[Mod-Post:] Exchange Fest Posting starting on the 1st!!!!

[smirkingcat]

Exciting times are ahead!
The Ice Royals Winter Exchange Fest will start posting tomorrow Nov 1st.
However due to dreamwidth not having a system in place that will let me schedule my posts there will be a break during the weekend - because I actually do have a RL too - sorry for the delay.

BUT I am just as excited as you are for the goodness of lucissa stories to come- and I was a very good mod, and did not read any of the hand-ins before (I must have gained a self-restrain upgrade for that right?)
So let's enjoy the stories to come!
Thank you also to all the participants + amazing pinch-hitter, who all got their stories to me on time.
You are such a great bunch <3 and I hope you all will be enjoying your gifts!
Best wishes and yay for posting being so close!



Art belongs to the artist.

At the End

[musyc]

Title: At the End
Notes: For theiceroyals October quote prompt. I intended a drabble and ended up with triple that!

Narcissa settled her fingers on Lucius' wrist. Beneath them, his pulse still beat. It was weak and slow, but it was there. Narcissa took a shuddering breath and bowed her head. "Oh, my love," she whispered. "I thought we'd have more time."

"As did I," said a cracking voice.

She jerked her head up and stared, wide-eyed and breathless, at her husband. "Lucius?"

He turned his hand under hers and clasped her fingers. "Cissa," he murmured, lashes fluttering as he struggled to open his eyes. "Dearest Cissa. Every day, I thought there would always be tomorrow. Even during the dark years, I expected...." He shook as he drew in a trembling breath.

Narcissa shushed him gently. "Do not tire yourself, Lucius. We still have--"

"No," he said. He looked up at her, his eyes bright with the violent fever racking him. "There is no more time. I have to tell you, before I no longer can."

Narcissa brought his hand to her lips, kissing his knuckles as tears stung her eyes.

Lucius brushed his thumb across her mouth. "My darling. I love you. Of the many things I have done in my life, the only one I count truly intelligent was marrying you. Thank you for bringing me such strength and joy." He tipped his head back into the pillow and slowly closed his eyes. "I regret," he whispered, "that I could not do the same for you."

Narcissa choked back a cry. She climbed onto the bed beside him and wrapped her arm over his chest, her head nestling into the dip of his shoulder. "Lucius, no. No regrets. I have never regretted our life together, because we have spent it together. I love you."

Lucius held her. "I will always have time to love you," he said quietly.