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Chapter 25, Cair Paravel, part one

The sun streamed through my tent flap and the bugle rang in the morning. It felt good to awake to a normal day—no war, no witches, nothing—and find that Narnia was feeling its first, gentle rainfall in nearly a hundred years.

The sun streamed grandly, lighting the earth from some unknown place. The sky was black with clouds that sprinkled a fresh, dewey rain. Some ran under shelter and watched it in wonder, some ran out and danced in it.

Edmund followed me out, grinning at the ring of fauns that began a strange little dance in a particularly rainy place. Lucy was among them, clasping hands with a little red faun in a scarf, and dancing.

"That's Mr. Tumnus," Edmund pointed. "The one dancing with Lucy."

"He's just like I imagined him," I smiled. "I want to thank him. He protected Lucy her first time, here, remember?"

"He did," Edmund said. His voice sounded a little stiff.

"What's wrong?" I said, turning towards him. "Is your wound bothering you?"

"There isn't any wound," Edmund frowned. "It's nothing. Only…only some memories come back to haunt you sometimes, do they not?"

"Yes," I said carefully. I glanced back at Mr. Tumnus. I decided the best thing to do was to drop the subject.

"Mr. Tumnus," called Edmund, motioning to him and Lucy.

"Edmund," said Lucy excitedly, she tugged Mr. Tumnus and brought him over to us. His hooves twitched as if he wanted to continue to dance, but he had a smile on his face.

"These are my brothers," Lucy said excitedly. "Edmund and Peter."

Mr. Tumnus nodded to Edmund. "We've met," he bowed low to both of us.

"I want to thank you," I said to Tumnus. "You did so much for Lucy."

"Merely a trifle," Tumnus said humbly. "It isn't very hard to do something for this one, is it, now?"

Edmund nodded, gulping. I glanced at him, wondering what was the matter.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Tumnus," he said finally. "If there is anything I can do, to make up for what I had done--"

"It's best not to bring it up," Mr. Tumnus said quickly, bowing again and nodding, his hooves inching from side to side. "What's done is in the past. You're different now, Aslan is here—you know, I mean, things will be all right now."

I was getting more and more confused, as was Lucy. We only watched the ongoing exchange.

"I do hope you will forgive me," Edmund said, reaching out his hand.

"Of course, of course," said Tumnus, grasping his hand. Instead of shaking it, he swung it from side to side. Smiling and nodding, he trotted back into the dancing group of fauns.

"That…must be a Narnia handshake, I suppose," Edmund said, breaking the following silence. Lucy and I didn't expect him to explain, so we said nothing further.

"A Narnian handshake?" Lucy giggled. "You have so much to learn!" and with that, she trotted off, almost in faun fashion, and went into her tent.

Within the hour, we ate breakfast, broke up the camp, and began a march to Cair Paravel.

I remembered the glistening reflection of many windows of the great castle, but I had only seen it from a mountain top—with Aslan by my side, before I'd even thought we were the ones to fill in the prophecy. It all seemed long ago now.

I wondered what the castle looked like up close.

It should be wonderful.

We marched all morning and into the afternoon. When we were so exhausted that we thought we could go no further, a tower emerged from the tops of the trees. The tower was followed by two more. And then some turrets. And then a rooftop.

When we rounded the bend, the most beautiful castle I'd ever seen emerged from the shoreline.

The first thing we smelled was the sea. The salty, tangy breeze flapped the banners blowing, and the cry of seagulls echoed above the clouds. Cair Paravel was the color of worn shell and rock, with living vines and trees growing around, among, and in it. Each and every window was open—tall windows of the clearest glass, as if they were made of water.

With a flash of sparkle in the sea, we saw tails burst with a splash and a group of merman and mermaids swam busily, singing something in a watery-sort of language, welcoming its Kings and Queens' home.

Lucy and Susan gasped in rapturous delight, and Edmund's jaw found itself upon the ground. I reached over playfully and closed his mouth.

"This is our home now," I said to him, "We'll have to get used to it, eh?"

"No…joke…" Edmund stuttered, beholding the castle that was like the nicest kind in England times three or more.

And the inside was more than we imagined. It never felt as if we went indoors. Open air balconies and windows and porches provided ongoing sunlight and a fresh wind coming from the ocean. Vines grew up the pillars of marble, and floor was so shining we could see our reflection in it—it was like walking on water. Wafting, white curtains hung in the sills, and woven tapestries depicting stories hung from banisters and halls. Swords, trumpets, and more were hung along with chandeliers of incredible size.

And so many people! Fauns, satyrs, talking ravens, and all others scuttled about, ready to do our bidding and preparing a feast in the banqueting hall.

Aslan led the way through the main doors, and said to a nymph, "Show the Royalty to their bedrooms, and allow them to clean up. Fetch their ceremonial clothes—we have a coronation to prepare."

In all the hustle and bustle, we were driven along in crowds till we were dropped off in individual rooms—Edmund's and mine on one side of a green hall, Susan and Lucy's on the other. At least we were close to each other.

My room was…amazing. I can't describe the utter shock I felt—it was so fancy. The bed was nearly eleven feet high, the ceiling even higher. A window looked right out to the ocean and the east. Everything was rich in color and furniture and woods of all sorts with gold embroidered on everything.

"This can't be my room," I said shortly. "It's too good."

The nymph only bowed humbly. "I apologize, sire, but it is your room."

"Wow," I said.

The nymph looked confused and pointed to a doorway across from the bed. "That is the closet, sire, you'll find your coronation clothes and things to freshen up with."

She departed, and I found that the "closet" so-called, was also a bathroom, a closet, and somewhat of an armory. I found my coronation clothes easily enough—they were hanging from the wall with a glass door over it—it must be important.

It be too boring to discuss everything that went on, I daresay I'd put Susan to sleep if I rambled on and on.

The coronation, however, was most wonderful.

Aslan met us at the door, looking over our appearances and nodding in agreement, and said, "Let the Kings be on my left, and the Queens be on my right."

I tripped over Edmund's foot, crashed to the left, and steadied myself quickly before any curious subjects inquired over my sanity.

"What do we do now?" Lucy asked, fiddling with her beautiful dress. Susan looked radiant, as if she could dance. Though Susan always said dancing was preposterous. Edmund looked bashful. I forgot to look in the looking-glass. I'd hoped I didn't forget to wash my face…

"Just let me lead you," Aslan said, almost making it sound like he was teaching a lesson along with his instructions. "When we reach the steps, sit in your thrones."

"All…right," Lucy said.

The doors opened.

Trumpets blared.

I don't think anything else was visible other than four, bright smiles that spread so it covered every other feature.

Centaurs stood to attention, crossing their swords over our path. It seemed too splendid for just four kids, like us.

Before I knew it, we were seated in our thrones, and our dear Beavers were hustling along behind Mr. Tumnus, looking handsome in his new scarf, and distributed out our crowns.

And, officially, the coronation began.

My dear readers, the story will be continued eventually. I'm leaving for a camping trip tomorrow and will return by the Lords Day. (that being Sunday –wink wink—) I'll update sometime after that. Have patience my dears!

I'll return soon!

(Part Two of "Cair Paravel" will be the next, upcoming chapter)

Sorry if this one was a little boring.