The Four Children Enter Narnia Together

The four Pevensie children—Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy—enter Narnia together for the first time when they are forced to hide in the wardrobe to avoid being discovered by Mrs. Macready and a party of sightseers. This event marks the true beginning of their collective adventure in Narnia, as they emerge from the wardrobe into a snowy forest and immediately confront the reality of Lucy's earlier claims, the disappearance of Mr. Tumnus, and the threat of the White Witch.

Circumstances and Immediate Cause

The entry is precipitated by a domestic crisis in the Professor's house. A few mornings after the children's arrival, Peter and Edmund are examining a suit of armour when Susan and Lucy rush in with a warning: "Look out! Here comes the Macready and a whole gang with her." The four children attempt to evade the housekeeper and her party of sightseers by moving through the Green Room and the library, but they hear voices ahead and realize Mrs. Macready is approaching from an unexpected direction. Feeling pursued—whether by the housekeeper, their own panic, or some magic in the house—they find themselves trapped. Susan suggests hiding in the Wardrobe Room, but as they enter, they hear voices in the passage and someone fumbling at the door. With no other option, Peter flings open the wardrobe and all four bundle inside, sitting in the dark. Peter holds the door closed but does not shut it, remembering the sensible rule that one should never shut oneself into a wardrobe.

The Transition and Discovery

Inside the wardrobe, the children initially complain of discomfort: Susan finds it cramped, Edmund notes the smell of camphor, Peter feels something sticking into his back, and Susan remarks on the cold. Peter then realizes the floor is wet and getting wetter. When Edmund suggests they leave, Susan suddenly exclaims that she is sitting against a tree and that it is getting lighter. Peter confirms the transformation: "By jove, you're right... It's trees all round. And this wet stuff is snow. Why, I do believe we've got into Lucy's wood after all." The four children stand blinking in the daylight of a winter day, with coats hanging on pegs behind them and snow-covered trees ahead. Peter immediately turns to Lucy and apologizes for not believing her, offering his hand. Lucy accepts, and the group is reunited in their shared discovery.

Immediate Consequences and the Journey Begins

Susan asks what they should do next, and Peter declares they will explore the wood. The children put on fur coats from the wardrobe to keep warm, which are too large but make them feel like Arctic explorers. Peter leads the way into the forest under heavy, dark clouds. Almost immediately, Edmund betrays his prior knowledge of Narnia by suggesting they bear left toward the lamp-post, revealing that he had indeed been in the wood before and had lied about Lucy's story. Peter confronts him, calling him a "poisonous little beast," and the group resumes their journey in strained silence. Lucy takes the lead and guides them to Mr. Tumnus's cave, where they find the door broken, the interior ransacked, and a notice of arrest nailed to the floor. The notice, signed by Fenris Ulf, Captain of the Secret Police, charges Tumnus with high treason for comforting the Queen's enemies and fraternizing with Humans. The children realize the Faun has been taken by the White Witch, and Lucy insists they must rescue him. Despite their hunger and fear, they decide to press on, and their path is guided by a robin that leads them deeper into the forest, setting the stage for their encounter with the Beavers and the unfolding of the larger Narnian conflict.