Chapter 3 [Audio/Commentlog]

[faun_tumnus]

[Tumnus had re-awoken in his room two days prior and he hadn't left until now. It had taken time for the memories to begin to surface again and when they had, the faun could only pray that he was mistaken

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[angha_firebird]

Aara hasn't regained her memories yet, but she saw Tumnus' figure slumped out in the rain, and she frowns. Grabbing her now-clean blanket she had thoroughly washed clean of blood, Aara quickly makes her way to Tumnus's slumped form, slowing her footsteps as she nears him until she's at his side.

She wraps the blanket around his shoulders.

"Why are you not inside?"

[faun_tumnus]

Tumnus couldn't imagine ever feeling clean again, even as the rain ran clear off his skin and fur. He had scrubbed himself until he nearly bled after he had woken, not caring that the shower had been ice cold. He had simply wanted to clean himself, but even without the blood there he felt as if it remained.

He is lost in his thoughts, his mind full of images that won't wash away with the rain, and thereby starts when Aara's blanket moves to cover his shoulders.

He blinks up through the rain at the unfamiliar face and shakes his head as his ears flick back against his skull. "There is no place for me to be inside .. it is safer for everyone if I remain thus separated .."

[angha_firebird]

Aara does not understand that in the slightest, and tilts her head slightly to prove it.

"Why is that?"

[faun_tumnus]

Tumnus shakes his head, looking away from those clear eyes, so full of innocent curiosity .. but the concern is there too, and it pains him to see it directed at himself just now.

"I have sinned in the worst possible way .. I took the lives of two .. two that I considered friends .. I .. I cannot think of any worse crime than that .."

His pain filled gaze lifts once again to Aara's, uncertain what he will find there. "Go inside, child .. I am not worthy of your concern .."

[angha_firebird]

Well, now. That's not going to work. Aara frowns slightly, then crouches down in the rain before him. She's not going anywhere, Tumnus, sorry to say. She is concerned, and is not bothered by whatever it is he is apparently so upset about. He is sad, and needs company.

A friend.

Aara will provide whichever he does not turn away.

"Why would you wish to harm two of your friends?" Her question holds only innocent curiosity. She can sense something more is going on here. "If you are so sad about it, then you are not so unworthy as you claim."

/default icon of faiiiiiiillllllll

[faun_tumnus]

Tumnus doubts that convincing Aara to leave so quickly will be so easy, but he had to try. No point in the both of them catching their death in the rain, after all; and for a stranger, no less.

He turns to look at her as she crouches and speaks, his blue-grey eyes meeting the her own pale eyes and shakes his head. "I did not wish to .. it was completely out of my control, but .. but that does not discount that I have done so .."

He chokes off, looking away at the last of her words. "The images haunt me, child .. One of those I harmed has returned, but the other .. I know not if she will .. And even if she does .. even that Bobby has .. it does not deflect my sin or the gravity of it."

You are fiiiiine love <3

[angha_firebird]

Shaking her head calmly, Aara can only smile at Tumnus's words.

"If you did not wish to, then you are still a good friend. The fact that you did not have control over the situation is troubling, but it is also understandable. You have not lost your honor, and therefore I do not believe it is possible you lost any of your friendships." Her smile lengthens. "Your heart is still in the right place. They will see that, and they will know."

The smile slips from her face at the pain and horror in Tumnus's tone and expression, and she can't help but lean forward and reach out to him. If Tumus is willing, Aara takes both of his hands in hers. She is still crouched before him, but there is a strong sense of concern in her gaze.

"You have to believe she will." It was the only thing Aara could think of to say. "You have to believe that she will return, and that she will understand. She will forgive you. If she calls you friend, then her heart will ache just as much as mine to see you like this. Do not lose hope, or you will lose sight of

[faun_tumnus]

Her words are so earnest that when she takes his hands he can't help but look back to her and meet her gaze. He searches her gaze, but all he can find in them is a genuine concern. There is no horror or doubt .. there is no anger or disgust.

He searches those pale eyes for several minutes, already so perilously close to losing his faith in everything. But she was right .. "You're right .." he manages softly. "If I lose faith in that then it all begins to crumble .. I'll never dig myself out again .."

He breathes in deeply befor he exhales slowly, gathering himself in the one breath before offering the smallest of smiles.

"You are a blessing, child .."

[angha_firebird]

Heart reaching out to him, Aara only hopes she reaches him from the deep despair surrounding his form. His words a moment later brings hope coursing through her. Hope that he will be well again.

Nodding at his realization, Aara can't help the small smile that forms. She's happy and relieved and thankful that he seems to be a little bit better.

Blushing lightly at that last phrase, Aara slowly ducks and shakes her head, her content smile never waning.

"You are a blessing. To all those you hold dear."

[faun_tumnus]

Tumnus chuckles softly at her words, shaking his horned head once. "I am what I am .. nothing more, nothing less .. but I am content with that."

No matter who his friends had been, he would always be a simple faun. No sonnets would be sung of him, nor would he be remembered even for his closeness to Queen Lucy.

He tells himself that this is fine; he never expected praise or accolations, after all.

He looks down then, at her soaked blanket, as if realizing it for the first time and then his gaze rises to the drenched form of Aara herself. "Child! We must get you inside! You'll catch your death out here in this .. OH! Your blanket is soaked clear through .." The faun looks completely aghast, already moving to clamber up to his feet.

[angha_firebird]

"What you are is a blessing. All who meet you are blessed to have you in their lives."

For life and living were truly precious gifts.

Aara is taken aback by Tumnus's frantic words and worry. When she realizes she is soaked through--and so is he--she starts to giggle.

"I am fine. We should probably get inside, though."