Sorry it's late! JROTC was longer than expected and then I had homework! The joys of High School!
Yay! I survived to write chapter three! On to the story after the disclaimer!
Don't own Narnia or the quote at the beginning of the chapter, just Joanna and her parents.
Chapter Three: Talking Animals
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Even though we've changed and we're all finding our own place in the world,
We all know that when the tears fall or the smile spreads across our face,
We'll come to each other because no matter where this crazy world takes us,
Nothing will ever change so much to the point where we're not all still friends.
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"How's my angry golden boy today?" Edmund didn't even make a sound to say that he heard me. He just kept walking, his eyes set forward looking in the distance. "You're going to have to talk to me someday; after all who is going to stand up for you when you're too cowardly to do so yourself?" That might get him angry enough to get a response out of him.
"I don't need you to stand up for me! I can do it myself!" He paused, "Why didn't you take my side earlier?" His voice was lower, defeated almost. He had a pout on his face has he watched his shoes sink below the snow.
"You didn't need me to take your side because you were wrong. You shouldn't have lied and then maybe I would have defended you." I walked forward passing him, but he grabbed my wrist.
"I'm sorry."
"I'm not the one who needs to forgive you. I was never angry, just disappointed." He dropped my wrist and gave me a smile. Hopefully this devil child side of him would be gone soon.
"…Lots and lots of lovely food and we'll have lots and lots of, fun."Lucy's voice trailed off as she stopped.
"Lu?" With that Lucy gasped and took off running. "Lucy!" She ran straight to the knocked down door in the rock. When I walked in I could tell something had happened to the faun. The place was a mess. The china was shattered, furniture ripped, and tables knocked over.
"Who would do something like this?"
"I don't know Lucy, but we'll figure it out." I laid my arm over her shoulder as she wrapped her arms around me in a side hug.
"The Faun Tumnus is hereby charged with High Treason against Her Imperial Majesty, Jadis, Queen of Narnia, for comforting her enemies and fraternizing with humans. Signed Maugrim, Captain of the Secret Police. Long Live the Queen." At a glance I saw a paw print on the paper.
"Alright, now we really should go back." The ever so logical Susan said as she looked over the note.
"But what about Mr. Tumnus?" I wouldn't leave until Mr. Tumnus was found. I disappointed Lucy once and I won't do it again.
"He was arrested just for being with a human; I don't think there's much we can do." There were many things we could do actually. We could rescue him. I mean this Jadis can't be that bad, can she? I mean she's just a Queen right? The voice in the back of my head told me differently though. Oh she so much more than that. So much more.
"You don't understand, do you?"
"What don't we understand?"
"I'm the human. She must have found out he helped me."
"Maybe we should call the police."
"That's a great idea Peter! Wait those are the police!" Watch out, my sarcastic side has reared her ugly head. There are many times when I think that it's just a mask to hide behind, but then someone says something stupid and then I realize I have this side because of all the idiocy I am around.
"Don't worry, Lu. We'll think of something."
"Why? I mean he's a criminal."
"Because it's for your sister. He's her friend and he needs help. I would do the same for you." I heard a bird chirping and then a sudden 'psst'.
"Did that bird just 'psst' us?" That's impossible. Well, so is a land in the back of a wardrobe and the existence of fauns. So maybe it is possible to have a talking bird. As we walked out the door there was a rustling in the trees. It seemed to grow closer as we walked. I snapped my hand to Edmund's as something came around from behind a boulder. I jumped thinking of something terrible, but then I realized it was just a beaver. I admit, a very large beaver, but a beaver none the less.
"It's…It's a beaver." We all relaxed, we are much larger than it. So it seemed it wasn't a threat to us.
"Are you going to let go of my hand now? Or are you afraid that the beaver might eat you?" I childishly stuck my tongue out at him as I dropped his hand, blushing the entire time. The beaver came closer each time Peter clicked his tongue.
"Well I ain't gonna smell it, if that's what you want." Okay, even if I had thought talking animals was a possibility, I never quite prepared myself for it.
"Oh. Sorry." I couldn't help it, I laughed. Lucy had a smile on her face as Peter stepped back. Edmund and Susan had looks of disbelief on their faces.
"Lucy Pevensie?" The smile that was on her face before was suddenly gone. The beaver was holding out a hankie, Lucy's hankie.
"Yes?" As she grasped it a look came over her face, one of realization. "Hey, that's the hankie I gave Mr. Tum…"
"Tumnus. He got it to me just before they took him."
"Is he alright?"
"Further in." The beaver hopped off and Susan grabbed Peter's coat.
"What are you doing?"
"She's right. How do we know we can trust him?" That's very right Edmund. How do we know he's trustworthy? The conversation went on.
"He said he knows the faun."
"He's a beaver, he shouldn't be saying anything." True. But this is Narnia. Anything is possible. In the end we ended up following the beaver.
"Come on. We don't want to be caught out here after nightfall." Narnia seemed to grow more and more beautiful as the sun sank lower. We were deep into the forest when I heard Mr. Beaver say, "Ah, blimey! Looks like the old girl has got the kettle on. Nice cup o' Rosy Lee."
"It's lovely." It was lovely. At the bottom of the hill was a small dam that was perfect for the beavers. Even from this distance it seemed warm and welcoming. I would have gladly run off and into the house so I could feel my toes again. When the sun set, the temperature must have dropped thirty degrees. It was bitingly cold and even my thick jacket couldn't keep the chill from setting into my bones.
"It's merely a trifle." Ah, Mr. Beaver was so humble. "Still plenty to do. Ain't quite finished it yet. It'll look the business when it is, though." We continued walking down the hill when I heard a female voice. She didn't sound too happy.
"Beaver, is that you? I've been worried sick! If I find out you've been out with Badger again, I…Oh. Well, those aren't badgers." I laughed and looked at Edmund. It was cute. The two badgers were like the dream couple that everyone wishes to have. Where you can threaten and tease, but still love each other. "Oh, I never thought I'd live to see this day." Mrs. Beaver then turned to her husband. "Look at my fur. You couldn't give me ten minutes warning?"
"I'd have given you a week if I thought it would've helped." Lucy and I chuckled. It was just too adorable not to. The only one that didn't seem amused was Edmund. I nudged him with my elbow silently asking to cheer up.
"Oh, come inside, and we'll see if we can't get you some food, and some civilized company." Mr. Beaver chuckled at that.
"Now, careful, watch your step." As I stepped in the warm air was welcoming. I shrugged out of my coat and sat down in the chair Mrs. Beaver offered.
"Excuse the mess. Can't get Mr. Beaver to get out of his chair." The two of them reminded me of my grandparents who had been married for almost sixty years. We all eventually got settled in and Mrs. Beaver set out to scrounge up some food. I took a sip of the tea Susan poured as Peter asked the question.
"Isn't there anything we can do to help Tumnus?"
"They'll have taken him to the Witch's house. You know what they say. There's few that go through them gates that come out again." That's not what we wanted to hear. It seemed to bring down Lucy's spirits even more. I wandered over to Edmund and looked down at him.
"What's got you in an antisocial mood?" He didn't reply and I became a bit more agitated. I was trying to get him to open up and yet he wouldn't let me through his defenses.
"Oh, yeah, there's a right bit more than hope!" Mr. Beaver looked around before continuing, "Aslan is on the move." As he said that I got this warm feeling, deep inside me, telling me that everything would be okay. My lips rose into a smile on their own accord. Edmund rose and stepped closer to the beavers.
"Who's Aslan?" Though Edmund was blunt when he asked it, I was wondering it too. Mr. Beaver laughed as if we were joking.
"Who's Aslan?" Mr. Beaver laughed, "You cheeky little blighter." Mrs. Beaver hit him and he stopped laughing. "What? You don't know, do you?"
"We haven't exactly been here very long." I was now standing behind Lucy, hoping to get an answer.
"Well, he's only the king of the whole wood. The top geezer. The real King of Narnia."
"He's been away for a long while."
"But he's just got back! And he's waiting for you near the Stone Table!" Aslan was waiting for, us?
"He's waiting for us?" Lucy seemed confused by that as well.
"You're bloomin' joking! They don't even know about the prophecy!" Mr. Beaver seemed in shock that we didn't know this. Mrs. Beaver looked at us and tried to say something; probably for him to tell us. "Look. Aslan's return, Tumnus' arrest, the secret police, it's all happening because of you!"
"What! It's not our fault yet you sit there and blame us!" I asked harshly. They have no right to do so.
Mrs. Beaver tried to clean up the verbal mess her husband made. "No! Not blaming. Thanking you." My brows furrowed. Why would they be thanking us if their friend was taken?
"There's a prophecy. 'When Adam's flesh and Adam's bone sits at Cair Paravel in throne, the evil time will be over and done'." He seemed proud of himself.
"That doesn't really rhyme."
"I know it don't. You're kinda missing the point!" Mrs. Beaver placed a calming hand on his shoulder as she continued where he left off.
"It has long been foretold that two Sons of Adam and two Daughters of Eve will defeat the White Witch and restore peace to Narnia." As she said those words Susan and Peter slowly turned to look at each other. It seemed as if they wanted to do anything but that.
"And you think we're the ones?"
"You'd better be, 'cause Aslan's already fitted out your army." They have an army? Then what am I doing here? The Pevensie children are obviously the four they needed, what am I to them?
"I think you've made a mistake. We're not heroes."
"We're from Finchley." Susan stood still looking at the beavers. "Thank you for your hospitality. But we really have to go."
"No, you can't just leave!"
"He's right. We have to help Mr. Tumnus."
"It's out of our hands. I'm sorry, but it's time for the five of us were getting home. Ed?" Peter and I glanced in the direction of the stairs, but he wasn't there. "Ed? I'm gonna kill him."
"You may not have to. Has Edmund ever been to Narnia before?" What was he getting at?
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We ran through the forest towards the White Witch's castle, getting more and more frustrated every minute. Edmund was in league with the White Witch? What could she have possible offered to him so that he would betray his siblings? It was snowing by the time we reached the Witch's castle. It was a structure made entirely of ice. It reached high into the sky. From my vantage point I saw a small figure entering through the front doors.
"EDMUND!"
"Shh! They'll hear you!" That's when Peter darted by, but Mr. Beaver wrenched him back.
"Get off!"
"You're playing right into her hands!"
"We can't just let him go!"
"He's our brother!" I stayed silent. If Edmund wanted to walk into the Witch's hands I would let him. Liar. I would, it's his choice. I can't stop him. Yes you can. He only listens to you.
"He's the bait! The Witch wants all five of you!" Yeah she wants all… Wait did he say five?
"Why?"
"To stop the prophecy from coming true. To kill you."
"I'll go and get him. I'm not vital to Narnia, the four of you are." I stepped forward only to fall back to my bum. "What was that for?" I turned my glare to Mr. Beaver as I said this.
"You are just as or even more important than them. You are the Heart and Soul of Narnia. Without you we will be plunged into war." My shoulders slumped. So I just have to let my best friend walk right in to the hands of that monster? That's not fair! Life isn't fair.
"This is all your fault!"
"My fault?"
"None of this would have happened if you had just listened to me in the first place!" My body shot up as I practically growled.
"Both of you shut up! Stop taking this out on each other. It is neither of your faults. It's the White Witch's. She persuaded him."
"She's right. Only Aslan can help your brother now." Instead of my heart rising at the words, my heart only sank lower in my chest.
"Then take us to him." I narrowed my eyes at the castle as my hatred for the Witch almost boiled over. She took my best friend from me. She would pay.
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"Hurry, Mother! They're after us!" Mr. Beaver shouted as we piled into the house.
"Oh, right then."
"What's she doing?"
"Oh, you'll be thanking me later. It's a long journey and Beaver gets pretty cranky when he's hungry." I smiled at that. It reminded me of Edmund. Everything reminds you of Edmund because you like him. Shut up.
"I'm cranky now!" I passed some bread to Susan who put it in a cloth.
"Do you think we'll need jam?"
"Only if the Witch serves toast." The wolves barking grew louder. They were right outside. They were slowly clawing their way through the dam. Mr. Beaver ushered us through a small door and down a hole.
"Badger and me dug this. Comes out right near his place." We rushed through the curving tunnel, the beavers leading the way with Peter right behind them.
"You told me it lead to your mum's!" That's when Lucy tripped. She grunted as her knees hit the ground.
"Lucy!"
"They're in the tunnel." She whispered. She was right. The barking was almost on top of us.
"Alright no more stopping. Let's go!" I tugged Lucy to her feet and we were off again.
"Quick! This way!"
"Hurry!" I looked back as I heard the barking, only to run into Susan. I mumbled a sorry.
"You should've brought a map!"
"There was no room next to the jam!" Eventually we found our way out of the tunnel and Mr. Beaver and Peter pushed a barrel against the opening.
"That won't hold them for long. We have to find a place to hide." I turned to look at Mr. Beaver only to see him looking at a statue of a badger. Was it possible that this was his friend? Statues of many animals littered the snow.
"What happened here?"
"This is what becomes of those who cross the Witch." A new voice said. I whirled around and saw a fox. From Mr. Beaver's reaction I could tell he wasn't a good guy.
"Relax. I'm one of the good guys." His voice held an amused tone to it.
"Yeah? Well, you look an awful lot like one of the bad ones." Mr. Beaver stepped forward threateningly, wanting to pummel the fox.
"An unfortunate family resemblance." I bit my lip to keep from laughing. He certainly didn't like that he looked so much like the wolves. "But we can argue breeding later. Right now we've got to move." I nodded as I once again heard the howling of wolves.
"What did you have in mind?"
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I somehow found myself up a tree, high up a tree. I watched as the fox and the wolf, who I guessed as Maugrim, conversed I saw one of the wolves take the fox's midsection into his mouth. Lucy took in breath to scream, but Peter put a hand over her mouth.
"Your reward is your life. It's not much, but still. Where are the fugitives? " The fox hung his head. It seemed as if he was going to give us up.
"North. They ran north." Maugrim said something to the other wolves and the one holding the fox dropped him. As soon as the wolves were gone we clambered down the tree and to the fox's aid. We got a fire set up and Mrs. Beaver started healing Fox's wounds. "They were helping Tumnus. The Witch got here before I did. Ow! Oh!"
"Are you alright?" Lucy's voice was hesitant, shy.
"Well, I wish I could say their bark was worse than their bite."He yelped in pain as Mrs. Beaver did something that caused him pain.
"Stop squirming! You're worse than Beaver on bath day." I cracked a smile as Mr. Beaver shuddered.
"Worst day of the year." The fox stood up as he looked to Mrs. Beaver.
"Thank you for your kindness, but I'm afraid that's all the cure I have time for."
"You're leaving?"
"It's been a pleasure, My Queen, and an honor," He bowed as he said this. "But time is short and Aslan himself has asked me to gather more troops." My eyebrows must have risen to my hairline, more troops?
"You've seen Aslan?"
"What's he like?" Mrs. Beaver inquired, gasping as she did.
"Like everything we've ever heard. You'll be glad to have him by your side in the battle against the Witch."
"But we're not planning on fighting any witch." I gawked at Susan. Narnia needed us and she said we were not going to fight?
"But, King Peter, the prophecy!" I could tell Fox was grasping at straws, begging almost.
"We can't go to war without you." Peter gazed into the fire for a moment then at Susan.
"We just want our brother back." My eyes glowered at him.
"My Lady?" Mr. Fox was looking at me now. I was his last hope.
"I'll fight. Narnia need us. And if Peter won't fight I will." That's when the animals smiled. Hope was still there. I wouldn't let that hope fade away. Not for the world.
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Yes! Narnia still has hope! All reviews are welcomed!
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