The lion, the sorceress and the wardrobe (ROTBTD chronicles)

The sleeping Narnians

It was not a long time before the brothers and sisters finally met the rest of the free Narnians. It was rather quick and depressing, for there were not many creatures that had survived the harsh winter, but all of them who did kept their hopes up for the return of their beloved Mufasa. The children befriended almost every creature, introduced to them by Brernard and Bianca. 

Jack was very comfortable among red dwarfs, elves and midgets. Merida liked the talking mammals best, for they reminded her of her family; bears weren't anymore something to be afraid of, but something to defend. Hiccup spent most his days with the black dwarfs, casting iron and learning how to craft real weapons, gathering as much information as he could of the northern mountains, as many said they were inhabited by dragons. Rapunzel, unlike her siblings, gave herself the mission to awaken the sleeping Narnians.

They were told by the eldest creatures that long before the winter, the trees spoke and danced, and the rivers had souls and voices. They were told about the fae folk and the nymphs and dryads and naiads, and those were the creatures Rapunzel was so fond on seeking. She did not know that yet, but whenever she sung under the moonlight, and whenever she danced round the rings of grass, she was indeed, slowly but surely, waking her yet-to-be friends.

Every night, right before Rapunzel's fairy-waking rituals, all Narnians of that part of the woods reunited and had supper together. It was not abundant, but their joy of being together made it so. Everyone was convinced that Mufasa was soon to come, and they all waited with warmth in their hearts. Their joy lasted not but little, as one dreadful night Rapunzel remembered someone so dear to her heart who had been missing.

"Mr. Rider!" She exclaimed one night, as she watched the fauns dance around a bonfire.

Her brothers and sister understood immediately what she meant. Merida was the first to feel the danger run down her spine.

"He's nowhere to be seen" Muttered the red-head, holding the horn she was given on christmas day.

"Oh, no," Said Jack, staring at the light of the full moon. Other nights, the light was soothing and maternal, but that mere night, the milk-light of moon was a cruel statement.

The three children turned to see Jack. He lowered his gaze to meet theirs, and as a single tear ran down his cheek, he spoke.

"Elsa's sentry, Pitch Black, is against humans. He once decreted that if a narnian were to find a human in these woods, they had to kill it. Mr Rider helped you guys, and he knew the price he had to pay."

Hiccup stood up, his face twisted in an offended frown.

"Jack! How could you not tell us earlier?!" He asked, heartbroken.

As the brunet kid stood up, the music died down, all the fauns looking concerned. Most creatures rounded the four children, everyone too scared and too confused to even breathe.

"Leave him alone, Hiccup" Exclaimed Rapunzel. "Fighting will not save Mr. Rider!"

With that, the reunion dismissed, letting the four siblings alone in the clearing, near the dark patch where the fire once burned so merrily.

That very night, the children decided to leave the Narnian's circle (as they called the clearing where they had supper everyday) and seek for the lost faun. Each grabbed what they found the most useful. Merida had her bow, her horn and her quiver. Rapunzel had her healing potion, a few berries in a handkerchief, and her dagger. Hiccup took his sword, shield, and a flask of river water. Jack, poor Jack, he owned nothing, so instead he grabbed a shepherd's staff and his leather cape.

They walked down to Rider's cave in the dead of night, keeping it as silent as they could. Even though they were wrapped in the fur coats they had taken, the dying winter was still harsh and slowed them down. Most of them, that is, since Jack seemed to be comfortable with the freezing night winds. He, in fact, felt no cold at all with only a linen shirt, a leather vest, and his leather cape on top.