Chapter 8
Disclaimer I do not own Narnia, Aslan, or anything C.S. Lewis created. I can only add. It's his work and I'll try my best to make it worthy of being a fanfic of the Chronicles of Narnia.
The fighting grew fierce, Peter and Justin were back to back on the ground fighting anything that dared to show it's face. Philip and I had been separated. He was off fighting with Flisk and Thunder. Suddenly, I heard another noise and I looked up to the cliff top to see the archers shooting at certain parts of the witch's army. I noticed that they were gradually working their way up the army. I looked to see what was so special about those spots and my breath caught in my throat.
There, coming straight up the witch's army, without armor, two knives flailing, rode Mariel on Aria. I watched as she rode through the witch's army and stopped beside Justin and Peter. She jumped off her horse and Aria trotted to join the other horses. Mariel and Justin exchanged blades so each had a knife in one hand and a sword in the other. Then the triangle of death continued as though the flow had never been disturbed.
Peter looked up from killing a minator and yelled to me. "There are too many of them! Get out of here! Get the girls, and get them home!"
I stopped to listen to my brother, but then I found Mr. Beaver pulling me along, away from the battle. I yanked away long enough to see that Peter was alright, but as I turned back to follow Mr. Beaver, I swear my heart stopped dead. All I could see was the death wand moving toward my brother. I pulled back and started to run for the witch.
"What are you doing?" Mr. Beaver asked. "Peter said get out of here!"
I drew my sword. "Peter's not king yet." My heart started again as I pounded down the hill toward my arch enemy. I jumped, swung and missed. She tried to stab me with her wand, but I dodged and brought my sword down on her death wand. It shattered with a blue flame. I stood staring, amazed that I had been granted my with. I had destroyed the death wand!
Crunch!
I gasped in shock as the icy cold crystal was plunged into my stomach. I stared into the pitch black eyes as they sparkled with delight. Eyes that were black as a moonless midnight, dark as sackcloth, pitiless as a pit of vipers, deadly as a small vial of potent poison. Those eyes held me pinned like a butterfly for a moment before the sparkle turned to steel. Those eyes suddenly released me and let me fall as she tugged the wand out of my stomach. The broken crystal had severed something near my back bone, if not my back bone itself. I hit the ground with a thud and lay still, my hand over my wound. I looked at the witch. She just let her eyes bore into my mind. The words she had whispered in my ear at the meeting with Aslan echoed in my brain.
"You have failed. He is dead because of you. Now nothing, not even your death can free you from this debt. You are guilty forever because of what you have done. Nothing will stop me now. NOTHING! You are MINE!"
Triumph shown from her black eyes. Then she simply turned and walked away, throwing her wand away, she grabbed my sword and headed toward Peter. Everything started to go black. My body seared with pain. It was as if a fire had been lit inside me and it radiated from the hole in my body where the wand had been. I couldn't scream. I couldn't breathe! I tried to keep my eyes open, but the concentration of keeping myself from giving into the pain forced them shut.
I lay motionless, gasping for breath. I knew I would not last long. But I also knew that this was my punishment for giving in to the witch, for believing her, for acting like a brat. For going to the witch even when my always truthful sister Lucy told me that she was a witch. For letting Justin follow me to his almost certain death. For turning Tumnus in to the witch. For telling the witch information that only helped in the killing of hundreds of Narnians. For giving the witch information that did not save the fox's life after all. For wanting my brother dead. For not caring about anyone but my self. And the greatest of all; for being a traitor to my own family and being the reason Aslan had to die.
These were my crimes and I deserved the punishment 10,000 times over. So I simply stopped trying. I stopped trying to hold the blood in. I stopped trying to breathe. I stopped trying to keep the pain out. I stopped trying to live. The darkness enveloped me and I gave up. Death was welcome. At least I would not have to live with my guilt.
But my wish of death was not to be. The Death Wand had been shattered and so were my hopes of guiltlessness when I felt Lucy's cordial between my lips. The pain disappeared. I coughed and spluttered and finally sat up to see everyone sitting around me; Justin, Mariel, Peter, Susan and Lucy. Tears were streaming down Peter's face as he pulled me into a huge bear hug.
"When are you ever going to do as you're told?" He asked.
Everyone else joined in. When they finally let me go, I saw that Aslan was standing beside us. I gaped in awe. He simply smiled at me and turned to a statue. To my amazement, he simply breathed on it and it came back to life! Lucy took the hint and took off with her cordial for the wounded.
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Justin and Mariel walked down the center isle of the great hall of Cair Paravel. They were dressed almost totally in green and silver. When they reached the four thrones, they split and stood on either side of the thrones. Together, my siblings and I walked down that same isle with Aslan between us. When we reached our thrones, we turned and faced the gathered crowd. I could not help but smile. The fox was there, as well as the beavers. Oreius and Mr. Tumnus too! Aslan had been to the witch's castle and freed the statues there. While I was giving up on life, he had killed the witch. She was gone and I could be happy. Mr. Tumnus and the Beavers came forward bearing the crowns between them. As Aslan said each name, Tumnus took that person's crown and set it gently on their head.
"To the glistening eastern sea, I give you Queen Lucy that Valiant. To the great western woods, the Just. To the radiant southern sun, Queen Susan the Gentle. And to the clear northern skies, King Peter the Magnificent. Once a king or queen of Narnia, always a king or queen. May our wisdom grace us until the stars rain down from the heavens."
When Aslan finished his speech, the entire assembly burst into cheers. I smiled, but I could not help but think about how much I did not deserve this. I was a criminal being made king. I longed to get away and take my crown off. But the ceremony was not over. Aslan silenced the crowd with a shake of his mane.
"Guardians of Narnia, come forth." Justin and Mariel stepped forward. "Son of Adam, Daughter of Eve; protect the four who defeat the deceived. You will stay or leave at will, but only after your duty is fulfilled. Will you stay, or will you return to your own homes? Justin and Mariel looked at each other. There was no doubt in their decision. I smiled broadly as Justin spoke for them both.
"We stay to serve you." Aslan smiled and nudged Justin with His nose. Justin turned and knelt before Mariel.
I could hardly believe the words coming out of Justin's mouth! Finally, he was confessing his love!
"Mariel, I have loved you for as long as I can remember. It was the reason for my strange behavior over the last couple of weeks, and now the reason that I ask you to marry me." Justin pulled out a silver ring with an emerald set into the top. Their names were engraved on the inside.
My fists clenched as I waited for Mariel's reply. I prayed that it would be good. I had nothing to fear.
"Justin, I would love nothing better, because I love you too."
The joy on Justin's face seemed to shine out. Gently, he took her left hand and slipped the ring on her third finger. The crowd cheered and we clapped.
Once again, Aslan shook his mane and the crowd fell silent. "Brothers and sisters of Narnia, I present to you, the new guardians of Narnia, and now the first couple to be united under the reign of the four thrones. Kneel Justin and Mariel."
I looked at Peter, Susan and Lucy. They were all grinning from ear to ear and gripping the arms of their thrones with delight.
Together, Justin and Mariel knelt before the Great Lion. Slowly, he placed his paw on their shoulders. "Will you, Justin, take Mariel to be your wife?"
"Yes, I do." Justin said proudly.
"And will you, Mariel, take Justin to be your husband?"
"Yes I do." she answered happily.
"then I pronounce you man and wife. May your union never end, for when it does, the end of Narnia and the world shall come. You have chosen to stay and be the guardians of this land. And so you will guard it, but not for one lifetime only, but for centauries beyond count, until I bring this world to an end."
When he had finished, two dryads came forward with two circlets of silver and emeralds that twined like leaves and vines, and they placed them on Justin and Mariel's heads.
"And to the end of the world, I present Justin and Mariel, the Brave and Loyal." Aslan finished.
This time the crown truly erupted into cheers. Justin and Mariel rose and looked at each other.
"I will love you forever, Mariel, since it seems that is exactly how much time we will have." Justin said as he took both Mariel's hands in his.
"I'm glad, because I can't imagine not loving you forever," Mariel said and smiled.
Justin did not reply. I smiled with joy for my friends as he took her in his arms and kissed her.
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As soon as the coronation was over, I ran for the cliff tops outside Cair Paravel. I threw my crown on the sand and stared out to sea. I breathed deeply of the cool sea air. I shook myself to try to convince myself that this was actually happening to me. Some how, I just could not believe it. I told my self over and over again that I was forgiven, but it simply would not stick! The guilt still perused me. I could not tear myself away from the nagging feeling that what I had done, destroyed the Death Wand and all, was simply not enough for my atonement. I looked out to the shore and saw Aslan walking along it. he turned and looked up at me. I could see the golden eyes clearly as they bored into my soul. They were begging me to accept forgiveness, to simply trust him.
I tied so hard to trust him. I looked back at him and mouthed the word "how?" I simply did not know how to trust or believe any more. If I was to be the Just, I had to be able to trust and believe my savior. He looked at me sorrowfully.
"I will come back soon and then I will teach you how to trust." I could hear his words in my head. Then to my amazement, he vanished!
"But," I thought, "When do you call soon?"
"I call all times soon…"
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Now you have heard my story. And now, here I am, 5 years later, at the age of 17, I am still waiting for Aslan to come back and teaching me to trust and believe. But I know he will come. I have seen him once a year since that day on the cliffs, always from a distance. I always ask if that day is the day, and he always responds with…
"Soon, my son."
I know he will come. If he came today I would not be surprised. I have learned to be a just king, but my melancholy state sometimes depresses my siblings and the guardians. Justin and Mariel are now 22 and perfectly happy. They seem to see the Great Lion a lot, for they tell me all the things he has told them.
Now, I sit on the same cliff tops that I sat on when I last saw Aslan. He comes back once every year, on the anniversary of out coronation to this very spot. Perhaps today will be the day I see him and he will teach me how to believe and trust in him.
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Epilogue
Only a few days ago, I thought I had finished my confession, now I find myself writing again. My guilt from all those years ago has not yet left me, but I can say with joy that the Great Lion did come to me that day. But he did not teach me the way I suspected. I shall describe it in full.
I sat on the cliffs waiting. As the last rays of sunlight drifted over the sea, I heard a noise behind me. Thinking it to be Aslan, I turned quickly, which probably saved my life. An arrow whizzed by my head. I ducked quickly as 10 more arrows zipped out of no where. I just caught a glimpse of a minator's horns before all 10 arrows found me. Two in each arm, two in each leg, and two in the back. I fell heavily on my face to the sand. I did not scream or yell, I merely sighed. It was about time my punishment for my actions to catch up with me. I supposed that it was time for me to go and I was fine with it. I would be free from the guilt once and for all.
Suddenly, hundreds of arrows were zipping around me, never hitting me though. I didn't even care anymore. The wounds in my back, legs and arms were incredibly painful, and I could only moan, but I was at peace with it. I had actually dreamed of this moment when I would be freed from my looming guilt with desire!
But once again, it was not to be. One moment, I was watching arrows falling around me, the next I felt an arrow jerked out of my leg. I cried out in pain, but I held still. My rescuer bent over me.
"Can you walk?" It was Mariel.
"Are you kidding?" I asked. "No, of course I cant walk. Now get out of here. This is my punishment. Leave before you are killed for nothing!"
Mariel stopped trying to pull me up. "Nothing?! I am your guardian and I will protect you with my life!"
The arrows continued to reign down, but Mariel ignored them. "I will not leave you here, but Justin is dealing with your attackers and I cannot carry you!"
"Then go," I said. "Let me die. I deserve it."
Mariel looked at me in horror. "Never! Aslan help me, I will never just let you die!"
"And neither will I." Said a deep voice from beside me. Mariel drew her breath in sharp. "I already paid that price, now will you pay it again?"
"Aslan." I breathed.
"Once I carried you out of the witch's camp. Now I will carry you back to Cair Paravel."
"Leave me, lord, I want to die." I said through clenched teeth. I was being soaked in my own blood. It was pooling around me now. The arrows had stopped by now and Justin ran up.
"Justin, get him onto my back." Aslan commanded.
Justin nodded and draped me across the lion's back. Mariel and Justin watched as Aslan carried me off back to Cair Paravel.
Once I was in a bed and my wounds had been heeled, thanks to my sister's cordial, I turned to Aslan. "Why wont you let me end my suffering?"
"Because, I already suffered for you. When you learn to trust me, you will suffer no more."
"I want to trust you, Aslan, but I do not know how."
"It will take long, but I will stay until you learn, my son."
"Thank you, Aslan."
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Now, I have learned to trust my king. It really didn't take long, since I was really learning those 5 years after the coronation. Now, he is my savior and my friend. Long live Aslan.
Signed, King Edmund the Just