A/N WooHoo! A new story! Sadly I own no part of Narnia; just my character Miko; and Elenora who will not appear as much.

Edit: I changed a couple things in this chapter so it makes a little more sense, though they're not very noticable, they make me feel better about it. :D

Edit 2: 2/7/11 Oh dear, a few more changes have been made due to events that were decided after I wrote this chapter... Well, hopefully it'll be better now. Most noticably, I added to the conversation between Elenora and Tumnus. 3 Shame they didn't have more time... D':

To those reading this story for the first time: Sorry about the crappiness of the first few chapters. If you find this story interesting I encourage you to go to at least to the second half of Chapter 4, that's where the story really kind of starts. There's not much more important info in chapters 2 and 3. I hope to have them rewritten so they are relevant soon... -.-;

Ok, go ahead and read now...

Ice Princess

Chapter 1: Goodbyes

Through the cold, starlit forest, a beautiful white wolf made her way under the cover of night. In her jaws was a human child, wrapped carefully into a soft blanket. Or, so it would seem at first glance. If anyone had taken the time to look over the child carefully they'd see two very tiny ears were visible among her already lustrous black hair. They were white as snow, with just a few flecks of gold.

As light flooded over the she-wolf, she stopped to look up at the lamp-post. She was not far now. As she bounded up a hill, a small cottage came into view. The wolf set the baby down on the doorstep, but, before she could do anything, the door opened.

"Tumnus!" the wolf cried. There was a sense of urgency in her voice that the faun recognized right away. He had just been about to go out, so his umbrella was at hand, but he tossed it aside without much thought when he saw the wolf.

"Elenora!" he said. His cheeks had already turned red from the cold. "What is it? Are you alright?"

"Fine," the wolf answered, a little more bitterly than she meant to. "You must take Miko."

For the first time, Tumnus looked down on the doorstep. In a second the child was in his arms.

"I don't know when-or if- I'll be back," Elenora told him. "Take care of her for me. Right before she turns 10 you must take her to the beavers. They will know what to do."

"But what's going on, Elenora? You should come in, it's too cold out!" A look of regret shone, as clear as there was snow outside, in the wolf's eyes.

"I cannot," she whispered, her voice filled with pain. Before the faun's eyes, the wolf turned into a human. Elenora quickly hugged him for what she knew would be the last time.

"Goodbye, Tumnus," she whispered softly. Elenora planted a soft kiss on his cheek. The fawn grabbed her arm.

"Where are you going to go?" he asked quietly. "Please, Elenora... let me help you..." The woman shook her head, blond hair swishing as she did. She looked up at him with pain in her eyes.

"I don't know myself." She said. "But I have to go... there's nothing you can do. Just take care of her." She glanced at the child in his arms as she spoke.

In front of his eyes, she turned back into the wolf she'd arrived as. He leaned down slowly, taking her head in his hands, careful to keep Miko cradled in his arm. He rubbed her ear, planting a kiss on top of the white wolf's head. The wolf felt a tear drip onto her head, cold in the winter air.

"Goodbye."

Without another word, the wolf turned and vanished into the trees.

~8 years later~

"Where are we going?"

"Shush," Tumnus answered quickly. "You mustn't talk. Just go."

Miko nodded.

By the time she was five, her ears had disappeared. And her hair had recently taken on a frosty look. The girl had always opted to keep it short, though it did seem to grow rather quickly. And she was smart enough to know the urgency in the voice of the faun.

The odd pair was rushing through the trees under an umbrella. Tumnus had on his scarf and was still shivering a great deal. Miko, however, was wearing nothing but her regular light clothes, yet she was perfectly warm.

As they approached their destination, Tumnus slowed down. Miko was exhausted.

"It's just a little ways now," the faun assured. The home of the beavers was in sight. Miko pointed to the lodge.

"Is that where we're going?" she asked. A grin spread across Tumnus's face.

"That's right. You're so smart already, just like your mother."

"Who is my mother?" Miko inquired. She liked the sound of the word. To her it seemed like an innocent question, to her guardian, a nightmare; a long, painful story.

"Someday, Miko. Someday, I will tell you all about your mother." Tumnus answered.

By that time they had reached the house. Though, you'd probably call it a lodge, being it was made by beavers. The water nearby was frozen as it had been ever since Miko was born, before even.

Now the faun was hesitating to knock on the door. He glanced down at Miko, who looked worried. This would be the last time he would see her in who knew how long if he went through with this. For a second, he was considering just turning around and going back. But he knew it was what Elenora wanted, and she must have had a reason. So, he tapped lightly on the door. It was opened instantly by Mrs. Beaver, a frying pan at hand.

"Oh, Tumnus!" she exclaimed, upon realizing it was him. Then she spotted Miko. "So that's her then?" the beaver asked. "Elenora said…" Mrs. Beaver had to stop. Her voice was starting to waver. She turned back to call in the house. "Mr. Beaver!" Then to Tumnus: "Bring her in, then."

The Faun shook his head sadly. "This is where I must leave her." Mrs. Beaver nodded slowly in understanding. Tumnus leaned down to Miko.

"Miko, dear, do you understand what is about to happen?" The little girl nodded slowly.

"You're leaving now, aren't you?" the small black-haired girl asked. The pain in her voice was almost unbearable. A tear fell from the Faun's eye. He hugged Miko.

"Someday, I'll see you again," he promised with a whisper. Tumnus softly kissed her head, reminding himself sadly of Elenora. Mr. Beaver had come to the door and was now holding the hand of the quietly crying Mrs. Beaver.

The Faun was amazed at how strong the small girl could be. Saying one last goodbye to the beavers, he walked off without looking back.