Wow guys. It has certainly been a long time since the latest update, but to keep it simple; life has been...life. So! I hope you'll enjoy this chapter on the year's next last (or maybe last) day if you guys first see this on the 31st of December. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, and let me wish all of you a Happy New Year. Be safe, guys and don't drink too much alcohol! Though, myself I am going to have a few :P Happy New Year and enjoy! :D

~ Shoutout to all of you reading this; please take a minute out of your time to review! Also the short sentenced reviews are appreciated! I don't bite! ;)

Thank you for your continued support!

-LovingBOBThePacific

Disclaimer: Goes for the same in all chapters. I don't own anything else but Cornelia, Andrew and scenes (and lines) I've created myself. All rights goes to their respective owners.

"For Narnia. And for Aslan!"

Enjoy ;-).


Goldenflower

Chapter Four – Another World:

Previously in Goldenflower….

Hurt, she watched them with unbridled disappointment. Their eyes widened at the realization that Cornelia had heard their private discussion with the professor. She turned her back to them but halted in her tracks when Peter spoke up.

"Cor, I'm-."

With a sad sigh, Cornelia called out, "Come on, Lucy. Lead the way."

Cornelia heard Lucy hesitate; then, seconds later, her cousin spoke with obvious uncertainty. "Sure."

She breathed in and then out in relief when she heard footsteps crunching loudly behind her. She pretended she didn't notice how Lucy studied her before taking the lead once again.


Cornelia found the trip tiring thus far; if not physically then emotionally. Her oldest cousins had tried to start a conversation with her, but she had stubbornly kept her answers short. Along the way, Lucy had been telling them about Mr. Tumnus. She had even mentioned that the faun had tried to abduct her at first, a revelation that hadn't sat well with Peter, but Lucy had quickly convinced them all that Tumnus was on their side. Currently, Lucy confidently led the group, telling them all about the faun's kitchen.

"…lots and lots of lovely food, and we'll have lots and lots of…."

Suddenly, Lucy stopped talking and the noisy crunch of their footfalls ceased. Cornelia looked up. Sure enough, there was a wooden door in the smooth wall of rock in front of them, just as Lucy had told them. But the door had obviously been kicked in – something was definitely off.

"Lu?" Peter called out in concern as he stood just in front of Cornelia. Instead of answering, Lucy took off in a run towards the door without warning.

"Lucy!" Peter called frantically. Cornelia followed and managed to shoulder her way past her older cousins. She was never far behind, but Lucy surely could run fast when she wanted to. Abruptly, Lucy stopped when she got inside. The little house was as she had described, just a whole lot messier. The door was broken, glass lay spread out all over the floor along with papers, snow and books. Furniture had been thrown around, and the sight sent shivers down the eleven year old's spine. Peter breathed heavily right behind her. Protectively, he placed a hand on her shoulder, but she shrugged it off. Cornelia slowly walked past Lucy, careful not to ruin the objects on the floor any further, then glanced back at Peter. Ignoring his hurt expression, she only spared him a hard look before turning away toward Lucy.

"Who would do something like this?" asked a truly shocked and sad Lucy.

"I don't know, Lu," Cornelia whispered, glancing at the ruined kitchen. Mr. Tumnus had clearly been cooking when his uninvited guests came.

Cornelia turned as she heard a sound of ripping paper.

"The Faun Tumnus is hereby charged," Peter started reading, "with High Treason against Her Imperial Majesty, Jadis, Queen of Narnia, for comforting her enemies and fraternizing with humans. Signed Maugrim, Captain of the Secret Police. Long live the Queen."

Susan took the note out of Peter's hand and skim-read it. Lucy stood with a hand on her brother's arm, while Edmund and Cornelia placed themselves in different corners of the room.

"All right. Now we really should go back," Susan insisted, sounding very spooked out.

"But what about Mr. Tumnus?" Lucy retorted.

"If he was arrested just for being with a human," Susan explained,"I don't think there's much we can do."

"You don't get it, do you, Susan?" Cornelia voiced as she sent a cursory glance toward her confused cousins. She smiled sadly before motioning to Lucy, who looked at her siblings with sad eyes. "Lucy's that human."

"She must have found out he helped me," Lucy speculated aloud.

Peter shrugged. "Maybe we should call the police."

Cornelia rolled her eyes.

"These are the police!" Susan promptly reminded him.

"Don't worry, Lu," Peter quickly reassured his sister. "We'll think of something."

"Why?" Edmund suddenly blurted. Cornelia glanced suspiciously at him. And so did his siblings.

"I mean, he's a criminal," Edmund elaborated.

"Tumnus is no more a criminal than you are, Ed," Cornelia retorted, giving him a rather pointed look. Her cousin glared at her.

"Pssst!" All five heads whipped toward the door. Right outside, a bird sat on a low-hanging branch.

"Did that bird just 'pssst' us?" Susan questioned.

"No, Susan," Cornelia mumbled sarcastically. "I'm sure it all just was inside of your head."

"Cor…" Peter sighed.

"It's Cornelia for you," the eleven year old said curtly before marching out of the house. Her cousins followed her shortly after. Inside, she quickly realized, had been dim; outside was not, and Cornelia had to squint her eyes a bit as it had been rather dark inside the house. Her cousins followed reluctantly behind her.

Cornelia looked around, trying to locate the bird, but it was already gone. She had a very bad feeling that they were being watched – and it didn't help the feeling in the gut when a bush started rustling. Whatever it was, it moved fast.

The children automatically closed ranks, although Edmund and Cornelia made sure to maintain some space between them. They all stared ahead at the snow-capped rocks. No one dared to move.

Suddenly, a small brown creature with even darker eyes looked out from its hiding place. A beaver!

Cornelia could have laughed at herself and the others. It was a small beaver!

Her cousins were just as surprised and relieved as she was. They all simply stared at first, not exactly knowing what to do, but Lucy broke the strained silence by announcing: "It…It's a beaver."

The beaver came closer, its twitching nose held up, sniffing the air.

Peter then stuck a hand out, clicking with his tongue as if he was calling for a dog. "Here, boy. Here, boy."

The beaver stood up on two legs and gave Peter a quizzical look.

"I ain't gonna smell it, if that's what you want," the beaver suddenly spoke.

Cornelia's mouth went open wide, before she beamed. A talking beaver! This was really Narnia!

Lucy began to giggle while Peter muttered a sheepish, "Eh, sorry."

"Lucy Pevensie?" the beaver then questioned.

Lucy took reluctantly a step forward. "Yes?"

Meanwhile, the beaver had taken out a white handkerchief with a small patch of embroidery at the top. It looked awfully similar to Lucy's.

Lucy took it. "That's the hankie I gave to Mr. Tum…"

"Tumnus," the beaver nodded, "He got it to me just before they took him."

"Is he all right?" Lucy asked, clearly concerned.

The beaver looked around, as if to make sure no one was watching them, before motioning them to follow him. "Further in."

He turned to leave, so Cornelia, Lucy and Peter began to follow him, but Susan stopped her older brother by asking, "What are you doing?"

"She's right?" Edmund voiced, "How do we know we can trust him?"

Peter shrugged. "He said he knows the faun."

Su's eyes went wide, as she hissed, "He's a beaver. He shouldn't be saying anything!"

"Well, we are in Narnia, which logically means that anything can happen," Cornelia argued.

"Everything all right?" the beaver asked, now perched on one of the rocks.

"Yes," Peter spoke quickly, glancing at his siblings before returning his gaze to the beaver. "We were just talking."

"That's better left for safer quarters," the beaver whispered before disappearing.

Lucy looked back at them before looking up, explaining: "He means the trees."

The look Susan and Edmund shared made Cornelia silently fume. Peter, on the other hand, was clearly debating with himself about which side to choose: Susan's or Lucy's. In the end, he placed a hand on Lucy's back to usher her forward. Cornelia smiled faintly before following, Su and Ed silently trailing her.

The beaver led them through the forest and down narrow paths flanked by stone; the stunning, wintry scenery was a constant reminder of Christmas, and Cornelia suddenly couldn't help but wonder what month it was back home.

"Come on. We don't want to be caught out here after nightfall." Mr. Beaver ushered them on time after time after time.

It slowly became darker and darker the longer they walked, and there was barely any light when Mr. Beaver suddenly spoke, "Blimey! Looks like the old girl has got the kettle on. Nice cup o' Rosy Lee."

The six of them stopped at the cliff's edge, where they had the most outstanding view over the river below. Cornelia eyed the dam, as well as the small, humble home that had two windows and a smoking chimney.

"It's lovely." Lucy complimented.

"Ah, it's merely a trifle, you know. Still plenty to do. Ain't quite finished it yet. It'll look the business when it is, though," Mr. Beaver spoke, clearly flattered.

Cornelia smiled. The accent of his was adorable and fit him perfectly.

"Beaver, is that you?" a female voice called when they arrived at the dam, "I've been worried sick! If I find you've been out with Badger again, I…"

Cornelia smiled sweetly as Mrs. Beaver came out to meet her husband with a reprimanding ramble.

"Oh," Mrs. Beaver blurted when she finally noticed Cornelia and her cousins.

"Well, those aren't badgers….I never thought I'd live to see this day!" Her cheerfulness gave way to sudden irritation, and she hissed at Mr. Beaver, "Look at my fur. You couldn't give me ten minutes warning?"

Mr. Beaver chuckled. "I'd have given a week if I thought it would've helped."

Everyone except for Edmund laughed.

"Oh, come inside," Mrs. Beaver said, "and we'll see if we can't get you some food and some…civilized company."

"Now, careful," Mr. Beaver warned as the children filed into the beavers' house. "Watch your step."

"Isn't there anything we can do to help Tumnus?" Peter asked that evening during supper. Cornelia was sitting on the stairs in the back with Edmund, while the rest had congregated around a little table with the beavers.

The house was so simple but beautiful, decorated with trinkets her mother also had in their kitchen, living room and so on. And Mrs. Beaver's small ornaments made the house unique.

"They'll have taken him to the Witch's house," Mr. Beaver answered solemnly. "You know what they say. There's few that go through them gates that come out again."

"Fish 'n' chips?" Mrs. Beaver interrupted, trying to light up the mood.

"Isn't there anything at all we can do?" Cornelia questioned uneasily on Lucy's behalf.

"There is hope, dear. Lots of hope," Mrs. Beaver replied reassuringly, putting a hand on Lucy's shoulder.

Mr. Beaver almost choked on his drink before explaining, "Oh, yeah, there's a right bit more than hope!" He lowered his voice, "Aslan is on the move."

Cornelia immediately experienced a sense of warmth and security, a pleasant reminder of how it had been like with Andrew watching over her. Not so long ago, she had felt the same around Peter. The word 'Aslan' brought out memories. Happy memories she had shared with her cousins, parents or her brother; her brother especially so. Cornelia watched as Edmund stood and slunk up to the table where Peter, Susan, Lucy and the two beavers sat.

"Who's Aslan?" Edmund asked. Cornelia had to nod in agreement. Who was he?

Mr. Beaver began to laugh and Cornelia tilted her head to the side in amusement.

"Who's Aslan? You cheeky little blighter!"

The beaver did stop, though, when his wife slapped his side and sent him a look. With complete seriousness, he asked, "You don't know, do you?"

"Well, we haven't exactly been here very long," Peter spoke.

"Well, he's only the king of the whole wood," Mr. Beaver spoke calmly, "The top geezer. The real King of Narnia."

"He's been away for a long while," Mrs. Beaver chimed in.

"But he's just got back!" Mr. Beaver continued, "And he's waitin' for you near the Stone Table!"

"He's waiting for us?" Lucy questioned.

"You're bloomin' joking!" Mr. Beaver exclaimed.

Cornelia looked away, expecting to catch sight of a bored Edmund, but he was nowhere to be seen. Where had he gone? But she told herself that he had probably just gone out for some air; though, it was rather rude of him, for the beaver's storytelling was an absolute treat. Yet Cornelia assured herself that he would be back in no time, that there was no need to worry. Why should she even worry about Edmund? He had always done what he saw fit, and that included disappearing at odd moments too. Cor couldn't remember a time where he hadn't willingly returned home after running away...

"Go after him, my child." A voice echoed inside her head. Not just any voice; but the one that had spoken to her when she had seen Narnia in the flame of her bedside candle. Trusting the voice wholeheartedly, Cornelia snuck out, not wanting to disturb or worry her other cousins. She was sure Lucy would tell her what she missed when she got back when she returned with Edmund, although she was sure he was right outside.

The cold air hit her square in the face. Cornelia wrapped her arms tighter around her as she tried hard to find Edmund's silhouette in the storm. When she looked back, she could only glimpse the weakest sign of light from the beavers' small window. When she had left the beavers' house, she was sure she would have seen Edmund standing motionless somewhere, watching the horizon, but he was nowhere to be seen.

Snow flew into her eyes, and her eyes stung, but she finally spotted him. She could reach him if she moved fast enough.

"Edmund!" she called softly, but her voice was carried away by the wind.

"Edmund!"

This time she called louder. And he heard her. She watched him turn, and she could see the surprise in his brown eyes as she ran up to him. The surprise faded, being replaced by his trademark annoyance.

"Go back, Cornelia," he told her sternly.

"Where are you going?" Cornelia asked, completely ignoring his order.

"I said, go back, Sprout!" Edmund told her once again, and neither his expression nor his tone of voice changed.

Stubbornly, Cornelia shook her head, smirking mischievously when she saw how much she annoyed him.

"No," she told him, looping an arm through his. He tried to get her off, but Cornelia was strong for her age. "Actually, I think I might go with you."

Edmund rolled his eyes in annoyance, finally ripping his arm out of her grip. "Fine, but keep up. I don't want to be out here for much longer."

Without another word, he began to walk, Cornelia trailing behind him like a faithful puppy.

"Where are we going, Edmund?" Cornelia asked softly.

"None of your business," Edmund sighed.

"Actually it is, since I'm accompanying you," she pointed out.

Edmund let out a humorless laugh. "'Forced companionship', more likely. I told you to keep up, didn't I?"

"Well, yes." Cornelia hesitated.

"Then do it," he snapped.

"Edmund…?"

Edmund groaned. "Shut up, Sprout."

Cornelia shrugged, smiling. "Okay!"


"They don't even know about the prophecy!" Mr. Beaver exclaimed in disbelief back at the beavers' dam.

Mrs. Beaver tried to calm her husband, motioning to the children before them. "Well, then…."

"Look," Mr. Beaver sighed, "Aslan's return, Tumnus' arrest, the secret police; it's all happening because of you!"

Susan canted her head. "You're blaming us?" she asked disbelievingly.

"No! Not blaming," Mrs. Beaver clarified in her calm, motherly voice. "Thanking you."

Mr. Beaver began to explain. "There's a prophecy. 'When Adam's flesh and Adam's bone, sits at Cair Paravel in throne, the evil time will be over and done.'"

"You know, that doesn't really rhyme," Susan spoke up.

"I know it doesn't. You're kinda missin' the point!"

Mrs. Beaver put a hand on Mr. Beaver's shoulder as his temper flared. But no one knew if it was due to Susan's nonchalant remark or his excitement concerning the prophecy.

"It has long been foretold," Mrs. Beaver continued," that two Sons of Adam and two Daughters of Eve will defeat the White Witch and restore peace to Narnia."

The two oldest Pevensies shared a look of logical disbelief before turning back to the beavers.

"And you think we're the ones?" Peter asked.

"Well, you'd better be, because Aslan's already fitted out your army," Mr. Beaver informed them matter-of-factly.

"Our army?" Lucy exclaimed.

"Mum sent us away so we wouldn't get caught up in a war," Susan stated to her siblings.

"I think you've made a mistake," Peter tried to reason with them, "We're not heroes."

"We're from Finchley," Susan agreed.

The two beavers gave each other puzzled looks before Susan took the lead once again, and stood up. "Thank you for your hospitality. But we really have to go."

"No, you can't just leave!" Mr. Beaver exclaimed as Peter stood up.

Lucy, on the other hand, didn't move an inch. "He's right. We have to help Mr. Tumnus."

"It's out of our hands," Peter gravely told his sister before returning back to the beavers. "I'm sorry, but it's time the five of us were getting home. Cor? Ed?"

The three siblings turned around, expecting to see their brother and cousin still lounging on the stairs, but both Edmund and Cornelia had mysteriously vanished.

"Ed?" Peter called again, turning to see that the door was standing wide open. "Cor?"

He then turned to Susan, practically snarling, "I'm gonna kill him."

"You may not have to," Mr. Beaver spoke up somberly, looking questionably at the three siblings. "Has Edmund ever been to Narnia before?"

The Pevensies looked at each other, all three of them nodding slowly.

"What about Cornelia?" Susan suddenly asked.

Lucy gasped. "She must have noticed Edmund slip away. She must have followed him."

"Curse her and her adventurous side some times," Peter muttered to himself, but loud enough for everyone to hear.

There was a brief moment of silence before Mr. Beaver spoke up again. "There is another prophecy."

Automatically, Peter and Susan returned to their seat beside Lucy, who had remained sitting, not in the least prepared to leave.

"Am I thinking what you're thinking?" Mrs. Beaver questioned her husband.

Nodding slowly, Mr. Beaver watched his wife in concern. "Yes, my dear."

"What is it?" Lucy asked, concerned on Cornelia's (and also Edmund's) behalf.

Mrs. Beaver cleared her throat, taking her husband's hand. "There's a prophecy stating that a fifth child would arrive in Narnia, but it was mostly a myth. Until now. If Cornelia is who I think she is, based on the prophecy, then your brother is leading her to the worst place and person she could possibly meet, both for her own, but also for Narnia's future."

"What do you mean? The Witch?" Susan asked concernedly.

Mr. Beaver nodded before asking. "How old is Cornelia?"

"Eleven," Susan replied.

"And how old would a stranger assume she is?"

"Older than her eleven years," Peter replied.

Susan cleared her throat. "I don't see what's…"

"Cornelia is…?" Lucy gasped.

Mr. Beaver nodded, but Lucy's two older siblings still looked completely lost. "Your cousin is one of the rarest things in all of Narnia. We have a term for it."

"What does the prophecy exactly say?" Susan asked.

"We don't have time for that!" Peter and Lucy snapped in unison.

Lucy inhaled sharply. "If Cornelia really is the fifth child and she is one of the rarest things in all of Narnia, then…."

"Mmmm, and I doubt that the Witch will let Cornelia out of her sight, let alone let her leave," Mr. Beaver spoke.

"We have to find them!" Lucy exclaimed.

After casting Mr. Beaver a horrorstruck glance, Peter quickly made up his mind, a simple promise to an older cousin of his helping him on the way. "Lead the way."


So, that was it for now, but don't fret! A new chapter is already on the move to get edited, so hopefully it won't take so long for another update.

A little sidenote: I originally planned to stick with telling the story from Cornelia's point of view, but in this chapter, there's a little third POV, because I thought that building this scene up from the film with the Pevensies' and Cornelia's prophecy would fit very well together, for further understanding in the story.

Now, honestly, how many of you had thought of the possibility of Cor suddenly disappearing with Edmund? :D I can tell you, my beta hadn't thought of that twist :P

'Till next time, my lovelies!

Happy New Year! (for the third time :P)