A/N: Five reviews for the last chapter? Excellent! Slowly but steadily the review count is increasing… it makes me want to rub my hands together and cackle with glee. But I won't. Instead, I give you chapter 4.
Disclaimer: Let's be frank. If I claimed that I owned Narnia, would you believe me? I didn't think so.
Chapter 4: The White Morning…
…in which Tumnus realizes that he made a Very Grave Mistake, and Feels Ashamed.
The Narnian court had gathered the next morning to see off their monarchs. It was a splendid party that was riding out: The Kings and Queens were mounted on their best horses, accompanied by the principal members of their court. Golden horns sparkled among the brightly-dressed company, and spotted hounds frisked around the horses' legs.
The air was full of cheerful jokes and wishes of good luck. The Kings teased one another loudly about who would be the first to catch the Stag, and Queen Susan smiled kindly on the promises of the Narnian Lords, who vowed to catch the Stag for her.
Tumnus was standing near the back of the crowd, too bashful to approach the merry group. He managed to catch Queen Lucy's eye, and waved his handkerchief at her. She grinned and waved back excitedly. The trumpet sounded for the party to be off. "I'll make a wish for you, Mr. Tumnus!" the young lady called, before wheeling around her mare and galloping off with the rest of company, golden hair flying behind her. The Faun watched until they were out of sight.
The autumn morning had dawned white, with the sky completely encased in a washed-out layer of pearly cloud. The air was now cool and crisp, and orange leaves crunched beneath Tumnus' cloven hooves as he walked back to the palace He wondered idly what he should do to pass the time until the hunting party's return, and eagerly anticipated listening to their account of the adventure.
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It was early afternoon when the courtiers returned to Cair Paravel. Tumnus rushed from the comforts of the library to greet them, and was disappointed at the absence of the monarchs. The courtiers explained that their horses had all tired, except for the incomparable mounts of the Kings and Queens. Lord Peridan had been the last to leave their side.
"They were most eager to follow the stag", he told the rest of the court, "And were adamant that they should continue, even alone." There were many exasperated groans and good-natured chortles; the Narnians well knew their rulers' penchant for adventure.
"They will be safe in Narnia", another lord said confidently. "Nobody would dare attack them, and they are perfectly capable of fending for themselves. We can expect them back later this afternoon."
But hours passed, and the Kings and Queens did not appear.
A search party was quickly organized and dispatched from the palace, with Mr. Tumnus among them. Lord Peridan led the party to where he had last seen the Kings and Queens, and the Narnians branched out in small groups to efficiently sweep the area.
Within a few minutes of searching, Sallowpad the raven started to caw.
At the sound, Tumnus sprinted through the undergrowth, oblivious to the thorns that cut into his legs and sides. He skidded to a stop, spraying dirt and leaves everywhere, and one of the ladies-in-waiting shot him a glare which he ignored. "What has happened?" he demanded, puffing and blowing. "Have they been found?"
Sallowpad merely inclined his dark head, and Tumnus looked in the direction that he had indicated. Four magnificent horses were tied to trees that bordered the edge of a thicket.
With the entire search party gathered, the lords and ladies dismounted and everyone struck off into the trees. Tumnus walked behind Lord Peridan and thus nearly ran into the man when he halted suddenly. The Faun edged around the young lord and gasped at what he saw.
An old pillar of iron stood in the midst of the young trees.
Humans, Dwarfs, Nymphs, Centaurs, Satyrs, Fauns, and Talking Beasts, all gathered about the lamppost exclaiming in surprise and wonder.
"What in Aslan's name is it?"
"I have never seen a tree like this before."
"That is not a tree, my lord."
"Do you see that light at the top?"
"How peculiar!"
But Mr. Tumnus stood by quietly without saying a word. He knew, with a terrible certainty, what the others did not: King Peter the Magnificent, Queen Susan the Gentle, King Edmund the Just, and Queen Lucy the Valiant had undoubtedly returned to the bright city of War Drobe, in the sunny land of Spare Oom.
He did not share these unhappy thoughts, and it was with a very heavy heart that he resumed what he knew to be a fruitless search.
The party was forced to return to the palace when the sun had set, and Tumnus went straight up to his guestroom and locked the door. Many Narnians remained in the Western Woods, searching among the trees by torchlight, but they would not find the Kings and Queens. Although he was utterly miserable, Tumnus bravely told himself over and over: "They will return in due time. Hasn't Lucy returned to me before? She came back from Spare Oom when she was a little girl. Queen Lucy can bring her brothers and sister back with her this time."
These repeated reminders worked for a time, until he tried to go to sleep. In the lonely silence, as the darkness of the night pressed around him, all of his doubts returned in full force. Tumnus lay curled in a strange bed in Cair Paravel, and wept inconsolably. He knew that it was all his fault – he should never have suggested that the Kings and Queens go out to hunt the White Stag by themselves. He should have gone with them! He would not have abandoned them as easily as those inordinately stupid courtiers!
Tumnus wiped his streaming eyes on the ragged end of his muffler, which was hanging limply from his bedpost. After an hour of squirming and whimpering, and absolutely no sleeping, he threw back the bedcovers and trotted across the cold room to sit by the window.
From his perch he could hear muffled shouts, carried on the bitter night air. Word had somehow leaked of the disappearance, and most of Narnia was now in a panic; creatures of all shapes and sizes were out scouring the entire land for their lost monarchs. Tumnus felt an odd sort of warmth at this evidence of fierce devotion, but choked back a sob as he thought of all those loyal Narnians searching in vain.
And nobody knew that he was the cause of all this!
The Faun looked bleakly out over the Eastern Sea, and sniffed loudly. "Come back, Lucy", he whispered, his voice breaking.
A/N: Poor Mr. Tumnus! I think our little Faun needs a group hug! …Okay, you guys can let go now… guys?
Well anyway, there's another chapter coming up, never fear! I will show all of your reviews to Mr. Tumnus, and hopefully they'll cheer him up somewhat. Not only that, but they will cheer me up, too!
