Moonshine

Chapter 30- Agapitós

αγαπητός: agapitós
Greek
Beloved
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Lucy had always considered herself the most observant of her siblings. Some would say it was Susan, but her sister's critical eye could often miss some of the good, as it focused on only the bad.
Others would say it was Edmund- quick, practical, silver-tongued Edmund, who was also quiet and grave. She would not say they were wrong, but she still considered herself more observant- for, when it came to noticing emotions, a deeply essential part of being human, she was better at it than Edmund was.

Aslan was sad. She didn't think anyone else had noticed- most appeared to give the Lion a wide berth, choosing to stare at Him from far away, with apprehension and awe in their eyes- but she had.
Aslan was sad, and He was going to speak with Peter and Susan.

"Are you sad because of what has happened, or what will happen, Aslan?" She spoke quietly to herself, watching Him trot out of the pavilion and towards the courtyard in the middle of the Telmarine castle.

She wished she could hug Him, make Him feel better, like how He had always made her feel better- but she knew that there were some things even a hug did not fix.

She hoped, with all her heart, that the cause for Aslan's sorrow was nothing related to her siblings. Peter and Susan- and Edmund- were happy for the first time in so long. Susan being the Queen she was, Edmund having reunited with Sanya, Peter having found something- love?- with Caspian, all of them back home in Narnia- it made them happy.
She wanted them to always be happy.

"Lucy?" Caspian was in front of her suddenly, breaking her out of her thoughts. They, along with Badger and the Professor and Glenstorm and a few others, were on the stone platform that oversaw the rest of the pavilion, a pavilion rapidly filling with both Narnians and Telmarines alike. "Are you alright?"

"Oh- yes, yes, I am, Caspian." She nodded quickly, trying for a wide smile. Smoothing down the green skirt of her gown- patterned with pale red petals, which she hoped were of amaryllises- she looked out at the pavilion's space, already close to bursting with people. "Is that everyone?"

"Some of the Narnians are still to come, those who opted to stay in their forests." He furrowed his brows, hoping he wasn't missing anyone. "And your siblings, but they'll show up." Hopefully. "Right?"

"Yes, of course." She reassured him, patting his elbow- he was so tall, taller even than Peter. She wondered what her big brother thought of that. "How are you and Peter?"

Caspian blinked- she was so mature, for someone so small and young. He had never truly spoken to her, but he felt her to be kindred to him, a little sister.
"We're- we're doing well." Then he let himself be subject to a blush, and he bent down a little, closer to her level. "May I tell you something, Lucy?"

She nodded, excitedly, leaning closer in her curiosity.
"Of course!"

"I- I will tell him I love him, tonight." He bit his lip, a wide smile spreading across his tan face. "We're going to go for an evening ride, through the woods- he says it's time I stop being scared of forests at night-" he chuckled, "and then, at the spot where we first met- I'll tell him I love him. I do not expect him to say it back, of course, of course not, it's been so little time, and-"
He was getting frantic, he knew, but he couldn't help it. Telling his truth, also meant telling his anxiety.
"I just, I want to tell him the truth. I want him to know how I feel. Even if he says nothing back-"

"Caspian." Lucy placed her hand on the very spot of his elbow she'd patted. She was beaming, a sunbeam on earth, and not even Misery herself could've been sad while looking at her. "It will be alright, and it sounds so romantic. The spot you met- you fought there, once, and now you'll profess your love."
She looked down, still smiling.
"I am not interested in romance, but I must say, that sort of love confession would bring even me to my knees."