Family Bonds -STORY UNDER REVISION!

A Better Hiding Spot

Lucy smiled softly as she and Tumnus walked along the river, enjoying the peace that came from the soft sound of the running water and the chatter of talking animals as they passed them. As her siblings were all away- with Susan being off with Caspian on their honeymoon, Peter spending his time with Elizabeth Jane and her father, and Edmund speaking with a woman Lucy did not know- she found it easier to relax into her and Tumnus's routine, and she knew he felt more at ease when her brothers were not around. 

However, something had him nervous. Lucy knew him well enough to know that while he was keeping up a calm facade, he was anxious over something. She didn't want to pressure him into telling her, however, even though her curious nature was dying to know. When he wanted to talk about it, he would share the information with her. At least, she hoped he would.

Letting her thoughts wander, Lucy knew without a doubt that Elizabeth Jane had told Peter about her and Tumnus. She had caught Peter watching her from the corner of his eye, though he had not said anything to her, just left with Elizabeth and offered her a small smile when he passed. Was that his way of approving, or his way of trying to be supportive when he was not? Maybe Peter had said something to Tumnus to make him nervous? Or Edmund could have? Either one of her brothers could have decided to say something to him, to try and sway their relationship ship or even to just give Tumnus a brotherly warning to not break her heart, and then could be the cause of why he was acting so odd. 

There was one other possibility that could have him so nervous, though she dared not get her hopes up. He could, after all, be ready to propose, or to at least talk of the idea of marriage, and thus be nervous due to that. But he had said to take things slow, and she had agreed to do just that, so she knew it would be best not to push for that, or to get her hopes up. 

Still...

Lucy knew patience was not her greatest virtue. Some, like Tumnus, called her impatience 'eagerness' or 'curiosity' and found it endearing, but others like Edmund called it 'annoying' and would remind her that things happened at their own paces. She couldn't help the fact she wanted to know what was happening right away, or that if she knew something was a possibility that she wanted that thing to happen. Like a proposal.  Susan and Caspian got engaged rather quickly and married as fast as they could, and it was likely Peter would propose to Elizabeth Jane any day now when he felt himself guilty of being less than chivalrous, even if Elizabeth claimed there was nothing going on between them. If Tumnus didn't propose soon, did that mean that she would be the last to get married? Her mind began to tell her that Edmund would likely be married before her, even as single as he was, and she shook her head. Why did she have to be cursed to be the last for everything?

"Have I done something wrong?" Those words were meant to stay in her thoughts, but she quickly realized she spoke out-loud when Tumnus paused and turned to her. 

"Of course not! What would make you think that?"

Lucy shook her head. "Never mind, it was just a thought." She gave him a soft smile. "So, what should we do next? We could swim, or visit the beavers? Or we could even check in on the other Narnian royals who chose to renounce their titles by Aslan's wish so that my siblings could rule, like Tirian or Frank and his wife, if you want?"

"I think swimming sounds lovely. The weather today is warm, after all, and stopping by to visit people uninvited at this early hour of the day may appear rude. We could visit this evening, if you'd like?" 

"Then we will swim now and see our friends later." Lucy said, already removing the outer layer of her gown so swimming would be easier. She wanted a bathing suit in the worst possible way, one that looked like the one Susan had gotten back in England, but also knew that it would be highly inappropriate by Narnian- and Peter's- standards for her to wear something that covered so very little, especially when in the company of someone she was not wed to. Yet, that is. It was already a bit of a scandal waiting to happen that she wore her shift as her suit, but as she was well-loved by her people, most who saw her swim as such just viewed it as an odd habit of hers instead of being an insult to decency that she swam in such an outfit with a dear companion of hers. "I'd like to see how Tirian is doing as he wasn't at the wedding."