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 13
Narnia year 1008 – Spring.
"Come on Harry! Dance with me!" Lucy squealed and dragged Harry by the hand closer to the fire. Harry could only laugh, her jubilance effecting him and all those around her. She hooked up her skirts in her hands and trotted to the beat, urging Harry on with various steps to counter hers or just to avoid collision.
The reel they danced meant they had to switch partners several times and since their closest partners were Mr Tumnus and a Cherry Tree Nymph, Harry finished the reel covered in pink petals. They spun, skipped, held hands and twirled, then just hopped and pranced around each other laughing and joking.
When the reel was over Harry was breathing heavily, cheeks flushed with the exercise and eyes alight with the merriment of the evening.
Everyone was happily celebrating the oncoming spring. They had always celebrated the start of spring, and the end of the White Witch's reign. It was the same almost every year. They would travel to the Stone Table, have a huge bonfire, enjoy a feast fit for royalty which was shared by everyone because the Pevensie kings and queens would have it no other way, have dancing and singing and lots of music.
"Oh gosh! That's so much fun! I hope they play another one soon." Lucy panted, holding the top of her stomach as she breathed. Her forehead was wet with sweat and her long hair clinging to her skin in places. She, out of all the Pevensies, enjoyed spring time the most. This was her favourite party of all.
Susan's favourite was the Christmas ball held at Cair Paravel.
Peter didn't really enjoy any parties but he seemed to get the most out of the Spring time Festival because there were lots of games, sparing and such.
Edmund didn't care for parties at all but he always danced and made fun with the soldiers or his siblings. Ed, if nothing else, really enjoyed being useful or showing his worth. So competitions and parties held in honour of winners of competitions were his favourites.
Harry couldn't care less. Now he actually knew how to dance, thanks to hours of Susan, Lucy and various Nymphs teaching him, he appreciated a good dance. He really enjoyed seeing everyone happy and laughing. So whatever the occasion Harry enjoyed himself.
"Me too, but after a break OK?" He huffed back to Lucy who laughed and waved.
"Only a short one!"
"Would you like a drink?"
"Yes please!"
Harry left her to track down some cups and the water barrels. Once he'd filled the cups he delivered one to Lucy and another to Mr Tumnus, the Nymph declining hers which left him with two cups.
"Duke Harry! Duke Harry sir!"
"Duke Harry! Will the fireworks be soon?!" The young Beavers asked, appearing from nowhere and clamouring at his feet jumping up and down.
"PLEASE Duke Harry!"
"Shush Children! Leave the Duke alone!" Tutted Mrs Beaver as she hurried along to catch up with the four of her children who were gathered around Harry. The other two were now dancing with Lucy.
"Aww but Mum!"
"We were only asking about the fire works!"
"We weren't bothering him! Honest!"
"I am very sorry Duke Harry."
Harry waved away the apology with a laugh and crouched down to accept a hug from the errant little beavers. Harry hadn't seen them in ages and, despite them being beavers, they weren't fully grown even at several years old. This was Narnia after all. They apparently grew slower here as animals, which didn't translate well considering humans grew at the normal rate.
"They weren't being a bother, Mrs Beaver. And as for the fireworks, I'll just check with High King Peter alright and then I'll see what I can do."
The beavers cheered and danced around chatting and shouting happily to each other in anticipation of the fireworks.
Harry, as promised, stood up and went immediately to find Peter. Lucy waved him on when he tried to apologise for not dancing the next reel with her but that he had important stuff to do. The beavers had backed him up chanting about the fire works and Lucy was always happy for a light show.
Harry found Peter at the top of the hill next to the stone table with some other lords and ladies from court, as well as various advisers to the kings and queens. Susan was off to one side with a group of lords around her, including Lord Peridan who had been the latest suitor to fail to win any more than a few fleeting minutes of the gentle queen's attention. Ed was next to Peter talking with the lords about things but mostly laughing and drinking something that looked suspiciously like wine.
"Your Majesties." Harry greeted and bowed. Everyone turned to him and Ed gave him an impatient wave and a laugh.
"Stand up Harry." He chuckled, eyes very bright and cheeks flushed. Oh yes, that was definitely wine. Harry should have stayed with the kings and lords…although water had its benefits too – like staying sober.
"Rise, Duke Harry." Peter chortled and clasped him on the shoulder, giving it a shake and pulling him over to everyone else.
"Uh I came on the request of the Beavers."
"Really? Is there urgent news or something?" Peter frowned trying to recall something that hadn't happened.
"No…well, unless you call them begging for fireworks a matter of urgency."
All the lords and ladies laughed with respectable, polite laughs. Peter didn't bother in being polite, he just laughed. Ed smirked but that was to be expected from Ed. He rarely laughed in company other than Harry's or his families.
"Right then, that is a matter of urgency. Let's call Lucy up here and give a few speeches, then we shall have fireworks." Peter waved to a servant Narnian who stood nearby. The faun jumped closer to be told the message then happily trotted off to find the errant queen.
Five minutes later the Lords were ushered down the hill a little more and all four Pevensies stood side by side. Ed stood nearest Harry's position, then Peter, followed by Susan and Lucy.
"This is the eighth year of freedom from the White Witch. Let us always remember those friends we lost, but let us never forget what the sacrifices made here eight years ago afforded us. Narnia has bathed in sunlight for eight glorious years." Peter declared loudly to the people and beings gathered.
"Wrong will be right, when Aslan comes in sight, at the sound of his roar, sorrow will be no more, when he bears his teeth, winter meets its death, and when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again." Lucy called, people joining in and chorusing the well-known lines of Lucy's favourite poem.
"We celebrate," Susan spoke carefully and lyrically, voice carrying easily over the calls and claps Lucy's poem brought from the people, "because we remember the long winter. We celebrate tonight to welcome the spring and the end to the short winters now afforded us."
"These last eight years have been the Golden Age of Narnia, decided so by you, the Narnians!" Ed held his head up high and swept a regal gaze over everyone gathered. "Celebrate tonight in honour of all those before us, and for all those who will come after us as we head into yet another Golden year. Spring begins tonight!"
A huge cheer went up, the joyfulness raising spirits further than before and bringing goosebumps up on Harry's skin.
The Pevensies glanced over to him with smiles and nods giving him permission to start the light display. Harry pointed his wand into the air and the first spell t leave his wand was an almost blinding golden light that shot up high and then sprayed down smaller lights. From the eruption site high in the air a golden lion formed in the sky, charging forwards with a glorious roar.
The yells and screams of 'Aslan' went up from the crowd followed by claps of awe.
Once the tremendous roars abated Harry started casting off coloured sparks in various orders. He was now so used to the light display, and he had become so good at them over the last few years, he could create almost anything in lights. He sent up green sparks, because green was Ed's favourite colour, and then a spell showing dancing people amidst the green lights that almost formed tree shapes in the air. Next, explosions of reds, pinks and golds, followed by the laughing faces of the two Narnian queens. In silver and gold he made Ed and Peter's likenesses laughing, before more showers of light and glitter.
On and on the light show went. Harry had created and manipulated so many spells over the years to perfect the light show that he had a whole arson at his disposal and he showed them all off now. The crowd loved it.
But all good things come to an end so Harry finished his light display with one more spell showing a lions' head, with two hands slowly coming together and clasping before him. Then more hands appeared and clasped, and clasped, and clasped, until hands made of light and shadow in the sky held hands in a circle around the party. One last explosion of gold, silver, and all the colours of the rainbow sent light crashing down on the people below.
A final cheer went up and the music began again in earnest, people falling into reels and celebrating the start of spring once again.
Harry stood and watched them for a while. It was amazing seeing everybody celebrate. He supposed that wizards and witches everywhere did something similar when Voldemort fell. He had never celebrated it though. To him it was such a huge day of loss he had never tried to turn it into a day to remember, to celebrate, to be good. How could a day of such terrible loss be a day to celebrate. And yet there the Narnians were, all celebrating, yet on that very day eight years ago many of them were fighting to the death.
"You are thinking too hard." Ed declared and an arm was slung over Harry's shoulders by the taller man, embracing Harry to him. Theyu stood side by side, necks twisted to look at each other.
"Probably."
"I'll have to find a way to stop you thinking, it clearly isn't good for you when you look so gloomy doing it."
"You are capable of great things my king, but I don't think even you have the power to stop a person from thinking."
"Are you so sure of that?" Ed grinned then darted in for a long, slow kiss. Harry had jerked when he knew what Ed was going to do, but Ed was very quick and before he knew it lips were on his and he didn't want to fight it. Who would want to fight the person they love kissing them? No, Harry allowed it even with the voice in the back of his head screaming all the problems that would bring. He'd deal with it in a moment…for now the kiss was all that was important. Ed's lips on his, the taste of him, the feel of him. The slight hint of a tongue that flicked his lips. That was what mattered in that moment.
Ed held him tighter then pulled away from the kiss. His eyes were hungry and ate up every nuance of Harry's expression. He could feel that gaze like it was a caress. He shivered and licked his lips.
"You thinking anything now?"
"Yes."
"Really?" Ed asked.
"Yup." Hary laughed and Ed twisted around and wrapped his arms tightly around Harry, bringing their lips together again. Height was one of Ed's advantages. The fact that Harry was so very much in love, besotted and entranced, with him was another. The kiss swept away Harry's thoughts till all he could think was the touch of Ed all around him and how he had to touch back.
He still worried, but that voice was quiet as he knew they were in the dark and who would be looking at them now?
"How about now?" Ed breathed on Harry's lips.
"Yeah still thinking."
"What about?" Ed sighed and pressed his forehead to Harry's.
"You."
Ed laughed and griped Harry tighter.
"Do you know what I'm thinking about?" He whispered, his voice deep and sultry.
"What…"
"Bedtime." Ed said, grinning lasciviously at Harry. Harry couldn't help but laugh, accept the next kiss and then allow Ed to pull away.
"Don't you always?"
"Yep. But especially today." Ed declared with a salacious grin.
"Well you have to wait, there is a party going on." Harry shook his head in mock despair and turned away, trying to put space between them to cool his now rising ardour. The party couldn't end soon enough.
Narnia year 1008 – Mid Spring.
Harry had been summoned to the war room. He wasn't too concerned about it except that he had been 'officially' summoned, by a servant who spoke with steel and arrogance. Harry hadn't liked the tone, and he hadn't especially liked the way the servant glared at him with displeasure. Apparently being given a respectable title and being awarded the praise and thanks of the Kings and Queens of Narnia was not enough to earn him respect. He chose to ignore it, but something had butterflies dancing in his stomach.
It didn't help that the nearer he got to the war room, the more he could hear the raised voices.
"-absurd! I've told you time and time again -" Edmund's voice shouted, hysteria and anger colouring every impatient word.
Peter's words back were no less full of emotion and there were jagged edges to his words that set Harry's teeth on edge. "I just think some time would do you good!"
"IT WONT! You are doing this because you are being stupid about the whole thing?! Why can't you just accept that-"
"I need him and his magic." Peter yelled sharply. Harry was so close now he could hear a small peep of upset that was probably from either Lucy or Susan, neither of them liked their brothers arguing. "We do not know what we will face on the Lone Islands, whether they are friend or foe! I need all my best men, and yes that includes Harry, to help just in case something isn't right."
"So I am not include in your 'best men'."
"You know that's not what I meant."
The servant leading Harry knocked on the door, paused to wait for the slightly excited and relieved Lucy to call 'come in', and then opened the door to announce Harry. He left immediately after Harry had entered the room and Harry almost wish he had stayed. His look of contempt was nothing against the cold stare General Oreius gave him, the uncomfortable looks others in the room gave him, and the impassive look Peter directed at him. What had he done to get Peter to dislike him so much now?
Ed was looking at him with rage and fear and love all rolled into one confusing ball of emotions.
Only Lucy and Susan's gazes were really welcoming, though clearly they were both upset.
"You summoned me, your majesties?" Harry said formally in the hope of allaying any ill will and stooped into a low bow.
"Of Harry stop for goodness sake." Ed growled and angrily spun around to turn his back on them.
Harry felt a sharp pain through his chest, hurt at the dismissal, but steadfastly reminded himself that Ed was angry, the slightest thing would get that anger to show.
"Yes Harry, you should know you need not bow to us. Not even Dear Old Mister Tumnus bows anymore." Harry nodded in acknowledgement of Lucy's words but still only corrected his stance slowly, and after he saw the slight nod from Peter. He really did feel like he was in Professor McGonnegall's office about to be reprimanded.
"Now you are here at least, perhaps they might stop shouting at each other."
"Is there a problem I can help with?"
"Yes. I-"
"Peter has decided you are to travel to the Lone Islands with him to help him, but I am to stay here." Ed spat scathingly.
"Your majesty would deny his brother the magic of a strong wizard to help him on this endeavour." The good General asked, dark eyes judging and cross which was a usual look for the dour man but seemed especially severe today.
"No! But I'd deny him the ability to demand that Harry go and I remain." That was petulance…but also fear amidst the anger.
"Umm…" Harry hummed trying in earnest to think of something to say.
"Strategically Harry I may have need of good fighters in case this trip to the Lone Islands is not as friendly as the invitation implies. You have a skill unmatched in any opponent with your magic, which makes you invaluable in the fight. On the political side I need Edmund to remain at Cair Paravel because we should have at least one royal here to rule."
"And where will Lucy and Susan be?" Oh that earned him another glare.
"Susan and Lucy are unable to hold Ciar Paravel at the moment. Neither have learned enough yet to feel confident enough in holding the country together, and Susan is being courted by Lord Tilligan."
Ah. OK. That did make sense, but if the Queens hadn't learned enough about their role yet in the 8 years they had held office, how much longer would it take before they were ready?
"OK. Well if your majesties…" Harry paused at the glare Edmund sent him when he abruptly spun around. Swallowing nervously, not really knowing how to continue without upsetting either his lover or Peter, Harry hesitantly agreed to their plan. "If your majesties need me on the Lone Islands then of course you have my magic. You know that. I fight for you, for Aslan and for Narnia."
"Thank you Harry. Your loyalty was never in question."
"No. Just mine." Ed spat.
"Could you leave us now Harry? It seems my brother and I need to have a little talk. The ship will sail in one week. Pack for all weather."
Harry was ushered out of the room with General Oreius following behind him leaving the room too. They walked side by side for a bit in silence, until the quite became too uncomfortable.
"General, have I done something to offend you?" Those dark eyes pinned him like a particularly nasty potion ingredient before Professor Snape.
"Done. Doing. Choose whichever one you prefer."
"What?!" Harry gasped. Done and doing? What had he done and was doing that had caused offense? "What am I doing?!"
"I am in no mood to play games. And I feel no need to explain it to you if you have not already worked it out. Be careful your loyalties stay with our Royal Highnesses, with Aslan and with Narnia, because if I find your loyalty in question I shall take action on you, action befitting a traitor to our sovereigns."
The centaur stalked away leaving Harry clueless and hurt. He had done something serious then. What though?! What had he done to deserve hate?
He had thought it got better after he was rewarded by the Pevensies and given a title. He hadn't wanted the title but he had accepted it. Now though…he wondered if it had done more harm than good. The hostility seemed to have doubled, and was aimed at him from most directions.
Feeling slightly cowardly but too wrapped up in his wounded heart and depression Harry went up to his rooms seeking solitude and spent the next few hours practising his magic. He was getting good at wandless now. He and Ed had theorised that he needed movement to help his wandless magic, and so he could now direct his magic for many spells with large gestures.
'Stupefy', for example, was a quick thrust forwards with an open, upward facing palm and fingers splayed a little like he had just launched dice, or a yoyo.
'Bombarda' was odd, sometimes it worked in the same way 'stupefy' did but with a clenched fist. Other times it worked with a head butt to the air.
Incarcerous was probably his favourite one to practise. He had to close his palm slowly while casting it, so that his open palm ended up clenched like he was squeezing something in his palm. Ropes would spring up and tie the opponent, often a dummy.
While Harry hoped there wouldn't be a war, he did kind of want to test his new skills. It looked like he would get his fight on the Lone Islands.
There was a knock on the door not long before dinner then Ed slid straight into the room. Harry spared him a glance then went back to trying to direct the 'diffindo' spell to the mock dummy he had made. The slashing hand movement he had found worked with diffindo wasn't great for aim so he was trying to perfect it.
He slashed his hand through the air in a large arc and the spell was too large, scratching the walls and anything else it hit as it spread out. Too small and the spell would not work at all. Finding a happy medium was tricky, especially since aim was apparently a 'thing'. It was so much easier with a sword. You could only hit stuff in the immediate vicinity with a slash of steel. With a spell anything was a target.
"Harry?"
"Wait a minute please Ed." Harry asked then gave the spell a few more tries.
Eventually he narrowed the spell down from a full sweep of his arm through the air to a sweep that only arched over 1 foot of air.
"Sorry about that Ed. Everything OK?" Harry asked, snatching up his wand form the desk and casting cleaning and fixing charms around his room to repair the damage he wrought.
"Not really." Ed grumped then stood and stepped up behind Harry, wrapping his arms around Harry's shoulders and waist. It allowed Harry to continue casting but meant Ed had contact. Harry couldn't complain.
"What's the matter with everybody? I'm guessing you don't want me to go to the Lone Islands, but Peter is adamant. And General Oreius is…well…he wasn't in a particularly good mood either."
"I don't want you to go because I don't want you away from me. And I just don't want you to leave in case you don't come back."
"Of course I'll come back Ed! I promised you that didn't I?" Harry spluttered and twisted in Ed's grip to look up at the taller man. Ed's eyes held his torment clearly for the world to see. Harry could only tut his tongue and put his hand on Ed's cheek trying to give the man comfort. "Ed, I told you and I promised you I wouldn't leave you. It's only a trip to the Lone Islands, they aren't that far. I've seen the maps. It's what, a few days sailing to get there, a few days there so Peter can do whatever it is he has to do, then a few days back. Only a few days, two or three weeks max!"
"I just…" Ed huffed and loosened his arms so Harry could turn all the way around. He pressed their foreheads together, closing his eyes and clearly debating his words. "I just don't want you to leave. I worry and…and I know people haven't been nice to you recently. I'm really sorry about that, I don't know why they are acting the way they are, but whatever it is I know it's upsetting you and I'm really sorry. I know you love me but I don't want you to go away for a while and discover that you would rather be away from here for good because people are nicer."
"Ed…you guys are my family, and I love you enough that I'd stay here amidst everyone hating me just because I love you. I'm not going to change my mind. I'm staying here, and even if I go away for a while I will come back."
Ed didn't say anything for a while, just stayed wrapped around Harry. Harry let him, revelling in the embrace too. It was still odd, and slightly humorous being smaller than Ed and having arms wrapped around him, but Harry was more at home there than anywhere else.
"Peter's plan is a good one. Tactically it's brilliant to take you. You do have to go. I don't have to like it though. I just wish I could go too."
"I don't think you can this time. Next time, if there is a next time, make sure the girls are completely ready to take over so that you can leave Cair Paravel under their command."
"Oh don't you worry, they will be ready and able next time. I'll make sure of it. I think Lucy will always be more adept at ruling than Su, she's a little more interested in other things but her heart is in the right place. I think she just gets distracted and wrapped up in whatever pulled her attention. Lucy is more steady."
"Not to mention completely devoted."
"That too."
Narnia year 1008 – Summer.
Harry hated boats.
Ships.
He hated ships.
And boats.
And anything else that sailed.
He had been sick as a dog after the first 30minutes on the Wanderer's Pride. The shi was huge and glided effortlessly through the waves and swash. But Harry could barely admire the ships's beauty and capability because he became horrendously sick no sooner had they left the calm lagoon it had been built in and was launched from.
Ed had seen him off, and they had spent a good part of the day before in bed pleasing each other with kisses and touches. It wasn't a graceful parting, they hadn't been able to restrain themselves enough to stop the hug farewell. It had maybe lasted a little long. Harry needed it though, and apparently Ed did too.
Lucy and Susan had given him and Peter hugs, Peter had even got a kiss to his cheek from the ever regal Althea.
"You alright Harry?"
"No." Harry grimaced then wretched again, clinging the side of the ship with a vice grip.
"No sea legs on this one!" Somebody laughed making others join in. It wasn't particularly malicious but Harry's feelings were volatile enough from having left Ed, and his sea sickness was severe enough, that his patience was very thin.
Harry bit his lip in an effort to reign in a nasty retort, or a curse.
"Never been on a boat before." He really didn't think the little paddle boat he'd been on before first attending Hogwarts really counted.
"Neither have I." Peter boasted and Harry groaned as another wave of nausea smashed over him.
"Don't worry lad, only a few more weeks."
They all laughed at him again.
Harry threw himself over the side to throw up whatever remained of his breakfast.
Harry was miserable. There was no other word for it.
It might have been summer but that only meant that the hot days brought some fantastic storms out over the ocean. There had been thunder and lightning, and a truly cruel wind that made the waters rough and choppy.
Harry was sick to his soul.
He hadn't eaten anything in days. He hadn't been able to stomach anything at all. He could barely keep down water. He also couldn't sleep. The nausea was too great.
So now he was shivering standing on the deck and watching as the night crew went about its business keeping the ship sailing smoothly. The sea was thankfully calm at the moment, the calm after a truly awful storm.
All the rest of the crew were getting some well-earned sleep from all their hard work during the day. Harry wished he had been of more assistance because he had earned more than a few bumps and knocks as a result of his idleness. He had tried to help. But he didn't know how to do the work, and nobody was patient in teaching him when he had to leave to throw up. The only thing he could do was keep the ship clean and that took only a flick of his wand.
Harry shuffled to the front of the ship, stepping awkwardly up onto the top part of the bow. His body shook, wracked terribly with cold and lack of sustenance. He had no energy at all so moving was a nightmare because the slightest thing would have his muscles burning and his lungs aching for air, more oxygen to feed his muscles.
He wiggled as much as he could to the front, staying carefully within the safety area. There was a nice view from there, he could see the horizon roughly, though it was just black on black in the dark. There was the faintest hint of light beginning to grow there. Dawn must be approaching. Not that dawn was a blessing as such. Dawn meant more people awake, more chances for Harry to be demeaned, and more opportunities for Harry to get bruises. They didn't like him and Harry didn't know why. He couldn't even guess. He literally hadn't ddone anything to any of them. Hadn't hurt them, hadn't even accidentally hurt them. Still, they were punishing him for something and Harry did not know what.
It was like fifth year Hogwarts all over again.
He really wished Edmund was there.
Harry curled up on the floor, pressing his back to the front edge. He should be out of the way there. He shut his eyes, exhausted beyond belief. He wished he could sleep. He could feel every slight bump and sway of the ship. Please…please let him sleep. It would all be over if he could just sleep.
It had been just over a week at sea. The lone Islands were apparently a little further away than Harry had thought, especially since it was a summer crossing and the storms they had bumped into had slowed progress down a lot.
Harry felt like death warmed up. He felt so horrendous he really wished someone would put him out of his misery. He was sure he could find somebody to help him. Logically he knew he wasn't dying, but it certainly felt like he was. Couldn't somebody just put an end to his misery? The crew hated him, they hadn't made that a secret.
Harry stumbled across the deck to the bow once more. That was the best place for him to be. He wasn't lazing around below, he wasn't on the deck and in the sailors way. He wasn't in the best place on the boat for people suffering with sea sickness, but at least he wouldn't get trampled on. He had severe bruises from a faun tripping over him and then stamping his hooves over Harry as he tried to right himself and get some space. There had been the briefest of apology, but the faun hadn't helped Harry up afterwards.
He loathed this.
The arrival on the Lone Island was anticlimactic. Many representatives met them at the docks, they escorted them inland to meet the Lone Islands Council, then Peter met with various dignitaries and lords to choose a governor to act as his Imperial representative. It would take about a week in total to get Peter up to speed on the Lone Islands, and for his chosen representative to become familiar with Peter's wishes.
In that time, as he wasn't needed, Harry kept as much distance between himself and everybody else as he could. He had lodgings on the ship as most of the crew had. The senior members of their group, mainly High King Peter, General Oreius and some others had lodgings on the Island which Harry had been tasked with warding. Harry had done as he was asked, the actions draining him so completely that he had nearly fainted.
He had been given a bit of food by a passing representative who gave a little bit of food to everyone. Harry had received a bread roll, luckily, and had squirrelled it away into his pocket to save for later. Once the warding had been done and they were told they could have spare time Harry disillusioned himself and apparated to one of the roof tops. He didn't want to be around anyone, but he didn't want to be far away from Peter just in case. So he transfigured his cape into a blanket, and his boots into a pillow and soft mat to lie on. He ate his bread as best he could, barely eating more than a few mouthfuls before giving up and putting a stasis charm on it so that it would keep. Then he settled down for some sleep on an unmoving ground.
He had a terrible nights sleep, barely sleeping more than a few hours before waking up with a scream about to tumble from his lips. His nightmare left his heart racing, magic thrumming through his weary body and sickness boiling in his near empty stomach. He was sweating profusely, so much so he had to cast several charms on everything to clean it all up.
Night had fallen, the stars shockingly bright in a clear sky. Thankfully, despite the cloudless night, it was rather warm so Harry didn't need to seek shelter inside. No rain, no wind, no clouds, it was very peaceful.
So peaceful Harry decided casting a silencing ward around himself would be a good idea so that he didn't disturb anyone if he had another nightmare. That done he ate a little more bread, it settled like a stone in his stomach and the lead weight didn't help him settle down for more much needed sleep.
An hour later he was woken up again by a scuffle below him. A scuffle could have been dismissed as an animal, had it not been for the muffled yell, followed by struggling and harshly whispered instructions.
Harry got up, grabbing his wand from its sheath ready just in case he needed to attack. He crawled to the edge of the roof and peered down into the street below. There were no lights on, and only the moon cast an eerie glow over the place giving strange light.
Men. Men were below. They struggled out the door. There were several of them all wrestling hold onto a desperately wiggling Peter.
Oh no they didn't.
Harry might have been useless on the ship. He may have been useless and pathetic then, the scorn of the crew and even occasionally Peter, but he was not useless on land. And food or no food, sleep or no sleep, illness or no illness, Peter was not being taken on his watch. How did they get past the wards?!
Harry apparated straight down to the ground, the gunshot sound cracking through the peaceful night and scaring Peter's would-be captors. Harry pointed his wand and had two of the kidnappers unconscious before they had even seen him. Others immediately came from the house shouting and cursing as they drew weapons. Some of them went to help those holding Peter, the High King struggling for all he was worth now and nearly managing to get free.
"Stupify!" Harry shouted, brandishing his wand and thrusting his hand forwards. Two more of the enemy fell to the ground. A wandless incarcerous had them tied up while Harry concentrated on stunning and disarmind the others.
The storm of hooves, the shouts of 'For Narnia' and 'For Aslan' and 'For King Peter' went sailing through the night as the ruckus Harry and the attackers had caused woke the other Narnians and they rushed to join in the battle.
Sensing they were outnumbered some enemies tried to turn and run. Harry's hastily cast ring of fire prevented that and they were trapped.
"Let us go or I slit his throat." One attacker snarled, a dagger held to Peter's neck. Peter was somehow being held immobile by the enemy but the dagger to his throat definitely made him freeze.
Harry froze too, as did all the other Narnians. Their weapons raised but held still. The enemy Lone Islanders slowly creeped away.
"Did you hear me?! I said release us or I slit your precious king's throat!"
"I don't think you know how this works." Harry muttered, glaring at the man. The murderous blue eyes of the man all but spat fire at Harry. Harry refused to bow down before it. He glared back, all his anger and hurt from his treatment that week, all his frustration at his feebleness, came to the fore and fuelled his magic. "That is my king, our king. We are Narnians!"
The Narnians around Harry cheered.
"I'm not joking, I'll slit his throat."
"We are Narnians." Harry growled then pointed his wand at the man holding it level and deadly. "Expelliarmus!" The spell hit the man before he could react. Harry's aim was true and the dagger flew away from the man and up into the air not leaving a single mark on Peter.
"What?!"
"We are Narnians!" Harry shouted again and the others around him yelled and roared their agreement. "And I am a wizard."
Those words seemed to settle on the Islander. His eyes widened. Anger gone and leaving only fear. Harry felt a sick sense of satisfaction knowing that the man was scared. He should be scared! He tried to harm Peter! PETER! Edmund's brother! Harry's king! Harry's friend!
"I'll give you three seconds to release our king or I will release another spell. YHou've seen my aim. Dare me to miss! One. Two. Three!"
Peter was released on the word three, thrown to the side where he only just caught his balance. The Islander tried to run but Harry's incarcerous caught him around the ankles and sent him tumbling to the ground. People leapt into action around them wrestling the Islanders under control, tying them up or knocking them out.
Peter had got to his feet by then and scowled at the enemy around him. Harry didn't think approaching him was a good idea but he really had to…he had to make his apologies. He had to beg for forgiveness.
He cautiously moved forwards. Peter did not really notice him for a few moments but when he did that bright gaze pinned Harry to the spot.
Harry fell to his knees and bowed his head, wand held uselessly by his side. He swallowed his nerves and tooka deep breath.
"My King. I am so sorry. I don't know why my wards failed. I cannot tell you how sorry I am that they failed…that I failed you again. Please…I'm truly sorry your Majesty."
There was silence. Even people to Harry's left and right paused a little. Harry winced feeling very put on the spot. As if his failure wasn't enough, now he had complete and utter humiliation begging for forgiveness that might not come.
"Please forgive me, High King." Harry pleaded again not daring to look up.
More silence.
More silence.
Then a sigh and footsteps. Two black boots came to rest in front of him. Clearly Peter's boots. It was Peter.
Harry winced when a hand landed on his shoulder but when it did no more than just rest there he relaxed a little.
"Harry, there's nothing to forgive. I was not in the wards. Had I been I have no doubt they would have held perfectly. You have not failed me Harry, nor have you ever failed me." The words sounded sincere but Harry didn't want to see the expression on Peter's face incase the sincerity was in tone only. He didn't dare believe it was real. Another hand clasped his other shoulder and urged him upwards. "Come, stand. Stand up Harry."
Harry carefully got to his feet but still avoided looking at Peter.
"Harry…" Peter sighed again then stepped back. He next addressed the crowd with a voice that brooked no disobedience. "I expect these 'men' to be locked up and held for questioning in the morning. We shall find the reason behind this traitorous attack on us, and particularly upon my person. Duke Harry and I have much needed words and shall be in the reception room once my instructions have been followed. General Oreius, I leave you in charge. You have my explicit permission to do whatever needs to be done to ensure our safety in mine and Duke Harry's absence."
"Very good, My King."
"Come Harry, this way. We have things to talk about."
Harry followed as Peter beckoned. His heart was beating madly in his chest, completely frantic and still having not relaxed since the fight. He was shaky for many reasons and his legs felt like jelly beneath him. Since he had no shoes on it was hard to walk on the stony floor. Jagged corners of rocks kept sticking into the soles of his feet. Inside at least wasn't so bad to walk, the wooden floors might have been uneven but they weren't jagged or sharp to walk over.
Peter led Harry back up the stairs he'd been up earlier to do the warding. They went into the left room, the large reception area with plenty of seating for guests or family, and Peter urged him to sit.
"Please just sit down Harry, I have something I really need to say." Peter confessed when Harry seemingly took too long to obey his request. Harry moved a little quicker and sat on one of the single chairs, only now daring to look at the young king who, for reasons of his own, was avoiding making eye contact.
"Your highness-"
"It's Peter." Those light eyes met his dead on then, stubbornness set deep within them. "You used to call me Peter. We have always been friends haven't we?"
They had, at least Harry had thought so until recently. Now Harry wasn't so sure. His presence had been requested, sometimes ordered. He was ignored most of the time as unimportant, and even at one or two points of their journey he had even been ridiculed by Peter himself – forget the crew's derision. No…Harry hadn't been on especially friendly terms with Peter in a while, not really.
"I…yes." Harry reluctantly said and Peter huffed again.
"Until recently at least." HE voiced the words in Harry's mind. Harry nodded then shrugged.
"It's alright, people grow apart."
"Yes, they do. But that didn't happen here, not to us." Peter slowly confessed and sat with all the care and attention of somebody deeply considering and judging his every action and syllable. "We didn't grow apart, I pushed you away on purpose. I thought…well, it doesn't matter just yet. Just know I am really sorry for doing it."
"I…OK." Harry nodded. Peter gave him a bitter smile.
"No, really. I am very sorry. I should have behaved better but I was faced with something I wasn't expecting and I behaved badly because of it. I am honestly, from the bottom of my heart, sorry to have been so cruel and unfeeling towards you. Know that it will not happen again. I value you Harry; as a friend, as a Narnian, as a wizard, and as the person who quite possible just saved my life today."
"You're welcome." Harry mumbled and Peter nodded.
"Do you accept my apology?"
"Of course. Things happen Peter, we don't all react well to things and can only do our best. I'm just sorry for whatever I did that caused you to react against me."
"It wasn't you, not really. OK, well it was you but I shouldn't have reacted the way I did. I deeply regret it."
"You're forgiven Peter, it's fine. I'm very sorry for whatever it is that I did."
"No. No don't be sorry for that. Please don't be sorry for that." Peter shook his head then got to his feet with agitation in every slight twitch of his body as he moved. He paced the room for a bit, but the lack of a dismissal or a closure in their conversation kept Harry rooted to the spot.
What would Peter say next? Would he explain what Harry had done? Would he tell Harry what had happened to make Peter dislike Harry? Or perhaps what had caused everybody else to dislike Harry? Or perhaps he wanted to take back the title or lands he had awarded Harry. That was fine, if he wanted them back then he could have them! Harry didn't need a title. He didn't need land either. He just needed…well…not a lot really. Just food he supposed, everything else he could make or sort out for himself.
He watched Peter move back and forth across the room, running a hand through his hair and wiping over his face, fidgeting with his clothes then touching various ornaments and decorations around the room. Finally, finally, he settled behind the chair he had originally sat in and stared at Harry, pushing the truth and sincerity of his words into ever millimetre of his expression.
"A while ago I was led to question my feelings for Althea."
Well this wasn't anything close to where Harry thought this conversation was going to go.
"I felt, and do still feel, a great deal of affection for her but that, it appears, is all I feel for her. Love was explained to me a few weeks ago and…let me see if I get this right." Peter closed his eyes as if it would help him concentrate. He frowned deeply, eyebrows scrunching together, and lips pursing as he concentrated. "I was told it was like an inescapable desire to stay close to the other person. Like every minute apart was tolerable and liveable, and you didn't necessarily pine away the minutes until you were reunited, but that when you were together again suddenly everything in the world had more brilliance, more wonder, than it had in those moments you were apart. Touching wasn't a want, it was a need. The simplest touch just to make sure that person was still there, that it was true, or even just to connect again on a wonderful level. They told me that love was thinking about tomorrow and the only thing certain about it was that it was another opportunity to see your loved one."
Peter opened his eyes and stared at Harry.
"I didn't feel that with Althea, not at all. So I thought the person who told me all about love had got it wrong somehow. Maybe there were different types of love, different depths of it. Or maybe what that person felt was not love at all. So I took to watching. I watched carefully and I learned, and through observation I discovered something about this so called thing called love. It really could be as deep as that person said it was."
Harry really didn't understand where this was going but he nodded in an effort to get Peter to continue.
"The problem was I didn't feel that love was possible. Not between two men."
"Oh." Ah…that was where it was going. Harry felt sick all over again and desperately looked beseechingly at Peter. "Peter I-"
"So I argued with Edmund about it. I argued and I persuaded, then eventually gave up and started designing ways for the two of you to be kept apart. My brain came up with so many reasons why you should go – you didn't really feel for Ed the way he felt for you, you were only after power, you were just using him for a place in Cair Paravel…lots of reasons. Believe me, I came up with dozens of reasons why you two should break up and plenty of excuses to give to Ed for when I sent you away, forbidding you any more contact with my brother."
"Peter please."
"Do you have no doubts?"
"In me or in him? Because I doubt me all the time. I never feel myself to be good enough for Edmund and I've thought for ages that I'm leading him astray, or I'm ruining his future with somebody else. But I never doubt Edmund. He knows his own mind very well and he seemed to have known my feelings before I did. He is everything to me, and I love him."
"Would you give your life to him?"
"Of course I would! I'd give my life to him. I'd die for him if I had to. I'll do whatever it takes for him to be happy!"
"Even if it means you leave him? That you go away for a while or forever?"
The air was driven viciously from Harry's lungs as Peter asked that question. He felt a pain more severe than before stab through his heart.
"I…If he needed it, if he asked for it, yes."
"And if I asked for it on his behalf?" No! No Harry wouldn't. Ed made him promise.
"No." Harry shook his head. "He'd have to tell me."
"So if I asked you to stay on the Lone Islands and not come back, that Edmund had asked me to keep you away?"
Harry vehemently shook his head. "No. No I wouldn't stay. I'd go back. One way or another I would get back to Cair Paravel, to Edmund."
"Why?"
Harry smiled a weak and sad smile. "Because he made me promise I would return to him. And one way or another I will keep my promise. He will have to tell me himself to leave, for I swore I wouldn't leave him on any other circumstance than that."
"How long will this love between you two last Harry?" Peter finally asked, defeat in his posture.
"Forever I hope. I cannot know that answer Peter, I can only hope it goes on forever."
"But you acknowledge that you might change your mind?"
"I understand that Edmund is still young, he might change his mind. Me? I…I'm afraid I'll feel this forever. I don't think it will ever go away." He really hoped it wouldn't go away. This love for Edmund was a different thing than he expected love to be, but that made it no less consuming. It filled him up, made him happy for no other reason that him just feeling good. It wasn't a struggle; it wasn't a task to feel that emotion, or to touch Ed. With Ginny things had been difficult and most days he had to convince himself he liked her, loved her, but that was nothing to his feelings for Ed. He hoped that never left him.
Silence lapsed between them, the upset and stress echoing between them both. It was like a chasm. It swallowed all the sounds and all the good emotions and left only rawness, destitution and stress. The little hairs on Harry's arms rose up, he was ultra-aware of the tiniest of shifts his body made, of the smallest disruption in the fabric of his clothes. The tension set his stomach on edge; it rolled and turned, protesting to every iota present inside it and threatening to eject it all.
"I've had lots of restless nights since Christmas." Peter mentioned carefully after a while, and the shock of his words was enough to calm the rising nausea swimming in his throat.
Christmas…Peter knew since Christmas?!
"I've had particularly bad night's sleep in this last week. I had quite decided to leave you here, abandon you on the Lone Islands." Peter confessed and Harry felt as if his body had been plunged into freezing depths of water, drowning him an suck frigid waters that the ice clawed into his heart and decoured his soul. Peter continued on unknowing, or perhaps uncaring, of the turmoil he had just created in Harry. "I considered various requests of you to get you away from us and then just sailing off. I remember you saying apparition cannot be done easily to a moving vehicle and hoped to take my chances."
"Then the nightmares began. I…I may not understand the love you and my brother have Harry, but I know it isn't one sided. I have always known that you cared for him deeply, I don't know when it grew into love or into the romantic love you two now share. I don't know that, but I know your feelings are inescapable. In my dreams I saw Ed's face, heartbroken and wretched when I came home without you. I dreamed of the horrible mood he would be in if he had to live at home, and I remembered how terrible he was to live with that year you went travelling. He loved you then I think."
"He did. That's why I went away; I thought he was just confused and that my going away would help him."
The nod Peter gave was acceptance and acknowledgement. "Yes, that is what I have been toying with these last few days. I am in a conundrum really Harry. I don't see now how what you and my brother feel for each other can be love, but at the same time I don't think it can be anything other than love. You two have been drawn together like magnets since day one. I wouldn't be surprised if you were pulled into Narnia because of him. Ed will never give you up without sufficient cause. And I know you will not leave him, or deny what you both share."
"You are loyal and you love deeply. Ed is the same, and if he doesn't love deeply then he loves with that annoying stubbornness of his. He won't give you up." Peter said and met Harry's eyes with seriousness. "I won't ask him to. I won't ask you to either. I'm not OK with it, but I know that you can't stop loving just because of me. Aslan would encourage us to love. It is the most powerful thing in the world. Love my brother Harry. Love him and look after him. You have my blessing, for what it's worth."
Harry released a breath he didn't realise he had been holding. The relief was so immense that he almost felt light headed.
"You what…?" He whispered, his mind trying to spin around the words Peter had just said. Really? He really just said that? "You…you don't mind?"
"I do mind." Peter corrected carefully. "But I'd rather see him happy. I'm sure I can overcome my thoughts on the matter, given enough time. You love each other. That is worth more than my petty discomforts over your genders."
"Oh my…thank you. Thank you." Was all Harry could say. His heart was hammering in his chest; elation, relief, praise, intense shock. "You don't know how much…I've been worried for so long. I just… Thank you Peter. Thank you very much."
"You're welcome." Peter smiled, a rare regal smile reserved for situations he had to be polite in but was also genuinely pleased.
Harry put his head in his hands. All that worry. All of that stress. All of it. Every day since…who knows when?! All that poison and doubt in him…now no longer needed to be there. So much of it gone. Gone and…
"Wait…do Lucy and Susan know?" His head shot up to stare at Peter.
Peter just nodded earnestly. "Oh yes."
"And they…um…were they upset?"
"Oh no not at all. Susan wasn't very worried about it and Lucy thought…" Peter coughed. "Lucy thought it was sweet."
"Ah. OK. Um."
"And before you ask everyone else knows about it too. Well, they've heard rumours. It will be down to the two of your to make it official – which I need not say you should do. He is a king after all. His subjects should know his business."
"Right." Harry felt completely lost – dazed.
"I'll leave that discussion for when we are home though, and for when I have the two of you together. For now we are needed downstairs. I think we have some traitors to deal with, or at the very least some enemies to interrogate. I'm afraid I'm going to need you with me Harry, just in case things don't go smoothly."
The remaining time on the Lone Islands went well; the Narnian governor was appointed, and an ambassador to travel to and fro between the Islands and the mainland was also employed. There had been no more attempts on Peter's life, and those who had tried to in the first instance had been taken care of under Island Law. Their attempt was because of the views of the few, a faction who took exception to Peter's interference. The masses welcomed Peter and hailed him Emperor of the Lone Islands. Peter's title got ever grander.
The few day's peace did little for Harry's health though. Already exhausted and ill from the ship, the rest-bite did nothing other than stress him further knowing he had yet another trip to go. He couldn't sleep at night, his nightmares saw to that. Food was barely tolerable to him. The relief of knowing he need not stress over him and Edmund any more was indeed amazing, but in the wake of the stress came an exhaustion bone deep. Keeping close watch on Peter in case there was another attack exhausted him further.
By the time they made to return to the ship Harry looked so dreadful the crew, whose mood towards him had greatly improved, were incredibly worried about him. Sea sickness came upon Harry immediately and within the first two days of being on the sea, despite the perfect sailing conditions and easy sea, Harry was rendered unconscious by his exhaustion. The crew breathed easy, thankful he had some rest and they could feel easy now they weren't looking at a man who was looking more and more like a walking skeleton every day.
Harry stayed unconscious for ages, and then drifted in and out. Sometimes he was aware enough of himself to roll onto his side so he could throw up. Other times he was barely conscious to notice somebody abruptly hauling him onto his side so that he could be sick.
He didn't notice when they docked.
He didn't notice when he was loaded onto a stretcher.
He didn't even notice Lucy drop some of her healing cordial into his mouth.
He did, however, notice Ed lying down beside him. He noticed the arm over his chest. And he noticed the gentle hand smoothing over his brow as tender words were whispered into his ear.
It took a few days before he eventually came around enough to see and process the things his senses took in. He winced at the bright light of the sun, scrunched his face at the smell, and grimaced at the taste in his mouth. Blindly, squinting terrible, he reached for his wand.
Somebody tried to restrain him, talked to him to sooth his actions. He barely managed to grunt out a word that had some semblance of 'wand'. It was enough to make those hands disappear though and strong, steady fingers placed his wand into his hand.
He grasped it firmly, this knowledge so ingrained now it was easy. The spell didn't come as easily. His magic had a rather sluggish feel to it. The cleansing charm did work though and the tingle across his skin pronounced him clean. He didn't smell so bad now. Another spell freshened and cleaned his mouth. Then Harry's arm fell back to the bed. He was exhausted after that small task.
"Don't go back to sleep Harry. Here, you need to drink." A cup was placed before him. Bleary eyes told him it was Edmund serving him, helping him. He opened his mouth to thank Ed, to greet him, to talk to his loved one. But Ed tipped the cup and a small trickle of water ran into Harry's mouth instead.
Harry choked. Then he swallowed, the action more instinct than conscious decision.
The water felt good.
Harry thought about taking more, concentrated on drinking and swallowing. He drank lots. He drank until the cup ran dry.
"It's alright Harry, you can have more."
"No…no more. I…I'm OK." Harry mumbled.
"No you are not. You need more to drink. And you need to eat." That was Lucy's voice. "I'll get some food from the kitchens."
Harry blinked and watched uncomprehendingly as Lucy flounced out of the room. That door looked familiar…as did the curtains. Was he? Was he home? Oh! Ed. Ed was by him. "Ed…Hi."
Ed smiled a shaky but delighted smile. "Hello Harry. Good to have you back with us."
Ed stood and leaned over him, pressing a desperate long kiss to Harry's forehead. Harry closed his eyes and breathed in Ed's scent.
"I…I was on the Islands."
"Yes you were. But now you are home." Ed whispered as he drew back and sat once more. Harry's hand was taken and held firmly between two larger hands. Ed was bigger than Harry. He was bigger everywhere; he was taller, broader, had bigger hands, he even had bigger feet. The only thing that Harry had more of than Ed was Harry's hair, which now fell past his shoulders.
"Home. Narnia? I'm back in Narnia?"
"Yes."
"On land."
"Yes."
"Oh good. I hate ships. I am never going on a ship ever again." Harry's speech, as garbled and mumbled as it was, brought a smile and a laugh to Ed's lips. He shook his head and pressed a kiss to Harry's lips.
"No, you are never going on a ship again."
Harry was warm. Too warm. And there was a bright light on his face, he knew that through his eyelids.
He was comfortable though. And he didn't feel that great. Maybe it would be OK to sleep some more.
Yeah. He could sleep some more.
Except that light! That light was so bright. Too bright.
Harry blinked open his eyes, squinting in the light but trying to see the source of the damn thing so he could turn it off. After a few minutes it became clear there was too much light because the curtains couldn't keep all of it out.
Why hadn't he drawn the curtains?
Harry blinked around trying to discern the state of affairs last night that led to him not bothering to close the curtains.
Ed was next to him, not unusual really. What was unusual was that Ed wasn't in bed with him, and Ed was fully clothed. Slumped in the chair beside Harry's bed, Ed had his head back and his body curling to the side in a very awkward fashion. His hair was unkempt, no doubt from being in anuncomfortable chair and not sleeping too well. There wwere bags under his eyes and his face looked pale.
Was Ed feeling as under the weather as Harry was? Harry had a sore throat, his head felt stuffy and horrible, his skin felt clammy and covered in dirt and sweat, and he was really hungry and thirsty.
Carefully Harry wiggled around in the bed and stretched out a hand to the bedside table that currently held his wand. With a quick flick of his wrist the curtains closed, bathing the room in darkness. Ed shifted in his sleep mumbling.
Oh dear, that really didn't look comfortable. Ed would be so upset to wake up having fallen asleep in that awkward position. Harry cast the sleeping charm on Ed, lulling the man into a deeper sleep, then he levitated Ed onto the bed, shifting over to make room for the king next to him. That small movement though made Harry overwhelmingly aware of a very unpleasant smell, and as he shifted more and air wafted up to his nose carrying the horrible scent Harry realised it was him.
Yuck!
Harry wrinkled his nose and cast a cleaning charm over the bed. He would have cast it over himself but just as he went to do that he decided he didn't want the tingling it left over his already sensitive skin. A bath would be necessary then. A bath, some water, and perhaps a little food to get him going.
The climb from the bed was done with painful slowness. Every one of his joints ached. When he was upright he realised his head felt like lead and hurt oh so very much! It was a painful and slow task moving from the bed and then across the room to where there was a giant tub for him to bathe in. When he got there he cast the charm to start filling the tub with his wand. The water flowed slowly at first until he put more thought into it and amped nup the level of the spell. The tub was full in only a few minutes. One more charm later had the water heated and steaming slightly. There were soaps and other things nearby so he could wash. One spell cleaned and freshened up his mouth but he filled another small bowl of water anyway and scrubbed at his teeth with the brush laid to the side. A few gulps of fresh water had Harry feeling a little more ready for his bath.
He pulled of his horrible, sweat crusted clothes, then stepped carefully into the bath. The warm water was instantly soothing; at the same time it heated his already hot body further. He must have a temperature.
That was because he got ill. Yes.
Harry relaxed back into the bath, sinking into the water. The water felt so good over his skin. His head felt clammy but now he was relaxing he could remember.
He had gotten ill at sea. Then afterwards he had that conversation with Peter. Then they were back at sea again and Harry had just felt worse and worse until it all stopped. The he didn't remember much. He remembered seeing Ed at one point…or at several times but his memories were a little blurry. He must have been very ill. That was new. He never got ill. This was the first time in ages. The sea sickness must have done it. Harry was sure it was all the sea's fault. He hated boats. He was never going on a boat again. Never. If he had to go to the Lone Islands again he would fly, he'd make a broomstick fly somehow. Either that or he would apparate and risk being splinched.
Harry scrubbed with the soaps and oils, cleaning himself thoroughly. Then he vanished the dirty water, refilled the tub with more and heated it again quickly because the cool water made him shiver. He still didn't feel well but he felt easier in the water, warmed gently through to his bones.
Fifteen minutes into his second soak there was a groan from the bed. Ed was shuffling around in sleep, clearly near to waking up. Harry considered getting up, dressing quickly before Ed woke properly, then dismissed the idea. It wasn't as if Ed hadn't seen him naked before. And Harry hadn't found any clean clothes yet. The most he had prepared was a sheet to wrap around himself to help dry off in.
It was several more minutes before Ed properly woke up. The poor king came round slowly but something must have registered his change in location because he was abruptly upright and looking around frantically. Harry raised a hand in a careless wave, the movement and the slop of water attracting Ed's attention. His relief was palpable; he slumped and scrubbed a hand over his face before offering a smile to Harry and cautiously getting up off the bed. Harry reached for his wand casting cleaning charms at Ed as he always did in the morning. That brought him a bigger smile as Ed approached the bath, grabbing a small chair so he could sit next to Harry while Harry bathed.
"You are feeling better then." It wasn't a question, although Ed's eyes did flicker over Harry's form taking everything in speculatively. That gaze held no heat, no passion, just cool observation. The king took stock of every part of Harry's body judging him to be fit or not.
"Yeah. I'm a bit achy and I feel rough but I was up for having a bath."
"You had us all worried." Ed said with sad eyes and a worried frown. He reached out and brushed a hand through Harry's hair once, then settled on Harry's forehead clearly checking his temperature. Harry laughed and shook him off.
"I'm alright Ed, honest."
"Yes, you seem to be. But you tried this a few days ago, just got out of bed and decided to have a bath. You were completely delirious with fever but wouldn't be stopped. You heated the water, climbed in with all your clothes still on, then fainted. That was fun."
"Blimey! Really?!" Harry had been delusional? Delirious? Really?
"Yeah. Lucy's tonic didn't help either, though we still gave you one drop every day just in case. Lucy insisted upon it. She thinks you got sick at sea, and then picked up an infection or something because your temperature stayed really high and you were so very ill. I've never seen anybody that sick before. We were all really worried."
"I'm sorry Ed. I don't know what to say, I've never been ill before. I'm sorry for worrying you."
"How do you feel now?" Harry listed all his complaints, having been of half a mind to completely dismiss most of them only to have Ed glare him into full confession. By the end of Harry's list of complaints Ed nodded his head and declared Harry sounded like he was getting better and just needed rest and food now.
Ed helped a shaky Harry out of the bath and into a sheet to dry off with. Then Ed even went so far as to pull out clean clothes for Harry and help him dress. He would hear of no complaint or refusal in his help. Once dressed, even with all the help he received, Harry was exhausted and had to sit down. Ed used that time to get himself washed and changed, taking some of his own clothes out of the wardrobe.
Once ready for the day Ed joined Harry on the bed sitting next to him quietly. Harry scanned his eyes over Ed's face and body, checking him over and making sure he was OK. He looked OK. But he also looked upset over something.
"Hey." He muttered, his voice gently and caring. "Are you alright?"
"Yes." Ed nodded though his eyes didn't hold the same level of conviction as his mouth. Harry shook his head.
"I truly am sorry for worrying you. And I'm sorry for getting ill. I won't go on a boat again."
"It was a ship. And no, no you won't. I've informed Peter of that. Oddly he seemed to agree with me."
"Hm. Me and Peter had a chat when we were on the Lone Islands." Harry confessed and Ed nodded, took Harry's hand in his and gave it a tight squeeze.
"I know. Peter told me." Well that put a lull to that conversation.
"He…" Harry started again after a few minutes of quiet, and then shook his head when Ed gave his hand another squeeze.
"I know what he said, and I know what you said. I'm…I cannot express how I felt after hearing what you told him; that you'd return to me because you loved me and you promised me you would. You wouldn't leave me unless I asked if of you. You don't know how much that means to me."
"Uh…I probably do." Harry only half joked. "Probably the same as I felt when I heard you say those same things to me."
"True. But it gave me hope as well." Ed muttered then released Harry's hands and walked over to the bedside table, yanking open a drawer there and pulling something out.
"Hope? What do you mean?" Harry asked, completely bemused and shifting around to watch Ed as he slowly made his way back. Edmund sat down beside Harry again, and once more took his hand. Leaning forwards a little towards Harry, making his intentions slow but very clear, Ed gave Harry a brief kiss.
"Hope that you would stay with me forever. That what we have will last a lifetime, or several lifetimes."
"Of course it will, Ed. You mean the world to me. I love you, you know that."
"Yes you do, and I you." Ed frowned a little then raised his left hand, the one not holding Harry's hand. Holding his arm out, hand in a fist, Ed slowly uncurled his fingers. "But I want this love for a lifetime."
In his hand he held two rings. They were gold, glittering in the beautiful golden sunshine streaming in through the windows. The bands were plain with no decoration on them at all. Just two simple gold bands.
Oh wow.
Harry breathed his heart in his throat. Was Ed really asking for…?! Of course he was! What else did somebody mean when they held out two gold rings?!
A lifetime.
Harry could do that. He'd love to do that! Ed was his world.
"Harry?" Ed's eyes held a question, several questions actually. One of them was clearly 'will you', another was 'is it OK'. The other question was 'do you love me enough to do this'.
Harry calmly reached out and took the rings. He held them up and eyes the sizes. That one, the one underneath the other one, was clearly his. It was smaller. That was his. Edmund's fingers were a little bigger than Harry's, in length and size, because he had been training his hands from a young age to be strong. Harry's hands were still reasonably slender from all those years wand waving, although now they had broadened out because of his sword fighting.
He slid the smaller ring onto his ring finger on his left hand. He was silent as he did it, which meant he could easily hear Ed's sudden exhale of relief. Taking Ed's left hand gently but firmly he splayed out Ed's fingers and slipped his ring up and over the first knuckle, then the second, and then into place at the base of his left ring finger.
"You know, this finger is thought to have a vein, a river of blood, connecting it straight up the arm and to the heart." He mentioned idly and chanced a look at Edmund's face. There was a slow smile growing there. Ed's eyes were delighted and his entire countenance brightened up.
"I can absolutely believe it." He chuckled lightly then leaned in for a kiss which Harry happily gave, holding the back of Ed's head and enjoying the hair trickling between his fingers. When they broke apart Ed rested their foreheads together and stared into Harry's eyes with gratitude and adoration fairly glowing in his eyes.
"Thank you." He whispered.
Harry smiled at him and kissed him once more. "Never thank me for loving you."
Ed laughed again and shook his head. "Maybe I was thanking you for accepting my love."
"Then thank you for loving me enough, through everything, to offer me this." Harry gestured to his ring. "When did you have these made anyway?"
"Oh, about Christmas time. I wanted them ready quickly but the smithy had several things to do and couldn't be sparing time for a frivolity, regardless of who was asking. So you get it now."
"Now is better. Now is perfect." Harry absolutely believed it. Now that Peter, Susan and Lucy knew, now that he had Peter's approval and consent everything was perfect and this was the perfect time for the rings. Though Harry was overwhelmingly touched by how long Ed's thoughts had been in that direction. They couldn't have a marriage like Harry knew marriage to be, there was nobody to do the bonding ceremony and Narnians didn't have or celebrate marriages in the same way. There was usually a ceremony of sorts where before witnesses you declared yourself dedicated to loving your partner until death, or until Aslan took you. But that could be done later if they wanted. The rings were enough. They signified everything about Ed and Harry. They showed dedication, loyalty, commitment, love.
"It would have been better if you weren't so ill, but I couldn't wait any longer, and I had you all to myself."
"I still think now is perfect."
Trying to sweep such a thing under the rug and play down the importance of it did not work at all once Lucy got a hold of the news. She was delighted, and demanded a party be thrown in their honour. Harry had objected. Edmund had objected. Even Peter objected the spectacle because there were other things to do. Lucy would not listen to anything though and planned out a party for them.
It was held at the stone table. While everyone had their doubts at first come party day they discovered it was the perfect site. Lucy and the nymphs and dryads hung ribbons from trees and plants. Flower wreaths decorated everything. Fresh bunting was made in blue and green and hung up around tents.
Narnians and people dressed in their finest to attend. Lots of people attended. Harry didn't think even Ed knew half the beings there. Harry certainly didn't know half of them. They knew of him though and he found himself incredibly flattered with their praise, congratulations and thanks. Gratitude for loving their king.
"Well, I think it's time to go. Don't you?" Ed asked, standing close to Harry and grinning at him. Ed had a goblet of wine in one hand and lots of flowers dropped in his hair.
"Really? You don't want to stay a bit longer?" Harry looked over at the partying congregation. They were still dancing or chatting in groups looking very merry.
"No. Let's go back to Cair Paravel and have a quiet night. Just the two of us sounds perfect after all this hustle and bustle. And Peter already knows I'm leaving, I just told him."
"Cheeky!" Harry laughed and nudged Ed. "What if I'm not ready to leave yet?"
"Well aren't you?" That damnable eyebrow was raised in speculation but Ed's eyes betrayed that he knew the truth. Harry rolled his eyes and sighed, holding out his hand.
"Yes, I'm ready to go."
"There you are then, don't protest." Ed took his hand and clasped it tightly then stepped up to Harry and pressed a light kiss to Harry's lips. "Take us home."