"Would you like some help?" my mother asked as she led her horse, Ruby, out of the stable.
"I believe can manage my own horse," I said, leading my horse with one hand and trying to tie my cape around my neck with the other.
"Oh, no, I meant the cape." Mother smiled and shook her head. "It will fall off the moment you start to gallop, if you tie it like this. Here, let me." Her soft hands gently retied the cape. When I was a child, I could never tie my cape right. Whenever I tied it myself, it always fell to the ground if I made the slightest movement with my arms. So I would always run to mother and ask her to tie it. I believe father was slightly offended that I never asked him. He knew thousands of knots, but he always tied it too tightly. Mother had a certain way of tying my cape which was never too tight, yet, it never fell off. The knot always looked like a small star. Now, at seventeen, I looked around cautiously before allowing her to tie my cape.
She laughed. "Don't worry, my prince," she said. "No one will see."
Even now, no one could tie a cape the way she could.
"How do you do it?" I asked.
Her eyes twinkled. "That is my secret."
Soon, all the squires and ladies joined us and we set off. I don't remember what we talked about on the way, but I do remember my mother and I laughing. Yet, more than once, she covered her mouth and yawned.
Finally, I asked. "Were you stargazing again?"
Mother nodded, a faraway look in her eyes. "I was speaking to my father," She said softly.
We found a wonderful glade and ate lunch there, drinking fresh cold water out of the fountain. Then Lady Lyra suggested that we take a walk in the shade. Since, it was hot out in the sun, everyone agreed. But mother said, "Go on, good my friends, go on my son, I believe I shall rest here."
So we spread out our cloaks (at least I didn't have any difficulty taking mine off) and left her. I will never forget how she looked, as lovely as ever with her golden hair and pale blue dress spread out on the green grass. That was the last time I saw her smile.
We walked in the shade for a bit and I picked flowers for all the ladies and some for mother as well, when I heard her cry out. I don't remember running, I only remember suddenly being at her side. Mother was breathing with difficulty, her face pale, as a green serpent slithered into the bushes. I chased after it.
"Monster! Fiend!" I must have brought my sword down on the snake at least 8 times, only to have it strike grass. Perhaps, it was because my hands were shaking so much. Then I dropped the sword. Forget the cursed serpent, I would carry my mother home. I returned to her side. Lady Lyra was trying to get my mother to drink some water, Sir Sorian was washing the bite on her palm. I looked at my mother. Her lips were turning faintly blue. And then I knew it was much too late.
"W-w…"
She was trying to say something. I put my arms around her, gently. I wanted to ask her what she was trying to tell me but I couldn't speak. And then, she grew limp in my arms and I heard Lady Lyra begin to sob hysterically.
They told me later that I had acted nobly, like a prince, that I had carried her home with not as much as a sob. I don't remember. I don't remember any of the journey back. I do remember my father. He took one look at her and then buried his face in her neck, sobbing. He refused to be taken away from her for the next six hours. I did not weep. That night, we announced that the gracious queen was dead and all of Narnia wept.
I did not weep.