Chapter Five: The Cave
He pitched himself to see if he was dreaming. He felt it so this had to be real, Momo then jumped off his shoulder and began gliding towards a bright light coming from the centre of the wood. Aang followed with his fire ball in hand. He kept running until he found Momo hanging by his tail on a pillar of a lamp post.
"A Lamp Post? What would a lamp post be doing in the middle of a wood? This place just gets stranger by the minute huh buddy" Aang said to his lemur.
All of a sudden he heard footsteps from behind him, He turned to see someone walking out of the wood. From the shape it looked like a women, but only her top half was a women. Below her legs and hindquarters were that of a goats. She also had long brown hair that came to her waist, with horns sticking out of the sides of her head. She wore a scarlet coat with a long golden scarf and held a small pile of packages in one arm, And the other an umbrella. She wasn't a women, she was a faun.
"I wonder where she's going with all those packages?" Aang thought.
Not wanting to be rude he spoke out to get her attention.
"Excuse Me" He said.
This gave the faun a fright which made her drop all of he packages in the snow.
"Good gracious me" She cried.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare you" Aang said
He ran over and helped her pick up her packages and gave them small air blast to remove the snow. All the while she looked at him with great curiosity. Aang too looked at her the same.
"Why were you frightened by me?" He asked
"Well….You just gave me a fright" She answered
Aang laughed a bit under his breath by this. He kept looking at her up and down, Still pondering on what she was.
"If you don't mind me asking, What are you?" he asked
The faun looked at him as though he were dumb.
"Well I'm a Faun dear one" She answered "And what about you. Are you some kind of beardless dwarf?" She asked
Aang laughed louder this time. He maybe small in hight but no one had ever called him a dwarf before.
"I'm not a dwarf, I'm a boy" He answered
The Faun's eyes widened with amazement. Like she had just witnessed some incredible. Aang didn't knottiest.
"I just hadn't had my growth spurt yet" He explained.
The Faun was still trying to take all this in, Aang wondered if she had ever even seen someone like him before.
"You mean to say that your a Son of Adam" She asked.
Aang looked at her confused, he never heard something like that before. And what did she mean by Son of Adam?
"My names Aang. Aang Sato" He answered
"Yes but you are what they call a boy? You are in fact Human?" She asked
Aang couldn't make head nor tail of this. Now he knew she had never seen someone like him before.
"Well of course. All Boys are human" He answered.
The Faun was awe struck by this, then her face lit up like all of her dreams had come true. She looked like she was about to dance a the spot.
"This is a delight. I've never seen and Son of Adam or a Daughter of Eve before, I'm delighted" She said
She then straightened up and offered her hand to Aang.
"Allow me to introduce myself, My name is Tumnus" She said while shaking his hand.
"Please to meet you Miss Tumnus" Aang answered.
While shaking her hand he knottiest it was quite soft, It kind of reminded him of his mother. And he face remind him of Asami his sister.
"May I ask Oh Aang Sato Son of Adam, How did you get into Narnia" Tumnus asked
Again Aang was now confused, He had never heard of such a place. He can't recall being a place called Narnia being apart of any of the nations.
"Whats Narnia?" He asked
Miss Tumnus laughed at his question. She did know this was his first time here but it was still a little amusing when new comers ask what is Narnia.
"Well my dear boy your in it. This is the land of Narnia, Everything that lies between the lamp post to great of Castle of Cair Paravel on the eastern ocean. Every stick, stone and icicle is Narnia" Miss Tumnus explained
She showed Aang the view from where they were standing, It was incredible view, the forest went on forever. Mountains higher then the ones back home and the sea stretched as far as the eye could see. Aang was breathless. Miss Tumnus then broke him out of his trance by asking him another question.
"Have you've come from the wild woods of the west?" She asked
Aang shook his head and explained where he came from. He told her that he was hiding in the wardrobe in the spare room. Tumnus tried to rack her brain for memories of anyone telling her of those strange countries that she'd only see in books and hear about in stories.
"If only I had worked harder at geography when I was a little Faun when I was at school. Never in my life have I heard of place called War-drobe or Spare Oom" She said
Aang then pointed back at the group of trees he just came out of. Momo was nibbling a bug he caught off the Lamp Post while Aang was talking.
"Its not far. It's just back there, I think. It's summer there" He explained
Miss Tumnus sighed, Knowing this Boy was lucky to have the feeling of the hot wind on his face. And blues, Green grass and singing birds all year round.
"It's winter here. Its been winter in Narnia for ever so long. And we might catch cold if we stand here talking in the snow" She said
She then opened her umbrella and placed it over Aang, Momo then flew back on Aang's shoulder still eating the bug.
"Sir Aang Sato, From the far land of Spare Oom and from the shining Cities of War-Drobe. How would it be, If you and your pet came and had tea with me" She offered.
Aang was excited, if he went with her he'd be able to see more of the land and would get food afterwards. But then he started thinking about the others, What if they had knottiest him missing.
"I would love to Miss Tumnus but I wonder if I should getting back" He wondered
"Don't worry its only around the corner. And there'll be a roaring fire with tea, toast, dumplings and we might even break into the sardines" She said nicely
Aang then thought again, He should be getting back. But he didn't want to be rude and the others would too occupied to knottiest him missing. So he took her arm and stood with her under the umbrella.
"Alright, I'll come. But I can only stay for a little while, And there's no need for sardines. I'm a vegetarian" He explained
"Hmhm more for me then" Miss Tumnus giggled.
—
It only took them about an hour for them to reach Miss Tumnus place. She lead Aang and Momo towards a large rock. The colour of it was so dark he didn't see the door, She opened it and lead Aang in. Momo flew in towards a roaring fire place. On the mantle was a clock and a picture of an older male Faun Aang assumed was Miss Tumnus father. There was also many shelves lined with books and Door that lead into Miss Tumnus bed room. Aang then sate on one of the arm chairs to wait. Miss then came in with a tray of toast, dumplings, Tea and cake. She then placed it one the table by the fire and offered Aang a cup of green tea and chocolate cake. While she had a sweet dumpling with jasmine tea. While they ate Aang asked her about what Narnia was like before the winter.
"They were beautiful days, Midnight dances in the forest. The Nymphs and dryads would come and dance with us and play there music. And Dwarfs would come and feast with us, the rivers would run with wine and after that we'd go treasure seeking and tell stories. And the summers, long long Summers. Such a good time those days" She sighed
She then looked at the mantle and stood up. She then brought down a small box, she opened it and pulled out a flute. She placed the box down and began to play it. The sound was soothing and beautiful. Momo then cuddled up on Aang's lap and began to snooze. Aang scratched Momo behind the ear while continued listening to the music. He rested back on his chair and looked at the celling. The light from the fire was dancing on the stone. This made him think of the Narnia in the spring, People running in fields, feasting, telling stories and laughing. Dance by a bonfire and seeking treasure. Then all of a sudden he realised how dark it was outside, The time seemed to had flown and he didn't even knottiest. Miss Tumnus was looking into the fire with a face of melancholy, Aang got up waking Momo from his slumber.
"Miss Tumnus I better go. The others will be be wondering where I am" He said
Miss Tumnus continued looking into the fire saying nothing. Aang knottiest that her eyes were welling up.
"Hey, Are you okay?" He asked
He walked up to her and placed his hand on her shoulder. She shook under his touch and began to cry. Aang then reached into his pocket and gave her his handkerchief. She berried her face in it and continued to sob.
"Miss Tumnus whats wrong? Please tell me" Aang said worryingly
Still she continued cry, even louder then before. Aang had no choice, he had to put his foot down. Sometimes that was only way someone stop crying.
"Stop it at once Miss Tumnus. You ought to be ashamed, a Faun at your age like that" He said sternly like a father to a child.
"I'm sorry Aang, Its just…. I'm a very bad Faun, I can't imagine their was even worse one since the beginning of the world" Miss Tumnus explained voice shaking.
Aang couldn't believe what he was hearing, How could she be a bad Faun. He only just met her and she's shown him nothing but kindness.
"I don't think that of you. I think your nicest and kindest Faun I've ever met" Aang said
Tumnus whipped her eyes taking uneasy breaths. Aang took her hand to calm her down, She gripped his hand firmly like it was she was on her last breath.
"You wouldn't say that if you knew, My father emperor rest his soul would never have done a thing like this" She continued
"Like what?' Aang asked
"I'm under the service of the Uniter. Thats what, I'm in the pay of The Uniter" She explained
Now Aang was starting to get curious. Who ever this Uniter was, she had to be a horrible person.
"Who's the Uniter?" Aang asked
Tumnus shudder at the very name, But spoke in voice that was of deep anger and fear. Like she hated this person but feared them also.
"It is she that has all Narnia under her thumb dear one. She who makes it always winter, always cold but never christmas. Think of that" Tumnus answered
Aang felt a shiver down his spine. The thought of being stuck in the same season forever, never feeling the warm sun or the hot wind blowing in your face. Or the soft feeling of cool green grass under your feet.
"That's terrible. But what dose she pay you for?" He continued
The Faun began to shake again. Hoping Aang would avoid asking her that question.
"I'm…. I'm a kidnapper. I was given orders that I was to ever see a Son of Adam or a daughter of Eve in the wood. I was to catch them and invite them home to my cave. All for the sake of lulling it to sleep then handing it over to her" She answered
Aang was enrage that a person like Tumnus would forced to do such a thing. No one should be forced to do something that go against their morals.
"Surly you couldn't have done such a thing" He said with shocked sadness
"It's not something I have done Aang. It's something I'm doing right now" She explained
Aang felt his heart drop out of his chest. Now he knew he was the first of his kind to ever come into this land.
"You mean" He asked already knowing the answer.
"Yes, I'm afraid you are the child" She finished
Aang rose from the ground, Momo was hiding in a corner frightened of what was going on. Aang paced the room running his fingers through his hair.
"Look at Me Son of Adam. You would you believe a Faun would meet a innocent child in the wood. Pretend to be kind to it, then invited home and spell them with my flute then hand it over to the Uniter. All this time I pretend to be your friend only to bertray you" Tumnus confessed
Aang did feel betrayed, but he couldn't hate her for simply following orders. This Uniter must have threatened her into doing it. Making her a victim.
"Surly you can't Miss Tumnus. You mustn't" He begged her.
Tumnus was on the verge of tears again. Feeling the same pain Aang was feeling.
"If I don't she'll find out. She have my tail cut off. My horns sawn off and my beautiful hair shaved off. And if she especially angry with me…..She'll turn me into metal. And I will all but a statue in her house. Until the four thrones of Cair Paravel are filled and goodness knows if that will ever happen" She explained
Aang didn't want Tumnus to get into trouble because of him. And he certainly didn't want he to turned into metal. It sounded like a fate worse then death. But still he couldn't stay, even if I was to keep her from danger.
"Miss Tumnus I am sorry. Please I have to go home" He Begged
He fell to floor bowing to her. Hoping he would also gain her forgiveness for his selfishness. He then felt hands on his shoulders. He pulled himself up to see her smiling down at him.
"Of corse I will. I must, I had no idea what humans like before I met you. Now that I know you how could I give you up to her" She said with tears forming in her eyes again.
Aang crack a huge smile and flung his arms around her in thanks. Miss Tumnus returned his hug, they broke apart and got off the floor. Miss Tumnus then went to her hat rack and quickly put back on her scarf and coat. Momo then flew back onto Aang's shoulder then Aang quickly put his under his jacket to keep him warm.
"I'll see you both back to the Lamp post. I'm sure you can find your back from there to War-Drobe and Spare Oom?" She said
Aang nodded, And they headed out. They moved quickly and kept to the shadows, From what Miss Tumnus knew is that the Uniter had the whole wood crawling with spies. Even some of the trees were on her side.