༄ 𝑇𝐻𝐸 𝑃𝐻𝑂𝐸𝑁𝐼𝑋 𝐴𝑅𝐶𝐻𝐸𝑅（𝐿𝑊𝑊）༄

Chapter 3- The Choice

"Mr. Tumnus?" I asked. "W-what happened?"

I was a little scared simply because I had no idea what was going on. I hated that I always feared the worst. Especially when something like this happened in which I had no idea what was about to happen. I always assumed it wouldn't be very good and usually I was right. Sometimes I wasn't. However, the dark feeling from earlier still remained and it only grew as Tumnus spoke.

"Ana!" Mr. Tumnus whispered at me. "I have to leave..."
"Where?" I protested, confused at his urgency.
"We need to take her to the Witch. It's the only way."
"What?! When I said she couldn't stay here I didn't mean turning her over to the Witch!" I stated, raising my voice in anger and began searching for my cloak, ready to leave his house. "Are you going to had me over to the Witch too?! I'm human to them as well!"
"No I-" he began to protest.
"Was your plan to befriend me and then had me off to that evil Witch?!" I was angry that he could even think about handing Lucy over to the Witch. "Mr. Tumnus, how could you?!"

He was silent for a moment, processing my accusations before falling on the stairs, crying. I was shocked as I had never seen him cry, but my anger still simmered and wouldn't allow me to feel bad for the current predicament. Both of us stayed there for quite awhile, past several candlemarks. Tumnus' crying petered off but there was still tears in his eyes. I just kept standing by my chair, unsure of what to do as I let myself calm down. Just as I was about to say something, Lucy stirred and woke up causing me to look to the chair.

"Oh, I should go," she said after looking out a window and began to get up.
"It's too late for that now," Mr. Tumnus said. "I'm such a terrible faun."
"Oh you're the nicest faun I've ever met," Lucy soothed.

She started walking towards him and I cautiously started to follow her. Though she seemed to have forgotten my presence, I wouldn't be letting her out of my sight until I knew she was safe. I wouldn't let Mr. Tumnus turn Lucy over to the Witch, not while I was still here. Even though it might mean that I had to hurt a friend to get her away.

"Then I'm afraid you've had a very poor sampling," Tumnus continued to ramble, now beginning to cry again.
"You couldn't have done anything that bad." She handed him her handkerchief and he used it to wipe the tears in his eyes.
"It's not something I have done, Lucy Pevensie. It's something I am doing."
"What are doing?"
"I'm kidnapping you."
She gasped and back up into me. She seemed to be afraid of me as well and I frowned slightly. "Not while I'm here! I'll get you home!" I assured her. "I promise, Lucy."
"It was the White Witch! She's the one that makes it always winter. Always cold. She gave orders. If we were to ever find a human wandering in the woods we're-we're supposed to turn it over to her," he pleaded through his tears.
"But Mr. Tumnus you wouldn't," Lucy said and he looked down at the ground, seeming embarrassed. "I thought you were my friend."

What she said caused him to jump up. His hooves made loud noises with his frantic movements as he quickly shuffled about. Then before I had time to process what happened, he grabbed her arm and ran towards the door, closing it behind him. I quickly made to follow him, throwing my cloak over my shoulders, when I suddenly stopped. I couldn't explain it, but something told me to wait. I seriously debated ignoring it and chasing Mr. Tumnus down. However, there was a persistent voice that told me to wait and I sighed, knowing it was probably for the best.

"I just hope he made the right decision," I muttered aloud to myself. Something told me that he did.

Instead I moved away from the door, and began to clean up. I took the tea tray and snacks back into the kitchen and cleaned up Lucy's spilt teacup, discarding the broken pieces before relighting some of the candles. Hanging my cloak on the back of the chair, I moved to relight the fire when the door opened. I turned around and saw Tumnus out of breath.

"What did you do?" I demanded immediately.
"I couldn't do it. I couldn't turn her over to the Witch... I led her home," he answered between breaths.
"Thank you. You did the right thing. No matter what the result, I'll stand by your decision, even if they come and get us."
"No. You won't. You're too important to be captured."
"Too important? Mr. Tumnus, what in Aslan's Name are you talking about?"
"Oh. Nothing. Never mind. Forget I said anything."

I knew I wouldn't forget, but I didn't press the topic just yet. Maybe another time when he wasn't so tense. But it was obvious Tumnus knew something I didn't and I didn't really mind. He was entitled to his own secrets. After all, I had mine.

Mr. Tumnus relit the fire and sat down in his chair. I joined him and we just sat there not saying anything, enjoying the peaceful moment. Who knew what time we had left before the Witch came to whisk us away. Maybe she would never find out, as I had yet to be seen and reported to her. I deeply hoped that was the case.

It took days for Mr. Tumnus to relax and, if we're being honest, I was on edge too. Every noise outside was the Witch and her minions coming to get us. But after awhile, we figured that the Witch hadn't found out and he was safe. Things fell back into our normal routine and we had forgotten about being worried. That was until we heard a noise outside his door. Voices and footsteps.