This chapter is not much more than filler; I apologize for that. I promise Tumnus will be back soon.

I would also like to make a note to the anonymous reviewer who thought my Tumnus was too angsty: you are probably right. That is why I included the OOC warning at the beginning. I'm afraid angst is all I know how to write, and you are not the first to find a characterization of mine not to your liking for that reason. However, I feel I must warn you the rest of the story is not likely to change your opinion; it might be best if you give it a miss this go round. I'll try to write something fluffy and more faunish for my next fic. :)

Thanks as always to the reveiwers!

Chapter 5

Susan found Aslan an hour later, in the rocky ravines near the battlefield. He was gathering a group of oddly-shaped rocks into a pile; she stood atop a boulder and watched with interest, for a time forgetting why she had come to find him.

"I wonder, Susan," he called up to her, making her jump—she hadn't realized he'd known she was there, "if you could do me a favor."

He turned to look up at her, and she nodded, jumping down and approaching the odd pile of rock. "Yes, Aslan?"

He indicated the two large boulders in front of him with a nod of his golden head. "I think you'll find wedged between those two a bit of rock shaped like a talon," he said. "I would very much appreciate it if you could retrieve it—I'm afraid it's too tight a squeeze for a large fellow like me."

Susan nodded, hurrying to do as he asked. It was nearly too tight a squeeze for her, but she found the piece he was looking for, and brought it back to add to the pile. Aslan stared at it intently for a moment, and she waited, knowing better than to interrupt him when he looked like that—he had the same look Peter sometimes got when he was going over a particularly difficult bit of homework, and Susan had long since learned that sort of concentration was not favorably interrupted. She backed away a bit, clambering upon another boulder and watched the lion with interest.

Aslan circled the pile of rock slowly, his look of intense concentration never wavering. Once he reached the other side, he suddenly nodded, looking satisfied. He turned to Susan, and gave her a little wink, then leaned forward and breathed upon the rocks.

For a moment nothing happened. Then the rocks, as though imbued with a life of their own, began to shift, reshaping themselves and fitting together as though they had never been broken. Soon, they formed the shape of a large stone griffin, which almost immediately began to thaw. Moments later, the magnificent creature stood before them, whole, blinking in a dazed sort of way. Spotting Aslan in front of him, he gasped and bowed deeply.

"My lord," he breathed, then looked up, flexing his talons. "But where has the witch gone?" he asked, sounding perplexed. "She was here, just now, I thought."

Aslan smiled. "She has been defeated, my friend," he replied gently.

The griffin stared at him, then seemed to notice Susan; he gave a little start and bowed to her as well. "Your highness!" he said. "It is truly an honor." Then he looked around again. "I was a stone, then? How very odd! I would have thought to remember more." He shook himself again, ruffling his wings, and bowed to them once more. "My lord, my queen, by your leave."

Aslan nodded, and the griffin crouched, then bounded into the air and was soon out of sight, winging back towards the camp.

Aslan chuckled, then bounded upon the rock where Susan was sitting and settled himself beside her.

"I believe that's everyone," he said, sounding satisfied. "Tomorrow we will bury our dead, then begin the journey back to Cair Paravel."

He looked down at her, and raised a brow. "Now, Daughter of Eve," he said. "What did you wish to speak to me about?"

Susan smiled, ever-amazed at the great cat's ability to know her purpose before she told it to him. "It's Mr. Tumnus, sir," she said.

Aslan nodded. "Lucy's friend the faun," he murmured. "Yes, I rather thought something like this would happen, though I expected it to be Lucy who would find me."

Susan frowned. "Something like…what?"

Aslan smiled gently. "You are wondering about his odd behavior over breakfast?"

She gaped at him. "H-how—how did you…?"

He chuckled. "Not everything is magic, dear heart," he said. "I was just up camp a little ways, and I saw him leave in a hurry."

She stared for a moment, then burst into astonished laughter. "And here I thought spying was against your nature, Aslan!" she teased.

He smiled, but soon his face was serious again. "You've come to me to answer your problem, and have nearly answered it yourself," he said, raising one eyebrow significantly.

She tilted her head, perplexed. "I don't understand, sir," she replied.

He looked out over the battlefield, and sighed. "Susan, there are few things that can tear a soul apart more viciously than guilt," he said. "Your concern for the faun is touching, and no less than one would expect from a friend. However, I am not the one who can help your Mr. Tumnus. There is only one who can."

"Lucy," Susan said softly, and the lion looked at her, pleased.

"Yes," he replied. "He must seek her out, and talk with her."

"But Aslan," Susan said, suddenly worried. "I'm not sure if he will. He had a hard enough time talking to me about it."

The lion smiled at her. "I doubt you need worry, dear one," he said, rising to his feet and leaping from the boulder. "After all, Lucy is hardly one to let the matter slide, once she notices something is wrong."

Susan had to agree that was the truth, and as she and Aslan walked back toward the camp together, her heart felt a little easier. Still, she was worried; she hoped her sister would talk to Tumnus soon. After all, no one should be unhappy, now that they'd finally won peace for Narnia.

TBC