together again

[herejustforher]

Near the end of his life, he had almost lost hope that he would ever see his beloved Queen again, in Narnia or any other world. It had cast a pale shadow over the rest of his time in Narnia, especially as the imminent Telmarine threat grew towards the end of his days. But he had tried to remain positive, and keep the faith.

Had tried not to lose his temper with the Lion when he was finally sent to His land.

It seemed that, at last, his patience had been rewarded, for one day-- and Tumnus would not be able to tell if it was a year or an age that had passed since his death-- Aslan had called to him and told him that he would be sent Beyond as the Navigator, the Star's Daughter, and the Naiad had been before him.

Of course he had accepted. How could he do anything else?

And so, one Lion's Breath later, he was in a part of Spare Oom-- which his mind supplied to him was really called London-- standing under an umbrella in the rain, and there before him, soaking wet to the bone, was unmistakably his Queen Lucy.

As he stepped forward, he couldn't help but speak the first words that came to his mind.

"Here," he said, holding the umbrella over her, "You need it more than I do."

They'd have a good laugh about the irony later, he was sure.

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[childishgames]

In all her lives, Lucy Pevensie has done her very best to ask for as little as possible. It's a tricky sort of thing, Ed had often teased, how she found a way to ask for little and yet always get the world. She'd be lucky if it lasted through growing tall enough to lose her dimples again.

And it is, sometimes, a tactic she's grown practiced in using. It's just that it's not something she's ever thought to be a piece of her faith.

Because she does still have faith. It had been in her even before her fingers were allowed to tangle in the Lion's mane, and it had followed her, wrapped close and warm as a fur jacket many sizes too large, back out the other side of the wardrobe. It had stuck to her heart and her smiles and her hair braided in spring with little flowers that Susan would brush away and Peter would call childish.

She hadn't asked for Caspian, as sorely as her heart had wished something would help her sister find peace again. She hadn't asked for Lilliandil or Ismenis, as ardently as she had hoped her sister and her dear friend would feel the comfort of being properly loved.

She had never, even in her two trips back to Narnia, asked for the faun who had been all but the other half of her heart for a decade she could never return to.

All she ever really asks, these days, standing beneath the glare of the sun or, as now, proud and defiant beneath the storms of London's rain, is to know she still walks with the Lion. To hear His roar distant in her ears and imagine she feels the brush of his fur against her fingers.

No matter who else had returned, she would never have asked for the impossible. Her eyes, lightly closed against the rain, squeeze tighter shut for a moment against the sound of a voice she'd know anywhere in any lifetime, no matter the obstruction of raindrops falling on an umbrella rather than her hair.

Because when she does ask for things, it's always easier with her eyes squeezed shut.

"...please... be real."

[herejustforher]

He remembers this. Remembers how she would shut her eyes when presented with something she dared not hope she could have, or when wishing for something she needed but was uncertain she would receive.

It's so wonderful, to see something so familiar in a world that's anything but.

"Very real, my Queen," he murmurs, reaching carefully to push back a runaway lock of hair, "I swear by the Lion, I am."

[childishgames]

It's his voice. It's impossible to think it could be anyone else's voice. It's been etched into her heart since the first moment he had spoken, more than a lifetime ago.

It's his touch, as well, delicate and pulling a rush of memories to the forefront of her mind as fingers brush against her temple. It's enough, at least, to get her taking a deep breath and opening her eyes.

It's his eyes. It's his smile. It's a little rough around the edges, because he's standing before her like a son of Adam, but it's entirely his smile.

The noise she makes is soft and rushed. Any words are lost against his shoulder, because it's suddenly impossible to do anything but latch her arms tight around him, dripping wet and shaking unconsciously.

[herejustforher]

It's a little difficult to hold the umbrella and her at the same time, but he manages. It's incredibly important, after all, that he cling tight to her and rest his nose against her hair.

It's her. He's here, and he's with her, and they don't have to miss each other as they already have for a lifetime.

"--Lucy."

He can't help the lump that rises in his throat as he keeps murmuring her name, reverently spoken in a way only a little less than the way he refers to the Lion himself.

[childishgames]

It's him. He's here, and he's with her, and the shake in her limbs feels like the last of the unnamed hurt in the pit of her heart finally leaving her.

He's real. He's entirely solid as she clings to him and he holds her tight. He's warm despite the chill of her own wet clothing. His voice sounds just like she remembers; feels just like she remembers against her hair.

"Y-you're here." There's absolute certainty in her voice now. There's genuine relief and complete appreciation. There's also a brief, sharp shock of pain as she pulls back her head rather abruptly. "I didn't-- T-Tumnus, I didn't mean-- to leave you--"

[herejustforher]

"I know, Lucy."

And by the Lion, it's so good to be able to say her name and have her actually be there to respond to it. To be able to smile shakily at her as he squeezes her slightly in response to her pulling back.

"I knew you would never leave us willingly. We all did."

Even if that had only made things all the more painful, towards the end, to know that they would have fought for a free Narnia when the Telmarines came, had they not been here.

[childishgames]

"We-- hoped you'd all understand."

Genuinely. Deeply. It had been most of the strongest hurt of realizing they'd come back centuries too late to see anyone they once had loved.

"And... and I hope that-- you forgive me."

It had been a far more personal hurt, really.

[herejustforher]

"I do. I did-- a lifetime ago, truly." Because it had been a lifetime, and yes, it had hurt.

But.

"There was hardly anything to forgive. It wasn't your fault."

It was the Lion's Will. He'd come to accept that.

[childishgames]

It had been the Lion's Will. And it had been His Will again which had brought the Pevensies back to Narnia only once the ones they loved so dearly had passed beyond into His Country.

But it's also His Will that she be standing here now, clinging tight to the faun (such as he was) she had loved so dearly while he tells her he understands; he forgives the lifetime they had lost together. She can't begin to stop an exhausted, happy smile from bursting over her lips.

"And... y-you're here."

He's so easy to cling to. It's so familiar to bury her face in against his shoulder (how odd, to feel the fabric of a jacket, but how well-known, being this tall against him).

[herejustforher]

"Yes, I am."

By the Grace of the Lion-- and, he added privately to himself, as he and others who had loved to Pevensies, as well as the Pevensies themselves, rightfully deserved. Whatever the reason behind parting them so suddenly all that time ago, it was only fair of Aslan to let them have this when all was said and done.

"Here with you, to stay."

No more partings.

[childishgames]

Maybe this is the last life they'll ever live. Maybe they'll all spend the rest of eternity waiting just shy of Aslan's country when it ends.

Here, shivering from the cold and from utter relief, Lucy feels more at peace with this than any other decision Aslan's ever handed down to them.

"To-- stay."

How can she say it with anything but joy in her heart?

[herejustforher]

"Yes. I won't be going anywhere any time soon."

The Lion had reassured him of as much.

"And neither will you."

[childishgames]

There's a tremor in her laugh, but it's absolutely full of joy. There's a tremble in her body as she shifts, but it's with genuine happiness that she presses a kiss to his cheek.

"You promise?"

He isn't Aslan. He can't promise with the same certainty.

But, in this moment, it's Tumnus she wants to hear it from, not the Lion.

[herejustforher]

His lips find her forehead lightly in reply.

"I promise."

And Lion, please, let him keep that promise.

[childishgames]

She had been taller, the last time they spoke (little realizing it would be the last time). She finds she doesn't quite mind that she's back to feeling small against him again.

It's amazing, how safe the world feels when he's near like this.

"I-- I hope you come to like it here, then. If it's... really to be such a long time."

[herejustforher]

"Lucy-- you're here."

How could he do anything else but love this place, when that's the case?

[childishgames]

Her eyes squeeze shut only briefly this time, lips nervous between a smile and a frown.

"But-- we're only four people. Not a whole kingdom."

[herejustforher]

"Perhaps, but you're four very important people."

The most important to him, really.

[childishgames]

She can't stop her smile from growing quite suddenly brighter. She can't stop her arms from squeezing much tighter around him.

Her siblings are important. And her people--like Tumnus--are infinitely important. That they think she's anything like important is the thing that helps her begin to believe it.

"Then I'm glad."

[herejustforher]

He squeezes her even tighter, pressing another kiss against her forehead.

"As am I."

[childishgames]

"You'll stay with us?"

It's almost a question. It's almost got the old expectant air of a Queen 'asking a question' about it.

It's amazing, how much her tongue remembers a tone of voice she hasn't used herself in a lifetime.

[herejustforher]

"I will, Lucy."

There's not even the 'if you'll have me' that might have been added by others. He knows she wants him here, after all. He knows that tone of voice.

[childishgames]

Her exhale is entirely pleased. Her fingers tug into his shirt just briefly to pull his forehead down to hers.

Her smile is absolutely beaming as she lets go of holding him to instead cling fully to his arm at his side.

"How would it be, then, if you came now and had tea with me?"

[herejustforher]

He dares to bump his nose against hers before he pulls back. Smiles as she settles against his side.

"I would like that very much," he says with a laugh, "Thank you."