Here’s my second attempt at Narnian fan fiction. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go on with this, given that Swanwhite already did something quite similar before. However, I noticed that I have a bad habit of not finishing things that I’ve begun, so I decided to finish this off so that I can start my next project, which Lea suggested – a letter from Alberta Scrubb to her friend complaining about the changes she noticed in Eustace. (I guess you can tell I’m beginning to enjoy writing fan fiction).

Anyway, here’s Professor Kirke’s next letter to Polly after hearing about the adventures of the Pevensies in Narnia. If you haven’t read part 1, it would be a good idea to read it first here.

My dear friend Polly,

I told you that I had a feeling that the children would have more adventures in Narnia, and I was right. This morning, I heard a knock on my study door again. It wasn’t a timid knock, like the last time; it was more of a firm rat-tat-tat-tat. I hurriedly opened the door because I had a feeling that it would be the children, and it was. The four children stood quite straight and proper on the hallway, and said, “Good morning, Professor” rather formally. “Good morning, children,” I replied, and looked at each of them solemnly. They looked back at me without blinking, until I asked, “It was Jadis, wasn’t it? I sure hope you have dealt with her before leaving Narnia. It is only quite logical to do so.” They all looked at each other and burst out in laughter, then they bounded inside my study and pulled chairs for themselves.

The entire story tumbled out, with each of the children finishing the other’s sentence. Indeed, the White Witch was our old acquaintance Jadis, just as I feared. I forgot to ask them how she came to be in Narnia in the first place – I mean, what about the Tree of Protection? I must ask Peter tomorrow. Also, hundreds and hundreds of years have already passed since the beginning of Narnia, and there were many kings of Narnia after King Frank. I knew time passed differently there, but I didn’t expect how fast it was compared to ours. 

Anyway, it seems that Edmund did something really bad when they first got there. The other children skirted over the topic and wouldn’t go into details, out of consideration for poor Edmund. I must ask Peter about it in private tomorrow. The result was that Edmund was supposed to die in the hands of Jadis. I asked them what happened, since Edmund was very much alive in front of me and I doubt if Jadis would willingly let him go. There was an awkward silence, until Edmund himself begun to talk in a quiet voice. Did you know what happened next? Aslan himself took Edmund’s place and was killed by the White Witch. Imagine that! I couldn’t believe it at first – remember how Aslan didn’t even flinch when Jadis threw an iron bar at him? How could she hurt him this time, and hurt him enough to kill him? I asked them repeatedly if they were certain that he actually died, but Susan assured me of this point. She is not a liar and is not given to exaggerations, nor is she mad. So I must conclude that what she says is true. There are things about this that I don’t fully understand yet; I really must ask Peter for more details tomorrow.

While I was busy trying to grasp the concept of Aslan dying, Lucy excitedly broke into my thoughts by saying that Aslan did not stay dead – he rose again! She described the scene of his resurrection breathlessly, and I could almost imagine the magic in the air and the music in the winds when it happened. Oh, what I would give to be there with him at that moment! I suddenly remember how he looked at me with tears in his eyes and told me that we must be good to each other, for only we knew what grief was. Perhaps he was thinking forward to the moment when he would have to die for a son of Adam, in order to save all of Narnia.

Aslan (and his army) proceeded to kill the White Witch and defeat her minions, and the four Pevensie children became kings and queens of Narnia. They were there for more than twenty years, until they found themselves back through the wardrobe at the spare room.

At that point, Peter looked sheepish and told me that they were very sorry, but they “borrowed” four coats from the wardrobe since it was very cold on their first day together in Narnia, but they did not know where to find those now. I told them not to worry, and gave them a lot of sage advice which they would do well to remember. I do hope you can come and visit when the opportunity comes, so that you can meet them and hear the story for yourself.

Ever your friend,

Digory Kirke

Photo grabbed from Pinterest at this link.

How did Professor Kirke feel when he first heard that Lucy has been to Narnia? Here’s a glimpse through his letter to his old friend. By the way, this is my first attempt at fan fiction of any kind, so any suggestions will be most welcome. You can find part 2 here.

My dear friend Polly,

I hope this letter finds you in the best of health. I must smile a bit while writing your name because indeed, Polly is a funny name. I know you are thinking that it is not half so funny as Digory, and if you were here, we could go on about it, like we did as children.

I’m writing to share with you some news that will surprise you for sure. A month ago, I received a telegram from Mrs. Helen Pevensie of Finchley – I do not know if you remember her, she was a distant relation of my Aunt Letty. It is the usual story – the father is fighting in the war, the air raids are going on about London, and the mother knows their house in the middle of the city is not safe, especially for her children. Mrs. Pevensie cannot leave the house for fear that the dreaded telegram from the War Office should come one day and not find her there, but she implored me to take in her four children since she knew the country is much safer than the city. I remember how you adamantly told me once that London is not a beastly hole, but indeed it is, especially during these trying times.

I had no qualms in agreeing to her request, since it can get lonely out here with only my trusty housekeeper, Mrs. Macready, and the handful of servants to keep me company. You know that even I am a bit afraid of Mrs. Macready, so I thought it would be interesting to suddenly have four bustling children running around the country house.

More than a week ago, the four Pevensie children arrived, and such well-behaved children they were, except for one who is a bit of a rascal. The oldest boy is named Peter, and you’d think he was older than he really was. I reckon it’s because he is the oldest among the four, and so is taking on the role of the absent father for his siblings. The next one is named Susan, quite a lovely young lady and very mature for her age. She reminds me a lot of her mother, Mrs. Pevensie. The third is the rascal I mentioned earlier, who is named Edmund. I will admit something to you and trust that you will not repeat this to anyone else, but this boy Edmund reminds me a lot of myself when I was his age. The youngest is a dear little girl named Lucy, who is a favorite among the servants for her sweet smile and coaxing manners.

I noticed that they made sure never to disturb me – probably one of the rules of Mrs. Macready that I do not know about – except one morning when Peter and Susan knocked timidly at my study door. I hastened to find chairs for them and told them that I was at their disposal, and they begun to share such wonderful news. The youngest child, Lucy, has entered Narnia through the magical wardrobe in my country house! I’m sure you remember that the wardrobe was made from the apple tree I planted years ago, from the apple that Aslan himself handed to me for my sick mother.

While they were telling their story, I could not move out of surprise and a sudden flooding of memories – the Wood between the Worlds, the creation of Narnia, the cabby and the horse Strawberry whom we accidentally brought along – or should we call them King Frank and Fledge now?

Here comes the sad news however. Narnia is under a spell by a powerful enchantress whom Narnians refer to as the White Witch. She is styling herself as the Queen of Narnia, and I wonder whatever happened to King Frank and Queen Helen (remember how she first appeared in Narnia with soapsuds up to her elbows?). We have no idea how Narnian time has passed since we’ve been there last, so this White Witch could be anybody. But I have a sinking feeling that it could be none other than Jadis, the Queen of Charn, whom I woke up from her magical slumber. It is an act I have since regretted much – even though both you and Aslan have graciously forgiven me – but never more so than now.

The older children are afraid that their sister is going mad, because they found nothing special or magical about the wardrobe when they went to investigate. I was surprised that they never even considered the possibility that Lucy is telling the truth, even though it is the most logical explanation. What do they teach at schools these days?

I will write to you again when I have more news. I have a feeling that this is not the end of the children’s adventures in Narnia.

Ever your friend,

Digory Kirke

Photo grabbed from Pinterest at this link.