Part One: Chapter One: Beardless Dwarves

"Why if it isn't Mr. Tumnus!" Thea laughed, jumping down from her perch in the tall oak tree. Tumnus, who had been startled half to death, dropped the packages he'd been carrying into the cold snow. He quickly collected his packages from the ground and feebly got to his feet.

"Thea Rose Fletcher. A face I have not see in a long time," he flipped his red scarf over his shoulder and proceeded on his way as his new companion trailed behind.

"You mean a face you never wished to see again'." she stated, tapping the side of her nose. Mr. Tumnus went to go retort, but stopped mid sentence. His cheeks flustered brightly but not because of the cold.

"It's almost nightfall, shouldn't you be back inside the palace?" he glared off at the ice castle on the horizon.

"Jadis is not expecting me until later." she smiled softly.

"You are not wary of her wrath." Tumnus commented.

"Perhaps." Thea contemplated before quickly dismissing the thought, "As long as I return by the sunset everything will be okay. Besides, if I get myself injured the trees will tell her of my fate." she tousled her blond braid. Tumnus nodded, although he was not completely convinced.

And why would he be? Jadis had ruled the land for a hundred years; a cold unbroken winter as her gift to Narnia. Jadis was a conqueror, a murder, an all powerful witch. She has cast Narnia into despair and starvation. Anyone who opposed her reign would be struck by her temper. Tumnus had lost his own father in an uprising against the Witch many years ago. Rebellion had never been seen again. So to the world, how could any relation of Jadis have a fleck of kindness in their heart? In rumour Thea, the Ward of the White Witch, was just as terrifying. To the rest of Narnia, she was a similarly sinister figure and the cause of much of their suffering.

Although, as rumours generally are, that couldn't be further from the truth. All the years by Jadis' side she had refused to become bitter. While the two bore similar appearances, they couldn't be more different. Much like the Queen, Thea's hair was almost white. Her eyes crystal blue but did not share the coldness in her Aunts. In fact if anything her eyes were warm and refreshing. Thea was a surprise. Unfortunately a surprise that only those that met her knew. While Jadis could be described as Amazonian in appearance, Thea was much daintier. Being half Jinn, like all her fellow Charn royalty, gave her more pleasant features to grace your eyes over. Her nose was rounded and petite. Her lips small but full.

"You are lucky." Tumnus nodded.

"I am grateful for that luck too." she tucked her coat around her tighter. Eyelashes covered in flecks of snow and nose slowly reddening.

"There are many Narnian's that despise you." he said irrationally.

"You speak as if you are one of them." Thea huffed playfully.

"Oh no, never! I couldn't… wouldn't!" he stuttered, the same blush returned to his cheeks.

"I am only teasing you Tumnus. I would never believe you capable of such heinousness."

"I meant to say that –," Tumnus tried to reiterate his point but was cut off by the snorts of his companion.

"You do make me laugh..." she tried to restrain her chuckle, "Do know you need not explain yourself. I know perfectly well why people, I believe the term you used was 'despise me'." Thea's face bore a knowing smirk, Tumnus smiled back.

"But I will take your advice. As soon as I aid you in your return. Until then, you have far too many packages to carry and I could use some good company." She took three and put them inside her leather bound satchel.

"Then you promise to go home?" Tumnus said as almost a plead.

"It will only be ten minutes to reach your home. Then yes. I could even call the wolves and carriage if it suits." Thea huffed. Although, at the mention of the wolves she could have sworn she saw Mr. Tumnus tense up.

The pair walked along carefully with the packages as Thea made certain that her cape did not drag in the snow behind her. Today she had only worn it to please her Aunt. Jadis was very proud of her majestic wardrobe; her enchanting gowns and fur capes were a fashion taste that Thea was undecided about. Today they had fought about what was appropriate to wear for royalty. It was a stretch that Jadis had even allowed Thea to wear what she was. Thea had picked out her worn down riding pants, her bleach white blouse and a tunic patched with grey suede and leather. Finally, her cape that she wore was the result of the agreement (well rather screaming match). Rimmed by an abundance of fur, it was a tad too eccentric for Thea's liking.

Tumnus walked on up ahead while Thea playfully wandered around in her surroundings. It was quite a magical day, as far as the Long Winter went. All until there was a terrible yelp and scream that echoed though the trees further along the path. With a racing heart she froze in her spot. The shout could have only belonged to Tumnus!

"Mr. Tumnus?" she called to no response. She padded forward in the snow, slowly drawing her enchanted dagger her Aunt had given to her; one that was very similar to Jadis' icy scepter. When she came to the clearing she heard voices and Tumnus' knees knocking.

"Were you hiding from me?" a tiny voice questioned.

"No, uh well...I just... I.. um. I..I... just didn't want to scare you." Tumnus' voice sounded much more intimidated that the small voice. Tumnus was in danger and Thea had the element of surprise on her side. Sneaking around the side of a large snow covered tree, Thea raised her knife and caught sight of the small dwarf-like creature in strange attire gaining on Tumnus.

"If you don't mind my asking, what are you?"

"Leave the faun alone!" Thea cried from the woods and appeared behind the dwarf, who spun around in shock. It almost fell over a raised root in the ground in surprise.

"I meant him no harm..." she cleared up frantically, arms held in surrender. Then her mind jumped back to Thea's comment.

"You're a faun?!" she turned briefly to Tumnus.

"You sound surprised for a beardless Dwarf!" Thea laughed.

"I'm not a dwarf. I'm a girl! And actually I'm tallest in my class." The girl pouted and crossed her arms over her chest.

"You mean to say, you're a daughter of Eve?" Tumnus' ears peaked in interest at the comment, as did Thea's.

"Well... my mum's name is Helen." The girl said with a raised brow.

"Ye –," he shook his head in disbelief, "Yes, but you are in fact... Human?"

"Yes, of course." She nodded as if it were obvious. Tumnus glared at Thea checking for any possible sinister glints in her eyes, there was none to be found.

"I never thought I'd see the day!" Thea raced by the daughter of Eve's side and kneeled down to her level, taking her face in her hands and inspecting her.

"What are you doing here?" Tumnus said from behind.

"Well, I was hiding in the wardrobe in the spare room –,"

"Spare Oom? Is that in Narnia?" Tumnus shook in the cold. Thea stood up and handed him a fallen parcel.

"Narnia? What's that?" the girl frowned.

"My dear girl, you're in it! Everything from the lamp-post all the way to castle Cair-Paravel on the Eastern Ocean. Every stick and stone you see, every icicle, is Narnia." Tumnus pointed to the lands of Narnia.

"It's an awfully big wardrobe." Lucy said with a weak smile.

Gently Tumnus continued, "I'm sorry, please allow me to introduce myself, my name is Tumnus."

"Glad to meet you, Mr. Tumnus! I'm Lucy Pevensie." she extended her hand and both Tumnus and Thea shared a confused glance, "Oh, you shake it!"

"Why?" the Narnian's laughed in unison.

"I-I don't know! People do it when they meet each other." she laughed as well, realising the absurdity of the gesture.

"I am Thea Rose Fletcher, Ward of the Queen of Narnia." Thea reached out to reciprocate the funny gesture Lucy had shown them beforehand, shaking her hand from side to side. She caught a glimpse of Tumnus' disapproval. Perhaps her full name was a tad too formal.

"Lucy Pevensie, from the shining city of War Drobe in the far land of Spare Oom, how would it be if you came and had tea with me and Miss Fletcher?" Tumnus proposed.

"Mr. Tumnus, could I have a private word with you over here for a minute, if that's alright with you sweet Lucy?" Thea frowned.

"I really should be going." Lucy pointed her thumb beyond the lamp post.

"Just one minute." Tumnus pleaded. She nodded innocently back, although you could see she was undecided. Thea took Tumnus by the arm and walked him over out of Lucy's ear range.

"Are you insane? If my..." Thea lowered her voice so that the trees could not hear, "If my Aunt was to learn of her presence all because I failed to return home you know very well what she would do to her. Skin the poor child alive she would."

"It's just tea." Tumnus said earnestly.

"Bid her my farewells. I must leave for home." Thea turned to leave, "And Tumnus. Watch over her. Ensure she gets home safely, I promise Jadis will hear no such mention of this Lucy Pevensie, Daughter of Eve. If we are lucky she will go back to where she came from and never return, for her sake and for ours." Thea said with a serious nod. Tumnus's gaze shifted slightly but he nodded in return, "Safe travels, until we meet again" she brushed her cape behind her and left.

From a distance she could see Tumnus beg for tea again and lead little Lucy back in the direction of his house. Lucy was safe in Tumnus' hands, Thea was sure of that. She had to be home herself now, as the sun had begun to set and the wild beasts would be out. Making her way to the peak of a nearby cliff she stood on the edge so she could clearly see her home, the icy castle that stood in the heart of treacherous Narnia. How Thea wished this winter would end. As she began to remove her cape for the journey home she noticed an odd sight on the tip of an icy branch. The icicle on the bottom of it had a small but clear water droplet forming on the bottom on it. The sight lit up Thea's face in realisation; Lucy Pevensie's arrival had marked the end of something long prophesized. The end of the Long Winter. Where ever she was right now, whether it be with Tumnus or back in Spare Oom, Thea wished her the very best.

Leaning over the edge of the cliff Thea prepared herself for the drop and that was the final thing about Thea Rose, while she was half Jinn by her mothers side, her father on the other hand was something the people of Charn called an Angelus; a human-like type being born with large, feathered wings resembling that of an eagles. Thea's cape no longer blocked the sight of the majestic winged limbs that sprung from her back and after leaning forward and leaving the safety of ground, she was on her way back to the castle and back to the screaming rants of her Aunt.

Authors Note: So for those of you who have never read my stuff before, I do this little thing called 'Song per Chapter'. It's instrumental music that sets the scene of each chapter as you read, it helps build emotion and overall they are magnificent songs to listen to. For the course of this story I will do the same. Usually I put the reference to the song at the start of the chapter, like above. I really recommend you listen to them because it makes your whole reading experience so much more enthralling.

Also feel free to leave as many reviews as you want, I respond to each of them as I post new chapters! Hope you enjoy!