Part Two: Of Narnians
Emma stared at the girl, unsure of what to say or do. Finally, she took a step forward, holding out her hand. "I'm Emma Dowers," she said, shaking the girl's hand.
"I'm Eve, Queen of Narnia." She spoke quietly, and Emma could see the worry behind her grey eyes. Her skin was pale as if she had not seen much sunlight of late. "Aslan told me there would be one who would come to save Caspian."
The name sounded familiar to Emma. "He's king?" she asked, remembering Lucy's words. Eve nodded.
"He's been poisoned. He's…. he won't last long." Tears filled her eyes and she began to quiver. "I can't let him die, but Aslan said that I will not be the one to save him this time. You have to save him." She looked pleadingly down at Emma.
"I- I'll try, only I don't know what I can do…" Emma took the girl's hand.
Eve clasped it tightly, trying to compose herself. "You may not know now, but you will."
"How was he poisoned?" Emma asked.
"He was stabbed in the shoulder with a poisonous blade. A death-demon… It's a long story." Eve looked weary, and Emma did not press her further. "You don't seem very surprised," she said, changing the subject.
"Surprised?"
"Being in Narnia. I certainly didn't take it so well when I first arrived," Eve laughed softly. To Emma her voice sounded like sweet bells, and she felt instantly close to the girl.
"You aren't originally from Narnia?" Emma asked.
"I came from London just like you." Eve's expression grew sad again.
"A friend who had been here before told me about it," Emma explained. "Lucy Pevensie."
"Queen Lucy?" Eve's eyes grew wide.
"Queen?" Emma asked, astonished. "But she's my age, she can't be-"
"Queen Lucy ruled over Narnia with her brothers and sister thousands of years ago – by Narnia time anyway." She smiled at Emma's confusion. "Time does not move at the same speed or consistency in Narnia."
"She told me all about it. I dreamt of Aslan, you see. He told me I had to save the king. Do you know Lucy?"
"Not from Narnia. I knew of her family back in London. Her sister, Susan, was kind to me at school."
"Then you went to Saint Finbar's too?"
"Yes, for a time."
"Why did you come to Narnia?" Emma asked, eager to learn more.
"I died in a car crash. I came here. I'm not sure why. I guess Narnia needed me more than my own world." Her words were bitter, and Emma felt herself blushing.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have-"
"Oh, no, don't think me unhappy to speak of it. Coming to Narnia was the best thing that ever happened to me, but I do miss home and my family. Could you imagine having to leave that all behind forever?"
"Do you mean I won't ever go back?" Emma felt panic rising within her.
"No, of course not. When your task is done here, you will go back. Just like the Pevensies." Her gaze was distant as she spoke. "Come with me, you must be tired from all the excitement," she said suddenly, taking Emma's arm and leading her into the castle. "Let's get you something to eat and then you can ask me anything you like about Narnia."
…
Questions tumbled from Emma's mouth as she sat with Eve at a long dining table. She didn't want to bother the girl, but her curiosity overcame her, and Eve seemed willing enough to answer all her questions.
"So, where is Narnia? It's not in London, is it?"
"No, it doesn't exist in our- your world. It's a whole different world."
"Can you always find it?"
"No. You find it when you need to find it, and you never know when that will be."
"Can anyone come here? Why me?"
"I'm not sure why Aslan picked you, but I'm sure he had a very good reason. I don't think just anyone can get in."
"Why do you think you got in?"
"I helped to save Narnia from the Black Witch." Eve smiled reminiscently and began to tell of her first adventure through Narnia. "Then we traveled into different worlds through these magical pools…"
Emma listened, enthralled, wondering at what Eve had been through. "You were so brave," she said in admiration.
"Not always. Most of the time I was scared. But Aslan was there for me when I needed him." Eve smiled at the thought of the lion.
"When do I get to meet Aslan?" Emma remembered his sweet breath and how it had calmed her in her dream.
"I'm not sure. Aslan comes to you when you least expect it and never in the same way as before. I've only seen him twice in my life."
"But you're queen!"
"Yes, I am, but that doesn't make me any different from anyone else. I just hold more responsibilities. Ever since Caspian… fell ill, I've had to take over the throne of Narnia. The giants are stirring in the south, the wolves in the north. The Telmarines are restless…" She shook her head. "I'm not meant to rule alone. I need Caspian by my side."
"I'll do everything I can," Emma promised.
"Has Aslan visited your dreams more than once?" Eve asked, looking hopefully at Emma.
Emma shook her head. "No, he hasn't." There was a pause and then Emma asked, "Is it true that the creatures in Narnia can talk? Animals like horses and mice?"
"Yes, you can see for yourself in a minute," Eve replied. "I was quite taken aback when I saw my first talking animal. I thought I'd gone mad or was dreaming."
"How do you know this isn't all a dream?" Emma fought back the urge to pinch herself.
"Oh, you know. Doesn't it feel real to you?"
Emma nodded. "But also like a dream. Will they miss me back in London?"
Eve shook her head. "When you're gone, time pauses, waiting for you to return. A lifetime could pass in Narnia and not a second in your own world."
"How long have you been here?"
"Nearly three years. At least by Narnian time."
"Do you like it here? I mean, compared to London?" Emma asked hesitantly as the girl's eyes went glassy.
"I love it here, more than ever, but I miss home. I was torn away from my family and all that I knew… You're lucky you can return, you know. I wish I had that option."
"You would leave? What about Caspian?"
"Of course I couldn't leave him, but if-" she broke off, eyes filling with tears again.
"I'm sorry, I-" Just then there came the clatter of hooves and a black centaur came into the room. Emma couldn't help but stare. He was magnificent with his glossy black coat meeting smoothly with a human torso. His face was not quite human, something more wild and foreign. He bowed to Eve.
"My lady, a messenger has arrived from Archenland. The giants are getting restless in the mountains, they think it might come to war."
Eve sighed. "Alright, I will speak with him. Baair, could you please send for Rosemary? She can show our guest around Cair Paravel."
"As you wish, my lady." The centaur bowed again and left the room with a swish of his black tail.
"Rosemary?" Emma asked. "Is she a centaur too?"
"No, she's-" Eve cut off as a snow-white hare hopped into the room, twitching her nose in the air. She stood on her hind legs and scrutinized Emma.
"Is this the one?" she asked, twitching her ears.
"Yes. Could you please show her around the castle and then to her room? I must attend to some business."
"Of course, my lady." Rosemary twitched her ears again, looking up at Emma. "Right this way." She hopped out of the room and down a brightly lit hallway. Eve nodded for Emma to follow the hare and then disappeared down another corridor.
"Do all animals in Narnia talk?" Emma inquired, hoping she didn't sound rude.
"Most of them. When the Telmarines invaded Narnia, a lot of the animals lost their ability to talk."
"Why is that?"
"Well, let me tell you…." She began to tell the tale of the Telmarine invasion, leading up to where Caspian, with the help of the Pevensies, had taken back the land for the Narnians.
"But Lucy is my age!" Emma exclaimed.
"It doesn't matter how old you are. You can be brave and small and young all at once. Just look at Queen Eve. She wasn't much older than you when she saved Narnia."
"She made it sound like she wasn't the hero when she told me her story, but she was, wasn't she?"
"She saved Narnia. She's too modest to say so." Rosemary led Emma out onto a parapet where they could see the castle courtyard. All kinds of different creatures moved around. Rosemary pointed out the fauns – little creatures that appeared to be half goat and half man – dwarves, centaurs, minotaurs – rather brutish looking creatures with fierce horns coming from their heads – and many other manner of creatures.
"I just don't see how I'm going to be the hero…" Emma looked down at her feet. "I'm only a child, what can I do?"
"Everyone is a hero if they take the action to help someone." Rosemary looked up at Emma, brown eyes wide and honest.
"I'm frightened though," Emma said in a small voice.
"Everyone gets frightened once in awhile. You look tired. Why don't I show you your room?"
Emma nodded, and the white hare bounded toward a flight of stairs. Emma took one last look at the bustling courtyard and then turned to follow the hare.
