Tumnus sighed as he gazed out the window at the setting sun. It had been 2 years since the Telmarines had invaded Narnia, and 3 years since the disappearance of the Pevensies. They had gone out riding in search of the White Stag--which Tumnus himself had told them about--and had vanished.

I'm sorry now that I'd ever mentioned it, Tumnus thought glumly. If I hadn't sent Lucy off after that dreadful Stag, she would still be here, and her brothers and the army could have stopped the Telmarines. Then the trees wouldn't have become silent, so many of the animals would not have gone dumb, and I wouldn't have been forced into hiding.

All of these things were quite true. Since King Caspian had come into power, the Dryads had all but gone into a deep sleep, and hadn't been heard from in nearly 18 months. Many of the Talking Animals hadn't spoken in roughly the same amount of time. The few that still existed, as well as the Centaurs, Dwarfs, and Fauns, had run south about a year ago, making their new homes in the woods and mountains that bordered Archenland. And though his new cave was cozy, not to mention safe, Tumnus had to admit that he missed the old one.

Lucy promised me that she would never leave. What happened? Why didn't she come home that day?

As the sun continued to set, Tumnus felt himself growing tired, and headed off to bed. Sleep wasn't long in coming, and the Faun began to dream....

The colors were so much bolder than Tumnus was used to, and at first he couldn't quite figure out where he was. He felt as if he was in Narnia, but he couldn't recall ever seeing such a bright and beautiful place in his entire life. He was surrounded by other Narnians--some he recognized, many he did not. No matter where Tumnus looked, there were smiles on every face, and laughter was in the air. Deep down inside, Tumnus somehow knew Lucy was nearby.

Then he heard a familiar giggle, and he turned in the direction it came from. There Lucy was, standing alongside her brothers. She looked at him, and he walked towards her....

Tumnus woke up at that moment, as he would every night until the day he died.

---

It wasn't until many centuries later, when all generations of true Narnians were brought to the New Narnia, that Tumnus realized that his dream was Aslan's way of reassuring the Faun that he would one day see his closest friend again.

Lucy looked at Tumnus, and he began walking in her direction. A smile crossed her face and gathering up her skirts, Lucy ran towards her friend. The pair met with a fond embrace, and Tumnus didn't want to let go for fear of losing her again. Finally he mustered up enough courage to pull away. He looked at her and said, "Promise me that you'll never leave."

Lucy smiled again, remembering the last time he had asked her that. "I promise."

Somehow, Tumnus knew that she would keep her promise this time.