I made a great first impression. The tour group had just left, and Mrs. Macready was just about to collapse into a chair when we walked in.

She sighed and smiled a fake smile. "You must be Ruth. Welcome to the Kirke Mansion. Do not touch anything that could break, and stay away during tours."

"Yes'm," I said politely. "You look weary. If you'd like, I could make you tea."

She blinked twice before replying. "No. No, that will not do. I must show you your room."

"If you insist, ma'am. Thank you."

She narrowed her eyes at me, and I felt a chill crawl down my spine. However, she flashed a quick smile, and I followed her up the stairs.

"Here is your room," she said grandly, throwing a door open. The room was bright with sunlight due to the large window. It wasn't very large, but cozy. A bed and nightstand were closest to the window, with a desk and bookshelf along the other wall. A chest just large enough for my clothes and a few small belongings sat at the foot of the bed.

​​​​​"It's lovely!" I exclaimed. "The walls are such a beautiful maroon."

"Why, I am most glad you like it, dear," she said warmly. "You go ahead and move in. Tea is in an hour."

"Thank you. But would you mind if I watched you make the tea? Then I could make it for you in the future."

"Would I mind? Of course not."

"Alright. I shall be down there shortly."

"Wonderful. In one hour." After she left, I gently closed the door.

Wait, I thought to myself. Where did the professor go? Ah, he must have slipped away while Mrs. Macready and I spoke. What a queer, delightful man!

I opened my bag and extracted my clothes. A pastel blue dress my mother made for my thriteenth birthday. Woolen socks Abigail and Mary made last winter. A few sweaters of various colors ranging from dark grey to lavender, a couple skirts and pairs of slacks. Not very many girls that I knew wore slacks, but they were too large for my brother, and quite comfortable! After laying them on the bed, I folded them into the chest.

Next, I put pictures of my family on the top of the desk, one after the other.

​​​Abigail and Mary's 8th, and last, birthday. Michael in his swimsuit after a race. My entire family in front of Big Ben. Mother and Father dancing in front of the fireplace. A picture of Michael and me holding the twins as babies. Tears came to my eyes, and I ran over to my new bed and flopped down. I drew deep breaths, and fought back the tears.

"Get up, Ruth. You're alright. Don't cry. You'll see them again," I mumbled as I sat up. I sighed and coughed back a sob.

Finally deciding I needed to distract myself, I got up, swiped at my eyes, and took another deep breath before stepping out into the hallway.

"After all, Mrs. Macready doesn't need me for an hour," I whispered to myself. "And she didn't say I couldn't explore..." With that logical thought, I opened a door.

This room was extravagant, to say the least. Rich tapestries were draped across the backs of chairs, and bookshelves lined the walls. After gawking at it, I reluctantly pulled the door shut.

The next room was rather dull. It had naught but a wardrobe. Something deep in my gut compelled me to go in, whereas a voice in my head screamed at me not to. My breathing became strangely labored, just standing in the doorway as the two feelings battled each other. I clenched my fists, and stepped into the room and closed the door.

I shivered; the room was frigid. I eyed the wardrobe warily. There must be a coat in there I could wear. Slowly, I approached it. I felt lightheaded, though I knew what I was doing was right. I opened the doors, and stepped inside to grab a coat.

"Oh, it's even colder in here!" I muttered, preparing to turn out.

Wait, a voice in my head said, overruling the heated voice trying to deter me from entering. I felt a flush of warmth inside, though the wardrobe was even colder than before. Do not turn away. Go to the back of the wardrobe. You will find what you are looking for there.

"Aslan?" I called out. "Aslan, is that you?" There was silence, but I felt that it was him. "Why do you want me to go to the back of the wardrobe? All I want is a coat... this one fits perfectly." I slid it on, but the sleeves barely reached my elbows. "Well, maybe not." I moved a little further into the closet. "This one works better. But, oh! That one is so pretty!" As I reached out towards the shiny fur coat, my hand touched something cold and pointy. I yanked my hand back. "What was that?" I tentatively reached out again. I stepped closer. "Is that a... tree branch?"

Surely enough, it was a pine branch, weighted down with snow. As I stepped further and further into the wardrobe, I began to realize I wasn't in the wardrobe at all. I was stepping into a another world.

My apprehensions forgotten and my nausea alleviated, my wonder and curiosity got the better of me. I shuffled through the snow, gazing in bewilderment around me. Puffy clouds obscured the sky, and snowflakes fell gently around me and rested on my upturned face.

"Aslan!" I cried out joyfully. "Aslan, are you here? This is wonderful!"

I heard nothing except the whispering of leaves in the breeze. I flopped down on my back, feeling freer than I ever had in London, even before the war. Here, there was no one to tell me to change a diaper, start laundry, or even to come inside. From the the looks of it, there was no "inside" to come in to.

I took a deep breath and let it all out in a laugh. I didn't know why I was laughing, but I was filled with such immense joy, laughter was the only way to express it.

I stood up and looked around again. I scooped up a pile of snow and threw it into the air. "Aslan, this is great! Please come out now; I admit you were right. I should have come to the back right away."

I heard a twig snap. No, make that multiple twigs. Paralyzed by fear, I didn't turn around until it was right behind me. I met with wide eyes the top of a tree, bending down to my eye level. I took a step back uncertainly.

"Daughter of Eve," it rasped. I bit my lip to keep from screaming. "Why do you thank your foolish Lion for this gift of snow? It is the Queen to who allowed Narnia to have infinite winter."

"Infinite?" I asked, finding a surge of courage and stepping forward. "And why do you call Aslan a foolish Lion? Are you afraid to say his name?"

It hissed. "No. Only Queen Jadis is powerful. And yes, silly little girl, Narnia has infinite winter. Isn't it delightful?"

I glanced around again. I looked up at the clouds, which had darkened significantly since my arrival. The snowflakes were falling faster and harder, solidifying around my feet.

"I-I'm not so sure. It seems so... gloomy."

​​​​"Ah, but you see, she has made it better! Narnia is now solely under her rule, and independent from the tyrannical monarchs of olden days. We rely on no one but ourselves. It's really quite pleasant once you stay a while. Would you like to look around? I'm sure the Queen herself would love to meet you."

This time, my head told me it was a brilliant idea, while my stomach rebelled. "I... better not. Not today. Thank you, Mr. Tree, sir, but I should really be heading home."

"Oh, dear, no need. Just come this way-" His scrawny branches lunged for me. I rolled in the snow, out of the way just in time. I gasped each time he attempted to grab me, but I rolled closer and closer to the wardrobe.

"You think you can run!" the tree shrieked. "You think you can hide! But the Queen knows all. She shall double her watch for the likes of you as well as anyone who might threaten her throne!"

I opened my mouth to ask questions, but shut it promptly as I realized that may not be wise. He swiped at me again; this time scratching the back of my left leg, tearing my trousers, and leaving stinging pain. I crawled through the snow to the wardrobe entrance, ignoring the crackle of twigs behind me. I was soon surrounded by coats, and got a mouthful of the coat I wanted to try on. I coughed it out, and stumbled out of the doors.

Once I had slammed the wardrobe shut behind me, I tried to recover my breath. I shakily twisted my leg to better examine the wound. Sticky red blood oozed onto the fabric of my pants, and I winced when I saw how deep the gash was. I stood up and walked as normally as I could to the door and back to my room. I peeled my trousers off and put on a knee-length skirt instead, promising myself I would mend them tonight. I pulled on a pair of high black socks to cover the gash, and hurried downstairs to where I thought the kitchen would be.

"Whoa, what's the hurry, Ruth?" The professor stopped me in my tracks.

"Oh! I told Mrs. Macready that I would help her make tea this afternoon, an hour ago."

"Ah, but you haven't been here an hour! You weren't upstairs for more than fifteen minutes."

"Oh..." I was dumbfounded, to say the least. Mortified, I dropped my head. "I'm sorry, it must have seemed longer."

"Possibly. Anyway, I'm sure she wouldn't mind starting early. The kitchen is right down this hallway." I followed the direction his finger pointed, thanked him, and found Mrs. Macready setting out tea cups.

"Ah, what a cute skirt! Why did you change?"

"Oh, thank you!" I said brightly, my face reddening. "I felt so dirty in my travel clothes..." I hated lying, but it was better than the alternative: telling the truth.

"Understandable! So, Ruth, the cups are in this cupboard..."

The next few minutes were spent learning where everything was in the kitchen and preparing tea for seven. "Now while these steep," Mrs. Macready said, already pulling gloves on, "I will go grab the other children at the train station."

"Alright, ma'am," I said. "I will be upstairs for the time being."

"Great. I will be back shortly." And with that, she strode out the door.

I waited to make sure she was gone, then ran upstairs. On the way up, I began to relive my short time in Narnia. It had seemed so pleasant at first, but knowing Narnia had become isolated and desolate because of the winter make my heart sink. I was sad if I didn't see the sun even for a day or two. My family used to tease me for being the only child in London who was bothered by the constant cloud cover; infinite winter seemed like it would be unbearable. I walked into my room and closed the door.

"I need to change this. Narnia doesn't deserve endless winter from a wicked tyrant. I must help!" I leaned up against the door. "But I'm only a girl. And a foolish, useless, incapable one at that."

You must help, the voice said in my head. Do not listen to the lies. I know the plans I have for you. You must free Narnia, Ruth. I called you because you are able. You can save Narnia.