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TERRORISTS

Narnia, late summer 1016

Ruth was not sure what had really happened. Aslan had called her back to Narnia; and she had been received like a celebrity. She had then been sent on a quest, and had it not been hard enough as it was; added to that was pure Evil, doing bad things in her name and spreading lies about her. In one dark moment, she wondered if there were more German kids around. Had Hitler invaded England? Had some arrogant youngsters in uniform found the wardrobe in the upstairs room inside professor Kirke's large house in the countryside? And what had then happened to the Pevensies?

With a deep sigh, Ruth realised she would never really know. Aslan would not tell her any story but her own. With that knowledge, she helped the talking beasts dismantle the camp they had had in the cave and transform it to a very less cosy place where prince Corin and his crew were to have spent two nights since the shipwreck. Their cover story was that they sailed out too early after the storm had passed; the waves were still high and the wind too strong for their skills, and so they . . .

-"Milady, are you ready?" asked a small voice from the air beside Ruth's left ear.

-"Yes, Robin, I am. What are the detailed orders we are to follow?"

-"We will be guided by a squirrel who will lead us up from the beach onto the Narnian main land. There we will meet the Unicorn. For us to not be able to tell more if we get caught, he will keep the next detailed steps for himself, until we are on our way together with him."

There were of course good paths from Cair Paravel down to the beach; made with stairs when else threatening to be too steep sloping, and well maintained. Any of those would have been a safe route – to captivity. Instead Ruth had to follow a squirrel on a path not really made for humans, stay very silent and use no light or lantern. It was crucial that she was not spotted from the Palace.

-"Here comes the Fireworks, Milady. That means the guests and staff up at the Cair will be happy dined and wined. And there is a short time slot they will see less good in the dark. Let us go. Do not watch the display!"

Following the squirrel, clinging as close to the cliff on her left as she could, with Robin to her right; Ruth for the first time in her life wished she was some one else. Having wings would had been great or even being a Mountain Goat. Thinking about certain Goats she had met made her smile broadly, however; and in spite of it seeming so long time ago, it lifted her spirits and helped her climb. What she felt like being little time, they were leaving the narrow winding path and were up on a plain. In the distance all lights from the windows of Cair Paravel twinkled merrily, and just over a rolling hill a White, bright animal was waiting for them.

Being allowed to ride a Unicorn is such a great honour that Ruth had to be persuaded; in unison by three hushed voices. Understanding that her hesitance was endangering them all, Ruth decided to shut up and let her party get going. The squirrel bade them farewell after being thanked with some peeled nuts from Ruth's small rucksack. More food was packed in a saddlebag carried by the young Unicorn, but it was conveying much more gratitude giving away what she herself had carried up the path; so thus the nuts had to come from Ruth's own luggage.

Off they went. Clouds from the storm hid the raising moon and helped them through open fields and pasture into the invisibility of the forest between the Cair and the Northern Marches.

Travelling in the deep shadows of a wet and dark forest, with branches fallen from the past storm, Ruth expected to be a ghastly experience. She was wrong however; because in Narnia many of the talking beasts were awake during the night. They passed lit windows, and cousins out and about, greeting them a cordial "Good Night"; and further inland the clouds dissipated and Ruth could see the stars. She remembered happier times, e.g. her astronomy lessons with Centaurs, or navigating by help of the constellation accompanying Karl, knight of Narnia, on his quests to help the Four bring and keep order in the Land. Such happy memories gave her energy and helped her through almost a full night of travel.

It was when morning was announced by a red stripe on the far east horizon that their ride was stopped by a fallen tree. Ruth guessed it had been felled by the storm; but had not time to think that in that case the tree must have fallen the wrong direction, when a Dryad showed up before them.

-"Dear travellers and Cousins; day is breaking and you can no longer go on unseen. In Aslan's name we invite you to our groove for the day to eat, sleep and rest; and thus get recuperated and ready for your next ride."

To this no one would say no and while they entered a cosy clearing surrounded by oaks, having a set table at one side and a tent with a made bed to another; the sun rose and woke prince Corin to a horrible hang-over so bad that he in anguish screamed for the Faun Tumnus to bring Lucy's cordial (Corin has ever refused to tell if this was true or clever acting to get the Master of Ceremonies' full attention) and the mysteriously fallen tree rose up and stretched its branches like a newly awake kid.

Ruth, having eaten, still dressed fell asleep to a prayer of gratitude to Aslan. Even though they who were travelling with her got fewer and fewer; the help she got was impressive. Aslan himself was obviously walking both before and with her, to see her through her quest. She dreamt that day how she met Karl in Aslan's country and saw his face shine at her cleverness solving the clues and his gasps when it was clear she was not only followed but also hated.

In the following evening, the three travellers were given directions to another Dryad grove; this one beside the Great River.

-"If all goes well, you will be there by midnight," said a female dryad having fed the travellers fruit and nuts for breakfast, "and another of Aslan's servants will help you from there on. May the Great Lion speed your ride; and be He between you and Evil always!"

Coming closer to the centre of Narnia, the riders were no longer met by so many cordial greetings; and Ruth could even see lighted widows being blinded by owners hearing their hoof beats. How gentle a Unicorn can run, and how many which heard them coming anyway, told Ruth that Narnia was afraid. She of course knew that the terror in Western Narnia had been told of, and the cousins living here wondered if and when they would be next.

Coming out of the forest they saw the Great River glittering in moonlight below, and they also saw the Popplar's Grove of water loving trees not far away. Stories were told it was planted by Queen Helen the first in the very early generation of Narnia. Ruth felt a sting in her heart. Poplars were such German trees; straight and tall and orderly, In a moment Ruth felt a pang of home sickness; before she remembered that back in Germany she was not regarded as German any more. Verdamte Untermench! That is what she was called, spat at, hated, having to wear her Yellow Judensterne.

Inside the Popplar's grove they were not met by any tree spirits. Ruth was never to see what they looked like who lived inside Poplars.

Instead an animal with a flat tail awaited them.

-"Welcome, Milady and highly esteemed cousins! I am the eldest grand son of Mr. Beaver, member of the Royal Council at Pair Caravel; Er. . .

-"And he has sent message to meet us here?" Asked Ruth kindly to ease obvious embarrassment of a youngster stumbling over difficult words; a question she really not had to ask; hearing the cough of a Raven and seeing a glimpse of Sallowpad perching on a low hanging branch but invisible to the little Beaver.

-"Yes, Lady, and it is my task to get you cross the River, you see!"

Ruth was then led through the groove, down to the water, where a small raft waited. Unicorn being able to swim and her bird companions to fly; luggage and daughter of Eve was stowed unto the raft and propelled over the slowly flowing waters by the energetic Beaver teen. Ruth saw how well the crossing was located; the tall Poplars blotted out the moonlight for most of the raft ride and hid so their passing from unwanted viewers. Obviously they were entering enemy land; or at least the land where they might soon risk meeting the villains bringing terror to Narnia, blaming Ruth.