Ch 1

A Meeting

Catherine was sitting in the cave home of Mr. Tumnus in Narnia. She had fled her home in the castle of Archenland, Anvard. She did not have a choice, she had to run. The White Witch had turned her father, mother, and brother into stone; and had also bound Narnia and Archenland in a hundred year winter.

Mr. Tumnus was out at this time. He told her that he needed to pick up a few things, and that he would be back in a couple of hours. Thinking that he was probably on his way home, she set the kettle in the fire. She knew that Tumnus liked his tea almost right when he came home, especially on a day like this.

When the tea was almost ready, she heard Tumnus' footsteps on the rocks by the door. She rushed over to the kettle to make sure that the tea was almost ready. There was something different with the way that Tumnus was acting.

"Catherine, I would like to introduce you to Lucy." Catherine noticed the young girl that was with Tumnus.

Catherine walked over to this little girl and curtsied, "Lucy, daughter of Eve, it is a pleasure to meet you."

"You also, Catherine." Lucy held out her hand and Catherine took it.

Catherine and Lucy became good friends through the hour that Tumnus was preparing the rest of the tea.

"Catherine, what is it like living in Narnia?"

"Normally, it's peaceful, at least that is what I was told. I came here because a witch turned my parents into stone."

"That's awful! I am really sorry! Where did you live?"

"I lived south of Narnia. The country's called Archenland."

"It must have been beautiful."

"I would not know. For my fourteen years the land has been in a long winter, just like Narnia." Catherine said.

"Well, at least you can look forward to Christmas." Lucy said. Catherine and Tumnus looked at each other.

"We don't have Christmas." Tumnus' voice sounded dry.

"What! No Christmas!" exclaimed Lucy.

"The tea's ready." Tumnus announced. Lucy and Catherine sat down. Tumnus handed both girls cups of tea and sat down in his chair. Slowly sipping their tea, Tumnus explained that Narnia was a place where the fauns danced with the dryads. A place where there were treasure hunts with the dwarfs.

"Lucy, Daughter of Eve," began Tumnus, "have you heard any of the Narnian lullabies?"

"Sorry to say that I haven't." Lucy said.

"Well then you must! The lullabies are beautiful, and extremely powerful. They always put me to sleep." Catherine said with a laugh.

"Well," said Tumnus getting his flute, "that can be a good thing, because this will probably sound nothing like one." He began to play. Catherine knew that she would fall asleep, she put her teacup to the side. Lucy on the other hand settled into her chair. Both girls gazed into the fire. Both Catherine and Lucy fell asleep.

They both woke up when they realized that they were cold. Catherine noticed that the fire was out and that Tumnus was nowhere. Both Catherine and Lucy looked around the room. On finding Mr. Tumnus, (who was crouching on the stairs crying) they both ran over to him.

Catherine was surprised to find Mr. Tumnus in this state. "Dear Tumnus, what is wrong?"

"Catherine, I am in the service of the White Witch." Catherine stood up fast and looked at him with tears in her wyes.

"Who's the White Witch?" Lucy asked.

"She was the one who turned my parents into stone. She also has made this hundred years winter." Catherine said with pure loathing in her voice.

"Catherine, I'm sorry. I promise that I have not turned you in."

"I believe you. I really do, but why?" Tumnus shrugged in a way that showed that he didn't know why he did it.

"What are you talking about?" Lucy asked.

"I am a really bad faun." Tumnus said.

"No you're not. You're the nicest faun I've ever met." Lucy said.

"No, I'm bad. Not because of something I've done, but what I'm doing now."

"What have you done?" Lucy asked.

"I was told by the White Witch that if I saw a son of Adam or a daughter of Eve, that I was to wait till they fell asleep then take them to her."

"What!"

"You're the first one that I ever met."

"You will let me go will you?" said Lucy handing Tumnus her handkerchief.

"Of course I will. Catherine, you should go with her."

Catherine ran to her room and grabbed her clothing and threw it into her bag. She grabbed her heavy cloak and went back to the main room. Tumnus already had his scarf on, and Lucy was already at the door. Catherine threw her cloak on. Tumnus grabbed her hand and also Lucy's hand.

They left the cave and stayed in the shadows. Both Lucy and Catherine were happy when they reached the lamppost.

"Lucy, can you find your way back to Ward Robe and Spare "Oom."

"Yes, I can." Tumnus handed her back her handkerchief. "Keep it. You need it more than me." Lucy said.

"Catherine, I'm sorry if I hurt you. Be careful, and take care of yourself." Tumnus said.

"I will. Tumnus, keep your head down. Hopefully the witch will not find out about you housing me or you helping Lucy." Catherine hugged Tumnus.

"Good luck Catherine."

"And you too Tumnus."

Lucy grabbed Catherine's hand and lead her towards the Wardrobe. Catherine was absolutely scared. She was leaving the only place that she had known. She was leaving her home, and did not know if she would ever come back. All of a sudden, instead of feeling branches against her face, she felt fur against her face. All of a sudden she saw a door in front of her. Lucy opened the door and in front of them there was a sunlit room that had an inviting glow.

Lucy jumped out of the Wardrobe, and helped Catherine out of the door. Catherine looked around and removed her hood. She wasn't sure what would happen, but she thought that she could deal with it.

"Oh, of course, they're still playing Hide and Seek."

"What?"

"It's a game that we play here. One person counts to one hundred, while everyone finds a place to hide. Finally, the person who counts to one hundred tries to find everyone."

"How so you plan to find everyone then?"

"I know where Edmund is, so I'm sure that he will make enough noise for Peter to find us."

"Who's Edmund and Peter?"

"I forgot to tell you that I have two brothers and a sister."

"What are their names?"

"Well, Peter is my oldest brother, then Susan is my sister, then it is Edmund, and then me."

"Okay, so their names are Peter, Susan, and Edmund."

"Susan's fourteen like you."

"How old is Peter?"

"Fifteen. Come on, let's go find the others." Lucy pulled Catherine behind her out of the door.

"I'm back, I'm back, I've come back." She lead Catherine to a curtain.

"Edmund, I've come back."

"Lucy, what are you saying? Go and hide!"

"But I've been away for hours and hours." There were the sounds of footprints and Edmund rolled his eyes as Peter came to them.