Because he loved him.
Harry adored that man. Young though he was, arrogant as he was, Slytherin as he was, Harry adored him completely.
"Harry, do you want your radish?" Lucy asked a few seconds later, unknowingly breaking the look between Ed and Harry and startling Harry into his composure once more.
"Uh no. Do you want it?"
"Yes please!"
Dinner was a pleasure after that. Harry's dark mood had been swept away completely. He was surrounded with people he loved, and one person he was besotted with. He could admit it now. He could. And damned be anyone who tried to make him doubt it in any way.