"What..."

"I waited for you." Jadis was standing in the cave. She reached her arm and a big, white sea gull landed on it.

"How did you... Did the bird make the portal?"

She nodded. "I sent him for you."

Lucy felt uncomfortable. It was always her choosing the time of visit. Now she was thrown there, taken by surprise. What did it mean?

"You shouldn't have. There is a crowd of people around me these days." From Jadis stern face she realized it sounded colder than she intended.

"I couldn't wait." Jadis voice was impatient. "How did it go? With the faun?"

Lucy felt enraged by her stiff tone.

"So that's what you are about? All is fine. Here." She handled her the empty bottle she kept in the pocket. "You are safe. Now excuse me." She turned to the gate, feeling tears coming to her eyes.

"Lucy, wait! Why are you acting this way?" A strong hand grabbed her shoulder. The voice was irritated, but also concerned. Lucy blinked a few times for it was difficult to see clearly.

"And why do you speak to me like this? Kidnapping me, because you are so concerned about your secret? You should know better by now. Well, your safety is restored. There is no point for my being here any longer."

Jadis rolled her eyes and didn't let her go.

"My safety? Little queen, if the faun runs around screaming about this place, the worst that can happen here is that all my animals cannot enter Narnia anymore. In case you forgot, no enemy can pass the gate. Your brothers wouldn't even see the gate. The only one in danger here is you!" Jadis' voice got louder. Lucy barely understood the words, the anger of the old White Witch seemed to glow in the queen's eyes. "It's you who would be locked up and watched. Maybe thrown to the dungeons. Maybe for the rest of your life. So don't talk about MY safety! Now you can go!" Jadis stepped away from her furiously, the snow flashed around her dress creating a white cloud.

"Fine! I'll leave, then. At least nobody will be telling me I am under a spell anymore!"

Lucy was crying. She wanted to scream. Why was Jadis treating her like this? Why she stopped her a moment ago, but wasn't stopping her now? She didn't want to go. She wanted to beg Jadis to stop her.

"A spell?" The queen turned around.

"Mr. Tumnus said so." Lucy sobbed. She wasn't able to control herself. Why everything went so wrong?

"Of course he did." The voice of Jadis was ice cold. "And what kind of spell was I supposed to cast this time?" She asked mockingly.

"He said..." Lucy found it hard to look at Jadis directly. But she forced herself to it, her eyes were burning.

"He said you stole my heart."

"What?" The queen stepped closer and the icy blue eyes widened. She stared at Lucy who used her entire self-control to not escape, or at least, to not look down. "Is it true?" She asked quietly.

Lucy took a deep breath and nodded. Jadis gazed at her in surprise. Lucy took one step forward to the tall figure and shyly touched her arms. Jadis didn't move at that contact and it felt like the air around them froze. Lucy also froze, not sure what to do. She wanted to hug her, to cling to her, but just stood there, still, despaired and waited. Then she felt a soft, but firm hand cupping her cheek. And another lips covering hers in a long kiss. This time she responded. She opened her mouth and kissed her back, long and hard. She clung to her, her arms surrounded Jadis' waist and she got closed in a strong embrace. Jadis pulled her chin a little higher and kept kissing, taking her breath away. They parted to look at each other. Lucy's body shivered, yet, she never felt happier before. The strong arms held her even closer, she felt the pair of hands wandering up and down the line of her spine and caressing her back and waist. If the kiss before made her thrill, this was overwhelming. She was shaking and her hands also moved up and down the queen's body, until she was pulled so close she could barely breathe, and just snuggled to her chest, panting and shivering.

"What happens now?" She managed to whisper and received another, soft and gentle, kiss in the lips.

"It depends on you, my little queen," Jadis whispered back and lightened her embrace. Lucy didn't want to let go of her, her hands seemed to think for her, wondering towards the opening of Jadis' dress and not daring to do more. Jadis smiled and taking a deep breath, stopped her.

"Not now... You need to go back."

Lucy reluctantly had to admit she was right. So she just snuggled to her again and stayed like this for the next minute.

"Are you alright?" Jadis placed a soft kiss on her forehead.

She smiled and raised her head to reach the narrow lips that parted before her instantly.

"I take it as a yes." Jadis smirked. They kissed again, once, twice, many times, until the queen took another deep breath and straightened up.

"It's time."

Lucy sighed. "I know." Jadis gave her the last hug and caressed her face.

"Go, now. Come back when the time is right."

"Will you be waiting for me?" Lucy whispered. She had to know. Jadis stared at the snow. Suddenly Lucy understood. She was the one making rules. She never could say for sure when she comes back and if she didn't, she couldn't tell the reason in advance.

"I am so sorry! I was such a fool. I don't know what I was thinking."

"It is alright." Jadis replied quietly.

"I will come back as soon as I can, I promise. And I will be sending you letters what happens here. Every night. So you don't have to worry anymore."

Jadis embraced her again. Her own body was shivering from desire as she no less than Lucy wanted to continue what they started. This needed to wait, though. Unwillingly, she let her walk into the portal.