Hey everyone. Glad you are liking the story so far.

Chapter 4

Arrested

Humpty woke up to the smell of bacon. The Beavers had started on breakfast and were setting the table. Humpty went over to help them out. It was the least he could do. When he had first arrived, they had sheltered him and protected him. After realizing that Humpty was a living egg, they had removed all eggs in the kitchen, to ensure that no offense was meant or taken. Humpty wasn't naturally offended by such things, but he was touched by the kind gesture nonetheless. The Beavers had been very kind and helpful during his stay so far. They had made sure to inform him of the dangers in Narnia.

Yet for all the gratitude, Humpty wasn't quite sure where he stood on the warnings. Humpty was grateful for the Beavers' help and advice. At the same time, a small part of him couldn't help but wonder. Was the Witch really the bad side? After all, Humpty had only met those who could be called her enemies. Naturally, they would say bad stuff about the Witch. Only one side of the story had been heard so far. What did critters friendly to the Witch have to say?

There were other thoughts as well. When he had seen his old acquaintances, Humpty had felt a mixture of feelings. Overjoyed at seeing his old friends. Excited to meet their new friend, who seemed as joyful and excited as a caffeinated squirrel. But also doubt and shame about his past. While the others had forgiven him, Humpty couldn't help but wonder. The actions he had taken in the past had been terrible. Who's to say if the others had truly forgiven him?

All these thoughts mixed together as Humpty went to the table. As everyone conversed, Humpty pondered and pondered. It was getting very hard, the weight of all these thoughts.

"Humpty?"

Humpty turned to see Perrito looking at him. "Are you alright? You look a little down?"

Humpty smiled. No need to make the dog concerned. "It's ok, Perrito. Just lost in thought."

Perrito nodded. "Ok. Just don't get lost in your thoughts. Take it from me, they can wear you down. If you ever want to talk, I'm here, and I'm sure Puss and Kitty are as well."

Humpty nodded. "I'll keep that in mind."

Mrs. Beaver came over to the table. "Here's some good bacon and chips. Did everyone sleep well?"

As heads nodded, Mr. Beaver smiled. "That's great to hear. Well, I'm off."

"Where are you going?" Kitty asked.

Humpty wondered the same thing. Could this be the idea Mr. Beaver had mentioned that might tip the balance of power?

But before Mr. Beaver could open his mouth, a small knock sounded at the door. Dead silence filled the room. Mr. Beaver put a finger to his mouth and moved to the door. "Who's there?"

"It's me, sir. Mr. Robin," said a small voice outside.

"How's the weather?"

"A little chilly, but rather nice today."

Mr. Beaver opened the door a crack, then opened it all the way, letting the bird in. The robin flew over to the table. He took a deep breath, getting a drink of water offered to him by Mrs. Beaver.

"Much obliged, ma'am. I've had a really long morning."

"What's happening?" Mrs. Beaver asked. "Do you bring news?"

"Is it as good as last time?" Mr. Beaver asked.

The robin shook his head. "I'm afraid not. The secret police are on the move."

Mr. and Mrs. Beaver gasped. "Are they coming here?" Mr. Beaver asked.

"No. They're headed for Tumnus' place."

"Surely they're not going to take him?" Mrs. Beaver said. "He was somewhat loyal to her before, and only recently switched to our side. He's been so good at keeping up appearances. She shouldn't have a suspicion at all." Humpty had no doubt who 'she' and 'her' were.

"I'm afraid they are. They have an arrest warrant and everything. They're on the move. Since you're nearby, I came to you."

Mr. Beaver nodded. "Right. Now I really need to go. If I hurry, perhaps I can beat them."

Mrs. Beaver held out a paw. "No, Beaver. It's too dangerous."

Mr. Beaver took his wife's paw. "I appreciate it, sweetheart. However, someone needs to warn Tumnus. If we don't, who will? Besides, where will the son… others go if Tumnus is taken?"

Humpty didn't miss the hesitation in Mr. Beaver's speech. As if he had been about to say something else but refrained. Well, Humpty had wanted a chance to get all the facts. Now seemed as good a time as any.

Before Humpty could say anything, Puss stepped forward. "I'll go with you."

Mr. Beaver turned to Puss. "Absolutely not. It's too dangerous for you."

"Says the beaver who got that exact response one minute ago."

"But this is-"

Mr. Beaver was interrupted by Humpty. "Dangerous? You might be right. Still, Puss is the best swords-cat I know. You'll need someone watching your back. Why not Puss and me? Besides, if you deny us, you'll only be a hypocrite. Either we're going, or you're not."

Mr. Beaver hesitated. "Alright. But you'll do exactly as I say, no argument. Is that clear?"

Both Puss and Humpty nodded.

Perrito stood up, looking like he was about to volunteer as well. Kitty noticed and, nodding to Puss, went over to Perrito. "Perrito, why don't you stay here and help me and Mrs. Beaver?"

Mrs. Beaver nodded. "Quite right. There's a lot to do here. Supplies to gather, improvements on the dam, and I've been meaning to check that cave of yours again, to be sure there isn't any way back for you all."

Perrito hesitated, looking unsure about who to help. Finally, he nodded. "Alright, I'll stay here."

Puss smiled. "It's an important job, Perrito. We wouldn't trust it to anyone else."

Perrito grinned. "Thanks, Puss."

"Ahem," Mr. Beaver coughed. "Time we were going."

With that, the group was off. It was difficult trekking through the forest. Every time Humpty tried to move quickly, the snow would crunch loudly underneath him. This sound would be followed by Mr. Beaver turning back to him with a finger to his lips. Humpty would then try moving quietly, so as not to draw attention to the group. But the stealth only made Humpty move slower, causing Mr. Beaver to slow down and wait for them. Humpty could tell Puss was having a hard time as well. The cat kept looking down at his boots, which were getting whiter and whiter with each step. Humpty hoped there would be a way to clear the boots of the snow.

Still, they made good time, all things considered. After several minutes of stealth, Mr. Beaver turned back to them. "Now, I know you're all worried about our pace. Good news is it isn't far to Tumnus now. Bad news is we've got to be very quiet."

"Why?" Humpty asked.

Before Mr. Beaver could respond, a chilling howl sounded. This howl was followed by several other howls. They sounded almost primal, making Humpty's eggshell shiver.

"What was that?" Puss asked.

"The reason for quiet," Mr. Beaver replied. "Come on. We've got to move. We don't have much time."

Mr. Beaver led them between tree shadows, always keeping the group away from exposed areas. Thankfully, the ground here was much firmer, allowing the group to move quickly and quietly.

Soon Mr. Beaver and the others stepped out into a large clearing. It wasn't as large as the valley, but it was still big. The trees thinned out, leaving only snow and sun before them. Ahead of the group was a mountain range. The rocks curved up into an arch straight ahead, and below the arch, a small opening could be seen. Humpty guessed that was Mr. Tumnus' cave.

Mr. Beaver held up a hand. "I'll go first. If you see me running into the trees, head back to the valley. I'll meet you there."

Before anyone could object, Mr. Beaver ran out. Slowly at first, then much more quickly he moved, sniffing the air and darting furtive glances around himself. After a minute or two, he waved a paw to the others. Humpty assumed that meant it was safe to proceed.

Once everyone had assembled, Mr. Beaver rapped on the door. "Oi, Tumnus."

"Who's there?" asked a voice inside.

"It's me, Beaver. Open the door quick."

The door opened a crack. "How's the weather?"

"A little cool, but rather nice today. Might change soon, though."

The door opened and everyone moved in. The fellow at the door peeked outside, then closed the door behind him, locking it with a key.

Humpty saw that Mr. Tumnus was unlike anyone he had seen before. The figure's upper half looked human, with two hands, a head protruding from a large red scarf, and rather scruffy hair. His lower half, however, was furry and had hooves instead of feet. And if Humpty squinted, he could just make out two small horns growing out of Tumnus' head. Quite a curious creature, Humpty thought.

Mr. Beaver noticed Humpty's look. "Mr. Tumnus is a faun. They're one of the species native to Narnia."

Humpty nodded, looking around the room. This place seemed like a rather cozy establishment. Like the Beavers' place, there were tables and chairs for eating and sitting at. There was also a window or two to look out from. However, there were a few key differences compared to the dam. For one thing, the walls were made of stone. For another, the chairs looked comfier and there seemed to be a rather large bookshelf. If they had had more time, Humpty would have liked to peruse the books.

Mr. Tumnus turned to Mr. Beaver. "Great to see you again, Mr. Beaver. I noticed in your weather comment that something's come up. What is it?"

"I'm afraid I've got bad news," Mr. Beaver replied. "The secret police are on the move. They're coming your way."

Mr. Tumnus gasped. "You're sure?"

"Positive. Heard some howls on the way here."

"How much time do we have?"

A loud knock reverberated through the room. Mr. Tumnus looked towards the door. "Who is it?"

"Police. Open the door," a gruff voice replied.

Mr. Tumnus crept over to the door, putting a bar over it. "In a minute."

"You better open this door now, Tumnus. Otherwise, it might not be so pleasant when we get in," the voice replied.

Mr. Tumnus pulled Humpty and Mr. Beaver toward a door in the wall. It led to a small bedroom. A bed and night table holding a lamp and book were the only decorations here.

Tumnus closed the door. "The bar won't hold them long."

"Is there any other way out?" Puss asked.

"I'm afraid not."

"Then we have no choice. We must fight," Puss replied.

Mr. Beaver shook his head. "There are too many here. It's not worth it."

"I agree, Puss," Humpty added. "Better to live to fight another day than to die achieving nothing."

"A noble sentiment," Mr. Tumnus replied. "Which is why I built this."

Heading over to the lamp, Tumnus moved it along the table. With a creak, the bed folded up and the floor moved, revealing a hidden compartment underneath. Humpty calculated that it could fit all of them, and then some.

"Get in the hole," Mr. Tumnus said.

Humpty moved down alongside Mr. Beaver and Puss. The space was comfy, but bare. Humpty saw a small stick jutting out of the wall. A long, circular tube hung from a small, unlit lamp beside the stick.

"What about you?" Puss asked Mr. Tumnus.

"If I turn myself in, perhaps the rest of you will be spared." Mr. Tumnus replied.

"We're not leaving you here," Mr. Beaver said.

"You've got to," Mr. Tumnus urged. "If the sons of Adam and daughters of Eve return, someone needs to be there to greet them."

"You know what'll happen if you stay," Mr. Beaver said.

"Better them taking just me than all of us," Mr. Tumnus said. "Besides, I've made mistakes in the past. It's time I made up for them."

A loud crash sounded behind the group, followed by several others. Mr. Tumnus moved back to the lamp on the table. "Wait until you don't hear anything. There's a periscope down there. Should allow you to check if the coast is clear. The stick is a lever that opens the floor above you. I'll lock the entrance up here behind you."

"Good luck," Mr. Beaver said.

Mr. Tumnus' eyes went wide. "Oh, I almost forgot." Reaching beneath his scarf, Mr. Tumnus pulled out a small handkerchief. "Here. It should allow Lucy Pevensie to trust you. She gave it to me." He reached out to Puss, who was closest. "Guard it with your life."

Puss took the cloth. "We will."

Mr. Tumnus nodded, then closed the floor. Mr. Beaver flicked a switch on the lamp, casting light on the group.

Humpty gulped. This situation was more than he had bargained for. He had hoped to warn Tumnus of danger, maybe ask questions about the Narnian government, not be hiding for his life below a room that the secret police were charging into.

A loud crash occurred, followed by several small sounds above them. Humpty realized they were the sounds of paw moving on the floor. What kind of creatures were the secret police?

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" the gruff voice said.

"M-m-Maugrim. How delightful to see you. What brings you here?" Tumnus asked.

"Spare us the pleasantries," Maugrim replied. "We both know why I'm here. You're in some pretty hot water, Tumnus. Why don't you make it easy on all of us and come quietly?"

A few seconds passed. Then a thump sounded somewhat above them. Humpty took that to mean that Tumnus had knelt down in compliance.

"See. Now that wasn't so hard, was it," Maugrim said. "Still," he added in a smirking tone, "we can't be too careful here. Why don't you boys search the place? The rest of you, help me search our fugitive here."

The sounds above suddenly increased. Sounds of crashing, smashing, and breaking occurred as the secret police searched the premises. A few times, Humpty thought he heard sniffing noises, as a creature investigated the floor above them. Every time, Humpty's heart caught in his throat, fearful of being caught, only to be let out in relief when the creature left.

Those close calls weren't the worst part, though. Amid all the breaking and smashing, screams were heard. Not the screams of an animal, but the screams of a human. The sounds of Mr. Tumnus being "searched." Humpty and Mr. Beaver had to hold Puss back during those moments, reminding him that staying hidden was the safest call for themselves and Kitty and Perrito.

"Alright, enough everyone. It's quite clear there's nothing here. Besides, the fugitive can't be roughed up too much," Maugrim said.

Puss frowned. "Those creatures are an insult to police forces everywhere," he whispered.

Humpty couldn't help but agree. Most law enforcement groups were focused on helping people and protecting society. These fellows seemed to be only brutes.

"Now, Tumnus," Maugrim said in a sweet tone. "I'm only going to ask this once. We already know of your… fraternizations with the enemy. However, there have been rumors of other outsiders seen in Narnia. If you've met with them, it'd be best to tell us now where they are and how to find them. You'll get a fair trial, guaranteed."

A moment of silence followed. Humpty held his breath. Would Tumnus spill the beans?

"Nobody has come here, Maugrim," Tumnus replied. Humpty heard him taking a breath. "And even if they did, I wouldn't tell you, you traitor. You and your queen will fall when the time of the prophecy comes. He will set things right."

Loud growls and howls occurred. Humpty didn't hear any screams, so he hoped that meant Tumnus wasn't being hurt.

"Hold on, boys," Maugrim said. "We have our orders. Tumnus, you're under arrest. The Queen would like a word. Now come along."

A series of thumps sounded, followed by silence. Humpty turned to the others. "Have they gone?"

Before the others could reply, a series of taps occurred. "Well, that takes care of that," a voice said.

"Indeed. These things go better when the fugitives are compliant," a second voice said.

"Any ideas what'll happen to the faun?"

"I think we both have a pretty good idea. And that's after the questioning."

"Almost makes you feel sorry for him."

"Better him than us. Well, we'd better get back. If we hurry, maybe we can watch the fun before it ends."

"I thought Maugrim said to keep an eye on this place?"

"We can post a guard in a few hours. Besides, there's always the trees."

"Good point."

With that statement, two last thumps were heard as the creatures left. One minute passed. Two. Mr. Beaver turned to the others. "Hand me the periscope. I'll scout up above to be sure the coast is clear."

Once the scouting was done, the group pulled the lever and climbed up. What they saw shocked them. The room, which had looked so nice and pristine, was now in tatters. The door was burst apart. The fireplace was snuffed out. Pictures were snapped in two. Books were in pages on the floor. Claw marks were everywhere.

Puss shook his head. "What kind of creatures would do this?"

"The kind that aren't true police officers," Humpty replied.

"Such are those in the employ of the Witch," Mr. Beaver added.

Humpty noticed a small piece of paper nailed to the wall. The sun was starting to descend, casting light on the words:

The former occupant of these premises, the Faun Tumnus, is under arrest

and awaiting his trial on a charge of high treason against her Imperial Majesty

Jadis, Queen of Narnia, Chatelaine of Cair Paravel, Empress of the Lone Islands,

etc., also of comforting her said Majesty's enemies, harboring spies and fraternizing

with Humans and animal outsiders.

Signed, Maugrim, Captain of the Secret Police

LONG LIVE THE QUEEN

Humpty took a moment to reread as the others came up alongside him. He couldn't quite believe what he was seeing. '…Awaiting his trial?' The secret police had made it sound like Tumnus' judgment was already determined. And '…fraternizing with Humans and animal outsiders.' Humpty had no clue who the humans were, but he had a pretty good idea who the animal outsiders were.

The sound of a sword being drawn filled the room. Humpty turned to see Puss walking towards the door. "Where are you going?" he asked.

Puss turned to Humpty. "I'm going to free that faun."

Humpty and Mr. Beaver looked at each other, then walked over to Puss. "It's suicide." Mr. Beaver said. "Regardless of how well you fight, there are more of them than there are of you. Not to mention they fight dirty."

"But we have to do something," Puss replied. "That faun gave himself up to protect us. We can't allow his sacrifice to be in vain."

Humpty nodded his head. "I agree with you, Puss. Not gonna lie, I was unsure about which side was the right one. After hearing all that, I don't have any doubts. I agree with you Puss, that we should do something. But we should be smart about it. Tumnus' sacrifice would be in vain if any of us were captured now."

"I didn't say we would do nothing," Mr. Beaver replied. "There might be a way to help Tumnus. It'll take a little time, but it'll work."

"Well, what is it?" Puss asked.

"Does it have to do with the prophecy Tumnus mentioned? Or the Sons of Adam and Daughters of Eve?" Humpty asked.

"It might," Mr. Beaver replied. "But we can't talk about it here. It's not safe. The secret police will be back, and we don't want to be here when they do. We'll go back to the dam. It'll be safe there."

With a glance outside, Mr. Beaver led the others out the door and down the valley to the forest. As they walked, Humpty reflected. He had surprised himself back there. Ordinarily, Humpty would have made himself scarce after hearing threats against himself. There was no doubt from the notice and the questions Maugrim had asked that the Witch was looking for them. That would be enough for any creature to want to go into hiding. Instead, Humpty felt his conscience pulling him. Telling him he had a lot to make up for and here was something to start with. Tumnus had helped them back there. Critters he hardly knew. Humpty owed him a debt. And he would work to repay that debt, guaranteed. He only hoped helping Mr. Beaver would be enough to clear his conscience. Maybe then, he could focus on finding a way home and keeping a low profile.

Mr. Robin was inspired by the bird mentioned in the book when the four children go to Tumnus' cave. As always, please rate and review.