Disclaimer: I do not own Narnia, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, the films, or any of Lewis' work. I hope only to pay him tribute with my small meaningless attempts to appease my obsession. Narnia writers...I salute you!

Chapter Quote: "It's my first time away from me Mum."

Chapter Two

The Train

Sara, not smiling as brightly as was usual to her pale features, though still excited, was nearly dragging me through the train as we searched for a compartment to sit in. With everyone we passed it was the same: the children lining the seats with sullen faces, tears, and eyes that traveled the country-side with looks that told of the despair that they felt...that we all felt.

The country-side was a glaring reminder of what our beloved country was now...could any of us remember what it had been like before? We hadn't all been growing up with memories of fear, war, bombs, loss, and depravation as had children like Sara. Some of us...most of us remembered what it was like before all that...it just took a good deal of work to recollect it.

"They're all taken, Sharon!" Sara exclaimed, finally stopping with a pout on her face.

"Of course they're not all taken." I assured her quietly, clasping her hand firmly in my own. The doubt had weaseled its way into her pale face again as she looked down, examining the grey tag pinned to her tan sweater.

"Is P...P...eh...Pehmmmm-"

"Pemberly?" I finished for her as she stumbled through the name of the town we were being sent to.

"Yes." She said gratefully. "Is Pemberly far from London?" She was looking out the window now, her dark eyes darting back and forth as she watched the scenery, mostly dark and scorched, as it rolled by. I hesitated, how could I answer that question in a way that would still let her cling to the hope she still had left? How could I tell her what she wanted to know without revealing my darkest fears through my words?

"Yes Sara, Pemberly is very far away from London." I knelt down beside her and gazed into her sorrowful eyes. "It is far away from London, the bombs...it is far away even from the war."

"Pemberly is far away from mummy." She said softly, her eyes watering again.

"Yes...it is." I conceded slowly. "But you have to be brave for mummy now. Remember all those times you said you'd wish their was something we could do to fight the Nazi's and bring Papa, Taylor, and Thomas, home? Do you remember that?"

She nodded tearfully.

"Well, we are doing something now, something that we can do to help our soldiers far away. Can you be brave for them, Sara? And for Mama, and our family too?"

Sara's eyes were now wide with the wonder of the situation. She smiled pridefully and nodded.

"Good." I said softly, wiping away her tears. "Papa would be so proud."

I heard footsteps behing me and I straightened up, clutching Sara's hand as I turned to meet them. It was an old man...and he was in the uniform of a man who worked on a train...what were they called again? I couldn't remember.

"Huh-lo young ladies." The man said with a heavy Irish accent as he looked down at us. "What can I do for the two of ya?" He had bright blue eyes, a snowy white beard, and a kind smile...I wasn't holding on quite so tightly to Sara's hand now.

"Please sir...we're having some trouble finding a seat."

"Yes...this ride is a wee bit crowded...isn't?" He said, smiling at me.

"Can you help us sir?" Asked Sara, who was staring up at him.

"That I can little lass, you just follow me now." He sidled past Sara with quicky, deft movement and gestured for the two of us to follow him as he walked down the aisle past the long lines of compartments. "You two look like a brave bunch...not a tear from the lot of ya! Have you traveled from home before?"

"No sir." Answered Sara as he looked back. "It's my first time away from me Mum."

He grinned a toothy grin, caught my eye and winked. "Mine too." I felt a smile twitch at the corners of my mouth.

"Where are you ladies off to then?"

"Pemberly." I answered promptly before Sara could try and stumble through the word.

He paused in his walk, thinking. "Well, isn't that something." He looked at us and exclaimed happily, "I have a sister in Pemberly...a right smart lass too. Who would you be staying with?"

"Ms. Carter." I said.

"Carter...Carter..." He repeated thoughtfully. "Perhaps ya mean Rose Carter?"

"That's what it says on our tags, sir."

"No more of this 'sir' business now, ya hear? My name is Thomas, it's what me own dear mother, God rest her soul, christened me and that's right good enough for me. No mister in it...just Thomas."

"My brother's name is Thomas!" Sara exclaimed in surprise. "What shall I call you then so I don't get you confused?"

"Tom suits me fine...it's what the boys down at pub call me anyways."

Yes...I could imagine a man like Mr. Thomas being very comfortable in a pub. Papa had always been. He used to say that a man 'ain't whole without his liquor.' All I knew was that I wasn't a man and that Papa's liquor always stank to me.

"Mr. Tom then?" Asked Sara.

"No...just Tom. Tom is fine for me" He started walking again, glancing in compartments and then looking back at us again. "Now...what be your names?"

"I'm Sara." She said brightly, beaming at him as he planted a kiss on one of her hands. "That's Sharon." She said, pointing to me. He stopped momentarily and tipped his hat.

"Nice to meet you Miss Sara and Sharon..." He paused and I quickly told him our last name.

"Wilkins."

"Wilkins... aye? Wilkins..." He paused thoughtfully as he glanced into another compartment. "Thought I knew a Wilkins once...can't remember just now. But anyways, I do know a Ms. Rose Carter, lovely woman. You'll like her...and it just so happens that I live in Pemberly meself. You'll be sure to drop in for a visit sometime...won't you?"

"Of course!" Said Sara brightly, she released my hand and reached out to take one of his own. "Shall we have tea and biscuits?"

"All the tea and biscuits you could want, milady. " She giggled as he bowed to her, and then he turned to look ahead. "Now...I do believe I've just the right seat for the two of ya."

Mr. Tom had stopped suddenly at a compartment and gestured for the two of us to go in. The compartment, as were they all, was carpeted and the seats cushioned. The train continued to tug along and Sara and I stood nervously next to Mr. Tom as we stared at the children we would be sharing the compartment with. There were four of them, all watching us curiously as Sara, Mr. Tom, and I stood in the doorway. Mr. Tom plucked a gold watch from a pocket in his bavy blue vest, glanced at it, then snapped it back shut. He smiled encouragingly at us and slipped it back into his pocket. "I should be getting along now. You two behave yourselves and perhaps I shall see ya later?"

"Bye Tom!" Sara said, beaming as one of his old gnarled hands cupped her cheek. "Yes, I shall certainly me-dear!" He tipped his hat and then retreated back along the corridor, whistling cheerily, leaving me and Sara, quite alone, with the four other children in the compartment. There were all very distinctly related...and they all seemed to range in age. Two boys and two girls.

"Hello!" Sara said, her fears rapidly diminished after haven spoken with Mr. Tom. "Tom said we could sit in here...if that's quite all right with you."

"Sure." Said one of them quickly, a boy, who was apparently that oldest. He looked it, and no one questioned his words. He stood, rising rapidly as Sara skipped happily inside and seating herself next to the window opposite the door. The boy was very tall, he looked slightly agitated, as if he'd rather be anywhere but here, there were worry lines in his forehead, as Sara liked to call them. He had blond hair and very blue eyes which were doubtful and hesitant as he looked down at me. Seated just behind him was a girl, with long, brown hair fashionably curled about her face and resting on her shoulders. Pale, with brilliant eyes, I thought she looked perfectly lovely.

Seated next to her was a little girl, with light brown hair resting just above her shoulders. She was looking at Sara with a small smile forming on her face. And lastly, there was a dark-haired boy, older then the smiling little girl, and younger then the pretty blue-eyed one. I couldn't really see much of his face as he was looked rather decidedly out the window with a sulky expression on his face.

The older boy, who was standing in front of me, hastily offered to take my trunk and I quietly gave my consent. I sat once he had settled my trunk on the rack above our heads, and then he sat, his blue eyes dancing curiously between me and Sara.

"I'm Peter Pevensie." He said politely, and introduced me to his sisters Susan, the dark-haired girl, and the younger, who was Lucy. And finally to the sulking boy staring out the window, Edmund, who didn't even look up as he name was spoken. I told them mine, and Sara's, but my sister was too busy chatting amiably with Lucy who, still slightly unnerved, was starting to warm up considerably with my cheery, pale skinned sister. I didn't know what to say to Susan or Peter, who were both exchanging glances uncomfortably and we eventually fell back against the seats into an uneasy sort of silence.

Lucy and Sara's chatter fell down to whispers until Sara was eventually sleepy and curled up against me with her head in my lap and drew circles on my thigh with her finger. On some other occasion...perhaps any other occasion, maybe we would have found more cause to speak to each other, the Pevensies and me. But there was something in the air now, a bit of tenseness...a sense of foreboding as the train sped on, further from London and the welcoming arms of our parents...or parent.

Sara was soon asleep and I contented myself with gazing silently out the window. Where had the sun gone? Had I chased it away with my tears? I sighed and rubbed Sara's small back, rising and falling with her deep, contented breaths. The Pevensie children and I did not speak again. The train chugged on until, eventually, it stopped at a station with the name PEMBERLY emblazoned on a large white sign written in green ink.

Peter got our bags as I gently woke Sara. I thanked him quietly, hoping he saw the true gratefulness in my eyes as I met his, and the wish I had that they would have the best of luck...the words just weren't coming out. I clutched the bag handle tightly and hoisted it to my side, took Sara's tiny hand in my other. She waved good-bye as we left the compartment, Lucy smiled hesitantly and waved back. I did not see the Pevensies again.

I stepped off the train and onto a platform with two other children. And I stood, unsure of what to do next, as the train began to chug on leaving me and Sara, very much alone on the solitary platform.

A/N: Wow, I am truly astounded! A whopping twelve reviews for the beginning of this fic. I'm positively flattered! Now, contrary to most fics involving the Pevensies, the Pevensie children will only be mentioned briefly in the beginning of the story. So don't cop out on me yet because you think this is going to be boring! Cause its not- the first half is basically about Sharon and Sara and the second part...well...I don't want to spoil it for anyone. And, to answer a reviewers question, Sharon is not going to be staying at Professor Kirke's house. And a shout out to SimonRafe for his wonderful advice concerning this story.

TO BE CONTINUED...