A New Generation Chapter 10, a chronicles of narnia fanfic

A NEW GENERATION

Presenting chapter 10, the very last chapter of my story! At first, I meant for this story to be much longer, but the ending of this particular chapter was just too sweet and happy when I wrote it; and I decided that now was the time to bring this story to a close. This doesn't mean, of course, that I'll stop writing about Puck altogether, or that I'll stop writing about Tumnus and Lucy's roles as parents. You'll just read more in different stories, is all.

And, wowser—I'm amazed at just how much popularity this story has achieved! Within the past two months alone, it has gained over 800 hits, received several story alerts, and overall, ranks second to "Tragedy and Triumph"! Sure, I was expecting this to be a fair hit—but not THAT big of a hit, let alone in such a short amount of time.

Thank you so much, guys! I do sincerely appreciate it.

With that being said, read on!

Chapter 10

After that, Terence and Lucy and Tumnus got along with each other better than ever. As soon as his injuries were sufficiently healed, Terence came to see Puck every day. Puck was always delighted to see his godfather, and could hardly wait for Terence's visit. "Terry!" he would squeal whenever Terence entered the room, and he'd literally fly into the man's arms.

His eagerness touched Terence's heart. The fact that the little faun genuinely loved him and was genuinely excited to see him, in spite of Terence's treatment of him, moved the young man deeply. Terence would hug his godson warmly, and often mess around with him: tickling him, ruffling his unruly curls, picking him up and spinning him around in circles, slinging Puck over his shoulder like a sack of flour so that Puck viewed the world from upside-down (much to Lucy's discontent), getting down on the floor and gently scuffling with him, and all that.

On one particularly sunny morning, Terence and Puck were engaged in a lively game of chase on the castle grounds. Tumnus had nothing else planned for that day, so he joined them. The morning-fresh air around them was sweet, cool, and invigorating, and they all drew it in deeply. The sun shone radiantly overhead, and the sky was a brilliant, enameled blue—the perfect conditions for play. Together, the two fauns and the young human had a splendid time chasing one another about on the soft grass, while Lucy stood quietly to the side and watched them interact with a look of both affection and amusement on her face.

"I'm going to get you!" Terence called roguishly to Puck.

Puck shrieked with laughter and exuberantly darted away from Terence, just as fast as his little goat-like legs could possibly carry him.

At one point, his father appeared directly in front of him, and Tumnus crowed triumphantly, "There you are! You are mine!"

At the sight of him, Puck promptly slid to a halt and started to go the other way, only to meet with Terence there. "Got you, you little rascal!" Terence began to gloat—but Puck cleverly swerved away at the very last second, just before the young man could lay hands on him.

Now it was Puck's turn to gloat.

Lucy tried not to laugh as she witnessed this comical occurrence, but she honestly couldn't help herself.

After a good twenty minutes or so of this, Tumnus ultimately ended up being the one to catch Puck, and father and son tumbled into the grass together in a joyful, breathless heap. A minute later, Terence came and flopped down next to them, quite out of breath himself.

He and Tumnus both spread themselves out flat on their backs, and the two mates lay quietly beside one another in the cool grass, with Puck nestled between them, taking the time to recover their breath and settle down a little. Both Terence and Tumnus's faces were a notorious shade of pink, and their eyes were watery due to laughing so much, so hard.

"Whew," sighed Tumnus. "I'm tired."

"You're getting soft, mate," Terence declared, turning his head slightly in the faun's direction.

Tumnus chuckled. "I'm not getting soft; I'm getting old." Looking over at Terence, he added, "And so are you."

Upon hearing this, Terence rose immediately to an upright position. "I, old?" he demanded, in mock outrage. "I beg your pardon? For your information, mister, I happen to yet be in the prime of my youth!"

Tumnus merely laughed again as he sat up as well, bringing Puck up with him. Terence pretended to be in a huff at first, but then he was unable to help himself, and he broke into a smirk as well.

At length, Puck climbed out of his father's arms, into Terence's lap. "I must say, Terence, Puck's really getting quite attached to you," Tumnus remarked, as he watched his son burrow into Terence's chest.

Terence smiled as he enfolded Puck warmly in his arms and rubbed the little faun's bare back. "Well, I must say, Tumnus, I'm growing rather fond of this little imp as well." His smile faded from his face as he thought back on the past few months, and he sighed. He still couldn't believe he had ever acted the way he did, couldn't believe how blind he'd been.

He had wasted a lot of time—far too much time—through his jealousy and resentment, and feelings of insecurity. He was only glad that no further time would be lost, for him as well as Tumnus, and he vowed to himself on the spot that he'd never let that happen…not ever again.

Tumnus reached out and clasped Terence's shoulder gently, and Terence looked up at the faun and managed to smile once more.

Not another word was said, yet this was one of those times in which words were unnecessary.

At that moment, Lucy gave an audible gasp. Both young men looked simultaneously in her direction, and saw her begin to sway. In a flash, Tumnus was on his hooves again, and, leaving Puck in Terence's care, he rushed swiftly to his wife's side and caught her within his arms just as she was toppling over. "Lucy!" he cried frantically, lowering himself to his knees and bringing his wife down gently with him. "What is it, dear heart? Are you all right?"

Within a minute, Terence joined them, Puck still cradled protectively in his arms. "What's going on here?" the young man asked anxiously. "Is everything all right? What's wrong?"

"Lucy, speak to me," Tumnus pleaded. "Are you all right? Say something, please!"

With a soft sigh, Lucy's eyes fluttered open, and she gazed up dreamily into her husband's face, somewhat surprised but not entirely bewildered to find herself lying in his arms. "Tumnus…" Her voice was scarcely above a whisper.

"Yes, my love, I'm here," he reassured her, brushing her hair away from her face and smoothing her brow delicately. "What is it, my darling? What's happened?"

"Are you ill, Lucy?" Terence asked solicitously.

To his and Tumnus's complete astonishment, Lucy smiled at them—the biggest, broadest, brightest smile they had ever seen on the face of any girl, anywhere, at any time. "Of course not, dear Terence," Lucy answered. To both him and her husband, the young queen added euphorically, "But, oh, have I got the most marvelous news for you all!"

As it turned out, Lucy ended up having another baby. This time, she gave birth to a little female faun, with raven-black hair and glossy black fur.

On the night of her labor, Tumnus and Terence waited together in another room, just as they once had before, only this time Puck accompanied them. Tumnus was worried for Lucy, but not nearly as jittery and high-strung as the first time. Occasionally Puck, who by then had learned to speak a few more words, and who maintained some vague idea as to what was going on that night, would ask his father, "Now, Papa?"

And Tumnus would answer gently, "Not yet, son."

"Be patient, little guy," Terence reassured Puck. "It'll be all right. Just wait a bit more."

Puck understood the word "wait"; and it was one of his least favorite words, not to mention one of his least favorite activities. To pacify him, Tumnus and Terence each took turns holding Puck in their arms, and occasionally they would tell him a story, or sing him a song, or play a small game with him. Every now and again, someone would come to them with treats, which helped some.

As the hours crept by, Puck grew increasingly restless, as did Tumnus, although he tried his best to not show it.

Finally, after what must have been forever, they at long last received the glorious news that the new baby had arrived. Tumnus therefore seized Puck by the hand, and eagerly beckoned his son to come with him. Terence readily followed close behind them as they rushed out of the room.

Inside Lucy's chamber, Tumnus sat on the edge of the bed and held his precious wife for a long time, showering her face and neck with endless tears and kisses, and when a nymph presented them with the bundle, Terence brought Puck closer to the bed so that the little faun could get a better look as well. At the sight of his second child, Tumnus's eyes misted over once again, and he whispered rapturously, "Oh, look at her! Just look at her—she's absolutely perfect!"

First a son…and now a daughter. Tumnus could hardly believe it, could scarcely take it in. It seemed nearly too much, this blessing.

"Say hello to your new sister, Puck," said Terence, as he set Puck gently upon the soft mattress with the rest of the family.

Puck's long ears twitched, and his cerulean eyes were wide and bright with genuine interest. As he regarded the other faun in his mother's arms, a smile as dazzling as the sun at midday spread over his young face, and he stretched forth a hand and very lightly poked the little girl's cheek with his forefinger. "Sister!" he proclaimed triumphantly.

"That's right, sweetheart," Lucy assured her son. "Your new sister…Selena."

"Selena," Tumnus echoed softly. The name was like golden honey on his tongue, and he loved it immensely. "My sweet Selena." His emotions got the better of him then, and the overjoyed faun engulfed his entire family in his arms, Terence included, and wept freely. Lucy also dissolved into tears, and even Terence found it impossible to keep it together any longer.

Sometimes, when the heart was full to overflowing with joy, some of that joy tended to leak out through the eyes.

"Seena," Puck said, not yet being able to pronounce his newborn sister's name entirely correctly, but speaking it with love and pride and pleasure all the same. "Sister Seena."

~ THE END ~