Disclaimer: I only own Joanna McCarthy and her family. All else belongs to the brilliant C.S. Lewis.
Summary: When WWII has plagued the land of Britain, two families in Finchley stick together as they always have. Until they have no choice but to be separated. Joanna McCarthy makes the hard decision to remain with her mother in Finchley as her neighbors, the Pevensie siblings, are sent off to the country to live with a mysterious professor. Soon, Jo finds herself in the mansion with the siblings as well for a short visit. What comes of this short visit is the adventure Jo had not expected: behind the doors of an old, dusty wardrobe in the spare room of the professor's mansion. PeterxOC
Chapter 1: The War
There was no sound like the air raid siren. Nearly every night they would sound and send families running to the shelters. The ground would shake and the fires lit the skies, it was a dark time for London.
No matter how many times it happened, Joanna McCarthy never got used to it. The siren would send her heart into a flutter and she could never get her breathing under control. She didn't know if she would live to see the next day when the raids were underway. All she could do was cling to her brothers as it happened.
One morning after a particularly messy raid, she trudged over to her neighbor's house to see if they needed any help.
Joanna had known the Pevensie family since the time she could walk. Being one year older than Peter, she was always taller than him and lead the small group most of the time. This didn't put a damper on her and Peter's friendship, though. As he grew older, he wanted to be with Joanna's older brothers, they gratefully took him in as another brother. Susan had matured rather quickly; Joanna loved having her as a best friend. Lucy and Edmund liked to play along with them, but they often played by themselves when they got bored. Despite this, Joanna considered them some of her closest friends as well.
The war had brought them even closer as friends, she took every opportunity she had to help them after raids. The Pevensie's did the same.
"Susan!" She cried out to her long-time friend, running into her embrace. The two shook with fear and happiness, glad to see another day. Luckily their street hadn't been severely damaged, but there was still work to be done. The two girls linked arms and headed inside.
Joanna tried to stop comparing herself to Susan, but she never could. Susan had grown into such a beautiful girl, Joanna always felt behind. Her jet black hair stood out so much next to Susan. People often mistaked Joanna and Edmund for siblings because of it. Neither could she get it to stay pinned up like Susan's without using can after can of hairspray. To contrast her dark hair were her bright green eyes, which she didn't mind in the least bit because they were her father's eyes. Every time she looked in the mirror, she could see him in them, it was comforting. Puberty wasn't quite finished with her yet, either, she was still filling in her short figure and plump cheeks. Peter had finally beaten her height!
Mrs. Pevensie grinned at the sight of Joanna, "You have no idea how wonderful it is to see you,"
"Are you all alright?"
"As good as we can be, Lucy is a little shook up as she always is, though."
Joanna looked away, "Poor girl her age shouldn't have to see this."
"No one should," Peter said from the doorway.
Joanna locked eyes with him and smiled, "Glad to see you're okay,"
Peter smiled lightly, "And you, Jo."
"Why don't you three take a walk around the neighborhood and see what you can do to help?" Mrs. Pevensie suggested as she reached for some letters on the counter. The three older ones headed out the front door and made their way around to anyone they saw.
Jo couldn't help but think how close this had brought everyone in London together.
'Even though war is a terrible thing, it can bring the best out in some.'
A few hours later, Susan, Peter and Jo found themselves at a small cafe to eat lunch at. Free soup and bread was being served to anyone who came.
"D'you think we'll be sent away?" Susan asked suddenly.
Peter and Jo glanced at each other, worried looks on their faces.
"Why would you ask that?" Jo wondered.
Susan spared looks at both of them, "Oh come on, as if you two haven't thought that. They're sending all the children away. It's bound to happen to us, too,"
Peter sighed, "You don't always have to be so pessimistic, Su."
"I'm just telling the truth," she snapped at him.
Jo shook her head, "I won't let that happen, I have to stay home and help."
"Your brothers can do that-"
"And I'm not capable?" Jo interrupted Peter.
Peter shook his head, "I didn't say that."
"You were thinking it," she grumbled as she took a sip of soup, "All three of them are off to join the army anyway, mum will need someone at home."
There was nothing else said between the three. They were all thinking the same thing, feeling the same way, fear of being sent away. Susan was right, all of the children were being sent off to the country or to America. It was safer, but a hard journey.
"Please be safe, Cedric," Jo whispered to her oldest brother as he stood by the train door.
He nodded, "I'll write to you and mum every week."
She pulled away, holding back her tears. Turning to hug her two other older brothers, Mac and Finn, she told them the same thing and said silent prayers over them.
The train horn whistled one last time, and the three McCarthy boys scrambled up the train steps.
Arm-in-arm with her mother, they watched as the train lurched forward and pulled away from the station. Even as the platform full of tearful wives and mothers emptied, they stayed. Jo could feel the tension in her mother as she tried to pull away, so she stayed.
It was as if her mother was trying to pull the train back with her mind. Hoping that when she looked up, her boys would be in front of her again.
The war had taken her husband, and now her sons.
She wouldn't let it take Joanna.
"Jo, get the door, please!"
Joanna huffed and sat up from her comfortable seat in the living room. She opened the door to find Peter and Susan, sullen looks on their faces.
"Is everything alright?"
Susan looked up from her feet, "We're being sent away, Jo,"
Jo felt her heart skip a beat and a gasp escaped her throat, "No-"
"Mum's already made arrangements, we're going out into the country tomorrow. There's nothing we can do," Peter said sadly.
'Do not cry, Joanna.'
"How are Edmund and Lucy about it?"
Peter scoffed, "You know Ed, thinks it's all stupid and pointless,"
"And you know Lu," Susan said quietly.
"Poor thing," Jo said as she folded her hands.
Peter glanced over to her, his eyes saddened. Jo couldn't bear to see him so upset, he was always so strong. Susan was so distraught, it wasn't like her. Despite being older than them, she thought they were handling it quite well for now.
Jo cleared her throat quietly, "I'll come to bid you goodbye at the station tomorrow,"
Susan and Peter looked at each other, "That's the thing, Jo," Peter said.
"What?"
"We want you to come with us." Susan said, hopeful.
"Absolutely not-"
"Mum says the professor has a mansion, there would be more than enough room!" Peter exclaimed, "It's not safe here, Jo."
"You don't think I know that?" Jo snapped.
"Please, come with us," Susan pleaded, taking her hand.
Jo's breathing picked up and she looked away, "I can't leave my mother here by herself. Not after she's just said goodbye to my brothers."
"We know that, and we're so sorry you had to," Susan said.
"But you'll be safe with us, I'm sure that's what your mother wants for you."
Jo shook Susan's hand away and pinched the bridge of her nose, "I can't."
Susan and Peter looked down and sighed.
"You can't always be so stubborn, Jo!" Peter growled and stomped away. Susan and Joanna watched as he slammed his front door.
Jo glared after him, "You can tell him he's not my babysitter,"
"He's just trying to look after you," Susan pointed out.
"That's not his job, I can do that myself. I'm sorry Susan, but I can't go."
Thank you for choosing to read the first chapter of my fanfiction based on The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. The Last Seer will be the first story of a series, yet to be determined in how many parts, though. I have been wanting to start a Narnia fanfiction for ages, now, and have finally come to writing it. Updates should be monthly, I hope you all enjoy!
-Kendall
Mrs. Frodo Baggins