WOUNDS BEYOND THE FLESH

Well, I've finally got the second chapter of this story figured out. It's short, but extremely suspenseful. I made myself tingle just writing this. Feedback is welcome; flames are not!

Story © unicorn-skydancer08

All rights reserved.

"Demitrius, come with me," Calimus commanded a shorter, somewhat lankier faun with unkempt chestnut-red hair and fur, who at that time was engaged with a gaggle of giggling dryads. Without even giving the other faun a chance to say or do anything, Calimus seized him roughly by the neck, and practically dragged him away from the rest of the group.

"Hey!" Demitrius protested, as his companion hauled him into the dark woods. Yet Calimus paid him no heed and only continued to lead him on, as one leading a disobedient mule.

When the two fauns were well a ways off from the carousing, and the music and the mirth had dissolved into the cool night, Demitrius demanded, "Calimus—what is the meaning of this? I was just starting to enjoy myself! Why must we withdraw from the celebration now?"

"This is no time for fun and games, Demitrius," said Calimus sternly, relinquishing his iron hold on him at long last. "How can you possibly think of having an enjoyable time tonight? Better yet, who in their sound mind could ever think to dance, and sing, and make merry?"

"What are you talking about, Calimus?" the roan-haired faun queried.

"And you have the face to ask me that, have you not? All innocence, are you not?"

"What do you mean?"

"Or, did you not see him?" Calimus demanded, his eyes narrowing ominously in contempt.

Demitrius stared at him blankly. "See who?"

"Tumnus, that's who!" Calimus spat the name out like it tasted foul.

Now Demitrius's own russet eyes widened with realization. "Tumnus, the faun? Son of Anlon, former leader of the Army of the Lion? The former adherent of Jadis, the White Witch herself?"

"The one and only. I discovered him at the festivities just now, with Queen Lucy the Valiant."

Demitrius hesitated, then dared to ask, "And…you think that simply because he is present this evening, we ourselves ought not to be present?"

To which Calimus shot back heatedly, "And you think that I would taint my honor and my dignity by mingling with someone like that low, despicable, wormlike, traitorous wretch?" The ire and passion within his voice made Demitrius back a step, and though it was quite dark, Demitrius could see his companion's raven eyes blazing like fire. "Have you forgotten what Tumnus did to us?" Calimus demanded sharply. "Where have you been for the last hundred years, Demitrius?"

Demitrius faltered for a time before replying timidly, "N-no…no, I haven't forgotten the past years, Calimus. How could I forget that time? How could anyone forget? It is a dark memory that none of us wish to recall. But the nightmare has ended. The Witch has perished; Aslan himself had slain her."

The faun hesitated a moment more before adding on, "And Tumnus did prove himself by saving Queen Lucy from Jadis's clutches, at the risk of his own life."

"One simple act of valor alone is not sufficient to compensate for a life of sin and treachery," Calimus said, bitterness dripping like poison from his words. He spat on the ground. "And today, we see Tumnus gallivanting about from here to there as he pleases—and he resides freely in Cair Paravel, like he's one of the household! I find it quite incredible that our Kings and Queens do not kick him out." He paused. "Or, perhaps the Kings and Queens are not aware of his true past. Perhaps they do not fully comprehend the atrocity of what he's done."

Calimus now stooped down and picked up a large, knotted stick that lay upon the forest floor by his hooves as he went on spitefully, "And how could they? When you truly consider it, they are really nothing more than mere children." He juggled the stick expertly from one hand to the other. "Something must be done about Tumnus, Demitrius. It is high time we took matters into our own hands. Justice will be done…even if we must do it ourselves."

"So, what are we going to do about it?" Demitrius inquired. "What exactly would you have us do with Tumnus?"

Calimus responded to this by throwing his stick onto the ground, and then bringing his hoof down upon it with all his might—thereby shattering the stick entirely into splinters.

Demitrius jumped a mile upon seeing this, upon hearing the sharp, sickening crack of the wood.

"Exactly that," was all Calimus said.

Demitrius felt a less than pleasant shiver crawl down the length of his spine as he grasped the true meaning of Calimus's implication. But he smiled at his comrade, though it was a rather pathetic smile, and declared to the other faun, "Well, I must say, that's what I like about you, Calimus—you prove a very vivid point."

"As is my standard. Now, come. There is a great deal to be done."