So far, so good! But in Narnia there are often surprises. So we have to keep following the story. Here is the next chapter!

JUDGEMENT

Karl and Ruth were not sure how they managed to sneak out from all the attention and get back to their own rooms, neither how they could stay there unnoticed, get some light food and lots of sleep.

The day after, however, all that would change. Change Drastically. They were woken by one palace servant each, given a more substantial breakfast they were used to and after eating they met in the shared bath room, ushered in by the same servants, undressed their pyjamas and put to soak below the bubbles of one hot bath each.

The servants scrubbed them like their lives depended on it, until suddenly they were interrupted by the door opened and two palace guards coming to stand by each side of the door. One of them did announce, very pompously:

-"The ceremonial Master of the four Rulers, Lord Tumnus!"

And it was him, indeed, but more formally dressed than ever before, and shining more brightly than ever the kids had seen. He carried himself like he was a king himself, and the children were tempted to jump out of their baths to curtsey and bow.

-"Lady Ruth, and Lord Karl, I come as a messenger from the four Kings and Queens of Narnia," Tumnus said regally. "In exactly two hours you are supposed to appear in the throne room, before our Rulers and all of the court."

With one movement with his left hand he dismissed the guards and the servants, to be alone with the children. As soon as all where gone, he changed into his more normal kind, love radiating self, and by his presence alone both Ruth and Karl felt very comfortable.

-"Very well done before the judges, my friends! Even the Rulers were impressed! Aslan was truly with you, all along. Now just relax, the day will be downhill from here. Easier it will be."

Ruth had gone through so many cross examinations that she thought it at least could not be any worse, but Karl still remembered having two Kings' swords pointing at him, and was not sure it would be easy. In Narnia nothing seemed to be. Hard but fulfilling was his experience of life.

While the earthly young ones contemplated what had been said, Tumnus had withdrawn, and the servants returned; to get the children out of their tubs, and get them dried and perfumed, a screen set between the tubs just as when they were undressed before going into the hot water.

Dry and hidden in large towels, Karl and Ruth were led to their respective rooms and that meant they could not hear the other's gasps as they saw the clothes lay out for them. Ruth feared Mrs. Beaver, poor heart, had stayed up all night again (and she had stayed up late, indeed, but this time she was not working alone to make the lovely long dress for Ruth). Karl had problems taking his eyes off the fine armour and weapons to be part of his costume.

Before they knew it, they were walking the centre of he Great hall of Cair Paravel; all the way up to the Four thrones, where the Queens and Kings sat. Ruth curtsied and Karl bowed, and then they both knelt before the dais of the Four rulers.

-"Please, stand up," said the High king, "and receive our apologies, for you two have been greatly wronged by us."

-"And please receive our thanks for all the services you already have done to our kingdom," Queen Susan continued, "even in times before we ourselves were here.

-"Yesterday Aslan himself met with us in our private council chamber," almost sung the vibrant voice of Edmund the Just king, telling us more about the situation at home. "Our home and yours."

-"And from the day they got to hear about the trial, continued a very happy sounding Valiant queen, "Narnians have come with one report of the other of your deeds here. I have been told by two very different wild gangs; now mostly all of them training for our army; one of boys, one of goats, that without you there would be no healing liquid in my cordial. You have thus taken part in saving so many lives after the big battle of Beruna! I thank you dearly."

-"You also spent horrible trips smuggling provisions into Narnia, to ease life for cold, starving and ill inhabitants, under the oppressive boot of the White witch," the Gentle queen went on, and came with hope and joy to some in despair, others having almost given up hope and some …."

-"Lost and about to die," Queen Susan was interrupted by a small Bumblebee, who Ruth and Karl had found out in the cold snow, unable to find its way back into the hive. Its intervention was met by a huge applause.

-"We also hear you know the places where Narnia's most precious treasures of art and literature have been hidden." Who else but king Edmund would mention books?

-"And with all this in mind, we would like to ask you…."

What High king Peter had in mind asking, was not spoken, however, because the excited silence in the Throne room was suddenly shattered by a large noise; beginning like a groan, continuing with clonks and clinks, and ending in a big thud. It was Karl who had fallen, flat on the floor. Ruth at once feared his legs had failed him, like on earth, but soon she realised that he had fainted.

The court was immediately on their feet, all ready to help. Peter stopped Lucy from using her too valuable cordial: Susan had a cloth dipped in cold water to cool Karl's forehead and when he came back to consciousness, Edmund helped him sit up.

And so it were, that a crippled German boy had four British born monarchs kneeling around him, and the sight made him faint once more. It was not until a certain female young Mountain goat whispered something in Karl's ear, bowed to the rulers and disappeared in the crowds that he finally managed to get back unto his feet.

-"Erm, I think the Queens and Kings of ours just want to ask you what it is you really like to do," came a voice from the middle of the hall, and suddenly all of the Noblesse of Narnia set their eyes to Mr. Beaver, who actually suddenly understood why Karl had fainted.

-"Well said, my love!" cried Mrs. Beaver, realising that the pressure needed to be taken of the chest of her husband. "Have I not always said you are such a good speaker!"

-"Mr Beaver for the Parliament! The cry was repeated several times – and the Rulers used this small intermission to get themselves and the two visiting children back into place.

-"Unfortunately," cried king Edmund in a very high voice, to be heard in all the Hall, "Beavers can not sit in Narnian parliament. It is reserved for owls. And he cannot be a judge either, judges must be bears. But he can be part of the Royal council. And with your permission he will, and the wishes of our foreign guests will be heard in the Council chamber."

-"Thanks for all who came, there will shortly be food for all," ended Susan the hostess queen, while Lucy bid Karl and Ruth to follow her; and so they all left the applauds and fanfares of the Throne room. All in order of age, the High king last.

With Mr. Tumnus first, and the Beavers last, they were all led to a small, but fine decorated room Ruth and Karl had never seen before. On the walls were beautiful tapestries Ruth recognised as depicting the creation of the world, when Aslan sung Narnia into existence, when Digory and Polly went to get the Apple that later grew to the Tree of protection, and when Frank and Helen were crowned the first rulers of the realm.

-"Dear friends, no one of you being more dear to us than any, thus no one being less dear," Queen Susan said.

-"The Beaver's were right, we would very much like to hear from lord Karl and lady Ruth," said king Edmund, "what they are good at and want to do while staying here with us."

-"And be not shy, just tell us the truth!" exclaimed Queen Lucy.

-"Just as you have always done,"ended High king Peter. "Well, Ruth, I hear that you are very much of a scholar, a lady of high learning?"

Ruth blushed and curtsied at this, but explained that even though she had read a lot of books, and of course liked the books to soon some back here to Cair Paravel, there was something else she really wanted to, and in this she turned to the valiant Queen:

-"I would like to be trained to heal and nurse the weak and needy and vulnerable, just like you, your Majesty." And Ruth curtsied again.

Lucy, the smallest of the royals, acknowledged this with a nod of her head and a large smile, and then Karl suddenly felt all looking at him. First he felt very awkward, having fainted and all; so he looked behind them onto one of the tapestries, and so it was, that it was the kind face of the great Lion that returned his gaze. This made Karl feel more of himself, and braver, and he blurted out:

-"I wish to be a knight, your Majesties, because to get all books and artefacts back here, they will need an escort, and protection from foes, who want Narnia not to know its history. And as history is the very key to the future, nothing is more important than the return of Narnia's inheritance!"

For no one in the room, having seen the visiting children, heard from their trainers in Archenland, and listened to them testify in court; these wishes came as any surprise at all. The Four rulers just looked at each other, like they wanted to say that they had known it all along.

-"Your wishes to train for healing and knighthood shall be from us granted," promised the High King. Speaking for all four siblings. "but first a slight problem must be solved. A messenger came this morning, with reports of the peace being disturbed within the very borders of Narnia."

-"Please let us sit down, eat and plan our response," added the other three rulers, one after the other.

"It is a royal duty to protect the land and keep peace, law and order for all its inhabitants."