Writer's note: This is my first Narnia fic ever. I've been a fan of Narnia since way before the movies came, but didn't ship Lucy and Tumnus until after the movies. I've had the idea for this story for a while. I'm satisfied with how it's coming out. Anyways, hope you enjoy!
It is a beautiful day. Lucy loved sitting in the meadow just beyond the row of trees at Professor Kirke's home. It is quiet with only some birds chirping. She had spread a blanket out on the grass. Lying on her belly, she read a book from the Professor's extensive collection. After a while, the pleasantness of the day lolled Lucy to doze. And dream of Narnia.
It had been over a year since her, Edmund, and Eustace were washed into the painting and into Narnia. The memories of her and her siblings time in Narnia remained vivid, especially when she dreamed of the land they ruled for so long. But there was no going back. Aslan said they were too old. It pained Lucy deep in her heart knowing she'd never go back. Not all was lost though. There was hope that one day they'd return. Maybe even one day they'd see their old friends. Lucy wished for one in particular, the dearest of all her friends in Narnia - Mr. Tumnus.
She dreamed of him often. Some days she did not want to wake because the dreams were so real, as if she could touch him with her own hands. It was this day that she dreamed of the faun. They walked the beaches of Cair Paravel, laughing and singing. Her hand was in his, his warm touch tingling on her skin.
Dreams never last. It was gone as all the others before. But the end of this dream was different.
"Lucy..." a deep, majestic voice boomed in her head. Lucy shot up, wide awake. She looked around frantically. "Aslan?"
No, it couldn't be. It was only another dream.
Disappointed, she closed her book that had been discarded on the blanket and stood to leave. A moan caught her ear. It was coming from the bushes close by. Lucy set down her book, curious yet cautious as to who it could be. Neighbors were far and few to come by at the Professor's home. Whoever it was may be a drifter. But if this person is, then how could they have gotten all the way out here?
Lucy pulled back the branches of the bush, and to her surprise, a naked man was on his hands and knees - holding his head with one hand. She shrieked, and the bushes smacked the man in the face when she jumped away.
"Please, ma'am! I am dreadfully sorry!" the man said in a pleading voice.
"How did you get here and why are you..." Lucy trailed off, blushing at the thought of the word.
"Do you have anything to cover me?"
Lucy snatched her blanket and threw it over the bush. She watched as the man pulled it down to him with a little difficulty from it getting stuck on the branches. "Are you all right, sir? You're not hurt are you?"
"No, I am not hurt. Just confused" he replied, stepping out the bushes. Lucy's mouth dropped open. The first thing she noticed was his eyes. Beautiful, deep blue eyes that could penetrate your inner being, but always shone with kindness and respect. She knew those eyes.
The expression on the man's face matched her's. He stared at her, those blue eyes filling with tears. "My queen."
"Tumnus, is it really you?" Lucy asked, her voice shaking. He nodded, but Lucy suddenly realized something was different. "Where's your horns? You have human legs."
Tumnus looked down at his pale legs that were rather hairy. He shakily took a step forward. "I do not know. I woke up like this."
Lucy hesitantly walked up to him. Deep in her heart she knew it was really Tumnus the faun, but her mind was still wary. She wrapped an arm around his waist, helping him to a fallen log. They sat down, Tumnus clutching the blanket so not to be improper around the lady. Lucy smiled a little, rubbing his blanketed arm. Their eyes met, and stared at one another for several moments.
It was the same eyes and same face, but Tumnus' hair was less bushy and longer and straighter. He had stubble around his face, but mostly on his chin. Lucy had the urge to run her finger along the bristly stubble. She looked away, blushing once again.
"Do you remember anything before you were like this?"
Tumnus' face went blank for a moment then realization hit. "I was chasing the white stag. You and King Peter and King Edmund and Queen Susan had disappeared without any word where you were. There was so much confusion because you were gone." Tears welled up in his eyes. "Narnia was scattered again. I spend most of my time in my cave, wondering where you were and hoping that Aslan would come." He reached for her hand. Lucy squeezed his, reassuringly. "I missed you so much, Lucy. I woke up from a dream so real of us walking the beaches of Cair Paravel."
Lucy sat up straight when she heard about the dream, the same dream she had just had.
"I walked outside in the dead of night and there before me was the white stag. I didn't think. I jumped after the stag, missing it by an inch. I chased it for several yards and finally caught it by the leg. It stopped, turned to me, and I said I wished I could find you. That was the last I remember before waking up here." Tumnus looked around, finally aware that they were in a meadow by trees. "Am I in the land of War Drobe?"
Lucy smiled. She had never explained to him exactly what her world was called. "Yes, this is the land of War Drobe. Will you be all right for a little while? I think it best if I run to the house to grab some clothes for you."
Tumnus nodded. "Yes, please. It is quite embarrassing being like this in front of a lady."
Lucy took off, and was back no more than 5 minutes later carrying a bundle of clothes that she snatched from Edmund's room. She handed the bundle to Tumnus, who climbed back into the bushes to change. He slipped the underpants on then asked why he needed to put pants over that. Lucy helped as best she could from a few feet away.
Tumnus stepped out clothed a couple minutes later, his shirt on but unbuttoned. Lucy eyed his bare chest. All those years she was around him, seeing him with only hair to over the nakedness of his torso. How she had missed that bare chest.
"It is a very odd feeling," Tumnus said, holding the ends of the shirt up, "To wear a piece of clothing on my shoulders."
"You will get used to it," Lucy replied, smiling. She buttoned his shirt, leaving the last couple buttons at the top unfastened. Her hand lingered on his chest.
"My queen" Tumnus breathed. He clasped her hand with his. "I have missed you dearly."
Lucy raised her head, staring straight into those blue eyes. "I have missed you as well."
"I don't know how long I will be here. Whether this was a mistake or by the power of Aslan. But we can be together as we could not before." He cupped her cheek. Lucy closed her eyes, rubbing her cheek against his warm hand. Yes, it really was him.
"I'm sorry, Tumnus" she said, achingly. She opened her eyes, feeling the need to pull away but not being able to. "I am only 13 years old. Even though I remember everything that happened in Narnia, especially our friendship, I'm still a child here in my world and that means we cannot be together. At least for now."
He looked at her as if finally realizing her age. She was still a child. He could see in his mind's eyes the pretty little girl who grew up to be a beautiful queen. Her appearance was young, but he could see the wisdom of many years as Queen Lucy the Valiant in her face. "How long must we wait?"
"Four or five years."
He lowered his head in despair. He had loved her from the moment they met at Lantern Waste, but it was pure love born from an instant bond. As Lucy grew, Tumnus saw her as more than just the little queen with a heart of gold. He had fallen in love with Queen Lucy, but it was several years before he could show her how he felt. On her 20th birthday, he revealed his love for her and she did the same. But being a faun and her a queen, they weren't permitted to be together as they wished. They're love was innocent. Holding hands, lying in the grass, kissing in the moonlight. It was enough to just be together, though some times it was hard to withstand the urges they both felt. With being human, he could be with her the way they had wished to be. If he must wait even longer, that was what he would do.
"Where will I live?"
Lucy hadn't thought of that. "I'm positive Professor Kirk will let you stay with him. He is Digory, the boy that was there when Narnia was created."
"Digory is here?" Tumnus asked, stunned. "That is wonderful!"
"The professor is home right now. He will be delighted to meet you." She took his hand and turned, but was pulled back to face him.
"May I ask one request, my queen?"
Lucy nodded.
Tumnus cupped her cheek again, sending tingles up Lucy's spine. All the memories of his touch flooded her mind. "May I have one kiss?"
"I would like that very much" Lucy confessed, her smiling brightening.
Tumnus leaned in, their lips brushing each other at first. Lucy leaned in this time, locking her lips onto his. He pulled her closer, deepening the kiss. His arms wrapped around her waist, her hands sliding around his neck. They had lost all senses. The unquenched passion they dealt with for so many years had manifested suddenly in this kiss.
All too quickly, it was over. A strong hand grabbed Tumnus by the shoulder, yanking him from Lucy's grasp. Lucy screamed as she watched her brother push Tumnus into a nearby tree.
"Peter, stop!"
"What are you doing to my sister?" Peter yelled, fists ready to fly.
Tumnus shrank into the tree trunk. "Please, High King Peter! I missed the queen so deeply."
Peter halted, breathing heavily. He looked at the man, confused.
"It is Tumnus the faun" Lucy said, grabbing Peter's arm.
Peter stared the man up and down. He wasn't a faun, but the face was familiar. "How can this be?"
"I caught the white stag and wished to find Queen Lucy" Tumnus replied, hurriedly. "Now I'm here in your world as a human."
"I can't believe this! You were kissing my 13 year old sister!" Though he approved of their relationship in Narnia, Peter's big brother instincts were winning out.
"Please forgive me, your highness." Tumnus bowed his head. "You were all gone and Narnia was in confusion and I missed Queen Lucy so."
"I kissed him, Peter" Lucy chimed in. "I missed him just as badly as he did me." Tumnus' eyes grew wide that she took the blame for his behavior.
Peter's angry face melted and his tense shoulders lowered. "I am sorry, Tumnus. When I saw a man kissing my little sister, I lost it."
"I understand completely, your highness."
Peter stuck out his hand. Tumnus let out a relieved laugh and accepted his hand. "Maybe now I shall find out why you shake hands in this world."
"Let's get you up to see Professor Kirke" Peter said, leading Tumnus toward the house. Lucy followed beside them, smiling still. "Tell me all about how you got here."