The elder Pevensies rose to begin cleaning up, and I siezed the opportunity to enter the room. King Edmund had remained seated, looking forlorn. I approached him and said quietly, "Thank you for defending me, Your Highness. It means a great deal to me."

He looked up at me. "Did you hear all of that?"

"I heard enough. But, if I may ask, how come you don't want your sister to stay?"
Standing up, he replied, "It isn't that I want her to leave, Tumnus, but you heard me--she isn't happy here. She's only happy with you." With that, King Edmund turned and began walking away. "By the way, Tumnus, not to appear rude, but please make no futher reference to our being 'kings' or 'queens'. We're not anymore."

As I gathered the few remaining gifts, I pondered all that I had recently heard and been told. The Beavers had begged me not to wish for Lucy's return, and for good reasons. I knew they didn't want to see me get hurt if things didn't work out. Peter and Susan wanted Lucy to remain where she was, because she "belonged" there. Edmund, on the other hand, said she was only content to be with me, which led to only one conclusion: Lucy loved me. And though that realization did cause my heart to race, it was quickly proceeded by another thought. No matter how much I cared for her and wanted her to return to Narnia with me, somehow I just couldn't take her away from her family. It may have been Lucy's birthday in her world, but in Narnia it was Christmas, and Christmas was about being unselfish.

I rejoined Lucy in her bedroom, and I silently watched her as she showed all of her gifts to Rupert. After a few moments, I set down what I was carrying and cleared my throat. "Can we talk?"

Lucy turned and beamed at me, but her smile faded when she noticed that I wasn't smiling back. "Mr. Tumnus, what's wrong?"

I sat down beside my young friend on her bed. I watched her as she quickly studied my face. Several thoughts were running through my mind, and I wasn't sure where to begin, so I just went straight to the heart of the matter. "Lucy, when I arrived today, I had every intention of taking you back with me to Narnia. But I've just finished talking with Edmund, and I can't do that to you, or your family. In talking with your brother, I realized that you need to be with them." I swallowed hard, and watched as tears began to trickle down her face. Before I was able to continue, Lucy wrapped her small arms around my neck.

"Please don't leave me, Mr. Tumnus. I tried to get back to you, but the wardrobe wouldn't let me. I don't know how you managed to find your way here, but this has been the best birthday I've ever had. It's been absolutely miserable without you. Don't go, Mr. Tumnus. Please take me back to Narnia."

Hearing her pleading this way nearly broke my heart. It wasn't enough to make me change my mind, but it did cause tears to flow down my own cheeks. I pulled her away and looked her squarely in the eyes. "Try to understand that I'm not doing this to hurt you. I love you, Lucy Pevensie, and I want what's best for you, and what's best for you is to stay here with your family. And if it makes you feel any better, I don't enjoy having to tell you this."

I realized what I had just said, and as I turned my head away, she reached up and pulled it back. "You--you love me?"

I inhaled and slowly let it out. "More than you will ever know. I can't be selfish, Lucy. Your brothers and sister need you, too. Now, I'll stay for the night, but first thing tomorrow morning I have to get back."

Lucy sniffed. "But what about...what about us?"

"I promise you, no matter what happens, you will always be my one true Queen. I'll never forget you, Lucy."

Her arms went back around my neck. "Nor I you. I love you, Mr. Tumnus." With that, she kissed me on the cheek. "Here. I want you to take Rupert."

Lucy placed her teddy bear in my hands, and I gazed at him before asking, "Are you sure? He was given to you by your father."

"I know, but now I want you to have him. That way, whenever you're lonely, you'll have something of mine to make you feel better."

She had barely finished her sentence when she yawned. "I think I should go to bed. You are spending the night, aren't you, Mr. Tumnus?"

I nodded. "If you'd like."

"Yes, please do."

So, with Rupert now in my possession. I found myself sharing a room with Edmund.

"I can't believe you did that, Tumnus. I mean, you love Lucy, don't you?" he asked, just before turning the light out.

Nodding, I responded, "I do, but I finally understood that as long as we don't forget each other, we'll never truly be apart. As your sister gets older, I hope she comes to realize it, too."

Edmund and I bid one another good night, and as I drifted off to sleep, dreams of Lucy filled the night.