Notes: I own nothing.
Acknowledgements: This could not have been done without the great help from mrstater that was my beta for this chapter.
Dedication: To all my readers of the first story, you have all been so kind. I hope this meets both our expectations.
-------
The following days were quiet and passed quickly; Tumnus would smile when Lucy became concerned about the wedding, promising that everything was fine before taking his maroon book out and turning a few pages, knowing that she would continue to be worried even if he didn't say anything. Before she knew it, Tumnus appeared in front of her doorway in the early morning, asking if she was certain of coming with him to his parents' graves. Her bag had been packed the night before and after bidding a farewell and easing her siblings' concerns that they would be late for their own wedding, they started off for their destination.
They could see the graveyard from where they stood; now it was midday and Tumnus paused in his walk, taking her hand. "You don't have to-"
"I am soon to be your wife, Tumnus, of course I do." He always said this when she was with him. Giving his hand a reassuring squeeze, she nodded towards the graves, "Dear Tumnus, may I have the honor of meeting your parents?"
She had been old that this meeting was very important, although they were no longer living; her coming to their graves the day before they were to be wed showed that she had a sincere respect for Tumnus and his ways.
Standing in front of the two graves, Tumnus made a bow to his father's and then his mother's before standing beside Lucy and announcing her, "Father, Mother, this is Queen Lucy Pevensie of Narnia. She is to be my wife tomorrow."
Lucy looked from Tumnus to the graves, seeing that the bottles upon the graves were empty, as he took them down, placing them in his bag. Realizing that this was an honest moment, Lucy said nothing when he turned to her, tears in his eyes. Laying a kiss to her cheek, he smiled to her. "They are with us, Lucy, and I do not need these bottles any longer."
It was dark when they returned to Cair Paravel and Lucy looked to the sky, seeing the stars shine. "This time tomorrow I will have been wed."
She felt his arm around her waist. "And you are sad about this?"
"Oh no," leaning into him she smiled, "just a thought, that is all."
Tumnus laughed, "Don't let your thinking ruin your night, I would hate for the bride to be yawning throughout our wedding."
"Fair enough," stretching her arms above her head and offering that they should retire. At her door, Tumnus bid her a goodnight as he always did, kissing her wrist. "Until tomorrow, Dear One."
Looking at her reflection in the mirror, Lucy couldn't help but smile. Susan was behind her, making sure her train was behind her properly. Placing her arms around her younger sister's frame, she grinned, "Lu, the youngest of us all to get married. I am so happy for you."
Peter and Edmund came in then, congratulating Lucy again and again before saying that it was time to start the ceremony.
Peter offered his arm to Lucy who took it as the music started. Looking ahead, Lucy saw the crowd, larger than those who had assembled for their coronation, and took a breath to steady herself.
Tumnus made a bow to Peter when they reached the far end of the room and took Lucy's hand. Looking into each other's eyes, they both smiled when Mr. and Mrs. Beaver came down the aisle with the rings and Tumnus's new scarf. Stepping down to pick up the garment, Lucy draped it around his shoulders, noting how regal he appeared with gold around him.
Tumnus reached down and took Lucy's ring, sliding it on her hand before kissing it. Lucy did the same and they both grinned when they heard a young rabbit whisper to his mother, yet loud enough for everyone to hear, "Are they going to kiss yet?"
The candle was lit from each of theirs, and Tumnus took a step forward, placing a hand to her face before kissing her lips. A loud cheer came from the crowd as Lucy and Tumnus walked down the aisle.
"The new couple shall start off the dancing!" Someone called out and another roar of approval came from those present. Tumnus led his wife out to the empty floor, taking up the dancing position as the music started. Laying her head against his shoulder, she sighed happily, "I must confess that I have always wondered what the newlyweds always talked about during their first dance."
"Perhaps they all have this very discussion, and it is all a never-ending circle of 'I wonder'?" His eyes met hers and they laughed, taking in the moment.
Hours had passed when the rabbit young that had called out during the ceremony had fallen asleep, causing the party to quiet down in such a manner that it was taken as a sign to call the party to an end.
Tumnus beckoned for her to follow after everyone had left and Lucy followed, wondering where they were he was taking her. Stopping at a door, Tumnus made a show of opening it up and she sighed, a smile on her lips all the same. "I believe that is enough wine for you, Tumnus, you are acting like a love-struck fool!"
Entering the room, she took in the surroundings. The walls' beige colors made the iron canopy bed stand out all the more. The white sheets that hung down from the top bars were encompassing the bed, acting like a shield. Every two inches or so, dangled a strand of gold coins and Lucy listened to the tinkling sound they made when the wind blew them against one another. Taking her hand down the length of the cloth, she looked back to him, "You failed to mention these, Tumnus."
He took off his scarf, hanging it on the hook by the door,
"They are for our home. A sign of good fortune to the new couple."
Lucy hummed to herself, taking a strand of coins in her hand. Silence fell upon them and feeling his presence behind her, she smiled. Turning around she met his eyes, both of them seeing something that neither had seen before. Tumnus leaned down and delicately kissed her lips before deepening it, his hands moving to her waist. Breaking away, Tumnus soon made a trail down from her jaw to her shoulder while she ran her hands through the fur that was in the middle of his back.
Gasping for breath, Lucy laughed as he pulled her closer to him. Tumnus caught her eye, leaning so that their noses touched, a grin across his face,
"Perhaps I should stop, wife?"
Trailing her hands along his forearms and watching him try to not let her get to him, she whispered, "Perhaps I should stop, husband?"
Raising a brow at this, he laid another passionate kiss to her shoulder, "I suppose we should continue…since we have already begun."
Shrieking with laughter as he picked her up and laid her on the bed, he hesitated after lying beside her. "Lucy-"
She put a hand to his lips, "There is no better way to say that I love you than this."
With the coins performing their music and their laughter joining in, the newlyweds became lost in one another.
The next morning found Tumnus with his arm across her waist while Lucy's toes were perched on his hooves as if they too had also shared an intimate bond that their owners had the previous night. Pulling the sheets around her while nuzzling into his chest more, Lucy murmured in her sleep.
"Is this how I am to be spoken to, in such strange mumblings?" Tumnus whispered, knowing well enough that she really was awake and listening. "Makes me think that I made the wrong choice in a wife." Casting a glance to her sleeping form, he chuckled. "Now all we have left to decide is the children."
That got her attention, her eyes opening to find his and she sighed at his playfulness, "It is far too early for that. Besides, with you, I already have a child to look after."
Opening his mouth in feigned shock, he brushed his fingertips across her skin, "We have the future together. That is more than I could have hope for."
-End.
----------------
Author's Notes: This is the end, dear readers. I hope I haven't let you down at the end and that you have enjoyed it! Thank you for all your reviews and for staying with me throughout the long delays!