A More Savage Place
Summary: Nothing happens the same way twice.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. CS Lewis and his estate own all the characters and places herein.
It isn't as if He will know. I repeat the words to myself as the boy follows me, trustingly, if not a bit more warily than his sister. Admittedly, they don't sound quite so convincing now that I have the children here. Still, though, She will be pleased, and perhaps she'll leave me be.
I wasn't always this way, you know. I was a good Faun, who liked to sing and dance, and be merry with fellow Fauns, and the satyrs. But the world changes, and with it, so must I. Summer has been a long time gone from our lands, and with it, the merriment of all. Of course, of course I would love to see the summer again, but even I must admit, the whole idea of this prophecy is ridiculous. Looking at them, they are only children, and, really, what can they do against the might of such power? I turn to smile at the boy, and he gives me a cool gaze back. There's something a bit… disturbing about this one, and I can't help but think that I will actually be rather glad to be rid of him.
A terrible thing to say, really.
Still, home is in my sight, and I smile at the boy, though it pains me to do so. "Not so long now, just ahead, see? Your sister is waiting for you, we've hot chocolate, and …" I try to remember what I offered her when she first came, "sardines, your sister said you liked sardines." The boy raises an eyebrow; then schools it into an expression I cannot read. He nods, silently, and I turn away, plodding over to my home, which really, now, does not feel like a home. I shall have to move when all this is done, which is rather a shame, but still… sacrifices must be made.
Entering the little house, it is clear that the fire has gone out, though that can be put to rights rather quickly. The boy shuffles in behind me, hands shoved awkwardly into his pockets. "You said my sister was here," he mumbles, and I nod, swallowing hard.
"Yes, yes, she is." In an instinct that is now as natural to me as breathing, I grab at the rope on a shelf nearby, and grab one of the boy's hands, tying it quickly before he can say much about it. The boy gives an angry yelp, narrowing his eyes as he tries to pull away.
"I say! What on earth is all this about? Let me go, this isn't funny!" I sigh, tying the other hand even as he tries to twist away, before dragging him over to what used to be the dining area, where little Lucy is bound in a corner. I have put a fire in that room, of course, I will not let her freeze to death, but the Witch's threat is stronger than fear of the Lion. The boy is still struggling, and I push him down next to his sister, watching as he falls, unable to use his hands as protection as he slams against the dark wood. Lucy gives a gasp, and tries to move over to him.
"Edmund, Edmund!"
"Lu?" His voice croaks out and he shuffles a bit towards her, and her towards him. "Where are we, Lu?"
"Narnia," Lucy is sobbing, and she glares at me, causing doubt to strike deep within me. "I'm sorry, Edmund, I'm sorry he brought you here, too."
He shakes his head, looking around, blinking. "What's going on, why are we here?"
"Oh, it's all awful!" Lucy glares at me, trembling violently. "I thought you were my friend, you promised me you were my friend!"
"I did indeed," I agree softly. "And I'm most sorry, little one that I cannot adhere to that promise. But the Queen must be appeased… and… I do not know you."
"What's going to happen to us?" The boy asks, and I sigh softly.
"Your sister will explain it to you. I have more hunting to do." Lucy shivers at that, and stifles a sob.
"You won't find them, not ever. They aren't here, they aren't, and they'll never come. A-aslan won't let-"
"Don't say that name!" My voice cracks in a roar of fury, and Lucy gives a frightened cry, burying into Edmund, who shuffles closer to her, glaring at me in defiance and fury.
"Who's Aslan?" he asks in a hushed voice. My eyes narrow and I glare at him, then her.
"Your sister will explain it to you. Now, I'll be back soon, so you two must be good." Throwing a few more logs onto the fire in the room, I turn, to leave my home. Behind me, I can hear them whispering together, with Lucy sobbing between words.
"It's all my fault, Ed, and now-now… n-now he'll f… f… find them…"
"Hush, Lu… We'll… get out of this… somehow." The boy's voice sounds doubtful, and a grim smile crosses my face. No, they will not get out of this. I am Tumnus, the Hired Childhunter of Jadis, and it will be my head on the block if they do.
Finis.