"You can trust us to keep any secret of yours - closer than you keep it yourself.
But you cannot trust us to let you face trouble alone, and go off without a word.
We are your friends, Frodo."
JRR Tolkien
The Fellowship of the Ring
Chapter 3: Of Old Friends, Advice, and Bullying Gits
Jules was not ready for the sight of the man sitting behind the desk. He was tall, and his hair was wild and white. A pair of wired glasses sat on the bridge of his nose. He wore a smart suit and his study was warm, inviting, and stuffed with books. While older, and far more wrinkled, Digory Kirke looked much the same as he had when he was a boy.
Without realizing, Jules had ventured further into the office, the door falling shut. Her eyes were locked on Digory. She blinked, as if the action might confirm whether she was hallucinating or not. She was not. Digory Kirke was still there, now standing and coming around from behind his desk. His eyes were as wide as hers, as if unable to fully believe his old friend was standing before him.
"Jules…?" Digory breathed. The frozen atmosphere was shattered, and Jules suddenly began to cry. Rushing towards each other, the old friends embraced. Digory was practically holding Jules up, her legs nearly giving out with the weight of her sudden emotions. Her arms locked around his torso with her face buried in his suit, her tears soaking into the fine fabric. He didn't seem to care one bit, instead rubbing a firm hand across her back and smoothing his other over her hair. When Jules finally reigned her emotions back in, she pulled away and laughed.
"Hi," she greeted. Digory laughed.
"Hi," he returned. He frowned playfully. "I hope you know it is terribly rude to show up here looking the same as you did all those years ago."
Jules gave a watery laugh.
"It is so good to see you, berendir." Digory chuckled wistfully.
"Berendir," he echoed. "I haven't been called that in many years."
The old friends sat on Digory's couch, and a few minutes later, Mrs. Macready came in with a large tea tray. While she was there, the two discussed light topics. Mrs. Macready had noted the tear tracks on Jules' face, and her nostrils flared at the thought of her bothering the professor with trivial matters. However, she said nothing, and Digory and Jules simply ignored her. Once the housekeeper was gone, Digory turned serious, studying Jules.
"As glad as I am to see you," he said, "I'm curious as to how you came here. Last time I saw you, you were to stay in Narnia."
Jules sighed, replacing her teacup on its saucer and setting it on the table. This was a long story.
"It was as Aslan promised. Nine hundred years after you, Polly, and Jack left, the White Witch came into power. We couldn't hold her off any longer. She wanted to become Queen of Narnia, ruling over her 'dominion' and all who lived there." Jules scoffed, disgusted. "She was horrible. With every passing day, the air got colder. The trees began losing their leaves. In the mornings, we'd wake up and there'd be frost covering everything. Her magic was taking hold. Aslan and I began searching for something, anything, that could help us fight her. The only thing we had was a prophecy, telling of four kings and queens who would rise up and defeat the White Witch once and for all." Digory listened raptly. Jules sagged. "One day, Aslan called me to him. We met in the Western Woods, where he told me that the kings and queens weren't in Narnia, but in the human world. He also told me the White Witch would stop at nothing to kill me. So for my safety, and my duty to the kings and queens, I was sent here."
"How long have you been here?" Digory wondered.
"Nine months," Jules said. "I landed in late December of last year." She then asked him a question. "Did you know you were taking me in?"
"I knew I was taking in a girl named Julianna Styles. Perhaps it was my nostalgia that led to that decision," he joked. "Though, I never truly imagined it would be you." He shook his head, laughing. "Nine hundred years." He looked at Jules, smiling. "Aslan wasn't lying when he said you would live alongside him." Jules' smile was warm.
"I still remember our adventure like it was yesterday," she said. "Me, a teenager and near-graduate stuck with three children." Digory laughed. "Have you seen them lately? Polly and Jack?" Digory nodded.
"Polly and I visit regularly," he said. "Jack, well, he goes by his real name now, is a professor at Oxford. He's actually written some books." Jules smirked.
"I know," she remarked. "Imagine my surprise when I fell into Narnia only to meet C.S. Lewis, my great-grandfather's friend and literary rival." Digory was shocked by this, but laughed.
"Now I know why you were so surprised to meet him that day," he chortled. Jules nodded, also laughing. "Your great-grandfather's friend, hmm?" Jules nodded, but didn't elaborate further. "Well, we knew you were from the future, but that just puts things in perspective." Jules giggled.
"Try this on for size; as of this year, 1940, I have not been born. But as of this year, 1940, I am 917 years old."
"You stop that."
The friends continued to laugh and reminisce together, sipping their tea and munching on biscuits. They remembered their adventure in Narnia. They remembered the way Digory accidentally released Jadis into Narnia, the way Aslan sent him to retrieve an apple from the Tree of Protection, the way he planted the apple next to a river, the way Aslan allowed Digory to bring an apple back to his sick mother, the way Jules was asked by Aslan to stay in Narnia, the way Jules was challenged by the White Witch. After it was all finished, Digory pulled out his pipe and lit it.
"Now, this mission of yours," he started, "any idea how to find the kings and queens? And then how to get back to Narnia?" Jules gasped. In her excitement of seeing her friend again, she'd completely forgotten about Lucy and the wardrobe. She opened her mouth to recount that afternoon's events when there was a knock on the door.
"Come in," Digory answered, near-sighed. Jules almost giggled. Mrs. Macready came into the study.
"Pardon me, Professor," she said, "but I was wondering if Miss Styles would help me make dinner tonight? I need some assistance with the extra cooking." It was unspoken, but it was quite clear that Mrs. Macready was thrown by the obvious amiable relationship between Digory and Jules. It made her uncomfortable, so she had come to intervene. Besides, Jules had been there for an hour already. With a silent sigh, Jules stood.
"Of course, Mrs. Macready. I'd be happy to help." Jules smiled down at Digory. "It was an honor, professor." Digory's eyes twinkled with mirth.
"Come see me any time, Jules." Then, smiling, Jules left the study with a disgruntled Mrs. Macready.
~)8(~
Dinner was an awkward affair. Lucy had been reluctant to come, and when she had, she'd immediately sat down as far away from her siblings as she could get. Jules pursed her lips, but said nothing, knowing how hurt the girl had been from her siblings' dismissal of her adventure in the wardrobe. Susan had sighed sadly, but also remained silent. Jules had seen a brief flash of guilt on Edmund's face, but then his face was blank and he was eating his soup idly. It was Peter's face that tugged Jules' heart. He looked so sad, and so ashamed. He'd tried to look at Lucy, but his younger sister wouldn't meet his gaze. Then he'd looked at Jules, his blue eyes wide and lost. But Jules didn't know what to say. So she'd given him a small, sad smile before sitting with Lucy. Mrs. Macready had joined them for dinner. She'd seemed to enjoy the silence.
That night, Jules sat at her little vanity, trying to locate all the pins tangled in her curls. She had managed to find them all (hopefully) when a knock sounded at her door. Jules listened carefully and heard whoever was on the other side shift their weight. It was Lucy. When the older girl pulled her bedroom door open, Lucy looked up at her, fiddling with the sleeve of her nightgown.
"I wanted to ask you something," Lucy said sheepishly, as if Jules might turn her away. The older girl instead smiled.
"Come in, then." And Lucy smiled back, coming into the room and flopping onto the bed. Jules sat beside her. "What's on your mind?"
"I wanted to ask — well — I —" Lucy couldn't seem to find the words at first. "You said Aslan was in Narnia. That's your lion's name." Jules smiled again, glad that the girl had remembered.
"Indeed." Jules picked up the little rundown toy and cradled it gently. "Aslan is the one true King of Narnia. He is also called the Great Lion. He is a great king and ruler, kind and fair. He is everything good you can think of. Magnificent, terrifying, and beautiful all at once. He is always watching over his people and everyone he cares for. He is always there. He will never abandon someone. He can purify something with one breath. He can make danger disappear with a mighty roar that sounds melodic and frightening at the same time." Lucy was mystified.
"He sounds lovely," she breathed. Jules smiled, but it was a might melancholic. She missed her king dearly.
"Some believe in the Easter Bunny, or the Tooth Fairy, or angels. I believe in Aslan. So when you go to bed tonight, remember that Aslan is watching over you. And he will never abandon you." A great smile grew on Lucy's face, and Jules returned it softly. "Now," Jules gave Lucy's nose a tap, "what do you say to reading some more of The Hobbit? Ready for more hobbits and dwarves and wizards?" Lucy nodded eagerly and the two settled in on Jules' bed. The girl cracked open the book and began reading. It was less than an hour later when Jules noticed how quiet Lucy had become. Looking down at the weight on her shoulder, Jules saw that Lucy had fallen asleep. With a soft smile, Jules closed the book and shifted carefully. Jules picked Lucy up, situating her on her hip with an arm under her and the other supporting her back. Jules toed her bedroom door open, careful not to jostle the sleeping girl. Right then, Peter came out of his bedroom. His eyes widened a bit seeing Lucy sleeping in Jules' arms.
"Mind giving me a hand?" Jules asked quietly. Peter nodded, moving quickly to open the door of Lucy's bedroom. Jules carried the girl inside and Peter pulled back the covers of her bed. Jules carefully laid Lucy down, the girl mumbling a bit in her sleep.
"It's all right, Lu," Jules murmured. "Go back to sleep." The girl fell silent. Jules carefully pulled the covers over her and made sure she was resting comfortably on the pillows. "Sweet dreams, Lucy. Dreams of hobbits and fauns, lonely mountains and magical forests."
Peter stood at the foot of Lucy's bed, watching the way Jules treated Lucy with such tender care. Without him realizing, a soft smile grew on his face.
"Are you an older sibling?" he wondered quietly. Jules looked at him and laughed softly.
"No," she said. She flashed him a cute smile. "I'm actually the younger sibling." Peter's eyebrows raised.
"Really?" She hummed in affirmation.
"Really." Her eyes grew fond and faraway. "I've got an older brother. Grant." Peter could tell with only a few words just how deeply she loved her brother. Then, she looked sad. "I haven't seen him in a long time." Peter's mind immediately shot to the war, and he grew somber.
"I'm sorry," he whispered. "You must miss him."
"I do," Jules nodded. "More than I can say." The two lulled into a comfortable silence, Jules busying herself with lighting a candle on Lucy's bedside table. The silence was broken by Lucy shifting a bit, a smile growing on her face. She must've been dreaming already. But while Jules looked comforted by the girl's peaceful sleep, Peter looked pained.
"I don't know what I'm doing," he whispered, his blue eyes locked on his sister's sleeping form. Jules froze, her heart wrenching at the broken look on Peter's face. Wordlessly, she stood, offering him a hand. Peter was startled by this. Jules waggled her fingers a bit, a smile tugging at her lips. Slowly, Peter took Jules' hand. Still not speaking, Jules tugged Peter from the bedroom, flicking off the lights and shutting the door. Downstairs they went, and Jules led Peter to the parlour where they'd all been earlier that day. There was a fire going.
"Are you a mint or honey person?" Jules asked suddenly. Peter furrowed his brow but answered.
"Honey, I guess." Jules smiled.
"Me, too. Be right back." And then, Jules disappeared into the hall towards the kitchen. When she returned five minutes later, she held two large cups of tea. Chamomile with honey. Jules plopped herself on the rug before the fireplace, Peter sitting as well when she patted the space beside her. Jules' eyes were kind, flashing with warm color in the firelight.
"You're not a father, Peter. You're an older brother," she reminded gently. "This isn't a situation anyone could've anticipated, and it's not a fair role you've been thrust into." Jules took a sip of her tea. "War affects everyone, Peter. It's nothing to be ashamed of."
"But the way I spoke to her…" Peter breathed, disgust in himself flooding his veins. He scoffed. "I was as bad as Edmund."
"Edmund was being mean on purpose," Jules said firmly. "You were not."
"I still said it. 'Susan's right, Lucy. That's enough.' I didn't mean it, I just —" Peter lifted his cup to his mouth, unable to translate exactly what he was feeling into words. He looked exhausted. Jules studied Peter, wondering just how long he had been "the man of the house." Shadows from the fire danced across her face, looking almost like dancing figures.
"Everyone says things they don't mean, Peter," she said carefully. "It's a very human thing to do." She gently rubbed his arm. "I know you didn't mean it, and Lucy knows it, too."
"I'm not so sure about that," Peter sighed. There was a pause. "But — a magical land? In a wardrobe?" Jules actually smiled.
"Peter, how old are you?" He frowned but answered.
"Sixteen."
"And how old is Lucy?"
"Ten."
"Therefore," Jules reasoned gently, "you are both acting very appropriately for your age." When Peter didn't say anything, she continued. "You, the eldest sibling, forced into a caregiver role you weren't wholly prepared for, just wanted to stop the fighting. To be fair, we were all confused at Lucy's sudden change in behavior. But you weren't mean like Edmund, nor overly short like Susan. Fighting between siblings is never fun, and being in a whole new place, I can't imagine what kind of burden that must feel like." Jules squeezed his arm gently. "But Lucy is a little girl. A little girl who has been forced away from her home and mother. For all she knows, she might go back to London and find her home no longer there. And she, just like the rest of you, knows that her father is out there fighting, and she knows there's a possibility he might not come home. And that knowledge is terrifying even for a sixteen-year-old." She squeezed his arm again. "Like I said, war affects everyone differently, and everyone deals with it in different ways. Lucy, a little girl, is coping by playing games. And because she loves you, she wanted to share it with you." Jules sighed. "Peter, regardless of whether this magical land is real or not," though it most certainly was, "it makes Lucy happy. It comforts her. And though it truly isn't my place to say, I like seeing her happy. So if talking to her about this magical land makes her happy, then I will gladly indulge her."
It wasn't long after that that Peter and Jules finished their tea. They returned their mugs to the kitchen, quickly washing them, and went upstairs. Their talk had left Peter with a lot to think about, and he was glad for it. It was strange, the way Jules seemed to understand his feelings so easily. And even stranger, was the way Peter found himself to be extremely comfortable in her presence.
"Why was Lucy in your room to begin with?" Peter wondered as they climbed the stairs.
"She came to ask me something and we ended up reading a story. She fell asleep pretty quickly," Jules told him. They stopped outside of Susan and Lucy's bedroom. The two peeked inside, glad to see Lucy was still sleeping. As they closed the door, they spotted Susan's sleeping form as well. Peter walked with Jules to her door.
"Hey, Jules?" he said, stopping her from entering just yet. She looked up at him, and Peter was struck by how small she was. How could someone so small seem so old and wise? Peter opened his mouth, so many words on the tip of his tongue. But in the end, he could only say, "Thank you."
Jules' smile was captivating.
"You're welcome."
~)8(~
A wild bang startled Jules awake in the middle of the night. Thrashing, Jules forgot for a moment that she was no longer in London, but in the country, where there were no bombs. When she came down from her momentary panic, Jules realized it was a door that had been banged. Looking up quickly, she saw her room was still dark, so it was not her door that had opened. Outside, she heard voices, so Jules leapt up, harshly tugging on her dressing gown. Outside, Peter and Edmund's room was open, and Lucy was speaking loudly from in it.
"Oh, you've just been dreaming, Lucy," she heard Susan say.
"But I haven't!" Lucy insisted.
"Is everything okay?" Jules asked, striding into the room. Beaming, Lucy darted over to her, hugging her tight.
"It's there, Jules! Narnia! It's really there!" Jules smiled gently, wrapping an arm around the girl.
"Did you ever doubt it was?" Susan's jaw dropped. How could Jules be encouraging this? Lucy was starting to scare her. Forgetting they were playing hide and seek, insisting she'd found a magical land in a wardrobe, waking everybody up in the middle of the night… she was sick of it. She loved her sister more than anything, and seeing her so excited was a joy, but truthfully, all Susan wanted was for everything to go back to normal.
Peter, however, despite being woken up so suddenly, once again admired the way Jules handled Lucy. The girl was looking distinctly ruffled and sleepy, and yet she smiled so kindly at Lucy that it warmed him. And Lucy looked so happy that he couldn't find it in him to care that it was all a game. In fact, he found himself curious about the magical land that made his little sister beam so brightly.
"I saw Mr. Tumnus again!" Lucy was telling Jules. "And this time, Edmund went, too."
Edmund looked like he could hit something. He shifted on his feet, uncomfortable under the stares. Lucy's happy and hopeful. Susan's cross and frustrated. Peter's curious and hesitant. Jules' kind and… knowing? Edmund quickly looked away from her.
"You… you saw the faun?" Peter asked. Edmund hesitated, but then shook his head lightly with a disbelieving laugh. Jules' eyes suddenly narrowed.
"Well," Lucy stretched out, "he didn't actually go there with me. He…" Lucy frowned, turning to her older brother. "What were you doing, Edmund?" He rolled his eyes.
"I was just playing along." Jules' heart dropped. Edmund gave a laugh. "I'm sorry, Peter. I shouldn't have encouraged her," Jules hugged Lucy tighter, "but you know what little children are like these days." Lucy's face began to screw up. "They just don't know when to stop pretending." Poor Lucy began to sob. She tore away from Jules, running from the room.
"Wait, Lucy!" Jules tore out after her. She didn't see the satisfied smirk on Edmund's face. But Peter did, and he quite happily pushed his brother as he followed Jules and Susan from the room.
"Lucy, wait!" Lucy was mad with tears, barely able to see where she was going. And she suddenly rammed into something.
"Oh!" There was an exclamation. Lucy looked up, and the professor looked down. And then, Lucy began to cry harder, latching onto the professor and sobbing her little heart out. Behind her, Jules, Susan, and Peter were frozen.
"You children are one shenanigan shy of sleeping in the stables…" Mrs. Macready also froze when she saw Professor Kirke. "Professor… I'm sorry. I told them, you were not to be disturbed."
"It's all right, Mrs. Macready," Digory assured. "I'm sure there's an explanation." He patted Lucy on the back. Jules came up from behind, gently taking Lucy's hand. "But first of all, I think this one is in need of a little hot chocolate." Mrs. Macready nodded, kindly taking Lucy's other hand. With a quick look, Jules knew Digory wanted her to stay behind.
"I'll be along in a few moments, okay, Lu?" Her only answer was a sniff.
"Come along, dear." Mrs. Macready led Lucy away.
Digory cleared his throat. Peter and Susan stilled from where they had tried to sneak away. Busted. Quickly, and a bit sternly, Digory ushered the three teenagers into his study. He kindly offered Jules a seat, which she took in the armchair near his desk. Digory sat behind his desk, opened an apple-shaped tin, and began to stuff tobacco into his pipe.
"You seem to have upset the delicate internal balance of my housekeeper." Digory stared at Peter and Susan from beneath his glasses, mentally evaluating them.
"We're very sorry, sir. It won't happen again." Peter tried to make a hasty exit, but Susan felt the need to explain.
"It's our sister, sir. Lucy."
"The weeping girl."
"Yes. She's upset."
"Hence the weeping."
"It's nothing. We can handle it," Peter said.
"Oh, I can see that." Digory's response was sarcastic. Susan waved off her brother, looking at Digory desperately. She needed him to understand.
"She thinks she's found a magical land."
'The penny goes up…' Jules thought to herself.
"In the upstairs wardrobe."
'And it drops.'
Indeed, it did. Digory snapped his head up, his eyes finding Jules. She wore a light smile and nodded. It was true. A look of shocked awe on his face, Digory stood and came over to Susan.
"What did you say?" he led the two eldest Pevensies to the couch and Jules followed.
"Um, the wardrobe, upstairs," Peter continued. "Lucy says she's found a forest inside." Jules noted the way Peter's language was different than Susan's. Susan said "thinks," as if knowing that it was all just a figment of Lucy's imagination. Peter said "says", being gentler to Lucy's games than he had been earlier in the day. The difference made her smile.
"She won't stop going on about it," Susan complained.
"What was it like?" Digory breathed. There was urgency on his face, and disbelief in his voice. He needed them to clarify. He needed to know more. He needed to know.
"Like talking to a lunatic." Jules gaped at Susan for her response. Peter looked shocked as well.
"No, no, no, not her. The forest," Digory clarified.
"She says it's big, and quiet. It's a winter wasteland, snow and ice on everything. But there was a faun there, and he became her friend." Jules' voice was soft, slow, gentle. Digory breathed out deeply. This was impossible.
"You're not saying you believe her?" Susan was incredulous, and her words conveyed it.
"You don't?" Digory wondered.
"But of course not," she said. "I mean, logically, it's impossible."
"What do they teach in schools these days?" Digory lamented.
"Edmund said they were only pretending," Peter added. Jules scowled at the reminder of Edmund. She was not at all happy with the way he treated all his siblings, but most of all the way he tormented Lucy.
"And he's usually the more truthful one, is he?" Digory could see the answer on their faces.
"No. This would be the first time," Peter admitted slowly, his mind whirring.
"Well, if she's not mad and she's not lying, then logically," he looked at Susan quickly, "we must assume she's telling the truth." Digory began to puff his pipe.
"You're saying we should just… believe her?" Susan asked.
"She's your sister, isn't she?" Digory shot back. "You're her family. You might just try acting like one." After that, Peter and Susan were dismissed to go back to bed. Peter's eyes lingered on Jules, maybe out of worry or curiosity, but he left with his sister. Once the door was shut, Digory immediately turned to Jules.
"Did you know?" he breathed. "About Lucy?" Jules nodded.
"You asked me earlier today, how I was going to find the kings and queens and then get back to Narnia… well… It's them, Digory. I know it. The Pevensies are the kings and queens. When I first met them on the train, I got this… this… feeling! I don't know, there was something about them that just… seemed right. And now I know why. Lucy found Narnia, in your wardrobe no less. And she says Edmund went with her tonight. It's only a matter of time before Peter and Susan find their way into Narnia as well. And I know that if they're going, so am I." Digory seeped heavily into his chair, still in disbelief at how a little girl from London had found his childhood magical land, how these four children were Narnia's only hope to defeat the White Witch.
Jules eyed her friend. "Where did you get that wardrobe?" His lips turned up in a reminiscing smile.
"After Polly, Lewis, and I returned from Narnia, I gave the apple Aslan let me take to my mother. She ate it and was healed from her illness," he told her. Jules nodded, indicating she understood so far. "After that, the three of us took the magic rings and apple core and planted it. From it, a tree grew. When it blew over in a storm, I couldn't bear to see it turned into firewood, so I had the wardrobe made." Jules breathed out an amazed laugh.
"Wow…" she said. "The magic of the rings infused with the tree as it grew, so when the wardrobe was made, the magic stayed. And the wardrobe became a doorway to Narnia."
Silence rang as Digory and Jules comprehended that revelation.
"A winter wasteland," Digory mused. Jules pursed her lips, nodding.
"Lucy said the White Witch has been in power for a century now." Tears pricked Jules' eyes. A century. A hundred years of tyranny and fear and winter. She couldn't imagine how the Narnians felt. She had disappeared right when they needed her most. She could imagine they hated her now. They would be right to.
Digory studied Jules. He hadn't told her so, but he would've been blind not to notice the way Jules had changed. When he had first met her, Jules had been extremely reserved. She had also been the Queen of Self-Degradation and Cynicism. The Jules he knew when he was a child could be wax poetic about how unworthy, how flawed she was. The Jules sitting before him was much more confident, much more open than he remembered. Wiser, more openly caring. Though her kindness had always exceeded that of others, it was far more palpable now. Her presence and glow naturally drew him in. Others, as well. He had noted the way the Pevensie boy's gaze lingered on her as he left. Frankly, he liked this new Jules. But internally, he wondered how she was coping with being away from her home for several months. Knowing Jules as well as he did, he would say she wasn't coping. Simply reminding herself that she had a job to do and she had better well do it. It was unhealthy, and it would come back to bite her later. Minutes later, Digory sent Jules off to bed, promising that they would talk more when it wasn't late into the night. Jules left the study, shutting the door and jumping when she noticed Peter waiting for her in the hall.
"Peter!" she cried in a whisper. "You startled me."
"I wanted to wait for you," he admitted. "Will you come with me to go see Lucy?" Jules' eyes softened.
"Of course." Together, the two went down to the kitchen. They found Lucy sitting with Mrs. Macready, sipping hot chocolate. Peter went to sit with his sister while Jules spoke to the housekeeper.
"You can go to bed, Mrs. Macready. We've got her. Thank you for being with her." The woman was genuinely surprised at Jules' assurance and gratitude. So she gave a hint of a smile, nodded, and departed. Jules sighed, coming to sit beside Lucy.
"Do you want to talk about it, Lu?" The little girl shook her head. Jules nodded. "Okay. Do you want to sit here quietly?" Lucy considered it, and shook her head. Jules nodded again. "Right then. How about I catch you up on The Hobbit? You fell asleep on me last time." Lucy smiled at Jules' gentle teasing and nodded her consent. So Jules' voice told Lucy of a perilous journey to a hidden valley, where Gandalf the Grey, Thorin Oakenshield, Bilbo Baggins, and the dwarves were greeted by singing elves. Jules said the elves spoke in a language that was beautiful. Jules spoke of Lord Elrond, who told the dwarves of their quest deadline, which was approaching faster than they liked. Both Peter and Lucy found themselves soothed by the story and the voice which told it.
Jules stopped when she noticed Lucy's eyes getting heavy.
"Jules?" Lucy said quietly. She hummed to indicate she was listening. "I wish you were my big sister." Jules and Peter froze.
"You already have a big sister, Lu," Jules managed, smoothing the young girl's hair.
"I want another one." Jules chuckled and chewed her lip in contemplation, her eyes relieved.
"Julianna Eowyn Pevensie," she recited. "What do you think?" Lucy was smiling, but Jules shook her head. "Nah. I don't think Peter could cope with being booted from his role as the eldest."
Peter looked comically stricken. It made Lucy and Jules giggle. Truthfully, Peter had not realized Jules was older than him. It was… strange. He was so used to being the eldest that knowing he wasn't right now was weird for him. But he shook that off and mocked horror.
"You wouldn't dare." Lucy giggled harder. Jules simply smiled, glad to see the girl's spirits rising.
"You could still be my sister." Lucy tugged on Jules' dressing gown, and she leaned down. Lucy whispered something in her ear. Peter frowned, watching as Jules' face went from normal to bright red in less than a second.
"Lucy!" The girl was sent into a peal of furious giggles. A devious gleam shone in her eyes and Peter knew he had missed something.
Jules sniffed and shook out her hair, unable to look Peter in the eye.
"Right," she recovered. "That's enough sugar for you. Any more and you'll be bouncing off the walls like the menace you are." There was more giggling.
Peter was very confused.
"It'll happen," Lucy insisted
"Not bloody likely."
"What will you give me if I'm right?" Jules huffed.
"You know what, Lucy? If it happens, if somehow, Aslan-forbid, you end up being right, I'll spend a day acting like Gollum, who you've yet to meet, by the way, you can plan everything, and I'll eat my dirty socks."
Peter was so confused.
"Done. But only if you're my slave for a week."
"This is not up for negotiation, it won't happen!"
"Yes, it will."
So horribly confused.
"Come on then," Jules continued. She held out her hand for Lucy, the young girl taking it. Jules rinsed the mug and left it in the sink as they passed. Together, Peter, Lucy, and Jules returned upstairs. Lucy went to bed in better spirits, the chocolate and laughter having helped immensely.
"I'm sorry," Peter was saying as he walked Jules to her door again. She frowned.
"What for?"
"For… Lucy, Edmund, the professor, just everything. I'm sorry you had to get caught up in our family troubles." Jules' frown deepened.
"Peter…" she reached out, grasping his shoulder. "You know none of this is your fault, right?" He didn't answer. Jules sighed. "Look, Peter, I'm not going to lie and tell you I'm okay with all of this. Frankly, it makes me sad to see you guys fighting so much, but I also know that no family is perfect." She paused. "I also know that if anyone should apologize for tonight, it should be Edmund. What he did was cruel, and if he keeps on with it I'm going to step up and protect Lucy. The last thing she needs right now is a bully for a brother."
Peter didn't disagree with her. Jules smiled a bit.
"It's not your fault, Peter. You're trying your best. That's all anyone can ever ask of you." She gently squeezed his shoulder. "Good night, Peter." She disappeared into her bedroom.