I Know I am Awake, but I Feel as if I am Dreaming.
Veronique Rosalie Stanford ... Leighton Messter
The One with the Wardrobe and the Badger -
Veronique comes upon a not-so-ordinary Wardrobe as she hides from her friends, which causes her to stumble into Magical land
that the not-supposed-to-be-talking Badger calls Narnia.
Two seventeen year-old girls were lazing about in the lounge. It was a sweltering, hot summers' day and both girls were scarcely conversing as they sipped on chilly iced-tea.
"When is Ms. Stanford to arrive back?" questioned one half of the duo as she cooled herself down with an elaborate folding fan.
"Oh you know my Mother, she always rushes things," answered the girl nonchalantly as she stretched her legs out along the Chaise Longue she was rested on. "I have no doubt she shall be home by morning."
Veronique Stanford knew her domineering and impatient Mother all too well. She was certain that her Mothers' business trip will be over long before it was expected to come to a close - Her Mother would make sure of that. Ms. Stanford liked things done as rapidly as possible.
"Good. My Grandmother has been nagging me to ask your Mother for a crochet pattern," stated Veronique's best friend with a dramatic roll of her eyes. "Anyhow, do come to the lake. Bobby will be there."
Veronique arched a perfectly- shaped eyebrow in response to her friends suggestive eyebrow wiggle. "Elizabeth, you know perfectly well that I do not have any romantic feelings for Bobby Brooks."
"Yes, but his feelings are an entirely different story. Besides; you have too come."
"And why would that be?" asked Veronique carelessly as she relaxed and closed her eye lids.
"Because I –"
Elizabeth's answer was cut off as a sharp knock carried up the stairs from the front door. Veronique put two-and-two together and rose quickly from her sluggish position.
"You invited him to my house?" questioned Veronique as she narrowed her eyes at Elizabeth.
"Well it is not like he is staying," she retorted defensively. "I just asked him to escort us to the lake."
"Go get the door than," said Veronique simply.
Elizabeth was slightly taken-aback by her friends abrupt mood change. She shrugged it off though. "My, my, my … someone is submissive today."
Elizabeth stood up and strutted across the room. Veronique didn't even blink until her best friend shut the door. Then she was up and listening. She listened intently until she decided that Elizabeth had fully descended the stairs. Veronique exited the room and ran as up another staircase as swiftly and as quietly as her heels would allow. She turned a corner and opened the closest door. Upon entry she discovered that she had entered a spare room. Veronique knew this fact because it was full of furniture and her Mother stored various pieces of furniture in the numerous spare rooms present in her large, mansion.
"VERONIQUE!"
Veronique heard her friends voice call and looked around the room hurriedly. There was so many hiding places; so many cabinets.
"I don't know where she could have gone," Elizabeth stated from just outside the door.
Veronique – hearing her friend so close – finally decided on an Antique Wardrobe. She swung open a door and stepped inside. As she the door swung shut on her, she was plunged into darkness.
Not being able to see anything seemed to heighten Veronique's other senses and she could hear Elizabeth clearly as she entered the spare room. Veronique backed up further into the wardrobe. Backing up, backing up … she started to wonder just how large this wardrobe was. She turned around to check and the sight that met her eyes was surprising, so surprising that she blacked out on the spot.
Forty minutes later and the first thing Veronique saw as she roused almost caused her faint yet again.
A Badger was humming as it swept.
Veronique was not sure if she was fully conscious just yet: a Badger couldn't hum a tune, let alone sweep a floor.
"Ah! You're awake."
Indeed, I am sleeping; Veronique declared to inwardly. She closed her eyes harshly and waited still as a statue for a full minute. She then slowly reopened her eyes and shrieked: the Badger was now mere inches from her face.
The creature chuckled and stepped back, "Sorry, didn't mean to frighten you."
"Why are you talking?" asked Veronique hysterically.
"Well; I rather enjoy talking," replied the Badger good-naturedly. "Why are you talking?"
"Because I am Human. You on the other hand, are not. So you shouldn't be speaking."
The Badger shook his head and chuckled again, "Human or not does not make much difference here when it comes to talking."
"And where exactly is 'here'?"
"Narnia of course."
Veronique sat still and contemplated for a few moments – going over explanations in her head. Suddenly she was up and yelling, "I have been drugged!" She began to pace as she continued to talk quickly. "That is it. I have been drugged and this is some type of hallucination or dream. Well, Mr. Badger; seeing as this is my mind, I shall do as I please and I would like to leave. So if you don't mind." Veronique marched over to what appeared to be the front door.
When outside she found herself surrounded by trees and shrubbery. She turned on her heel and started heading to the left. She stumbled on rocks and roots as she went. Her outfit was most definitely not designed for such landscape.
"MISS!" she heard the Badger call out from somewhere behind her. "I MUST INSIST YOU RETURN!"
Veronique ignored his words and blocked out his calls. In doing this, she blocked out his next sentence; "It is not safe."