It happened so suddenly. Amelia barely had a chance to register the fact that they were no longer in Narnia.
The moment her feet had flattened on the solid wood flooring, Lucy had bounced off and ran for her shared room with Susan. Amelia knew what Lucy was about to do; it was a terrible idea, to say the least. She pushed off after Lucy, but the girl was already far ahead. It seemed that all thoughts of being quiet suddenly did not exist as the two carelessly ran through the corridors. But to no avail, Lucy threw open her bedroom door and flung herself inside the room. She started shaking Susan roughly in an attempt to rouse her from her slumber. Amelia ran in after her, but all too late.
"What's the matter?" Susan grumbled, still half-asleep. Lucy did not stay behind long enough to answer. She dashed across the hall to Peter's room, jumping on his sleeping figure.
"Peter! Peter! Wake up! Peter, wake up! It's there, it's really there!"
Amelia quickly helped Susan pull her on her robe before jogging across the hall to boys' room.
Peter lazily rolled onto his back, annoyed, and grumbled: "Lucy, what are you talking about?"
"Narnia!" She excitedly exclaimed, "It's in the wardrobe like I told you!"
Edmund waltzed into the room, followed by Susan who was still fighting with the robe.
"Oh, you've just been dreaming Lucy." Susan frustratingly stated, moving to stand beside Amelia.
"But I haven't!" She said in a desperate attempt to convince her siblings, "I saw Mr. Tumnus again! And this time, Amelia and Edmund went too!"
The two older Pevensie's turned to Amelia and Edmund, confused by Lucy's statement.
"You...you saw the faun?" Peter said slowly like he was talking to a group of two-year-olds.
Amelia, afraid of her answer, decided to stay quiet. She knew Edmund would surely lie about his experience in the mythical world. Amelia knew that she could never do that to Lucy; betray her like she was only the last potato on the dinner table, however, she doubted any of her words would convince the little girl's older brother and sister. This was a sibling quarrel, and she decided that it was best to stay out of it.
"Well, Amelia did, but Edmund didn't actually go there with us. He..." Lucy trailed off, turning to Edmund quizzically, "What were you doing Edmund?"
Now that Lucy planted the seed, Amelia wondered the same thing... what had Edmund been doing while they were at Mr. Tumnus' house? When did he get there? How did he get there? Did he follow them?
"I was just playing along," Edmund nonchalantly stated, "I'm sorry Peter. I shouldn't have encouraged her, but you know what little children are like these days, they just don't know when to stop pretending."
Amelia could not recall a time where had ever felt so angry. Lucy's face was the pure definition of sadness as it seemed to contort in slow motion, her lower lip trembling like her eyes as the tears leaked over their reservoir. With a loud sob, the girl ran out of the room, Amelia right behind her.
Susan and Peter followed, Peter wasting no time in shoving Edmund onto the bed before sprinting out after the girls. Lucy ran down the hall, Amelia not far behind.
Lucy rounded the corner, disappearing from Amelia's sight. Amelia quickly rounded the corner herself...
Only to be faced with an entirely different situation
It seemed that Lucy had run right into Professor Kirke, and he now held her to his well-fed belly as if she were his own daughter.
Amelia stopped in her tracks, not sure of her next move. She had hardly uttered a word to the professor during her stay here, nevertheless, she doubted she could fathom any words worth speaking.
Peter and Susan rounded the corner behind Amelia, almost running straight into her. They both stared on in shock.
Then, as if to add to the party, the Macready stalked down the hall, her shrill voice echoing throughout the large house, "You children are one shenanigan shy of sleeping in the stable-oh, professor..." she trailed off once she laid her eyes on the scene before her, "I'm sorry. I told them you were not to be disturbed."
"It's quite alright, Mrs. Macready – I'm sure there is a logical explanation," The Professor said, his voice thick with understanding, "but first, I think this one is need of a little hot chocolate."
Lucy gingerly followed the Macready who had an arm placed comfortingly around her shoulder as they walked – presumably – down to the kitchen. Amelia, Peter, and Susan seemed to think as one since all three tried to quietly sneak off in hopes of catching some more sleep before the night ended. The Professor was quick to clear his throat and all three children stopped in their tracks.
"I think it best if you three follow me."
He led them to his office. It was guarded by a large wooden door, but Amelia was too nervous to feel safe. She had that gnawing feeling in the pit of her stomach. She felt like she was back in school and had been called to the principal's office because she threw her school bag at the window that had been adorned with twisting and changing raindrops. She didn't mean to throw the bag, but she couldn't help it. The roaring lion had given her such a fright and it resulted in her breaking the window on the wettest day of the year.
"You seem to have upset the internal balance of my housekeeper," The Professor coolly stated, lighting his tobacco pipe. Amelia's lip curled distastefully at the smoke and she decided to let the two siblings do the talking. They were the ones responsible for Lucy anyway, but besides that, Amelia was too afraid she would start yelling at them for not believing their younger sister.
"We're very sorry sir, it won't happen again." Peter quickly apologised before grabbing hold of Susan and Amelia's robes, prepared to leave, but Susan remained rooted.
"It's our sister, sir" Susan stated with slight desperation.
"The weeping girl?" The Professor asked.
"Yes sir," Susan confirmed, "She's upset."
"Hence the weeping," Amelia let out a slight laugh at his sarcasm. She was starting to like this man who had so graciously provided her with shelter. His humour was... flattering to the situation.
"It's nothing," Peter quickly answered, "We can handle it."
"Oh, I can see that." This only made Amelia smile more as she stood off to the side, preparing herself for the lecture she knew the siblings were about to get. Serves them right, she grumpily thought.
Susan took a deep breath before explaining, "She thinks she's found a magical land, in the upstairs wardrobe."
The Professor was suddenly on his feet at Susan's words, causing Amelia to jump. He gestured for the three of them to sit on the couches filling up the room, taking his own seat in one of the remaining armchairs.
"What did you say?" The Professor asked. Amelia did not miss the slight gleam in his eye as he looked at the two Pevensies. Amelia seemed to be at a disregard and she was fine with that.
"Um, the upstairs wardrobe," Peter elaborated, "Lucy thinks she's found a forest inside."
"She won't stop going on about it!" Susan complained.
"...and she made up this whole story about how Edmund and Amelia went with her."
The Professor raised an eyebrow and glanced at Amelia for the first time this evening.
"You're not saying you believe her?" Peter asked; doubt and disbelief laced his tone.
"What was it like?" He enquired, clearly curious. Amelia perked up at his interest, very willing to speak about her experience in Narnia and no longer caring for the presence of the two older Pevensies.
Susan had quickly interrupted the sentence Amelia had not yet spoken, "Like talking to a lunatic!"
"No, no, not her, the forest," he corrected. Susan and Peter looked at each other in disbelief, probably shocked that such an intelligent, wealthy man would care about some 'make believe' forest.
"You don't?" The Professor asked, seemingly shocked by their decision.
"Well of course not," Susan said, "I mean logically, it's impossible"
The Professor looked on in shock, murmuring to himself, "What do they teach in schools these days?"
Amelia remained quiet by her place on the couch, very interested in the sudden change of events.
"Edmund said they were only pretending," Peter tried to defend himself and Susan.
"And he's usually the more truthful one, is he?" The professor inquired. He raised his eyebrow knowingly.
"This would be the first time..." Peter reluctantly admitted.
"Well then," Professor started, "If she's not mad and she's not lying, then logically, we must assume she's telling the truth." He struck a match and lit his pipe.
"So you're saying we should just believe her?"
"Amelia has done so, quite willingly actually, and she only met the girl a few days ago. She's your sister, isn't she? You're family, you might just try acting like one!"
Amelia praised the man for his insight.
The Pevensies were dismissed from the office and Amelia turned to follow when the Professor's voice called out behind her.
"Amelia, I would like to speak with you a while longer, if you don't mind."
"Uhhhh... sure professor," she hesitantly replied.
Peter and Susan had left and Amelia was alone in the room with Professor Kirke. She liked the professor, however, she was nervous as to why he wanted her to stay behind. Amelia kept her gaze to the floor. She had been in the Professor's office before on numerous occasions – to get books, fetch his keys and so forth. Never before had she experienced the sight of flying phoenixes and dancing fauns on the wall behind his desk, but she could feel it: a deep bubbling, magical feeling behind her eyes.
It was silent for a few moments before the Professor spoke, "There is so much... so much that you do not know."
"Sir?"
He got up and slowly started walking around the room – seemingly deep in thought. Amelia's eyes wandered to the wall behind his potent desk. The patterns had started changing before her eyes, she knew what was coming. Slowly, bit by bit, every shape and line had begun to thread itself into a new picture. No longer worried about the Professor, she walked forward towards the wall. Her hand touching the map that had changed so elegantly before her. Near the ceiling, on the top of the wall, stood 3 singled-out words:
Map of Narnia.
"Amelia..." The professor trailed off behind her, "What do you see?"
She took a deep breath, her eyes fixed on the lamppost where she was merely hours before, "You wouldn't believe me if I told you, sir."
She turned to face him and saw that a knowing smile had graced his features. He started circling her, like a scientist inspecting his latest discovery. He was mumbling to himself, but Amelia only caught a few words, "Blue eyes...mother...dark hair...father...warlock...witch...child."
He stopped in his tracks so suddenly it caused Amelia to jump. His eyes grew wider with each passing second, "It cannot be..."
Amelia felt her heart pumping. This was strange behaviour which she had never seen before. It was as if he was going mad right before her eyes. His entire being radiated an abnormal feeling, one Amelia had only ever felt in one other place – Narnia.
His head jerked towards her, a look of disbelief in his eye. "Amelia," He started, his voice low with seriousness, "I need you to listen to me. Everything you know is about to change. Narnia is a very troubled place. While it is beautiful, it is still ruled by someone who is not fit for the throne."
Amelia's tilted her head, confused. How did the Professor know so much about Narnia?
"I need you to remember this, for you will be forced to choose. You will need to choose soon, very soon," he came closer to her face, his eyes were begging her to listen and understand. She slowly started shaking silently. "Narnia is not happy under her rule. They deserve to be free under the rightful king, to be ruled by the Sons of Adam and the Daughters of Eve; as it was foretold. The time will come, Amelia, where you will have to choose between two different forms of love. Choose wisely, for it will either mean the death of hundreds, or life in Narnia."
She did not stay behind to hear more.