Chapter Nine
The sunlight shimmered off the leaves as three year old Tumnus walked next to his brothers and their laughter echoed around them.
"I can't believe it! He just reached in and scooped them out!" Tamnus said as they walked down the path and Tumnus smiled, holding onto a string of fish that was half dragging behind him.
"Where did you learn how did you do that, Stick?" Ternus asked.
"I watched de bears catching dem," Tumnus said and Talnus picked the string up.
"Here, let me carry them. You're going to get them all dirty," Talnus said as Tumnus nodded and they headed down the path.
"What do you think Father got at the village? Fish by itself is boring," Telnus said and tossed some stones into the bushes.
"I hope it isn't something disgusting," Timnus said.
"I hope he brings some cherry cakes home!" Tolnus said and brushed some of his fringe out of his eyes.
"Well, whatever it is, we have to eat it," Talnus said when they came to the stream and they watched the water rushing by the shoreline. "Oh great, Father was right. The stream is all swollen from the rains."
"How are we going to get across then?" Ternus asked.
"I guess we have to hop on the stones," Timnus said as he pointed to the stones sticking out of the water and Tumnus walked closer, looking at the water roaring passed the shoreline.
"No, dat's too scary!" Tumnus said as he shook and Talnus walked closer, placing the string of fish down on the ground then knelt down in front of him.
"It's ok, Stick, just a few jumps and we're across," Talnus said and softly smiled at him.
"But I got short leggies."
"If I can do it, Stick, then you can!" Tolnus said as he hopped to the first stone, turned and looked at him. "Come on!"
Talnus stood up when he picked the string of fish up and they headed for the shore. Talnus hopped to the first stone when he stood near Tolnus and took his hand. Hopping to the next stone, they watched as Tamnus and the others hopped from one stone to the other and Tumnus stood at the shore, watching them while his little body shook with fear.
"Come on, Stick, you can do it!" Tamnus said from the other side of the stream as they looked at Tumnus and Tumnus shook, looking at the water.
"He isn't going to do it," Ternus sighed.
"Then let's leave him," Telnus said.
"And have Father stick us if we came home without him?" Tolnus asked. Talnus sighed when he handed Tamnus the string of fish then hopped back across the stones and looked down at Tumnus. Tumnus shook and frowned when Talnus knelt down in front of him and smiled.
"Come on, Stick, it's not that far," Talnus said when he stood up, held his hand out and Tumnus looked at his brother's hand. He carefully took Talnus' hand as they headed for the shoreline then Talnus jumped to the first stone and turned around. He held his hands out as Tumnus looked at the water then backed up and jumped. Talnus caught him as they smiled at each other and Talnus jumped to the second stone. He held his hands out as Tumnus backed up then jumped and Talnus caught him, holding him in his arms. "See, it's not so bad, is it?"
Tumnus shook his head as Talnus placed him down then jumped to the third stone and turned around. Tumnus noticed the moss on the stone as he shook and Talnus nodded his head for him to jump. Tumnus backed up when he jumped, but landed on the moss and fell off the stone into the fast running water.
"Tumnus!" Talnus shouted then dived into the water and swam after him. Tumnus popped in and out of the water as Talnus swam faster then caught him and held onto him, "It's alright, Stick, I got you!"
"Swim this way!" Tamnus shouted from the shore as Talnus held onto Tumnus and swam toward the shoreline. He reached the shoreline as he handed Tumnus to Tamnus then pulled himself out of the water and rested on his back, breathing hard and fast through his nose. Talnus looked up at them as Tamnus held onto Tumnus and Tumnus was crying, "Hey now. It's alright, Stick, you're ok."
"Father is going to stick us good!" Ternus said as Talnus sat up and took Tumnus in his arms, rocking him.
"Father isn't going to know. We'll take the long way home and will dry by the time we get there," Talnus said as he stood up and held Tumnus in his arms.
"But he'll know the moment he looks at Stick. He's terrified," Tolnus said.
"No, he won't," Talnus said while tickling Tumnus as Tumnus giggled and wiggled in his arms, "See, he's fine."
"Then let's get going," Telnus said as they headed down the path and Talnus held onto Tumnus, who placed his head on Talnus' shoulder.
"Hey Stick," Talnus whispered.
"What?" Tumnus whispered.
"Sorry."
"You don't have to be sorry. I have short leggies and missed de rock. You my hero," Tumnus whispered as he smiled and Talnus ruffled Tumnus' hair. They walked along as the sun shined on the leaves when Tumnus smelt something and looked up.
"Berries!" Tumnus said as he pointed to the bushes and Talnus picked a few berries into his hand and Tumnus nibbled on the berries as they walked down the path. They arrived at the cave when they stopped and saw Tilnus standing in front of the open door.
"Uh oh," Tamnus whispered as they stopped and Tilnus glared at them.
"Give him to me," Tilnus growled as Talnus handed Tumnus to him and Tilnus looked at the door then back at them. They slowly walked inside as Tilnus followed while holding Tumnus close to him and softly growled. They walked down the stairs when they stood in a line and Tilnus walked closer, glaring from one brother to the other. He stroked Tumnus' hair when he placed Tumnus down and Little Tumnus held onto Tilnus' hand.
"Well?" Tilnus demanded.
"Um, we caught fish for dinner," Tamnus said as he showed him the string of fish and Tilnus walked closer, slapping the string of fish out of Tamnus' hand.
"I don't care about that! What did I tell you about the stream? I told you NOT to go there because it was swollen and the water was too fast!"
"But it was the only way home," Ternus said.
"So you crossed it and were going to leave HIM?" Tilnus shouted as he pointed to Tumnus and Tumnus was sitting on the floor, holding the string of fish up and counted the fish.
"He wasn't going to come with us," Telnus whispered and Tilnus walked closer, slapping him hard in the face.
"He was afraid! Why didn't you just pick him up and carry him?"
"We thought he could make it on his own," Tolnus said.
"I went and got him," Talnus said.
"But you made him HOP from stone to stone instead of carrying him!" Tilnus shouted. "And what happens? He fell in the water!"
"I jumped in and got him."
"You wouldn't have had to if you had carried him! You put BOTH of you in danger!" Tilnus shouted when Tumnus got up, walked to the stairs and started going up the stairs, "Where are you going?"
Tumnus didn't say a word as he headed for the open door and walked outside. He walked along the path when he felt someone placed their arms around him, picked him up and turn him around. He looked into Talnus' eyes when Tumnus sniffed and started crying. Talnus held him until Tumnus calmed down when he walked back to the door and went inside, closing the door behind them. Talnus walked down the stairs when he walked to where Tilnus was sitting and gently placed Tumnus on Tilnus' lap. Tilnus held Tumnus as he rocked him back and forth and kissed the top of Tumnus' head.
"Um, Father, how did you find out what happened at the stream?" Timnus finally asked, sitting on the stool next to Tilnus.
"The trees told me," Tilnus said as he rocked Tumnus and Tumnus started playing with Tilnus' fingers.
"We really weren't going to leave him," Tolnus said.
"And I fell in 'cause I has short leggies and missed de rock," Tumnus said, smiling and Tilnus smiled back.
"Well, that is old water under the bridge now. Who wants supper?" Tilnus asked as he got up when Tumnus ran to where the string of fish lay on the floor, picked up the string of fish and handed the string of fish to Tilnus, who smiled down at him and ruffled Tumnus' hair.
Opening his eyes, Tumnus wiped the tears moving down his cheeks with the back of his hand then rolled onto his back and looked at the ceiling. He watched the shadows flickering on the ceiling when he smelt something and sat up, seeing the tray of food and drink on the table at the center of the room. Moving the duvet back, he got out of bed when he walked to the table then moved the high back chair back, sitting down. He started eating as he wondered what the second test was about and what a heart had to do with it. He shrugged as he ate while the door opened and he looked up, seeing the third female faun coming closer. She stopped near the table when he placed the fork down and sat back against the high back chair.
"Good morning," the third female faun said with a nod of her head.
"Good morning," Tumnus said, nodding his head.
"If you are finished with your breakfast," the third female faun said while pointing with her hands toward the door as Tumnus placed the fork on the plate then got up and they walked to the door, leaving the room. They walked along the hallway as he looked at her and noticed that her hood was pulled down low enough that all he could see was her chin.
"Uh, if you don't mind me asking, what does the heart have to do with the next test?" Tumnus asked.
"You will have to choice which is more important. Your life or the life of someone you care about."
"I don't understand."
"You will see," the third female faun said when he saw the first and second female fauns standing near a large, iron door and the first female faun smiled at him.
"Good morning," the first female faun said with a nod of her head.
"Good morning," Tumnus said, nodding his head.
"Do you wish to continue?" the second female faun asked, pointing toward the large, iron door.
"Yes, I do, but, um, where are my friends?"
"You will see them if you survive," the first female faun said as Tumnus rolled his eyes then he walked to the large, iron door. Grunting softly, he pushed the large, iron door open when he walked in the semi dark room and the large, iron door closed behind him, making him jump. He felt the same ill at ease feeling he had when he went into the room with the giant spider as the torches in the iron holders on the walls flickered into life and the sound of water dripped somewhere in the shadows. The floor was stone with patches of moss scattered among the stone as he picked one of the torches out of the iron holder and moved cautiously along the pathway that led to a side tunnel. Walking down the side tunnel, he heard the sound of running water as he came to the end of the side tunnel and stopped short, standing on the edge of a ledge.
"No," Tumnus whispered as the large stream spread out before him and the water roared loudly in his ears. The water slammed against the rocks sticking out of the water as pieces of the rocks fell into the swirling water and Tumnus noticed that the water dropped off into the darkness at the far end of the tunnel. He watched the water while his heart slammed painfully against his ribs when something caught his attention and he looked at the large, flat rock that rose out of the water. "ARAYNA!"
Arayna was sitting at the center of the large, flat top rock when her head snapped up and she looked toward the shore, seeing Tumnus standing at the edge of the ledge. He moved back and forth as if he was trying to figure out how to get to her and she stood up, cupping her hands over her mouth.
"TUMNUS, NO, GO BACK!" Arayna shouted as the water slammed against the large, flat top rock and chipped off large chunks of rock, making her scream.
"Hold on! I'm coming!" Tumnus said as he looked at the first rock and licked his lips. Calculating the distance between the edge of the ledge and the first rock, he moved back a bit when he ran then jumped and landed on the first rock. Arayna watched while Tumnus tried to figure the distance between the first and second rocks then sighed and rubbed his face with his hands. Tumnus backed up while the water roared around him when he jumped to the second rock and nearly slipping on the wet spots.
"BE CAREFUL!" Arayna shouted as he nodded then looked at the third rock, calculating the distance between the second and third rock. He noticed that the third rock was covered in thick moss as he felt slightly light headed and water shimmered on the moss. There was only one clear spot at the center of the rock as he prayed that he wouldn't faint and looked the water roaring around him. He took a deep breath when he moved back, jumped and landed on the clear spot. He smiled when he looked at the other rocks and hopped over them, landing a few moments later in front of Arayna. Kneeling down in front of her, he held his arms out as she slid into him and he wrapped his arms around her, gently rocking her back and forth. Neither of them said a word for a few moments while the water roared around them and pieces of rock fell into the swirling water.
"I can't believe you did that!" Arayna whispered then started sobbing and Tumnus rocked her while stroking her hair.
"Sh, it's alright," Tumnus said as she placed her hand against his chest and felt his heart pounding wildly under her fingers. He held her hand against his chest as he looked around and watched the water slamming against the large, flat head rock. Large chunks of rock fell into the water as he looked toward the spot where the water fell off into the darkness then looked at Aryana and sighed, brushing the hair out of his eyes. "We have to get out of here."
"It's too dangerous!"
"I know, but it looks like we have no choice," Tumnus said as they got up and he took her hand. They hopped from one rock to the other when they came to the third rock and he looked at it. The moss shimmered in the dim light as he calculated the distance when Arayna placed her hand on his arm and he looked at her, titling his head to one side. He looked deeply into her eyes when he moved closer then kissed her sweetly on the lips. She looked slightly shocked as he moved back and lowered his head, looking at their hooves. "Oh, uh, I shouldn't have done that."
"No, it's alright," she said while a blush crossed her cheeks and he smiled, taking her hands in his. She moved closer when she kissed his lips while the water roared around them and he moved back, looking at the water. Arayna watched while he moved back and jumped and landed on the clear spot, turning around to look at her. He moved back a bit when Arayna jumped then landed near him and he sweetly smiled at her. He then looked at the next rock when Aryana heard something and her eyes widened.
"Tumnus?"
"Yes?"
"THAT!" Arayna shouted when he turned to the left and saw a large wave of water came crashing around the rocks and rushed toward them. The roaring of the water pounded in their ears as he held Arayna against him and she wrapped her arms around his neck. Suddenly the wave of water crashed over them as large drops of water pelted them and they screamed.