A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed, both of you! Frankly, originally the first chapter – well – sucked. But I went back and touched it up a bit, and I like it a lot better now. I hope you enjoy the second chapter!

Disclaimer: Narnia is my mental playground. And not mental as in "crazy", although I suppose that could apply as well…

Chapter 2: The White Castle…

in which Tumnus Tries to Gain Access to the Palace, with Mixed Results.

"Tumnus… Tumnus… I am sorry, but you are not on the list."

"The list?" Tumnus repeated, perplexed.

He was standing in an antechamber, having been directed there by the formidable centaur gatekeepers of Cair Paravel. It was an enormous circular room of marble, with numerous desks placed all around the edge. Harassed-looking clerks sitting behind those desks were speaking with creatures of all shapes and sizes, Narnians who had some business or other at Cair Paravel. Tumnus himself was talking to a large bear.

He looked about the loud bustle of the antechamber, and glanced hopefully at the open archway beyond that led into the inner recesses of the palace.

The young bear adjusted gold-rimmed spectacles perched on his nose, and peered down again at the sheaf of papers. "Yes, the list", he rumbled patiently. "Your name is not on the list of Narnians who have requested a royal audience at petty court. The Kings and Queens are hearing complaints this afternoon."

"Oh", Tumnus breathed out a sigh of relief. "That's all right, then." He leaned forward onto the desk and gave the bear a friendly smile. The bear just stared at him with a polite, rather vacant look in his dark eyes. "I do not have a complaint", the Faun explained, becoming somewhat flustered under that unbroken stare.

"I see." The bear folded his massive paws on the oaken desk and inclined his head politely. "May I ask, then, why you are at Cair Paravel?"

"I've come with news to deliver personally to the Kings and Queens." If Tumnus had expected his words to impress the listener, he was sorely disappointed. The bear merely gave him a bland smile and said nothing. "It is important", the Faun insisted, growing more and more anxious that he would not be able to deliver his news at all.

"Important?" The brown bear stared at him sceptically, and Tumnus flushed scarlet. True, he did not look like anybody of consequence. But he was a personal friend of Queen Lucy's! He said as much to the bear, whose courteous expression did not even flicker.

"Did you write ahead to Her Majesty?"

"I – ah – well, I – I was in too much of a hurry to see her, that I – well, I suppose I forgot", the Faun finally admitted, blushing even more furiously. He knew what he must look like: just some simple Narnian whose lifelong dream was to meet the Kings and Queens face-to-face. No wonder the bear did not believe him.

The bear was, at the moment, looking about the room as if thinking of asking someone to usher Tumnus quietly out of the palace. In a panic, the Faun looked wildly around the room for anything to help. He was suddenly distracted by a large party of people and talking animals passing by the open archway. Among them he could see a glittering crown…

"King Edmund!" Tumnus shrieked, pelting across the antechamber, his hooves skidding on the smooth stone floor. There were yells of surprise behind him, and he heard an almighty crash as the bear stood up, knocking his chair over in alarm.

The young king had turned to see who was screaming at him, and his startled face broke out into a grin. He half-raised his hand, and the Narnian lords who had drawn their swords in quick defence of their King obediently sheathed them. But Tumnus hardly noticed that; he was too overcome by feelings of intense relief. "K – K – King Edmund", he panted, cursing the extra helping of bread and jam he'd had that morning. "I – I need to – to speak –"

"I am terribly sorry, Your Majesty", a clipped voice interrupted, and Tumnus felt his upper arm being encircled by a huge paw. "He will be escorted out at once." The Faun turned pleading brown eyes on King Edmund, who gave a slight frown.

"Downpelt", he said to the bespectacled bear, "Why in the Lion's name would you escort Master Tumnus from Cair Paravel? He has done his country great service in his time, and is a dear friend to the Royal Family."

The Faun could not fully enjoy the look of dumbfounded surprise that spread over the bear's features, as he was facing the wrong way. But he couldn't help giving a complacent smile. Excited whispers swept through the antechamber; the other Narnians had been watching the scene with rapt attention, and were craning their necks to get a good view. One squirrel had already fainted dead away at setting eyes on King Edmund the Just.

At Downpelt's silence, the young king raised an eyebrow. "You are not acquainted with Master Tumnus, and the particular regard that we hold for him at court?"

For the third time in five minutes the Faun's cheeks went redder than raspberries, but this time he blushed with pleasure. The bear lowered his head and mumbled an apologetic reply, and King Edmund turned to the man standing next to him in mock exasperation. "Lord Peridan, can you explain why our clerk is so uninformed?"

"He is new, Your Majesty", the young lord replied, mouth twitching.

"Ah. No harm done, then. Master Tumnus, you may come with me."

The Faun walked through the archway and fell into step beside him, feeling awkward surrounded by all of the armed Lords and large carnivorous Beasts that made up King Edmund's guard. "You should have sent us word that you were coming", the King was saying. "We could have arranged a proper welcome, instead of a confrontation with a most dedicated clerk."

"Yes", Tumnus admitted sheepishly. "I was so excited that I forgot to send a message." King Edmund turned his head slightly towards him, but his expression did not change. "I have some important news to tell you all", the Faun said gleefully, practically skipping down the hallway.

Edmund smiled. "Perhaps it should wait until more can hear it", he offered. "Su and I have petty court all afternoon, and Lucy's not due back from her visit to the Dwarfs until dusk. I'm sorry Tumnus, but we're running all over the palace until dinner, and then Peter is dining separately with King Lune tonight. Suppose you tell us then? We shall pass the word on to our brother. What say you?"

Tumnus nodded happily. "Dinner, then."

A/N: Here endeth chapter two, and the next one will, predictably, take place over dinner. That's probably Tumnus' favourite time of the day! Or evening. Whatever. Anyway, reviews always welcome!