Our Story
Chapter II
First of all, to get it over with: I disclame.
The events in this book do go along with those that you already know, but are not quite the same; just to let you know, so you don't think you are reading the same Narnia simply with slightly different names. I know there is always room for improvement, so please do tell me if you believe something could use it. And if you find any grammar mistakes at all, again, let me know, I am a G. Nazi myself, and won't mind at all if you find something I could not. That is all I will say about reviewing; there will be no pleading on hands and knees or virtual anything. As of yet.
Thank you to all of those diving into this adventure alongside of me.
~Ereb Lor
"There is a forest, in the wardrobe!"
Looking back on this, Leona would wonder why one has the strange tendency to state the obvious in a peculiar situation. Though it was quite impossible for a whole forest to be in a small (well, small when compared to a forest) box. She stared up in awe at the crystals of ice hanging off of white dusted branches. The frigid breath of the winter air kissed her cheeks, leaving her blushing. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a seemingly out-of-place object. The fire had been what had grabbed her attention, for it was evening, and getting darker by the minute (what was even stranger was that it had been midday outside of the wardrobe). She looked behind her and saw the furry coats hanging, same as they had been, and so, heart thumping, made her way towards the lamppost. In the back of her head was the nagging voice that told her to turn back and tell her siblings first, to let somebody know; but that voice, if obeyed, never led anybody to adventure or discovery. And that just would not do for our heroin.
Reaching out her hand to touch the metallic surface, she stared quizzically up at the object, so foreign in the dense woods. Had she not been so caught up with it, she would have heard the snapping of twigs earlier. But whatever it was was almost upon her when she finally did. She nearly jumped five feet in the air when it exited the cover of trees. Parcels flew as both yelped and hid. Leona thought of running, but was not being chased, and so curiously peeked out from behind the lamppost pole. She could only see a snippet of red fabric, and decided, hesitantly, to call out.
"H-hello?"
A minute later, part of a brown, almost black, mop of curly hair could be seen.
"If you are with Her, I swear that I have done nothing." replied a young man's voice.
"Who? I am not with anybody." This actually was not the smartest thing in the world to say, but she did not think of this at the time. There was no reply for another minute, until more of the person could be seen.
"You aren't? Then why are you out in the forest when it is nearly nighttime?"
"Well, why are you?"
"I-I was just, getting some supplies. That is allowed!"
"I didn't say it wasn't!"
"You are quite surely alone?"
"Why, yes! I'm not a liar, you know."
They had both been tentatively making their way around their hiding spots, and soon, it was apparent that he was no man, at least, not a normal man. Each stared for a while, taken aback.
"What are you, if I may ask?" she said, almost rudely.
"I should be asking you the same. I am obviously a faun, but what are you? You seem too big for a dwarf…" Indeed, he had the furry legs like that of a goat, cloven hoofs, and small horns
"You couldn't be… a Daughter of Eve?" he asked breathlessly.
"No, my mum's name isn't Eve, it's-"
"Yes yes, but you are, a real human?"
"I'm not a fake one, if that's what you mean." For the first time, his mood lightened, and chuckling, he stepped closer.
"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Tuumnontieus. You are?"
"Nice to meet you Mister, Tumnenon…uss, Tumn, Tumm, Tummnenuss…? I'm Leona." His eyes twinkled at her inability to pronounce his name, but said nothing.
"You certainly look cold, how about you warm yourself by the fire in my house with a cup of tea, and tell me how you managed to get here?"
"I don't know, Pippin and the rest might start to get worried…"
"It won't take long at all, really. It is close to here, and the fire is already burning. They wouldn't want you to catch a cold, would they now?"
"No, they wouldn't. That sounds lovely, thank you." Picking up the scattered boxes, the two set off, talking like they had not just met each other. She had shortened his name to Tumnus after a few more futile attempts. The faun had not been lying when he said they were close. It seemed only a few moments, and they were standing beneath the rock face in which the homely place was built. Upon entering, Tuumnontieus immediately put himself to work, and his guest gazed around herself, seeing the many books, two old, but comfortable looking chairs in front of the hearth, a short hallway, two closed-off rooms, and a quaint kitchen.
When the faun was done bustling about, they sat, warming themselves, Leona telling him all he wanted to know, and him doing the same for her. She wondered at what kind of tea it was she was sipping at, for there was an herb in it that she couldn't quite place.
She was in a land called Narnia (which you already know, dear readers). While it was once great, one hundred years ago it had been turned into a winter wasteland, ruled cruelly by a heartless witch, the White Witch. She learned what happened to those that tried to defeat her, and how all hope was torn out of the rest of the Narnian's bodies. Every one of them dreamed of the times before, of the dancing, the joy, the laughter, and the singing, the things that had slipped from their grasp.
"I remember one of the last songs I sang with the Dryads. May I?" He politely asked.
"Oh, please do!" although she could not understand the words, she knew it was of the glory that had been ruefully been taken from the land so long ago. It was getting increasingly hard to stay awake though, and within the first five minutes, she had lost the battle.
