Disclaimers: See Prologue for more info.
o-o-o
They came out of nowhere. First Frodo saw two children and then four. Was he joking? Nope, there really were four siblings, two girls and two boys. The eldest boy had blond hair and wore a brown tunic, brown trousers and carried with him a sword in a red leather sheath. The younger boy had dark brown hair and donned a blue tunic, blue trousers and carried a sword in a brown leather sheath. They seemed friendly, but Frodo had to be sure.
"Who might you be?" the eldest brother said, kindly. "Come here. We promise we won't hurt you."
"You say that now, Pete," the younger brother declared, "but I suspect they're not from around here. Look at how they're dressed."
"Edmund," the eldest sister said, beside herself with concern and worry.
"What? Wouldn't you like to greet strangers out in the woods?" Edmund asked, untroubled.
"They're not a threat to us, are you?" Lucy asked the two hobbits. "What are you? Who are you?"
"Frodo Baggins," Frodo said in introduction, "and my gardener here is Samwise Gamgee. We're hobbits from the Shire. Halflings, if you will."
"Halflings," Edmund was stunned. "Last I heard of Halflings was back at home. I thought they were a myth."
"Trust me, we're real," Frodo inquired early. "I'm sorry. Who might you four be?"
"Lucy Pevensie," Lucy said with a pleasant curtsey. "And these are my brothers and sister. Peter's the eldest, Susan's the eldest sister, and there's Edmund, who won't hurt you. Will you, Edmund?"
"Not as long as I can help it," Edmund said with a smile.
"Oh. I'd love to fight in a battle," Sam admitted, intrigued. "What sort of creatures are there in Narnia?"
"We have dwarves and minotaurs. The Narnians keep to themselves, but we'll find them," Peter said, grinning.
"Minotaurs?" Sam asked, confused.
"I met a minotaur, not long ago, but…." Frodo's voice faded. He had to ask. "How long has it been since I last came here?"
"The Bulgy Bears said they met someone on the road, about a week ago," Edmund admitted, serious. "We haven't heard any news from Mantok, the minotaur they said brought you here."
"A week," Frodo said, softly. His eyes lowered in shame. "Has it been that long?"
"We can escort you to Prince Caspian. He's not far from here," Peter said, taking the lead. Frodo chose then to slip towards Edmund and Susan, while Sam hung back with Lucy.
"Whose Prince Caspian?" Frodo asked, confused.
"He's only a prince," Susan said, whispering to her brother.
"Still Su, if he's what he says he is, then maybe he called us here for a reason," Edmund said, whispering back.
Susan shrugged. "If you say so, Ed."
Frodo fell silent for a brief moment. Only when Edmund asked about Middle-earth, did he tell him about the land, especially the Shire and how beautiful it was, how he longed to seek adventures and hadn't expected to be in one, let alone in a world within a wardrobe. That's when they stopped upon meeting Prince Caspian. Edmund moved him off to the side a moment later.
"You've been through a wardrobe," Edmund asked, excited by the news. "Where is it?"
"I don't know," Frodo shrugged. "The wardrobe changed places last I checked. I haven't seen it change spots yet. If anything…."
"Well, I'm sure you'll find it again," Edmund told him, intrigued.
"What wardrobe? Does he mean the second wardrobe?" one of the centaurs with dark skin and furry half-human, half-horse bodies declared.
"That's the one, maybe," Frodo spoke up, confused. "What second wardrobe?"
"There were two wardrobes. The centaurs learned long ago to search for signs of its passing, when two hobbits would come forth and stay for a duration of time in Narnia, before the portal closes." The centaur declared. "You have been chosen for a reason." He added as an afterthought. "I am a centaur."
"Oh!" one of the large brown mice approached Frodo and Sam. He squealed in delight. "Oh, can this really be true! Are these the halflings Aslan said would come?" He realized, "Oh, forgive my intrusion. Reepicheep at your service." He bowed with grace and valor. Frodo smiled. He never thought he'd see the day when a mouse would speak to him, but that day had come after all. He might as well as adjust to this new development.
"I…." Frodo's attention turned elsewhere when a blond-haired dwarf entered the scene.
"Oh, not again." The dwarf pronounced himself. "If I have to go through more grief to find out that more legends have arrived…" he smiled, "…well, I would have been a little more prepared."
"Frodo, Sam, this is Trumpkin," Lucy said with a warm smile.
"A friendly dwarf," Frodo said, stunned but amazed. "What else is new?"
"Mr. Frodo's met dwarves and elves on his travels, through the Shire of course," Sam added, shyly.
"No matter. We are at your side no matter what," Reepicheep said, bowing again.
"Well then, shall we get moving?" said a brown-haired boy with a light accent.
"That's Prince Caspian," Susan whispered in Frodo's ear. Indeed, Frodo could see the boy now wearing grey and blue armor, as well as brown trousers. He looked like royalty, given his stance. Quietly, Frodo accompanied Sam and the Narnians through the woods and on another dirt road.
There was a glint of light in the corner of his eye. Frodo turned towards the light as it moved with him. Was the wardrobe following him? He couldn't tell. The light vanished a moment later. Whatever was going on, one thing was clear: he was nearing his destination with a group of strangers he hadn't met before. Still, they seemed like friendly company.
Next destination, same as the first: Aslan's How. Oh boy, what was Frodo getting himself into? A lot, I'm afraid, but even he had to admit this was a very brave move. He just didn't know what the end result of this adventure would be, if that moment came at all.
o-o-o
Thanks for reading. :)