Chapter Two~

To Jessica waking up was the hardest thing ever, and she hadn't the foggiest clue as to why. Only when her eyes opened and her mind registered where she was upon seeing the darkened cave home of the faun Mr. Tumnus did she remember. Looking towards Lucy, she shook her shoulder and hushed,

"Lucy, come on Lu wake up!" so that the younger girl blinked her eyes open and glanced around before Jessica stood from her chair saying quickly as she did,

"We have to go." and just before the two could turn towards the door they both heard the distinct voice of Mr. Tumnus say,

"It's too late for that now," and so turning towards the voice they found him curled up on a flight of stairs huddled into himself as he continued,

"I'm such a terrible faun." Jessica felt annoyed at him as Lucy stepped over towards him saying gently,

"Oh no, you're the nicest faun we've ever met." Jessica followed behind the girl to protect her, suddenly keenly aware how dark it was outside the cave and inside the cave itself as the faun explained,

"Then you've both had a very poor sampling." as Lucy continued to console the faun Jessica stood over her watching making sure he didn't do anything suspicious, after all, he had been the one to make them fall asleep.

"It's not something I've done Lucy and Jessica, it's something I'm doing." he stated making Jessica's ears perk up as she asked him,

"What are you doing though?" and looking over at the older girl he sobbed before stating,

"I'm kidnapping you both." making Jessica instantly take hold of Lucy's shoulders for protection as he rushed out his explanation,

"It's the White Witch! She the one who makes it always winter, always cold. She—gave orders, if anyone was to find a human in the forest we—we were supposed to turn them over to her!" Jessica held tightly onto Lucy's shoulders as she said,

"But, but you wouldn't." feeling more afraid by the second as Lucy added,

"I thought you were our friend." at that his sullen expression turned to one of determination as he quickly stood and said,

"Come then, quickly!" and before the two girls knew it they were racing through the darken forest with Mr. Tumnus holding a hand each telling them,

"Now, she may already know you both are here. Some of the trees are even on her side!" so that by the time they reached the lamppost the two were shaking out of fear as Mr. Tumnus asked them,

"Can you two find your way back from here?" nodding, Jessica took ahold of Lucy's hand and said,

"I think we can manage." as he continued to cry Jessica realized that he felt honestly sorry for what he had done and so her anger towards him diminished as she said,

"Don't worry, we'll be fine." and even Lucy added,

"Will you be alright?" so that he looked between the two chuckling softly as he said to them softly,

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." and tried to hand back Lucy's handkerchief which she had given him earlier but she told him gently,

"Keep it, you need it more than I do." which touched Jessica deeply as he looked to her for a sign of forgiveness so that she told him,

"I forgive you Mr. Tumnus." so to show him she did she embraced him quickly before pulling back as he said to them both,

"No matter what happens Lucy and Jessica, I am glad to have met you two. You have made me feel warmer than I've felt in a hundred years. Now go—go!" and so taking the younger girls hand, Jessica dashed off towards where the wardrobe would be and as they found themselves tumbling out of coats Lucy began shouting,

"It's all right! I'm back! I'm alright!" as she dragged Jessica through the halls towards where they had been stopped by Edmund who popped his head from behind his hiding spot behind the curtain as he snapped at them,

"Shut up! He's coming!" confused, both girls watched as Peter appeared causing Edmund to groan and having to step out. As he did Peter looked utterly confused at Jessica while saying gently to his younger two siblings,

"You know, I don't think you two quiet got the hang of this game." yet Lucy, still completely confused as to why no one was questioning why she was gone so long asked them,

"Weren't you all wondering where I was?" just as Susan appeared looking worried as Edmund said in a rather upset and annoyed tone to Lucy,

"That's the point, that's why he was seeking you." as Susan asked if she had won, Peter's reply was that he didn't think the three of them wanted to play anymore. This caused Lucy to look at Jessica and say,

"Tell them Jessica!" so that the three Pevensies looked to her for help as she said,

"I don't get it—we've been, gone for hours." for even she was confused as to why it was nighttime in Narnia and yet only it seemed minutes had gone by here where the others were still playing hide and go seek. So they, Jessica and Lucy, went to show the others the wardrobe where Peter, Susan and Edmund inspected it finding—nothing. Not a trace of the winter wonderland forest or the lamppost or anything!

"Lucy, the only woods in here is the back of the wardrobe." Susan said gently and in a most motherly tone so that even Peter told his youngest sibling,

"One game at a time Lu, we all don't have your imagination." so that while they began to leave the spare room Lucy cried,

"But we weren't imaging!" so that they spun on their heels and Susan said in a tighter tone,

"That's enough Lucy." making Jessica frown and say to her,

"We're telling the truth guys, we're honestly not lying. I mean, what reason would I have to lie?" that made them pause before Edmund piped up saying,

"Well I believe you two." so that he added,

"Didn't I tell you all about the football field in the bathroom cupboard?" this made Peter turn to him and exhale out,

"When are you going to learn to grow up?" that did it because Edmund went right up into his face snapping at him,

"Shut up! You think you're dad but you're not!" before storming out of the room so that Susan said to her brother,

"Well that was handled nicely." so that as she left to find Edmund, Lucy whimpered out,

"But, it really was there." making even Peter say as he turned to her,

"Susan's right Lucy, that's enough." it wasn't long before Jessica found herself consoling a crying Lucy since she didn't want to see her siblings who had been divided, Edmund shut up in the boys bedroom, Peter talking with Susan in another room. Suddenly Mrs. Macready came into the room Lucy and Jessica were in and seeing the crying girl made a small face of hurt before stating,

"The road to your great aunt's has been washed out by the rain, it seems you'll have to stay here for the night."

"What?" Jessica asked feeling as if she was being forced into a situation she didn't want to be a part of.

"You'll be sleeping with the Pevensie girls, I've had a cot set up for ye." she added before leaving the room so that both Lucy and Jessica were left staring at each other—with nothing to say.