The Chronicles of Narnia 7 - The Last Battle

8/11/2019 The Chronicles of Narnia 7 - The Last Battle

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The Last Battle

C.S. Lewis

CHAPTER ONE

BY CALDRON POOL

IN the last days of Narnia far !" to the west #eyond Lantern $aste and %lose

#eside the &reat waterfall there li'ed an A"e. He was so old that no one %o!ld

re(e(#er when he had first %o(e to li'e in those "arts and he was the

%le'erest !&liest (ost wrin)led A"e yo! %an i(a&ine. He had a little ho!se

#!ilt of wood and that%hed with lea'es !" in the for) of a &reat tree and his

na(e was Shift. There were 'ery few Tal)in& Beasts or *en or Dwarfs or "eo"le

of any sort in that "art of the wood #!t Shift had one friend and nei&h#o!r

who was a don)ey %alled P!++le. At least they #oth said they were friends #!t

fro( the way thin&s went on yo! (i&ht ha'e tho!&ht P!++le was (ore li)e Shift,sser'ant than his friend. He did all the wor). $hen they went to&ether to the

ri'er Shift filled the #i& s)in #ottles with water #!t it was P!++le who

%arried the( #a%). $hen they wanted anythin& fro( the towns f!rther down the

ri'er it was P!++le who went down with e("ty "anniers on his #a%) and %a(e #a%)

with the "anniers f!ll and hea'y. And all the ni%est thin&s that P!++le #ro!&ht

#a%) were eaten #y Shift- for as Shift said Yo! see P!++le I %an,t eat &rass

and thistles li)e yo! so it,s only fair I sho!ld (a)e it !" in other ways. And

P!++le always said Of %o!rse Shift of %o!rse. I see that. P!++le ne'er

%o("lained #e%a!se he )new that Shift was far %le'erer than hi(self and he

tho!&ht it was 'ery )ind of Shift to #e friends with hi( at all. And if e'er

P!++le did try to ar&!e a#o!t anythin& Shift wo!ld always say Now P!++le I

!nderstand what needs to #e done #etter than yo!. Yo! )now yo!,re not %le'er

P!++le. And P!++le always said No Shift. It,s /!ite tr!e. I,( not %le'er.

Then he wo!ld si&h and do whate'er Shift had said.

One (ornin& early in the year the "air of the( were o!t wal)in& alon& the shore

of Caldron Pool. Caldron Pool is the #i& "ool ri&ht !nder the %liffs at the

western end of Narnia. The &reat waterfall "o!rs down into it with a noise li)e

e'erlastin& th!nder and the Ri'er of Narnia flows o!t on the other side. The

waterfall )ee"s the Pool always dan%in& and #!##lin& and %h!rnin& ro!nd and

ro!nd as if it were on the #oil and that of %o!rse is how it &ot its na(e of

Caldron Pool. It is li'eliest in the early s"rin& when the waterfall is swollen

with all the snow that has (elted off the (o!ntains fro( !" #eyond Narnia in the

$estern $ild fro( whi%h the ri'er %o(es. And as they loo)ed at Caldron Pool

Shift s!ddenly "ointed with his dar) s)inny fin&er and said

Loo)0 $hat,s that1

$hat,s what1 said P!++le.

That yellow thin& that,s 2!st %o(e down the waterfall. Loo)0 There it is a&ain

it,s floatin&. $e (!st find o!t what it is.

*!st we1 said P!++le.


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Of %o!rse we (!st said Shift. It (ay #e so(ethin& !sef!l. 3!st ho" into the

Pool li)e a &ood fellow and fish it o!t. Then we %an ha'e a "ro"er loo) at it.

Ho" into the Pool1 said P!++le twit%hin& his lon& ears.

$ell how are we to &et it if yo! don,t1 said the A"e.

B!t 4 #!t said P!++le wo!ldn,t it #e #etter if yo! went in1 Be%a!se yo!

see it,s yo! who wants to )now what it is and I don,t (!%h. And yo!,'e &ot

hands yo! see. Yo!,re as &ood as a *an or a Dwarf when it %o(es to %at%hin&

hold of thin&s. I,'e only &ot hoofs.

Really P!++le said Shift I didn,t thin) yo!,d e'er say a thin& li)e that.

I didn,t thin) it of yo! really.

$hy what ha'e I said wron&1 said the Ass s"ea)in& in rather a h!(#le 'oi%e

for he saw that Shift was 'ery dee"ly offended. All I (eant was 4

$antin& (e to &o into the water said the A"e. As if yo! didn,t )now

"erfe%tly well what wea) %hests A"es always ha'e and how easily they %at%h %old0

5ery well. I will &o in. I,( feelin& %old eno!&h already in this %r!el wind. B!tI,ll &o in. I shall "ro#a#ly die. Then yo!,ll #e sorry. And Shift,s 'oi%e

so!nded as if he was 2!st &oin& to #!rst into tears.

Please don,t "lease don,t "lease don,t said P!++le half #rayin& and half

tal)in&. I ne'er (eant anythin& of the sort Shift really I didn,t. Yo! )now

how st!"id I a( and how I %an,t thin) of (ore than one thin& at a ti(e. I,d

for&otten a#o!t yo!r wea) %hest. Of %o!rse I,ll &o in. Yo! (!stn,t thin) of

doin& it yo!rself. Pro(ise (e yo! won,t Shift.

So Shift "ro(ised and P!++le went %lo""ety4%lo" on his fo!r hoofs ro!nd the

ro%)y ed&e of the Pool to find a "la%e where he %o!ld &et in. 6!ite a"art fro(

the %old it was no 2o)e &ettin& into that /!i'erin& and foa(in& water and

P!++le had to stand and shi'er for a whole (in!te #efore he (ade !" his (ind to

do it. B!t then Shift %alled o!t fro( #ehind hi( and said7 Perha"s I,d #etter

do it after all P!++le. And when P!++le heard that he said No no. Yo!

"ro(ised. I,( in now and in he went.

A &reat (ass of foa( &ot hi( in the fa%e and filled his (o!th with water and

#linded hi(. Then he went !nder alto&ether for a few se%onds and when he %a(e

!" a&ain he was in /!ite another "art of the Pool. Then the swirl %a!&ht hi( and

%arried hi( ro!nd and ro!nd and faster and faster till it too) hi( ri&ht !nder

the waterfall itself and the for%e of the water "l!n&ed hi( down dee" down so

that he tho!&ht he wo!ld ne'er #e a#le to hold his #reath till he %a(e !" a&ain.

And when he had %o(e !" and when at last he &ot so(ewhere near the thin& he was

tryin& to %at%h it sailed away fro( hi( till it too &ot !nder the fall and was

for%ed down to the #otto(. $hen it %a(e !" a&ain it was f!rther fro( hi( than

e'er. B!t at last when he was al(ost tired to death and #r!ised all o'er andn!(# with %old he s!%%eeded in &ri""in& the thin& with his teeth. And o!t he

%a(e %arryin& it in front of hi( and &ettin& his front hoofs tan&led !" in it

for it was as #i& as a lar&e hearthr!& and it was 'ery hea'y and %old and

sli(y.

He fl!n& it down in front of Shift and stood dri""in& and shi'erin& and tryin&

to &et his #reath #a%). B!t the A"e ne'er loo)ed at hi( or as)ed hi( how he

felt. The A"e was too #!sy &oin& ro!nd and ro!nd the Thin& and s"readin& it o!t


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and "attin& it and s(ellin& it. Then a wi%)ed &lea( %a(e into his eye and he

said7

It is a lion,s s)in.

Ee 4 a!h 4 a!h 4 oh is it1 &as"ed P!++le.

Now I wonder . . . I wonder . . . I wonder said Shift to hi(self for he was

thin)in& 'ery hard.

I wonder who )illed the "oor lion said P!++le "resently. It o!&ht to #e

#!ried. $e (!st ha'e a f!neral.

Oh it wasn,t a Tal)in& Lion said Shift. Yo! needn,t #other a#o!t that.

There are no Tal)in& Beasts !" #eyond the 8alls !" in the $estern $ild. This

s)in (!st ha'e #elon&ed to a d!(# wild lion.

This #y the way was tr!e. A H!nter a *an had )illed and s)inned this lion

so(ewhere !" in the $estern $ild se'eral (onths #efore. B!t that doesn,t %o(e

into this story.

All the sa(e Shift said P!++le e'en if the s)in only #elon&ed to a d!(#

wild lion o!&htn,t we to &i'e it a de%ent #!rial1 I (ean aren,t all lions

rather 4 well rather sole(n1 Be%a!se of yo! )now $ho. Don,t yo! see1

Don,t yo! start &ettin& ideas into yo!r head P!++le said Shift. Be%a!se

yo! )now thin)in& isn,t yo!r stron& "oint. $e,ll (a)e this s)in into a fine

war( winter %oat for yo!.

Oh I don,t thin) I,d li)e that said the Don)ey. It wo!ld loo) 4 I (ean the

other Beasts (i&ht thin) 4 that is to say I sho!ldn,t feel 4

$hat are yo! tal)in& a#o!t1 said Shift s%rat%hin& hi(self the wron& way !" as

A"es do.

I don,t thin) it wo!ld #e res"e%tf!l to the 9reat Lion to Aslan hi(self if an

ass li)e (e went a#o!t dressed !" in a lion4s)in said P!++le.

Now don,t stand ar&!in& "lease said Shift. $hat does an ass li)e yo! )now

a#o!t thin&s of that sort1 Yo! )now yo!,re no &ood at thin)in& P!++le so why

don,t yo! let (e do yo!r thin)in& for yo!1 $hy don,t yo! treat (e as I treat

yo!1 I don,t thin) I %an do e'erythin&. I )now yo!,re #etter at so(e thin&s than

I a(. That,s why I let yo! &o into the Pool- I )new yo!,d do it #etter than (e.

B!t why %an,t I ha'e (y t!rn when it %o(es to so(ethin& I %an do and yo! %an,t1

A( I ne'er to #e allowed to do anythin&1 Do #e fair. T!rn and t!rn a#o!t.

Oh well of %o!rse if yo! "!t it that way said P!++le.

I tell yo! what said Shift. Yo!,d #etter ta)e a &ood #ris) trot down ri'er

as far as Chi""in&ford and see if they ha'e any oran&es or #ananas.

B!t I,( so tired Shift "leaded P!++le.

Yes #!t yo! are 'ery %old and wet said the A"e. Yo! want so(ethin& to war(

yo! !". A #ris) trot wo!ld #e 2!st the thin&. Besides it,s (ar)et day at

Chi""in&ford today. And then of %o!rse P!++le said he wo!ld &o.


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As soon as he was alone Shift went sha(#lin& alon& so(eti(es on two "aws and

so(eti(es on fo!r till he rea%hed his own tree. Then he sw!n& hi(self !" fro(

#ran%h to #ran%h %hatterin& and &rinnin& all the ti(e and went into his little

ho!se. He fo!nd needle and thread and a #i& "air of s%issors there- for he was a

%le'er A"e and the Dwarfs had ta!&ht hi( how to sew. He "!t the #all of thread

:it was 'ery thi%) st!ff (ore li)e %ord than thread; into his (o!th so that his

%hee) #!l&ed o!t as if he were s!%)in& a #i& #it of toffee. He held the needle

#etween his li"s and too) the s%issors in his left "aw. Then he %a(e down the

tree and sha(#led a%ross to the lion4s)in. He s/!atted down and &ot to wor).

He saw at on%e that the #ody of the lion4s)in wo!ld #e too lon& for P!++le and

its ne%) too short. So he %!t a &ood "ie%e o!t of the #ody and !sed it to (a)e a

lon& %ollar for P!++le,s lon& ne%). Then he %!t off the head and sewed the

%ollar in #etween the head and the sho!lders. He "!t threads on #oth sides of

the s)in so that it wo!ld tie !" !nder P!++le,s %hest and sto(a%h. E'ery now and

then a #ird wo!ld "ass o'erhead and Shift wo!ld sto" his wor) loo)in& an


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B!t I don,t want to tell the( anythin&.

B!t yo! thin) of the &ood we %o!ld do0 said Shift. Yo!,d ha'e (e to ad'ise

yo! yo! )now. I,d thin) of sensi#le orders for yo! to &i'e. And e'eryone wo!ld

ha'e to o#ey !s e'en the =in& hi(self. $e wo!ld set e'erythin& ri&ht in

Narnia.

B!t isn,t e'erythin& ri&ht already1 said P!++le.

$hat0 %ried Shift. E'erythin& ri&ht14when there are no oran&es or #ananas1

$ell yo! )now said P!++le there aren,t (any "eo"le 4 in fa%t I don,t

thin) there,s anyone #!t yo!rself who wants those sort of thin&s.

There,s s!&ar too said Shift.

H,( yes said the Ass. It wo!ld #e ni%e if there was (ore s!&ar.

$ell then that,s settled said the A"e. Yo! will "retend to #e Aslan and

I,ll tell yo! what to say.

No no no said P!++le. Don,t say s!%h dreadf!l thin&s. It wo!ld #e wron&

Shift. I (ay#e not 'ery %le'er #!t I )now that (!%h. $hat wo!ld #e%o(e of !s if

the real Aslan t!rned !"1

I e


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#!ildin& not far fro( the Eastern end of Lantern $aste and so(e way a#o'e the

(eetin& of the two ri'ers. He lo'ed to li'e there si("ly and at ease away fro(

the state and "o(" of Cair Para'el the royal %ity. His na(e was =in& Tirian

and he was #etween twenty and twenty4fi'e years old- his sho!lders were already

#road and stron& and his li(#s f!ll of hard (!s%le #!t his #eard was still

s%anty. He had #l!e eyes and a fearless honest fa%e.

There was no one with hi( that s"rin& (ornin& e


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He finished the wine :eno!&h for si< stron& (en; at one dra!&ht and handed the

e("ty #owl #a%) to the "a&e.

Now Roonwit said the =in&. Do yo! #rin& !s (ore news of Aslan1

Roonwit loo)ed 'ery &ra'e frownin& a little.

Sire he said. Yo! )now how lon& I ha'e li'ed and st!died the stars- for we

Centa!rs li'e lon&er than yo! *en and e'en lon&er than yo!r )ind >ni%orn.

Ne'er in all (y days ha'e I seen s!%h terri#le thin&s written in the s)ies as

there ha'e #een ni&htly sin%e this year #e&an. The stars say nothin& of the

%o(in& of Aslan nor of "ea%e nor of 2oy. I )now #y (y art that there ha'e not

#een s!%h disastro!s %on2!n%tions of the "lanets for fi'e h!ndred years. It was

already in (y (ind to %o(e and warn yo!r *a2esty that so(e &reat e'il han&s o'er

Narnia. B!t last ni&ht the r!(o!r rea%hed (e that Aslan is a#road in Narnia.

Sire do not #elie'e this tale. It %annot #e. The stars ne'er lie #!t *en and

Beasts do. If Aslan were really %o(in& to Narnia the s)y wo!ld ha'e foretold it.

If he were really %o(e all the (ost &ra%io!s stars wo!ld #e asse(#led in his

hono!r. It is all a lie.

A lie0 said the =in& fier%ely. $hat %reat!re in Narnia or all the world wo!lddare to lie on s!%h a (atter1 And witho!t )nowin& it he laid his hand on his

sword hilt.

That I )now not Lord =in& said the Centa!r. B!t I )now there are liars on

earth- there are none a(on& the stars.

I wonder said 3ewel whether Aslan (i&ht not %o(e tho!&h all the stars

foretold otherwise. He is not the sla'e of the stars #!t their *a)er. Is it not

said in all the old stories that He is not a ta(e lion.

$ell said well said 3ewel %ried the =in&. Those are the 'ery words7 not a

ta(e lion. It %o(es in (any tales.

Roonwit had 2!st raised his hand and was leanin& forward to say so(ethin& 'ery

earnestly to the =in& when all three of the( t!rned their heads to listen to a

wailin& so!nd that was /!i%)ly drawin& nearer. The wood was so thi%) to the $est

of the( that they %o!ld not see the new%o(er yet. B!t they %o!ld soon hear the

words.

$oe woe woe0 %alled the 'oi%e. $oe for (y #rothers and sisters0 $oe for the

holy trees0 The woods are laid waste. The a


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$hat Lady0 8ellin& Lantern $aste1 *!rderin& the tal)in& trees1 %ried the

=in& lea"in& to his feet and drawin& his sword. How dare they1 And who dares

it1 Now #y the *ane of Aslan4

A4a4a4h &as"ed the Dryad sh!dderin& as if in "ain 4 sh!dderin& ti(e after

ti(e as if !nder re"eated #lows. Then all at on%e she fell sideways as s!ddenly

as if #oth her feet had #een %!t fro( !nder her. 8or a se%ond they saw her lyin&

dead on the &rass and then she 'anished. They )new what had ha""ened. Her tree

(iles away had #een %!t down.

8or a (o(ent the =in&,s &rief and an&er were so &reat that he %o!ld not s"ea).

Then he said7

Co(e friends. $e (!st &o !" ri'er and find the 'illains who ha'e done this

with all the s"eed we (ay. I will lea'e not one of the( ali'e.

Sire with a &ood will said 3ewel.

B!t Roonwit said Sire #e wary in yo!r 2!st wrath. There are stran&e doin&s on

foot. If there sho!ld #e re#els in ar(s f!rther !" the 'alley we three are too

few to (eet the(. If it wo!ld "lease yo! to wait while 4

I will not wait the tenth "art of a se%ond said the =in&. B!t while 3ewel

and I &o forward do yo! &allo" as hard as yo! (ay to Cair Para'el. Here is (y

rin& for yo!r to)en. 9et (e a s%ore of (en4at4ar(s all well (o!nted and a

s%ore of Tal)in& Do&s and ten Dwarfs :let the( all #e fell ar%hers; and a

Leo"ard or so and Stonefoot the 9iant. Brin& all these after !s as /!i%)ly as

(ay #e.

$ith a &ood will Sire said Roonwit. And at on%e he t!rned and &allo"ed

Eastward down the 'alley.

The =in& strode on at a &reat "a%e so(eti(es (!tterin& to hi(self and so(eti(es

%len%hin& his fists. 3ewel wal)ed #eside hi( sayin& nothin&- so there was no

so!nd #etween the( #!t the faint 2in&le of a ri%h &old %hain that h!n& ro!nd the

>ni%orn,s ne%) and the noise of two feet and fo!r hoofs.

They soon rea%hed the Ri'er and t!rned !" it where there was a &rassy road7 they

had the water on their left and the forest on their ri&ht. Soon after that they

%a(e to the "la%e where the &ro!nd &rew ro!&her and thi%) wood %a(e down to the

water,s ed&e. The road what there was of it now ran on the So!thern #an) and

they had to ford the Ri'er to rea%h it. It was !" to Tirian,s ar(4"its #!t

3ewel :who had fo!r le&s and was therefore steadier; )e"t on his ri&ht so as to

#rea) the for%e of the %!rrent and Tirian "!t his stron& ar( ro!nd the

>ni%orn,s stron& ne%) and they #oth &ot safely o'er. The =in& was still so an&ry

that he hardly noti%ed the %old of the water. B!t of %o!rse he dried his sword

'ery %aref!lly on the sho!lder of his %loa) whi%h was the only dry "art of hi(

as soon as they %a(e to shore.

They were now &oin& $estward with the Ri'er on their ri&ht and Lantern $aste

strai&ht ahead of the(. They had not &one (ore than a (ile when they #oth

sto""ed and #oth s"o)e at the sa(e (o(ent. The =in& said $hat ha'e we here1

and 3ewel said Loo)0

It is a raft said =in& Tirian.


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And so it was. Half a do+en s"lendid tree4tr!n)s all newly %!t and newly lo""ed

of their #ran%hes had #een lashed to&ether to (a)e a raft and were &lidin&

swiftly down the ri'er. On the front of the raft there was a water rat with a

"ole to steer it.

Hey0 $ater4Rat0 $hat are yo! a#o!t1 %ried the =in&.

Ta)in& lo&s down to sell to the Calor(enes Sire said the Rat to!%hin& his

ear as he (i&ht ha'e to!%hed his %a" if he had had one.

Calor(enes0 th!ndered Tirian. $hat do yo! (ean1 $ho &a'e order for these

trees to #e felled1

The Ri'er flows so swiftly at that ti(e of the year that the raft had already

&lided "ast the =in& and 3ewel. B!t the $ater4Rat loo)ed #a%) o'er its sho!lder

and sho!ted o!t7

The Lion,s orders Sire. Aslan hi(self. He added so(ethin& (ore #!t they

%o!ldn,t hear it.

The =in& and the >ni%orn stared at one another and #oth loo)ed (ore fri&htenedthan they had e'er #een in any #attle.

Aslan said the =in& at last in a 'ery low 'oi%e. Aslan. Co!ld it #e tr!e1

Co!ld he #e fellin& the holy trees and (!rderin& the Dryads1

>nless the Dryads ha'e all done so(ethin& dreadf!lly wron&4 (!r(!red 3ewel.

B!t sellin& the( to Calor(enes0 said the =in&. Is it "ossi#le1

I don,t )now said 3ewel (isera#ly. He,s not a ta(e lion.

$ell said the =in& at last we (!st &o on and ta)e the ad'ent!re that %o(es

to !s.

It is the only thin& left for !s to do Sire said the >ni%orn. He did not see

at the (o(ent how foolish it was for two of the( to &o on alone- nor did the

=in&. They were too an&ry to thin) %learly. B!t (!%h e'il %a(e of their rashness

in the end.

S!ddenly the =in& leaned hard on his friend,s ne%) and #owed his head.

3ewel he said what lies #efore !s1 Horri#le tho!&hts arise in (y heart. If

we had died #efore today we sho!ld ha'e #een ha""y.

Yes said 3ewel. $e ha'e li'ed too lon&. The worst thin& in the world has

%o(e !"on !s. They stood li)e that for a (in!te or two and then went on.

Before lon& they %o!ld hear the ha%)4ha%)4ha%) of a


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had #een dra&&ed down to the ri'er. There was a &reat %rowd of "eo"le at wor)

and a %ra%)in& of whi"s and horses t!&&in& and strainin& as they dra&&ed at

the lo&s. The first thin& that str!%) the =in& and the >ni%orn was that a#o!t

half the "eo"le in the %rowd were not Tal)in& Beasts #!t *en. The ne" till now Tirian had ta)en it for &ranted that the horses whi%h the Calor(enes

were dri'in& were their own horses- d!(# witless ani(als li)e the horses of o!r

own world. And tho!&h he hated to see e'en a d!(# horse o'erdri'en he was of

%o!rse thin)in& (ore a#o!t the (!rder of the Trees. It had ne'er %rossed his

(ind that anyone wo!ld dare to harness one of the free Tal)in& Horses of Narnia

(!%h less to !se a whi" on it. B!t as that sa'a&e #low fell the horse reared !"

and said half s%rea(in&7

8ool and tyrant0 Do yo! not see I a( doin& all I %an1

$hen Tirian )new that the Horse was one of his own Narnians there %a(e o'er hi(

and o'er 3ewel s!%h a ra&e that they did not )now what they were doin&. The

=in&,s sword went !" the >ni%orn,s horn went down. They r!shed forward

to&ether. Ne


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#efore the rest of the %rowd )new what had ha""ened. B!t now they did. *ost of

the( had na)ed s%i(itars in their hands.

6!i%). On (y #a%) said 3ewel.

The =in& fl!n& hi(self astride of his old friend who t!rned and &allo"ed away.

He %han&ed dire%tion twi%e or thri%e as soon as they were o!t of si&ht of their

ene(ies %rossed a strea( and sho!ted witho!t sla%)enin& his "a%e $hither

away Sire1 To Cair Para'el1

Hold hard friend said Tirian. Let (e off. He slid off the >ni%orn,s #a%)

and fa%ed hi(.

3ewel said the =in&. $e ha'e done a dreadf!l deed.

$e were sorely "ro'o)ed said 3ewel.

B!t to lea" on the( !nawares 4 witho!t defyin& the( while they were !nar(ed 4

fa!&h0 $e are two (!rderers 3ewel. I a( dishono!red fore'er.

3ewel droo"ed his head. He too was asha(ed.

And then said the =in& the Horse said it was #y Aslan,s orders. The Rat

said the sa(e. They all say Aslan is here. How if it were tr!e1

B!t Sire how %o!ld Aslan #e %o((andin& s!%h dreadf!l thin&s1

He is not a ta(e lion said Tirian. How sho!ld we )now what he wo!ld do1 $e

who are (!rderers. 3ewel I will &o #a%). I will &i'e !" (y sword and "!t (yself

in the hands of these Calor(enes and as) that they #rin& (e #efore Aslan. Let

hi( do 2!sti%e on (e.

Yo! will &o to yo!r death then said 3ewel.

Do yo! thin) I %are if Aslan doo(s (e to death1 said the =in&. That wo!ld #e

nothin& nothin& at all. $o!ld it not #e #etter to #e dead than to ha'e this

horri#le fear that Aslan has %o(e and is not li)e the Aslan we ha'e #elie'ed in

and lon&ed for1 It is as if the s!n rose one day and were a #la%) s!n.

I )now said 3ewel. Or as if yo! dran) water and it were dry water. Yo! are

in the ri&ht Sire. This is the end of all thin&s. Let !s &o and &i'e o!rsel'es

!".

There is no need for #oth of !s to &o.

If e'er we lo'ed one another let (e &o with yo! now said the >ni%orn. If

yo! are dead and if Aslan is not Aslan what life is left for (e1

They t!rned and wal)ed #a%) to&ether sheddin& #itter tears.

As soon as they %a(e to the "la%e where the wor) was &oin& on the Calor(enes

raised a %ry and %a(e towards the( with their wea"ons in hand. B!t the =in& held

o!t his sword with the hilt towards the( and said7

I who was =in& of Narnia and a( now a dishono!red )ni&ht &i'e (yself !" to the

2!sti%e of Aslan. Brin& (e #efore hi(.


12/77

And I &i'e (yself !" too said 3ewel.

Then the dar) (en %a(e ro!nd the( in a thi%) %rowd s(ellin& of &arli% and

onions their white eyes flashin& dreadf!lly in their #rown fa%es. They "!t a

ro"e halter ro!nd 3ewel,s ne%). They too) the =in&,s sword away and tied his

hands #ehind his #a%). One of the Calor(enes who had a hel(et instead of a

t!r#an and see(ed to #e in %o((and snat%hed the &old %ir%let off Tirian,s head

and hastily "!t it away so(ewhere a(on& his %lothes. They led the two "risoners

!"hill to a "la%e where there was a #i& %learin&. And this was what the

"risoners saw. At the %entre of the %learin& whi%h was also the hi&hest

"oint of the hill there was a little h!t li)e a sta#le with a that%hed roof.

Its door was sh!t. On the &rass in front of the door there sat an A"e. Tirian

and 3ewel who had #een e


13/77

thro!&h (e7 if I thin) it,s worth #otherin& hi( a#o!t. In the (eanti(e all yo!

s/!irrels had #etter &o and see a#o!t the n!ts. And (a)e s!re they are here #y

to(orrow e'enin& or (y word0 yo!,ll %at%h it.

The "oor s/!irrels all s%a("ered away as if a do& were after the(. This new

order was terri#le news for the(. The n!ts they had %aref!lly hoarded for the

winter had nearly all #een eaten #y now- and of the few that were left they had

already &i'en the A"e far (ore than they %o!ld s"are.

Then a dee" 'oi%e 4 it #elon&ed to a &reat t!s)ed and sha&&y Boar 4 s"o)e fro(

another "art of the %rowd.

B!t why %an,t we see Aslan "ro"erly and tal) to hi(1 it said. $hen he !sed to

a""ear in Narnia in the old days e'eryone %o!ld tal) to hi( fa%e to fa%e.

Don,t yo! #elie'e it said the A"e. And e'en if it was tr!e ti(es ha'e

%han&ed. Aslan says he,s #een far too soft with yo! #efore do yo! see1 $ell he

isn,t &oin& to #e soft any (ore. He,s &oin& to li%) yo! into sha"e this ti(e.

He,ll tea%h yo! to thin) he,s a ta(e lion0

A low (oanin& and whi("erin& was heard a(on& the Beasts- and after that a deadsilen%e whi%h was (ore (isera#le still.

And now there,s another thin& yo! &ot to learn said the A"e. I hear so(e of

yo! are sayin& I,( an A"e. $ell I,( not. I,( a *an. If I loo) li)e an A"e

that,s #e%a!se I,( so 'ery old7 h!ndreds and h!ndreds of years old. And it,s

#e%a!se I,( so old that I,( so wise. And it,s #e%a!se I,( so wise that I,( the

only one Aslan is e'er &oin& to s"ea) to. He %an,t #e #othered tal)in& to a lot

of st!"id ani(als. He,ll tell (e what yo!,'e &ot to do and I,ll tell the rest

of yo!. And ta)e (y ad'i%e and see yo! do it in do!#le /!i%) ti(e for he

doesn,t (ean to stand any nonsense.

There was a dead silen%e e


14/77

There0 Yo! see0 said the A"e. It,s all arran&ed. And all for yo!r own &ood.

$e,ll #e a#le with the (oney yo! earn to (a)e Narnia a %o!ntry worth li'in&

in. There,ll #e oran&es and #ananas "o!rin& in 4 and roads and #i& %ities and

s%hools and offi%es and whi"s and (!++les and saddles and %a&es and )ennels and

"risons 4 Oh e'erythin&.

B!t we don,t want all those thin&s said an old Bear. $e want to #e free. And

we want to hear Aslan s"ea) hi(self.

Now don,t yo! start ar&!in& said the A"e for it,s a thin& I won,t stand.

I,( a *an7 yo!,re only a fat st!"id old Bear. $hat do yo! )now a#o!t freedo(1

Yo! thin) freedo( (eans doin& what yo! li)e. $ell yo!,re wron&. That isn,t tr!e

freedo(. Tr!e freedo( (eans doin& what I tell yo!.

H4n4n4h &r!nted the Bear and s%rat%hed its head- it fo!nd this sort of thin&

hard to !nderstand.

Please "lease said the hi&h 'oi%e of a woolly la(# who was so yo!n& that

e'eryone was s!r"rised he dared to s"ea) at all.

$hat is it now1 said the A"e. Be /!i%).

Please said the La(# I %an,t !nderstand. $hat ha'e we to do with the

Calor(enes1 $e #elon& to Aslan. They #elon& to Tash. They ha'e a &od %alled

Tash. They say he has fo!r ar(s and the head of a '!lt!re. They )ill *en on his

altar. I don,t #elie'e there,s any s!%h "erson as Tash. B!t if there was how

%o!ld Aslan #e friends with hi(1

All the ani(als %o%)ed their heads sideways and all their #ri&ht eyes flashed

towards the A"e. They )new it was the #est /!estion anyone had as)ed yet.

The A"e 2!("ed !" and s"at at the La(#.

Ba#y0 he hissed. Silly little #leater0 9o ho(e to yo!r (other and drin) (il).

$hat do yo! !nderstand of s!%h thin&s1 B!t the others listen. Tash is only

another na(e for Aslan. All that old idea of !s #ein& ri&ht and the Calor(enes

wron& is silly. $e )now #etter now. The Calor(enes !se different words #!t we

all (ean the sa(e thin&. Tash and Aslan are only two different na(es for yo!

)now $ho. That,s why there %an ne'er #e any /!arrel #etween the(. 9et that into

yo!r heads yo! st!"id #r!tes. Tash is Aslan7 Aslan is Tash.

Yo! )now how sad yo!r own do&,s fa%e %an loo) so(eti(es. Thin) of that and then

thin) of all the fa%es of those Tal)in& Beasts 4 all those honest h!(#le

#ewildered Birds Bears Bad&ers Ra##its *oles and *i%e 4 all far sadder than

that. E'ery tail was down e'ery whis)er droo"ed. It wo!ld ha'e #ro)en yo!r

heart with 'ery "ity to see their fa%es. There was only one who did not loo) at

all !nha""y.

It was a &in&er Cat 4 a &reat #i& To( in the "ri(e of life 4 who sat #olt

!"ri&ht with his tail %!rled ro!nd his toes in the 'ery front row of all the

Beasts. He had #een starin& hard at the A"e and the Calor(ene %a"tain all the

ti(e and had ne'er on%e #lin)ed his eyes.

E


15/77

Ass!redly said the Calor(ene. The enli&htened A"e 4 *an I (ean 4 is in the

ri&ht. Aslan (eans neither less nor (ore than Tash.

Es"e%ially Aslan (eans no (ore than Tash1 s!&&ested the Cat.

No (ore at all said the Calor(ene loo)in& the Cat strai&ht in the fa%e.

Is that &ood eno!&h for yo! 9in&er1 said the A"e.

Oh %ertainly said 9in&er %oolly. Than) yo! 'ery (!%h. I only wanted to #e

/!ite %lear. I thin) I a( #e&innin& to !nderstand.

>" till now the =in& and 3ewel had said nothin&7 they were waitin& !ntil the A"e

sho!ld #id the( s"ea) for they tho!&ht it was no !se interr!"tin&. B!t now as

Tirian loo)ed ro!nd on the (isera#le fa%es of the Narnians and saw how they

wo!ld all #elie'e that Aslan and Tash were one and the sa(e he %o!ld #ear it no

lon&er.

A"e he %ried with a &reat 'oi%e yo! lie da(na#ly. Yo! lie li)e a Calor(ene.

Yo! lie li)e an A"e.

He (eant to &o on and as) how the terri#le &od Tash who fed on the #lood of his

"eo"le %o!ld "ossi#ly #e the sa(e as the &ood Lion #y whose #lood all Narnia was

sa'ed. If he had #een allowed to s"ea) the r!le of the A"e (i&ht ha'e ended

that day- the Beasts (i&ht ha'e seen the tr!th and thrown the A"e down. B!t

#efore he %o!ld say another word two Calor(enes str!%) hi( in the (o!th with all

their for%e and a third fro( #ehind )i%)ed his feet fro( !nder hi(. And as he

fell the A"e s/!ealed in ra&e and terror.

Ta)e hi( away. Ta)e hi( away. Ta)e hi( where he %annot hear !s nor we hear

hi(. There tie hi( to a tree. I will 4 I (ean Aslan will 4 do 2!sti%e on hi(

later.

CHAPTER 8O>R

$HAT HAPPENED THAT NI9HT

THE =in& was so di++y fro( #ein& )no%)ed down that he hardly )new what was

ha""enin& !ntil the Calor(enes !ntied his wrists and "!t his ar(s strai&ht down

#y his sides and set hi( with his #a%) a&ainst an ash tree. Then they #o!nd

ro"es ro!nd his an)les and his )nees and his waist and his %hest and left hi(

there. $hat worried hi( worst at the (o(ent 4 for it is often little thin&s that

are hardest to stand 4 was that his li" was #leedin& where they had hit hi( and

he %o!ldn,t wi"e the little tri%)le of #lood away altho!&h it ti%)led hi(.

8ro( where he was he %o!ld still see the little sta#le on the to" of the hill

and the A"e sittin& in front of it. He %o!ld 2!st hear the A"e,s 'oi%e still

&oin& on and e'ery now and then so(e answer fro( the %rowd #!t he %o!ld not

(a)e o!t the words.

I wonder what they,'e done to 3ewel tho!&ht the =in&.


16/77

Presently the %rowd of #easts #ro)e !" and #e&an &oin& away in different

dire%tions. So(e "assed %lose to Tirian. They loo)ed at hi( as if they were #oth

fri&htened and sorry to see hi( tied !" #!t none of the( s"o)e. Soon they had

all &one and there was silen%e in the wood. Then ho!rs and ho!rs went "ast and

Tirian #e%a(e first 'ery thirsty and then 'ery h!n&ry- and as the afternoon

dra&&ed on and t!rned into e'enin& he #e%a(e %old too. His #a%) was 'ery sore.

The s!n went down and it #e&an to #e twili&ht.

$hen it was al(ost dar) Tirian heard a li&ht "itter4"atter of feet and saw so(e

s(all %reat!res %o(in& towards hi(. The three on the left were *i%e and there

was a Ra##it in the (iddle7 on the ri&ht were two *oles. Both these were

%arryin& little #a&s on their #a%)s whi%h &a'e the( a %!rio!s loo) in the dar)

so that at first he wondered what )ind of #easts they were. Then in a (o(ent

they were all standin& !" on their hind le&s layin& their %ool "aws on his

)nees and &i'in& his )nees sn!ffly ani(al )isses. :They %o!ld rea%h his )nees

#e%a!se Narnian Tal)in& Beasts of that sort are #i&&er than the d!(# #easts of

the sa(e )ind in En&land.;

Lord =in&0 dear Lord =in& said their shrill 'oi%es we are so sorry for yo!.

$e daren,t !ntie yo! #e%a!se Aslan (i&ht #e an&ry with !s. B!t we,'e #ro!&ht yo!

yo!r s!""er.

At on%e the first *o!se %li(#ed ni(#ly !" till he was "er%hed on the ro"e that

#o!nd Tirian,s %hest and was wrin)lin& his #l!nt nose in front of Tirian,s fa%e.

Then the se%ond *o!se %li(#ed !" and h!n& on 2!st #elow the first *o!se. The

other #easts stood on the &ro!nd and #e&an handin& thin&s !".

Drin) Sire and then yo!,ll find yo! are a#le to eat said the to"(ost *o!se

and Tirian fo!nd that a little wooden %!" was #ein& held to his li"s. It was

only the si+e of an e&& %!" so that he had hardly tasted the wine in it #efore

it was e("ty. B!t then the *o!se "assed it down and the others re4filled it and

it was "assed !" a&ain and Tirian e("tied it a se%ond ti(e. In this way they

went on till he had /!ite a &ood drin) whi%h was all the #etter for %o(in& in

little doses for that is (ore thirst4/!en%hin& than one lon& dra!&ht.

Here is %heese Sire said the first *o!se #!t not 'ery (!%h for fear it

wo!ld (a)e yo! too thirsty. And after the %heese they fed hi( with oat4%a)es

and fresh #!tter and then with so(e (ore wine.

Now hand !" the water said the first *o!se and I,ll wash the =in&,s fa%e.

There is #lood on it.

Then Tirian felt so(ethin& li)e a tiny s"on&e da##in& his fa%e and it was (ost

refreshin&.

Little friends said Tirian how %an I than) yo! for all this1

Yo! needn,t yo! needn,t said the little 'oi%es. $hat else %o!ld we do1 $edon,t want any other =in&. $e,re yo!r "eo"le. If it was only the A"e and the

Calor(enes who were a&ainst yo! we wo!ld ha'e fo!&ht till we were %!t into

"ie%es #efore we,d let the( tie yo! !". $e wo!ld we wo!ld indeed. B!t we %an,t

&o a&ainst Aslan.

Do yo! thin) it really is Aslan1 as)ed the =in&.

Oh yes yes said the Ra##it. He %a(e o!t of the sta#le last ni&ht. $e all

saw hi(.


17/77

$hat was he li)e1 said the =in&.

Li)e a terri#le &reat Lion to #e s!re said one of the *i%e.

And yo! thin) it is really Aslan who is )illin& the $ood4Ny("hs and (a)in& yo!

all sla'es to the =in& of Calor(en1

Ah that,s #ad isn,t it1 said the se%ond *o!se. It wo!ld ha'e #een #etter if

we,d died #efore all this #e&an. B!t there,s no do!#t a#o!t it. E'eryone says it

is Aslan,s orders. And we,'e seen hi(. $e didn,t thin) Aslan wo!ld #e li)e that.

$hy we 4 we wanted hi( to %o(e #a%) to Narnia.

He see(s to ha'e %o(e #a%) 'ery an&ry this ti(e said the first *o!se. $e

(!st all ha'e done so(ethin& dreadf!lly wron& witho!t )nowin& it. He (!st #e

"!nishin& !s for so(ethin&. B!t I do thin) we (i&ht #e told what it was0

I s!""ose what we,re doin& now (ay #e wron& said the Ra##it.

I don,t %are if it is said one of the *oles. I,d do it a&ain.

B!t the others said Oh h!sh and Do #e %aref!l and then they all said

$e,re sorry dear =in& #!t we (!st &o #a%) now. It wo!ld ne'er do for !s to #e

%a!&ht here.

Lea'e (e at on%e dear Beasts said Tirian. I wo!ld not for all Narnia #rin&

any of yo! into dan&er.

9oodni&ht &oodni&ht said the Beasts r!##in& their noses a&ainst his )nees.

$e will %o(e #a%) 4 if we %an. Then they all "attered away and the wood see(ed

dar)er and %older and lonelier than it had #een #efore they %a(e.

The stars %a(e o!t and ti(e went slowly on 4 i(a&ine how slowly 4 while that

last =in& of Narnia stood stiff and sore and !"ri&ht a&ainst the tree in his

#onds. B!t at last so(ethin& ha""ened.

8ar away there a""eared a red li&ht. Then it disa""eared for a (o(ent and %a(e

#a%) a&ain #i&&er and stron&er. Then he %o!ld see dar) sha"es &oin& to and fro

on this side of the li&ht and %arryin& #!ndles and throwin& the( down. He )new

now what he was loo)in& at. It was a #onfire newly lit and "eo"le were

throwin& #!ndles of #r!shwood on to it. Presently it #la+ed !" and Tirian %o!ld

see that it was on the 'ery to" of the hill. He %o!ld see /!ite %learly the

sta#le #ehind it all lit !" in the red &low and a &reat %rowd of Beasts and

*en #etween the fire and hi(self. A s(all fi&!re h!n%hed !" #eside the fire

(!st #e the A"e. It was sayin& so(ethin& to the %rowd #!t he %o!ld not hear

what. Then it went and #owed three ti(es to the &ro!nd in front of the door of

the sta#le. Then it &ot !" and o"ened the door. And so(ethin& on fo!r le&s 4

so(ethin& that wal)ed rather stiffly 4 %a(e o!t of the sta#le and stood fa%in&the %rowd.

A &reat wailin& or howlin& went !" so lo!d that Tirian %o!ld hear so(e of the

words.

Aslan0 Aslan0 Aslan0 %ried the Beasts. S"ea) to !s. Co(fort !s. Be an&ry with

!s no (ore.


18/77

8ro( where Tirian was he %o!ld not (a)e o!t 'ery %learly what the thin& was- #!t

he %o!ld see that it was yellow and hairy. He had ne'er seen the 9reat Lion. He

had ne'er seen a %o((on lion. He %o!ldn,t #e s!re that what he saw was not the

real Aslan. He had not e


19/77

Children0 Children0 8riends of Narnia0 6!i%). Co(e to (e. A%ross the worlds I

%all yo!- I Tirian =in& of Narnia Lord of Cair Para'el and E("eror of the

Lone Islands0

And i((ediately he was "l!n&ed into a drea( :if it was a drea(; (ore 'i'id than

any he had had in his life.

He see(ed to #e standin& in a li&hted roo( where se'en "eo"le sat ro!nd a ta#le.

It loo)ed as if they had 2!st finished their (eal. Two of those "eo"le were 'ery

old an old (an with a white #eard and an old wo(an with wise (erry twin)lin&

eyes. He who sat at the ri&ht hand of the old (an was hardly f!ll &rown

%ertainly yo!n&er than Tirian hi(self #!t his fa%e had already the loo) of a

)in& and a warrior. And yo! %o!ld al(ost say the sa(e of the other yo!th who sat

at the ri&ht hand of the old wo(an. 8a%in& Tirian a%ross the ta#le sat a fair4

haired &irl yo!n&er than either of these and on either side of her a #oy and

&irl who were yo!n&er still. They were all dressed in what see(ed to Tirian the

oddest )ind of %lothes.

B!t he had no ti(e to thin) a#o!t details li)e that for instantly the yo!n&er

#oy and #oth the &irls started to their feet and one of the( &a'e a little

s%rea(. The old wo(an started and drew in her #reath shar"ly. The old (an (!stha'e (ade so(e s!dden (o'e(ent too for the wine &lass whi%h stood at his ri&ht

hand was swe"t off the ta#le7 Tirian %o!ld hear the tin)lin& noise as it #ro)e

on the floor.

Then Tirian reali+ed that these "eo"le %o!ld see hi(- they were starin& at hi(

as if they saw a &host. B!t he noti%ed that the )in&4li)e one who sat at the old

(an,s ri&ht ne'er (o'ed :tho!&h he t!rned "ale; e


20/77

B!r his (isery did not last lon&. Al(ost at on%e there %a(e a #!(" and then a

se%ond #!(" and two %hildren were standin& #efore hi(. The wood in front of hi(

had #een /!ite e("ty a se%ond #efore and he )new they had not %o(e fro( #ehind

his tree for he wo!ld ha'e heard the(. They had in fa%t si("ly a""eared fro(

nowhere. He saw at a &lan%e that they were wearin& the sa(e /!eer din&y sort of

%lothes as the "eo"le in his drea(- and he saw at a se%ond &lan%e that they

were the yo!n&est #oy and &irl o!t of that "arty of se'en.

9osh0 said the #oy that too) one,s #reath away0 I tho!&ht 4

H!rry !" and &et hi( !ntied said the &irl. $e %an tal) afterwards. Then

she added t!rnin& to Tirian I,( sorry we,'e #een so lon&. $e %a(e the (o(ent

we %o!ld.

$hile she was s"ea)in& the Boy "rod!%ed a )nife fro( his "o%)et and was /!i%)ly

%!ttin& the =in&,s #onds7 too /!i%)ly in fa%t for the =in& was so stiff and

n!(# that when the last %ord was %!t he fell forward on his hands and )nees. He

%o!ldn,t &et !" a&ain till he had #ro!&ht so(e life #a%) into his le&s #y a &ood

r!##in&.

I say said the &irl. It was yo! wasn,t it who a""eared to !s that ni&ht

when we were all at s!""er1 Nearly a wee) a&o.

A wee) fair (aid1 said Tirian. *y drea( led (e into yo!r world s%ar%e ten

(in!tes sin%e.

It,s the !s!al (!ddle a#o!t ti(es Pole said the Boy.

I re(e(#er now said Tirian. That too %o(es in all the old tales. The ti(e of

yo!r stran&e land is different fro( o!rs. B!t if we s"ea) of Ti(e ,tis ti(e to

#e &one fro( here7 for (y ene(ies are %lose at hand. $ill yo! %o(e with (e1

Of %o!rse said the &irl. It,s yo! we,'e %o(e to hel".

Tirian &ot to his feet and led the( ra"idly down hill So!thward and away fro(

the sta#le. He )new where he (eant to &o #!t his first ai( was to &et to ro%)y

"la%es where they wo!ld lea'e no trail and his se%ond to %ross so(e water so

that they wo!ld lea'e no s%ent. This too) the( a#o!t an ho!r,s s%ra(#lin& and

wadin& and while that was &oin& on no#ody had any #reath to tal). B!t e'en so

Tirian )e"t on stealin& &lan%es at his %o("anions. The wonder of wal)in& #eside

the %reat!res fro( another world (ade hi( feel a little di++y7 #!t it also (ade

all the old stories see( far (ore real than they had e'er see(ed #efore . . .

anythin& (i&ht ha""en now.

Now said Tirian as they %a(e to the head of a little 'alley whi%h ran down

#efore the( a(on& yo!n& #ir%h trees we are o!t of dan&er of those 'illains fora s"a%e and (ay wal) (ore easily. The s!n had risen dew4dro"s were twin)lin&

on e'ery #ran%h and #irds were sin&in&.

$hat a#o!t so(e &r!#1 4 I (ean for yo! Sir we two ha'e had o!r #rea)fast

said the Boy.

Tirian wondered 'ery (!%h what he (eant #y &r!# #!t when the Boy o"ened a

#!l&y sat%hel whi%h he was %arryin& and "!lled o!t a rather &reasy and s/!ashy


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"a%)et he !nderstood. He was ra'eno!sly h!n&ry tho!&h he hadn,t tho!&ht a#o!t

it till that (o(ent. There were two hard4#oiled e&& sandwi%hes and two %heese

sandwi%hes and two with so(e )ind of "aste in the(. If he hadn,t #een so h!n&ry

he wo!ldn,t ha'e tho!&ht (!%h of the "aste for that is a sort of food no#ody

eats in Narnia. By the ti(e he had eaten all si< sandwi%hes they had %o(e to the

#otto( of the 'alley and there they fo!nd a (ossy %liff with a little fo!ntain

#!##lin& o!t of it. All three sto""ed and dran) and s"lashed their hot fa%es.

And now said the &irl as she tossed her wet hair #a%) fro( her forehead

aren,t yo! &oin& to tell !s who yo! are and why yo! were tied !" and what it,s

all a#o!t1

$ith a &ood will da(sel said Tirian. B!t we (!st )ee" on the (ar%h. So

while they went on wal)in& he told the( who he was and all the thin&s that had

ha""ened to hi(. And now he said at the end I a( &oin& to a %ertain tower

one of three that were #!ilt in (y &randsire,s ti(e to &!ard Lantern $aste

a&ainst %ertain "erilo!s o!tlaws who dwelled there in his day. By Aslan,s &ood

will I was not ro##ed of (y )eys. In that tower we shall find stores of wea"ons

and (ail and so(e 'i%t!als also tho!&h no #etter than dry #is%!it. There also

we %an lie safe while we (a)e o!r "lans. And now "rithee tell (e who yo! two

are and all yo!r story.

I,( E!sta%e S%r!## and this is 3ill Pole said the Boy. And we were here on%e

#efore a&es and a&es a&o (ore than a year a&o #y o!r ti(e and there was a

%ha" %alled Prin%e Rilian and they were )ee"in& this %ha" !nder&ro!nd and

P!ddle&l!( "!t his foot in 4

Ha0 %ried Tirian are yo! then that E!sta%e and that 3ill who res%!ed =in&

Rilian fro( his lon& en%hant(ent1

Yes that,s !s said 3ill. So he,s =in& Rilian now is he1 Oh of %o!rse he

wo!ld #e. I for&ot4

Nay said Tirian I a( the se'enth in des%ent fro( hi(. He has #een dead o'er

two h!ndred years.

3ill (ade a fa%e. >&h0 she said. That,s the horrid "art a#o!t %o(in& #a%) to

Narnia. B!t E!sta%e went on.

$ell now yo! )now who we are Sire he said. And it was li)e this. The

Professor and A!nt Polly had &ot all !s friends of Narnia to&ether 4

I )now not these na(es E!sta%e said Tirian.

They,re the two who %a(e into Narnia at the 'ery #e&innin& the day all the

ani(als learned to tal).

By the Lion,s *ane %ried Tirian. Those two0 The Lord Di&ory and the LadyPolly0 8ro( the dawn of the world0 And still in yo!r "la%e1 The wonder and the

&lory of it0 B!t tell (e tell (e.

She isn,t really o!r a!nt yo! )now said E!sta%e. She,s *iss Pl!((er #!t we

%all her A!nt Polly. $ell those two &ot !s all to&ether "artly 2!st for f!n so

that we %o!ld all ha'e a &ood 2aw a#o!t Narnia :for of %o!rse there,s no one

else we %an e'er tal) to a#o!t thin&s li)e that; #!t "artly #e%a!se the

Professor had a feelin& that we were so(ehow wanted o'er here. $ell then yo!

%a(e in li)e a &host or &oodness4)nows4what and nearly fri&htened the li'es o!t


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of !s and 'anished witho!t sayin& a word. After that we )new for %ertain there

was so(ethin& !".

The ne


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(ade. The lo%) was stiff and for a (o(ent Tirian #e&an to #e afraid that he

wo!ld not #e a#le to t!rn it7 #!t at last he did and the door sw!n& o"en with a

s!llen %rea).

$el%o(e friends said Tirian. I fear this is the #est "ala%e that the =in& of

Narnia %an now offer to his &!ests.

Tirian was "leased to see that the two stran&ers had #een well #ro!&ht !". They

#oth said not to (ention it and that they were s!re it wo!ld #e 'ery ni%e.

As a (atter of fa%t it was not "arti%!larly ni%e. It was rather dar) and s(elled

'ery da(". There was only one roo( in it and this roo( went ri&ht !" to the

stone roof7 a wooden stair%ase in one %orner led !" to a tra" door #y whi%h yo!

%o!ld &et o!t on the #attle(ents. There were a few r!de #!n)s to slee" in and a

&reat (any lo%)ers and #!ndles. There was also a hearth whi%h loo)ed as if

no#ody had lit a fire in it for a &reat (any years.

$e,d #etter &o o!t and &ather so(e firewood first thin& hadn,t we1 said 3ill.

Not yet %o(rade said Tirian. He was deter(ined that they sho!ld not #e

%a!&ht !nar(ed and #e&an sear%hin& the lo%)ers than)f!lly re(e(#erin& that hehad always #een %aref!l to ha'e these &arrison towers ins"e%ted on%e a year and

to (a)e s!re that they were sto%)ed with all thin&s needf!l. The #ow strin&s

were there in their %o'erin&s of oiled sil) the swords and s"ears were &reased

a&ainst r!st and the ar(o!r was )e"t #ri&ht in its wra""in&s. B!t there was

so(ethin& e'en #etter. Loo) yo!0 said Tirian as he drew o!t a lon& (ail shirt

of a %!rio!s "attern and flashed it #efore the %hildren,s eyes.

That,s f!nny4loo)in& (ail Sire said E!sta%e.

Aye lad said Tirian. No Narnian Dwarf s(ithied that. ,Tis (ail of Calor(en

o!tlandish &ear. I ha'e e'er )e"t a few s!its of it in readiness for I ne'er

)new when I or (y friends (i&ht ha'e reason to wal) !nseen in The Tisro%,s land.

And loo) on this stone #ottle. In this there is a 2!i%e whi%h when we ha'e

r!##ed it on o!r hands and fa%es will (a)e !s #rown as Calor(enes.

Oh h!rrah0 said 3ill. Dis&!ise0 I lo'e dis&!ises.

Tirian showed the( how to "o!r o!t a little of the 2!i%e into the "al(s of their

hands and then r!# it well o'er their fa%es and ne%)s ri&ht down to the

sho!lders and then on their hands ri&ht !" to the el#ows. He did the sa(e

hi(self.

After this has hardened on !s he said we (ay wash in water and it will not

%han&e. Nothin& #!t oil and ashes will (a)e !s white Narnians a&ain. And now

sweet 3ill let !s &o see how this (ail shirt #e%o(es yo!. ,Tis so(ethin& too

lon& yet not so (!%h as I feared. Do!#tless it #elon&ed to a "a&e in the train

of one of their Tar)aans.

After the (ail shirts they "!t on Calor(ene hel(ets whi%h are little ro!nd ones

fittin& ti&ht to the head and ha'in& a s"i)e on to". Then Tirian too) lon& rolls

of so(e white st!ff o!t of the lo%)er and wo!nd the( o'er the hel(ets till they

#e%a(e t!r#ans7 #!t the little steel s"i)e still st!%) !" in the (iddle. He and

E!sta%e too) %!r'ed Calor(ene swords and little ro!nd shields. There was no

sword li&ht eno!&h for 3ill #!t he &a'e her a lon& strai&ht h!ntin& )nife

whi%h (i&ht do for a sword at a "in%h.


24/77

Hast any s)ill with the #ow (aiden1 said Tirian.

Nothin& worth tal)in& of said 3ill #l!shin&. S%r!##,s not #ad.

Don,t yo! #elie'e her Sire said E!sta%e. $e,'e #oth #een "ra%tisin& ar%hery

e'er sin%e we &ot #a%) fro( Narnia last ti(e and she,s a#o!t as &ood as (e now.

Not that either of !s is (!%h.

Then Tirian &a'e 3ill a #ow and a /!i'er f!ll of arrows. The neT fo!r ho!rs later Tirian fl!n& hi(self into one of the #!n)s to snat%h a

little slee". The two %hildren were already snorin&7 he had (ade the( &o to #ed

#efore he did #e%a!se they wo!ld ha'e to #e !" (ost of the ni&ht and he )new

that at their a&e they %o!ldn,t do witho!t slee". Also he had tired the( o!t.

8irst he had &i'en 3ill so(e "ra%ti%e in ar%hery and fo!nd that tho!&h not !"

to Narnian standards she was really not too #ad. Indeed she had s!%%eeded in

shootin& a ra##it :not a Tal)in& ra##it of %o!rse7 there are lots of the

ordinary )ind a#o!t in $estern Narnia; and it was already s)inned %leaned and

han&in& !". He had fo!nd that #oth the %hildren )new all a#o!t this %hilly and

s(elly 2o#- they had learned that )ind of thin& on their &reat 2o!rney thro!&h

9iant4Land in the days of Prin%e Rilian. Then he had tried to tea%h E!sta%e how

to !se his sword and shield. E!sta%e had learned /!ite a lot a#o!t sword

fi&htin& on his earlier ad'ent!res #!t that had #een all with a strai&ht Narnian

sword. He had ne'er handled a %!r'ed Calor(ene s%i(itar and that (ade it hard

for (any of the stro)es are /!ite different and so(e of the ha#its he had

learned with the lon& sword had now to #e !nlearned a&ain. B!t Tirian fo!nd that

he had a &ood eye and was 'ery /!i%) on his feet. He was s!r"rised at the

stren&th of #oth %hildren7 in fa%t they #oth see(ed to #e already (!%h stron&er

and #i&&er and (ore &rown4!" than they had #een when he first (et the( a fewho!rs a&o. It is one of the effe%ts whi%h Narnian air often has on 'isitors fro(

o!r world.

All three of the( a&reed that the 'ery first thin& they (!st do was to &o #a%)

to Sta#le Hill and try to res%!e 3ewel the >ni%orn. After that if they

s!%%eeded they wo!ld try to &et away Eastward and (eet the little ar(y whi%h

Roonwit the Centa!r wo!ld #e #rin&in& fro( Cair Para'el.


25/77

An e


26/77

3ill #!t not /!ite for he was hea'ier and older. And on%e they were down he

saw how fro( that "osition yo! %o!ld see the ed&e of the hill shar" a&ainst the

star4strewn s)y. Two #la%) sha"es rose a&ainst it7 one was the sta#le and the

other a few feet in front of it was a Calor(ene sentry. He was )ee"in& 'ery

ill wat%h7 not wal)in& or e'en standin& #!t sittin& with his s"ear o'er his

sho!lder and his %hin on his %hest. $ell done said Tirian to 3ill. She had

shown hi( e


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I ha'e done thee so(e dis%o!rtesy soldier said Tirian. B!t s!%h was (y

need. If we (eet a&ain I (ay ha""en to do thee a #etter t!rn. Now 3ewel let !s

&o softly.

He "!t his left ar( ro!nd the #east,s ne%) and #ent and )issed its nose and #oth

had &reat 2oy. They went #a%) as /!ietly as "ossi#le to the "la%e where he had

left the %hildren. It was dar)er in there !nder the trees and he nearly ran into

E!sta%e #efore he saw hi(.

All,s well whis"ered Tirian. A &ood ni&ht,s wor). Now for ho(e.

They t!rned and had &one a few "a%es when E!sta%e said $here are yo! Pole1

There was no answer. Is 3ill on the other side of yo! Sire1 he as)ed.

$hat1 said Tirian. Is she not on the other side of yo!r

It was a terri#le (o(ent. They dared not sho!t #!t they whis"ered her na(e in

the lo!dest whis"er they %o!ld (ana&e. There was no re"ly.

Did she &o fro( yo! while I was away1 as)ed Tirian.

I didn,t see or hear her &o said E!sta%e. B!t she %o!ld ha'e &one witho!t (y

)nowin&. She %an #e as /!iet as a %at- yo!,'e seen for yo!rself.

At that (o(ent a far off dr!( #eat was heard. 3ewel (o'ed his ears forward.

Dwarfs he said.

And trea%hero!s Dwarfs ene(ies as li)ely as not (!ttered Tirian.

And here %o(es so(ethin& on hoofs (!%h nearer said 3ewel.

The two h!(ans and the >ni%orn stood dead still. There were now so (any

different thin&s to worry a#o!t that they didn,t )now what to do. The noise of

hoofs %a(e steadily nearer. And then /!ite %lose to the( a 'oi%e whis"ered7

Hallo0 Are yo! all there1

Than) hea'en it was 3ill,s.

$here the de'il ha'e yo! #een to1 said E!sta%e in a f!rio!s whis"er for he

had #een 'ery fri&htened.

In the sta#le &as"ed 3ill #!t it was the sort of &as" yo! &i'e when yo!,re

str!&&lin& with s!""ressed la!&hter.

Oh &rowled E!sta%e yo! thin) it f!nny do yo!1 $ell all I %an say is 4

Ha'e yo! &ot 3ewel Sire1 as)ed 3ill.

Yes. Here he is. $hat is that #east with yo!1

That,s hi( said 3ill. B!t let,s #e off ho(e #efore anyone wa)es !". And

a&ain there %a(e little e


28/77

only after they had #een wal)in& So!thward for se'eral (in!tes that E!sta%e

said7

9ot hi(1 $hat do yo! (ean1

The false Aslan said 3ill.

$hat1 said Tirian. $here ha'e yo! #een1 $hat ha'e yo! done1

$ell Sire said 3ill. As soon as I saw that yo!,d &ot the sentry o!t of the

way I tho!&ht hadn,t I #etter ha'e a loo) inside the sta#le and see what really

is there1 So I %rawled alon&. It was as easy as anythin& to draw the #olt.

Of %o!rse it was "it%h #la%) inside and s(elled li)e any other sta#le. Then I

str!%) a li&ht and 4 wo!ld yo! #elie'e it1 4 there was nothin& at all there #!t

this old don)ey with a #!ndle of lion4s)in tied on to his #a%). So I drew (y

)nife and told hi( he,d ha'e to %o(e alon& with (e. As a (atter of fa%t I

needn,t ha'e threatened hi( with the )nife at all. He was 'ery fed !" with the

sta#le and /!ite ready to %o(e 4 weren,t yo! P!++le dear1

9reat S%ott0 said E!sta%e. $ell I,( 4 2i&&ered. I was 2olly an&ry with yo! a(o(ent a&o and I still thin) it was (ean of yo! to snea) off witho!t the rest

of !s7 #!t I (!st ad(it 4 well I (ean to say 4 well it was a "erfe%tly &or&eo!s

thin& to do. If she was a #oy she,d ha'e to #e )ni&hted wo!ldn,t she Sire1

If she was a #oy said Tirian she,d #e whi""ed for diso#eyin& orders. And

in the dar) no one %o!ld see whether he said this with a frown or a s(ile. Ne


29/77

t!rned. To(orrow we shall han& that A"e on the hi&hest tree in Narnia. No (ore

whis"erin& and s)!l)in& and dis&!ises. $here are these honest Dwarfs1 $e ha'e

&ood news for the(.

$hen yo! ha'e #een whis"erin& for ho!rs the (ere so!nd of anyone tal)in& o!t

lo!d has a wonderf!lly stirrin& effe%t. The whole "arty #e&an tal)in& and

la!&hin&7 e'en P!++le lifted !" his head and &a'e a &rand Haw4hee4haw4hee4hee- a

thin& the A"e hadn,t allowed hi( to do for days. Then they set off in the

dire%tion of the dr!((in&. It &rew steadily lo!der and soon they %o!ld see

tor%hli&ht as well. They %a(e o!t on one of those ro!&h roads :we sho!ld hardly

%all the( roads at all in En&land; whi%h ran thro!&h Lantern $aste. And there

(ar%hin& st!rdily alon& were a#o!t thirty Dwarfs all with their little s"ades

and (atto%)s o'er their sho!lders. Two ar(ed Calor(enes led the %ol!(n and two

(ore #ro!&ht !" the rear.

Stay0 th!ndered Tirian as he ste""ed o!t on the road. Stay soldiers. $hither

do yo! lead these Narnian Dwarfs and #y whose orders1

CHAPTER SE5EN

*AINLY ABO>T D$AR8S

THE two Calor(ene soldiers at the head of the %ol!(n seein& what they too) for

a Tar)aan or &reat lord with two ar(ed "a&es %a(e to a halt and raised their

s"ears in sal!te.

O *y *aster said one of the( we lead these (ani)ins to Calor(en to wor) in

the (ines of The Tisro% (ay4he4li'e4fore'er.

By the &reat &od Tash they are 'ery o#edient said Tirian. Then s!ddenly he

t!rned to the Dwarfs the(sel'es. A#o!t one in si< of the( %arried a tor%h and #y

that fli%)erin& li&ht he %o!ld see their #earded fa%es all loo)in& at hi( with

&ri( and do&&ed e


30/77

&a+in& o!t of it. So(e &rass st!%) o!t of one %orner of his (o!th for he,d #een

doin& a little /!iet ni##lin& as they #ro!&ht hi( alon&. And he was (!tterin&

It wasn,t (y fa!lt I,( not %le'er. I ne'er said I was.

8or one se%ond all the Dwarfs were starin& at P!++le with wide o"en (o!ths and

then one of the soldiers said shar"ly Are yo! (ad *y *aster1 $hat are yo!

doin& to the sla'es1 and the other said And who are yo!1 Neither of their

s"ears was at the sal!te now 4 #oth were down and ready for a%tion.

9i'e the "assword said the %hief soldier.

This is (y "assword said the =in& as he drew his sword. The li&ht is

dawnin& the lie #ro)en. Now &!ard thee (is%reant for I a( Tirian of Narnia.

He flew !"on the %hief soldier li)e li&htnin&. E!sta%e who had drawn his sword

when he saw the =in& draw his r!shed at the other one7 his fa%e was deadly

"ale #!t I wo!ldn,t #la(e hi( for that. And he had the l!%) that #e&inners

so(eti(es do ha'e. He for&ot all that Tirian had tried to tea%h hi( that

afternoon slashed wildly :indeed I,( not s!re his eyes weren,t sh!t; and

s!ddenly fo!nd to his own &reat s!r"rise that the Calor(ene lay dead at his

feet. And tho!&h that was a &reat relief it was at the (o(ent ratherfri&htenin&. The =in&,s fi&ht lasted a se%ond or two lon&er7 then he too had

)illed his (an and sho!ted to E!sta%e ,$are the other two.

B!t the Dwarfs had settled the two re(ainin& Calor(enes. There was no ene(y

left.

$ell str!%) E!sta%e0 %ried Tirian %la""in& hi( on the #a%). Now Dwarfs

yo! are free. To(orrow I will lead yo! to free all Narnia. Three %heers for

Aslan0

B!t the res!lt whi%h followed was si("ly wret%hed. There was a fee#le atte("t

fro( a few Dwarfs :a#o!t fi'e; whi%h died away all at on%e7 fro( se'eral others

there were s!l)y &rowls. *any said nothin& at all.

Don,t they !nderstand1 said 3ill i("atiently. $hat,s wron& with all yo!

Dwarfs1 Don,t yo! hear what the =in& says1 It,s all o'er. The A"e isn,t &oin& to

r!le Narnia any lon&er. E'eryone %an &o #a%) to ordinary life. Yo! %an ha'e f!n

a&ain. Aren,t yo! &lad1

After a "a!se of nearly a (in!te a not4'ery4ni%e4loo)in& Dwarf with hair and

#eard as #la%) as soot said7 And who (i&ht yo! #e *issie1

I,( 3ill she said. The sa(e 3ill who res%!ed =in& Rilian fro( the

en%hant(ent and this is E!sta%e who did it too 4 and we,'e %o(e #a%) fro(

another world after h!ndreds of years. Aslan sent !s.

The Dwarfs all loo)ed at one another with &rins- sneerin& &rins not (erry ones.

$ell said the Bla%) Dwarf :whose na(e was 9riffle; I don,t )now how all yo!

%ha"s feel #!t I feel I,'e heard as (!%h a#o!t Aslan as I want to for the rest

of (y life.

That,s ri&ht that,s ri&ht &rowled the other Dwarfs. It,s all a "lant all a

#loo(in& "lant.


31/77

$hat do yo! (ean1 said Tirian. He had not #een "ale when he was fi&htin& #!t

he was "ale now. He had tho!&ht this was &oin& to #e a #ea!tif!l (o(ent #!t it

was t!rnin& o!t (ore li)e a #ad drea(.

Yo! (!st thin) we,re #loo(in& soft in the head that yo! (!st said 9riffle.

$e,'e #een ta)en in on%e and now yo! e


32/77

They were a silent "arty. P!++le felt hi(self to #e still in dis&ra%e and also

he didn,t really /!ite !nderstand what had ha""ened. 3ill #esides #ein&

dis&!sted with the Dwarfs was 'ery i("ressed with E!sta%e,s 'i%tory o'er the

Calor(ene and felt al(ost shy. As for E!sta%e his heart was still #eatin&

rather /!i%)ly. Tirian and 3ewel wal)ed sadly to&ether in the rear. The =in& had

his ar( on the >ni%orn,s sho!lder and so(eti(es the >ni%orn n!++led the =in&,s

%hee) with his soft nose. They did not try to %o(fort one another with words. It

wasn,t 'ery easy to thin) of anythin& to say that wo!ld #e %o(fortin&. Tirian

had ne'er drea(ed that one of the res!lts of an A"e,s settin& !" as a false

Aslan wo!ld #e to sto" "eo"le fro( #elie'in& in the real one. He had felt /!ite

s!re that the Dwarfs wo!ld rally to his side the (o(ent he showed the( how they

had #een de%ei'ed. And then ne


33/77

what with one thin& and another they had the (a)in&s of a %a"ital stew for

their #rea)fast or dinner whi%he'er yo! %hoose to %all it. Tirian went a little

f!rther off into the wood with an ani%orn who were %ontentedly

&ra+in&. How (any ti(es that (ornin& she wished she %o!ld eat &rass0

B!t when the (eal %a(e e'eryone felt it had #een worth waitin& for and there

were se%ond hel"in&s all ro!nd. $hen e'eryone had eaten as (!%h as he %o!ld the

three h!(ans and the Dwarf %a(e and sat on the doorste" the fo!r4footed ones

lay down fa%in& the( the Dwarf :with "er(ission #oth fro( 3ill and fro( Tirian;

lit his "i"e and the =in& said7

Now friend Po&&in yo! ha'e (ore news of the ene(y #eli)e than we. Tell !sall yo! )now. And first what tale do they tell of (y es%a"e1

As %!nnin& a tale Sire as e'er was de'ised said Po&&in. It was the Cat

9in&er who told it and (ost li)ely (ade it !" too. This 9in&er Sire 4 oh

he,s a sly#oots if e'er a %at was 4 said he was wal)in& "ast the tree to whi%h

those 'illains #o!nd yo!r *a2esty. And he said :sa'in& yo!r re'eren%e; that yo!

were howlin& and swearin& and %!rsin& Aslan7 @lan&!a&e I wo!ldn,t li)e to

re"eat, were the words he !sed loo)in& e'er so "ri( and "ro"er yo! )now the way

a Cat %an when it "leases. And then says 9in&er Aslan hi(self s!ddenly

a""eared in a flash of li&htnin& and swallowed yo!r *a2esty !" at one (o!thf!l.

All the Beasts tre(#led at this story and so(e fainted ri&ht away. And of %o!rse

the A"e followed it !". There he says see what Aslan does to those who don,t

res"e%t hi(. Let that #e a warnin& to yo! all. And the "oor %reat!res wailed and

whined and said it will it will. So that in the !"shot yo!r *a2esty,s es%a"e

has not set the( thin)in& whether yo! still ha'e loyal friends to aid yo! #!t

only (ade the( (ore afraid and (ore o#edient to the A"e.

$hat de'ilish "oli%y0 said Tirian. This 9in&er then is %lose in the A"e,s

%o!nsels.

It,s (ore a /!estion #y now Sire if the A"e is in his %o!nsels re"lied the

Dwarf. The A"e has ta)en to drin)in& yo! see. *y #elief is that the "lot is

now (ostly %arried on #y 9in&er or Rishda 4 that,s the Calor(ene %a"tain. And I

thin) so(e words that 9in&er has s%attered a(on& the Dwarfs are %hiefly to #la(e

for the s%!r'y ret!rn they (ade yo!. And I,ll tell yo! why. One of those

dreadf!l (idni&ht (eetin&s had 2!st #ro)en !" the ni&ht #efore last and I,d &one

a #it of the way ho(e when I fo!nd I,d left (y "i"e #ehind. It was a real &ood,!n an old fa'o!rite so I went #a%) to loo) for it. B!t #efore I &ot to the

"la%e where I,d #een sittin& :it was #la%) as "it%h there; I heard a %at,s 'oi%e

say *ew and a Calor(ene 'oi%e say @here . . . s"ea) softly, so I 2!st stood as

still as if I was fro+en. And these two were 9in&er and Rishda Tar)aan as they

%all hi(. @No#le Tar)aan, said the Cat in that sil)y 'oi%e of his @I 2!st

wanted to )now e


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one another, "!rrs the Cat. @Do yo! li)e (e &row a little weary of the A"e1,

@A st!"id &reedy #r!te, says the other @#!t we (!st !se hi( for the "resent.

Tho! and I (!st "ro'ide for all thin&s in se%ret and (a)e the A"e do o!r will.,

@And it wo!ld #e #etter wo!ldn,t it, said 9in&er @to let so(e of the (ore

enli&htened Narnians into o!r %o!nsels7 one #y one as we find the( a"t. 8or the

Beasts who really #elie'e in Aslan (ay t!rn at any (o(ent7 and will if the

A"e,s folly #etrays his se%ret. B!t those who %are neither for Tash nor Aslan

#!t ha'e only an eye to their own "rofit and s!%h reward as The Tisro% (ay &i'e

the( when Narnia is a Calor(ene "ro'in%e will #e fir(., @E


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E'eryone started #reathin& "ro"erly a&ain and (o'ed. They had all #een still as

stat!es while it was in si&ht.

$hat was it1 said E!sta%e in a whis"er.

I ha'e seen it on%e #efore said Tirian. B!t that ti(e it was %ar'ed in stone

and o'erlaid with &old and had solid dia(onds for eyes. It was when I was no

older than tho! and had &one as a &!est to The Tisro%,s %o!rt in Tash#aan.

He too) (e into the &reat te("le of Tash. There I saw it %ar'ed a#o'e the

altar.

Then that 4 that thin& 4 was Tash1 said E!sta%e.

B!t instead of answerin& hi( Tirian sli""ed his ar( #ehind 3ill,s sho!lders and

said How is it with yo! Lady1

A4all ri&ht said 3ill ta)in& her hands away fro( her "ale fa%e and tryin& to

s(ile. I,( all ri&ht. It only (ade (e feel a little si%) for a (o(ent.

It see(s then said the >ni%orn that there is a real Tash after all.

Yes said the Dwarf. And this fool of an A"e who didn,t #elie'e in Tash

will &et (ore than he #ar&ained for0 He %alled for Tash7 Tash has %o(e.

$here has it 4 he 4 the Thin& 4 &one to1 said 3ill.

North into the heart of Narnia said Tirian. It has %o(e to dwell a(on& !s.

They ha'e %alled it and it has %o(e.

Ho ho ho0 %h!%)led the Dwarf r!##in& his hairy hands to&ether. It will #e

a s!r"rise for the A"e. Peo"le sho!ldn,t %all for de(ons !nless they really (ean

what they say.

$ho )nows if Tash will #e 'isi#le to the A"e1 said 3ewel.

$here has P!++le &ot to1 said E!sta%e.

They all sho!ted o!t P!++le,s na(e and 3ill went ro!nd to the other side of the

Tower to see if he had &one there.

They were /!ite tired of loo)in& for hi( when at last his lar&e &rey head "eered

%a!tio!sly o!t of the doorway and he said Has it &one away1 And when at last

they &ot hi( to %o(e o!t he was shi'erin& the way a do& shi'ers #efore a

th!nderstor(.

I see now said P!++le that I really ha'e #een a 'ery #ad don)ey. I o!&htne'er to ha'e listened to Shift. I ne'er tho!&ht thin&s li)e this wo!ld #e&in to

ha""en.

If yo!,d s"ent less ti(e sayin& yo! weren,t %le'er and (ore ti(e tryin& to #e

as %le'er as yo! %o!ld 4 #e&an E!sta%e #!t 3ill interr!"ted hi(.

Oh lea'e "oor old P!++le alone she said. It was all a (ista)e- wasn,t it

P!++le dear1 And she )issed hi( on the nose.


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Tho!&h rather sha)en #y what they had seen the whole "arty now sat down a&ain

and went on with their tal).

3ewel had little to tell the(. $hile he was a "risoner he had s"ent nearly all

his ti(e tied !" at the #a%) of the sta#le and had of %o!rse heard none of the

ene(ies, "lans. He had #een )i%)ed :he,d done so(e )i%)in& #a%) too; and #eaten

and threatened with death !nless he wo!ld say that he #elie'ed it was Aslan who

was #ro!&ht o!t and shown to the( #y fireli&ht e'ery ni&ht. In fa%t he was &oin&

to #e e


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P!++le #e&&ed 'ery hard to ha'e the lion4s)in ta)en off hi(. He said it was too

hot and the way it was r!%)ed !" on his #a%) was !n%o(forta#le7 also it (ade

hi( loo) so silly. B!t they told hi( he wo!ld ha'e to wear it a #it lon&er for

they still wanted to show hi( in that &et4!" to the other Beasts e'en tho!&h

they were now &oin& to (eet Roonwit first.

$hat was left of the "i&eon4(eat and ra##it4(eat was not worth #rin&in& away #!t

they too) so(e #is%!its. Then Tirian lo%)ed the door of the Tower and that was

the end of their stay there.

It was a little after two in the afternoon when they set o!t and it was the

first really war( day of that s"rin&. The yo!n& lea'es see(ed to #e (!%h f!rther

o!t than yesterday7 the snow4dro"s were o'er #!t they saw se'eral "ri(roses.

The s!nli&ht slanted thro!&h the trees #irds san& and always :tho!&h !s!ally

o!t of si&ht; there was the noise of r!nnin& water. It was hard to thin) of

horri#le thin&s li)e Tash. The %hildren felt This is really Narnia at last.

E'en Tirian,s heart &rew li&hter as he wal)ed ahead of the( h!((in& an old

Narnian (ar%hin& son& whi%h had the refrain7

Ho r!(#le r!(#le r!(#le R!(#le dr!( #ela#o!red.

After the =in& %a(e E!sta%e and Po&&in the Dwarf. Po&&in was tellin& E!sta%e the

na(es of all the Narnian trees #irds and "lants whi%h he didn,t )now already.

So(eti(es E!sta%e wo!ld tell hi( a#o!t En&lish ones.

After the( %a(e P!++le and after hi( 3ill and 3ewel wal)in& 'ery %lose

to&ether. 3ill had as yo! (i&ht say /!ite fallen in lo'e with the >ni%orn. She

tho!&ht4 and she wasn,t far wron& 4 that he was the shinin&est deli%atest (ost

&ra%ef!l ani(al she had e'er (et7 and he was so &entle and soft of s"ee%h that

if yo! hadn,t )nown yo! wo!ld hardly ha'e #elie'ed how fier%e and terri#le he

%o!ld #e in #attle.

Oh this is ni%e0 said 3ill. 3!st wal)in& alon& li)e this. I wish there %o!ld

#e (ore of this sort of ad'ent!re. It,s a "ity there,s always so (!%h ha""enin&

in Narnia.

B!t the >ni%orn e


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was rather li)e loo)in& down fro( a hi&h hill on to a ri%h lo'ely "lain f!ll of

woods and waters and %ornfields whi%h s"read away and away till it &ot thin and

(isty fro( distan%e. And she said7

Oh I do ho"e we %an soon settle the A"e and &et #a%) to those &ood ordinary

ti(es. And then I ho"e they,ll &o on for e'er and e'er and e'er. O!r world is

&oin& to ha'e an end so(e day. Perha"s this one won,t. Oh 3ewel wo!ldn,t it #e

lo'ely if Narnia 2!st went on and on 4 li)e what yo! said it has #een1

Nay sister answered 3ewel all worlds draw to an end e


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No one %o!ld s"ea).

And the other si&ht fi'e lea&!es nearer than Cair Para'el was Roonwit the

Centa!r lyin& dead with a Calor(ene arrow in his side. I was with hi( in his

last ho!r and he &a'e (e this (essa&e to yo!r *a2esty7 to re(e(#er that all

worlds draw to an end and that no#le death is a treas!re whi%h no one is too

"oor to #!y.

So said the =in& after a lon& silen%e Narnia is no (ore.

CHAPTER NINE

THE 9REAT *EETIN9 ON STABLE HILL

8o" a lon& ti(e they %o!ld not s"ea) nor e'en shed a tear. Then the >ni%orn

sta("ed the &ro!nd with his hoof and shoo) his (ane and s"o)e.

Sire he said there is now no need of %o!nsel. $e see that the A"e,s "lans

were laid dee"er than we drea(ed of. Do!#tless he has #een lon& in se%ret

traffi% with The Tisro% and as soon as he had fo!nd the lion4s)in he sent hi(

word to (a)e ready his na'y for the ta)in& of Cair Para'el and all Narnia.

Nothin& now re(ains for !s se'en #!t to &o #a%) to Sta#le Hill "ro%lai( the

tr!th and ta)e the ad'ent!re that Aslan sends !s. And if #y a &reat (ar'el we

defeat those thirty Calor(enes who are with the A"e then to t!rn a&ain and die

in #attle with the far &reater host of the( that will soon (ar%h fro( Cair

Para'el.

Tirian nodded. B!t he t!rned to the %hildren and said7 Now friends it is ti(e

for yo! to &o hen%e into yo!r own world. Do!#tless yo! ha'e done all that yo!

were sent to do.

B 4 #!t we,'e done nothin& said 3ill who was shi'erin& not with fear e


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$hen Tirian reali+ed that the two stran&ers %o!ld not &et ho(e :!nless Aslan

s!ddenly whis)ed the( away; he neni%orn.

This ti(e 3ill and E!sta%e wal)ed to&ether. They had #een feelin& 'ery #ra'e

when they were #e&&in& to #e allowed to %o(e with the others #!t now they

didn,t feel #ra'e at all.

Pole said E!sta%e in a whis"er. I (ay as well tell yo! I,'e &ot the wind

!".

Oh yo!,re all ri&ht S%r!## said 3ill. Yo! %an fi&ht. B!t I 4 I,( 2!st

sha)in& if yo! want to )now the tr!th.

Oh sha)in&,s nothin& said E!sta%e. I,( feelin& I,( &oin& to #e si%).

Don,t tal) a#o!t that for &oodness, sa)e said 3ill.

They went on in silen%e for a (in!te or two.

Pole said E!sta%e "resently.

$hat1 said she.

$hat,ll ha""en if we &et )illed here1

$ell we,ll #e dead I s!""ose.

B!t I (ean what will ha""en in o!r own world1 Shall we wa)e !" and find

o!rsel'es #a%) in that train1 Or shall we 2!st 'anish and ne'er #e heard of any

(ore1 Or shall we #e dead in En&land1


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9osh. I ne'er tho!&ht of that.

It,ll #e r!( for Peter and the others if they saw (e wa'in& o!t of the window

and then when the train %o(es in we,re nowhere to #e fo!nd0 Or if they fo!nd two

4 I (ean if we,re dead o'er there in En&land.

>&h0 said 3ill. $hat a horrid idea.

It wo!ldn,t #e horrid for !s said E!sta%e. $e sho!ldn,t #e there.

I al(ost wish 4 no I don,t tho!&h said 3ill.

$hat were yo! &oin& to say1

I was &oin& to say I wished we,d ne'er %o(e. B!t I don,t I don,t I don,t.

E'en if we are )illed. I,d rather #e )illed fi&htin& for Narnia than &row old

and st!"id at ho(e and "erha"s &o a#o!t in a #ath4%hair and then die in the end

2!st the sa(e.

Or #e s(ashed !" #y British Railways0

$hy d,yo! say that1

$ell when that awf!l 2er) %a(e 4 the one that see(ed to throw !s into Narnia 4

I tho!&ht it was the #e&innin& of a railway a%%ident. So I was 2olly &lad to

find o!rsel'es here instead.

$hile 3ill and E!sta%e were tal)in& a#o!t this the others were dis%!ssin& their

"lans and #e%o(in& less (isera#le. That was #e%a!se they were now thin)in& of

what was to #e done this 'ery ni&ht and the tho!&ht of what had ha""ened to

Narnia 4 the tho!&ht that all her &lories and 2oys were o'er 4 was "!shed away

into the #a%) "art of their (inds. The (o(ent they sto""ed tal)in& it wo!ld %o(e

o!t and (a)e the( wret%hed a&ain7 #!t they )e"t on tal)in&. Po&&in was really

/!ite %heerf!l a#o!t the ni&ht,s wor) they had to do. He was s!re that the Boar

and the Bear and "ro#a#ly all the Do&s wo!ld %o(e o'er to their side at on%e.

And he %o!ldn,t #elie'e that all the other Dwarfs wo!ld sti%) to 9riffle. And

fi&htin& #y fireli&ht and in and o!t a(on& trees wo!ld #e an ad'anta&e to the

wea)er side. And then if they %o!ld win toni&ht need they really throw their

li'es away #y (eetin& the (ain Calor(ene ar(y a few days later1

$hy not hide in the woods or e'en !" in the $estern $aste #eyond the &reat

waterfall and li'e li)e o!tlaws1 And then they (i&ht &rad!ally &et stron&er and

stron&er for Tal)in& Beasts and Ar%henlanders wo!ld #e 2oinin& the( e'ery day.

And at last they,d %o(e o!t of hidin& and swee" the Calor(enes :who wo!ld ha'e

&ot %areless #y then; o!t of the %o!ntry and Narnia wo!ld #e re'i'ed. After all

so(ethin& 'ery li)e that had ha""ened in the ti(e of =in& *ira+0

And Tirian heard all this and tho!&ht B!t what a#o!t Tash1 and felt in his

#ones that none of it was &oin& to ha""en. B!t he didn,t say so.

$hen they &ot nearer to Sta#le Hill of %o!rse e'eryone #e%a(e /!iet. Then the

real wood4wor) #e&an. 8ro( the (o(ent at whi%h they first saw the Hill to the

(o(ent at whi%h they all arri'ed at the #a%) of the sta#le it too) the( o'er

two ho!rs. It,s the sort of thin& one %o!ldn,t des%ri#e "ro"erly !nless one

wrote "a&es and "a&es a#o!t it. The 2o!rney fro( ea%h #it of %o'er to the ne


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false alar(s. If yo! are a &ood S%o!t or a &ood 9!ide yo! will )now already what

it (!st ha'e #een li)e. By a#o!t s!nset they were all safe in a %l!(" of holly

trees a#o!t fifteen yards #ehind the sta#le. They all (!n%hed so(e #is%!it and

lay down.

Then %a(e the worst "art the waitin&. L!%)ily for the %hildren they sle"t for a

%o!"le of ho!rs #!t of %o!rse they wo)e !" when the ni&ht &rew %old and what

was worse wo)e !" 'ery thirsty and with no %han%e of &ettin& a drin). P!++le

2!st stood shi'erin& a little with ner'o!sness and said nothin&. B!t Tirian

with his head a&ainst 3ewel,s flan) sle"t as so!ndly as if he were in his royal

#ed at Cair Para'el till the so!nd of a &on& #eatin& awo)e hi( and he sat !"

and saw that there was fireli&ht on the far side of the sta#le and )new that the

ho!r had %o(e.

=iss (e 3ewel he said. 8or %ertainly this is o!r last ni&ht on earth. And

if e'er I offended a&ainst yo! in any (atter &reat or s(all for&i'e (e now.

Dear =in& said the >ni%orn I %o!ld al(ost wish yo! had so that I (i&ht

for&i'e it. 8arewell. $e ha'e )nown &reat 2oys to&ether. If Aslan &a'e (e (y

%hoi%e I wo!ld %hoose no other life than the life I ha'e had and no other death

than the one we &o to.

Then they wo)e !" 8arsi&ht who was aslee" with his head !nder his win& :it (ade

hi( loo) as if he had no head at all; and %re"t forward to the sta#le. They

left P!++le :not witho!t a )ind word for no one was an&ry with hi( now; 2!st

#ehind it tellin& hi( not to (o'e till so(eone %a(e to fet%h hi( and too) !"

their "osition at one end of the sta#le.

The #onfire had not #een lit for lon& and was 2!st #e&innin& to #la+e !". It was

only a few feet away fro( the( and the &reat %rowd of Narnian %reat!res were on

the other side of it so that Tirian %o!ld not at first see the( 'ery well

tho!&h of %o!rse he saw do+ens of eyes shinin& with the refle%tion of the fire

as yo!,'e seen a ra##it,s or %at,s eyes in the headli&hts of a %ar. And 2!st as

Tirian too) his "la%e the &on& sto""ed #eatin& and fro( so(ewhere on his left

three fi&!res a""eared. One was Rishda Tar)aan the Calor(ene Ca"tain. The se%ond

was the A"e. He was holdin& on to the Tar)aan,s hand with one "aw and )e"t

whi("erin& and (!tterin& Not so fast don,t &o so fast I,( not at all well.

Oh (y "oor head0 These (idni&ht (eetin&s are &ettin& too (!%h for (e. A"es

aren,t (eant to #e !" at ni&ht7 It,s not as if I was a rat or a #at 4 oh (y "oor

head. On the other side of the A"e wal)in& 'ery soft and stately with his

tail strai&ht !" in the air %a(e 9in&er the Cat. They were headin& for the

#onfire and were so %lose to Tirian that they wo!ld ha'e seen hi( at on%e if

they had loo)ed in the ri&ht dire%tion. 8ort!nately they did not. B!t Tirian

heard Rishda say to 9in&er in a low 'oi%e7

Now Cat to thy "ost. See tho! "lay thy "art well.

*iaow (iaow. Co!nt on (e0 said 9in&er. Then he ste""ed away #eyond the#onfire and sat down in the front row of the asse(#led Beasts7 in the a!dien%e

as yo! (i&ht say.

8or really as it ha""ened the whole thin& was rather li)e a theatre. The %rowd

of Narnians were li)e the "eo"le in the seats- the little &rassy "la%e 2!st in

front of the sta#le where the #onfire #!rned and the A"e and the Ca"tain stood

to tal) to the %rowd was li)e the sta&e- the sta#le itself was li)e the s%enery

at the #a%) of the sta&e- and Tirian and his friends were li)e "eo"le "eerin&

ro!nd fro( #ehind the s%enery. It was a s"lendid "osition. If any of the(


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ste""ed forward into the f!ll fireli&ht all eyes wo!ld #e

The Chronicles of Narnia 7 - The Last Battle

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