The dwarf, with the help of Peter, caught a good catch of pavenders, delightful rainbow-colored fish. They used Edmund's hat as a basket of sorts. He would've made a grand fuss over this, but he was already hungry enough to clamp down on his words.

At first Peter wanted to camp inside the treasure chamber for safety and shelter, but Edmund and the dwarf pointed out that the smoke would get into their eyes, and it would certainly be tough to breathe. Instead, they opted for camping outside, reasoning that at least if anything happened they could retreat into the castle. Besides, it was still light-odds were that no one would bother them.

"Though that is far from happening," the dwarf said. "since the Telmarines are deathly afraid of the forests and the sea, for that manner."

"Telmarines?" Gimli asked. "What's a Telmarine?"

"They are men from the north of Narnia," Susan said. "The last time we were here they remained in their lands at the West."

"That's been a very long time," the dwarf said. "Centuries ago."

Lucy glanced up at the trees around them-mostly apple trees, but she remembered the stately birches and the solemn birches, how they dance with the wood-maidens at twilight, fauns leaping and rejoicing with them...

"What happened to the trees?" she asked.

"What about them?"

"Well, they used to dance."

Huffing, the dwarf sat down on the ground beside them, gathering the tinder into a pile. "Not long after you left, they fell into a deep sleep after those Telmarines came, and ever since they'd been still."

Legolas watched with deep interest as Edmund lit a match and threw it into the pile, the tinder catching flames. Throwing the sticks into the blazes and gently blowing, soon Legolas had coaxed the sparks to a decent fire, where they soon roasted their caught fish on the embers. The dwarf lit his pipe, 'hm'ed, then looked over to the children. "Now."

"Now what?" Lucy asked.

"Your story?"

"I think it'd best if you told us your story."

The dwarf was thinking about this, then pointed his pipe at Gimli. "You. You don't seem like a proper Narnian dwarf, and I've lived among my people all my life."

"Yes, you don't look anything like the dwarves here in Narnia," Susan said. "You are a dwarf, aren't you?"

Edmund was busy eating his pavender, blowing on his fingers and stuffing the white flesh into his mouth. "They mightn't be from Narnia, then," he put in, words muffled. "Maybe from somewhere else."

Peter shifted in his seat. "From... another world, then?"

Everyone's interest was piqued by now, especially the dwarf's, who seemed to find this theory amusing. Huddling around the fire, they made a half-circle facing Legolas and Gimli, who felt attacked at the moment.

"Tell us where you're from, and why you're in Narnia," Peter said.

"I... We don't know exactly where to start..." Legolas said. "It is a long story."

"All the better," Lucy said. "We love stories."

Legolas and Gimli shared a glance, and Gimli gave a grin.

"Very well then, lads and lassies, and-er-fellow dwarf, settle down. We will tell of our origin as much as we can."

Everyone took their respective seats.

"We come from a land called Middle Earth," Legolas said.

"Dwarves, Elves and Men lived there, birthed by Eru himself."

"Eru?" Lucy said. "Who's that?"

"The Father of All. He is the one who created Middle Earth and all in it. We were called to Rivendell, Gimli and I-"

"Nay, Legolas, you're skipping too much of the details," Gimli said. "I think we must start with the forging of the rings."

The elf was about to retort, but then thought better of it and turned to the Pevensies and the dwarf. "I believe I must tell it as the Lady Galadriel has. It began with the forging of the great rings. These were not simple jewelry-they held great power. Three were given to the Elves, immortal, wisest and fairest of all beings."

Gimli gave a small snort.

"Go on," Susan said. "We don't have all day."

"Seven-"

"Seven to the Dwarf lords, great miners and craftsmen of the mountain halls," Gimli said with a tone that said 'you-are-not-going-to-say-that-part-elf'.

"Nine rings were given to the race of men, who, above all, desire power," Legolas said. "Most of them, not all," he added, seeing Edmund fidgeting. He asked if he had offended him.

"Not at all. I guess men in your world and Narnia aren't too far apart," Edmund said.

"Within these rings-as I said-was bound the strength and will to govern each race. But they were, all of them..."

"Deceived."

As Gimli and Legolas said this in unison, an icy vision flashed through all of the Pevensies' minds, but they steeled themselves and asked Legolas to continue.

"For another ring was made."

"In the land of Mordor, in the fires of Mount Doom-" Gimli began to say.

"Real creative name," Edmund muttered.

"Ed."

"Sorry."

"The Dark Lord Sauron forged, in secret, a last ring, to control all others. Into this ring he poured his cruelty, his malice, and his will to dominate all life."

Gimli stopped, and Legolas took a deep breath before whispering the words.

"One ring... to rule them all."

Though it was day, the place seemed to darken, the mere mention of the ring casting a gloomy, desolate mood over all of them. Lucy listened, wide-eyed, and Susan herself found her hand curling around Peter's arm. Edmund wasn't sassing around anymore.

With two puffs of his pipe, the dwarf exhaled. "Continue."

"One by one," Gimli said, picking up the story again. "the free lands of Middle-Earth fell to the power of the ring, but there were some who resisted. A last alliance of the men of Gondor and the elves of Mirkwood marched against the armies of Mordor. On the very slopes of Mount Doom, they fought a desperate war for the freedom of Middle-Earth. Victory was near, but the power of the ring could not be undone."

"It was in this moment, when all hope had faded, that Isildur, son of the king, took up his father's sword," Legolas said. "Sauron, enemy of the free peoples of Middle-Earth, was defeated."

Those words soothed everyone's nerves, as if a great weight was lifted off of them. "Great story," Peter said. "That was quite intense."

"Um, Pete," Edmund said as he saw Legolas pause, face confused. "I think it isn't done yet."

"Not yet?" Lucy said.

Susan paled a few more shades.

"The Ring passed to Isildur, who had this one chance to destroy evil forever, but the hearts of men are easily corrupted. And the Ring of power has a will of its own. It betrayed Isildur, to his death."

Legolas paused, then the last words he said emotionlessly. "And some things that should not have been forgotten were lost. History became legend. Legend became myth. And for two and a half thousand years, the ring passed out of all knowledge. Until, when chance came, it ensnared another bearer."

Everything was so silent that the whispering of the breeze was deafening, and the quiet coughing of the dwarf echoed multiple times in their minds. Seeing this, Gimli shook himself out. "Well, we shouldn't have told you that, it seems to have brought your spirits down!"

"Yes, we will not finish the story now," Legolas said. "It is of no use to depress you even more than we have."

"It isn't done yet?" Susan asked.

"The Ring isn't destroyed yet, so there's probably going to be a sequel," Edmund said. "That's one sequel I'd be game to hear."

Everyone but Edmund seemed ready enough to listen this time to the dwarf's story, and Peter bid him tell.

"We have wasted much time already, but I'll give you the basics about myself. My name is Trumpkin, and I'm a messenger of Prince Caspian the Tenth."

"Caspian?" Peter said.

"He's on our side," Trumpkin said. "He leads us Old Narnians in a rebellion against Miraz."

"...Miraz?"

Trumpkin looked from one confounded face to another and sighed, puffing his pipe. "It's a very long story, but I'll try to tell you in the shortest terms possible. You see, Miraz took the throne of Caspian. He's a Telmarine, one of the men who invaded Narnia and captured it, not long after you left, actually. Anyway, Caspian sent me here to-er-meet the Kings and Queens of old after his assistant blew Susan's horn."

"His who blew Susan's horn?" Peter said.

"His horseman. Tall guy, sparse beard and tall stride-"

"When?"

"Between nine and ten of the clock," Trumpkin said.

"Just when we were at the railway station!" all of the children said, eyes shining in unison.

Legolas had to ask. "What is a railway station?"

No one noticed him.

"Well, I had to report straight back to him as soon as possible, but then those guards caught me-sent me off to the river in the full ceremonial way. Proud seneschal. Then you came along and here we are."

This shorthand storytelling took only half a minute, but Peter had already put two and two together. "Great Scott, Su! It was your horn that dragged us off the platform to Narnia! I can hardly believe it, and yet it all fits in."

"So outlandish it is believable, huh?" Gimli said.

"Meanwhile," Trumpkin said. "what are we to do? I suppose I'd go back to King Caspian and tell him no help has come."

Susan started. "No help? But we are here. The horn worked."

"Plus, it even called allies from another world," Edmund said. "Isn't that supposed to tell you something?"

"Yes, are we not of any help to you?" Legolas asked.

All this while Trumpkin seemed to have something stuck in his pipe, and he made himself busy trying to clean it out, avoiding any eye contact. "Um-um-yes, to be sure, I do see that, but-well-I mean-"

"Get on with it!" Edmund and Gimli said.

"No offense-but the King is expecting-if you see what I mean-help. To put it straight, they're expecting warriors. And though these two would qualify, and as much as we like children, well, in the middle of a war... I hope you understand."

Edmund flushed a deep red. "You think we're useless."

"Now, pray don't get offended. I assure you, my dear little friends-"

"Little?" Edmund repeated, a growl in his voice. Legolas placed a hand on his shoulder and whispered something to him, but he didn't listen. Typical Edmund behavior.

Edmund jumped up. "I think that's a little too much from you. I suppose you don't believe we won the Battle of Beruna? Well, you can say anything you like because I know-"

"ED!" both Peter and Legolas said, pulling him down with an arm each.

"There is no use losing our tempers, Your Majesty," Legolas said. "And I thought you were just?"

"He's right, laddie, you can't convince him otherwise," Gimli said, then locked eyes with Peter, who had an odd twinkle in his eyes as he suggested they fit Trumpkin out with armor.

What could that lad be thinking?

TBC...