Daggers of Ice

Chapter 45

Cair Paravel.

Lucy.

Lucy threw her head back and laughed as Mr. Tumnus spun her about, his long scarf trailing around them. Perhaps she shouldn't have taken that honeyed wine from the lovely flute-playing faun.

But she didn't mind the way her nerves were humming pleasantly. For it was a night of celebrations and fun. For Narnia was safe once more.

She laughed again, twirling around on her own until she fell into someone's arms.

Someone she knew.

She smiled up into Faelar's face, only mildly surprised by the flush in his cheeks.

Though he'd not touched any alcohol all night, she knew. She'd been watching.

She laughed and took his hands. "Dance with me."

It wasn't a question. And he would not have said no anyway.

And so they danced, the pretty young queen in her vibrant dress of sky blue, and the northman in his demure greys and whites.

"What do you think of this peace, your Majesty?" he murmured softly in her ear. "Do you think it will last?"

She thought of Edmund and Arianna. About the Ice Queen's sacrifice for Narnia. For her love.

She moved closer to him, boldly. Almost brazen. Though with all the dancing couples, no one seemed to notice. Though she doubted she would care if they had.

She rested her head on his chest, listening to the deep and even sound of his breathing.

"Yes, it will most definitely last."

Was she talking about Arianna and Edmund? Or the peace? Or them, the young queen and the former Ice Queen's right-hand man?

All three, she decide with a content smile as they swayed gently together.

...

Edmund.

He was smiling, she knew he was, despite the fact her head was tucked tightly under his chin as they twirled about the dance floor. It was as if she were flying and neither could she take the smile off her face.

Arianna of Charn laughed as he dipped her backwards, those warm chocolate eyes twinkling merrily. He twirled her outwards once more and she caught her reflection in one of the many tall windows. The Ice Queen and the Dark King. How very fitting.

She laughed once more, sweeping out her white skirts in an elegant curtsey as the song wound to an end. Around them laughter and smiles flowed as easily as the faun's wine.

"Everyone's watching us." Were they waiting for her to try to kill him? For her to slip up?

Her people.

His people.

Their people.

The frost-fae and the northmen among the smiling faces of the dryads and fauns and centaurs.

She had given them a home.

Edmund laughed and pulled her even closer. "Let them watch." And then he kissed her, that blessed warmth spreading through her. To her shock she heard cheering; there was no animosity for the woman who'd once sought to kill their regents. "Come walk with me, Arianna of Charn."

And so they left the ballroom with its glittering lights and silk dresses. The music floated around them as they made their way down the grand stairs that swept into the gardens. The beautiful sprawling gardens that overlooked the sea.