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[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan has been having the dreams with greater frequency, lately¹: Narnia ablaze as the dying stars sink into the sea, giant lizards and dragons ripping every tree and rock from the earth and rending the last of Cair Paravel's ruins into so much rubble, laying all that devastation onto the blaze and then dying themselves as the mountains crumble and the seas rise and leave nothing behind but an empty, starless black.

Nothing, that is, save an open door, and her family standing before it, watching the devastation, and then the door swinging shut.

I've been doing better she tells herself firmly, rising from her bed before the sun has even started to think about peeking over the horizon. The waning moon is hanging low in the sky; the waxing one has already set. She turns on all her lights against the lingering dark and watches them blaze merrily in her vision until she has to glance away, dark spots dancing in their aftermath. She still feels cold as a lifeless, dark world, but at least there's no denying that she isn't in one.

Then, even more firmly, she makes herself get up. She dresses warmly - those thick woolen stockings that join up at the waist (she has since learned they are called tights; the Mansion has been supplying ones lined in a thick, fuzzy material remarkably suitable for winter), a dress similarly appropriate for winter, her woolen coat and leather gloves. Her hair she braids down, not up, so that it's easier to wear a hat against the chill that is resting both deep in her chest and sharp in the morning air outside.

She grabs her longbow and her quiver in addition to the latest of her pile of books - it's good to have contingency plans - but instead of heading toward the range or the woods to seek out a place to sport with Little John, she goes to where she knows Lancelot practices in the morning, stopping only to fill a thermos up with tea. It is, she thinks high time to make good on her threat to watch him.


¹Thanks, Aornis!

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[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Oh, drat and bother," Susan says as her bow clips against the doorway. She pulls away reluctantly to set it aside busily and to unbelt her quiver. Her hands slow down partway through unwinding the quiver's strap from her waist, and she looks at Lancelot consideringly.

Soon enough, though, the quiver too slips free and she lays it on the floor. Then she steps back up to Lancelot, takes his hands, and puts them on her waist. From there, she slides her own hands up his arms to his shoulders, really letting herself feel what she can of his muscles through multiple layers of cloth.

[lanselos_du_lac]

He slides his hands around to her back to pull her in. "Hello."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

She moves hers around his neck. "Hello," she echoes.

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot smiles, and though he's a bit flushed he looks comfortable, at ease. He kisses her, sweetly this time.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Oh, he is a sweetheart! Warmth suffuses Susan. The desperation from earlier - it doesn't go away, but it settles into something softer. Her fingers catch in his collar, and she clings

[lanselos_du_lac]

He pulls her in, drawing the kiss out for a moment. And then, without much warning, he sweeps her up into his arms and carries her to bed, giving her a bright, heated look as he does so.

It's true that his bed is somewhat more narrow than Susan's, but there's room enough. He settles her there, gentle as anything, and then joins her. He's focused, determined, but he takes his time.

--

Some lengthy while later, she is lying with her head on his shoulder, his arm warmly around her, and the bed is a pleasant muss of sheets and blankets. He's still catching his breath, but he kisses her hair, making a tiny, contented sound.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan feels delightfully wrung-out, the stuff of her nightmares a distant shadow on an otherwise-bright horizon. She thinks about making some joke - for example, patting his cock and saying as I said, this makes up for all manner of ills - but the prospect holds little appeal. "I should come watch you train more often," she says instead.

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot smiles, chuckling a little, "Thou mayest come whenever it please thee. Every day. I am glad it pleases thee to look on me, and gladder still if it brings thee here."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan laughs a little, breathless. "It's no great feat to get me here," she points out. "You could just say, 'Good morning. Wouldst thou join me in my bed?' apropos of nothing and I'd come." All right, maybe one joke: "Perhaps even several times over."

[lanselos_du_lac]

He gives a delighted laugh, "Have I so won thee over? 'Tis that simple?"

Though the way he cuddles her closer suggests he knows the answer well enough.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Sir, you've known this since the start of our friendship. I am an easy woman." But something about this does feel different, she thinks, and goes easily with his touch.

[lanselos_du_lac]

"I think thou'rt anything but easy, for that makes thee seem simple-- which is not the case, sweet."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"...Say on," Susan says, not even realizing that she's emulating his speech patterns.

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot smiles and lets his tone turn indulgent, "Thou hast a fascinating mind; there is no end of things to speak of with thee. And thou'rt unafraid to challenge me, which I very much like."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Loose, then," Susan amends. "Or fast." She's clearly pleased with the compliments, but teases: "Sir, are you calling me challenging?"

[lanselos_du_lac]

He grins, "An it were not so, I would have little interest."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Ah, so you require a challenge to remain engaged."

[lanselos_du_lac]

"I prefer a challenge," sweetly, "that is all."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Oh, she is so terribly fond of him! She tilts her chin up then, and props herself up so that she can kiss him, slow and searching.

[lanselos_du_lac]

He kisses back, just as sweet and a little yielding, his fingers brushing the side of her neck.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

She grazes his lips with her teeth, and when she pulls back from the kiss, she drags his lower lip with her for a brief moment before letting it go and pressing a swift, soothing follow-up kiss to it. "Speaking of challenges," she says, stroking his hair back with a careful thumb.

[lanselos_du_lac]

Lancelot looks flushed and happy, well-kissed. He says, "Hm?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan smiles. There's the faintest predatory note to it. "What are we to do with this room?" she asks, glancing around. It is rather spartan - now that she's here for reasons other than panicking about his well-being and their primary order of business is out of the way, she's really taking it all in.

[lanselos_du_lac]

He laughs, "Is it not pleasant? My sword goes on the wall. I keep it clean. What more is needed?"

He's definitely teasing her, but he keeps his expression sweetly blank.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"A woman's touch," Susan says, archly. "What were your rooms at home like?"