Disbeliever
The horses' hooves pounded over the rich earth as they ran in a harmonic rhythm. Never slowing or quickening, they ran in perfect harmony. And as they ran the sound of many hooves dwindled to only one as both creatures became one in their galloping.
Then there was another thumping, but one that came from within.
The beating of one's heart.
At first when put under stress the heartbeat will skyrocket to daring speeds in a chaotic manner. But after a time the heartbeats all slowed into the thumping of one. Distinct and strong. Like the mighty pound of a worn skinned drum.
The lush green countryside was shooting out at the two riders as they continued on. So many different colors all blurring into an image was overwhelming as they had to look away.
The riders urged their horses on as they galloped over the dips, curves, bends and sweeps of the countryside.
The sun rose slowly into the sky as it shone above the two rider's heads. Its rays hitting full force for no cloud was in the vast Columbia blue sky that stretched for miles. It seemed so close yet so far…one could almost reach out and grasp it between their fingers.
The wind flew at the two riders as it hit their cheeks in light slaps. Its touch as soft as a newborn baby's grip. Their hair flew back getting tangled but the two riders did not care.
And even above the pounding of hooves was the roar of the river only a mile away or so. It was their guide, leading them through the country.
The Great River as it was called.
It weaved its way throughout the land. Twisting and curving when it saw fit as it did.
Madeline could hardly believe her eyes as she rode beside Lucy, the two sitting downward in their saddles so their horses could run faster. She was amazed at the land around her and wondered how on earth she had dreamed it up all on her own.
They do say ignorance is bliss.
Around noon the two horses slowed as Lucy and Madeline came to a fork in the river. Madeline panted and brought a hand to her red and stinging cheeks, smiling all the same.
"Which way?" she asked of Lucy, who of course, was the expert of this dream world.
"Left, we'll have to ride across the river." Lucy said before urging her horse forward into the cascading blue water. After a moment's hesitation and a swift kick in her shoulder from the impatient Reepicheep, Madeline followed after Lucy.
The horses, though scared, moved with a quick speed as they kicked their way to the banks of the left side of the river. Just as Madeline thought she was to sink into the river the horses stumbled upon ground as they pulled themselves out of the river.
And without another word Madeline and Lucy were once more racing through Narnia. They rode slower now, conversing every once and awhile. Madeline listened half heartedly as Reepicheep pointed out sights to her. Such as his childhood home which turned out to be at the base of a mighty oak tree.
Madeline looked to the sky to see the sun straight overhead as her stomach began to grumble. It was lunch and she hadn't even had breakfast. She patted her stomach in hopes of soothing it but it only grumbled louder. Lucy heard and smiled at Madeline as she said.
"We are stopping soon at an old friend's house; we'll have lunch with them."
"Is that where you are taking me? To your friends?" Madeline asked as Lucy looked at her and nodded.
"Yes, you'll meet two of my dearest friends and then after that you will meet my dearest friend in any world."
"I thought I was your dearest friend!" Reepicheep raged miffed from his spot on Madeline's shoulder as the two girls shared a look before giggling. That only fueled Reepicheep's anger as he growled under his breath and crossed his paws over his shoulders while the two girls continued to laugh and enjoy each other's company.
Madeline remembered having liked Lucy at the distant Guy Fawkes Night. It now seemed ages ago. With everything that had happened, it almost seemed a dream.
How ironic.
A dream seemed real while real life seemed a dream.
The two humans and one mouse continued on for a little more as Madeline grew oddly nervous. The particular part of the forest they were in seemed abnormally familiar. She grew more nervous as they rode down a hill and stopped the horses as they stopped at the top of a dome circle that encircled a small crude little home made of wood.
Just like a beaver's dam…
"Oh no." Madeline gasped as Lucy and Reepicheep looked at their newest friend in surprise.
"Something wrong?" Lucy asked concerned as Madeline turned to her and slowly shook her head.
"No, it's just…I'm pretty sure I've been here for before." she murmured as Lucy raised an eyebrow and looked to the Beaver's dam. She knew Madeline had been found in this general area, but Edmund had said nothing of her being with the Beaver's.
"Beg pardon?" she asked of Madeline who shook her head.
"Never mind." And guessing that they were heading to the Beaver's, Madeline lightly kicked her horse as they began to ride down the steep hill, Lucy trailing. After a few moments the party of three was dismounted and standing in front of the sturdy door of the Beaver's home.
Lucy knocked and after a minute of grumbling and cursing the door opened to reveal Mr. Beaver. His eyes darted between the two girls and then the mouse that was now perched on Lucy's shoulder as Mr. Beaver swooped down into a bow.
"Your majesty." he greeted of Queen Lucy the Valiant as she responded in the same as Edmund had only a day before.
"Mr. Beaver, how many times must I ask you to just simply call me Lucy?" She asked as she crouched down and made her way into the dam, Madeline following hesitantly.
She had most definitely been here before.
Just then Mrs. Beaver made her appearance as she immediately gasped upon seeing that she had guests, royal guests. She bustled around the kitchen as she began to prepare a lunch for the hungry party of three.
Madeline stayed close to Lucy as the two were seated at the small round table. Madeline hugged her knees to her chest and ignored the dubious glances Mr. and Mrs. Beaver shot her throughout lunch. But luckily for her they never brought up her hysterical behavior from before as she quietly ate her lunch.
Lucy spoke eagerly with the two creatures, telling the both of them what had been happening at Cair Paravel since the Great Reunion. She spoke to them of how all the monarchs from centuries past were all trying to get along with each other and how humorous some of them were. Such as Caspian's great-great-grandson.
Madeline barely listened as she sat quietly, her mind now remembering memories from…well everything. Her dream, how it had all started, her true world, Edmund's death, Guy Fawkes Night, Susan, and most of all she was wondering just who Aslan seemed to be.
After an hour or so sharing company with the Beaver's, the three once more departed as they began riding westward through the forest which Lucy said was the Western Woods. The forest was so large and dense that they had to duck many a time to avoid a stray branch from knocking them down from their mighty steeds. The trees were so high and had so many leaves that they blocked out the sky as the two girls rode through shattered beams of light that filtered from the sky above.
"Lucy, where are you taking me?" Madeline asked after almost an hour of riding as Lucy threw her an impish grin over her shoulder. In that instant she resembled Edmund to the tee.
"Oh you'll see." she sang out in a sing-song voice that caused Madeline to raise an eyebrow. Well that had been too innocent to be good…
After a few more minutes the trees thinned into a small enclosed clearing as they rode into it and stopped the horses. And Madeline seemed a very bizarre surprise.
For right in the middle of the clear was a…lamp post.
She stared at it, transfixed. It was just a simple lamp post; hundreds of them were in London. But here, in her dream world, it was simply magnificent. The cool dark steel of its metal gleamed in the sunlight as its light burned in the daylight.
"How on earth is this here?" she asked breathlessly of Lucy who shared a Cheshire grin with her companion Reepicheep.
"You'll figure it out…soon enough." she answered and before Madeline could protest there was a rustling of bushes as a decidedly hairy figure emerged from the forest.
He seemed agape to find the two girls in the clearing but his apprehensive expression disappeared as he locked eyes with Lucy. A wave of understanding seemed to pass between the two of them as the creature smiled at Lucy.
"I was wondering when you would come and see me once more." he murmured as Lucy smiled.
"I would never forget about you, Mr. Tumnus, never." she answered as the two once more smiled at each other. It was only broken when Reepicheep cleared his throat, quite loudly. The hairy legged animal, Mr. Tumnus, then looked to Madeline and smiled politely at her.
"And how do you do Miss…" he faltered then as Madeline answered.
"Madeline Crawford. And what are you?" she asked curiously, eyeing his goat like legs as he smiled and exclaimed.
"Why, I'm a faun of course. Now come, if you would follow me, you're just in time for a warm cup of tea."
Tea sounded heavenly.
So the party of three became a group of four as Mr. Tumnus led them back to his humble home found in stone. Madeline was glad to be off her horse and to stretch her legs as she walked into the cozy and inviting home.
It wasn't the largest of homes but it didn't matter. The calm atmosphere was enough for Madeline as she twirled to take in the entire home. It had a small kitchen where Mr. Tumnus stood as he poured the hot tea into golden china cups.
He had a spacious parlor with a fireplace that was currently not lit as Lucy and Madeline seated themselves in plush reading chairs that momentarily made Madeline go limp from how comfortable they were.
A hallway wound off into the back of the house leading to other rooms, such as bedrooms and all that.
Lucy immediately struck up a conversation with her friend as the two talked animatedly with Reepicheep interjecting regularly. Even though Madeline wasn't speaking she was listening. She was just enjoying the peacefulness that she had been craving ever since her dream had started.
She looked around Mr. Tumnus' home as she saw a shabby bookcase next to the unlit fireplace. She stood and went to it as her eyes darted over the thick covers of worn volumes. She raised an eyebrow at such titles as is Man a Myth? Humans and many more.
"Find something you like?" Mr. Tumnus asked from his spot as Madeline turned to him, Lucy and Reepicheep. She shook her head and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"No, it's just…odd." she said as Mr. Tumnus asked.
"What's odd?"
Madeline then gestured to the room as she answered.
"This. Everything. It's just…this land seems so real and it has such a history that I can't even begin to understand. It's all so…confusing! And I hate being confused!"
Mr. Tumnus chuckled and glanced at Lucy while he remarked.
"Perhaps then you must become unconfused to realize why you are here." he surmised as Madeline shrugged. She was here because she was in a coma. At least, that was what she told herself and yet it was becoming a fuzzy idea and it was only a day old.
So with a tired sigh she seated herself once more as they spent the rest of the afternoon speaking with Mr. Tumnus, all the way till the sun was beginning to set. It was then that Lucy, Reepicheep and Madeline took their leave.
Mr. Tumnus walked them to their horses and went to Madeline's as she mounted her brown mare.
"I think this will be good reads for you." He said as he handed her two large volumes. One was Narnia: A History and the other is Man a Myth? She smiled and graciously accepted them as she slipped them into the brown carrying bag that was attached to the saddle.
"Thank you, Mr. Tumnus. I hope we can speak again." And she truly meant it. Mr. Tumnus was a jolly faun with an intelligent mind and caring heart. Lucy was lucky to have him as a friend. He nodded his head in reply as Lucy cursed under her breath and exclaimed.
"By the Mane! Edmund will kill me when we get back!"
Madeline's toes curled just thinking of Edmund. She looked down as she remembered how horrible she had been to him only the day before. Why was she such an awful friend?
"Why?" She asked as the two waved one final time to Mr. Tumnus and began riding through the Western Woods.
"Because I promised to have you back for dinner!" Lucy yelled out but her voice was carried away with the wind as they galloped through the countryside. Both fearing Edmund's wrath.
It was dark when they once more arrived at Cair Paravel and Madeline was sad that she hadn't yet seen the majestic castle in the daylight. She wondered why they lived in a castle but chalked it up to her imagination.
Just as they had dismounted from their horses in the stables the door flew open and in marched Edmund with his silver crown upon his head. Lucy was quick to explain why they were late as he listened and then sent her off to the ball room where her dinner was waiting for her.
"Enjoy yourself?" he asked conversationally of Madeline as she fiddled with her fingers. She looked into his dark eyes and nodded before looking away.
"Yes, I did. I'm very impressed with my imagination for creating this world in my mind. I've never been this artistic before." She remarked offhandedly as Edmund sucked in a breath and clenched his fists.
Why did Madeline have to be so bloody frustrating?!
"You're a bigger pain in my arse than the giants ever were." he muttered to himself as Madeline looked down guiltily. She could see that Edmund was trying not to lose his temper with her and she wasn't doing anything to help. Why did she always mess things up?
So with a hesitant step she stepped closer to her friend and said softly.
"Edmund, let's no do this."
He raised an eyebrow as it disappeared into his hair.
"Do what?" He asked, genuinely confused as she gestured to the both of them.
"Fight. I hate it when we do." She declared as Edmund also sighed and carefully ran a hand through his hair.
"I hate it too." He murmured as Madeline smiled and without invitation wrapped Edmund into a tight hug as her arms wrapped around his torso and she rested her head on his chest. He stiffened for a moment before hugging her back.
She smiled as she breathed in his personal scent. Peppermint with the distinct smell of pine and just a pinch of sandalwood.
"Even if this is a dream, seeing you again is pure heaven." She whispered into his chest as he grip on his friend tightened ever so slightly. They stood there for several long moments before Edmund pulled away with a small smile and tugged on her hand.
"Come. I must introduce you to everyone else."
"Everyone else?" Madeline asked with a squeak as Edmund smiled impishly and dragged her to the ball room where she was reacquainted with Peter, Jill and Eustace. She was then introduced to people and creatures alike. Such as Digory, Polly, Caspian, Caspian's wife, Aravis, the twins Cor and Corin, Trumpkin, Mr. Fox, Truffelhunter, and so many others.
She met so many creatures and humans that she was nearly overwhelmed and almost felt faint. Luckily she didn't. The large party of humans and creatures gathered at the dining table that stretched from wall to wall.
The sounds of conversations were crashing against each other as they all morphed into one wave that was ready to attack Madeline. She felt so lost in such a large and rambunctious environment. Her mind was whirling with all of this strange land and its history. She felt so frustrated not knowing a thing going on around her.
She jumped when Edmund reached out and grabbed her hand. She smiled apologetically to him as he leaned in and whispered concerned.
"Maddy, are you alright?"
She bit her lip and nodded as she said.
"Yes, I am just wanting to know something."
Edmund raised an eyebrow but indulged his friend by asking.
"Want to know what?"
"I want to know about this land…Narnia." she said as she quietly wielded to the name, the first time she had ever uttered it and she had surprisingly liked the way it had so easily rolled off her tongue.
"What do you want to know?" Edmund asked as his family now seemed rather interested. Madeline blushed as she saw that everyone's attention in the room was on her. She looked down at her hands but then looked up. She determined to learn this land's secrets. Real or not.
"Everything." Her answer was short, crisp and to the point. It left no room for half answered questions. What Madeline wanted she received. Peter smiled and looked to Digory who had just set his goblet down.
"I guess we should begin with you."
Digory smiled and looked to the young woman who was seated at the edge of her seat, looking ready to fall and the tale had not even begun. He cleared his throat and began.
"Well it all started with a pair of magical rings…"
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Please read and review! I do not own the Chronicles of Narnia!