randomosity | [For Caspian] A Single Question, Two Little Words

[For Caspian] A Single Question, Two Little Words

Anne had adjusted rather well in her opinion. The Narnian courtiers didn't seem to resent her so much now, though the women still gave her looks whenever Caspian was seen in her company. But that suited her well enough, she didn't need to have them around anyway - she'd dealt with enough venomous women in the Tudor court to last a lifetime.

But she was spending more time in the open, particularly outside now that the weather had warmed up significantly. The threat of ocean storms had been infrequent enough that Anne often sat outside in the courtyard with a book from the vast library to read, as she was doing now.

Her fingers brushed over the pages of the book in her hand, detailing the different plants and where they could be found in Narnia. Anne found the Fire Flower to be particularly lovely, and lamented that she could not have one herself to keep forever. But she soon found herself distracted by the view of the sea just beyond.

A slow smile broke across her face as she looked to the pristine water. No enemy ships had dared return since Caspian's miraculous escape from a watery grave, for which Anne was very grateful. She could easily see why Caspian was so enamored by the ocean. It was indeed beautiful no matter the time of day or the weather.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

His hands squeezed hers tighter, the faintest bit of nerves at the corner of his smile.

"I love you, Anne." He had said it before, but it felt important to say again now. "And nothing would make me happier in this life than to have you as my wife."

It was easy to slide from the bench, to kneel before her holding her hands tight in his own.

"Marry me, Anne."

At first she wasn't certain she'd heard those words properly. The squeeze of his hands around hers kept her mind properly grounded, her eyes focusing on his as he slid to one knee. Wait...one knee...

And three words...

Anne's breath caught in her chest - she had heard that loud and clear. Her gaze fixed on his and time stopped for her. The answer was, of course, easy - but first she had to overcome the shock of the fact that he had asked her the question.

Her head nodded slowly before the smile broke across her face and the tears filled her eyes. Then everything moves faster than normal; her hands slip free of his grip to cup his jaw as she leans forward to kiss him passionately. It's a long moment before she pulls away. "Y...yes. There's no other answer except yes."

Nodding had to be a good sign. The smile had to be a good sign. The springing of tears to her eyes was more difficult to read, but the tug bringing his lips to hers was entirely clear.

That had to be a yes. That had to be something he could contentedly cling tight back to, lips laughing when hers were pulled back from his.

"You will? Really?"

Anne can't help laughing at his disbelief despite being in the same state only moments ago. She gives him another quick kiss before pressing her forehead to his and leaning back a little.

"How could my answer be anything else?"

She's happy, just being so near him that she's quiet for a moment before adding: "If you're certain you want to spend the rest of your days with me, nothing would make me happier than to oblige."

"I am-- beyond certain, Anne." His fingers shift to tangle properly up in hers again, keeping her close as he moves back up onto the bench properly beside her again. "I love you. I want-- the whole kingdom to know that."

Genuinely and completely, not from the soft whispers and quiet rumours of the King's captivation with the foreign queen.

Anne's smile couldn't be bigger. There are no reservations from either of them and it's amazing. Though the mention of informing the kingdom of their engagement couldn't make her happier, there's a concern nagging at the back of her mind.

"How...and when do you plan on telling the kingdom?" She asks softly, suddenly a little nervous. "Your courtiers have warmed up to me, yes, but...do you think they'll approve of me?"

Not that it really mattered when it came right down to it. At least not in Anne's mind. If Caspian wanted her as his wife, as she so greatly desired to be as well, then it would be done. Still, she was nervous that his advisers would try to change his mind.

He understands, of course, where her hesitance comes from. He understands why there are the faintest bit of nerves in her voice.

His hand lifts to smooth worriedly at her cheek. There's unflagging devotion in his features as he studies her eyes.

"They want me to be wed. They want Narnia to have a Queen again. Yours is the hand I've asked to hold. They can approve or not, as they will."

On instinct she tilts her face more into his touch. It's all too familiar and soothing. She loves his touch, the feeling of his fingers against her face.

His words gave her comfort, gave her strength. That he wanted her as his Queen...she wasn't worthy.

But suddenly she couldn't wait to start planning the ceremony.

"You honor me, my love," she smiled, brushing her lips against his again. "I shall make you proud, that is a promise."

"I'm certain you will," he agreed, lips still gentle against hers and curled happily up into a smile. "But you know, don't you, that I don't need you to be anything but yourself."

He'd struggled himself for so long against the weight of feeling his uncle wasn't proud of him. He hated to think Anne would ever feel even the slightest worry of the same.

"I know, and I shall! I...just don't want you to have any reason to regret your decision," Anne sighed. "I want to be good; I...I want to be the best Queen that I can be, you deserve only the best, after all!"

She would not say she wanted to be the best Queen Narnia had ever seen. She would not disgrace the Pevensies so. But she did want to be great. Anne wanted him to know that he'd made the right choice.

Not just Caspian, but all of Narnia. She was done being the Queen that many hated and thought little of.

The best Kings and Queens Narnia had ever seen were all long past. It wasn't the charge of the current kings and queens to do better--only to do well.

He'd done his best thus far. He could only do better with her at his side.

"If I deserve anything, Anne, I hope it's happiness with you."

Anne leaned forward and kissed him softly. Anxious now again; more anxious than she'd ever been for anything. She couldn't wait to call herself his wife.

"You deserve all the happiness in this world and any other," Anne replied.

Her fingers wrapped a bit tighter in his. "So then, my love, what do we do now?"

The kiss is lovely. The kiss keeps him smiling even as he squeezes her hand gently and settles more properly onto the bench.

"Since you've agreed, I'll tell my advisers that I've chosen a queen to rule beside me. After that, we'll announce it to the people."

Simple and easy. Well, simple and easy apart from the murmur it would likely cause in the court.

Anne giggled a bit. "Was there really any doubt that I'd agree?"

She just couldn't stop smiling with him near her. The idea that she really would be near him always just elated Anne. She had never intended to leave him but this just made things permanent, in her mind.

"Should I...go with you? Or would it be more appropriate for you to tell them on your own?"

His own smile flickered only a little. He loved her, yes, and had no doubts at all that she loved him. That hardly meant he had fully expected her to relish the thought of sitting on the throne as queen again--after her time holding the position in England with the king she had.

But she had said yes. She had wanted to give him her hand for the rest of their lives.

He squeezed her fingers gently, pulling one of her hands up to press a kiss against her knuckles. "I'll tell them. Will you think on what you'd like to say to the kingdom while I do?"

Having Caspian as her king was exceedingly different from having Henry as her king. Anne would be honored to be called his Queen, to wear his ring on her finger and be able to call him 'husband'.

She smiled, always enjoying the brush of his fingers against her, but especially loving the gallantry in his kiss against her hand.

"I will, my love. I shall instill faith in them, prove to them that I can be trusted and will serve you faithfully."

"I know you will."

He has absolute faith in it. He can't begin to doubt that her poise and grace and wonderful fire will make the entire kingdom fall in love with her just as he has.

"If the people love you, Anne, then the court will fall into line. I promise you that."

It's that faith he has in her, faith that no one else has had or expressed before, which brings her joy, makes her realize why she loves him so dearly. It's energy that she can channel and do exactly as she's told him - make the kingdom love her.

"I will do all I can to make them love me then - but it means much more to me to know that you love me."

"I do love you." There was absolutely no hesitation. There was genuine joy for being able to say it out loud and not care if anyone heard. "With all my heart, Anne. And the people will love you too-- I know it."

How could they not?

Anne had absolute faith that she could live up to this challenge. Well - the challenge of being accepted by Narnia as a whole, not to say that marrying Caspian would be a challenge.

Thus far things had proceeded smoothly enough. Everything was planned and ordered and prepared, soon enough it was the day before the ceremony. Anne's gown had been nothing short of glamorous and beautiful. Still, she had wanted to add a personal touch of her own to it. Thus she sat in her chamber at the window, sewing small pearls into the bodice of the dress. She'd been working at it all day and didn't realize that it would be nightfall soon and she'd yet to see Caspian all day.

So many details had her mind in a blur. Typically for an English wedding her father would give her away, but obviously that would not be the case here, and Anne assumed that she would be walking to the altar alone. The menu had been prepared and the cake looked divine, from what she was told; the bakers wanted it to be a surprise, thus they wouldn't let her see it beforehand.

He remembered, from his own childhood, the traditional Telmarine weddings of his heritage--the ceremonial embellishments to armour on the groom, the tight hoods and dark colours on the bride. There had been very little joy in the quiet ceremonies he'd stood in witness of in his youngest years.

Narnian weddings were much nicer--brighter, more filled with a sense of promise and hope and love. It couldn't help but feel like something of a relief that his own marriage would begin in this far more cheerful vein.

And it was, of course, a wonderfully happy accident that the woman he'd fallen in love with came from the land the Pevensies had. Bits and scraps of their traditions had been woven in among what the Narnians considered their own, after all; it would likely fit well with what Anne might have hoped for her own celebration.

Unless, of course, she had intended not to see her groom at all the day of the festivities before the actual ceremony, because he absolutely couldn't help sneaking to find her once he'd been suited into his light armour. It gave the faintest bit of a chipper clack when he walked, moving quickly to duck in behind her and press a firm kiss to her cheek.

Anne yelped in surprise when he appeared, sticking her needle in the fabric so it didn't get lost. Then her arms were around his neck and she kissed him hard. Then she pulled back a bit and took in the visage of her love in armor.

"You look wonderful, my love," Anne smiled. "Is it time for the festivities already?"

She stepped back a bit and set her sewing on the nearest surface, carefully. Then she turned, showing her fine red gown to him, the gold trim glittering in the light. Gold and rubies adorned her throat. Anne glanced up to Caspian, looking for approval.

"Do I look all right? Is this gown appropriate? I so want everything to be perfect..."

It was absolutely wonderful to properly press his lips to hers after this stretch of a day without her. It was actually rather difficult letting her pull away, even to show off her gown.

"Of course it's perfect, Anne. You're going to be my wife-- what could possibly be imperfect?"

And, of course, how could he find her anything less than the most stunning bride?

"I thought this would be nice for the ceremonies today - my wedding gown is nearly done and no, you'll not see it before the wedding! It's bad luck," Anne smiled, stepping towards him again.

She let his words soak in for a moment. Tomorrow she would be his wife and he her husband. Anne couldn't help leaning forward and kissing him deep.

"Thought we might practice that, for tomorrow - not that you really need practice," she giggled. "So you didn't tell me, what kind of festivities are planned for tonight?"

There was never any resistance to being kissed. There was only ever genuine joy for having her lips pressed firm against his.

And there was absolutely a bit of clinging to keep her close to himself once their lips were parted again.

"Can't I tell you later?"

And couldn't they keep up the unnecessary practice a while longer instead?

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject