FERIAE CIVITAS

It took me longer than usual to write the next bit, but my diligence has paid off! I plan to write at least one more chapter after this, with possibly an epilogue, so this means we're more than half-done. I wasn't planning on making this a very long story, anyway. Again, you probably already know how this is going to end, but you probably want to read it for yourselves anyway!


Characters (with some exceptions) © C.S. Lewis and Disney/Walden Media

Story © unicorn-skydancer08

All rights reserved.


PART 4

"Are you sure about this, Tumnus? Do you really think it's safe for you and Puck to be out there alone, in the wilderness?"

"We'll be safe enough, Lucy," Tumnus answered, as he sealed his pack and hefted it onto his shoulder.

"Shouldn't you at least take Oreius with you?" Lucy asked anxiously. "Or Terence, or Peter, or anyone?"

"It's all right, Lucy. Puck and I can make it on our own for a few days." Tumnus gently traced his wife's jawline with his fingers before kissing her tenderly on the mouth. "Don't forget," he added on, "I've lived my whole life in the wild. And Aslan will be watching over us the whole time, dear heart. He'll protect us."

It was a cool, clear morning, and Tumnus was about to leave with Puck on what he called "a return to our forest roots".

Since he and Puck were fauns, he had said, he decided they could use some time away from life at the palace, and pay a visit to the woods and vales from which their ancestors hailed. Being fauns, naturally, the outdoors thrived in their very blood. Beyond that, Tumnus had added that this would be a perfect opportunity for the two of them to spend quality time together.

What he didn't mention, however, was that he would be taking Puck to the Stone Table…and that Puck would not be coming back with him in the end.

After three agonizing days of wrestling with himself, of fasting and praying endlessly, Tumnus had ultimately succumbed, and decided he would do what Aslan commanded of him.

Though his heart spoke against this, he knew he must obey Aslan, no matter the cost.

The thin, deadly knife Aslan had given him was wrapped in a clean cloth, and hidden at the very bottom of his loaded pack. Tumnus had made sure that no one else saw it, when he first tucked it away. Even now, though Tumnus put on a passable smile for his wife and everyone else, inwardly his heart was very heavy, on the verge of breaking. And seeing Puck's enthusiasm at the prospect of exploring the outside world with his father only stabbed at Tumnus, as if someone had thrust the very knife into him.

Lucy could clearly make out the distress in Tumnus's hollow blue eyes, and it was now her turn to trace his jawline.

"Are you feeling up to this, my dearest?" she questioned softly, curling a ringlet of his beard around her fingers. "Do you feel all right?"

"You've certainly been acting very strange these past few days, mate," Terence piped up, who'd joined up with them right then. "Are you sure there's nothing wrong?"

"I'll be all right," Tumnus assured his friend and his wife, even though he knew just the opposite was true. "A few days with Puck in the heart of Narnia ought to do us both a world of good."

"I'll go with you," Terence offered, just as Tumnus was turning away.

"No!" said Tumnus, almost too quickly, and too harshly.

Surprised, stunned, Terence took a tentative step back from his mate, as if he'd just been physically struck, while Lucy gave her husband a look of utter bafflement.

Speaking more gently this time, Tumnus repeated, "No. This is something I must do alone." Terence looked crestfallen, and Tumnus now set his pack down by his hooves, before placing his hands on Terence's drooped shoulders and gazing meekly into the youth's face. "Forgive me, Terence," the faun entreated. "It's nothing personal. It's nothing I hold against you. As much as I would love to have you with me, as much as I appreciate your offer, this is solely between me and Puck. This is meant for just the two of us, alone. You understand, don't you, mate?"

Terence was still evidently disappointed, but he nodded docilely. "I understand," he answered, in a very quiet voice.

He reached out and clapped Tumnus gently on the bare shoulder, adding on, "May Aslan be with you."

Tumnus's eyes welled up as he replied tremulously, "And may Aslan keep you…my brother." He stepped closer, and they slid their arms around one another, embracing warmly.

"Take care of Lucy for me," Tumnus whispered to Terence. Terence couldn't be sure, but Tumnus seemed in no hurry to let him go, and he didn't seem to want the young man to let go, either. When they finally pulled away in the end, Tumnus kissed Terence on the forehead, something he did only on very rare occasions.

It moved Terence deeply; the bewildered youth opened his mouth once or twice to speak after Tumnus had withdrawn, but could not find the appropriate words.

Now Tumnus turned to Lucy one last time. He pulled her against his heart, and held her just as tightly, if not tighter.

The tears that had sprung up trickled steadily down his cheeks as he did so. He closed his eyes and very slowly lowered his forehead to Lucy's shoulder, sniffling uncontrollably. Lucy was both surprised and dismayed to feel the warm wetness of his tears running over the bare skin of her neck. But before she could ask her husband what troubled him so, he looked up again and kissed her softly yet passionately on the mouth, before whispering, "My dearest, most beloved Lucy…no matter what happens, please remember that I love you, that you and Puck mean everything to me, that I would gladly give my life for you. And if I have ever hurt you or wronged you in any way, or should I ever do so, forgive me."

"Tumnus, whatever are you…" Lucy began to question, but he pressed his fingers against her lips to silence her.

"There is no real way for me to truly explain this," he said. "Just…kiss me, Lucy. Kiss me, one last time, before we depart."

Without even waiting for his wife to give her answer, he closed his eyes once more and, with the tears still pouring abundantly down his face, sealed his lips over hers in a final kiss. Lucy froze for but a brief moment. Then she felt the familiar sensation melt her knees, and she sank freely into her husband's arms and returned his impassioned kiss. She reached up and stroked his brown-gold curls as she did so, while he pulled loose the silk ribbon that kept her hair tied back, so that her hair came spilling down in a luxurious cascade of copper.

Terence, not wishing to disrupt the moment, moved quietly ahead, toward his godson, who was prancing excitedly about from here to there. When Puck saw his godfather, he stopped at once and hurried swiftly to Terence's side. "Uncle Terence," he said in his small voice, reaching up and tugging eagerly at the hem of Terence's blue frock, "are you coming, too?"

"No," said Terence gently, "not this time, little guy." He knelt down, so that they were at a more equal level, and went on, "It's just going to be you and your father."

He offered an encouraging smile. "But, hey…when you come back, you can tell me all about it!"

Puck appeared somewhat disappointed, but he just said, "Okay. I'll miss you, Uncle Terence."

Terence ruffled the little faun's blonde curls affectionately. "I'll miss you, too, little pal. You go, and have an adventure."

They hugged, and Terence was just climbing back to his feet by the time Tumnus joined them, with his pack slung over his shoulder, looking dejected but also resolute.

"Come, Puck," Tumnus said, in a reasonably steady voice, "it's time for you and I to get going. Say goodbye to your mother."

So Puck waved to Lucy. "Goodbye, Mama!"

A weak smile crossed Tumnus's face, in spite of himself. "I believe you can do better than that, my son."

Puck knew his father was right. So, he made a beeline to his mother, running as fast as his little goat legs could carry him.

Lucy readily opened her arms to her son as he drew near. Puck flung himself right into them, hugging her as hard as he possibly could. She crouched down to his level, and he adjusted his grip so that his little arms now wrapped around her shoulders. Lucy squeezed him every bit as hard as he squeezed her, if not harder.

"I love you, Mama," Tumnus heard his son mumble.

"I love you, darling," Lucy answered tenderly. "I love you so very much."

Emotion closed Tumnus's throat as he regarded the two of them. He was sure he was going to die on the spot. The sight was the most beautiful he had ever seen—and that was what was so terrible about it. Knowing this was Puck and Lucy's last moment together made the moment especially powerful and painful.

All too soon, Tumnus would have to take his son away, to fulfill the deed Aslan had conferred upon him.

If only there was some way to freeze time, to keep this one single moment alive forever…

Hold him, Lucy, Tumnus said silently to his wife, as a solitary tear trailed down his cheek, like a liquid jewel. Hold him…for as long as you can.


In the end, of course, Tumnus and Puck were compelled to leave. Before long, they were on their way. Puck's spirits were soaring as they left Cair Paravel behind and passed into the copse of cool green trees, with its pure streams of water, and the thick, sweet wildflowers and the fresh grass that grew past his knees.

He darted ahead of his father, laughing and whooping with pure jubilation. Tumnus watched with amusement and heartache as Puck pursued a butterfly that flitted just beyond his reach.

How could he do this, Tumnus couldn't stop asking himself? How could he destroy this precious child, put such rare sweetness and innocence to a bitter, premature end?

Who knew if it was even Aslan that had given him this command?

Perhaps it had all been a trick, some fancy of Tumnus's imagination.

Yet no sooner had such a notion filtered into Tumnus's head than the older faun was beset by a sudden, sharp pang in his gut that brought an audible gasp out of him. It nearly sickened him, threatened to make him double over in agony. He acknowledged this sick feeling as a sign of chastisement; no doubt this came from Aslan himself.

Tumnus immediately recanted, and didn't hesitate to pray to Aslan in his heart for forgiveness—before the Great Lion struck him down with something worse than guilt.