The walk to Mr. Tumnus' house was short and brisk, thank goodness; my penny loafers were soaked and my feet numb.

"Lucy, would you please be quiet! Nobody wants to hear about how wonderful this Faun is!" Edmund snapped.

Peter glared at Edmund, "Ed, that was rude, apologize to Lucy."

Edmund matched Peter's glare, "Why should I? It's not like you all weren't thinking it."

"Edmund…" Susan warned, "You're being immature, just say you're sorry."

Edmund sighed, "Sorry, Lucy," He mumbled.

Lucy nodded, "You're forgiven."

And that was the end of that.

"Hey, look it!" I pointed to the smoke rising above the patch of trees a few yards ahead of us.

The children looked up.

"That's Mr. Tumnus' house!" Lucy cried and broke into a run.

Peter chased her, "Lu! Wait up!"

Of course, we all followed suit and followed them past the trees; the sight that met us was sobering.

Debris from furniture and various other things were scattered about the entrance to a hole built into the cliff that loomed above us.

"What the Devil happened here?" I exclaimed, "Looks like someone raided the place!"

Lucy rushed into the cave, "Mr. Tumnus! Mr. Tumnus!" She shouted.

We all followed her into the cave, watching for any signs of the person who had destroyed the would-be quaint home.

"Blimey…" Susan murmured as she picked her way through the rubble.

I nodded, "Lucy," I said slowly, "Was your friend in any sort of…trouble?"

"According to this note he was," Edmund stood outside of the cave, he gestured to the piece of parchment in his hands, "He's been charged by the secret police for grand treason."

"Grand treason!" Lucy squeaked, "Read it out loud."

Edmund sighed,

"The former occupants of these premises, the Faun Tumnus, is under arrest and awaiting trial on a charge of High Treason against her Imperial Majesty Jadis, Queen of Narnia, Chatelaine of Cair Paravel, Empress of the Lone Islands, etc. also of comforting said Majesty's enemies, harboring spies, and fraternizing with Humans.

Signed,

Maugrim the Wolf, Captain of the Secret Police,

LONG LIVE THE QUEEN!"

"Well, in the words of my American pen pal, we're screwed," I stated bluntly after a long pause.

Susan gave me a withering glance, "Well, that explains a lot."

"Let's go back, I don't want to get caught by this 'Secret Police,'" Peter said.

Lucy was nearly in tears, "Don't you see? I'm the human! Mr. Tumnus is in trouble because of me! We must save him!"

Edmund stared at Lucy as if she had gone completely nutters, "But he's a criminal! You could just be another part of his schemes!"

"For once, I agree with Edmund; we really should go back. We've no food and we don't even know where he's imprisoned!" I added, but no one seemed to notice.

Peter shook his head, "I agree with Edmund and Elaine. There's nothing we can do, Lu."

Susan had been strangely absent during this argument, "Look! There's a Robin in that tree! I wonder if birds can talk in Narnia? I mean, they're Fauns in Narnia. Perhaps he could tell us the way home."

"Or where Mr. Tumnus is being kept," Lucy said.

The Robin flew from one branch to another a few feet away; it looked at us for a few seconds and twittered. It repeated this several times.

"I say, I think it's trying to get us to follow him," Peter cried.

Susan shrugged, "We have nothing better to do, Lucy confirmed when we were in the cave that she wasn't sure if she could get back." She shot Lucy a disapproving look.

I sighed; this day had gone from bizarre to absolutely ridiculous. Nevertheless, I followed the foursome into the woods.

Susan and Lucy walked in front, Lucy on Susan's back. Edmund followed behind her, Peter and I walked in the back, conversing.

"If this Robin leads us to the White Witch's dungeon, ask the other Aslan supporters to help?" I asked Peter in a low whisper.

Peter looked at me strangely, "Who?"

Oh blood and guts. Did I just give myself away that easy? Two years of hiding and it comes out like this!

"What? I didn't say anything," I replied innocently.

Peter stopped walking and crossed his arms across his chest, "Yes you did. You said something about Aslan, who is he? And how do you know about this White Witch?"

I'm sunk. S.O.S.!

"Lucy told me," I said smoothly, my voice not betraying any of my terror. Thank you, Uncle, for the training you've given me! Let's just hope he doesn't ask…

"Lu!" Peter called.

Curse the fates.

Lucy turned around, "Yes?"

"Did you tell Ellie anything about Narnia?" Peter asked her in a loud voice.

Lucy shook her head, "No…I thought you all did."

I felt like banging my head into a tree trunk.

Peter turned to me, "I think you have some explaining to do…"

As a last, desperate attempt I decided to do something a bit different, "All right, fine!" I sighed, "Uncle Digory told me. He made me swear not to tell anyone. Please don't tell him I told you." I turned my big green eyes to Peter, "Please?"

Peter was unmoved, "Right. Tell me, now."

I crossed my arm over my chest, "There's nothing you can do to make me talk. I know you won't hurt me."

Peter thought about that for a moment, "Actually," He said airily, "I do."

I laughed, "What?"

"Blackmail,"

"I find that very hard to believe," I replied.

Peter smiled devilishly, "Really? Well, do you happen to remember when I caught you one day reading…"

That bloody rat! If he dared tell a soul I would skin him alive! "Peter..." I growled irately.

Peter grinned cheekily, "Suffer, Elaine, suffer. Anyway, explain what you said earlier."

I shook my head, "No. I refuse too. I will simply endure your persecution."

Peter raised an eyebrow, "You make it sound as if you were a jew and I the egyptian slave driver..."

I looked at him seriously, "Well, if you put a little kohl around your eyes..."

He laughed, "Fine, I shan't tell."

I could've hugged him. "Thank you!" I sighed.

"Oh my! Peter, Elaine, look!" Susan hissed and pointed into the forest.

Peter and I looked where she had pointed.

Hidden behind a log, there was what, at first, seemed likea fuzzy plant. But fuzzy plants don't have Beaver tails, nor do they shush you.

"Shh! Come here!" The beaver hissed, "Quietly, now!"

The five of us warily approached the creature.

"I'm a friend of Mr. Tumnus, he sent me to find you," The beaver whispered once we were within earshot.

Lucy anxiously bit her lower lip, "What happened to him? Is he all right?"

The beaver made a soothing motion, "Now, now, Missy. I'm not sure if his situation could be called all right; but I intend to rescue him with your help!"
Edmund crossed his arms over his chest, "How can we know whether your trustworthy or not?"

Beaver nodded, "A wise question, Son of Adam." The beaver produced a handkerchief from out of nowhere, the initials "L.P." we stiched on the corner.

Lucy smiled, "That was the handkerchief I gave to Mr. Tumnus!"

I extended my hand to the beaver, intending to examine the handkerchief, "May I look at this?" I asked softly.

He stared at me for a moment before gaping, "Elaine?" His furry features broke into a smile as he embraced my leg.

"Hello, Mr. Beaver," I said quietly, but warmly, I patted the beaver on the back, "How's the wife faring of late?" I asked.

Mr. Beaver smiled, "Much better when she figures out your the ones who led these fellows to Narnia. Now come along all of you!" He whispered.

The Pevensies stared at me confusedly, "What just happened?"

I shook my head, "Another story for another day. He's all right, though; now follow." I marched off behind Mr. Beaver.

××Ø××

A/N: Yes, I am perfectly aware of how terrible this chapter was, but I need in-between chapters to bridge the gap between the lovely fluffy ones.