A/N: Hi everybody! I'm baaaaaack. Music camp was...interesting. (ahem) Never mind. Sorry it's taken me so long to update, but I 've been really busy with babysitting, teaching Suday school, and...algebra. (shudders) Oh, just one more random, not-very-important fact: I've officially changed Reepicheep's age from six to seven and-a-half. Tash made me do it! (Just kidding.) My imagination told me to make him a leeetle bit older, that's all.
Hooray for shoutouts!Caspian: I'm glad you like it! Sorry for taking liberties with the canon, there. I know that Peepicheek is supposed to only be one of Reepicheep's followers; but hey, the book never said they wern't brothers, did it? (Yeah I know, lame excuse...) Oh well. Glad you liked everything else! (Aw, come on...why didn't you review my other chapters?? Oh never mind...)
Kelev: Thanks for being so faithful about reviewing! Sorry for the shortness, but I'm glad you like it anyway! I'm especially happy you like Goldleaf. I thought all the dryads and naiads were asleep too, but my imagination said that maybe the Deep Slumber was something that came on gradually instead of all at once, and that perhaps there could be one particular dryad who managed to stay awake a little longer than the others. Yes, in this chapter we will learn about Reepicheep's Papa. Stay tuned!
Sapphira Adi: Aw, shucks...you're making me blush... Thanks so much for all your encouragement! It really keeps me going. You're so awesome! Hope you enjoy this next installment! (And keep clicking on that little blue button!)
floppyearsthebunny: (Cute...sweet...nice...sounds like you're describing a floppy-eared bunny...) Thanks for reviewing! I'll keep going!
BabyBeaver: Rabadash as a donkey...gotta love it:-) Yep, dryads are cool. Yes, Reep has to figure out the song on his own. Such is life. Oooo, my incorporations are good...I'm flattered... (tee hee) Thanks for reviewing! (Please don't stop. Please...?)
Orlando The Axe: Oh thank you! I'm glad you're enjoying it! Cool, you're writing a book? Are you gonna get it published?? What's it about? I wanna read it! Okay...shutting up...
Many, many thanks to electrum for letting me borrow her tree-dweller's blessing for this chapter. Thanks electrum! You ROCK!!
Alright, I'll be quiet now so you can read my next chappie. Read and enjoy! (And review while you're at it. Please?)Chapter 5: Home Again
"Oh Aslan, no; please, no…" Reenameek fell to her knees inside the entrance, tears running down her face and fervent prayers pouring from her lips. "First my husband, and now Reepicheep; please, not Reepicheep, too…"She had tried to find him. She'd searched every inch of the burrow after sending Peepicheek back to bed. She'd run out into the pelting rain and booming thunder, calling for him desperately, but her son was gone. He was out in the middle of that raging storm with only a toy weapon to protect him and there was nothing she could do. Nothing. Her heart was wrung with the agony of being powerless, the cold fear of losing her son and the numb, aching emptiness of grief. She curled up on the earthy floor with her face towards the outside world, still watching, praying, crying for Reepicheep, hoping desperately that he would come home to her…please…come home…
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"Mama…"Reenameek sat up slowly, her head and throat aching miserably, and realized she'd fallen asleep. But what had awakened her? Her ears twitched forward and she listened hard.
"Mama! Mama! I'm home!"
"Ssshh, not so loud, Reepicheep. You could wake half the dryads in this forest with that shrill voice…"
Reepicheep! The sweet pain of joy and hope unlooked for pierced her heart, and without a second's delay she leapt to her feet, shouting his name.
"Reepicheep!"
"I'm here, Mama!"
She ran outside a few paces and stopped again, looking wildly around her for a glimpse of him.
"Reepicheep!"
"Over here!"
She held her breath and gazed ahead, unconsciously holding her arms out to him. And out from among the shadowy trees, a welcome sight met her eyes. There was Reepicheep, safe and sound, sitting atop the shoulder of…a dryad? But she didn't stop to wonder about it; she only ran as fast as her legs could carry her, towards her son. Reepicheep jumped down and ran straight into her waiting arms, and she caught him up in a tight embrace, as though she were afraid he might slip away again. A strange, strangled sort of sob escaped her throat as warm tears of relief flooded her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Mama," said Reepicheep, his timid, shaky voice muffled in her furry shoulder. "Please don't be mad at me. Please?"
Reenameek laughed through her tears and clutched at him tighter, still unable to speak. Moments passed, and she finally pulled back and managed to choke out,
"You…disobedient, foolish, daring little…mouseling! I am so torn between anger and joy, that if I do not burst, it will be a marvel!" The sound of a cool, lilting, merry laugh fell lightly on her ears, like a gentle spring rain; and she looked up at the person who had brought Reepicheep home. Reenameek's eyes widened in amazement as the strangeness and wonder of it settled upon her.
"G-Goldleaf?"
The dryad smiled down at her.
"Well met, Reenameek. It has been long since we last saw each other, has it not?"
"H-how…I mean…yes…" she trailed off, helplessly. She lowered her son back to the ground and her face grew stern. "Go inside, Reepicheep. And don't even think about running off again; I'm not finished with you."
"Yes, Mama." His ears went down resignedly, and he turned and meekly disappeared into the burrow. Reenameek watched him go, then shook her head in exasperation.
"Really! I don't know what's come over him lately. Sometimes I just don't know what to do with him and that reckless nature of his."
Goldleaf chuckled.
"So young, and yet already his destiny calls to him so strongly." She paused a moment and gazed at the burrow's entrance where the young mouse had scampered into, and a deep, distant look came in her eyes. "You mark my words; that child of yours will grow up to be a valiant mouse. He was born for great deeds."
Reenameek felt something stir inside her, but she pushed it away and snorted.
"You're beginning to sound like a centaur."
Goldleaf laughed. "Yes, I suppose I am…"
"But tell me, how is it that you, a dryad, was…I mean, it's so good to see you again, but I thought that…"
"That we were all asleep? Yes, it is still true for all of us, my case being the one exception. I have been able to stay awake a little longer, for my tree is ancient and strong, and I have kept hope while others despaired. But I am not invincible, and very soon the Deep Slumber will overtake me as well. Even now I am growing weary."
"I'm sorry, Goldleaf."
"Do not be. Only keep faith in Aslan; and pray, Reenameek. Pray that help will come to Narnia, and soon. Our land has fallen into shadow." Reenameek nodded gravely, and their eyes met in an intense gaze. They knew they must both do their part to keep Old Narnia alive.
"Tell me, where did he run off to? How did you find him?"
A hint of amusement crept into the dryad's voice.
"Apparently, he wanted to go on a quest of some kind. He ran away into the thicker part of the woods and got caught up in the storm. I was in my tree, helping to give it strength for the tempest, and when the storm blew over I found him hiding inside it."
"Ugh, that foolish child! He never looks before he leaps." Reenameek glared at no one in particular and spoke through gritted teeth. "I swear, if he ever runs off like that again…"
"Do not be too hard on him tonight," Goldleaf broke in gently. "I have a feeling his "quest" was punishment enough. You'll understand when he tells you about it."
Reenameek sighed.
"I know. I…I just get so worried about him, so afraid that his foolishness will be the end of him. Ever since my husband…" She drew in a shaky breath. "Ever since he was killed by those Telmarines I've been more…I don't know…more cautious. And if I ever lost one of my sons…I don't think I could bear it."
"I understand," said Goldleaf, her voice as soft as the wind whispering in the grasslands above Beaversdam. Reenameek sat down with her face in her paws.
"I feel so ashamed of myself. Reepicheep was only gone for an hour, and I just jumped to conclusions and panicked; I thought he might be dead, that I'd never see him again. I should have known Aslan had everything under control. I shouldn't have doubted Him."
Goldleaf went down to eye-level with Reenameek and kept a steady gaze fixed upon her. Her voice was kind, but firm.
"You are not perfect, Reenameek, nor are you expected to be. You are not the only mother to have faced that fear and panicked; everyone stumbles. The important thing is to learn from it and try again. Do not spend so much time feeling ashamed that you forget to pick yourself up and make use of the second chance Aslan gives to you."
Reenameek said nothing for a moment, then gave a rueful smile.
"You're right. As usual." She rose to her feet. "I'd better go and deal with Reepicheep, now. He has a lot of explaining to do."
"Yes." The dryad chuckled. "But I don't think he'll try anything of that sort again; at least, not for a while."
"Oh, I wouldn't be so sure." She brushed the bits of grass off her fur and looked back up at the dryad, a quiet question in her eyes. "Goldleaf…will I see you again?"
"Perhaps," said Goldleaf, in a soft, sad voice. "Someday." Reenameek nodded, not knowing what else to say. She was about to turn and go inside when she noticed something lying forgotten in the grass.
"Oh! Reepicheep forgot to take his sword inside with him." She stooped down and picked it up with tender paws. Goldleaf smiled.
"He seems quite fond of that little weapon. He never once let go of it."
"Yes, it is his most prized possession. He rarely goes anywhere without it. Peepicheek also has one, and they often challenge each other to a duel." She smiled a sad, wistful smile and gazed at the toy affectionately. Her voice grew quieter. "Last year before he died, my husband made those wooden swords for them and surprised them on their birthdays. They thought they had never seen anything so splendid."
"I can see why it is so special to him."
"It is special," murmured Reenameek. "It's a little bit of their father." She gave it one last glance and then looked up at her friend, her heart overflowing with immense gratitude. "Goldleaf, I don't think I'll ever be able to thank you enough for bringing my son back to me. If it weren't for you…if you hadn't…" she trailed off and fell silent, unable to find the right words to say all she wanted to say.
"It was nothing," said Goldleaf, firmly. "I only did what anyone else would have done."
"On the contrary," said Reenameek. "It was everything. Thank you."
The dryad smiled and raised her pale, slender hand in goodbye and blessing.
"Farewell, dear friend. Follow the path of the Lion."
Those six, simple words of the tree-dweller's blessing that Goldleaf had bestowed on her warmed her to the very core and refreshed her heart, l ike rain in a barren wasteland or a ray of sunlight in the midst of an endless sky of dark clouds. She smiled with renewed hope and strength for whatever lay ahead and returned the gesture with the blessing of the Talking Mice.
"Farewell, Goldleaf. May you reflect the glory of Aslan."
Those words seemed to have the same effect on Goldleaf, for her eyes glowed with a new light and her smile became one of glad and grateful determination. Of course, there wasn't necessarily anything special or magical about the words of the blessings, but the meaning in them was deep and heartfelt, and one could not help but feel some emotion when hearing them; for in Narnia, no good blessing is ever wasted or taken lightly.
And so, with one last wave of goodbye, Goldleaf, the last wakeful Lady of the wood, departed from the burrow with noiseless steps and melted into the dark, wild shadows of the night. Reenameek would not see her again until many years later, when all of Narnia would be put back to rights, and her sons would grow up into brave, valiant Mice and aid Prince Caspian in the fight to win back his throne.
Being completely oblivious to these facts, she simply turned and went inside to deal with the reckless, seven-year-old Reepicheep.
A/N: My incredible writing is calling to yooooooo... (Erm, you know I'm joking, right?) Please review, and don't hesitate to give any constructive criticism. (Almyra, electrum...that means you! PLEASE!! I wish to learn at the feet of the fanfiction MASTERS!!)