Chapter Two
Beast
Experiment House
Jill looked at Eustace, then shook her head.
"What?" Eustace asked, his tone slightly defensive.
"You were right. You were a real tick back then."
"Well that was then."
"So when was it during this first adventure in Narnia that changed you so much, Scrubb?"
Eustace shifted uncomfortably on the ground and looked away from her. "That's an adventure in itself. But… I was turned into… a dragon."
"A…what?"
Eustace looked up, he saw Jill's tense expression. "Like one of those creatures we saw in the Underworld?" she asked remembering.
Eustace could not say if he was like the beasts in the Underworld that were sleeping. Did not the Warden say they would awake at the end of the world?
"I don't know if I was like that. I didn't know I even was a dragon at first until Ed and Lucy explained it to me."
"How did you become a dragon?" Jill asked as she brushed a lock of red hair out of her eyes.
"We arrived on this island, the Dawn Treader wasno better than a wreck. There had been a bad storm that lasted days. It caused us to lose a mast."
"Caspian wanted everyone to get work. We had to do anything from starting to repair the ship, to setting up camp, to getting a hunting party started. I thought 'Is there never going to be any rest?'
"If I was careful and slowly walked off I would slip away without anyone noticing. I had seen a ridge not too far away. So I started to climb up it, and it took some time doing." He laughed bitterly. "The old me would never have done it. I would have given up after it got too hard.
"Once I reached the top, there was a fog all around. I couldn't see the camp or the Dawn Treader. So I lay down and got comfortable. But as I lay there I started to feel lonely for the first time in my life."
Jill looked at him sadly, her eyes seem to say she understood. But she did not say anything.
"Then I thought, 'What if the others have gone on without me? Perhaps they had left me here on purpose.'"
"Scrubb, they would never do that." Jill looked surprised that he would believe that of the Pevensies and Caspian.
"I know that now, Pole. But at the time… Anyway, so I rushed down the ridge mad with fear that I was left behind. But all that time my thoughts were 'Hurry, Hurry.'
"I got back on level ground again. But I didn't see any sign of the Dawn Treader. I found myself in an unfamiliar valley.
The valley was narrow and deep with a rock face. There was also was a clear pool of water. I knew I had to climb back up. I didn't know if I could do it, although but I knew I had to do it. But I thought to get a good drink first. But before I did, I heard something."
Eustace inhaled sharply remembering the other dragon. It was like it was only yesterday and not what? Months? Years ago?
"Eustace?" Jill asked quietly, he felt her hand in his. "We faced giants and a witch how bad was it with a dragon?"
"It wasn't so much the dragon I saw I think. Maybe it was more the dragon I was."
"But you're not one anymore."
"Yes I know. But I guess I always fear if I could become one again."
Jill looked at him steady. Letting go of his hand, she said in a firm voice, "Eustace Scrubb, you may be many things but a dragon you are not! You may have been one once, but I say you are un-dragoned, and un-dragoned you'll be I think." Tucking a strand of red hair behind ear, Jill asked, "So what did you do, since you had no idea what a dragon was?"
"I was standing in fear with no idea what the creature was that was in front of the cave. The creature seemed sad and old, it slowly made it's way to the pool. It seemed like it was going to drink but it didn't, all at once, it made this great harsh cry and a few convulsions and-"
"Scrubb, I think I get the idea." Jill interrupted, shuddering.
"Sorry," Eustace said sheepishly. "I thought it was a trick for the longest time, I actually touched it to make sure it was dead." He cringed at the memory.
"I went for my drink at the pool. But I didn't get much to drink when the rain and thunder started. I was soaked in seconds. I made a dash to the cave.
"Like I said, I never read the sort of books the Pevensies read. So I didn't expect to see treasure there. Foolishly at the time, I thought could have the treasure for myself since Narnia was nothing like England. And I was quite greedy wanting to carry as much as I could. I found a bracelet that was gold with diamonds on it that I put on my left arm. But the rain hadn't let up, and I had grown tired so I lay down and fell asleep."
Jill just looked at him. "Yes, can almost believe you doing that I think," she said slowly. "You were always going off doing what They wanted you to do. Wanting to gain Their favor."
Eustace winced, at her bitter words, the truth hurt. But what could he say? He was a beast been than, even before he had became a dragon.
"I don't know how long I slept. But what woke me was a pain in my arm. But then I notice that there was moonlight coming from the mouth of the cave.
"I didn't know it, but I had turned into a dragon as I slept. When I saw the scaly arms I only thought it was another dragon. I didn't realize it until I ran out in a panic and saw my refection in the pool.
"I could get back at Caspian and Edmund and everyone. But as I thought that, I didn't want to, I wanted to be friends more then anything. I realized that as a dragon I was more alone then ever."
Eustace looked from the grass he had been pulling up back at Jill. He had not wanted to tell that he had cried. No one knew everything of the inner most details of him being a dragon.
"What did you do?" Jill asked. His friend's eyes were filled with sorrow.
"I flew to the beach. I realized that Caspian and the others wouldn't have left without me." Eustace was not going to add that he ate the other dragon. He did not know how Jill would take that after he had mentioned the other dragon dying.
"See what did I tell you?" Jill gave him a little nudge on the shoulder.
"Yes I know, Pole." He smiled. "So I was on the beach when Caspian, Edmund and the rest of the crew came toward me with their swords drawn.
"So I retreated, and then when they started questioning my actions while I nodded or shook my head doing anything I could to try to make them understand me. And-"
"Wait!" Jill held up her hand to stop him. "Why were you nodding? Couldn't you talk?"
"No, I couldn't, maybe that's just part of being a dragon, and I was also… crying at the time."
"Oh." Jill said, then asked softly, "That was a really bad time for you wasn't it, Scrubb?"
"Yes. But I think it's better I went through it. Caspian and the crew realized what the bracelet on my arm meant because it had a hammer on it. It was one of the missing lords we were seeking. Somehow again maybe it's the books Ed and Lucy read, but they thought maybe I was the dragon since I was able to shake my head that I wasn't one of the missing lords."
"What was being a dragon like? I mean do you mind talking about it?"
"I guess not, at least not now, I suppose," Eustace looked at Jill. "But I have to say being needed, I mean, I should say, my helping, like finding a tree for a mast and exploring the island, that kept me from despair.
"But I think you want to know more then just that? Oh, I remember, Lucy told her favorite fairy tale on this island too. I remember that. I don't know if I remember all of it or not…"
Dragon Island – Second Evening
"Lucy, I still remember the first winter at Cair Paravel when you tried to convince Mr. Tumnus to figure skate. I think he would have agreed to about anything you suggested but that."
"I'm sure he would have if you and Peter hadn't have started to laugh at the idea," Lucy frowned slightly.
The fire seemed to dance as everyone laughed with Edmund. Even Lucy smiled now at the memory.
Eustace could not laugh with them though. He did not know how a dragon would, or if a dragon could. He did not feel like laughing anyway. He did feel the others laughing through him as they lend against him using his body for warmth.
"You must admit, Lu, I don't think his hoofs would have worked too well on ice."
"I would have made sure he wouldn't have fallen!" Lucy protested.
Eustace was thinking, Hoofs? What kind of creature was Mr. Tumnus?
"Lucy, I may not known fauns quite as long as you have, but a fully grown Faun and a very young queen on the ice spells disaster to me," Caspian said kindly.
"I suppose you're right, but Mr. Tumnus and I were the closest of friends," Lucy's voice had gone quiet and sad.
Edmund's put his arm around his sister. "I miss him too."
By now many had moved away from Eustace, they were quite warm and the fire was keeping them warm as well. It actually wasn't all too cold, just breezy.
"Thank you, Eustace," Caspian said as he got up and gave him a pat on his scaly side and walked over to sat next to Drinian. Eustace nodded his dragon head. The only ones still against him were his cousins.
"Your Majesty," Drinian started. He had been quiet much of the night. "Do you have any stories of your own world?"
"What kind of sort of stories, captain?" Edmund asked.
"Hum, I don't know exactly," Drinian said thoughtfully. "Your Highness?" He looked at Caspian.
"Anything," Caspian said. "History would be interesting."
Eustace thought to himself, History that would take days to know!
His cousins must have been thinking the same way. "That would take too long and it's very complex." Edmund said. "Not to add that's England's history alone. But our whole world and the other countries have their own histories."
"I see." Caspian nodded looking a bit disappointed.
"How about another story?" Lucy asked.
"What kind?" Caspian asked curiously.
"Another fairy tale. One of my favorites."
"Does it have anything with battles and a knight's honor?" asked Reepicheep.
"Well, there isn't any battles in this, but there is honor in it." Lucy answered. She proceeded to tell a story about a merchant who had three daughters, the two older ones where selfish, but the youngest was kind. The merchant, whom was quite wealthy, lost all of his riches. The family had to move to the country and work for a living.
As Eustace heard more of the tale he felt it best to leave. And his decision was made when he heard about the girl staying at a castle in place of her father when he had met the beast after picking a rose for her.
He tried to be quiet getting up to leave. But being a dragon that did not work. Lucy stopped speaking
"Eustace?" Edmund whispered as he turned and looked questioningly at him.
He did not know what to do. But he tried to nod or something to say that he was fine.
Eustace stopped halfway between the wood and the beach. Though, he could still see the group, as Lucy continued her story, but he could almost sense Edmund's gaze on him.
He lay down. He would not sleep he knew.
After awhile Eustace noticed that the temperature had risen.
The bracelet in his leg started to brother him, more then usual. He wanted to tear into with his teeth.
Eustace heard feet coming toward him. Turning his head, he saw it was none other than Reepicheep. That surprised him. He had thought it would have been Edmund. But he realized that the Mouse's footsteps were too light to be his cousin's.
Reepicheep stopped close to his head, but well way from his smoky breath.
"Did you not wish to hear Her Majesty's story?"
Eustace wondered if he was going to get a scolding for it and for leaving like he had. But he should be honest since everyone was beginning to like him, and he was liking everyone else in return. He nodded his head, then shook it.
"Not a simple answer." The Mouse looked up at him.
"Would you like to hear some of our history?"
That was all interesting to Eustace, even though he could not ask Reepicheep to tell him about it. He sensed there would be many stories. The Mouse got Eustace's attention.
He nodded his dragon head after a minute.
"It was only over three years ago that his Majesty, King Caspian became the rightful king of Narnia. I pledged my sword along with all the Talking Beasts and Trees which had been in hiding from the cowardly Telmarines. And before you kinsman had been at reign thousands of years ago, there was a witch that ruled Narnia for many, many years."
"But the romantic tale I'm about to share is about some wonderful noble Beasts. There are many besides us Mice," here Reepicheep smiled, "But not many quite as grand as the Unicorns."
Unicorns? Eustace thought. What are they?
Two such unicorns were a noble knight named Thane and his lady, Nona.
"Thane and Nona met under the evil time when the White Witch reigned. Both were part of the unknown army. Many wanted for Aslan's return and longed for it. But they where waiting for that day to come.
"One day the police of the White Witch, they're wolves, captured Nona. Even for her valor, Nona could not defeat all of them. When the White Witch came…"
Eustace held his breath.
"Nona was turned into stone."
Into stone, that was how she died, how did the Witch do that? Eustace's mind raced. Maybe the magic his cousins talk about?
"Aslan, praise Him, brought her back to life again."
Aslan again… hum. Eustace wondered thoughtfully.
"Do you wish to hear another tale?"
Eustace was wondering about Aslan, but he nodded to Reepicheep.
"There was another time, this time in the Golden Reign of Narnia. That was when your cousins were Kings and Queens of Narnia. The prince of Calormen who wanted your Queen Susan as a bride…"
Eustace blew out a stream of smoky breath. Susan a bride?
The noble Mouse told Eustace about the prince of Calormen trying to attack Archenland. (Reepicheep explained that was country south of Narnia.) King Lune had warning of some kind, and he and King Edmund along with Queen Lucy with their army fought against the prince and his army and won. Everyone wanted to be fair to the prince, though he did not deserve it. Aslan had come and tried to let the prince redeem himself. The prince did not heed it. So the prince was turned into a donkey. Aslan did show mercy; he told the prince how to become human again. 'Only,' he said, 'do not leave his city.' If he did he would become a donkey once more, but this time, until the end of his days.
That sent fear down Eustace's spine. What if it was Aslan who had changed him really like that story? Would he be a dragon forever?
He had not realized a hot tear had fallen from his eye.
Reepicheep did not say anything more after his tale. He stood and put his paw on one of Eustace's claws.
Experiment House
"How long were you a dragon?"
"About six days." Eustace said after he thought a minute. "But at the time it felt like the longest six days of my life."
"How did you stop being one?"
"At the time it happened I thought it was all a dream, I was laying down not knowing what would become of me. But I saw a lion coming toward me, the last thing I was expecting to see. It came up to me. I was quite afraid of it, I can't explain it."
"I understand." Jill said, and she had a thoughtful expression on her face.
"I don't know if the lion actually spoke or not, but it told me to follow it. And I had to obey. So I got up and followed it. It led me up through these mountains to a garden. It had trees, and in the middle of it a well.
"The well was larger them most wells. I thought if I could go in and bathe I could ease the pain in my leg. But the lion said, I would have to undress first, I still don't know if it spoke.
"I realized that just like snakes maybe dragons could shed their scaly skin. So I did that, it came off easily. But when I went down to bathe, my hide was still hard and rough and scaly. I did that two more times with the same results, but it still did no good. I really thought I was never going to get it off.
"The lion said he would have to undress me. I was afraid of his sharp claws, but more then anything I really wanted to be out of that skin so I could bathe my leg.
"The first tear felt like it went right to my heart. But I endured because I knew I could bathe once the skin was off. I was quite tender once there was no skin, but the lion just tossed me in the water. My leg didn't hurt, and after a bit I could see why, I was a boy again."
"So the water turned you back?"
"I think it was that and getting my skin taken off. But anyway, the lion gave me new cloths to wear. After I was dressed he did not speak, but his golden eyes just looked at me. I can't explain it. Like he was looking inside me, at who and what I was. But before I could say anything, he breathed on me and I was back near Caspian's camp."
Jill asked quietly, "That was the first time you saw Aslan?"
"Yes, that's what Edmund told me after I told him about it. He's the only one who knows about my being – un-dragoned. I mean how it happened. And now you."
"What did he say?"
"He said I had acted beastly during the trip. But not as bad as he did when he first went to Narnia. He said he was a traitor. But I didn't want him to tell me about it. I did learn a little about it a few weeks later."
"Scrubb! Pole!"
Eustace saw that it was John Spivvins who had called him and Jill.
"Dinner."
"Dinner?" Jill looked toward the setting sun. "Have we been out here all afternoon?"
"I think so." Eustace answered her as he got up. Most of the others were already inside. Spivvins had not waited around to see if they would follow him.
Jill stood also. "Ouch, I think I'm stiff." She stretched.
Eustace nodded, so was he. All he said was, "We better get inside."
"Scrubb, did you tell your cousins about Prince Rilian?" Jill asked as she kept pace with him.
"I sent out a letter the other day. I'll have to wait and see if I get an answer back."
Jill looked down. "Will they like the fact I was there too? I mean it seems like they and you were the only ones there, and back again. You are family to each other."
Eustace did not answer. Something he remembered Edmund tell him came to mind. "Remember not to mention Narnia or your time there to anyone."
Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized.
Acts 9:18
Beauty and the Beast
The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis 1954.