Chapter 10 – Kings and Queens
Everyone's spirits were high the next morning. Dwarves, fauns and centaurs busily rushed around the How trying to get everything ready for the afternoon coronation.
"Meet you outside," Caleb whispered as I passed him in the hall. I nodded. I threw on my long cloak and dashed out into the fresh air. As I waited for Caleb I walked over and began petting my favorite horse.
"Hello, Leah," I said gently stroking the big horse's nose. She shook her mane as if she was answering. Leah was a Telmarine horse, so she didn't speak like the Narnian horses. Her saddle was already on her so I mounted. I looked towards the entrance to the How as Caleb hurried out followed by a grumbling red dwarf.
"Race you, Caleb!" I called from on top of Leah.
"That's why I'm here." He answered. "Trumpkin agreed to time us and see who is the fastest."
"Like I don't have better things to do," The dwarf muttered.
"You know I'll win!" Caleb said as he readied his horse.
"Oh really?" I questioned. We lined the horses up, side by side. Trumpkin began to count.
"Here they go again," Kelly groaned as she, Jake and Edmund came out of the How and found seats on the grass.
"On your mark, get set-"
"STOP!" Edmund yelled. We looked up in surprise. "I'm just joking!" Edmund laughed. Trumpkin shook his head. He started again.
"On your mark, get set, GO!" He fell back in his seat. Our horses shot off like there was a wild fire raging behind us.
"Come on! Faster!" I urged Leah. "I'm not going to let you win this time, Caleb!"
"Well I'm not going to let you win!" he answered. The horses galloped across the field. I could feel wisps of the horse's mane sting my face. It was thrilling. Caleb and I were neck in neck as we neared the edge of the meadow. I smiled as I passed him and halted at the end of the field.
"I win!" I panted breathlessly.
"I guess…I'm…not…as good…as I…thought." Caleb was breathing heavily.
"That's okay," I answered.
"Hurry up humans!" Trumpkin hollered from across the field. "They want you inside for fittings."
"Race you back!" Caleb challenged.
"You bet!" I answered and we sped back towards Aslan's How.
"Ouch!" Kelly yelped. "You stabbed me with that pin!"
"Quit fidgeting," Lauren scolded. "You're worse than Trinian on bath day."
"Worse day of the year," Trinian muttered before Lauren shooed him out of the room. I quickly smoothed my hair and skirt before I entered the room. I stared at Kelly when I came in the room. She had been transformed. She wore a gown that was a pastel purple color, her favorite. The long flowing sleeves grazed the tops of her fingertips. The front section of the bodice and skirt was lavender while the sleeves, other sections and cape were a deep plum. All the embroidery was done with a fine silver thread.
"Oh Kelly!" I gasped. "You look lovely."
"Wait till you see yours," she answered. "Yours is even prettier.
"Come on, I'll show you." Ilaria led the way. I wore a huge smile on my face when I saw my dress. It looked just the way I had imagined it. The sky blue dress shimmered in the light and the white puffed sleeves were etched with gold stitching. The royal blue cloak fell softly across the shoulders and back. The circular neckline also was embroidered in gold.
"It's beautiful," was all I could say. "Thank you."
"Told you that you'd like it," Kelly answered.
"Try it on," Ilaria insisted.
"Really?" I was a little shocked.
"Of course!" she laughed. "After all, it was made for you to wear!"
Finally after all the preparations were ready and all four of us were wearing our new clothes for the coronation, we gathered in front of the Stone Table. Kelly and I were waiting when Caleb and Jake entered the room.
"Wow!" I had to laugh. Caleb and Jake sure looked different in their Narnian outfits. Jake's tunic was a silver-blue with a matching belt. The layered sleeves were a faint plum color that matched Kelly's cloak. The silver needlework on his sleeves resembled an oak leaf. The front of Caleb's tunic also had a similar oak leaf pattern but his was stitched in gold. The royal blue tunic was edged with gold and his matching belt was also gold-colored. Half way down, his sleeves split to reveal a sky blue fabric underneath. The gold-colored cloak hung loosely making Caleb seem a bit taller. Both boys wore matching trousers and carried their swords with them. Aslan came into the room.
"It is time, dear ones. The Narnians are gathered outside waiting for you." Without speaking, the four of us fell into a line with Caleb in the lead and followed Aslan to the entrance to Aslan's How. We paused at the entrance to rearrange our order. We advanced with Jake and Caleb on the left, Aslan in the middle, then me and next Kelly. The centaurs proudly held their swords over our heads as we stepped into the sunlight. Narnians and Telmarines alike cheered. I could feel myself smiling a big, happy smile. Caleb, Jake and Kelly were smiling too. When we reached the broken down pillars in front of the How, we stopped and turned to face the crowd. The four Pevensies wearing their finery and their crowns stood on the far right and Caspian and Pete, along with Lauren, Trinian, Ilaria and Naomi stood on the left. Aslan stood in the very middle and began to speak.
"To the crisp Southern mountains, I give you Queen Kelly, the Generous." Ilaria and Naomi slowly came forward carrying a pillow between them on which rested four crowns. Pete followed them, took the silver leafed circlet and placed it on top of Kelly's head. She curtsied and smiled. Then Pete moved towards Jake at the other end. Aslan spoke again.
"To the wild Western woods, I give you King Jake, the Reliable." Pete placed a silver crown on Jake's neatly brushed hair. Aslan shook his mane before continuing.
"To the vast Eastern ocean, I give you Queen Heather, the Kind-hearted and to the great Northern sky, I give you King Caleb, the Courageous." I looked up towards the top of my head as Pete placed a golden crown of little flowers on my blond hair. We all watched as he put the gold crown that represented the title of High King on Caleb's head. All four of us were smiling as wide as we could.
"Bear them well sons of Adam," Aslan instructed. "Bear them well daughters of Eve. May your wisdom grace us till the stars reign down from the heavens." Then he led the crowd in cheering, "Long live King Caleb! Long live Queen Heather! Long live King Jake! Long live Queen Kelly!" The four of us could hardly believe that we had just been crowned the new kings and queens of Narnia. We all stood smiling at each other.
Later in the evening it was time for the Pevensies to leave. The eight of us still wore our finery from the coronation ceremony. Aslan led us to a giant, twisted tree on the edge of the green field in front of Aslan's How. He breathed gently on the tree. It slowly began to untwist itself to the amazement of those watching. When it was untwisted the gnarled tree formed a rough doorway. Peter, Susan, Edmund, Lucy, Caleb, Jake, Kelly and I all stood between the tree and the crowd waiting for what would happen next. Peter led his siblings in saying farewell to all their new friends. Lucy almost cried when she said goodbye to poor Trumpkin. The two of them really had become good friends.
"I'm glad I came back," Susan was saying to Caspian.
"I wish we had more time together," he answered dreamily. Knock it off, Caspian. After all she is like centuries older than you. I thought.
"We wouldn't have worked anyway." Susan replied.
"Why not?" Caspian was a little confused and couldn't see the obvious answer. Susan decided to help him out.
"I am thirteen thousand and twelve years older than you." Susan turned away but then hastily turned back to Caspian and gave him a fast hug before slipping quickly away.
"Maybe I'll understand when I'm older," Lucy whispered to Peter. He grinned.
"I'm older and I don't think I understand," Edmund muttered back. Caspian was still standing in the same spot, a bit stunned about Susan's goodbye. The four Pevensies turned to bid Aslan farewell.
"Aslan, why can't Peter and Susan come back? Have they done something wrong?" Lucy asked.
"Quite the opposite, dear one," Aslan answered. "Your brother and sister have learned all they can from this world, now it is time for them to live in their own."
"It's not so bad, Lucy," Peter assured. "You'll understand when it is your last time here." Lucy didn't want to think about that. She couldn't even imagine not being able to return to Narnia. Peter and Edmund shook hands with Caleb and Jake. Peter gave Caleb a few tips on running the kingdom, which Caleb gladly listened to since he had never dreamed of actually becoming king. Susan and Lucy said goodbye to Kelly and I. Kelly and Lucy had become very close friends so it was hard for them to part. Then hand in hand the Pevensies began walking through the tree doorway. Bravely leading his siblings, Peter went first, followed by Susan who was gripping Peter's hand very tightly, then Edmund who didn't want to hold on to Susan but couldn't get away from her grip and last went Lucy who was trying hard not to cry. As they passed through the door we caught a glimpse of a 1940's train station in England. Then all four were swallowed up as the door closed behind them.
"They're gone," Kelly whispered.
"Well I suppose that's it then," Jake remarked. "They're not coming back for a while." The crowd around us slowly began to disperse.