Here's the next chapter! I'll try to post at least once a week, so be on the lookout :) I hope you like it!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Chronicles of Narnia books or movies!
The train station was full of parents and children saying their goodbyes. Holly and Alice worked their way through the crowd to get closer to the train Holly would be boarding. Alice stopped in front of the train doors and bent down to Holly's level.
"Right, you and four other children will be staying with Mr. Kirke. You'll like them, I think. Diggory said their mother was very polite."
Holly forced a smile and nodded, knowing that her mum was trying to convince herself everything would be all right.
"Will you be all right on your own, Mum?" she asked.
Alice smiled and squeezed Holly's hand. "Don't worry about me, Dear." Alice looked up as the train whistle blew. "Off you go, then."
"Bye, Mum," Holly murmured, picking up her trunk.
Holly and Alice had never been very emotional with each other, but the thought of not seeing her mother for months – maybe even years – was enough to make Holly drop her trunk and jump into her mother's arms.
Alice sighed and hugged Holly tightly.
"I love you, Hol," she whispered.
"I love you too, Mum."
Alice bent down to Holly's height and brushed a dark curl out of her face.
"All right then," she smiled. "Time to go. Hopefully, I'll see you very soon."
Holly nodded and allowed Alice to kiss her on the forehead. Then Holly picked up her trunk and walked to the train.
She stepped on the train and handed the conductor her ticket. There was an empty compartment a few doors down, and Holly rushed to the window. The train began to move, and Holly spotted her mother in the crowd. She forced a smile and waved goodbye one last time.
Holly settled into her seat and pulled a book from her shoulder bag. The train stopped what felt like minutes later at the station in Finchley. There was a knock at the compartment door, and four children stood in the doorway.
"Do you mind?" the oldest boy asked.
"Not at all," Holly replied.
The oldest boy smiled as he and his siblings filed in to the compartment. He looked around fifteen, with golden hair and clear blue eyes. The second was a pretty, dark-haired girl about a year younger than the blonde boy. Next was a boy around Holly's age, with dark hair and eyes. The youngest girl was adorable, with short auburn hair and dark blue eyes. She grinned at Holly and plopped down beside her, clutching a teddy bear.
"Hello!" she chirped. "What's your name?"
"Holly."
"I'm Lucy!" she went on happily. "That's Peter, Susan, and Edmund. We've just boarded. Where are you from?"
"Woodford," Holly replied.
"Where are you headed?" Peter asked.
"My Uncle Kirke's house, out in the country," Holly said.
"Did you say Kirke?" Edmund asked, sounding surprised.
"That's where we're headed as well!" Lucy said happily.
Quite a while later, they arrived at their station – well, if one could call it that. It was nothing but a raised platform and a bench. Holly expected a car to be waiting for them, but nothing was there.
"The professor knew we were coming," Susan remarked.
"Perhaps we've been incorrectly labelled," Edmund suggested.
At that moment, Holly heard the sound of hooves and groaned.
"Typical Macready," she muttered as a stern-looking woman drove up in a horse-drawn wagon.
Peter stepped forward. "Ms. Macready?"
The woman looked at them in displeasure. "I'm afraid so." She looked at their luggage. "Is this it, then? Haven't you brought anything else?"
"No ma'am," Peter said. "It's just us."
Mrs. Macready eyed them. "Small favors."
The five piled their trunks in the wagon and took a seat. If Ms. Macready recognized Holly, she certainly didn't show it. She simply drove off, muttering something about being too old to care for children.
Holly drifted to sleep on the ride to the mansion. Once they arrived, Peter tried to wake her.
"Holly? We're here."
"Let her sleep, child!" Mrs. Macready snapped. "I'm sure she needs it."
"Why?" Lucy asked curiously.
"I expect she hasn't slept properly since her father died," Mrs. Macready remarked.
Susan gasped. "Oh, the poor thing! I had no idea…"
"Well, it's not something I broadcast to the public."
The Pevensies and Ms. Macready turned to see that Holly had woken up, and Susan turned pink. Holly didn't say anything else and busied herself carrying her luggage inside.
Ms. Macready was lecturing them about the house rules.
"Professor Kirke is not accustomed to having children in the house. And as such there are a few rules you need to follow." Ms. Macready walked up the stairs, with the five children following quietly. "There will be no shouting or running. No improper use of the dumb-waiter. No touching of the historical artifacts!" She said the last bit pointedly to Susan, who had reached out to touch a marble head on a pedestal.
Ms. Macready sighed in exasperation before telling them the last rule. "And above all, there shall be no disturbing of the professor."
Later that night, once they had all gotten settled in, Peter came in the girls' room to tuck Lucy in.
"These sheets are scratchy," Lucy complained.
Susan smiled at her. "Wars don't last forever, Lucy. We'll be home soon."
"Yeah, if home's still there," Edmund said, rolling his eyes.
Everyone gave him a withering look.
"Isn't it time you were in bed?" Susan asked pointedly.
"Yes, Mum," Edmund replied sarcastically.
"Ed!" Peter snapped, giving him a look.
Holly hid a laugh at the family drama. It almost made her wish she had siblings.
Peter turned to Lucy with a smile. "You saw outside. This place is huge! We can do whatever we want here."
He looked at Holly pleadingly, thinking maybe Lucy would feel better if someone who had been here already said something nice.
"Yeah," Holly agreed quickly. "Um, I used to love coming here when I was younger."
Lucy finally cracked a smile, and everyone said their goodnights. Edmund and Peter headed across the hall to their room. Susan turned off the lamp, and the three girls drifted off to sleep.
