A/N: Well, here we are: the final chapter! And it's another nice long one. First of all, a billion thank-you's to everyone who reviewed. Without your positive feedback and encouragement, this might have become one of the many half-finished stories decorating my desktop. Also, credit for the idea of Tumnus meeting family goes to jasonc65!
Disclaimer: You ought to know by now that Narnia isn't mine. And if you don't, I'm flattered!
Sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride…I'll see you at the end.
A Faun's Tale
Chapter Eight: The dearest of all friends
Morning dawned clear, and the entire company marched to Cair Paravel, singing and laughing all the way. Mr. Tumnus spent most of the journey walking next to Lucy. Having been held up by the centaurs the night before, he hadn't had a chance to speak to her since the battle. The very first thing he did was burst into a furious tirade about what insufferable beasts centaurs were. He carried on by telling her what had really happened on the battlefield, and tried to explain how he wasn't a hero at all. Lucy merely laughed, and Mr. Tumnus had to put up with Peter and Edmund calling him "Tumnus Giant-Slayer" for half the day, until Susan told them to stop.
At long last, the company came within sight of Cair Paravel and paused on the crest of a hill. Mr. Tumnus did not at once notice the glittering palace that stood at the mouth of a great river; his attention had been caught by the sea. He had never before seen so much water in one place! The little Faun's head was reeling with the immensity of it all: a thousand thousand sparkling waves, dyed pink and gold with the setting sun, stretching out to meet the sky itself. Standing there on the eastern edge of Narnia, and looking out over the vast stretch of foaming water, with the smell of salt in his nostrils and the cries of the gulls in his ears, Mr. Tumnus felt his heart brimming over with joy. They had done it!
That evening after tea the four Pevensie children idled on the beach, whereas Mr. Tumnus opted to stay within the palace. He had been given a room of his own, and with a deep sigh of contentment, he sank into a copper tub full of steaming water. Almost reverently he picked up the large bar of soap and flannel cloth, and whistled cheerily as he washed away the grime of the battle and journey. "Delightful", he murmured as he scrubbed away, creating peaks of scented foam on the water. "It certainly feels good to be clean again!"
The night was spent in a lovely feather bed, and Mr. Tumnus was feeling very content indeed when he entered the Great Hall of Cair Paravel the next day. He seated himself between Mr. Beaver and Nictus the Faun, and admired the view of the Great Eastern Ocean through the palace doors. The room suddenly fell silent, and craning his head Mr. Tumnus could see the four children – Lucy last of all – entering the Hall. They were wearing magnificent new clothes: Narnian tunics, dresses, and cloaks of the finest fabrics.
Mr. Beaver nudged him in the ribs and whispered, "Look like royalty now, don't they? By Jove!" Mr. Tumnus could only nod in agreement. He could barely recognize the four children now.
The Faun had not noticed the Lion enter, but once the children had paused at the head of the room, Aslan stepped forward. Mr. Tumnus felt chills run down his spine as Aslan set a bright metal circlet on the head of each child. "I can't believe I'm seeing this", the Faun whispered. If only his father could have lived this long!
As the children were led to the four thrones that had stood empty for a century, all of Narnia got to its feet and shouted, "Long Live King Peter! Long Live Queen Susan! Long Live King Edmund! Long Live Queen Lucy!"
Mr. Tumnus' knees were weakening, and tears of joy streamed openly down his face. He felt himself taken up into a rough and furry embrace. "I told you it would be all right", Mr. Beaver sobbed into the Faun's ear. "Do you remember? That time long ago when we were talking in the forest. I said it would be all right, that Aslan would make it all right. And he has!"
As if on cue, Aslan started to speak. "Once a king or queen in Narnia, always a king or queen", he was saying, the rich timbre effortlessly filling the hall. "Bear it well, Sons of Adam! Bear it well, Daughters of Eve!"
As soon as the echoes of his resonant voice had died away, a strange sound welled up, wafting through the wide-open palace doors. It was sweeter and more piercing than any music Mr. Tumnus had heard before. "What is it?" he asked softly, wiping the traces of tears from his cheeks.
One of the Dwarfs answered, his rough voice oddly hushed. "That is the song of mermen and mermaids", he whispered. "They honour their new Kings and Queens."
Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy sat on their thrones. The Narnians followed suit, taking seats to await the next affair: the presentation of honours. Two satyrs and two nymphs came forward and presented the children with beautifully-crafted sceptres, forged only the night before, each inlaid with different-coloured gems.
King Peter cleared his throat a little nervously, but when he spoke his voice was steady and clear. "The first friend we would like to honour", he said, words carrying throughout the bright hall, "Is the first friend ever made to us in this land. We honour Tumnus the Faun."
Mr. Tumnus dropped his cup with a loud clang, but nobody noticed because they were too busy cheering. He turned to gawp at Mr. Beaver, who gave his shoulder a gentle shove and laughed, "Go on, then!" The little Faun got shakily to his feet, and somehow managed to walk up to the thrones without falling, although he did stumble once or twice. Trembling, he knelt before the four children. He was not afraid of them, but having all of Narnia staring at the back of his neck was something he did not particularly enjoy.
King Peter smiled at him reassuringly, and said to the room at large, "When my sister Lucy first came into Narnia, she was met by Tumnus the Faun. He befriended her at great threat to his life, and it was due to him that we managed to stay safe from the White Witch."
When the applause had died down again, Queen Susan spoke up. "As reward for his great friendship, and his courage in battle" – Mr. Tumnus flushed at this – "we grant Mr. Tumnus an honorary place at Cair Paravel, until his house can be repaired."
"The Red Dwarfs have agreed to fully restore his home", added King Edmund, and Mr. Tumnus looked up in amazement. He couldn't believe his ears. "But", the young King continued, "He will always be a welcome friend at the palace. We hereby name him one of our most trusted advisors."
Mr. Tumnus was in a state of shock – how could anyone expect him to give advice about anything? The Faun was still trying to absorb this startling new development, when one of the nymphs came forward. She handed a large golden medal on a blue ribbon to Queen Lucy, and the girl stepped forward and placed it around the neck of a very flustered Mr. Tumnus. "We thank you with all our hearts", she said warmly, "First and dearest of all friends."
At her prompting, Mr. Tumnus stood up and reluctantly turned to face the Hall. The Narnians were all on their feet, clapping and cheering deafeningly; from one of the tables a group of centaurs were hollering, "Hurrah for Tumnus Giant-Slayer!" The medal glinted brightly, an unfamiliar but reassuring weight about his neck. Quite at a loss for what to do with himself, Mr. Tumnus turned to look at Aslan, who was standing quietly by the side of the thrones.
The great Lion inclined his golden head at the Faun, and said, "He is proud of you."
Mr. Tumnus did not need to ask who.
After the presentation of honours had been concluded, the celebrations began. The next part of the evening was spent in meeting old acquaintances and making new ones, and Mr. Tumnus was pleasantly surprised to realize that he had many surviving cousins among the Fauns. Indeed, it turned out that Nictus was his third cousin once removed, although they had both been ignorant of the fact until now. Such happy discoveries were not uncommon; what with the harsh winter conditions in Narnia during the White Witch's reign, contact had often been lost between families. There was not one Narnian there who did not gain additional friends or relations. The festivities stretched long into the night, as the Narnians had much to celebrate. There was feasting, singing, dancing, and laughter like nobody had ever remembered.
When the merrymaking was finally over, Mr. Tumnus sat before the fire in his palace room. The hearth was warm and cozy, but it was just not the same as his little home. He smiled when he thought that he would soon be moving back. When the wolves had taken him away, he'd been convinced that he would never see that little cave again. Moreover, he had wrecked it seemingly beyond repair – but if anybody could restore his humble home, it would be the Dwarfs.
A soft knock sounded on his door, and Lucy slipped inside. She wore a long velvet robe and was holding a package under her arm. Without a word she took the armchair opposite his, and Mr. Tumnus was strongly reminded of the last time they had sat together before a fire. How much had happened since then!
The little Faun was the first to break the comfortable silence. "How does it feel to be a Queen?" he asked her playfully.
Lucy wrinkled her nose. "I don't know. I feel like myself, only… more responsible, in a way. Does that make sense? I mean, I know I'll have Peter and Susan and Edmund as well, so it can't be too bad. I only wish…"
"Yes?" the Faun prompted softly.
"I only wish that Aslan were here."
The Lion had slipped off during the evening, but the Narnians knew that he would come and go. Mr. Tumnus nodded in understanding. "I think we all do", he remarked, "But we can't expect him to be here all the time. He will be watching over us, though, wherever he is. You can be sure of that."
The girl's expression brightened, but her answer was cut off by a very large yawn.
"It is late, Queen Lucy", Mr. Tumnus chided gently. "You should be in bed."
Lucy smiled. "Please don't call me Queen, Mr. Tumnus; I'm still Lucy to you." She sighed and rubbed her eyes with her fists. "It is late, though, isn't it? I never knew how long feasts could go on for. But I didn't want to wait until tomorrow."
"Wait for what?" Mr. Tumnus asked, at once intrigued.
In answer, Lucy placed the package she had been holding into his lap. "It's a late Christmas present", she explained. "You missed Father Christmas, as you were… Well, open it."
With shaky hands, Mr. Tumnus untied the string and pulled away the folds of brown paper. When the gift was unwrapped he sat silently for a long time, his eyes very wide and very round. Finally, he managed to ask, "How…How did you get this?"
Lucy beamed, stifling another yawn with her hand. "I sent some of the birds to fetch it. The Dwarfs have been working on it all last night. Do you like it?"
The Faun reached down, and with trembling fingers he lifted out the present. It was the old portrait of his father Limnus. He ran a hand lovingly over the canvas, and saw that the rips made by Maugrim had been very cleverly mended, so that they were almost unnoticeable. He put the portrait gently down and embraced Lucy, unable to find words to describe his gratitude. She hugged him affectionately back, then slipped off to her own room, and to bed.
But Mr. Tumnus was not tired, no matter the hour; reaching up, he placed his father's portrait on the mantelpiece. He stood back and looked at the image of the old Faun, at the crackling fire in the hearth, and at the beautifully-woven carpet beneath his hooves. It was not home, but it would do for now.
The little Faun picked up his flute, which a thoughtful bird had salvaged from his cave, and walked to the open window. Perching himself on the ledge, he looked out over the eastern sea. The moon was shining, the stars were twinkling, and very softly he could hear the mermaids' song. He thought of the new friends he had made, and the old friends with whom he had been reunited. He thought of Narnia, a land newly-awoken from her wintry slumber, a fresh green world just waiting to be explored. And he thought of the days to come, of the bright, happy future that was unrolling before him.
Mr. Tumnus lifted the flute to his lips, and began to play.
The End.
A/N: I hope you've enjoyed this journey as much as I have…
Now, leave a review before you run off, please! This is the final chapter, and I would love it so very, very, very much if you could give me a little feedback: tell me what parts you liked, what you didn't like, or what you thought of the story as a whole. I really want to improve my writing, so any insight you have to offer would be priceless.
Until next time! - Sanaryelle