AN: Going to take a few moments to thank my friend and beta, Nothing Really Specific. If you can folks, I do highly recommend that you go and read his fics. They truly are pretty good.

Chapter Three

The Pevensies and Schurns Are Introduced

The next day came, and as Mr. and Mrs. Pevensie promised, the children were to meet the two children that the Berkovich's had taken in.

Once the children had gotten out of school, the children sat down and at the urging of their mother did their schoolwork. Their mother informed them that their father would be meeting them at Mr. Berkovich's house (considering his home was closer to the university than the Pevensie family's).

Once everyone had finished, Mrs. Pevensie urged the children to put on their coats. She then led them to the car. Once everyone was inside, they drove down the London streets. By now night had settled on the city and the lamp-posts were flickering on, guiding the way for the family. Along with the glow of the lamp-post was the glow of candles set in windows. Lights of green, red, purple, and white hung out along the walls of homes, businesses, and apartment buildings. Enchanted by the lights, the children couldn't help but smile and point them out. Many of the shops and cafe were starting to close for the evening, and the bars were getting ready for business. It was Lucy who excitedly pointed out a young couple sitting on a bench, the man holding onto the leash of a dalmatian. People were walking down the street; some leading children along, who were just as dazzled by the lights and the activity as the Pevensies were.

The Pevensies arrived at the residence of the Berkovich's. It was a nice little home, just one of five that were all connected by attics. The glow of lamps could be seen in the windows. Once Mrs. Pevensie parked the car and they had all clambered out, they made their way their down the path that led to the Berkovich's door.

Mrs. Pevensie knocked. It took only a matter of seconds before a servant- a short, kindly black woman named Bella (whom had been employed by the Berkovich's since they had first arrived to London back about ten years ago). The children and their mother greeted the woman with warm smiles and kind greetings as they entered the home. Once Bella had taken their coats- Mrs. Berkovich made her way out of the kitchen to greet them. Mr. Pevensie followed her and was smiling as he embraced his children warmly and wrapped an arm affectionately around his wife. "So, shall we go on ahead then?"

"Yes," Elsa said. "Come along everyone. It's time for introductions to be made."

They made their way into the dining area, which was of a simplistic yet surprisingly grand design. A painting of the prophet Moses parting the Red Sea hung on the wall while a painting of a Star of David hung on the other. A picture of Mr. and Mrs. Berkovich when they were both rather young sat on a counter. There weren't any Christmas decorations aside for a figurine of Father Christmas holding a sack atop his shoulder on a lovely shelf that also held various other knick-knacks both of Jewish and non-Jewish tradition. A couple of them were actually snow globes featuring German cities such as Berlin and Dresden.

Of course, the children showed a more particular interest in the Schurns. They were- as the Berkovich's had mentioned- a sister and a brother. The girl was between Peter's and Susan's age, and the boy was between Susan's and Edmund's. They were quite thin- the girl's hair was dark, thick and wavy, and framed a beautiful face. Yet when one looked into her brown eyes only a fool wouldn't be able to decipher her misery and pain. For her eyes bore no fondness her past and no promise of a future, save for a small glimmer, which was really the reflection of a candle on the table. As for her brother- he was thin and about Edmund's height. Surprisingly, his hair was of a lighter color than his sister's- a blonde hue that was typically associated with what the Nazis identified as a "sign of Aryan bloodline." Both of them had brown eyes and the stereotypical noses associated with Jews.

"Magda and Ansel, these are Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie." Mr. Berkovich introduced. With each name that he mentioned, he stood behind them and placed a hand on their shoulders so that the children knew whom he was talking about.

Mr. Berkovich then walked over to Mrs. Pevensie and introduced the children to her. As he introduced the girl (Magda) and the boy (Ansel), there was the shaking of hands. As the Pevensies shook the hands of the children, they found that Magda and Ansel had quite firm grips- as if those hands were made of iron and were trying to crush them. Their smiles of greeting were also fleeting, melting like sugar in water. Giving the children the slight impression that something was wrong.

"How come they're not smiling?" Lucy whispered to Susan.

"Did we do something wrong?" Edmund asked Peter.

Neither of the eldest Pevensies knew. Nor was there time to ask the children if there was- for now everyone was being urged to the table so that the meal could be served.

Once everyone had sat down, Bella made her way into the kitchen with platters in hand. Once she had sat the silverware as well, Mr. Berkovich thanked the woman and invited her to join the table.

Glancing at how there was very little room at the table with all the food, the six Pevensies, the two Schurns, and the two Berkovichs, she shook her head. "If you please it Sir, but I don't believe that there is any room for me here at the table."

Mr. Berkovich shook his head and Mrs. Berkovich exclaimed, "Nonsense! There is always room for any kind folk such as yourself to join us, Bella. Even if you are a servant."

"Yes, please do join us," requested Mrs. Pevensie. "A woman such as yourself deserves to be treated with the same respect as your employers."

A smile crossed Bella's face that seemed to brighten the whole table (aside for the part where Magda and Ansel sat). "Well, if it's insisted."

As the maidservant pulled up a chair to sit down (the Berkovichs had plenty considering the Pevensies were guests that came by regularly as well as other keynote faculty and staff of the university, and from Elsa's job as a secretary to a local dentistry) to join them, the Pevensie children couldn't help but notice the slight uneasiness that the Schurns exhibited when she did. Susan, who sat next to Ansel, noticed that the boy had reached underneath the table for his sister's hand and she took it in his, giving it a squeeze of reassurance. He in turn squeezed hers as Bella sat down completely.

Turning to Mr. and Mrs. Berkovich- Bella said, "Thank you, you're both kind."

"No, thank you Bella," Mr. Berkovich said, "If it were it not for you, we would not have the food that we have here before us."

"Agreed," Mrs. Berkovich confirmed. She turned to the Schurns, "Children, what do you say to Bella?"

The two children looked to each other with eyebrows raised. After a few moments pause, Magda spoke in a slow, uncertain manner as if she were trying to perfect every syllable. Being German and having never learned English, she had very little knowledge of the language, and wanted to make a good first impression. "Th-thank...you?"

"Good," said Mrs. Berkovich. Turning to Ansel, she said, "What do you say?"

The boy took on a disgruntled look. As if him having to say the words "thank you" were the equivalent of him having a tooth pulled. Still after some prodding from his sister, he said, "Th-thank you, Bella."

Bella smiled kindly at them. "You're most welcome."

Mr. Berkovich turned to everyone at the table. "Shall we all now thank the One who has blessed our circumstances that brought us all here today?"

"Let's," said Mrs. Pevensie.

Bella nodded her head.

It was always an interesting occasion when the two families came together and uttered prayers over the meal. While the Pevensies were of Catholic belief, the Berkovichs of course were Jewish, and now there was the added presence of Bella- who identified herself with the Church of England. As all the heads bowed and hands were joined together, Mr. Berkovich led the group together in an interfaith prayer. Thanking the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob for supplying all the different kinds of sustenance. He also added a prayer of thanks that even though they all came from different backgrounds, that they were all allowed to gather together as friends in a nation's government that was more welcoming and accepting than those of others. Last but not least, he said thanks that Magda and Ansel had been able to come to England and to be a part of their lives as well as their meals and expressed hope that there would be more such as it.

When the prayer was finished, everyone began to eat. As silverware clanked and dishes were passed around, the Pevensies found that the food they were eating was rather delicious. Smoked slices of hake were placed on eggs, and were cooked with brown onions, salt, pepper, and vegetable oil. Bella had also sliced some carrots. Slices of bread from a local Jewish bakery were also provided for the meal. The young Pevensie children of course weren't quite surprised that they enjoyed the food. Both Mrs. Berkovich and Bella were great cooks in their own right. When it was something they couldn't make, both women knew of some fine places in order to look.

Glancing at the Schurns as she ate, Susan noticed that the children didn't seem to enjoy it as much. While the girl was making an attempt at trying the food, the boy was poking at it with his silverware. A look of uncertainty riddled his face.

Mrs. Berkovich caught on to look quickly. "Ansel? Is there something wrong?"

Ansel didn't say anything.

Mrs. Berkovich tried again, except this time switching to German. The language was rough and gravelly sounding to the ears of the Pevensies. Edmund and Lucy couldn't help but wonder if it were possible that she had rocks rolling around in her throat.

"Ich bin nicht hungrig," responded Ansel.

"What did he say?" Peter asked, looking to his father. He knew that he knew some German. Both of them had fathers who fought in Germany during the Great War, and Mr. Pevensie later went there to study abroad during his second year as a university student.

It was Mr. Berkovich that responded, "Ansel said that he isn't very hungry."

"Why doesn't he speak English?" Edmund asked.

Mrs. Pevensie looked at her youngest son in disbelief. "Edmund! That was rather rude! You apologize to Ansel."

"Sorry," he said to Ansel. It was legitimate sorrow. The youngest Pevensie boy hadn't meant to come off as rude. He was merely curious.

A sour expression appeared on Ansel's face. The young Pevensie children's eyes widened. They had seen that look plenty of times in school. It was the expression of a fellow schoolmate who completely despised you because he got in trouble and you didn't. He didn't say anything though, instead he took on a sulky look when Mr. Berkovich said something in German that sounded something along the lines of a rebuke. The boy continued to poke out his plate, only eating a couple of bites.

Mrs. Pevensie turned to the Berkovich. "I sincerely apologize."

Mrs. Berkovich shook her head. "Fret not."

Mr. Berkovich turned to Edmund. "Magda and Ansel are from an orphanage that burned down in Berlin only a few weeks ago. While their education is decent, they know very little English. Magda has more knowledge than her brother."

"Forgiffen uss," pleaded Magda. "Zings haf been...deeffeekult fur uss zee pass kuple yeers."

All the young Pevensies could do was blink. Confusion swam across their faces as they looked to one another, finally the looks rested on their father. Mr. Pevensie's face wasn't riddled by confusion. Neither was their mother's. Instead, both of the grown Pevensies had a look of pity. Which they could see were actually making Magda silenter than a grave and Ansel was squirming uncomfortably in his seat.

The two Pevensie adults turned to the two Berkovich. "As you can see, even though she speaks English...her accent is very rough."

"They are still young yet though," said Mrs. Berkovich. "I started learning English when I was Magda's age, and my accent faded. With some tutoring, we're hoping that eventually they'll be able to speak it more clear and precise."

Ansel's eyebrows rose and he spat out some more words in German that none of the young Pevensies understood other than something that sounded like "English."

While the exchange that followed couldn't be understood by the Pevensie children, Mr. Pevensie understood every word, and while Mrs. Pevensie wasn't fluent in the language (she had chosen instead to focus on French during her studies) she understood some of the words and phrases since John had decided to teach her a few and she had received more tutoring from Elsa since they had become friends. (The language still didn't stick as well as French, but should she'd ever be in a situation where it was needed she'd manage.)

The exchange was as followed:

"I don't want to learn English!" Ansel had cried.

"We're sorry Ansel," Mr. Berkovich had said, "but you are in a different country now. You have to learn the language that most of the people speak."

"Magda and I didn't ask to be brought here! We were made to come here against our will!"

"You should consider yourself lucky that you are here at all," Mrs. Berkovich chastised. "Others in your position weren't as lucky."

"How is this lucky?" asked Ansel. "Magda and I are many leagues from home! We are in a completely different country from our own, one where we don't even know the language! We're staying with utter strangers! The ones who took charge of us in the orphanage were cruel, but at least we knew who they were! All we know about the two of you are that you're from our country, yet you might as well have been born British!"

"If it weren't for England, something terrible could have happened to us, to you, or Magda," said Elsa.

"How would you know?" asked Magda, cutting into the conversation. "Neither of you have lived in Germany for years! How would any of you know what's happening to the Jews over there? Do you hear rumors from old friends or something? How do you know more about what's happening there than we do? Nobody really knows what's happening over there! People are being taken away. For all we know they could just be just taking them out of a different country like England took us!"

"Whatever is happening there is no good. You're safer here than you are in Berlin, trust us."

"There is no safety for Jews!" cried Ansel. "The whole world hates us! We've always have been and always will be! Why would Britain want us here? We heard people whisper about us on the train here! People referred to us as Jewish swine and kosher dogs! At least when were being called that we were being done so back in our country and we could understand that they were giving us insult!"

"That will be enough!" shouted Mrs. Berkovich. "Children, the two of you are excused from this table. You can come back down and eat when the two of you can act decently here at the table. Mr. and Mrs. Pevensie have been rather too kind and accepting of your behavior."

"They're British," spat Magda. "Of course they like to act like they're all kind. That's all they ever do. Say that they're providing culture to everyone, really just taking everything for themselves."

"To bed," repeated Mr. Berkovich.

The two young children angrily got up from their seats. Once they were out of the kitchen, Mr. Berkovich sighed and Mrs. Berkovich shook her head. All the Pevensies could do was just awkwardly pretend that they were enjoying the meal, and Mr. and Mrs. Pevensie found themselves in uncomfortable silence, unable to say anything.

It was Bella who broke the silence. "Sir? Madame? Should I clean their plates?"

Both of the Berkovich just looked to the other and then turned to Bella. "That won't be necessary, Bella. We will simply leave it until we say it's time that they can come down and join us once more."

"Maybe we should leave," Mrs. Pevensie offered. "We wouldn't want to be intruding on such a serious matter."

Elsa shook her head, her voice was quite miserable as she said, "You don't have to leave" She pushed her plate to the side. "Though I do believe I'm not hungry anymore."

Bella got out of her chair and took the plate. "I will go and wash the dishes, Madame." She turned to the Pevensies. "Are the guests still hungry?"

Nobody was hungry now. When an argument has been had at a table, one usually doesn't maintain their appetite. As Bella kindly took the dinnerware and silverware of all the guests from the table, she shook her head and said, "Such a shame. It did seem as though this would be a lovely meal together."

Once Bella was out of the kitchen and the table had been cleared, Mrs. Pevensie turned to Peter and Susan. "Why don't the two of you take Ed and Lu and go and wait for Mummy and Daddy in the sitting room? Find a way of occupying yourselves. Though be sure not to break anything. Mummy and Daddy will come get you when it's time for us to go."

Without saying a word, the four children did. Once the dining room was clear and they could hear the children taking an interest in some of the books that Mr. and Mrs. Berkovich had on a bookshelf, Mr. and Mrs. Pevensie looked to their friends. "Sounds like they've been having a rather rough time," Helen said.

"They don't seem to be rather fond of visitors," remarked John.

Elsa sighed and cupped her forehead in her hands. "Is it that obvious?"

Otto shook his head. "No, they most certainly aren't. In fact it seems that none of the children are really fond of any of the people that they have met here."

"Perhaps it was too soon," suggested Mrs. Pevensie. "John and I should have waited for the children to meet one another when the children were more adjusted."

"They'd have to learn adjust soon enough," Elsa said. "They'll be starting school on Monday."

"John and I were talking about that after Otto had left. Are the two of you sure it's a good idea to be sending them to those schools?"

"Corner House and St. Mary's both have very good programs to help the children learn English. We're confident that they'll be able to speak it reasonably well in no time."

"I think what Helen means," said Mr. Pevensie, "is if it's a good idea to stick them in that kind of environment of people? If they don't like the children they just met, they're not going to like being in a classroom with dozens more of them."

"Right now the children are just upset," said Otto. "Their orphanage- probably the only place that they could consistently call 'a home' as terrible as it may have been- burned down. Their country doesn't want them. Nobody else would take them in. Those who would are disappearing all the time and being taken to God only knows what. Now they're in a country which they've been told all their lives is partly responsible for the very conditions that they were living in before they had the weight of what comes with being a Jew to add to it. That's enough to make any child angry."

"Indeed."

"I was actually hoping things would be more smoother," Elsa confessed. "I don't know how we're going to be able to handle this at all. The children don't like us or Bella. They barely talk. I knew things would be difficult, but I never imagined that they would be this wild."

"The two of you are doing all that you can. Have patience. The children will eventually warm up to the both of you and I imagine that they will with Bella in due time. As you said, things are hard on them at this moment. Everyone's going to have to make some adjustments."

"How do the two of you handle four children? Otto and I are struggling with two, and yet you handle your four as if it were nothing."

"That's because you only see our highlights," reassured Mrs. Pevensie. "Trust us. We know how children can be. Ours can be devils as much as they can be angels."

"I don't know if we can handle this," admitted Mr. Berkovich.

"Never lose hope. If anything else, never lose hope. The moment you lose hope is the second that you lose everything. Have patience and trust that all will work out. It may not happen now, but things will get better."

"Exactly," said Mr. Pevensie. "The two of you will do fine. You've only had them for a few days. It's going to take some time. Give it to Magda and Ansel. Let them discover England for themselves. They'll warm up to the idea of being here eventually."

Mr. Berkovich sighed. "I hope you're right, John. With how things are looking...I just hope that you're right."

AN:

Ich bin nicht hungrig- I'm not hungry.

I apologize if the phrasing is wrong. I used a translator. I'm still trying to learn German.