THE SERPENT AND THE LION

I swear, when it comes to this story, even a snail race is faster. Oh, well, at least I got a new chapter up, and I should be happy for that. Hopefully you're happy, too. All I can say is the updates will come when they come.

Characters (with exceptions) © C.S. Lewis and Disney/Walden Media

Story © unicorn-skydancer08

All rights reserved.

Chapter 2: A Temporary Truce

That same day, after Lucy had some time to cool down, she felt very ashamed for lashing out at Terence. He hadn't done anything wrong, and she knew she'd had no excuse to treat him the way she did. So she sought the youth out, hoping and praying that, somehow, he could forgive her. Fortunately, it didn't take long to find him. He was in his private chambers, reclining on the chaise lounge at the far end, practicing his flute that Tumnus had taught him to play. It wasn't quite like Tumnus's flute; it was a singular piece, made from different wood, but it still produced a lovely, haunting melody that sent shivers down Lucy's spine.

Terence, immersed in his music, didn't notice Lucy right away, but when he finally saw her, he ceased to play at once.

"Hi, Lucy," he said, slowly sitting upright. "What can I do for you?"

"Can I talk to you, Terence?" Lucy asked tentatively, wringing her hands, as she often did when she was nervous or worried.

"Sure." Terence promptly slid over to the side to make room, and Lucy took a seat next to him. "Are you all right?" he asked when she was properly seated. "Is everything all right?"

Hearing his gentle concern for her twisted like a knife in Lucy's heart. She bowed her head in shame. "I'm sorry," she didn't hesitate to say, her voice almost inaudible.

"What?"

Lifting her contrite gaze to his face, Lucy repeated, "I'm sorry, Terence. I'm sorry I…yelled at you earlier."

"Oh," said Terence softly, but Lucy could tell he wasn't angry, and this ignited a spark of hope.

"I didn't mean to," she said earnestly, "honestly, I didn't. I was just upset. I was down to my last nerve with Susan and everybody…and somehow I lost it."

"That's all right," said Terence mildly, "I understand. I can't very well say I haven't had a few angry episodes myself. I likely would have acted the same way had I been in your position."

"But no matter how angry I was, I'd had no right to take it out on you. I truly am sorry, Terence. Will you forgive me?"

Terence smiled at the girl and didn't hesitate to answer. "I already have, before you even asked."

Lucy smiled herself, feeling warm waves of relief wash through her. She leaned over to hug her dear friend, and Terence readily enfolded her in his sturdy arms, kissing her tenderly on the top of her head. "Thank you, Terence," Lucy whispered fervently into his shoulder. "Thank you." They remained that way for a time, and then they very slowly drew apart, Terence's large hands sliding ever so lightly along Lucy's thin shoulders and forearms as they did so.

"You're such a good friend," Lucy informed him as she touched his cheek briefly.

"Hey," he grinned, "it takes a lot more than that to get rid of me." Then he sobered. "I take it you really are having it rough these days."

Now Lucy sighed and leaned forward, covering her face with both hands. "You don't know the half of it," she groaned into her palms. "Sometimes I wish I never was queen to begin with."

Terence's heart brimmed with pity. He understood what the girl was going through, more so than she or anyone realized.

"I can't stand being treated like a puppet on strings," Lucy continued, keeping her head down, "with Susan and Peter and all these strange men picking at the strings. You don't know what it's like, Terence, never having the liberty to make your own choices. I wish, for once, I could do what I want to do, rather than what someone else wants me to do. Sometimes…sometimes I feel more like a prisoner than a queen."

She felt Terence's arm slide benevolently across her shoulders, but she refused to look up.

At a loss for words, Terence just sat quietly with the girl, keeping his arm wrapped around her, his fingers toying idly with her silken hair.

Presently, hoofbeats sounded nearby, and Terence and Lucy raised their heads in time to see Tumnus come in. Upon sight of his two friends, Tumnus stopped dead in his tracks. The faun felt the blood drain from his face, and his posture stiffened. Abruptly, and somewhat to Terence's surprise, Lucy jumped up, saying, "Well, Terence, that is all I really came for, so I guess I'll take my leave now. Goodbye." Terence noticed she intentionally avoided eye contact with Tumnus, and the girl fairly bolted from the room, as if anxious to get as far away as possible, as quickly as possible. The moment she was gone, Tumnus rounded on Terence.

"Terence—what in the Lion's name do you think you're doing?" the faun hissed. "You didn't just—oh, no, you didn't!"

"Oh, blow it out your ear, Tumnus," said Terence impatiently, knowing what his mate was thinking. The young man stood up as well and started to turn away, but Tumnus caught him fast by the elbow.

"I swear to you," Tumnus said vehemently, "if you told Lucy, I'll…I'll…" He faltered, obviously unable to come up with a powerful enough threat.

"Ease off," Terence rejoined as he jerked his arm free. "I never told Lucy a word. You don't think I'd blab your precious secret, do you?"

"You solemnly swear you didn't?"

Terence made a sign over his chest and answered sardonically, "Cross my heart."

Tumnus dared to breathe once more, though his posture remained taut. "Well, then," he said tersely, "explain to me why Lucy took off the way she did."

"How in the world should I know?" Terence shot back. "I can't read people's minds, you know."

"What was she doing in here with you in the first place, anyway?"

"She needed someone to talk to, that's what. Is that a crime?" Turning his back on Tumnus once more, Terence went on brusquely, "And if you're just here to yell at me again, get out."

At once Tumnus regretted snapping at his mate. What was he doing? What was the matter with him? He'd come to make peace with Terence, and here they were, already arguing again—after only five seconds!

"Terence, wait," the faun said as the young man began to walk away, speaking much more softly and gently this time. "I'm sorry."

Hearing the apology in the faun's tone, Terence halted at once. "What?" he said, casting a somewhat bewildered glance over his shoulder.

"I'm sorry," Tumnus repeated solemnly. "I didn't mean to stir up another fight. I only came here to apologize for…for what happened today, between you and me."

He looked and sounded like he meant it, and Terence felt his annoyance with the faun drain away on the spot. He even felt guilty, and a bit foolish, for being cross with his friend to begin with.

"I'm sorry, too, mate," he said meekly, turning around all the way so that he was facing Tumnus properly.

"I had no right to treat you the way I did. I'm sorry I ever said those…those things." Tumnus half-swallowed the words.

"Well," said Terence, rubbing the back of his neck self-consciously, "I can't say I was any better off myself."

"Will you forgive me?"

Terence nodded. "If you will forgive me."

A weak smile graced Tumnus's lips. "We're still brothers…right?" he asked, somewhat hopefully.

"Of course." Terence smiled himself, just the way he had with Lucy. "Nothing changes the fact that we're brothers."

Tumnus sighed, in what could only be described as great relief. He and Terence promptly moved in closer to one another and they hugged, for the first time in ages. "Thanks, mate," Tumnus mumbled fervently into Terence's neck. Terence said nothing, but his arms tightened their grip significantly and his forehead came to rest on Tumnus's shoulder, so that Tumnus felt the gentle tickle of the young man's silky bangs.

When at last they let each other go, Tumnus said again, "Thank you, Terence. I—I really do hate to fight with you."

"Same here," the youth replied. "I don't even know how things got to be as crazy as they are now."

His guess was as good as Tumnus's. "For that matter," the faun said, "I don't understand why I'm feeling so strange around Lucy these days, why everything is suddenly so confusing."

"What I don't understand is why you simply don't come out and tell her how you feel. If you truly love her, and want to stay with her, what harm could there be in telling her so?"

Tumnus sighed, but he didn't flare up this time. He sank down, somewhat wearily, onto the edge of the chaise lounge. With his elbows resting against his furry haunches, he buried his face in his hands.

"I know you're right," Terence heard him say in a muffled voice. "I'm just…" The faun faltered for a time before confessing, "I'm just afraid."

"Afraid that Lucy won't love you back?" Terence estimated. "That she'll reject you?"

"Yes," was the only appropriate response Tumnus could think of.

Terence stood still and looked at the faun for a moment, then slowly edged in closer. Tumnus didn't look up as Terence settled next to him, only sank his head further into his hands.

At length, Terence said softly, "Well, mate, all I can say is that you'll never truly know, unless you tell her. You're only torturing yourself by keeping your silence."

Now Tumnus did open his eyes and lift his head. His expression was one of utmost distress, and his voice was scarcely audible as he protested, "But I can't tell her, Terence. Not now. It's too soon. I—I'm just not ready."

It was now Terence's turn to sigh, and the boy dragged a hand wearily over his face, flattening his features and pulling on his thick beard. In his mind, he said, Why must you be so infernally difficult about this, Tumnus? But he repressed the words, not wanting to wage another quarrel. Instead, he said, "Well, then, you do what you feel is right, Tumnus. If this is the way it's going to be between you and Lucy, so be it. I won't meddle in your affairs."

"That's all I ask of you." Placing one hand against Terence's shoulder, Tumnus asked, "Truce?"

Terence nodded and clasped the faun's shoulder in return. "Truce."

"It is to one's honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel."

~ Proverbs 20:3 (NIV)

TO BE CONTINUED...