A/N: So I've had the idea of doing a story about Trufflehunter for a long time, especially since we don't see so much of him later on in the movie PC. I was also wondering how exactly the Narnians would think of the story of LWW, so I decided that, based on the line by Trufflehunter that says something to the effect of "men and dwarves forget, but we beasts remember", I would have Trufflehunter recount the tale of the Stone Table to Caspian when they first come to the How.
So I started writing, and immediately hit a snag in trying to retell LWW while making it original, and not just a retelling. And then I thought of doing the tale as a ballad. So many wikipedia searchings later, I had the format of a ballad, and then I changed it slightly to make it different (because obviously a Narnian Ballad would be different that one that we know) and wrote it!
It was actually a lot more fun than I thought to write my Narnian Ballad, and I think I'll have to do it again sometime! But for now... I'll just let you read this.
Caspian gazed in wonder around the cavern he stood in, while the Narnian soldiers hurried around him. He reached out slowly and touched his hand to the carvings on the wall.
"What are these?" he asked in wonder, turning to Doctor Cornelius.
The tutor traced one of the pictures reverently with his finger. "The Narnians carved them here when the mound was first built," he explained softly. "They tell the story of the Stone Table."
Nakabrik looked sharply to the professor. "I still don't like how much you human know about us," he grumbled.
"I thought you didn't believe in the old tales, Nikabrik," Trufflehunter commented.
Caspian hid a smile as Nikabrik stomped away. "I don't believe you ever told me the tale of the Stone Table," Caspian told Doctor Cornelius. "Or not the full story, at any rate."
"I do not know the entire tale," the doctor replied sadly. "Much knowledge from that age seems to have been lost."
Trufflehunter chuckled. "Men and dwarves may not remember, but we beasts do," he said. "Shall I tell you the story of the Stone Table and the kings and queens of old?"
"Oh please do," Caspian said excitedly.
"Well then," Trufflehunter began, pausing before a carving of a snow covered forest. "Hear now the story of the Stone Table.
"A land of ice and snow
Held captive by an evil queen
And all who fought are lost
So now are rebels no more seen
The dryads hang their heads
O'er riverbank where once there stood
A tree of noble fruit
Protecting all in Narnia good
But deep in Lantern Waste
There enters child of mirth and grace
"Beneath the iron tree
Where like a sun the candle burns
The treacherous faun repents
And there to Aslan he returns
The spell begins to break
The witch's hold soon is no more
The trees begin to stir
And Aslan walks on Eastern shore
But lo, the witch rides forth-
A son of Adam in the north
"The boy unknowing stands
The witch has caught him unaware
He sits upon her sleigh
And there she tempts him with her fare
And when she drives away
Deception as her hidden goal
She leaves behind her work
The son of Adam's tainted soul
But wait! – in forest glade
Two more children come to aid
"The children four are here
Dear Lucy – first our land to view
And Edmund – tainted still
And Peter bold and Susan true
The Blessed Beavers lead
But Edmund traitor leaves their side
He goes to see the witch
Expecting treats but finding lies
But at Stone Table hill
His siblings learn of Aslan's will
"A rescue saves the son
And Maugrim's death announces change
The traitor's blood is hers
But Aslan will himself exchange
Upon Stone Table hill
The witch calls forces of the night
And Aslan shaved and bound
Is killed with knife in pale torchlight
But in the dawn of time
The force of death starts to unwind
"In battle 'gainst the witch
The forces of the lion tire
And hope is wearing thin
It's clouded by the blood and mire
But Aslan has returned!
His death for sin has conquered all
And with a flash of gold
He heralds spring with witch's fall
Now Narnia's free once more
The prophecy fulfilled by four."
Trufflehunter fell silent, and all gazed in wonder at the Stone Table before them, where once upon a time, Aslan defeated death. Caspian found himself staring at the carving of the Lion standing proud against the rising sun.
Oh, Aslan, he thought, help us now. Help us all in our time of need.
"That isn't the end, though, is it?" Doctor Cornelius asked Trufflehunter. "I thought there was more to it than that."
Trufflehunter sighed. "There is," he admitted. "But it's sad."
"Oh do tell," Caspian requested. "What good is a story without the end?"
Trufflehunter's deep woodsy voice filled the room with visions of the Golden Age.
"The Golden Age begun
And peace has spread throughout our land
Where no more fear shall rule
A place where all who care may stand
Queen Lucy valiant rules
Beside King Edmund fair and just
Queen Susan gentle love
And High King Peter whom all trust
Those fifteen Golden years
Before the rulers disappear."
"That wasn't sad," Caspian protested.
Trufflehunter bowed his head. "It was bittersweet," he said, "For fifteen years the kings and queens ruled, before they disappeared from our land. Only Aslan knows where they went, and why."
Caspian couldn't think of anything to say. It was sad to think of Narnia, abandoned by its royalty. "Perhaps the horn called them back," he suggested. "And they will save Narnia again."
"Perhaps," Trufflehunter admitted. "We can only pray to Aslan that someone will answer the horn."
- - -
And far to the east, on an island that once held a castle, four children walked through the ruins.
So I hope you enjoyed, and as usual, I'm dying to hear your thoughts. SO... REVIEW! It means the world to me!