The Great Tourney was about to begin.

Calormenian ships arrived and docked next to the beautiful Splendor Hyaline and Splendor Starlight. The same night a great ball in haven took place. It was also the first day when Lucy was allowed to get out of bed. One good thing in all of it was she didn't have to attend neither to welcoming ceremonies, nor never-ending preparations. Only Corin was disappointed, being forced to train alone. Susan assigned to him keeping all the tourney's accessories in order and that was not something a twelve-year-old prince found exciting.

The morning before the Welcoming Ball Susan demanded Lucy assisted her in the search for a proper jewelry, for both of them. Unwillingly, she followed her sister to the dungeons, trying not to think of the hours she spent there before, reading. Cair Paravel dungeons were a labyrinth of chambers with treasures, even Peter didn't know every room. Once in a while they promised themselves to study them all, but they never did. There were huge coffers in one, behind the "library" and the snowflakes engraved on them were a clear sign for Lucy, who they belonged to. She felt a rush of heat running through her body and drew Susan's attention to another chamber.

"Isn't that beautiful?" Susan found an emerald necklace and brought it closer to the torch light. The gems sparkled gently as Lucy placed it around her sister's neck.

"It fits you," she smiled.

Susan thought she was right. She loved green gems and those fitted her planned outfit perfectly.

"But what about you?"

Lucy hesitated. She surrounded the chamber and leaned over the boxes Susan was previously searching through.

"There. I like this one." She showed her a smaller, silver chain with a sparkling diamond-like crystal. It seemed to glow by itself, like a little star.

"This is amazing, where have you found it?" Susan stared at the gem. She had a peculiar feeling that she had seen something similar before, but couldn't recall where and when. A part of her regretted she hadn't found it first, but when Lucy put it on she had to admit: It was made for Lucy. The glittering silver rested on her skin and the crystal covered the soft spot of the neckline, right above the line of breasts. Lucy blushed slightly and caressed it in her fingers. Never before Susan saw her that excited about a piece of jewelry. "My little sister is a woman after all", she giggled. Lucy smiled, musing deep in her thoughts.

"Let's go find proper dresses, shall we?" Lucy took her by the hand. They left the dungeons without glancing at the chamber the silver necklace really came from.

The very same day Mr. Tumnus entered the castle and rushed up the stairs to find queen Lucy. It had to be an accidental Corin's and Susan's conversation to let him know that his best friend was lying in bed the last couple of days. He felt sad. He would expect Lucy would send for him, or at least let him know their usual tea time was cancelled.

"Great heavens... I completely forgot about it!" Lucy apologized. She was really sorry, he could tell and it comforted his heart. But he felt he missed her. Now he stared at her in awe. It was right before the ball and Lucy greeted him in the white, formal dress which he had never seen before. Even her hair looked different. She had it styled very high, almost on top of her head, being held by the shiny crown and pins. A silver, silky cape was wrapping her shoulders and neckline, evoking thoughts of the pure starlight that came down to cover his beloved queen.

"We do not talk like we used to. I understand it of course. You have more important matters to attend to. I sometimes forget you are a queen. Forgive me. A part of me still sees this little Lucy who once was too small to sit on the throne. I guess I am getting old."

"What are you talking about? Fauns are... you live longer than men, don't you?" Lucy patted his arm. She felt guilty. Her "more important matters" occupied her much more than she could admit, but so far she didn't forget their meetings. The sudden sickness (and equally sudden recovery that she needed to hide and stayed in bed a few days longer than needed) threw her out of balance. She had to be more careful and not change anything in her everyday life in Narnia. So now she smiled and took him by the arm, as she used to in her childhood days. She felt the faun cheering up. He straightened his back and walked much more confidently. Susan watched them from behind, walking down the stairs herself and musing if Lucy ever noticed how much the faun was in love with her. But the Calormenes were already waiting at the pier and she felt her own heart beating fast. The possible love interests of her younger sister had to wait. Susan checked if her dress uncovered her cleavage enough and not too much. All was perfect and one of the emeralds hanged a little bit lower, just about to hide in between her breasts. She smiled to Edmund and Peter joining them, also dressed up in purple (Peter) and dark green (Edmund) robes. She giggled, seeing Peter checking on his pants once in a while when he thought nobody saw it. He hated how tight it was. So did Edmund.

It was an amazing ball. The dance floor was built directly on the beach, so the guests could admire both, the sea and the stars, while getting themselves enchanted by mermaids' songs and the fauns' little orchestra. Lucy gazed at her sister dancing with Rabadash and felt an anxiety mixed with longing. Susan looked happy in his arms, definitely more than she seemed a few months ago. Was it really like this, she mused, that when one person desires another long enough, the effort gets eventually rewarded?

"May I have this dance, my queen?"

Mr. Tumnus approached her and she unwillingly let him lead her to the dance floor. She danced already with Peter, Edmund and Lord Peridan - the Narnian courtier, and Rabadash, who complimented her beauty more times she could count. Luckily he quickly returned his attention to her sister. As much as she loved dancing, the formal balls were no pleasure. It was so much better to dance with the tree faeries in the woods!

"What's wrong, my queen?" The faun noticed her distraction.

"Aren't you tired of these royal formalities? Let's go for a walk." She grinned. He agreed to it with enthusiasm. The wine they all have been drinking took some effect and Mr. Tumnus felt hot and even more talkative than usual. As for Lucy, she was also definitely too warm. She threw her cape on the chair and followed him to the wood, laughing.

"Fresh air, isn't it wonderful? It was so crowded there."

"It was." He agreed and took her by the hand. There was something in his gesture and look that made her step back. She felt instantly guilty, as they walked hand in hand so many times in the past. But there was that strange warmth coming from the faun in her direction, Lucy didn't know what it was but she instinctively felt she didn't like it.

"My sister seems very happy. What do you think about these Calormenes?" She asked to keep up the conversation, hoping the awkward feeling would go away.

"I think," he said carefully choosing words, "that queen Susan has a great need to be loved."

"I agree," she nodded.

"Lucy, my queen! I can't hold it back anymore. I love you!" He burst with desperation of someone holding the emotions too long.

"Oh..." Lucy took another step back and leaned against the tree. "I love you too, you are my best friend!" she said quickly. But it wasn't enough. He took her hand again and kissed it passionately.

"Mr. Tumnus, stop!" Her voice turned colder and more "queen-like". It worked as a cold shower on the faun. He sat on the nearest stone.

"Forgive me...", he put his hands on the head. "I have drunk too much, the wine... we fauns have weak minds..."

"It's alright," she patted his shoulder, relieved. If he was really drunk, there was a chance he wouldn't remember this conversation in the morning. Lucy very much hoped for it. "How about I walk you home? You need some sleep."

She leaned over him and her necklace swung before his nose. It glittered in the moonlight and Mr. Tumnus jumped up.

"Where do you have it from?!" He stared at it. He reached the necklace with one hand and would rip it off if Lucy didn't hold it first.

"What are you doing?"

"This is the necklace of the White Witch! You mustn't wear it! Destroy it!"

She took a deep breath.

"Don't speak to me in this manner!" She ordered him like never before. Suddenly she felt strong. And angry. Then the moment was gone and the sadness overwhelmed her. She was about to lose her best friend and was now aware of it.

"I found it in the castle yesterday, together with Susan. We looked for something special for the ball. Besides, I don't need to explain myself."

"Of course you don't. I am a very stupid faun tonight, right?" He giggled nervously.

"You are a very drunk faun tonight." She stated and took him firmly by the arm. The way to his house seemed never-ending, however finally they got there. She lit the lamp and helped him sit.

"I will make you some tea." She took the pot to the hand and turned away to get some water.

"I am a very stupid faun tonight," Mr. Tumnus murmured and stood up, heavily. He found it difficult to walk, but didn't want to go to bed, either. He sat on the floor instead and dag into his coffers. When Lucy came back with a pot of water and searched his shelves for the tea, he was sitting on the floor with the pile of old looking parchments. "Stupid, stupid faun. Stupid faun remembers. Everything." He now looked through the pages and stared at one. "This necklace and this... hair. Stupid faun remembers." He pointed his finger at her. Lucy put his cup next to him and stepped closer to see what was on the parchment. Her own tea cup fell from her hand and hit the floor heavily, breaking. The tea splashed all over, on her dress and on the parchments. Only the one Mr. Tumnus held higher in his hand was intact. It was a portrait. The hair and the necklace of the White Witch were identical as Lucy's, even the color of the hair was the same. She paled. Above all the things, she never put a second thought that she copied Jadis' hair style. But why on earth Mr. Tumnus kept Jadis' portrait in his house?

"Stupid faun always remembers. In case the evil comes back he would know. I would know." He repeated loudly, answering her unspoken question. "Is she alive?" He yelled.

Lucy was silent, her eyes got filled with tears.

"Is she alive? You must answer me." He got to her, practically kneeling at her feet. Somehow she wasn't able to move.

"Please, I can't..." Her throat was dry. She wanted to invent a plausible lie, to tell some story, like she was always thinking. And somehow she couldn't. It was hard for her to speak at all.

"Lucy. My queen." For a moment it looked like he calmed down. He stepped back, drank from his cup, breathed heavily and then stood up, closing to her again. "Look me in the eyes. Is Narnia in danger?"

Tears fell down her cheeks. "No!" She shouted quickly. "If there is any danger it comes from Calormen, not from..." She broke. She realized her reaction was the answer enough. Mr. Tumnus curled up as if somebody hit him in the stomach.

"Mr. Tumnus, please!" She grabbed his shoulders, but he pushed her away. "You are my best friend; you have to believe me!" She cried.

With a clear difficulty he sat at the table, burying face in his hands. She could see him sobbing. She was crying herself, and shaking. She wanted to hug him but he shuddered.

"I knew it." He finally spoke. "Somehow. For a long time. I felt it in you. I could always feel it."

"I am not turning evil!" She burst. "Neither... You don't understand, things are different now! She is different. She helps me. She trains me..."

"Stop! Enough! I can't take it. Anything, but not this. Not this... Oh, Aslan..." He wept.

She had to do something. She took him strongly by the arm and shook. "Mr. Tumnus. I have not changed! I am the same Lucy you know. I beg you. Don't you trust me anymore? Please, look at me!" She sobbed.

It took some effect. The faun silenced and gazed at her, studying her eyes. His sadness was overwhelming as he spoke.

"I knew this day had to come. No one ever found her body. I remember her powers better than most. I was watching her. I knew there would be a day when the evil returns. She always returns. But I would never think, even in my worst nightmares that the one she takes would be... you."

"What are you saying? Nobody took me!" Lucy leaned to him and said slowly and clearly. "I am not under a spell. I am still me!"

"She took so much from me." He didn't listen to her and kept talking. "But now she did the worst."

"Mr. Tumnus..." She begged.

"She stole your heart." He broke and kept on crying.

Lucy stood still for a long while, speechless.