Chapter Eight: The Lost One

Disclaimer: The Lost Ones belong to James Barrie, Narnia to Lewis, and Digory to Aslan. I don't believe my name is anywhere in that sentence.

A/N: Google: "The name Digory is a boy's name meaning 'lost one'."

"Professor?"

Professor Kirk put down the wood he was carving into a lion and looked up with a twinkle in his eye as Lucy came into his tiny workshop. She had that look on her face that meant she was going to ask one of the questions that led to interesting talks. She was one of his favorite conversationalists.

And she was followed by five of his other favorites, her three siblings, her cousin, and their new-found friend, Jill. (He chuckled sometimes over Aslan choosing a child that was called after a Roman god, but then again, Aslan did look after the lost.) He set down his knife as well, dusted his hands, and leaned back.

"Dear me, what called all of you together? Surely you haven't lost more of my fur coats?"

Lucy smiled, that lovely, light-filled smile that brightened a room like sunlight. "Remember when you gave the toast yesterday, and we talked about Eustace's name meaning fruitful?" Her cousin fidgeted with his shirtsleeves as she spoke, but the rest of their attention was on the Professor himself.

"Yes, my dear?"

"We were just wondering - we learned yesterday Aunt Polly's name means humble - what does your name mean?"

"Ah," he said, leaning back and sighing. He smiled sadly. "My name comes from a French word, Queen Lucy, and it means 'lost one.' It suited me once, as much as 'Graceful Lily' suits your sister Susan," he said, nodding to the elder queen, who smiled back graciously. The Professor thought back, back to a time he had been very, very young.

"Polly and I have told you the story of how we got the rings that led us into Narnia," he began, "but I don't think we've told you how we first met. We lived, side by side, in adjoining houses in London. I was crying. Not a good beginning for a boy, but I had good reason. I'd just lost everything a child needs. I'd lost my home, with all the joys of a house in the country. I'd lost my father, who had to go to India for a very long time, which is forever to a young child. I'd lost my sense of safety, for my uncle we were living with was mad, and we found out later he should not have been trusted in a house where there were small children, as you know. And I was losing my mother. That afternoon I also lost my dignity, for I went outside into the yard and blubbered, streaking my face as I wiped tears away. I was truly lost.

And it was then that Aslan sent someone to find me. He works in our world too, you know. Yes, indeed, think of the logic of it. How could we get from this world to Narnia if He had no power in this world? Bless me, what do they teach in these schools?

After Polly found me, I was a little less lost. I had a friend. But I was still losing the last thing I needed very much, my mother. Aslan sent me to Narnia, and sent me to get an apple for him, and from that apple, as you know, grew the tree that bore a fruit that meant life to my mother. But in the process, I had found more than that, I'd found courage. To get the apple, I had to face evil; I had to choose Aslan. Jadis, in a strange way, helped me to be found. I'd seen her, I'd seen Aslan, and I knew which one I'd have to choose. It can help people, you know, to have to face a choice directly.

I chose Aslan, my mother grew well with the apple from another world, and I had a friend. Shortly after that my father came back as well, and we were given a marvelous house. You would think, children, that after so much good, I would never be lost again. And truly, when I discovered the hymn with the line "I once was lost, but now I'm found," I sang it with all my might (1).

But there's often times, you young ones, where a past experience doesn't seem like much compared to the unpleasant present. So when I lost almost everything the second time, I lost myself too. Ivy, Betty, and Margaret went to find other work, and Mrs. Macready stayed on for the new owners, but I walked out of the house that had the wardrobe in it - that had Narnia in it - and wondered if I wasn't worthy of Narnia anymore. Once again I was truly lost."

"But you aren't now," Lucy said anxiously. "Right?"

The Professor smiled. "Yes, my dear, I am found once again."

"How did He find you the second time?"

"The first time He sent a witch," the Professor mused, almost to himself. But then he smiled at Peter. "The second time He sent a king." The High King looked back to him, dignity and acceptance in his nod. "Your brother was my rock in that term; with him so close, Narnia could not be lost to me. And he corresponded so much with his brother, that between his strength and Edmund's wisdom it wasn't long before I prospered."

"Why did you need two such different people?" Susan inquired, her voice thoughtful.

The Professor smiled again. "My dear child, the first time I didn't know who I needed. I thought it was my mother. The second, it was very clear, I needed to remember I had not lost all I had. I still had my learning and my wits. Aslan sent me a king to remind me that He had made me fit for such company. Goodness gracious me, He's sent a whole company of them to me now."

"So it was in helping others both times that you were found," Edmund said, smiling deeply. "Sowing the tree meant choosing Aslan, and accepting Peter into your home to teach brought him here."

"And now I have seven friends from Narnia." The professor took off his glasses, wiping them on his sleeve, since his shirt-front was covered with wood carvings. "It's not likely I'll be lost again, is it?"

Epilogue:

Not long after, the Seven Friends of Narnia climbed aboard a railway train, and never disembarked. Yet they left all the same.

Lucy lived with the Light that is the Life of man.

Edmund could lay his task at the feet of one whose kingdom would never end and always prosper.

Peter heard the rock on which he had stood, which gave him strength to hold up all the others, say "Welcome home."

Eustace saw the fruit of his last labors in the hearts of Narnians who had stayed faithful because of his actions, who had fought to the last because he of his courage.

Jill was so beautiful at first the last Narnian king did not recognise her, crowned as she was as Aslan's daughter.

Polly had an eternity to think of others, to laugh with them and love them and see them with wonder, for there were no broken ones there.

And Digory, the professor who had once been a blubbering, lost boy, was eternally found, and home. The Lion had made him worthy of Narnia.

(1) The Last Battle was written in 1956, and "Amazing Grace" became popular (it was written earlier) in the 1960s, so I'm saying those are close enough the Professor would know that line. :)

Response to Anonymousme: I admit, I read your review on chapter 1 and felt a slight twinge of worry - I would say Lucy's is one of the best, and perhaps not a good idea to set the standard by. :) I honestly wrote them as they occurred to me - and I find it much easier to write girls than boys. I'm still working at my skill on the latter. I am really, really glad you liked the Peter/Edmund interaction; that part was fun to write. And I would agree Peter's was a bit rushed - I wasn't quite sure what I was doing, and it showed. Second to last :), you mentioned "I'm pretty sure that Edmund's words to Eustace are accurate word for word [you were only an ass, but I was traitor]. I always wished that someone expounded on that somewhat. Maybe you...? However, please, please don't unless you make it really, really good," and I was wondering what you wanted expounded? The time Edmund tells Eustace that story, or something else? Just curious. And last, I will also admit that I'm a bit ambivalent towards Digory/Polly pairings - as far as I can tell it's not explicitly cannon, but could be. I've always known those who have loved what you love will feel like home. And there are times that idea is very well written. Have you read "The Hands of a Carpenter" by Dearheart? It's a Digory/Polly story that also has that homelike friendship hinting at much, much more. There's also "Think of Me" by King Caspian the Seafarer, which is less of friendship and more of love; though that is not the main focus of the story.
I also updated the formatting for "One Year" based on your suggestion, and I hope you like the changes!