Authors note: Thanks to everyone who's reviewed my story so far and to answer a few question

The train station was crowded and noisy. Of course, Peter did not know that. He did notice the stares of pity and curiosity every time Mum signed something to him. He hated those stares the most. He hated being pitied or ignored. Some people even spoke louder when they addressed him as if that was supposed to help. would Susan tapped him on the shoulder motioning to his suitcase, then the train. He took that to mean that they were supposed to board.

Several hours later, the train dropped them off in the middle of the country at an empty platform. Peter looked at Susan, a questioning look in his eyes. She shrugged.

"The professor knew we were coming," Susan signed.

Peter pulled out his book and sat on the bench. He felt Lucy tug his wrist and looked up to see a woman driving a horse and cart come around the bend.

Susan squinted up at the lady. "Mrs. Macready?"

The lady nodded and they piled in, driving toward the house.

Once they were inside, Mrs. Macready held up her hand. "Your mother wrote to that one of you is deaf and mute. Which one is it?"

Susan stepped forward. "Our older brother is, but he knows sign language and how to read lips."

"Never mind all that. You will tell him the rules," Mrs. Macready said, heading up the stairs.

Susan nodded and started signing as Mrs. Macready recited the rules.

Peter frowned. Well, what can we do?

Twiddle our thumbs, learn the theory of life. Susan smiled. Never mind. I'm sure there are books to read. Maybe the professor has some that you haven't read yet. Come on. We should catch up to the others.

***********************************************************************

The next day it was raining outside. Lucy sat at the window seat looking outside dejectedly. Edmund lay under a chair doing who knew what. Peter sat in the armchair reading and Susan stood at the bookcase running her fingers across the spines of the book.

Peter looked up as Lucy hopped off the window seat and went over to Susan asking her something. Susan shook her head slightly, and then nodded. Lucy clapped her hands, a huge smile on her face. Edmund slid out from under the chair angely. Whatever game they were playing it seemed Edmund didn't approve, but had been forced to play.

A few minutes later Lucy stormed into the parlor tears streaming down her face. Peter looked at her.

What's wrong? He asked.

Edmund's being a beast again! Lucy angrily swiped the tears away, then started talking quickly so that Peter couldn't read her lips. "We were playing hide and seek and I hid in the wardrobe and there's another country behind the wardrobe. I met a faun, the others didn't believe me, but I was gone for ever so long. Edmund called me a baby, and Susan said I was lying, but I'm not and I wasn't!"

Peter looked at her a confused look on his face. He still didn't know what was going on, except that Lucy was upset and Edmund had something to do with it.

***********************************************************************

Over the next few days, Peter noticed some sort of tension between Lucy and Edmund and Susan and Edmund. He wondered what was going on, but so far no one would say anything.

Susan acted the way Mum did smiling and signing everything was fine. In a way Lucy did confide in him, but she never signed. She just talked it was if she was trying to get everything out to someone who wouldn't or couldn't tease her.

Edmund pretty much treated him the same way he had always treated him.

One day though, Mrs. Macready bought some people to see the house. Peter saw them enter the front door and he ran to find the others. Lucy and Susan he found sitting on one of the benches.

The Macready's on her way with a bunch of tourists.

Susan ran off to find Edmund and came back a few minutes later, dragging a very angry looking Edmund by the hand.

"Come on!" Susan motioned with her free hand, the other still keeping a tight grip on Edmund's hand.

Lucy grinned up at Peter and held out her hand. He took it and they followed Susan and Edmund through the house.

They came to a door and Susan pushed it open. There was nothing there except a wardrobe. Lucy looked gleeful, Edmund looked guilty and Susan looked exasparated. Peter was just confused.

They piled into the wardrobe walking backwards, tripping over each other as they landed in the snow. Lucy jumped up a huge smile on her face.

"Told you it was real," she said to Susan and Edmund as Peter stood up. You'll like this place, especially Mr. Tumnus.

Where are we? Peter asked, noticing the snow. And who's Mr. Tumnus?

Narnia and Mr. Tumnus is a faun I met. Lucy signed as Susan handed out coats.

Lucy skipped next to Peter signing excitedly. Suddenly her hands dropped. The smile left her face as she broke into a run. They followed her into a house that had been left in shambles. There was a note on the wall. Peter took it off and read it, then handed it to Susan.

Lucy looked near tears and Susan placed a hand on her shoulder. She turned to Peter. We need to go! It's dangerous here and you're at a disadvantage since you can't hear or speak.

Peter frowned and looked at Lucy. We can't leave yet, I don't think. Besides, I can take care of myself.

A bird flew in. Susan looked up.

Lucy pulled his hand. I think the bird wants us to follow him.

They followed the bird out of the house until a beaver came around the corner and started speaking. That is, Peter supposed he was speaking since his lips were moving and Susan's and Edmund's eyes were wide as saucers and Lucy looked like she was giggling.

The beaver handed a handkerchief to Lucy and motioned for them to follow.

They came to a little dam and a smaller beaver came out.

***********************************************************************

Several minutes later, the four of them were sitting in the Beavers cozy little dam, with plates of freshly caught fish and mugs of hot cider in front of them.

Susan turned to Peter and started signing. He frowned and looked at the beavers, then at Susan then started signing. Susan kept nodding, and he shook his head several times.

"What are your brother and sister doing?" Mrs. Beaver asked

"Sign language" Lucy stated. "He can't hear or speak. In our world it's called being a deaf -mute, so we talk to him using sign language and that's how he talks to us."

"I see," Mrs. Beaver said.

Lucy wondered how this would affect the prophecy.