Lucy grinned as they grasped the portkey and spun through reality. She and her brothers landed on their feet, then she laughed – Iargue was sprawled on the ground.
"How do you do that?" the mage grumbled. "I've been falling for years." Lucy ignored his grumbles glancing around the small copse they had landed in. "Um, where is everyone?"
"This is just an entry point –we must find the revel on our own. Lu?" Edmund's voice was excited and questioning at the end. Lucy grinned at him and removed a double stemmed pipe from her satchel before bending down to remove her shoes. Her cloak joined them revealing a thin white slip of a dress, and she turned to Iargue, bare armed and bareheaded. She frowned at him.
"You cannot go dressed like that - I said simply."
"This is simple." Lucy eyed the boots, robe, hat and cloak and shook her head. And nodded at her brothers. Iargue turned. Both boys were wearing loose white shirts and trousers – their cloaks and boots folded on the ground beside them. "And that is really simple. I thought this was a formal thing?" Lucy rolled her eyes.
"It is, now off with the robe and boots – you do have trousers on right?" Lucy was relieved when he nodded. He did not however remove the robe though the cloak, had and boots were placed in a pile beside the others. Lucy shrugged – that was as good as it would get. Grinning at her brothers she lifted the pipe to her lips and focusing on her first revel she exhaled. Her pipe echoed through the woods and she began the gathering tune, her brothers began to dance and she gave herself to the tune, dancing into the woods. As she danced the trees whispered where to go then she heard the pipes and the beat of a drum and there was fire and she felt at home.
Iargue watched as the small redhead played and strated when her brothers began to dance to the tune. It was a dancing tune that nagged at you to dance - to follow. He had heard it before, his father had told him not to follow the pied piper. But now he did, his step was not as light or quick as the three in front of him, but he danced. Suddenly there were more pipes and the flickering lights became a bonfire and he stopped staring. A huge bonfire lit a huge glade and a throng of fauns danced, his three companions entered the throng and he noted that their steps matched the fauns. He stared unable to tear his gaze away from the revel, but the music tugged at him and he gave way and became a part of the dance.
Francis was unable to give himself fully to the dance until his guests arrived – if they arrived. Like any other reveler they would have to find their own way. His father had been most upset that he had invited the Magi to the Midwinter revel. Then he heard it, an unfamiliar pipe that sang of longing for the dance, of pain and need. It sang the gathering with its own harmony of sorrow and Joy. Then he glimpsed the auburn hair of Lucy, eyes closed reveling as she danced into the circle. Her brothers followed dancing the joining dance as they melted into the circle. He glimpsed Iargue staring into the throng and he lifted his pipe and is sang of joy.
When dawn kissed the horizon the dancing came to a sudden halt and Lucy joined the other musicians in the song to welcome the new year. A flurry of snowflakes kissed her face as the last note sounded with the first rays of sun over the horizon. She lowered her pipe for the first time that night with tears in her eyes.
"But I cannot sail to the sun." she murmured. The old faun beside her wrapped an arm around her shoulders and she sobbed into his chest. She cried for Tumnas, Narnia, herself and all her pent up frustrations with England.
"There, there, you'll be just fine." Lucy sniffed and kept her face buried against his furry chest as the tears continued to flow. "Tears are a strange way to welcome the new year little one." He rocked her gently. "What is your name little spirit? And why your sorrow?" She lifted her head looking up at the grey haired faun, her tears freezing on her lashes.
"Lucy. My joy and my sorrow cause my tears – sorrow for a home and friends now lost, joy for a new home." She stared into his compassionate eyes.
"Lucy, a beautiful name for a beautiful reveler. Whence came your pipe?" Lucy lifted the smooth wooden instrument and smiled sadly.
"From the faun Tumnas, my dearest and oldest friend." The old faun nodded.
"He taught you well, Little Spirit."
"He did, he was infinitely patient, particularly with the boys." She giggled, "My brothers had lead feet. Or so he would say." The furry chest rumbled as the faun chuckled.
"Only one did last night, the other two danced beautifully." Lucy blinked in confusion then smiled broadly shaking her head.
"Iargue is not my brother – he has never attended a revel before. The other two are my brothers – Peter and Edmund." She smiled up at him. "Oh, and what is your name kind faun? I have completely lost my manners and beg your forgiveness!" He laughed.
"It is fine Little Spirit. I am Ralec, Pipes master – you must join our band." Lucy grinned.
"I would be honored, but I must speak with my brother – when do you practice?"
"The full moon." The silver haired faun answered "You will let me know?" Lucy nodded.
"Of course, and if I am unable I hope your invitation will stand for when I am." Lucy's tone begged him to say yes – she truly loved to play.
"It is a standing offer. But you must come to the Midsummer revel." She nodded.
"We shall. I shall arrange it with my brothers." She paused. "speaking of my brothers I should find them and our portring."
"I will escort you – I would like to meet these brothers of yours."
"Thank you."