Finding the Queen of Old

A Place Called Home

Tumnus sat, arms crossed with a book balanced on them. This land, its wonders... he never wanted the knowledge to end! He hoped he could remain here, to learn and study and create and live again.

Life... He had been 'alive', but he had not lived since his time in Narnia. That was, until now. To feel his heart beat, feel pain and hunger... it was welcome. Perhaps this meant his life had ended too soon the first time, that he was to live out more before returning once again to Aslan's country. 

"Mr. Tumnus?" 

Lucy had not called him that in so long he startled slightly. They had all taken to calling him Thomas, that he had not heard his real name spoken to him in quite some time. 

"Yes, Lu?" He glanced towards the door, dipping his head to invite her in.

They still were not on the best of terms after thier conversation yesterday. Perhaps neither had really understood what the one wanted- He believed she felt he had to return simply because they were. She felt he had to return because... It wouldn't be the same without her friend. 

The girl made her way into the study, sitting across from and crossing her legs. She offered a small smile, then spoke.

"I...apologize for how I reactedwhen you told me that you wanted to stay. It's just... You're my best friend, and I've already had to return to Narnia twice without you being there. I'm not sure if I could do it again."

He gave a small smile in return, but sighed slightly. "You're my best friend as well, Lucy, but...I feel alive here, so much more than I did in True Narnia. I need to live, to really live, again."

Little tears filled the corner of Lucy's eyes, but she still gave him a smile. "I didn't know that was how you felt... I suppose we all need to be able to live when we need to. At least we've had this time, right?"

Pulling out a handkerchief, Tumnus passed it to her. "Let's not spend it in tears. Why don't we get breakfast and make the most of the time we still have?"

"I would like that." Lucy dried her eyes, keeping hold of the handkerchief even after she no longer needed it. 

Perhaps he needed a place to call home as much as she needed to return to hers.

-

"Has anyone seen Edmund?" Peter asked, opening the door to his sister and Caspian room. "He wasn't here last night and he left no note or anything."

Susan rolled over, blinking her eyes open slowly. She removed Caspian's arm from where it was wrapped around her waist and sat up. "Could you at least knock?" She grumbled, before her eyes grew wide. "Wait, Edmund is missing?"

 She shook Caspian awake, telling him he needed to get up. He jolted up, worried something was wrong with Susan or the baby. Hearing that Edmund was gone, he relaxed just slightly, knowing Susan was okay. However, the fact that his best friend was missing was concerning, as Edmund had seemed slightly off the day before. 

"Is there a chance he decided to pay a visit to Isabela?" Caspian asked, the thought crossing his mind suddenly.

Peter paused before he spoke, the words he was originally going to say haulting before they could escape. "I...hadn't thought of that. He might have gone there, and if it grew late, spent the night."

"They were on rather odd terms, I thought." Susan interrupted. "It would have taken him a lot of realization to go to her."

She stood, making her way over to where Alistair was cooing in the crib. She carefully scooped him into her arms and stepped out of the room to feed him. 

Peter watched his sister leave, then turned to Caspian. "Not to change the topic, but last night... I heard you get Lucy. Did something happen?"

"Su...she thought James was back, that he was taunting her." Caspian said it word as if it were the hardest thing to express. "She pushed me away and asked for Lucy, wouldn't even let me comfort her until she and Lucy had spoken."

Peter was silent. He knew she was getting better, yet each time something like this hapened he grew concerned. 

"I love your sister more than anything, Peter, and being unable to comfort her when she most needs me... It hurts me."

"Susan will heal, though the time it will take may be quite a while. The love you have for my sister awes even me sometimes." Peter told him honestly. "Now-" He broke off, changing topics, "about Edmund. Do you think we should give it some more time before going out looking for him?"

"I think that would be wise."

-

Edmund sat up quickly, dazed. Where was he again? The room was unfamiliar...

"Goodmorning, Kitten." Isabela grinned, finishing pulling on her outfit for the day. "I thought you'd sleep the day away!"

"Isabela?" He asked, confused, though the memories of their conversation last night suddenly hit him.  "What time is it? My family-"

"Is no doubt worried sick, yes." Isabela tossed him a clean shirt. "But you need to at least clean yourself up before you head back, lest they think we were up to something."

She winked, before sauntering out of the small bedroom area to start a pot of coffee. Edmund dressed quickly, and soon followed her out. 

"You can use my shower if you'd like." She told him, seeing the dishevled way he still looked. 

"I rather head back soon." He gave her the smallest of grins, reaching out to lightly squeeze her hand. "Soon, we'll be able to head back to where we were always meant to be."

Isabela placed her other hand on top of their entwined ones. "A place to call home... I can't wait!"

Edmund grinned at her enthusiasm, gently removing his hand and grabbing a cup of coffee. He sat down, pondering what would happen now. Would Aslan simply pop them into Narnia? Or would they feel that old magic like tug that was once familiar?

He sipped his coffee, then stood when it was finished. "Shall we head home?" He reached out and took her hand once more.

Isabela smiled. "We shall."