Chapter Three~

When the other Pevensie children found out about Jessica, now called Jessie by Lucy since the two had made a close connection, they were less than pleased. It was made clear at supper when they would not talk to her save for Lucy who would not talk to her siblings. Mrs. Macready found this highly suspicious but would not say anything as the three girls were led to their bedroom for the night. Having to borrow one of Susan's nightgowns which was beyond awkward for Jessie, she lay awake trying to figure out the event that had taken place today. It was not until she heard soft footsteps that she looked up to see Lucy leaving the bedroom!

"Lu!" she hissed making the younger girl turn around and wave her to follow. She knew where Lucy was going and so hurriedly Jessie put her shoes on along with a borrowed robe and raced to follow the younger girl. As the two walked by candlelight, they entered the spare room and Jessie said,

"It might not be there Lu." just as the flame was blown out! Both smiling they stepped into the wardrobe and after a few moments appeared on the other end and into the daytime winter wonderland forest of Narnia.

"Come on! Let's go see Mr. Tumnus as a surprise!" Lucy said taking Jessie's hand and nodding, she told the younger girl,

"As long as we get back before nightfall alright?" nodding in agreement, the two took off to Mr. Tumnus cave home and up seeing it Lucy was the one to knock on the door giggling. When he opened it she hugged him tightly so that he blinked in surprise as Jessie cried,

"Surprise!" making him laugh and usher them inside saying,

"I didn't think I'd have the honor of seeing you two ever again!" as they all sat down he went to make tea as Lucy said,

"We wanted to see you." so that as he came back to serve them Jessie noticed his watery eyes and patted his shoulder making him almost jump. The three talked this time for seemingly ages about many things; winter in Narnia, winter back home in England and the differences. It was not long though before Jessie said,

"We should probably get going Lu, we don't want the others to get worried." Lucy frown deepened at this and she was about to beg to stay but Mr. Tumnus seeing Jessie's protective stance and worry said,

"She is right Lucy, and perhaps it might be for the best." at this Lucy had to agree as they stood to go each hugging Mr. Tumnus goodbye before leaving. As they walked and held hands, Lucy chatted merrily about having seen her new friend again while Jessie watched for new dangers. Suddenly she heard Lucy cry,

"Edmund?" and in total shock the two spotted Edmund standing by a frozen roadway as Lucy embraced her brother saying,

"Oh Edmund you got in too isn't it wonderful?!" seeing Jessie, he pushes his sister away and snaps at the both of them,

"Where have you two been?"

"Better question is where have you been?" Jessie snaps back but Lucy skips over that saying to him,

"With Mr. Tumnus! He's fine, the White Witch hasn't found out anything about us." this Jessie notices makes him turn a shade pale as he asked sounding confused,

"The White Witch?" so that Jessie adds,

"She calls herself the Queen of Narnia, but she isn't really. She never has been." then Lucy notices how awful he appears and asks if he's alright. Crossing his arms he shakes his head almost spitting out,

"Well what'd you expect?! I mean, it is freezing! How do we get out of here?" so that Jessie now completely weary of him, watches as Lucy leads him back to the wardrobe entrance as the three stumble out. Only Jessie watches as Lucy runs to her brother's room so that she chases after her as she wakes up Peter by bouncing on his bed, telling that Narnia was really there.

"Narnia! It's all in the wardrobe like I told you!" she cries so that now into the room appears Susan looking half asleep though she glares at Jessie as she says,

"You've just been dreaming Lucy."

"But I haven't! Jessie and I saw Mr. Tumnus again, and this time Edmund went too!" here there was a pause as Peter glanced as Jessie who nodded saying to him,

"I followed her because I was worried, I didn't want her to go alone so went. We honestly did go Peter, I'm not lying." he frowned as he looked to Edmund asking,

"You saw the faun?" only Lucy says in a slightly confused tone,

"Well, he didn't actually go there with us he—what were you doing there Edmund?" the last part she asked was a question so that Edmund turned smug as he said,

"I was just playing along. I'm sorry Peter I shouldn't have encouraged her or Jessica here. But you know how little children are these days. Don't know when to stop pretending." by the time he had stopped Lucy was crying and darted out of the room leaving Jessie to follow first, then Susan and lastly Peter who pushed his brother into the bed. As Jessie followed Lucy she bumped into someone who turned out to be the Professor up from bed! Wearing a robe himself, he had gray hair and wore spectacles over clear hazel eyes.

"You children are one shenanigan shy from sleeping in the stable!" they all heard Mrs. Macready's voice say as she even appeared so that she blinked before saying,

"I'm sorry Professor, I told them that you were not to be disturbed." he smiled softly looking down at Lucy saying to her,

"That's quiet alright Mrs. Macready, I'm sure there is an explanation. But right now I think this one is in need of a bit of hot chocolate." and handing over Lucy to Mrs. Macready she led her away as he cleared his throat when the three, Peter, Susan and Jessie tried to leave. Turning back around to see him they got the hint and followed him to his study where he began filling his pipe with tobacco from a silver apple holder on his wooden desk.

"You seem to upset the internal balance of my housekeeper." the Professor says as he sits while the other three children stand as Peter says,

"We're very sorry sir, it won't happen again."

"It's their sister sir." Jessie say so that the two turn to her looking shocked as the Professor says,

"The weeping girl." Susan nods her head as she explains while glaring at Jessie,

"The two of them think they found some magical land, in the upstairs wardrobe." this however causes the Professor to pause and stand up from what he is doing, leading the children to a couch as he asks,

"What did you say?" so Peter goes on trying to explain while cutting off Jessie who wants to speak up for herself,

"Um, the upstairs wardrobe. Jessica and Lucy think they found a forest inside." crossing her arms, Jessie frowns at the two of them as the Professor turns to her and asks,

"What was it like?" as Susan makes an offhand comment but he shakes his head still looking to Jessie as he continues,

"No the forest!" so that Peter glances at Jessie asking,

"You believe them?" making the elderly man bark out a laugh as he says,

"You don't?" Susan shakes her head saying as she furrows her eyebrows,

"Of course not, I mean logically it is impossible." when Peter brings up that Edmund had said they were only pretending the Professor asks if he's the truthful one normally. Here Jessie smirks as the two Pevensies say 'no' so that this leaves them with either Lucy is telling the truth or Edmund is lying.

"Well if she is not mad and she is not lying then logically, she we must assume she's telling the truth!" the Professor says but Peter asks in confusion,

"You're saying we should just, believe her?"

"She's your sister isn't she? She's your family, you best start acting like one!" he says before dismissing them.