Chasms and Chinks

A Bit of Storytelling

The dwarf, with the help of Peter, caught a good catch of pavenders, delightful rainbow-colored fish. They used Edmund's hat as a basket of sorts. He would've made a grand fuss over this, but he was already hungry enough to clamp down on his words.

At first Peter wanted to camp inside the treasure chamber for safety and shelter, but Edmund and the dwarf pointed out that the smoke would get into their eyes, and it would certainly be tough to breathe. Instead, they opted for camping outside, reasoning that at least if anything happened they could retreat into the castle. Besides, it was still light-odds were that no one would bother them.

"Though that is far from happening," the dwarf said. "since the Telmarines are deathly afraid of the forests and the sea, for that manner."

"Telmarines?" Gimli asked. "What's a Telmarine?"

"They are men from the north of Narnia," Susan said. "The last time we were here they remained in their lands at the West."

"That's been a very long time," the dwarf said. "Centuries ago."

Lucy glanced up at the trees around them-mostly apple trees, but she remembered the stately birches and the solemn birches, how they dance with the wood-maidens at twilight, fauns leaping and rejoicing with them...

"What happened to the trees?" she asked.

"What about them?"

"Well, they used to dance."

Huffing, the dwarf sat down on the ground beside them, gathering the tinder into a pile. "Not long after you left, they fell into a deep sleep after those Telmarines came, and ever since they'd been still."

Legolas watched with deep interest as Edmund lit a match and threw it into the pile, the tinder catching flames. Throwing the sticks into the blazes and gently blowing, soon Legolas had coaxed the sparks to a decent fire, where they soon roasted their caught fish on the embers. The dwarf lit his pipe, 'hm'ed, then looked over to the children. "Now."

"Now what?" Lucy asked.

"Your story?"

"I think it'd best if you told us your story."

The dwarf was thinking about this, then pointed his pipe at Gimli. "You. You don't seem like a proper Narnian dwarf, and I've lived among my people all my life."

"Yes, you don't look anything like the dwarves here in Narnia," Susan said. "You are a dwarf, aren't you?"

Edmund was busy eating his pavender, blowing on his fingers and stuffing the white flesh into his mouth. "They mightn't be from Narnia, then," he put in, words muffled. "Maybe from somewhere else."

Peter shifted in his seat. "From... another world, then?"

Everyone's interest was piqued by now, especially the dwarf's, who seemed to find this theory amusing. Huddling around the fire, they made a half-circle facing Legolas and Gimli, who felt attacked at the moment.

"Tell us where you're from, and why you're in Narnia," Peter said.

"I... We don't know exactly where to start..." Legolas said. "It is a long story."

"All the better," Lucy said. "We love stories."

Legolas and Gimli shared a glance, and Gimli gave a grin.

"Very well then, lads and lassies, and-er-fellow dwarf, settle down. We will tell of our origin as much as we can."

Everyone took their respective seats.