A/N: Thanks for sticking with the story guys, and thanks for your loyalty!

Disclaimer: I own nothing except my OC, Luna Pevensie, along with her kitten.

Chapter 5

Word Count: 2,894

"Tha-That's impossible!" Susan stammered, her dark cobalt eyes wide.

"Don't worry, it's probably just your imagination." Lucy smirked. Peter looked down at his little sister guiltily.

"I don't suppose saying we're sorry would quite cover it?"

"No, it wouldn't." Lucy replied, a mischievous look on her face, "But this might!" She gathered snow in her hands to form a ball and threw it as hard as she could at her brother, the snowball exploding all over his blond hair. He laughed in response before picking up a mound of snow to throw back. Luna and Edmund smiled playfully at each other, interrupted when Susan hit him with a snowball on his arm.

"That's for lying!" She yelled. Edmund knew she wasn't completely serious though, her pink lips forming a small smile.

"That's it!" Edmund yelled, helping his twin sister create a protective wall of snow. "You've just declared war!" He pointed at his older sister jokingly.

"Oh, you've done it now." Peter chuckled, helping Lucy and Susan form their own wall. Soon the air was full of flying snowballs, the Pevensie siblings soaked and exhausted.

The five siblings began walking out of the forest, shivering and laughing together.

"Hey, I'm sorry Lu." Edmund glanced at his sister. "That was rude of me, I guess I just wanted to be more grown up." Luna rubbed his back sympathetically, mentally praising him for recognizing his mistake.

"That's all right," Lucy replied innocently, "Some children just don't know when to stop pretending." She looked at her brother smugly. Her other siblings couldn't hide their laughter at her sassy remark.

"Very funny." Edmund replied, faking a hurt look. Luna playfully shoved him, laughing when he fell into the snow before offering him a hand up. Susan looked around worriedly.

"Maybe we should head back." She bit her lip. "Won't the Professor be worried?"

"Oh, come on Suse, have some fun! We should explore!" Edmund said, spreading his arms out in a dramatic fashion.

"I think Lucy should decide." Luna suggested quietly. "She was the one who discovered this place after all."

"Oh, oh!" Lucy twirled in excitement, "I should bring you to meet Mr. Tumnus!"

"He makes a mean hot cocoa." Luna giggled softly.

"Alright, meeting Mr. Tumnus it is." Peter decided. He walked towards the direction of the wardrobe, disappearing from his siblings' sight.

"We can't walk around like this!" Susan gestured to her soaked dress. "It's freezing!" Peter reappeared with an armful of coats. "Maybe we can use these." He replied cockily, his eyebrow raised.

"We can't take those, they don't belong to us!" Susan protested.

"We're not taking them, we're borrowing them." Luna shed her wet coat and took a dry one. "Besides, we aren't taking them out of the wardrobe, are we?" Edmund and Lucy laughed and followed suit, shedding their old coats for the new garments. After the siblings had warmed up a bit, they began walking towards Mr. Tumnus' house, following Lucy and Luna who already knew the way. Lucy stopped at the small wooden door and knocked lightly.

"Mr. Tumnus? Are you there?" She tried to peek through the windows, but piles of books blocked them from seeing in. She tried the door handle, finding it unlocked.

"I have a bad feeling about this." Luna chewed her lip nervously. Lucy swung open the door to find his house in complete disarray. Books were scattered all over the floor, pages and bindings ripped off. Furniture had been knocked over, the table legs broken and wood splintered. Broken mugs lay on the carpet, shards of the ceramic material scattering the floor. Someone had obviously been there.

"Who would do something like this?" Lucy started tearing up. Edmund walked in, feeling the crunch of broken glass beneath his shoes. He looked down to see a broken picture frame, revealing the picture of Tumnus' dad. Luna carefully picked up the photograph and offered it to Lucy. When her sister shook her head in response, Luna tucked it in her coat pocket. Susan looked around the small room, stopping when she noticed a notice tacked up on the wall, the one neat thing amongst the chaos.

"What's that?" Peter walked over and pulled the paper down from the wall forcefully.

"The former occupant of these premises, the faun called Tumnus, is hereby under arrest and awaiting trial on the charge of treason against her imperial majesty Jadis, Queen of Narnia, Chatelaine of Cair Paravel, Empress of the Lone Islands, also to comforting her said Majesty's enemies, harbouring spies and fraternizing with Humans. Signed Maugrim, Captain of the Secret Police, Long Live the Queen." Peter finished, letting the paper float down to the floor.

"Now we really should go." Susan advised.

"We have to help him!" Lucy insisted, tears starting to fall from her cornflower blue eyes. Peter comfortingly placed his hand on Lucy's shoulder.

"It's out of our hands now Lu." Luna bent down to pick up the notice.

"Pete, it says 'fraternizing with Humans'." Her eyes were glinting in anger. "Don't you get it?" Lucy cried. "Luna and I, we're the humans!"

"Don't worry Lucy, we'll figure out something." Luna said firmly as she crumpled up the notice in frustration.

"Psst!" Luna turned around to see a robin peering in from outside. She led her siblings outside where they saw a beaver emerging from the nearby bushes. The beaver approached the Pevensies cautiously.

"It's okay boy, come here." Peter held his hand out in a welcoming gesture. The beaver stared at the boy in disbelief.

"Hello sir." Luna whispered. The beaver looked in her direction and nodded. "Hello to you to."

"It talks!" Edmund grabbed Luna's arm in shock, his twin rolling her eyes in exasperation.

"Are you two Luna and Lucy Pevensie?" The beaver inquired, looking at the two girls.

"Yes, I'm Lucy, and that's Luna." She gestured to the shy twin. The beaver handed Lucy a white handkerchief, a pink 'L' embroidered on the corner. Lucy took the cloth slowly, her eyes welling up once again. She recognized the handkerchief that she had lent to the weeping faun not too long ago.

"Tumnus gave this to me before they took him." The beaver informed the young girl solemnly.

"Is he alright?" Lucy asked hesitantly, wiping the tears from her eyes.

"Follow me." The beaver turned and headed into the forest. Lucy and Luna didn't hesitate to follow the animal, but Susan grabbed Peter's arm in apprehension. "How do we know we can trust him?"

"We can trust him." Luna murmured. Edward shrugged and followed his sister.

"Edmund?" Susan looked at her little brother aghast. "You're just going to trust him? Just...like that?"

"If Luna trusts him, so do I." Edmund replied. "I trust her." Peter shrugged in response.

"I guess we can trust him, he did say he knows Tumnus."

"He's a beaver - he shouldn't be saying anything!" Susan hissed.

"Is everything alright back there?" The beaver turned around to face the Pevensies.

"Yes, of course!" Peter stammered. "We were just talking!"

"Maybe you should leave the talking to a minimum until we get somewhere safe." The beaver whispered. He led them through the jagged cliffs and under a moss covered bridge. As they passed under the wooden bridge they caught side of a homey-looking dam.

"There it is," The beaver pointed. "Home sweet home."

"It's beautiful!" Lucy gasped.

"Oh, it was nothing." The beaver replied sheepishly.

"Is that you Mr. Beaver? If I found out you've been out with Badger again I'll…" Mrs. Beaver emerged from the cozy dam. "Oh, well hello there." She waved timidly to the Pevensies. She noticed Lucy shivering and Luna took off her coat and wrapped it around her little sister.

"Well, you all must be very cold and hungry. Why don't you come inside for some food and warm up?" Mrs. Beaver politely invited the children into her home. On their way in Luna noticed something out of the corner of her eye. She turned and looked up past the trees to find a large white castle surrounded by ice and snow. Edmund followed her gaze to see Jadis's castle which he recognized from meeting the witch. He pulled on Luna's sleeve.

"Come on, let's go inside." Inside the Beavers' home Mrs. Beaver made tea for all the Pevensies and brought out cookies fresh from the oven.

"Help yourselves, darlings." Edmund and Lucy each took a cookie while the other siblings politely sipped their tea.

"Is there anything we can do for Mr. Tumnus?" Peter asked.

"We can have hope." Mrs. Beaver replied softly, staring down into her tea mug.

"Yeah, there's a load of hope," Mr. Beaver added enthusiastically, "Aslan is on the move!"

"Who's Aslan?" Edmund asked through a mouthful of cookie. Mr. Beaver laughed, abruptly stopping when he realized the Pevensies weren't joking.

"You don't know who Aslan is?" Mr. Beaver asked astounded.

"We haven't been here too long." Peter chuckled humorlessly.

"Aslan is the king, the true king of Narnia, he's been waiting for you to arrive!" Mr. Beaver exclaimed.

"Waiting for us?" Lucy murmured. "Why?"

"Are you joking?!" Mr. Beaver chortled. "Aslan's return, Tumnus' arrest, the secret police...they're all happening because of you!" He looked around at the five children.

"Are you blaming us?" Susan asked incredulously.

"Of course not dear!" Mrs. Beaver reassured her. "We're thanking you."

"There's a prophecy." Mr. Beaver added. "When Adam's flesh and Adam's bone sits in Cair Paravel throne, the evil will be over and done."

"That doesn't quite rhyme." Susan countered.

"You're missing the point!" Mr. Beaver scoffed. Mrs. Beaver placed her paw on his shoulder in understanding.

"It's been told that two sons of Adam and three daughters of Eve will appear to defeat the White Witch and restore peace to Narnia." She replied softly.

"And you think that's us?" Peter laughed skeptically.

"Well you'd better be!" Mr. Beaver raised his voice. "Aslan has already fitted your army."

"I think you've made a mistake;" Peter replied firmly. "We're not heroes."

"We're just a regular family from Finchley!" Susan added. Peter put his hands on the table and pushed himself up, turning to face the door.

"I think it's best we get going." He stated.

"What about Mr. Tumnus?" Lucy pleaded.

"There's nothing we can do." Peter said downcast.

"Thanks for your hospitality." Susan nodded to the Beavers.

"Ed, time to go. Ed?" Peter looked around, realizing that the twins were gone. "Where are Luna and Edmund?" He inquired.

"Has Edmund been to Narnia before?" Mr. Beaver asked. Peter's eyes widened in sudden realization, and he rushed out of the Beavers' dam, followed closely by Susan and Lucy.

Edmund climbed up the snow covered mountain, pulling his coat tighter around his shivering body. He trudged slowly towards the large castle in determination. He wasn't going to believe any of the lies those beavers had fed to him and his siblings. He met the queen on his first trip to Narnia, and she respected him, she gave him whatever he wanted. He would take part in the ruling of Narnia, just as she had promised. He barely heard the crunch of feet in the snow behind him when his twin sister appeared at his side. She matched his pace, striding barefoot through the snow, her coat long since discarded. Her face was flushed pink, but she had no goosebumps, for she wasn't cold.

"Luna?" Edmund hissed. "What are you doing here?" He hadn't noticed her following him since he left the Beavers' home. Unbeknownst to her siblings, Luna had left the dam soon after her brother had, feeling worried after she witnessed him sneaking out of the dam. None of her siblings seemed to have realized Edmund had left, but Luna had that special connection with him. She had the feeling that something was wrong, and she followed him to the White Witch's castle

"I'm coming with you." Luna replied softly.

"Wha-What are you talking about?" Edmund feigned innocence. Stellaluna mewed from her place on the redhead's shoulder, as if calling the boy's bluff.

"I'm coming with you to the castle." Luna said faintly.

"I'm not going there!" Edmund stopped in his tracks. Luna kept walking, her pace never slowing. He ran up and tackled her into the snow. "Stop it Lu!" He shouted.

"Why are you going to see her?" Luna asked quietly. She knew that Edmund knew who she was talking about. "Why do you want to see her?"

"Just leave me alone." He didn't even shout. He was angry, but he could never be angry with his sister. He was starting to doubt his decision. But he had to follow through. "I'm sorry Lu, but you can't go with me." Edmund got up and ran, leaving Luna behind in a pile of snow. She slowly got to her feet and brushed the snow from her clothing. She could have caught up with him if she wanted, she was faster than he was, she didn't feel the cold like he did. But Luna felt like this was something that her brother had to do on his own, a test of some sorts.

"Edmund!" Peter shouted from the trees below. Luna could hear her eldest brother yelling, and she sprinted down the hill towards his voice.

"Quiet Pete!" She whispered harshly. "She'll hear you!"

"Who?" Peter was shocked to see her react so quickly.

"The White Witch, ya dummy!" Mr. Beaver hissed in indignation. "Don't ya get it? Your brother is the bait! The Witch wants you all to go up there! She wants to kill ya!"

"We should have just left." Susan sighed, resting her head in her hands. She suddenly jolted up. "Why didn't you stop him?" She glared at Luna. Her little sister opened her mouth to say something, but was interrupted by the youngest Pevensie.

"Stop it. Fighting isn't going to help him." She was referring to her brother, Edmund.

"She's right." Mr. Beaver sighed in defeat. "Only Aslan can save him now."

"Then take us to him." Peter replied firmly.

Edmund ambled through the snow-covered courtyard, walking along the stone-tiled pathways. He noticed a line of stone statues as he traveled closer to the castle entrance. He passed a statue of a giant, looking proud and strong in his frozen pose. As he came across a lion statue, he stopped and sneered, pulling out a black marker from his pocket to draw round glasses and a curlicue mustache on the statue's face. He continued walking forward, suddenly tripping over a large object. That object turned out to be an angry talking wolf.

"Stop right there stranger!" The wolf snarled at Edmund.

"I'm no stranger, I'm a Son of Adam, and I met the Queen when I came here!" Edmund replied snottily. The wolf backed off and bowed his head.

"My apologies, fortunate favorite of the queen- or perhaps not so fortunate." Edmund followed the wolf into the throne room. His eyes caught on a white throne, carved with intricate designs and covered in shining icicles. The seat was a plush velvet cushion, the back of the chair fitted with the same material.

"Wait here." The wolf said, walking off to another room. Edmund looked longingly at the fancy throne, hesitating a bit before striding up to the seat and lounging in it.

"Do you like it?" Edmund jumped when he heard the silky voice whispering in his ear, the hairs on the back of his neck standing up. He didn't even need to turn around to see who it was, he could tell by the icy whisper that it was her.

"Yes! Yes, your majesty!" Edmund replied, startled by the Queen's sudden appearance. He stepped down from the throne and faced her. She wore the same white dress from before, a sparkling silky material sticking to her skin. He couldn't tell where the dress ended and her skin began, the Queen was so pale. He shivered and looked up when he noticed how much cleavage she was revealing.

"I thought you might." She replied, smiling to show the white teeth behind her thin lips. "Now, tell me, are your sisters deaf?"

"No…" Edmund felt very confused by the Queen's question.

"And your brother, is he unintelligent?"

"Well, I think so, but my mother says…"

"Then how dare you come alone!" Edmund jumped at the Queen's harsh reaction. "Edmund, I ask so little of you!" She yelled furiously.

"They just don't listen to me!" He objected.

"You couldn't even complete this simple task!" The Queen bared her teeth in anger. Edmund didn't notice her raising a pale hand to slap him.

"Well, I brought them about halfway here...they're staying at the Beavers' house." Edmund muttered. The Queen was lost in thought for a moment, lowering her arm.

"Well...I suppose you aren't a total failure…"

"So...can I have some more Turkish Delight now?"

"Ginnabrick!" The Queen called the dwarf from the sled in. "Our guest is hungry."

"This way…" The dwarf led Edmund to an adjoining room.

"Maugrim!" The Queen yelled. The wolf from earlier entered the room. "You know what to do." Maugrim howled, gathering an army of wolves and surrounded the castle. The dwarf pulled Edmund away from the scene as he began to realize what was going on.

"Luna, guys, no…" He whispered.

TO BE CONTINUED…

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