Chapter Text
I sat in the Professor's office, my fingers tracing the worn edges of an ancient map of Narnia that I'd drawn from memory years ago. The parchment had yellowed with time, much like my hopes of returning home.
"Katharina, my dear," Professor Kirke said gently, looking up from his desk. "You seem troubled today."
I sighed. It had been eleven long years since I was sent away from Narnia by my godfather, Aslan, and every day I missed my land with an ache that never dulled. But I was starting to lose hope that I would ever return to Narnia. Even if the Professor kept saying that I should keep faith that one day I would go back.
"I'm trying to remember the exact shade of the Eastern Sea at sunrise," I admitted. "It's... fading."
The Professor nodded sympathetically. He was one of the few people who understood, who believed me when I spoke of Narnia. "Today might bring a pleasant distraction, at least. Mrs. Macready is bringing the four children that I told you that will stay at the mansion because of the war."
I perked up at this news. I was quite enthusiastic; I didn't have many friends, as not many children lived near here. The isolation of the countryside had its charms, but companionship my own age was rare.
"Perhaps some fresh young minds will do you good," the Professor said, adjusting his spectacles. "Children often see things more clearly than adults do."
I nodded, folding my map carefully. "When will they arrive?"
"They should be here already, I believe." The Professor shuffled through some papers on his desk, then paused. "Would you mind returning this to the library for me, dear?" He extended a brown leather book toward me, its spine cracked from years of use.
"Of course," I replied, taking it from his hands. The weight of it felt familiar somehow, comforting.
I walked out of his study, closing the heavy oak door behind me. As I moved down the corridor, I could hear Mrs. Macready's voice.
"Professor Kirke is not accustomed to having children in his house."
I placed the Professor's book on a nearby table and moved to the top of the stairs, curious about our new guests. I looked down from the top of the stair to see Mrs. Macready with four children standing in the entryway. They looked travel-worn and slightly nervous—two boys and two girls of varying ages. The Pevensie siblings, I presumed.
"And as such, there are a few rules we need to follow," Mrs. Macready was saying in her stern voice, the one she reserved for important instructions. "There will be no shouting... or running. No improper use of the dumbwaiter—"
The older girl, who had dark hair and carried herself with a certain poise, reached out to touch a marble bust on the pedestal beside her.
"NO touching of the historical artifacts!" Mrs. Macready exclaimed sharply.
The girl quickly withdrew her hand, looking embarrassed. The youngest girl, who couldn't have been more than eight, glanced up at her sister with wide eyes.
"And above all," Mrs. Macready continued sternly, "there shall be no disturbing of the Professor."
She pointed up the stairs toward the Professor's office door, and all four children followed her gesture with their eyes. That's when they noticed me standing there. I felt suddenly self-conscious but managed a friendly smile and waved at them. The youngest girl offered a small wave back.
I descended the stairs, my hand trailing along the polished banister.
"Hello, Mrs. Macready," I said when I reached the bottom.
Mrs. Macready's stern expression softened. "Hello, Katharina." She turned to the children who were watching me with curious eyes. "Children, this is the Professor's granddaughter, Katharina."
I suppressed a smile at the familiar introduction. Mrs. Macready didn't know that I was from Narnia. She didn't even know about Narnia. To her, I was simply the Professor's orphaned granddaughter who had come to live with him after my parents died in an accident—the story we had carefully maintained all these years.
"Would you mind, dear, to show them where their bedrooms are?" Mrs. Macready asked me.
"Of course," I replied, glad for the opportunity to meet the newcomers.
Mrs. Macready smiled at me and walked past me, likely heading to attend to her other duties.
I turned my attention to the four siblings standing before me. They were all watching me with varying degrees of interest and wariness.
"Hello," I said warmly. "I'm Katharina, as you've just heard. Welcome to Professor Kirke's home."
The oldest boy stepped forward slightly. He had blond hair and carried himself with the bearing of someone who felt responsible for the others. "Thank you. I'm Peter Pevensie, and these are my siblings Susan, Edmund, and Lucy."
The older girl—Susan, I now knew—gave me a polite smile. She was quite pretty, with dark hair and a composed demeanor despite her earlier embarrassment with the sculpture. Edmund, the younger boy, merely nodded, his expression somewhat sullen. Little Lucy offered me a shy smile that immediately warmed my heart.
"It's lovely to meet you all," I said. "I hope you'll be comfortable here. It's a big house with plenty of places to explore, though as Mrs. Macready said, there are some rules to follow." I gestured for them to follow me up the stairs. "Your rooms are this way. The Professor had them prepared specially."
As I led them through the corridor, I couldn't help but feel a strange sense of anticipation. Something about these four siblings stirred memories of Narnia within me—memories I had been trying desperately to keep alive. Perhaps it was simply that they were the first children to stay at the mansion in years, but I felt an inexplicable connection forming already.
"Have you lived here long?" Susan asked as we walked.
"Since I was five," I answered, not elaborating further. "The Professor is very kind, though he can be a bit... eccentric. You'll get used to it."
I led them down the hall, pointing out the bathroom and the various sitting rooms along the way. When we reached the girls' bedroom, a spacious room with two beds and a large window overlooking the grounds, Susan set down her small suitcase and turned to me.
"Is Mrs. Macready always so... strict?" she asked hesitantly.
I smirked lightly. "She isn't so bad as she seems. She's just protective of the Professor's things. Once you learn the rules, she's actually quite fair."
After showing them their rooms and helping them settle in, I left them to unpack and rest from their journey. The Professor was pleased when I told him our guests had arrived safely, and he reminded me to make them feel welcome.
Later that evening, I noticed the temperature had dropped considerably. The old house could get quite chilly at night, especially for those not used to it. I gathered some extra blankets from the linen closet and made my way to the girls' room.
When I knocked and entered, I found not just Susan and Lucy but Peter as well. The three of them looked up as I came in.
"Here, I brought some more blankets," I said, placing them at the foot of Lucy's bed. The little girl was already tucked under her covers, looking small against the large bed.
"Thank you," Peter said with genuine gratitude.
Lucy shifted under her covers. "The sheets feel scratchy," she said softly.
Susan sat on the edge of her sister's bed. "Wars don't last forever, Lucy. We'll be home soon."
The door creaked open again, and Edmund appeared in the doorway, leaning against the frame with his arms crossed.
"If home's still there," he said darkly.
Susan turned to him with an exasperated look. "Isn't it time you were in bed?"
"Yes, Mum," Edmund replied sarcastically, rolling his eyes.
"Ed," Peter glared at his brother, warning clear in his voice.
Then Peter's expression softened as he turned back to Lucy. "You saw the outside. This place is huge. We can do whatever we want here. Tomorrow's going to be great... Really."
I felt a sudden urge to offer them something to look forward to. "You know, there's a horse stable just across from the house. We have a lot of horses there. They're mine."
Lucy's eyes lit up. "Really?"
"Yes," I nodded, smiling at her enthusiasm. "I could take all of you horseback riding. How does that sound?"
"That sounds wonderful!" Susan replied, a genuine smile replacing her worried expression.
Peter and Edmund both nodded in agreement, and Lucy clapped her hands together excitedly.
"Alright!" she exclaimed.