Chapter 3
Lucy's Discovery

After Susan had gone to see Peter, Lucy suddenly lost interest in the game. She looked at Edmund, her eyes filling with tears, and said, "I don't want to play anymore."

Edmund groaned inwardly, and slammed the bat down. "Peter's faking all this," he snapped. "He's not really sick, I'll bet. He just wants the attention as usual!"

Lucy gasped, clenching her fingers into fists at her sides. "He is not faking it!" she exclaimed. "Edmund Pevensie, you'd better say you're sorry or I'll scream!" her face was turning a brilliant shade of red, her breath coming out in great heaves.

Edmund kicked a stray cricket ball, and flopped down on the grass. "You're such a cry baby," he said. "I don't see why I have to say I'm sorry. It's not like I made Peter sick. Go ahead and yell, then," he added, as Lucy opened her mouth to retort. "See if I care." He turned away from her, folding his arms across his chest. Lucy stomped her foot on the grass, wanting to give her brother a kick in the shins.

"I'll never ever speak to you again!" she cried, and, turning on her heel, fled back into the mansion. Edmund watched as she disappeared through the back door, and growled under his breath. Good, he thought, resting his chin on his knees. Little sisters are stupid, anyway. Who needs 'em?

Lucy dashed into the house, sobbing quietly. She hated how Edmund could be so dreadfully mean! She was half tempted to beg Susan to tell Edmund off for being a prat, but when she reached the top of the stairs, she saw Susan laying beside Peter on the bed, one arm wrapped around his middle, and her head buried against his shoulder. She was crying softly herself, smoothing his sweat-soaked hair away from his forehead with her free hand.

"Oh dear, oh dear," Lucy hiccoughed, climbing the steps slowly, afraid that any noise might cause her brother pain. "what is going to happen to us?" she tiptoed past the sickroom, wanting to find a private place where no one would bother her. The bedroom wasn't good enough; Edmund would most likely go in there if he came back inside, and she did not want to see him.

Lucy eventually found another set of stairs at the end of the corridor, and hurried up those. She came upon yet another hall, much narrower and darker than the rest of the house. Lucy realized that there were at least ten doors on either side, all closed. Jumping a little at the sound of Peter's coughs from below, Lucy decided it would be interesting to see what these rooms contained.

She attempted to open the first three door handles on the right side, but found them to be locked tight. "Blast," she muttered, wiping the dust on her skirt. She tried a couple on her opposite side, and finally, the third door's knob turned easily. Lucy gasped, and very slowly, pulled the door open. She wiped her damp eyes with heels of her hands as she entered the room, and when her vision cleared, she saw it was an empty one. Well, empty except for a great object standing by the back wall, covered in a white sheet.

"Oh!" she breathed, wondering what on earth it was, and why the Professor would want to keep the object hidden. She walked towards it as though in a slight trance, and, reaching up, she took hold of the sheet. With one swift tug, Lucy pulled it off, revealing a great oak wardrobe. She stood staring at it for a few moments, wondering what could possibly be inside. Another toychest? She wondered, filling with excitement. "Perhaps the Professor forgot to tell us about this," she added aloud, wondering if she should open the wardrobe door and have a look.

"HehKESHHH! HuhKeshhhh!" she heard Peter sneezing in the distance, and glanced over her shoulder, as though expecting someone to come up behind her. When no one did, she decided to go with her instinct and open the wardrobe door. She took the small handle between her fingers, and opened it carefully. A couple of mothballs rolled onto the floor, and when she looked up, she realized the wardrobe was full of coats. Men's coats as well as ladie's coats, in all shapes and sizes. She touched the first coat, a brown fur one with a black collar, and rubbed the soft material against her cheek.

"I wonder how far back this goes," she thought, wishing Peter were well. If he hadn't come down with the flu, then they would be able to play hide-and-seek—and this would be a perfect hiding place! Lucy parted several of the coats with her hands, stepping inside. It smelled musty, and she had to blink several times to get used to the darkness. She reached forward with her hands, preparing to come feel a wooden back, but, after a moment or two of walking, she felt nothing. "Goodness," she gasped, nearly getting a mouthful of mink.

After a full minute of walking, she felt something sharp and cold with her fingers. "Ouch!" she cried, parting a space between more coats. Her mouth fell open at once—she'd touched the needles of a pine tree! "What?" she glanced over her shoulder, only seeing darkness, and then turned back to the needles. She pressed on, squeezing through several pine branches, stepping onto something soft. Looking up, she realized she was outside…only, everything was completely covered in snow!

A few fresh flakes fell before her as well, one hitting her gently on the nose. Lucy couldn't believe it—she couldn't possibly still be on the Professor's grounds. It was springtime there, and the grounds were clear. "Where am I?" she asked, holding out her hands as more snow fell. Her breath came in white puffs as she moved forward, and she suddenly grinned with delight. This was a magical place, she just knew it!

Lucy spun around in circles, watching as her feet made prints in the white snow. To make sure she wasn't dreaming, she pinched her arm. Afterwards, she was still standing in the winter wonderland…it was real!

Lucy eventually came upon what appeared to be a lamppost, with flames glowing brightly inside a glass case. It was covered with frost, which she brushed off gently with her fingertips.

SNAP! Lucy whirled around when she heard what sounded like a twig snapping. She peered through a thick grove of trees, her heart racing madly. If this was indeed a magical world, who knew what creatures existed? So far, she hadn't seen anyone or anything…not even a bird or a rabbit. Once she calmed down, Lucy continued to gaze up at the lamppost, and then glanced back towards the wardrobe. It was where she'd left it, an opening where the back wall should have been.

SNAP! There was that sound again! Lucy jumped, and turned just in time to see a pair of furry, hooved hind legs rushing past beneath the bough of ferns. Lucy held her breath, wanting to run, but her own legs wouldn't move. Suddenly, a creature appeared. He was about a head taller than Lucy, but was not at all normal. His upper half was human like herself, but he had legs shaped like a goat's, and instead of feet he had hooves. He was wearing a red scarf and carried what appeared to be a great load of wrapped packages and a white umbrella.

Lucy screamed, startled, and the creature did the same, dropping everything he'd been holding into the snow. Both Lucy and the stranger dashed away, taking refuge behind something. Lucy hid behind the lamppost, and the half-human/goat hid behind a tree. The lamppost didn't hide all of her; she was still able to see the creature as his tail moved from side to side. She peered out from behind the lamppost, and he, as though reading her mind, felt safe enough to do the same.

For a moment, neither of them spoke…they merely stared at each other. Lucy eventually took the opportunity to step out first, though he hesitated. "Are you afraid of me?" she asked gently, but he didn't answer. She looked down, and bent over to retrieve one of the fallen packages.

The creature began stuttering, reaching out a hand as though to prevent her from touching anything. "D-don't—p-put…" he finally stepped out, his enormous blue eyes wide with worry. He aimed his umbrella at her, but she picked up the parcel anyway.

"Here you are," she said, handing the package to him. He took it, holding it tightly to his chest. "If you don't mind my asking, what exactly are you?"

The creature looked a little taken aback by the question, and blinked. "Me?" he asked. "Why, I'm a fawn! And what may I ask, are you? A type of beardless dwarf?" he pushed the top of the umbrella up so it covered him. Lucy giggled, shaking her head.

"I'm not a dwarf," she insisted. "I'm a girl!" she put her hands on her hips. "and actually, I'm the tallest in my class!" she loved to say this, and did when she could with great pride.

The Faun's expression changed from curiosity to, what Lucy thought, was hope. "Do you mean to say," the Faun began, "that you are indeed a daughter of Eve?"

Confused, Lucy looked at him. "Well, my mother's name is…."

He shook his head. "No, no, you misunderstand me. Are you actually…human?"

"Yes," Lucy replied.

The Faun beamed. "And how did you come to be in Narnia?"

Lucy blinked. "What is that?" she asked, and the Faun snorted.

"Why, my dear girl, this…" he pointed to the ground. "this is Narnia! Everything you see from the lamppost, all the way to the castle Cair Paravel…every rock and leaf in this part is Narnia."

"Oh!" she cried in delight. "Well, I came from the wardrobe in the spare room," she explained, pointing behind her, and the Faun cocked his head to one side.

"Ward-robe and Spar-oom?" he asked. "I've never heard of those countries!"

Lucy giggled. "They're not countries," she began, and suddenly, the Faun gave a deep bow.

"Forgive my rudeness," he apologized, "but I forgot to introduce myself. My name, is Tumnus."

Lucy grinned. "A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Tumnus!" she replied. "I'm Lucy Pevensie." She held out her hand, but Mr. Tumnus merely looked at it. "Oh," she added, "you're supposed to shake it."

Mr. Tumnus frowned. "Why?" he asked, and she lowered her hand, not quite sure how to answer his question.

"I…" she thought hard, wondering if anyone had in deed told her about the purpose of a handshake. "don't know!" she shrugged. "It's what people do when they meet each other." She held it out again, and Mr. Tumnus, though slightly hesitant, took her hand and gave it an awkward little jiggle. Lucy laughed, gripping a bit more firmly and shaking it again.

"Well, Lucy Pevensie from the dazzling country of Ward-robe, how would it be if you came to have tea with me?"

Lucy swallowed nervously…she knew her siblings would be worried about her if she stayed in Narnia for too long. Well, Susan and Peter would miss her…she wasn't so certain if Edmund would care whether she returned or not.

"I shouldn't stay long," she replied. "My brother's very sick at home."

Mr. Tumnus frowned as he bent over to pick up more of the strewn packages. "Ill you say?" Lucy took one of the packages out of his hands so he would not drop them again.

"He's caught influenza," Lucy replied sadly.

"Oh goodness me," Mr. Tumnus clucked his tongue. "Well, if you come with me, Lucy, I have a special herb that will help your brother. We have many…or well, should I say…had many remedies for ailments here in Narnia. But, as it is winter, not many are growing."

"You have medicine that may help my brother?" Lucy asked, and Mr. Tumnus nodded.

"I have a barrel stored in my house, yes," he replied. "I will show you how to brew it into a tea. You look half frozen yourself, and no doubt a cup of tea would not do any harm at all…and I have toast and cakes," he added, "and if we are lucky, we may be able to break into the sardines."

Lucy tried not to wrinkle her nose at the sardine suggestion, but finally nodded. "I suppose…I could come for a little while," she agreed, and he grinned.

"Wonderful! Come along, then…my house is not far at all, and I promise, I will not keep you very long."

Lucy took one more look over her shoulder at the lamppost, and followed Mr. Tumnus through the trees.

They arrived at his house, which was originally a cave within minutes, and Mr. Tumnus opened the door for Lucy. It was indeed warm and comfortable inside; a fire cackled cheerily in the corner, and Lucy could detect a scent of cinnamon from a bowl on the table. She walked around, exploring the different things, while Mr. Tumnus set down his packages and went to fetch the medicine.

She saw a portrait sitting on one table, and picked it up to get a closer look. Mr. Tumnus took a handful of a grey plant from a barrel in the corner, and looked at her. "Oh," he began, "that was my father."

Lucy looked at him. "He looks a lot like you," she said, and Mr. Tumnus gave a chuckle.

"No," he breathed. "not at all like me."

Lucy set the picture back on the table, and lowered her head. "My father is off fighting in the war," she replied sadly, and Mr. Tumnus produced three mugs from a cabinet high above them.

"Mine faught in a war as well," he said, and Lucy looked at him. "but, that was—many many years ago. Before this dreadful winter." He displayed the herbs, and motioned for Lucy to come over to the table.

"But winter is not all bad," she began. "there's ice skating and sledding…and Christmas!"

Mr. Tumnus sighed sadly. "Not here," he explained, as he let her take one of the herbs and smell it. It had a spicey scent, which reminded her quite a bit of rosemary. "We've not had Christmas in Narnia for a hundred years."

Lucy gasped as he began to crush the herbs between his fingers, watching as the powdered leaves fell into the tin mug.

"No presents for a hundred years!" she cried, watching as Mr. Tumnus poured boiling water into all three cups. "It has been a very long winter," he said sadly. He then filled the two others with cinnamon tea, offering a mug to Lucy.

"Thank you very much," she told him, and he encouraged her to sit down and warm herself by the fire. "What is the herbs you are using for the medicine, Mr. Tumnus?" she asked. "They smell familiar…are they rosemary?"

Mr. Tumnus shook his head. "No," he replied. "It is a secret, but a mere smell of the herbs will help. How long has your brother been ill?"

Lucy sipped from her tea mug, and looked at her feet. "Since we came to live with a Professor," she explained. "He had a cold, and got worse. My sister thinks he's going to die."

"From a cold?" Mr. Tumnus asked, sitting down while he waited for the medicine to stew, and Lucy bit her lip.

"He was very ill with measles two years ago," she explained. "He is still weak from it, you see, and catches everything."

"I am sorry to hear that." Mr. Tumnus looked up at the mantle, and reached up to take a wooden box from it. "Perhaps a light tune will help to boost your spirits? We've a bit to go before the medicine is ready."

Lucy took another sip of her tea, and nodded. "That would be lovely," she replied, and Mr. Tumnus opened the box, pulling out a strange-looking instrument, that reminded Lucy of a flute.

"Now," he continued. "are you familiar with any Narnian lullabyes?"

Lucy shook her head. "Sorry," she said. "No."

Mr. Tumnus smiled. "Good." He took a deep breath, and held the instrument towards his lips. "Because this," he added, "probably won't sound anything like one."

She gazed into the flames for a moment, and then watched as Mr. Tumnus began to play. The melody had an eerie tune to it; one that, after a time, made Lucy feel dreadfully sleepy. She kept her eyes focused on the flames, watching as they danced, each spark of fire turning into a Faun. The Fauns were dancing in circles to the beat of the music, and the rhythm of their steps put Lucy into a deep sleep. The mug of tea fell from her hand, and came crashing to the floor.

When Lucy awoke, hours had passed. It was dark now; the fire had been extinguished, and Mr. Tumnus was gone from the seat in front of her. She gasped, sitting up straight, and listened to the wind as it blew against the window. "I…" she stood. "I should be going," she said. "It's already very late."

"No," a voice spoke, causing her to jump. "Don't leave, you can't."

Lucy looked over and saw Mr. Tumnus…he was sitting on the floor, leaning against the chair he'd been originally sitting in. He looked terrified as she approached him, and lowered his head. "I am a bad Faun," he whimpered, tears beginning to fall from his eyes.

"No you're not," she soothed, retrieving a handkerchief from her pocket. "You're the nicest Faun I've ever met!"

She handed him her handkerchief, and knelt down beside him.

"You wouldn't say that if you knew," he whispered between sobs. "no, I'm a bad Faun…the worst Faun in the world."

"But…" Lucy paused. "what could you possibly have done that was so bad?" she asked, confused.

"Or…what I am doing," he added, and Lucy stared.

"What are you doing?" she asked, and he began to cry again.

"I'm kidnapping you," he practically squeaked, and she gasped.

"Oh…" she felt faint. "Why are you doing that?"

"Because the white witch asked me to," he answered.

"Who is she?" Lucy asked, wishing she hadn't followed Mr. Tumnus.

"Why, it is she who has got all of Narnia under her thumb," he explained. "She is the one who makes it always cold, always winter. She said if I happened upon a son of adam or a daughter of Eve, that I should catch them and bring them over to her. And you are the first I ever met."

Lucy gulped. "But you told me you would help my brother," she said softly. "I thought you were my friend."

Mr. Tumnus clutched her handkerchief. "I only told you about the medicine so you would follow me," he said.

"It isn't medicine, then?" Lucy asked, her heart sinking, and he managed a small smile.

"no, it is" he said. "I…I played the music so you would fall asleep, and not realize what was going on. But then I realized what I was doing, and felt terrible…I…I couldn't bring you to the witch, not when you were so kind and…" he burst into tears again, and Lucy touched his shoulder.

"Oh please don't cry," she said. "I'm terribly sorry, Mr. Tumnus. But…you will let me go home, won't you?"

He nodded, taking the cup that contained the medicine, and placed it into her hands. "We must leave quickly," he told her. "the herbs are completely stewed now. I was going to get rid of it, but, it will still be useful, even cold. Come, let us make haste…she may not know you're here as yet." He took Lucy's free hand, and led her as fast as he could out of the cave.

Lucy followed close behind Mr. Tumnus, panting and feeling a stitch form in her side. They approached the lamppost, and he touched her shoulder. "You know how to find your way home from here, I hope?" he asked, and Lucy nodded, clutching the mug of medicine with both hands.

"Yes," she replied. "I think so."

Mr. Tumnus bent down. "I hope you will forgive me, Lucy. You are the first person I have met that has made me feel warm inside for a long time."

Lucy smiled, and pecked a kiss on his cheek. "You'll be all right, won't you?" she asked, and he smiled back.

"Go," he ordered, and Lucy took off, being careful not to spill any of the liquid.

She eventually found the wardrobe, and forced her way through the fur coats, nearly tripping as she fell out into the spare room. She ran out into the hall and down the set of steps towards Peter's room, finding Susan still lying beside him. "Susan!" she gasped, rushing in. Susan raised her head and so did Peter. "Susan, I'm all right…I'm so sorry I was gone for so long!"

"You were outside playing cricket with Edmund, weren't you?" Susan asked. "I only came in a little while ago."

Lucy stared as Peter struggled to sit up, coughing hard into a fist, his cheeks rosy from the fever. "But…I've been gone for hours and hours!" she gasped, walking over to the side of the bed.

"Lucy, it's only noon," Susan replied, as Peter sneezed into fresh handkerchief. "You were only outside for a half hour."

"KshhhUH!" he gave his nose a blow, sniffling wetly.

"You don't understand," Lucy insisted. "I…I found a wardrobe in one of the empty rooms upstairs, and I…I discovered a land called Narnia in it! I met a Faun named Mr. Tumnus, who took me to his house and made tea for us. He made medicine for you, Peter, which is right here." She held up the mug, and Susan asked to see it.

Lucy handed the mug over, and Susan peered into the cup. "Are you coming down with this, too, Lu?" Peter croaked. "She might be getting delirious," he added, and Susan felt Lucy's forehead.

"I'm not ill," Lucy insisted. "Peter, there really is a world inside the wardrobe, and I'll show you!"

"Lucy, Peter is too sick to get out of bed," Susan replied, just as Edmund came towards them.

"What's going on?" he asked.

"Lucy thinks she found a magial land inside a wardrobe," Susan explained, and sniffed the contents of the mug. "This is rosemary tea, Lu."

"no it isn't!" Lucy exclaimed. "it's a special Narnian medicine. Mr. Tumnus said Peter has to drink it."

"You've officially cracked," Edmund told his sister.

"Come on," Lucy begged. "I'll show you the wardrobe and you can see for yourself!"

"Oh Lu," Susan sighed, and Peter touched her arm.

"Humor her," he whispered. "Lucy, I appreciate that you helped make tea for me." He accepted the mug from Susan. "but I'm afraid your imagination is running away with you again."

"Oh, come!" Lucy took Susan and Edumund's hands, dragging them out of the room and upstairs. Edmund shuffled after them, and when they reached the spare room, Lucy continud to drag Susan until they were standing in front of the wardrobe.

"Go around the back and see if it's solid, Edmund," Susan said, and she stepped inside. "I'll knock, and you respond if you hear me."

Edmund nodded, and hurried around back of the wardrobe. Susan eventually found the back wall of the wardrobe, and knocked twice on it. Lucy's eyes widened as Edmund returned her noise. "But it was there!" she cried, stomping her foot. "I saw it! I wouldn't lie about this!"

Susan stepped out of the wardrobe, and Edmund stood beside her. "I know you're upset about Peter," she said. "and that may be what's causing your imagination to run wild. But Lu, the only wood is the back wall of the wardrobe. There is no magical forest or anything at all."

"I swear I saw it!" Lucy insisted, and Edmund rolled his eyes.

"Give it up, Lu," he snapped, and she felt the tears falling down her cheeks. She immediately turned on her heel and hurried back to Peter's room, where he was drinking slowly from the mug.

He watched as she hugged him tightly, and he lowered the mug. "You have to believe me, Peter," she sobbed, and he planted a kiss on top of her head.

"Go and lay down," he told her, as Susan and Edmund came back in.

Lucy stared at him, and ran across the hall, closing the door behind her. Susan watched as Peter finished the rest of the tea, licking his lips.

"How was it?" she asked, and he looked at her.

"It was cold," he whispered, and Edmund snorted.

"She gave you cold tea?" he scoffed, and Susan glared at him.

"It was the thought that counted," she snapped. "Edmund, please. Peter needs his rest. Go and find something to do that won't get you into trouble."

Edmund glowered, and stomped off, leaving Susan and Peter alone again. "Tell Lucy I do love her," Peter whispered. "I love her very much."

Susan kissed him on the temple. "I will, sweetheart." She eased him back under the covers, and fluffed his pillows. He watched as she tiptoed out of the room, and turned towards the window, a tear falling down his cheek.