Part Ten: The Cherry Tree

"Eve." Eve heard her name being called and felt a hand on her shoulder. Opening her eyes slowly she saw Caspian's face leaning over her. Excitement boiled inside her and she sat up quickly, surprising the king.

"I saw him! I saw him again! This time I saw that he is a lion!" She could hardly contain her excitement as she told Caspian of her dream and of the great, golden lion. When she was done, Caspian smiled.

"You saw Aslan," he explained.

"Aslan?"

"Emperor of the Seas and King of Narnia," said Caspian.

"But I thought you were king."

"Ah, yes, but Aslan is king over all. I am his servant as are we all."

Eve nodded slowly, understanding. "So Narnia is Aslan's kingdom."

"Yes, but he lives in his own land past the end of the world."

"The end of the world?" Eve suddenly realized how very close to Caspian she was in her haste to explain her dream. She could not have been more than four inches away from his face. Blushing, she sat back.

"Yes," Caspian answered distractedly.

"He told me again that we must go to Dancing Lawn," Eve hastily added.

"Well then we should do that at once." Caspian stood and offered Eve a helping hand up. She took it and stood, brushing dirt off of her back. Caspian put out the last of the embers and saddled the horse.

"I do wish Destrier hadn't run off," Eve huffed.

"What, you don't like riding with me?" Caspian's question was said with mock hurt.

"Well I – no, it's not-" Eve stammered. Then she realized that he was teasing her. She ignored him and went over to wait for him to mount first. Caspian chuckled and then mounted, offering Eve a hand up. Putting her arms loosely around the king, Eve tried to ignore his laughter. Secretly, she liked the sound of it, but she would never admit that to him.

. . .

The ride seemed to go by much quicker that day. The white horse galloped along the Great River and towards the south where Caspian had explained there would be a crossing. "The Ford of Beruna runs along Dancing Lawn, but a small crossing was built recently to afford easy passage."

It was a beautifully sunny day with not a cloud in the azure sky. Caspian and Eve were both in good spirits and when they slowed to a walk later that day, Caspian told Eve the story of the trees. "…and after that, the trees were still and did not speak. It was thousands of years before Queen Lucy was able to help wake them up again. That was when the four kings and queens returned last." He paused for a second and Eve wondered at the sudden change in his tone. It was almost melancholy. "With Aslan's help, the trees came to life again and helped us to win the battle." Eve blinked; perhaps she had just imagined the change.

"How old were the kings and queens of old? You say they lived thousands of years ago, but yet they came back – because time did not travel as quickly in their world. But were they older then, when they came back?"

"No, they were as young as you and I. Only a year older from when they first arrived in Narnia 1300 years ago."

"How interesting. Narnia works in such strange ways…"

"Yes it does." There was a lapse of silence as Caspian let the horse drink from the river. Then they were off again at a quick pace. "Speaking of trees," Caspian commented suddenly, "I believe we're coming to one. Perhaps it is the cherry tree."

"Is this a particular cherry tree?" Eve asked, her curiosity roused as she remembered her dream the night before.

"The cherry tree from your dream," he seemed to read her thoughts.

"Hmm." Eve became lost in thought. Then as the large, pink flowered tree came into view, she gasped. "It is the tree. The very same one that I danced with." Caspian stopped the horse nearby and Eve leapt off its back, walking briskly to the tree. She cautiously laid a hand against its smooth trunk and whispered. "Wake up." The branches of the tree swayed and suddenly it was alive, its flowers spiraling together to form the body of a giant woman.

"Greetings, King Caspian and greetings Eve. I carry tidings to you from the castle of Telmar. The dwarf Trumpkin has heard from the scouts that there are strange men towards the north, on the borders of Ettinsmoor. They carry large weapons and bring no tidings of peace. Two scouts were killed trying to escape the wild men. They are living in the distant mountains and have moved as far as the Northern Marsh and Owl Wood. The scouts from Cair Paravel are not back yet. You, Daughter of Eve, are in grave danger and you must delay no longer in reaching Dancing Lawn," she said looking gravely down at Eve.

"But why am I in danger?" Eve asked.

"That is not for me to say, but I believe one of the centaurs has made a prophecy about you. You can hear it when you reach Dancing Lawn. Now you must go, and quickly. The wolves pursue you." As if to confirm her words, a loud howling went up from somewhere towards the north.

"Thank you," Eve said, bowing quickly and taking Caspian's hand as she mounted the white horse.

"Good luck, Daughter of Eve." The cherry blossoms moved back to the tree, and it stood still once more.

"Come, we must ride," Caspian said, turning the horse towards the east.