CHAPTER 2

"BEAVER!" Tumnus called as he arrived at the Dam. No reply so he decided to go to Badgers house instead. And of course there he was. "Beaver!" he said. Beaver looked up. "Tumnus? What's the matter?"

"She...she's coming...for me..." he managed as he tried to catch his breath.

"Who Tumnus?" Badger asked.

"Witch...she's coming...for me..." Beaver and Badger looked confused. "But...Why?"

"Because...I helped...girl..." Beaver cut him off "You mean Kate?" he asked worried. He had treated her like a daughter since they found her. Tumnus shook his head. Badger gasped. "You mean...another one?" Tumnus nodded and Beaver fell silent with shock.

"Here..." Tumnus said handing Beaver a Handkerchief with the initial 'L' on it. "Her name is Lucy...she will probably come back soon...give her this...She'll understand!" Beaver looked at it and nodded. "I must go...and if I don't see you again...It was nice to have met you!" and without another word he left.

Beaver and Badger sat there for maybe 10 minutes in silence before Beaver decided to go home. He was half way there when he decided to go looking for Tumnus and ask him about this 'Lucy' when he got to the door however it was hanging off its hinges and he knew he was too late. Hanging his head he whispered a small prayer to Aslan to protect him and turned to head home. He got the edge of the embankment when he heard a noise. He turned and stood stock still. Since he was born he had heard the story but even though he said he believed he never thought it would happen now!

Walking towards Tumnus' house were 2 boys and 2 girls, Sons and Daughters of Adam and Eve. He studied them quickly. The eldest was a boy, around 16 maybe with blonde hair and blue eyes. Next was a girl, older than Kate but not much, with shoulder brown hair and big lips. The next boy looked about Kate's age and had dark black hair and narrowed eyes. The youngest was a girl, younger than Kate, with short brown hair and big eyes. He wasn't sure which one was Lucy until the youngest girl ran forward to the house and the blonde boy yelled "LUCY!" following after her. The four of them went into the house.

Over head, a bird was watching the scene with the Beaver. He 'psst'ed the children from the house and Beaver knew this was dangerous. Very dangerous! The 4 emerged from the house and started following the bird. He had to stop them. Making a rustling noise, the four stopped dead in their tracks. The oldest boy was standing protectively in front of both girls. The other lagging behind. Beaver came out from behind a snow mound.

The eldest made his way forward towards Beaver, hand out as if teasing him with food. Beaver had had enough!

"Well I ain't gonna smell if that's what ya want!" he said startling all of the children. The boy mumbled a sorry while the others laughed and Beaver turned to the youngest. "Lucy Pevensie?!" he asked holding out the white material. Lucy took the handkerchief from Beavers paw.

"Hang on! This is the hankie I gave to Mr...."

"Tumnus!" Beaver finished and she nodded. "He got it to me just before they took him..."

"Is he alright?" Lucy asked worriedly. Beaver look around, not wanting to be over heard said "Not here!" He continued on ahead but when he noticed he wasn't being followed he looked back. "Is everything alright?"

"Yes...we were just talking!" The oldest boy said. Beaver spoke in a whisper "That's better left for safer quarters" And they followed him. They walked for maybe 10 minutes before Beaver spoke again.

"So if she's Lucy...then who are you lot?"

"Oh sorry...I'm Peter..." said the boy with blonde hair. "And this is Susan and Edmund..." he said pointing to the two other siblings behind him.

"Oh, so Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy?" He asked. Peter nodded.

"Is it much farther?" Edmunds disgruntled tone came. Beaver looked back. "Not much but we don't want to caught out here after nightfall!" They walked for maybe 20 more minutes before Beaver's Dam came into view.

"Oh Blimey! Looks like the old girls got the kettle on! Nice cup of rosy lee..."

"It's lovely!" Lucy stated. Beaver was one to accept a compliment and thanked her kindly before walking down the slope towards it. There was another beaver waiting outside when they arrived.

"Beaver is that you..? I've been worried sick! If I find you've been out with Badger again..." But her word fell short when she saw the Pevensies. Beaver went to stand next to her. "Look at my fur...you couldn't give me 10 minutes warming!" she scolded as she ushered them into the house. They were all sat before Mrs. Beaver talked.

"So where did you find them?" she asked. Mr. Beaver looked down. "Tumnus...he...the White Witch got him!" Mrs. Beaver had been holding a plate and dropped it at his words. Mr. Beaver went to her. "Darlin' what's the matter?" She struggled to find the words.

"Kate...she...she went to visit...visit Tumnus..." Mr. Beaver's hands dropped to his sides and all four Pevensies noticed the change in atmosphere. "Um...who's Kate?" Peter asked. Mrs. Beaver looked too shocked for words so Mr. Beaver talked.

"She um...Ok...You know the way there are no Humans in Narnia!" the four nodded "Well that's not really true...! Kate's here" The four looked confused. "Let me explain...about 4 years ago...Kate and her sister Sara came to Narnia, don't ask!" he said cutting off Lucy, who was about to speak "She never told us...we found her crying in the woods when she was 10...it took her a month to talk and when she did all she said was her name and 'she's gone'" putting air quotes around the last two words.

"Yo mean Sara?" Susan guessed. Beaver nodded "When Kate finally did talk she told us that her and Sara were in the wood when the witch approached them...when they didn't go with her she got mad and sent her wolves after them...Kate escaped but Sara stopped to distract them and she was killed..." Lucy and Susan had tears in the corner of their eyes and Peter and Edmund looked horrified.

"We took her in..." Mrs. Beaver said, breaking her silence "And she stayed here...most of the time...she likes to wander...but she always comes back...even when they're chasing her...she knows she has a home here...Oh Beaver what is she's..." But Mr. Beaver stopped her. "No! Kate's strong...she can handle herself..."

"Isn't there anything we can do to help?" Peter asked. Beaver answered "Nah...they'll have taken him to the witches house and you know what they say there are few that go in..." but looking at his wife he stopped. He looked at her again and she whispered "But there's always hope"

"There's a right bit more than hope...Aslan is on the move..." he looked around expecting them to gasp or something but Edmund voiced their thoughts.

"Who's Aslan?" Beaver nearly choked. He only stopped laughing when his wife shoved him. Looking at the children he realised "You don't know do ya?"

"Well we haven't exactly been here very long!" Peter replied.

"He's only the king of the whole wood...the top geezer... the real king of Narnia...see he's been away for a really long while...but know he's back...and he's waiting for you near the stone table..."

"He's waiting for us!" Lucy asked. Beaver started ranting about how they didn't even know what was happening. Mrs. Beaver settled him and he began.

"Aslan's return...Tumnus arrest...the secret police! It's all happening because of you!"

"You're blaming us!" Susan asked offended. Mrs Beaver calmed her. "No! Not blaming, thanking you!"

"There's a prophecy...When Adam's flesh and Adam's bone sit in Cair Paravel in thrown...the evil time will be over and done..." Susan made a remark about rhymes and Mrs. Beaver jumped in. No one noticed Edmund sneak through the front door.

"It has long been foretold, that 2 sons of Adam...and 2 daughters of Eve would defeat the White Witch and restore peace to Narnia..." The children looked shocked. "And you think we're the ones?"

"Well you better be 'cause Aslan's already fitted out your Army!" Beaver exclaimed. "Our army!" Lucy exclaimed Edmund heard none of the rest. He marched his way through the snow, wrapping his arms around himself for warmth. He trudged up the mountain until he reached an open plain. At the far side was a large icicle formed to look like a castle of some sorts. Edmund was happy to be out of the snow that came to his knees and on a flatter surface, although it was slippier. He made it to the gate of the 'castle' when he heard his name. Ignoring it he went in.