I'm glad so many people read the story already: I'll admit that I didn't think anyone would look at it.
NarnianFairy: Thanks so much! I'm really glad you like this! And since you like their names: Zariel means 'Lion princess', Maylea means 'wild flower', and Astra means 'star'. Manzanita is a kind of evergreen, Pallida means 'pale', and Haukea means 'white snow'. Cookie for reviewing! (::)
As Peter lays in his bed, he looks over at Zariel, thinking. When Lucy had told them about her make-believe world, she hadn't accused Lucy of lying, like she really believes in it. He props himself up on one elbow and watches the gold-haired girl as she sleeps.
Her hair is fanned out around her head, giving her the illusion of a halo in the white light. Her small lips are curved up in a half smile, and her long, graceful body is completely under the covers. Suddenly she stirs, and her cornflower blue eyes opening blearily.
When she catches sight of Peter, she grins, her eyes dancing with fun and amusement.
"Watching me sleep, Mr. Pevensie?" she asks in a teasing tone. Peter blushes scarlet.
"I- Well- you-" he stumbles over his words and she presses a finger to her lips, jerking her head over to where Lucy is sleeping. She pushes off the blankets and puts her bare feet on the floor, and beckons for him to follow him.
Peter obeys and follows Zariel through a maze of hallways and staircases. Finally, she stops at the top of a spiral staircase. She pushes open a door and steps out. When Peter follows, he looks around. They're on a raised portion of the roof, with cold air blowing around them. Peter shivers.
"Cold?" Zariel asks from somewhere behind him. He jumps, startled, and she grabs his wrist, pulling him away from the edge. "Cold?" she repeats, and Peter rubs his arms, nodding.
"Aren't you?" he asks, and she smiles at him.
"No. I don't get cold very easily." She pulls him to a pile of blankets and pillows. "Sit down," she says, and Peter does, very aware of her hand still on his wrist.
"Thanks," he says, trying to ignore the cold. A weight is draped across his shoulders, and Zariel sits, pulling the blanket more firmly around Peter. She settles down, tucking her knees under her.
"Couldn't sleep?" she asks, and Peter nods.
"What about you?" he asks. Her lips twist in a sad smile.
"I was dreaming. My… Dad, and before I went to the orphanage. They aren't nightmares, but I don't enjoy them, either. They remind me what I lost. I don't even know where he is, because I don't think he's dead."
Peter looks at her, shocked. "Do you mean your own father got rid of you?"
She shakes her head furiously. Peter finds himself watching the graceful curve of her neck, and looks away, blushing. Zariel doesn't seem to notice, because she says, "He didn't get rid of me. He loves me, I'm sure of it." Peter looks back to find her blue eyes watching him.
"It was more like he couldn't keep me. I just have to hope that I might see him again someday. I have to believe in miracles. If not for me, then at least for others. Hope is all I had at the orphanage." She pauses, then corrects herself. "Well, hope and this." She pulls a necklace off and shows Peter the charm at the bottom.
An 'A' made of red stones-rubies?-and a 'Z' made of white stones are twined together set in gilded gold. He reaches out to touch it, then pauses, looking at Zariel for permission, to which she nods. He takes the locket and runs his thumbs over the stones before letting it drop.
"It used to be my dad's," Zariel tells him quietly. "It's all I have left of him."
"What about your mum?" Peter asks before he can stop himself. Zariel looks at him, seeming startled at the question before shrugging.
"Never knew her," she tells him as she slips the locket back on and under the neck of her new, lavender nightdress.
"But haven't you ever wondered?" Peter presses.
"Not really," she says, and reclines on a pillow. "Dad was all I needed."
She looks up at the stars, and this time Peter has to force himself not to watch as the stars twinkle in her eyes, giving Peter the illusion of a day with all the stars out.
"Back where I lived with my dad, I always loved watching the stars. We had the most amazing sunrises, too," Zariel tells Peter, still staring up into the sky. "We had different constellations, though. The first thing I did when I got to the orphanage was learn as many constellations and stars as possible." She smiles, and glances over to Peter. "Do you know any?"
Peter shakes his head, and finds himself asking, "Can you show me?"
"Sure," she says, and points out something in the sky. "That's Sirius, the Dog star."
Peter squints up at the sky. "Which one?"
She laughs, and moves behind Peter, sending shivers down his back, then wraps her callused hands around his, bringing it up until his finger is pointing at a bright star. "Sirius, the Dog star, is the brightest star in the sky. Then over here is the Leo, or the lion constellation. Leo Minor, or the lesser lion, is just there…"
I'm wandering around the mansion with Nita as the Pevensies play cricket outside. Suddenly there is a loud crash, and I stuff my camera into my leather satchel before we run up to investigate. The Pevensies are there by the time we get there. A suit of armor is laying on the ground, and the window is shattered.
They try to explain what happened, but they are interrupted by Macready yelling, "What was that?"
We all exchange panicked looks and run. No matter where we go, It seems like she's there. Eventually, we end up in the room with the wardrobe. Edmund opens the wardrobe.
"In here!"
"You have got the be joking," Peter says, but all six of us go in.
The air is quickly filled with whispered complaints.
"That was my foot!"
"Quit shoving!"
"Hush, or Macready will get us!"
"Who just poked me?"
I'm suddenly pushed back, and I land on something very cold and wet. I yelp loudly and jump up. The others fall out, and they look around.
"Impossible!" Susan gasps.
"Don't worry," Lucy says impishly. "I'm sure it's just your imagination."
"I don't suppose 'sorry' would cover it?" Peter says sheepishly.
"No, it wouldn't," she says, and discreetly makes a snowball. "But this might!"
She nails him in his face, and soon there is a full blown snowball fight between Susan, Lucy, Nita, and Peter. I look around at the forest, which should be glowing with pure Narnian magic at all times, flowing like molten lava through the veins of animals. But to my sight, the magic is weak and cold, like it is frozen. I wander through the trees, feeling lost.
"What happened here?" I murmur, laying a hand on a pine tree, which rustles a little, and then stops moving.
I hear my name being called, and I walk back over to the others, feeling completely horrified and lost. The locket warms against my skin, and I see golden light visible only to my eyes pulse out, spreading throughout the area and strengthening the magic. Now the trees rustle as I walk past, and the magic seeps into the air, warming it ever so slightly.
When I reach the clearing where everyone else is, Peter tells me, "Lu wants us to meet Mr. Tumnus."
I smile at Lucy and we set off. Lucy leads us to the house happily, but is brought up short by the sight of the door hanging half off its hinges. My heart squeezes, and I run into the house, recognizing one of my old favorite places easily.
The whole place is ransacked. I feel sick, and I find a piece of paper on the table. The others come in, and I feel a tear fall out of my eye. Looking up from the paper, I say, "This was on the table. 'The former occupant of this premises, the Faun Tumnus, is under arrest and awaiting his trial on a charge of high treason against her Imperial Majesty Jadis, Queen of Narnia, Chatelaine of Cair Paravel, Empress of the Lone Islands, also for comforting said Majesty's enemies, harbouring spies and fraternizing with humans. Signed Maugrim, Captain of the Secret Police.
"Long live the queen." I see a picture on the ground and bend to pick it up. It is a picture of one of my dearest and most loyal friends, Menior. I put the picture in my pocket, feeling numb.
The Pevensies talk, but I don't pay attention until someone puts a hand on my shoulder. I jump, and see that it's Peter, looking confused.
"Zariel?" he asks. "Are you okay?"
I shrug, and then hear a "Psst!"
"Did that bird just 'psst'?" Susan asks.
I lead the way out, fighting tears. The only thing around the clearing is a bright red robin perching on a limb of a large, snow-covered tree. The bird flutters down to land on my shoulder and gently nips my ear before flying to a tree farther into the woods.
"I do believe it wants us to follow it," Lucy says.
"He," I correct. "Is that right, Mr. Robin?" I ask, and he nods his head. I look back at the others, and say, "Come on!"
"You want us to follow a bird?" Susan asks sceptically. I grin at her, trying to hide my sadness.
"Well, the worst thing that can happen is that it doesn't, and we get lost and die of hunger, and the best is that it leads us to help! Anyways," I raise an eyebrow. "What else can we do?"
"We could go home?" Susan suggests.
I look blankly at her. "Why in the name of the Lion would we do that?"
If she answers, I don't hear, because I'm already running to catch up with the robin.
Robin leads us a good thirty minutes into the woods before landing on my shoulder again.
"Is this where you wanted to take us, Mr. Robin?" I ask politely, and again he bobs his head yes before flying away.
I hear a scuttling noise, and I peer into the brush until a furry, whiskered face appears from behind a tree.
"It's a beaver," Lucy says.
Peter holds out his hand and clicks his tongue. "Here boy… come here…"
I have to bite my lip- hard- to stop from giggling.
The Beaver sits up. It stares at Peter's hand, obviously unimpressed. "Well I'm not gonna smell it if that's what you want!"
At the look on his face, the rest of my control dissolves, and I cover my mouth with both hands to try to hide my helpless giggles. When I get back some of my restraint, I straighten, refusing to let my mouth twitch into a grin as it is fighting to do.
"Hello, Mr. Beaver," I greet, forcing down my giggles. "I apologize for my friends. They haven't been here very long. This is Peter, Lucy, Susan, and Edmund Pevensie, and this is Manzanita Haukea. I am Zariel Astra." I hold out my hand, and he takes it before turning to Lucy.
"Lucy Pevensie?" he asks.
"Yes?" Mr. Beaver hands her a handkerchief with the letters LP embroidered on it.
"This is the one I gave to Mr.-"
"Tumnus," Mr. Beaver agrees. "He gave it to me just before they took him."
"Is he alright?" Lucy asks.
"Further in," is the only answer. Mr. Beaver scuttles off, and I make to follow him.
"Zariel," Peter says, grabbing my arm.
"Yes?" I say impatiently, pulling free.
"How do you know-why are you not surprised?"
"Later," I promise. "Further in."
I follow Mr. Beaver, and when we realize that we're alone, we go back.
"Is everything alright?" Mr. Beaver asks.
"Yes," Peter answers. "We were just talking."
"This may not be the best place for that," Mr. Beaver says. "Much better to wait until you're in safer quarters."
We set off, and I hear the others following us from a distance, letting me pester Mr. Beaver with questions about Narnia. What I gather is that the White Witch has put Narnia under a spell of eternal winter, and has been ruling Narnia for a century.
When we reach Mr. Beaver's dam, the others catch up with us.
"Home sweet home," Mr. Beaver announces proudly.
"Oh, what a beautiful dam," Lucy says.
"It's not finished yet," he admits.
A female voice carries out from the dam. "Is that you Beaver? If I find out you've been out with Badger, I'll… oh, they aren't badgers. I never thought I'd see the day." Turning to Mr. Beaver, she scolds; "You couldn't have given me ten minute's warning… Look at my fur!"
"If I thought it would help, I would have given you a week!" Mr. Beaver says.
"You look wonderful, Mrs. Beaver," I soothe, smiling in amusement.
"You must be cold and hungry," she says. "Let's get you inside for some food and civilized company." I smile.
"Thank you, Mrs. Beaver," I say, and follow her into the dam.
"Fish and chips, dear?" she asks, and I decline, thanking her.
"If it wouldn't be too much trouble, I'll go catch my meal now." The Beavers allow me to, even though I leave them looking very confused.
I walk down to the stream and crack open the thin layer of ice, waiting by the side. A silvery blur streaks through, and my hand darts down to catch it. After making sure it is not a talking fish, I snap its neck and bring it inside.
"There's a right bit more than hope!" Mr. Beaver is saying. "Aslan is on the move."
They look up when I enter, and I use a pocket knife to skin the fish.
"Who's Aslan?" Edmund asks, and I tear a bite out of the raw fish.
Lucy and Nita watch me eat, looking both fascinated and a bit disturbed. I shrug and continue eating.
"Who's Aslan?" Mr. Beaver repeats, laughing. "You silly little blighter… You really don't know?"
I swallow the bite of fish I'm chewing and say, "They haven't been here for very long."
"He's only the King of the whole woods, the true king of Narnia… And he's waiting for you."
"Waiting for us?" Lucy asks.
"You've got to be joking! Look, Aslan's return, Mr. Tumnus' arrest, the Secret Police! They're all happening because of you!"
"You're blaming us?" Susan exclaims.
"Not blaming you, dear," Mrs. Beaver says. "Thanking you."
"Let me get this straight," Nita says, speaking for the first time. "A witch made eternal winter, a faun is arrested by the witch because he helped Lucy, this Aslan has and army, and six kids who aren't even fourteen are supposed to lead the army and defeat the maniac witch who wants us all dead- all before going home?"
"That really does make it sound hard," I say.
"There's a prophecy," Mr. Beaver explains.
"When Adam's flesh and Adam's bone
"Sit at Cair Paravel in throne,
"The evil times will be over and done."
"You know, that doesn't really rhyme," Susan says.
"Yes, but you're missing the point!" Mr. Beaver says.
"It has long been foretold that two sons of Adam and two daughters of Eve will appear to defeat the White Witch and restore peace to Narnia," Mrs. Beaver explains.
"And you think we're the ones?" Peter asks.
"Well you'd better be! Aslan's already fitted out your army!"
"What about us?" Nita asks. "Zariel and I are human too."
I shift uncomfortably as the Beavers whisper to each other.
"Well…" I say uncertainly, "I'm not exactly… really… human."
They stare at me. "What?" Peter asks.
I look at the Beavers. " 'Blood of red, gold, and blue,
"Made of compassion, good and true,
"Mixed with the cold of snow,
"And leave as things cease to grow,
"And guard the thrones from near and far,
"The everlasting Guard from stars afar,'" I quote.
"I haven't heard that one in a while," Mr. Beaver says, surprised. "So you're finally back."
"Yes. And I don't think Nita's fully human either." I shake my head as she starts to protest. "One of your parents was at least a descendant of a jinn."
"A what?" she asks.
"A… magic user, I suppose. They were supposedly creatures with great beauty who lived in another world."
"Well that solves that," Mr. Beaver says.
"I think you've made a mistake," Peter says. "We're not heroes. I think it's time we should be going."
"What about Mr. Tumnus?" Lucy cries.
"Sorry Lucy, it's out of our hands," Peter says.
I stare at them. They're leaving?
"What?" I demand. "Why are you leaving?" Peter gives me a sad look and turns around to look for Edmund.
"Ed, time to go- Ed? Ed? I'm gonna kill him."
"You may not have to," Mr. Beaver says. "Has Edmund ever been in Narnia before?"
The horrible realization hits me, and I can see the others come to the same conclusion. We run out, but he walks into the gate of the icy castle as we reach the top of the hill.
"Edmund!" Peter shouts, and I clap a hand over his mouth.
"Shh! They'll hear you!" Mr. Beaver says, and I grab Peter's arm to stop him from running.
"Get off me!" he yells. "We can't just let him go!"
"Don't ya get it?" Mr. Beaver demands. "He's the bait! She wants all of you there! To kill ya!" I drag Peter back into the woods, speaking quickly.
"Peter, we will get Edmund back, but we need Aslan's help. Only he can help Edmund now unless you all want to be killed!" The others follow me, and I continue pulling Peter along until we reach the dam.
A howl splits the air, and Mrs. Beaver starts packing. Susan and I hurry to help, and Mr. Beaver shouts, "Hurry, mum! They're after us!"
We finish packing, and Mr. Beaver leads us into a tunnel. He brings us to a dead end, and he scrambles out through a hole. I follow, then look around in horror. We are in a courtyard of stone animals. Mr. Beaver goes up to a stone badger and cries, "He was my best mate!"
Something catches my eye, and I run over to a stone leopard. I fall to my knees next to her and tears slide down my cheeks.
"Aislin," I whisper, and touch the great cat's neck. My companion. Guard. Friend. Companion. Pet. "I'm so sorry Aislin."
Someone pulls me to my feet, and I follow Peter's blonde head numbly. We climb a tree, and a pack of wolves run to the base of the tree, where a red fox is standing.
"Greetings, gents," he says to the lead wolf. "Lost something, have we?"
"Don't patronize me!" he snarls. "I know where your allegiance lies. We're looking for some humans."
The fox laughs. "Humans? In Narnia? That's a valuable bit of information, don't you think?"
One of the wolves jumps on the fox and grabs him harshly in his jaws, making him whimper. Just as I'm about to cry out, a warm hand covers my mouth. I look into the blue eyes of Peter and clamp my hands onto my branch to keep from leaping down to help. Apparently, I'm not the only one to want to call out. Susan is covering Lucy's mouth, Mrs. Beaver is holding onto her husband, and Nita's hand is clamped over her mouth, her eyes big and her skin even paler than usual.
"Your reward is your life," the wolf growls. "It's not much, but still. Where are the fugitives?"
The fox hangs his head as if defeated. He points his nose north.
"North," he says. "They ran north."
The wolves run off that way, and I scramble down the tree as fast as I can. I run over to the fox and gently inspect his wounds.
We start a fire, and Mrs. Beaver tries to stitch up the fox's injury.
"They were helping Tumnus," the fox is saying about a group of Narnians. The Witch made it there before I did. Oh! Ow!"
"Are you alright?" Lucy asks, concern lacing her voice.
"Well, I wish I could say their bark was worse than their bite," he jokes weakly. "Ow!"
"Stop squirming!" Mrs. Beaver scolds. "Honestly, you're worse than Beaver on bath day!"
"Worst day of the year," Mr. Beaver confides to us quietly.
"Thank you for your kindness, but that's all the cure I have time for."
"You're leaving?" Nita asks, tilting her head adorably and donning a crestfallen look.
"It has been a pleasure, My Lady, and an honor, but time is short and Aslan himself has asked me to gather more troops," the fox says proudly.
"You've seen Aslan?" Mr. Beaver asks.
"What's he like?" Mrs. Beaver says at the same time.
"Like… anything we've ever heard," the fox says, completely in awe. I squirm uncomfortably, knowing that they're talking about my sort-of father. "You'll be glad to have him by your side in the battle against the Witch," he promises.
"But we're not planning on fighting any Witch," Susan protests.
"But surely, King Peter- the prophecy!" the fox says.
"We can't go to war without you," Mr. Beaver agrees, looking between the four full humans.
"We just want our brother back," Peter says miserably.
Hope you like it. I'll try to update again soon, and I might just be more compelled to do it sooner if you do a little something I call reviewing!
Later, my little Midgetlings!