Revolution || Narnia Fanfiction || thecallofnarnia & NaturallyNarnian

Chapter 10: Rising Hero, Falling Star

Music, and a song: "Lorenzo the Magnificent' by Paolo Buonvino

Cair Paravel stood as magnificent as it always did, its front above the freezing Eastern sea, its rear a protective monument over the healing, hibernating town below.

At the epicentre of this restful arrangement, illuminating the tall, ornate windows of the Throne Room, was the furnace of the winter-worn land– a crowd gathered to watch a hero's commendation.

With hands grasping the hilt of Starsong, David knelt before the Centaur Chief, who took his temporary responsibility with the utmost honour and sincerity.

"High King David the Incredible, Emperor of the Lone Islands, Lord of Cair Paravel, Duke of Lantern Waste, Count of the Western Marsh, and King of the Stars... Narnia owes you a great debt. Its gratitude will forever be yours."

"Without you, our home and an unfathomable amount of lives would have been lost. The damage recorded of ancient dragons is beyond a magnitude that we can imagine. Without your heroic bravery, without your stances against the evil that threatened this land, each dawn from henceforth would be plagued by deceit, ravaged by death, and lost to Darkness. Without you, Narnia would have fallen."

"On behalf of High Queen Lilith, I ask that you rise as High King David the Incredible, with all Titles that proceed, Sir David the Dragon-Slayer, High King, Hero and Knight of Narnia."

Taking this as an unwritten cue, Lilliandil connected to Starsong and the weapon glowed a celestial blue as David stood. His crown and wedding ring responded to this energy, and glinted with a radiant array of gold and crimson.

The crowd was alight, cheering with love and praise- and as was Lilliandil's heart.

Once he'd stood, he looked at her, smiling, and she beamed back. He was guided from the Throne Room and without a second thought, Lilliandil began through the crowd and caught up with him.

Oreius was telling David of paperwork that was to be completed and signed- the amendments to scrolls and scriptures that seemed very small and unimportant to Lilliandil as she slid her hand into his. Oreius soon left the pair to complete the administrative duties in peace. There were no signatures for Lilliandil to sign, but she could help ensure that the ink was dry before the scrolls were rerolled, speak sweet nothingness to the High King as he worked, and stoke the Library fire when it was needed, keeping the cold at bay.

There was such a change, though an understandable one, from the current look of concentration on the High King's face in comparison to the look of sheer determination he'd worn when facing Dovah.

"Your light doesn't deserve to go out!"

"Yours doesn't either!"

Despite the feeling of horror that was conjured with the memories of that afternoon, Lilliandil couldn't help but smile softly as she watched the High King sign away one of the countless scrolls. She refused to imagine how different things would be in this moment if one of their lights had gone out.

Would- would that have severed their connection? A connection that David would never have known about had one of their lights gone out.

She stood slowly and walked from a seat across the table to a seat beside the High King, who made no sign of acknowledging her movement until she placed a hand over his, stopping a fluid motion of the quill.

Ink blotted the parchment, but she paid it no mind as he at last looked at her.

"I would move mountains for you...I would move moons for you," Lilliandil said, softly but with perfect clarity in each of her words that seemed to embrace his mind and vibrate his soul.

And touching her forehead to his, she said with utmost sincerity,

"I love you, David."

She heard no response.

Lilliandil slowly drew back and cupped his face to look at him, his face registering a mild shock.

In the precious seconds before the High King had said anything, Lilliandil found herself getting lost in being in such close proximity to him- her hand on his face, the way his parted lips looked in the firelight...

Lilliandil found herself inching closer before David finally spoke, very softly, just as her heart soared at the feeling of her lips barely touching his-

"I...have Lilith, it...I...I can't..."

"I can show you why that needn't be a worry." Lilliandil replied quietly, "If you'll allow me-"

"Please," David swiftly replied, feeling his cheeks flush.

Lilliandil touched her forehead to his again with a timid smile. "I should have shown you sooner."