A/N: This story is based on "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" book and movie. I haven't read the other books. I hope you enjoy it!

A Taste for Adventure

Chapter 1

Tumnus bustled around his home, setting out things for a fine tea. Queen Lucy was coming over, and he wanted everything to be wonderful. She and her brothers and sister were always very busy with the affairs of Narnia these days, and Lucy rarely had a chance to go off by herself to visit her old friend.

Tumnus looked over his tea table and nodded in satisfaction. There were little cakes with powdered sugar, sandwiches made with the Narnian fruit samsperl, two brown eggs, and toast with butter and marmalade and, of course, sardines. He had also procured a fine blend of tea from Calormen that he hoped would impress Queen Lucy. Happy with the table, he looked over the rest of the room to make sure that everything was clean and neat. Being the careful housekeeper that he was, he could find nothing that needed further attention. Finally, he peered at himself in his small mirror, smoothing down an errant curl of hair and doing a final spit-and-polish on his horns. Then he sat down in his chair by the fire and waited.

Lucy was due at 3:30, but 3:30 came and went without her arrival. Tumnus began to twiddle his fingers. 3:35. Tumnus got up to poke at the fire, but then decided against it. He didn't want any rogue bits of ash to fly into the tea things or dirty the carpet. 3:40. Tumnus got up and peered out his window. He usually enjoyed gazing out at the brilliant colors of the fall leaves, but he was too distracted to enjoy them today. There was no sign of her. He began to pace around the room. What if she wasn't coming? Perhaps some emergency had come up which demanded her attention, and she couldn't get away. Or, what if something had happened to her? Fear began to gnaw at his stomach. "Stop that!" he muttered to himself. "Nothing's happened to her. She's just a little late." But he continued to pace.

Finally at 3:45, Lucy arrived. Tumnus was overjoyed when he heard a horse galloping toward the house. He hurried over and opened the door wide before Lucy had even dismounted. He had prepared an impressive greeting, but the first word was barely out of his mouth when Lucy stormed past him. "I've had enough! I'm retiring!" she said, and flopped down in a chair.

Tumnus was at a loss for a moment. He closed the door and looked at Lucy, who, slumped down in the chair with a scowl on her face, looked decidedly unqueenlike. "Is something wrong?" he asked.

"I could barely get away today," replied Lucy. "We've been having discussions about dwarf rights all day! And I think the others could continue 'til bedtime, if not through the night. But I told them that I'd made an appointment with you, and I meant to keep it. So here I am. Finally." She let out a deep sigh.

"Oh, dear." Tumnus sat down in the chair opposite Lucy. "I didn't mean to take you away from important affairs of state. You could have sent a message to let me know you couldn't come. I would have understood."

"No!" cried Lucy. "I was bored out of my mind! I would be glad of a chance to come to see you any time, of course," (here, Tumnus' heart leapt) "but I was especially glad that I had an appointment today, so I could get away from all that." She paused, and gazed at Tumnus. "I guess I'm not a very good queen."

"Oh, no, you are!" insisted Tumnus, leaning forward. "You are Queen Lucy the Valiant, beloved by your people. And," --he grinned at her— "you are the nicest queen I've ever met."

Lucy laughed merrily. Tumnus was very pleased that he had brought a smile back to her face. Queen Lucy had grown into a lovely young lady, and though Tumnus found her adorable no matter what state she was in, he thought there was nothing as charming in all of Narnia as her smile.

"I'm sorry for being a grump," she said. "I'm just so tired of politics. Almost every day for the past two weeks we've been shut up discussing this or that, and I'm afraid I'm going to sit up one day and realize that I've grown old in the state room of Cair Paravel, and that I never had any more adventures." She gazed into the fire, frowning a bit. Tumnus tried to lighten her mood again.

"Well, I can't offer any adventures, but I do have some lovely tea and sandwiches." He poured a cup, added cream, and held it out to Lucy. She smiled and wrapped her hands around the warm cup before taking a small sip.

"Why, this is wonderful!" she said. "What kind of tea is it?"

Tumnus smiled broadly. "A special new blend from Calormen," he said. "I hoped you would like it."

"Oh, quite," said Lucy. She helped herself to a cake and took a big bite, getting a few crumbs down her front. Tumnus hid a smile. That was one thing he liked about Lucy. She had never become stuffy, but retained an exuberant, youthful spirit. He could well understand her impatience at being shut up discussing politics for days. His Lucy would be much happier exploring the forest or canoeing down a river or dancing at a party—

His Lucy? Tumnus quickly shook his head. He shouldn't think such things! They were old friends, yes, but that gave him no grounds to call her his. He mentally berated himself for the thought.

"Are you all right, Mr. Tumnus?" asked Lucy, seeing his agitation. And that was another thing. After all this time, and although she was almost twenty years old, she still called him "mister." He was well over 100 years old, to be sure, but for a faun he was still young. He had worked it out once and calculated that he would be about 24 in human years. And yet she called him "mister." He wondered if she really thought of him as old.

But now was not the time to dwell on that. Tumnus forced a smile. "Oh, yes, I'm fine," he said. "Sardine?"

Lucy took one and folded it inside a piece of toast. "So, tell me, my favorite faun, what have you been doing these past few weeks?"

Tumnus reflected a bit. "There was a gathering of fauns and dryads last week." He smiled remembering it. "We danced all night, until the sun began to rise in the east. It's probably the last time we'll get together before next spring. Winter will be here soon, and it's difficult to dance in the snow." Lucy nodded. "Other than that…I've read a bit, gathered firewood, visited the neighbors…not really much of interest."

"It sounds lovely," said Lucy. "I envy you, really. You seem to have such a carefree life."

Tumnus smiled and shrugged his shoulders. "Well, it's what we fauns are best at. Dancing, playing our pipes, generally enjoying ourselves."

"I wish I was a faun," said Lucy. "Don't you?"

"Wish you were a faun?" Tumnus asked. "I…I think you're wonderful just as you are." He felt himself blush.

"Why, Mr. Tumnus! What a sweet thing to say!" said Lucy. "But let's pretend I'm a faun, just for today. What would I do?"

"Well…first you would drink your tea, because it's getting cold," said Tumnus teasingly, "and then…you might spend some time playing the pipes."

"Oh, my, it's been so long! I don't know if I remember any of the tunes. Will you help me?" asked Lucy.

"I'd be delighted."

They finished their tea and then enjoyed themselves immensely as Lucy tried to remember and relearn the old songs that Tumnus had taught her over the years. They were both surprised when the clock chimed five.

"Oh, you must be getting home before it gets dark," said Tumnus.

Lucy pouted. "I wish I could stay here. They're probably still talking about dwarves at home."

Tumnus smiled. "Well, the next time you think you're going to grow old in the state room, come see me, and I'll try to arrange an adventure for you."

Lucy laughed. "I'll do that." Tumnus opened the door for her. "Until next time," she said, and climbed back on her horse. Tumnus watched her until she was out of sight, then sighed and closed the door.

His little house seemed empty without her. He poked the fire and settled down with a book, wondering when he would see her again.

The next day, just around noon, Tumnus was preparing to go out and do his shopping when he heard hoof beats. He didn't give it much thought. Centaurs often passed near his house on the way to the market. Then there was a knock on his door. He opened it, expecting to see one of his neighbors. He was shocked to see Lucy standing there.

"Wha…my Queen! What an honor!" he said. "I wasn't expecting you so soon."

Lucy laughed and walked in. Tumnus now noticed that she was carrying a large bag. "There's no need for all that 'my Queen' stuff now, Mr. Tumnus," she said. "I've decided to run away from Cair Paravel."