Family Bonds -STORY UNDER REVISION!

Tying the Knot

AN: Split the end of this chapter off and moved it to the next one to fix a pacing issue, if anyone is wondering about some of the comments below. 
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Lucy felt butterflies in her stomach as she ran her hands down the cream-colored gown she wore, tracing the beaded pattern and picking at any loose strings she encountered. How she had missed a few strings, she was uncertain. Perhaps it was jitters that left her own dress, her own hand-sewn piece, with one or two small imperfections that only she would ever notice. Luckily, her one sloppy stitch was covered the red sash she had tied around her waist. Her hands went to adjust the flower crown rested on her head, and she curled her bare toes into the soft grass below her feet.  In just a few moments, she would hear the cue to begin walking into the wedding.

Her wedding. 

It was still so thrilling to think that she was to be wed to someone she had come to so deeply care for. While she knew deep down that there were still uncertainties that people had about her wedding someone she knew as a youth, there was little doubt in her mind that this moment would be one of the happiest in her life. The time she shared in her relationship with Tumnus was the best time she had yet. Each kiss, each embrace, felt perfect as if she were made to be with him. She had delayed the wedding as long as she had for Tumnus's sake, knowing he had wanted to thing much slower than she did. It was nearly seven months after the engagement, a much longer time period than Susan's engagement had lasted, but she was thankful she had found the patience to wait. It would all be worth it. 

Granted, there were things she was nervous about, come the wedding. The wedding night itself, for example. While she had been a woman grown before, she had not ever acted upon the desires that pooled low in her body. It frightened her, slightly, how she wanted to now. It also had not helped that Elizabeth Jane had teasingly given her a rather scandalous set of underclothes at Christmas that had put too many thoughts in her head. Perhaps she could get the advice of Susan on that at the reception, pull her aside for a moment that was sure to be awkward for them both to discuss but that she needed to know. She did not ever have that conversation with her mother, as most girls do, and if she were honest with herself, she was okay with that. Her wedded sister who was nearing the end of her pregnancy would likely be more candid in sharing things. At least, she hoped she would. Susan did end up with child quickly, after all, and that had to mean that she at least knew a valuable thing or two about... 

Lost in her thoughts, she nearly missed the music that cued her entrance. With a nervous hop, she started forward, hoping her face was not as flushed as she imagined it to be. Tumnus stood at the end of the aisle, a soft smile growing wider as he caught sight of her. He had on a red scarf and silver vest, and he had never looked so handsome. Granted, he was always handsome to her, this was just a new level. She soon relaxed, and grew more giddy as she approached her love. 

Susan took Lucy's flower bouquet from her as she took Tumnus's hands in her own. She had barely noticed Edmund pull the charm for Tumnus to add to her necklace out, just as she had missed Susan ready the token. So focused was she, she also nearly stepped on her brother's foot as he got ready to start the ceremony. They had chosen an old set of Narnian vows, different from those her sister had said, and as Peter introduced them and then let them speak, their voices rang out strongly together. 

"Let us together nourish each other, in mind, spirit and body. Let us share or wealth and expand on it, blessing one another. Let us ever-expand our knowledge, happiness and harmony by mutual love and trust. Let us be true companions and remain lifelong partners by this wedlock, so may it be in Aslan's eyes a blessed union."

"Lucy," Tumnus spoke, and her eyes were fixed on his face, "my hearth is yours. My home is yours.  My heart is yours. Our beliefs, values, and traditions shall forever be shared as ours. May our marriage bring us joy and happiness, and may you know that I am yours from now until the end of time." He carefully undid her necklace and added the second charm to it. 

"Tumnus," she spoke, her eyes wet with mirthful tears," I take your hearth as mine. I take your home as mine. My heart is freely yours as yours is mine. Our beliefs, values, and traditions shall forever be shared as ours. May our marriage bring us joy and happiness, and may you know that I am yours from now until the end of time." She carefully took the token she had made for him from Susan's hand and pinned his token to his scarf. 

As they had no other traditions they wished to bring in, Lucy pulled Tumnus in for their first kiss as a wedded couple. Her heart felt so full, as if it could burst from happiness. 

Her parents were first in line to greet them and give them well-wishes. She had done her best to explain Tumnus to her parents, and they had come around to the idea after meeting him. Her mother pulled them both into a hug, while her father hugged her and shook Tumnus's hand, which prompted Lucy to think of her first meeting with Tumnus. 

"Oh, you shake it!

"Why?

"I-I don't know! People do it when they meet each other."

How many years had it been since then, technically? Thousands? And yet here they were, closer than ever. It was almost hard to believe at times, that things could go so well. That their friendship could blossom on equal footing, and lead to this happiness. 

The Beavers came through line, both overjoyed, and then many of Lucy's friends from her second Narnian trip went through the reception line. Foreign guests who were friends showed up to wish them well, and then it was time for her siblings to come through. 

Edmund and Regina came through first, and wished them well. Lucy was surprised by the lack of comments Edmund gave, used to him having a jest ready. But he seemed quiet and in thought. Regina was pulling him along, and he shook his head and gave her a fond smile before they moved on. Peter and Elizabeth came through then, and it was a brief but heartfelt message they shared. Then Susan and Caspian came through, Susan pulling them into as tight a hug as she could with her stomach between them. 

"You both deserve all the happiness you can find. I'm so glad you found it in each other."

"Thanks, Su." Lucy hugged her a bit tighter, and felt Susan tense. "Su?"

Her sister was pale, and spoke quietlyas she rested her hands on her stomach. "I think it's time. The baby is coming."