THEbattlewasalloverafewminutesaftertheirarrival.MostoftheenemyhadbeenkilledinthefirstchargeofAslanandhiscompanions;andwhenthosewhowerestilllivingsawthattheWitchwasdeadtheyeithergavethemselvesuportooktoflight.ThenextthingthatLucyknewwasthatPeterandAslanwereshakinghands.ItwasstrangetohertoseePeterlookingashelookednow-hisfacewassopaleandsternandheseemedsomucholder.
“ItwasallEdmund’sdoing,Aslan,”Peterwassaying.“We’dhavebeenbeatenifithadn’tbeenforhim.TheWitchwasturningourtroopsintostonerightandleft.Butnothingwouldstophim.Hefoughthiswaythroughthreeogrestowhereshewasjustturningoneofyourleopardsintoastatue.Andwhenhereachedherhehadsensetobringhisswordsmashingdownonherwandinsteadoftryingtogoforherdirectlyandsimplygettingmadeastatuehimselfforhispains.Thatwasthemistakealltherestweremaking.Once
herwandwasbrokenwebegantohavesomechance-ifwehadn’tlostsomanyalready.Hewasterriblywounded.Wemustgoandseehim.”
TheyfoundEdmundinchargeofMrs.Beaveralittlewaybackfromthefightingline.Hewascoveredwithblood,hismouthwasopen,andhisfaceanastygreencolour.
“Quick,Lucy,”saidAslan.
Andthen,almostforthefirsttime,LucyrememberedthepreciouscordialthathadbeengivenherforaChristmaspresent.Herhandstrembledsomuchthatshecouldhardlyundothestopper,butshemanageditintheendandpouredafewdropsintoherbrother’smouth.
“Thereareotherpeoplewounded,”saidAslanwhileshewasstilllookingeagerlyintoEdmund’spalefaceandwonderingifthecordialwouldhaveanyresult.
“Yes,Iknow,”saidLucycrossly.“Waitaminute.”
“DaughterofEve,”saidAslaninagravervoice,“othersalsoareatthepointofdeath.MustmorepeopledieforEdmund?”
“I’msorry,Aslan,”saidLucy,gettingupandgoingwithhiAndforthenexthalf-hourtheywerebusy-sheattendingtothewoundedwhileherestoredthosewhohadbeenturnedintostone.WhenatlastshewasfreetocomebacktoEdmundshefoundhimstandingonhisfeetandnotonlyhealedofhiswoundsbutlookingbetterthanshehadseenhimlook-oh,forages;infacteversincehisfirsttermatthathorridschoolwhichwaswherehehadbeguntogowrong.Hehadbecomehisrealoldselfagainandcouldlookyouintheface.AndthereonthefieldofbattleAslanmadehimaknight.
“Doesheknow,”whisperedLucytoSusan,“whatAslandidforhim?DoesheknowwhatthearrangementwiththeWitchreallywas?”
“Hush!No.Ofcoursenot,”saidSusan.
“Oughtn’thetobetold?”saidLucy.
“Oh,surelynot,”saidSusan.“ItwouldbetooawfulforhiThinkhowyou’dfeelifyouwerehe.”
“AllthesameIthinkheoughttoknow,”saidLucy.Butatthatmomenttheywereinterrupted.
Thatnighttheysleptwheretheywere.HowAslanprovidedfoodforthemallIdon’tknow;butsomehoworothertheyfoundthemselvesallsittingdownonthegrasstoafinehighteaatabouteighto’clock.Nextdaytheybeganmarchingeastwarddownthesideofthegreatriver.Andthenextdayafterthat,ataboutteatime,theyactuallyreachedthemouth.ThecastleofCairParavelonitslittlehilltoweredupabovethem;beforethemwerethesands,withrocksandlittlepoolsofsaltwater,andseaweed,andthesmelloftheseaandlongmilesofbluish-greenwavesbreakingforeverandeveronthebeach.Andoh,thecryofthesea-gulls!Haveyouheardit?Canyouremember?
Thateveningafterteathefourchildrenallmanagedtogetdowntothebeachagainandgettheirshoesandstockingsoffandfeelthesandbetweentheirtoes.Butnextdaywasmoresolemn.Forthen,intheGreatHallofCairParavel-thatwonderfulhallwiththeivoryroofandthewestwallhungwithpeacock’sfeathersandtheeasterndoorwhichlookstowardsthesea,inthepresenceofalltheirfriendsandtothesoundoftrumpets,Aslansolemnlycrownedthemandledthemtothefourthronesamiddeafeningshoutsof,“LongLiveKingPeter!LongLiveQueenSusan!LongLiveKingEdmund!LongLiveQueenLucy!”
“OnceakingorqueeninNarnia,alwaysakingorqueen.Bearitwell,SonsofAdam!Bearitwell,DaughtersofEve!”saidAslan.
Andthroughtheeasterndoor,whichwaswideopen,camethevoicesofthemermenandthemermaidsswimmingclosetotheshoreandsinginginhonouroftheirnewKingsandQueens.
Sothechildrensatontheirthronesandsceptreswereputintotheirhandsandtheygaverewardsandhonourstoalltheirfriends,toTumnustheFaun,andtotheBeavers,andGiantRumblebuffin,totheleopards,andthegoodcentaurs,andthegooddwarfs,andtothelion.AndthatnighttherewasagreatfeastinCairParavel,andrevelryanddancing,andgoldflashedandwineflowed,andansweringtothemusicinside,butstranger,sweeter,andmorepiercing,camethemusicoftheseapeople.
ButamidalltheserejoicingsAslanhimselfquietlyslippedaway.AndwhentheKingsandQueensnoticedthathewasn’ttheretheysaidnothingaboutit.ForMr.Beaverhadwarnedthem,“He’llbecomingandgoing,”hehadsaid.“Onedayyou’llseehimandanotheryouwon’t.Hedoesn’tlikebeingtieddown—andofcoursehehasothercountriestoattendto.It’squiteallright.He’lloftendropin.Onlyyoumustn’tpresshim.He’swild,youknow.Notlikeatamelion.”
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