How did they know?

Peter and Lucy discuss the four thrones at Cair Paravel. Short oneshot.

It was evening and the last rays of the sun were pouring through the many-colored windows of the throne room in Cair Paravel. High King Peter was walking through the hall when he noticed his youngest sister sitting on the floor in front of the dais staring at the thrones and apparently deep in thought. Smiling, he altered his course and strode toward her.

"How did they know, Peter?" Lucy asked as her brother came up behind her.

"How did you know it was me?" Peter replied.

Lucy waved her small hand dismissively, "Susan and Edmund walk different. And you don't have hoofs or paws like the others. How did they know?"

"How did who know what?" The young king seated himself beside his sister.

"The people that made the thrones. How did they know to make four? How did they know what to put on them? It was a hundred years ago from what the beavers say. How did they know?"

Peter turned his gaze to the four thrones in front of them. To his right was Lucy's, a small stool underneath so her feet would not dangle. Next was Susan's, then his, and on the far left, Edmund's. Each throne was almost identical except for the design on the top. None was higher than another; even his was level with the others though he bore the title of High King. It was the designs at the top of the thrones though, that made him think. On his throne was detailed his sword, Rhindon as he now called it; on Susan's her horn, on Lucy's her cordial bottle. But most amazing of all was Edmund's throne. His bore the picture of a sword breaking a wand, exactly what he had done in the Battle of Beruna. How could the maker's of the thrones have known about that?

"I don't know Lu," he said finally. "I haven't really thought about it. I suppose there were four because of the prophecy, but I don't know why they put the designs on them like they did."

"Do you suppose it was magic?"

"Like that of the Stone Table?" Lucy nodded in answer. "No, I don't think it was like that. Surely no magician, however powerful, can see with that much detail into the future. I mean, those are our gifts from Father Christmas and what Ed did on the battlefield. No one could have guessed what we would get for Christmas."

"Aslan could," Lucy said grinning brightly and bobbing up and down. "He knows everything."

Peter smiled at his sister, first indulgently and then, as understanding flooded his mind, as one amazed. "By Jove, Lucy! I think you've got it! You've just answered your own question."

"I have?"

"Of course! Think about it: there is no way any mortal, be they human, dwarf, animal, tree-spirit, or water-spirit, could possibly know what would happen in the future well enough to make thrones with such detail. There's only one person, and you've named Him!"

"Aslan! You mean you think Aslan told them what to do?"

"Of course! He created Narnia. He's the one that set the prophecy into motion by bringing us here; He probably started the prophecy. He's the one that made it so we could win at Beruna. Surely He could have told the throne makers what to do, or at least told someone to tell them."

"Oh, Peter! You're right, you have to be!" Lucy flung her arms around her brother's neck in an excited hug. "How else could they know?"