I've been wanting to do a story like this for years. I wasn't sure about how people would like it but I'm brave enough to do it. I've always been a fan of Tumnus/adult Lucy pairings.

My fauns characteristics and such are mix of the Narnia fauns, mythology, and my own. The fauns in this have a bottom half of a goat, small horns, and cloven hooves. Their ears are a mix between elvish ears and the ones in the Narnia movies.

I hope you all like this new story. If the idea of a faun/ human romantic relationship offends you, please don't read it unless you intend to be nice about it. I will say this now. Fauns are not considered animals as they are half human. Second of all, I will say if anyone thinks it's wrong of the two to intermingle, men are considered animals. Now lol. I have proved my point.

Edit: this chapter was reposted after being betaread by Calenwric.

Chapter 1:

Joanne scrubbed the floors with a vigor that would put most maids to shame. She imagined seeing different people in the sudsy bubbles: her father, stepmother, and the king. Yes, the king. In fact, the king of the very castle floors she cleaned everyday and

worked in his gardens. She had the most fun popping their imaginary faces. She always visualized these things while scrubbing floors. It helped her pass the time and get her task done faster.

Her parents had gotten her this position so they could get more coins in their purse. She didn't get to keep one coin. They didn't really care if she ever came home as long as her salary was theirs. Joanne had no way to get a cottage of her own. She planned to toughen it out as best she could.

Someday…someday, maybe she could be free of

her parents.

"Miss MacKay."

Joanne winced but didn't look up. "Mister Andes." The man couldn't and wouldn't leave her alone. Mister or 'Sir' Andes was the overseer over all the work in the castle. He thrived to make everyone's work extra hard. Yes, that included her own, too.

"'Tis Sir Andes to you child," the tall, hawk-like

man barked at her, seething. His rigid posture and dark if not almost black eyes always bored into her.

Oops. Joanne inwardly grimaced.

For this error in his title, Joanne was sure to

have more work.

"This is what you call clean, MacKay?" Sir Andes

scuffed his boots on her 'almost' sparkling

marble floor. They made a screech that rattled Joanne's insides. She knew he had done it just to spite her.

Joanne bit down on her tongue, and the irony

taste of blood seeped onto its surface.

"Get this done. There are three more rooms you haven't scrubbed. See that it's done before the day is out." He left the ballroom trail marks leading after him of black smudges.

In frustration, Joanne threw her scrub brush into the bucket with a plop. It was long past dark now. Long past supper, too, for her

stomach noisily complained.

Her hands were raw and bleeding, but alas, after washing and sweating, she was done…for the night!

She ignored her smarting hands and concentrated on getting out of the castle before anyone asked more from her.

The castle was bordered on one side with a dense forest. Her dirt path home went by the forest.

Joanne shivered at going through the forest at night. She had never done so before.

She began her journey through the trees, jumping at every strange sound.

Come on you, silly goose.

Just when she began to relax and forget she was scared she saw a form hiding slightly in the trees. It was so dark it was hard to see what it was. Eyes stared her. Was it human?

Joanne found herself stopping and staring after the creature. She was curious and almost mesmerized. Daringly she took a step closer.

The creature took a step back, still gazing at her.

"Hello?" she spoke almost inaudibly. It came out as a slight squeak. Mostly out of fear of herself. What was she doing?

"Hel-lo?" It was a male voice. She had never heard such an accent and couldn't place it.

Joanne took another step closer to him. "Who are you, and what are you doing in the forest?"

The man stepped back as if afraid of her. "My name is Cyrus, and I live here." He sounded puzzled.

"Show yourself!" Joanne demanded harsher than she intended.

Cyrus took a step behind a tree. "I'd rather not

do so."

The girl determinedly walked closer until she was a few feet away.

The man Cyrus seemed taken aback by surprise.

She could tell from this stand point the man's chest was bare.

Heat flooded her cheeks. She had never laid eyes on a man's bare chest. She knew it wasn't

proper. What was this man doing not wearing a

shirt?

Joanne ripped her eyes away and looked at his shadowed face. She couldn't see any features.

Cyrus took a step back, and that was when Joanne's eyes wandered to below his torso. She forgot how to breathe.

Even in the dark she could plainly see legs. Yes, legs. But not human legs. These were furry, and in place of his feet were hooves.

Now Joanne was the one to take a step back.

The two stared at each other in silence. Looking each other over.

Joanne wasn't sure who fled first but the next moment she was on the steps of her parent's cottage, panting. She tried to get into the cottage but of course it was always bolted at night. She knew her parents wouldn't let her in. She'd have to sleep on the steps or find a leafy place in the forest. Something she wasn't about to do.

What had she just seen? That was no human being, but it wasn't an animal either. What was it?!

She knew she wouldn't get sleep this night.

Review if you want an update. I need plot ideas too! Much Thanks.

Here is the newest chapter. Thanks to anyone who has read or reviewed this story. Your reviews really inspire me. Without them I don't think I'd have much muse for finishing stories.