Chapter Thirty-Seven Which Isn't Really a Chapter...
Maybe It's Chapter Thirty-Six and a Half?
Author's Note
DISCLAIMER NOW JUST TO GET IT OVER WITH: I own almost nothing – actually, I think it really might be nothing at all – mentioned in this chapter/author's note. Also I apologise for not updating the next chapter in so long, but you will see why in a moment.
Oh, dear, my readers. It seems that I've backed myself up into quite a tight corner. For one thing, this brings into the plot the journey to Archenland, then from Archenland to Tashbaan (The Horse and His Boy crossover), the problem with mistaking Shasta/Cor for Corin, not to mention how Tumnus and Corin ever did become friends, and that is excluding Susan's problem with the Tashbaan Prince, the escape from Tashbaan and the battle allying Archenland, assuming that with all this going about I have any time to write romance into the story. (If you haven't read The Horse and His Boy, than it's apparently quite evident that you've no idea what's going on. That's all right then; my problem, not yours.)
I only had Lucy invite Tumnus to Archenland because it was written in the books, and I've been trying ever so hard to remain on the basic plot-line, excluding little or none at all. (How have I been doing with that, I wonder?) Certainly, it would make a much better story if I included all the details on the journey, but I haven't the stamina or enthusiasm to be quite so lengthy or thorough with my novel.
Now, I think that with my predicament, I'll just give you the extremely quick version (it isn't entirely thorough; I've excluded Peter's giant hunt):
Corin and Tumnus became friends, everyone's all happy and pleasant, then they all go to Archenland. The next bit I would only read if The Horse and His Boy is a piece of literature unseen by your eyes: (From Archenland, they visit Tashbaan, Susan has some serious problems with a Prince suitor, Corin gets lost, they mistake Corin's long-lost twin for Corin, find out their mistake, Corin's long-lost twin saves Archenland and takes the throne in time, everything's all hunky-dory in the end.) All the Narnians return home from Archenland, safe and sound, all with only the slightest bit of romance between Tumnus and Lucy and they both are certainly light on the matter.
There. You have it all down; now that my awful writer's block has nearly vanished, I may continue my next chapter with hopefully a little bit of something exciting. You remember, I must also make Lucy realise her love for Tumnus.
Also I would very much like to thank Morgim for her truly honest review. I will admit that it did sting a little, but so do all critical statements, and it was very helpful. In my defence, however, the first two chapters were written about seven months ago, and my writing has (hopefully) developed beyond that point. The corner store and certain quotes (ex: '…impossible for this writer to verbalise') were all in the hopes of attempting to sound like C.S. Lewis. Now I have better honed my own skills and no longer have to rely on others. But I appreciate the honesty; that was the first negative review I can recall and I must say it was quite refreshing.
Oh, writing. Such a taxing and satisfying habit. Whatever would we do without it?