"The river gods and naiads are doing their best to prevent the rivers from flooding inland."

"But the excessive rain has softened the soil. We'll loose our spring harvest if nothing is done!"

"The water is suffocating our plantlings," the joined voices of several nymphs reverberated through the crowded room.

"And there's the matter of potential disease-"

Edmund stood up to be heard over the bickering councilors. "Now that we've all agreed too much rain is bad, does anyone have any solutions?"

"Your majesties, the water needs to be drawn away from the fields..."

Lucy's frown deepened as the plan was explained. Spring rain had never been a problem before. She remembered how Tumnus disliked unnecessarily getting his fur wet. Last spring she had tried to pull him out into the rain to dance with her in more than one occasion, but he had always opted to stay under the overhangs to watch her. And she'd liked it. Knowing that he was watching the rain drops soak into her dress made her hairs stand on end. It made her feel...

Lucy involuntarily shivered. Peter, sitting beside her, touched her arm. "Are you alright?" Lucy realized she was scowling at the bearded centaur pointing at the Great River on a map. In a split second, she made up her mind. It was time to tell them the truth.

Lucy turned to Peter. "I must talk with you. All three of you."

-.-.-.-.-.-

"I am in love with Tumnus and I have decided I shall go retrieve him."

Saying those words out loud helped slow the pulsing of blood in her ears. She was quite certain of what she needed to do. All she had to do now was stop being a coward and tell her siblings of her intentions.

"Lu!" Lucy looked up to see Edmund peering around a library shelf. "Yes?" Lucy replied tentatively, watching for any signs indicating he had heard what she had just uttered. To her relief he seemed only to have just arrived, a perplexed smile on his face. "You alright there? You look like you're about to cry us a river and we have enough water problems as it is."

Lucy shook her head dismissively. "Don't be silly. I don't have the energy to cry twice in a row." Edmund stopped mid-step. "You were seriously crying?"

At that moment Peter walked out from the maze of bookshelves, "Who's crying? Lucy?"

Susan appeared beside Peter. "What's Edmund done this time?"

"Nothing. I was only joking," Lucy said as her siblings took a seat across from her. "However, it's apparent I need to work on my material," she said, hoping that if she kept talking her nerves would quiet some.

"Good to know your sense of humor is back," Edmund said. "In the past few months, you've not pulled a single of your impish pranks. I was starting to get worried."

"So what's the matter, Lu? You have something to tell us?" Peter asked.

Lucy took a deep breath. Alright. Here goes.

"I want to tell you all that I have made a decision. Please don't be too shocked. The truth is, I am in-"

No. She could not do it. The word "love" refused to leave her lips.

"-In great distress," Lucy finished lamely. "I mean, we're in the middle of a flood, we have no apple-currants for the spring celebration, Tumnus has disappeared, and I've been cooped up in this castle for almost a year," she said in a rush. "What I need is a change of scenery. That is why I have decided to go to the Great River. To help with the flood control efforts."

As her siblings looked on in silence, Lucy wanted to bury her head in the ground. She sounded so selfish, but it seemed like a legitimate excuse to leave Cair Paravel and give her a chance to search for Tumnus.

"That is a great idea!" Peter finally exclaimed. "In fact, why don't we all go?"

"No!" Lucy and Susan replied in unison. Lucy stopped and blinked at her sister.

"The flood is a priority, but there are other pressing matters we need to deal with from Cair Paravel, Peter." Susan looked at Lucy. "And realistically, there is little the four of us can accomplish in the service crew. But if Lucy thinks she can haul three stones of sandbags about, I shall not stop her."

"She will provide great moral support," Edmund interjected. "Her presence there could do a lot to raise spirits."

"So it is decided. I am going, alone," Lucy said triumphantly. "Don't be ridiculous," Susan rose from her seat and headed for the door. "You'll have at least ten escorts to make sure you don't fall in the river."

"Have a grand time, Lucy," Peter said as he followed Susan out.

Edmund, the last to go, said his parting words so casually Lucy almost missed it.

"Say hello to Mr. Tumnus for me, Lu."