Chapter 7
Lucy looked to see the large man who now stood before her light only by the light of the forge's fire. "I made the weapons of the Witch." his face was an unusually stoic like he was trying to figure out whether he should mad or afraid.
Lucy ran as fast as she could and in a sudden act of courage she held open her arms and wrapped them around Simon midsection. She held tight as she whispered. "Oh, Simon. What happened to you?"
When she did that the facade of stoic indifference that Simon had been working to hold up broke and he collapsed to his knees crying. The short girl held her place and just rubbed at his back while he broke down.
Lucy was waiting for an answer when she smelled a strange and sweet perfume fill the air. She recognized the smell instantly. She did not even need to turn to see Aslan standing behind her light on one side by the forge. He was watching them both in silence.
Simon seemed unaware of the lion's presence and simply continued to cry. Lucy saw the world around her fade away Simon too. All she saw now was herself and Aslan.
"I sent Simon here long, long ago." the Lion spoke. As he did the sight of Cair Paravel formed before her. Simon stood with his packs on looking at it from a hillside his bear was shorter by almost an inch. "The kingdom was about to face a grave threat and I knew that Simon would have been able to help them." the vision shifted to Jadis standing before the court of Narnia.
"I have come here to serve this land and as such, I have come to serve you." She said to the man who sat on the throne that Peter now occupied. He looked suspicious but he had no reason to distrust this pale woman so he allowed her into his court. Her wisdom was vast and with her aid, the kingdom flourished.
The vision shifted now to the King at a table looking over a map of Narnia. Jadis was on one side and Simon was on another. Jadis was pointing out possible trade routes and Simon was marking good places for fortresses to be placed to protect those trade routes.
"He was sent to help them in their battle against the Witch but he was deceived, bewitched by her beauty and her intelligence he was slowly corrupted by the White Witch.
Now the image shifted to Simon working at a forge. He was hammering away relentlessly working a piece of stone by using magic he had learned from Jadis. The Witch herself stood over his shoulder watching not him but his work she eyed the dagger with vile intent.
'For her, he crafted two weapons, a Dagger able to kill any living thing, and a staff that could be used to bring about an unending winter and turn mortal creatures to stone."
When Simon had finished the blade and staff he gave them both to Jadis who promptly killed the fawn who was standing in the room and used the staff to turn the minotaur to stone. Jadis started for the door only to stop briefly when she heard one of Simon's gun's cock.
It was clear he was having a hard time even pointing his gun at her. After all, he was in love with her. Jadis gave him a cruel sneer as she said. " you are a traitor, your blood belongs to me now. Do you really think that you can kill me? Do you think that the deep magic you just masterfully used would allow such a thing."
Simon slowly lowered his gun. She was right, as sick as it was she was right. He couldn't kill her the world itself would stop him. He knew who she was all along but had chosen to believe that she had changed. He was so blinded by her beauty that he failed to the very thing Aslan had told him to do.
"After he had made the dagger and staff his blood was owed to the Witch. She could have killed him at any time. And if she truly understood the deep magic and the man she had just tricked she would have."
The image changed to Simon running from a burning Cair Paravel. He had his pack on his back and a hammer in his hand. It as the hammer he had used to make the dagger and staff. When he stopped to look back Lucy saw a tear falling from his eye. She also saw that he looked the same as he did now.
She began to understand what Alsan had meant. Since Jadis had laid claim to Simon's life then only she could harm him. Not even time had any effect on him. The final scene Lucy saw was Simon hammering a sword. He worked on it day and night since he no longer needed to sleep.
When he was done he held it up. It was a blade fit for a king. In fact, a High King since the blade he had forged was Rhindon. He sheathed the sword and left it leaning on the lampost. It was where he had come to Narnia and since he wanted this weapon to get to Aslan this was the best way to do that.
He could have just given it to him but after his betrayal, there was no way he could face Aslan. Not after what he had done.
Lucy's sight returned to the forge and Simon seemed to notice Aslan. He stood slowly on shaky feet as he took weak steps forward. When he reached the great cat his knees gave out.
Simon looked Aslan in the eyes before burying his face in the lion's mane. His hands grabbing fistfuls of the hair. His whole body shook in pain and sadness as he sobbed. Aslan stood there in silent peace. He was letting Simon greave for the last hundred years of evil that had been his fault.
"I'm so sorry," the weeping man said. "Lord, please forgive me. You gave me but one task and I failed you."
Lucy had never heard anyone call Aslan 'Lord' before but it seemed to fit.
"Father, I have betrayed you and everything I have ever been taught. My very purpose and I cast it aside." Simon continued. As he spoke he seemed to drift further and further into hysteria.
Lucy was now a little stumped. Simon had called Aslan "Father". what did that mean? was Simon somehow the son of Aslan.
Lucy's question was answered when the lion smiled slightly and said. "I see you have figured it out."
Simon released his hold on Aslan's mane and leaned back. "yes Lord, I have." he said, he was still looking down his guilt was keeping him from making eye contact with Aslan.
the cat used one of his massive paws and lifted Simon head to meet his gaze. "Then you know that your salvation cannot be earned?"
Simon nodded his head too shaken to speak. he had accepted his fate. he had betrayed God and now he would have to accept his punishment.
Aslan spoke once more saying. " first Timothy, chapter one verse sixteen."
Simon needed a moment to realize what Aslan had said. once he recognized the command he scrambled over to his packs and began to rifle through them.
after some searching, he pulled out an old looking leather bound book. He neglected to wipe the dust off of it and on Lucy was not able to read the cover because of the thick layer.
when Simon opened it he began to flip through the thin pages until he found what he seemed to be looking for.
"read aloud please," Aslan said.
Simon took a breath to steady himself and with a clear voice he read.
"Howbeit for this cause I obtain mercy, that in me first Je'sus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting."
Lucy was more than a little confused as to what Simon was reading and what it meant. It sounded like when her father used to read from the Bible. But that had been years ago, Lucy had no idea of whether or not that was what Simon was reading now but it was her best guess.
"Do you know what that means?" Aslan asked. His tone was more of a fatherly tone that was before.
Simon only needed a moment to answer. "It means that nothing I could do could push me from your patience and love, and your forgiveness."
Aslan smiled as he dipped his head in acknowledgment. "that is correct young one." the Great Cat turned to Lucy and asked. " having heard what he had done, would you offer him your forgiveness."
Lucy thought for less than a second before saying. "If you would then so would I." she walked over and hugged Simon who by now had calmed down considerably.
when she looked back Aslan was gone. He had done what he came here to do but that would be all.
Simon was getting his feet back under him and steady as he walked to the forge preparing to get back to work. When he reached the anvil he half turned to Lucy and asked "Please don't tell anyone else, I need to tell them myself but I... I'm just not ready yet."
Lucy hugged him saying. " they need to know at some point. And I am not going to lie if they ask me but I am also not going to tell them otherwise. This is your secret, and it is safe with me."
She left him there to do his work and decided that she was going to go eat breakfast and run an errand. She needed to run that errand quickly since the others wouldn't like it but she felt that it needed to be done.
...
Peter was looking at a map of Narnia with Orieus and Cetus. They needed to be ready for the coming invasion. The biggest problem facing them was that they had no idea where the invasion would come from.
"Crossing the desert is nearly impossible for any force of a substantial size," Cetus said looking at the border of Narnia and Archenland.
"our naval power is close enough to their own that they would have no way of completely attacking through the coast," Orieus said from his place at Peter left.
From the High King's right, Edmund spoke up. " They may have sent a force in secret to the north. They could be trying to attack from Ettinsmoor?"
All eyes turned to the High King, what would he say. What would they do? It was his job to know.
"there is another option," Peter said, his hand on his still growing scruff. "they could attack through Archenland."
when Peter had finished Orieus responded. "unlikely, how would they get an army strong enough across the desert."
Peter had clearly already had this thought and he had an idea on how to subvert it. " they have no need to cross the desert," he said pointing at the port on the eastern coast of the Calormen empire. "they can sail most of the way across the desert. and make land on the south side of the peninsula."
That would give them a short enough land travel to move a large force. They would also be within striking distance of Archenland then.
"I can send word to the Archenlanders if you would like brother," Edumnd was half offering to and half asking permission to. After the Falaah fiasco, he was nervous about making any mistakes.
"Do it," Peter said with a slight nod of his head.
Edmund left to go write that letter but on his way out Susan and Falaah met him at the door. Susan handed Edmund a book and said. "whatever you are doing you need to stop it."
Falaah walked over to Peter and said. " the people who attacked us were not the Tirsoc's assassins. "
Peter was clearly confused by this since they were so certain.
Susan picked up by showing Peter a part of a book.
the Tirsoc's Assassin's League is renowned for their efficiency and professionalism. it has been said that. " it is better to be killed by the Tirosc's Assassins then by the Tirsoc. For the Tirsoc ( may he live forever) wasn't known for his mercy and the Assassins killed with such speed that the victims often were unaware of their threat.
"Then why would they try and poison me?" Peter asked, there was also the obvious matter of one of them trying to rape Susan but nobody was gonna bring that up.
"They wouldn't," Falaah said. "That's the problem, this wasn't them"
now everybody had to try and figure out why a team would impersonate the Tirsoc's Assassins.
Edmund's head shot up with a smile on his face saying. "Peter I may know what is going on here."
Peter gestured to him continue and so he did. "someone wants us to think it is the Tirsoc's Assassins. they are baiting us into getting our army mobilized."
"who would want that?" Susan asked.
"Rabdash," Falaah said in a quiet voice. It was a name she was all too aware of. " He is a prince under the Trisoc, he is young and incredibly reckless. He may be trying to bait you into starting a war." She also knew why he would do this and it troubled her immensely.
After all, she had been betrothed to him.
