Disclaimer: Lucy has told me quite firmly but kindly that this story isn't mine, and while she'd be my friend, she's not really mine either. It all started with their friend Jack - Clive Staples Lewis - the Professor at Oxford University who wrote them down first, she explained to me, and if anyone owns their stories (besides Aslan), it would probably be him, but she didn't mind if I wrote this one for her. It was my privilege to oblige.

A/N: This story won over Tumnus's by one vote, so it's being written first. But since Turtles is going to be finished soon (hopefully), I'll be alternating this one with the story about Tumnus pre LWW after it's done.

Beta'd by trustingHim17, so please blame me for all mistakes!

OOOOO

It was early in the morning when twelve-year-old Queen Lucy successfully slipped away from her protective older siblings.* (She did know how to handle her weapons, and it wasn't necessary to be chaperoned at all times. She was very sure of it, even if her siblings disagreed.) She'd tucked a handkerchief, dagger, and her cordial** into her belt, threw on a red cloak with an attached red hood, and quietly and unobtrusively made her way outside, ready to begin the very long ride she had been longing for. A ride with a specific purpose: to explore and find an adventure.

And she knew just where she wanted to go to find it.

She had vague memories of walking through the Western Woods once, a long time ago. Years ago, it must have been. But just yesterday, dear Mr. Tumnus had come to tea, and they laughed as they remembered their first meeting, covered in snow, with parcels and with his umbrella. She'd gone right with him to his home that day. She'd never had a chance to explore, and today she wondered, excited, what she'd find. Maybe she'd even stop by his old house!

She took a chestnut horse from the stable, chatting cheerfully with the stable hands as they set the saddle (she was too short to pull it up well) and thanking them for their work, but she didn't invite anyone along for her ride. For some reason - maybe because few people went there - she thought they might disapprove. As she mounted, however, Robin*** and three of his Nestlings landed on her saddle, chirping their good mornings.

"Good morning!" she said, laughing and gently scooping the gray, youngest Nestling into the palm of her hand. She picked up her reins with the other and urged her horse onward.

"Where are you going, going, going?" sang Robin, his two-toned chirp repeating the last word.

"Exploring!"

"Come with! Come with! Come with!" came a chorus of chirps from all three Nestlings, and Lucy laughed again.

"Not this time," she said, somewhat regretfully. She hesitated. She could delay her plans. But she had been looking for this day for so long. Today was perfect for slipping away unnoticed. Susan was busy working very hard to avoid the current Calormene guests, three of whom had begun courting her. She was more than of age in Calormen, but she was not interested in people Lucy referred to as "oily, silver-snake-tongued graspers over thirty." The other three had been ready to dismiss the group from Cair Paravel, but Susan had been confident in her abilities to avoid them while continuing daily life. And she'd done it, brilliantly, but it did make her easier to avoid.

And Orieus had the Kings the whole day for something they'd been groaning about (out of his earshot), so it was the perfect time. Neither Orieus nor her brothers were watching her.

She knew that meant this was probably a bad idea, but it was an adventure. Those included bad ideas. Besides - she felt like she needed to do this. "No, it's not a good idea for you to come," the Queen added.

"Why not? Not-not-not-not-not?" The Nestlings' feathers were drooping, and their tiny black eyes were heartbreakingly sad.

But living in Narnia inured people to all forms of sad expressions. "Because I'm going to the Western Wood, and maybe beyond it to the Lantern Waste." She glanced at the trees they were moving through, wondering if the Western Wood would look different farther in.

Before the Nestlings could begin to cheep - either their longing to come or their fear of the Waste - Robin chirped over them, "Queen Lucy, Queen Lucy, why go there? It's not a good place for songs, songs, songs. Or Queens, Queens, Queens."

"It's my adventure," Lucy confined, leaning forward to whisper. Even though she was sure the others wouldn't hear of it till tonight, she still felt like making it a secret was much more exciting. "I'm going exploring there."

Robin paused, but bowed. "I will take my Nestlings home, home, home, and come with you," he offered, and Lucy shook her head, ducking under an overhanging pine branch.

"Thank you Robin, but I think I need to do this myself," she said seriously.

Robin didn't like it, but Birds weren't prone to argue over people's plans that didn't bother them, their food, or their nests. "Then I shall await your Majesty's return," he said, bowing once more. Lucy smiled down at him, reaching over to touch his head with a finger.

"Thank you, Robin." He chirped to his three Nestlings, and they bowed and took off after their father. Lucy smiled as she watched them leave, then settled down into her saddle and urged her horse faster. The Western Woods was hours away.

They were pleasant hours. Lucy called greetings to all the Rabbits, Stags, and Birds she came across, and many hopped or walked alongside her for a few moments, thrilled to have met one of their Queens.

But as she rode further, the Narnians she met grew fewer and fewer. The trees grew closer together, and the path became overgrown, bushes branching into it, and the space between trunks smaller and smaller, the branches moving in a light breeze. Eventually Lucy dismounted and stood looking farther down the path.

"Chester, I think I'm nearly there by now," she told it. It snorted. It wasn't a Talking Horse (of course), but Lucy was used to talking to Animals by now, and she sometimes wondered if Chester was a Talking Horse that was only pretending. "But I don't think you can get through," she said. "Would you mind staying here?" she said, turning to Chester. He stayed still looking at her with one eye, ears flickering nervously. She looped the reins over a nearby tree branch, and her stomach rumbled. "I must be hungry. What is it, Chester?" she asked as the horse neighed. She turned back to the path and jumped.

A large Wolf was standing there.

"Goodness gracious me!" exclaimed Lucy.****

"Good afternoon," the Wolf said, smiling (without showing many teeth).

"Good afternoon," said Lucy, recovering herself. She paused for a moment. "Excuse me - I don't want to be rude - but do you live here?"

"On the path?" the Wolf asked, still smiling. "I shouldn't think so, Daughter of Eve."

"Oh - my name's Lucy."

The Wolf stiffened. Lucy thought it might be from shock. "One of The Four?"

"I am one of four siblings," Lucy said, puzzled.

"One of The Four enthroned in Cair Paravel?"

"Yes, that would be me. I'm Lucy - the youngest," Lucy explained.

"To be sure, to be sure," the Wolf said, absentmindedly. "How stupid of me! Your scent - but I've never seen any of you before, your Majesty. I am delighted. That is to say-" the Wolf paused, and Lucy thought the wind blew a shadow across her eyes. "I am perfectly delighted to meet you, your Majesty. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Felvren, of the Wolvreth Pack."

"I am very pleased to meet you, Felvren," Lucy said politely.

"What are you doing this far West?"

"I was going exploring," explained Lucy. "I'm rather glad to see you. I haven't seen another Narnian for miles. Would you like to share my lunch with me? I was going to eat it before exploring farther."

Felvren hesitated. "I am not sure you should be exploring this forest, nor stopping to eat lunch here." Her voice was soft, quiet, but held the faintest hint of a growl of warning.

"Why not?" Lucy queried. She looked again over the Wolf, down the foreboding path.

"There are many things here that do not love Daughters of Eve," Felvren warned. Lucy stuck her chin out stubbornly. She thought she'd gotten away from the overly protective Narnians!

"I have my dagger. I should be fine. But thank you anyway." She turned back towards Chester, who was used to all types of Narnians, but still regarding the Wolf with small trembles running through him. She hesitated; she didn't want to be rude to Felvren. Even if Chester didn't like her. "Would you like to share my lunch with me all the same?" she asked over her shoulder. Maybe she could find out more about the things in the Western Wood that she should avoid.

The Wolf sighed. "If you insist on eating here, Queen Lucy, it should not be on the open path. Would you care to come and share lunch with me in my home?"

"Oh," said Lucy in surprise, turning back again. "But wouldn't that make trouble for you?"

"It's only just around the corner," Felvren said. "There's more than enough to share these days." Her voice was sad, resigned, and it pulled at Lucy's heart.

"Well, it's very kind of you," said Lucy. "But I must get exploring, and I shan't be able to stay long."

"Then if you would follow me, Daughter of Eve, youngest of The Four. Fetch your food - then off the path here - that's the way. Now - off we go."

And that is how Lucy found herself following a Wolf, a food basket on her arm, and wondering what adventure would come next.

OOOOO

*I am not currently assigning her a personal guard while she's in Cair Paravel; though I'm aware this is common in fanfiction, and makes perfect sense, I tend to disagree with it. I think they often kept friends with them, but not guards. My reason (and canon examples) are as follows: The Four having guards is not canon, but a sensible conclusion drawn from our knowledge of royalty in this world. Narnia may be different. The first time we see a King or Queen close to being alone that I can think of is Tirian in The Last Battle. Tirian was at a hunting lodge with Jewel and only Jewel. Jewel was there as his friend, closest companion, and sword-brother. Even outside of Cair, exploring unknown places in VOTD, there are several times when Caspian went places with two other sovereigns (who should have needed guarding themselves), their less-than-talented-cousin who would be a hindrance in a fight, and Reepicheep, who was a valiant warrior but hardly a bodyguard (since he'd be more focused on the fight and fairness than protection). I think - and I own this is interpretation and not canon either - Lewis meant this to be a story for children, and putting the rules binding earthly rulers to it is sensible, but not in keeping with Lewis's story. So in my stories the Four don't have guards that escort them everywhere. That is, I admit, my choice, not something I'd ever say another author should , the Four do often have companions, because most things in life are better with friends. The difference is mainly in the fact that no one is assigned to accompany them - people just fall in as their sovereigns have time, like our meeting up with friends.

**Peter has not, at this time, forbidden her to carry it commonly to the wars, or commonly around the Cair. Now that I think of it, the story of that conversation could be an interesting tale to write. Only my prompt list is far too long as it is.

***For those who haven't read A Turtle's Tale, he's a character introduced there, and is, if it isn't obvious, a Robin, the one who first led the Pevensies to Mr. Beaver

****Most of the dialogue is word-for-word or paraphrased from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and isn't mine.