The Lion is an Angel
Disclaimer: Do not own the Chronicles of Narnia
Chapter 5: Poor Mr. Tumnus
Henry's POV
Lucy and I couldn't stop smiling as we lead our family to see Mr. Tumnus. When Lucy came here last time she said the White Witch didn't know Mr. Tumnus helped us escape and he was perfectly fine. Now that our siblings are here things couldn't get better. But something about Edmund had me on edge. He sometimes looks at the two large hills like he knows somebody is there. I wonder who he met when he came here to Narnia.
When we made the turn around the corner everything stopped. The small cave where Mr. Tumnus lived no longer looked comforting as before. The door hidden behind the boulders was destroyed while inside pitched black. Lucy stood stark still not hearing Peter calling her nickname in question. Even Agnes called my name but I couldn't hear her either. A moment later we were both running to the house ignoring our older sibling's cries that they chased after us?
Inside Mr. Tumnus house was a completely wrecked. All the furniture tossed over or covered in mildew. The ground covered in snow. Shatter pottery and porcelain tea sets with bent spoons. Fabrics ripped with claw marks and books tussle on the ground. Even his father portrait laid by the fireplace with claw marks. So cold and abandon.
"Who would do something like this?" Lucy asked sadly.
Peter walked to one of the stone columns where a note with a paw print was nailed to the door. He yanked it out and began to read aloud. "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."
"All right," Susan grabbed the letter. "Now we really should go back."
"But what about Mr. Tumnus?" I asked.
"If he was arrest just being with a human, I don't think there's much we can do." Susan explained.
"You don't understand, do you?" Lucy said. "We're the human. She must have found out he helped us."
"Maybe we could contact the police?" Agnes suggested.
"These are the police," Susan corrected her.
Peter placed a hand on Lucy shoulder, "Don't worry, Lu. We'll think of something."
"Why?" Edmund asked that everybody stared at him. "I mean, he's a criminal."
Suddenly we heard a bird chirping that sounded like a psst. We all paused staring at the red cardinal sitting on a tree looking at us. Susan turned facing us as she asked, "Did that bird just 'psst' us?" The bird did it again, causing Peter to take the lead of going outside. I stood close to my sister remembering what Mr. Tumnus said that some creatures and trees were on the White Witch's side.
Rustling noises could be heard that Peter stopped us. Whatever is was it was moving fast or it wasn't alone. It moved from one tree to another stepping on fresh snow or dead branches. Soon it was up ahead ready to pounce. My thoughts thinking of wolves, mountian lion, or bears. However what came out of the snow drift wasn't a large animal…but a beaver. It had a dark glossy brown coat and stood on his hind legs scratching his tiny black nose before crawling towards us. He stopped standing on its hind legs while flat tail tapped the ground.
"Here boy," Peter called clicking his tongue, sticking his hand out toward the beaver.
"I ain't gonna smell it, if that's what you want." The beaver said sarcastically.
Edmund, Susan, and Agnes eyes widen while Lucy and I chuckled. It was like we knew this was going to happen. If a bird could psst, guess a beaver could talk. Peter said sorry stepping back from the beaver. Yet the creature continue to talk calling Lucy name. She stopped giggling and looked at the beaver who took out the handkerchief handing it to her.
"Hey, that's the hankie I gave to Mr. Tumn…"
"Tumnus," The beaver interrupted. "He got it to me just before they took him."
"Is he all right?" Lucy asked.
The beaver was hesitant, "Further in." he said running out of the clearing to the forest.
Lucy, Peter and I were about to follow but Susan stopped us. "What are you doing?"
"She's right," Edmund agreed. "How do we know we can trust him?"
"He said he knows the faun," Peter answered.
"He's a beaver," Agnes said. "He shouldn't be saying anything!"
"Is everything all right?" The Beaver asked on top of a snow cover boulder.
"Yes," Peter answered. "We were just talking."
"That's better left for a safer quarters." The beaver whispered.
"He means the trees," Lucy explained quietly.
With nothing else to do we followed the Beaver. Agnes took my hand that I was going to protest but knew I shouldn't argue. When will she realize I'm a big boy now? I sighed as we headed who god knows where in the winter forest. I just hope this wasn't a trap.
.o0o.
Agnes POV
I could hardly comprehend the fact that a beaver just talked. In fact, everything around us is practically impossible. However this is not a dream that I'm living. Another world inside the wardrobe! This is nothing compared to the literature I read. Not like Peter Pan or Tolkien's illustration. The journey to Mr. Beaver's location took long that we lost track of time. The sun touched the horizon by the time we reached a clearing of a river/pond frozen in ice. Center was a beaver dam with a chimney, windows, and light.
"Ah, blimey. Looks like the old girl has got the kettle on" Mr. Beaver called. "Nice cup o' Rosy Lee."
"It's lovely," Lucy complimented.
"It's merely a trifle." Beaver modestly said. "Still plenty to do. Ain't quite finished it yet. It'll look the business when it is, though."
We walked down the hill when the sun vanished. After passing a fort the door opened to the little dam where a female beaver came out scolding. "Beaver, is that you? I've been worried sick! If I find you've been out with Badger again, I…." she stopped enthralled to see not a bunch of Badgers but humans. "Oh! Well, those aren't badgers." She then started walking towards us. "Oh, I never thought I'd live to see this day." Instantly she smacked her husband. "Look at my fur. You couldn't give me ten minute warning?"
"I'd have given a week if I thought it would've helped." Mr. Beaver chuckled making the young ones to agree.
"Oh, come inside," Mrs. Beaver said. "And we'll see if we can't get you some food, and some civilized company."
We headed inside though Edmund stopped for a moment looking at the scenery where two mountains were. Mr. Beaver asked him if he was enjoying it, but Edmund rolled his eyes irritated entering the dam. I stood there for a moment watching the view curious about everything that is all around us. I sighed, bending a little entering the little house. Inside it had a rustic feel to the room, all nice and cozy. I removed my fur coat and sat next to Edmund by the stairs while the others sat around a small table with tea being served.
"Isn't there anything we can do to help Tumnus?" Peter asked.
"They'll have taken him to the witch's." Mr. Beaver answered. "You know what they say. There's few that go through them gates that come out again."
"Fish 'n' Chips?" Mrs. Beaver offered, setting a plate of sardines and wood chips on the table. "But there is hope, dear. Lots of hope."
Mr. Beaver choked on his drink spitting back in the cup. "Oh, yeah, there's a right bit more than hope! Aslan is on the move."
The dam was engrossed in silence, though none of humans understand what he meant. Edmund had the gulls to ask first, "Who's Aslan?"
The question had Mr. Beaver laughing, "Who's Aslan! You don't know, do you?"
"We haven't exactly been here long." Peter replied.
"Well, he's the only king of the whole wood. The top geezer. The real King of Narnia." Mr. Beaver explained.
"Is he a man?" Henry asked.
"Aslan a man! Certainly not!" Mr. Beaver explained. "I told you he is the king of Wood. Don't you know who is king of beast?"
Everybody gave a confused look when I blunter out, "Are you saying he's a lion?"
"And he has got back!" Beaver exaggerated.
"He's been away for a long while." Mrs. Beaver calmed her husband down.
"And he's waitin' for you near the Stone Table!"
"He's waiting for us?" Lucy asked.
"You're bloomin' joking" He exclaimed, paws in the air looking at his wife. "They don't even know about the prophecy!" he took a deep breath. "Look. Aslan's return, Tumnus' arrest, the secret police! They're all happening because of you!" Mr. Beaver accused.
"You're blaming us?" Susan baffled
"No! Not blaming. Thanking you." Mrs. Beaver corrected.
"There's a prophecy. When Adam's flesh and Adam's bone sits in if Cair Paravel in throne, the evil is over and done." Mr. Beaver said, quoting the prophecy.
"That doesn't really rhyme." Susan stated. Can't she see the major point of the prophecy than the small biddy details?
"I know it don't," Mr. Beaver would agree. "You're kinda missin' the point!"
"It has been long been foretold that two Sons of Adam and two Daughters of Eve will defeat the White Witch and restore peace to Narnia." Mrs. Beaver explained thoroughly.
Edmund got up excusing himself taking his coat to go outside. Probably couldn't take the information very well. However what the Beavers said had me confused. There are six of us instead four. Maybe Henry and I weren't supposed to be here. Most people would want a healthy leader instead those who have a sharp mind.
"And you think we're the ones?" Peter asked with worry and looked at Susan.
"Well, you better be, 'cause Aslan has already fitted your Army waiting?" Beaver proclaimed
"I think you've made a mistake. We're not heroes!" Peter bellowed, rising from his seat. Both eldest looked warily at each other.
"We're from Finchley!" Susan pleaded.
"And Camden," I added.
Tension filled the dam, all question and emotion were only to be disturbed when Lucy asked, "Where's Edmund?"
Everyone scanned the room for Edmund. I told him he said he was getting some fresh air. Instantly we grabbed our coats going outside calling out his name. In the end there was no response and the freshly fallen snow covered his tracks. Mrs. Beaver advices in getting back inside.
Peter held a strong angry face looking at me. "You let him go!"
"He said he was getting fresh air," I countered, keeping a neutral face.
He was going to say something else but Lucy told him to not fight. He took a deep breath and said, "I'm gonna kill him."
"You may not have to," Mr. Beaver mutter, "Has Edmund ever been to Narnia before?"
"Yes," Lucy answered. Soon her mouth dropped, "You don't think-"
"He has gone to her," Mr. Beaver said. "To the white witch. Edmund had betrayed us."
"But he can't." Susan defended.
Mr. Beaver began asking questions about Edmund connection to Narnia. Sadly the answers weren't efficient for the boy favor. Mr. Beaver said he most possibly met the white witch and joined alliances with her. Without any debate we started backing things up for the journey till reaching the tunnels. Beaver said he and Badger dug this place, unfortunately he didn't tell his wife where it leads to truthfully. We were halfway through the tunnels when hearing chaos upstairs in the dam. The secret police already here while searching for us. Henry tripped over his braces and Peter bends down to help him but stop to hear howling.
"They're in the tunnel." Henry whispered.
No time to waste, we ran, sprinting after the beavers. Mr. Beaver held a door open at the end of the tunnel. We stormed out Peter and Beaver instantly shoved a barrel in the hole secured. It should seal it shut, from the secret police. When we turned around panting, only to suck in a gasp of despaired. Stone, stone statues of forest creatures covered in frost. Somewhere that of a family of rabbits all together solid in stone. A mercy Badger, a curious warthog leaving his haven, every animal turned to stone. Even Mr. Beaver friend Badger stood there paws up in defenses. Henry knelt down before a ferret curled into a ball. Petting its engraved pelt; probably cold, no pulse, no warmth, and all life gone.
"What happen here?" Peter asked.
"This is what becomes to those who cross the Witch."
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