THE CHANGING OF THE CONSTELLATIONS
What had happened to Rahai was this:
She was having the same trouble Talia did distinguishing who was friend and who was foe with the intermingling of the Free Narnians and the Green Narnians. The Green Narnians were loving it, creating a killing frenzy, hacking at anyone that came near them. Rahai was certain that they knew they were inevitably killing their cohorts, and yet they didn't seem to care. She found herself targeting Narnians who were acting in such a strange manner, for she knew—or hoped—Free Narnians weren't foolish enough to be indiscriminate in their killing.
The whole civil battle between the Narnians had a bizarre air to it, as if the Green Narnians had been bewitched. It became even stranger when the Calormenes joined the circus, barging in and targeting all the Narnians, whether Green or Free. Rahai had glimpsed Talia and Bree charging into the fray recklessly, but had lost sight of them instantly.
Rahai and Reau did what they could to organize the Free Narnian defense against the Calormenes, but it was hopeless. It was a free-for-all. The Free Narnians desperately defended against the Green Narnians, who were shocked to discover that they had been double-crossed by the Calormenes (who simply wanted all the Narnians dead!).
The battlefield reeked with death and rang with the screams, howls, wails, barks, growls, and groans of war. Rahai, who had received excellent sword training from Rory, had nevertheless never experienced full battle before. It was overwhelming. She found her mind had shut down, trying to ignore the horror before her eyes. She found herself killing and defending herself against the Calormenes on instinct.
Both Green and Free Narnians found themselves being pushed up the ridge by the wave of Calormenes, who never seemed to lessen in number. When Rahai was at the crest of the hill, she had a quick moment when she and her horse were in a group of Free Narnians who weren't fighting but being pushed back down the other side of the crest, into the Marshes.
With wide eyes, she glanced around at the situation. Was there no means of taking the advantage? Was there any way of salvaging this?
She could see none.
She glanced back toward the north side of the moon-illuminated Marshes, where the two children who were the future of Narnia were being watched by the woman who was carrying the future of Archenland. The Calormenes would just keep pushing them north, until they reached them…
Suddenly, Reau was at her side. "It's now or never, my Lady!" he cried, nodding to the white horn at her hip. He was covered with grime and things that looked disturbingly like pieces of flesh.
That was the confirmation she needed. With shaky hands that were covered with blood-spattered gloves, she unfastened the horn. This was it. If this didn't work, none of them—Free Narnians, Green Narnians, Marshwiggles, or Archenlanders—would survive this.
She inhaled a huge breath, put the horn to her mouth and blew.
The horn sounded like a bugle, but louder. It resonated over the field, humming and tickling her lips as she pushed air through it. Many fighters paused and looked around in confusion at the loud, emanating sound. The sounds echoed through the Marshes, then finally died out.
With a thumping heart, Rahai waited. Help had to come. It's what Father Christmas had promised…
"Look!" Reau exclaimed, pointing northward.
Rahai whipped her head around and instantly saw what he was pointing to. On the far cliffs at the end of the Marshes, the moonlight was reflected off of something huge and golden.
Her heart leapt. Could it be?
A great roar pierced the night, louder and more terrible and wonderful than the horn, making Rahai want to weep and laugh and dance. It was Aslan! She couldn't turn her gaze from him; if any Calormene had gotten the chance, they could have easily finished her off, she was so mesmerized.
She was hardly aware of it, but a strange sound was bubbling up beneath the Lion's prolonged roar: it was a sizzling, popping sound, as it someone was cooking sausage on a fire. But it was louder than cooking sausage, and growing in intensity.
It finally reached the point that Rahai had to tear her eyes from Aslan, who had leapt down from the cliff and disappeared into its shadow. Her eyes darted from side to side, curious what the sound was.
She wasn't the only person who was confused. The fighting had completely stopped as the sizzling grew louder and louder. Everyone was puzzled, and Calormenes were covering their ears, screaming that they were being bewitched by a Narnian devil. Reau was also glancing around, wheeling his horse here and there.
And then Rahai realized that the night had grown suddenly brighter. She looked up and was astonished to see that the sky was glowing with a strong, and yet soft, white glow. When she squinted, she could see that many stars were larger, about the size of the sun.
"What in Hades…?" Reau said bewilderedly.
Suddenly, like an asteroid, something scorchingly, blindingly bright landed in the middle of the battlefield. Rahai shielded her eyes with her hands but squinted through them, trying to see what it was. It landed in a haze of white smoke that quickly dissipated, making its glowing figure more distinguishable.
The Calormenes screamed even louder in terror and cowered back, while the Narnians either stared in wonder or fear. Rahai's eyes adjusted some, and even though the figure radiated light, she got an idea of what it looked like:
It was a man. A very tall, slender, wise-looking man. He had a terrible face which made you feel like he could reduce you to ash with a mere glance. He wore long, silver robes, and after looking around him at the cowering Calormenes with anger and disdain, looked up to where he had come from and raised his hands as if beckoning someone.
Rahai looked up again and was astounded to see that the stars were even larger. She kept her eye on the largest one, which was now much larger than the sun and increasing in size steadily. Her eye followed it and she realized that it was falling directly towards them, just as the man had done before. It fell like another asteroid (Rahai had never seen one but had heard Edmund speak of it when they had been married), landing smoothly on the earth in a cloud of white, glowing smoke like the man had.
This one was a woman, tall and devastatingly beautiful. She wore silver robes as well, and surveyed the field with a look that could break your heart. Her face looked angry, yet sad, as if her friends had disappointed her deeply.
She nodded to the man and followed his lead, raising her hands to the sky to welcome the other stars, who were now raining down like bolts of lightning. Hundreds upon hundreds of stars were landing all over the ridge just as the man and woman had.
The Calormenes were a terrified mob and were fleeing into the forest, screaming. The man-star said nothing, but pointed into the forest, where the Calormenes were trampling each other to hide. The stars, who were all beautiful women and handsome men of all ages, raced into the woods after the Calormenes.
The Narnians, who were not quite as terrified as the Calormenes were (but were cautious nonetheless), had backed up and were watching the scene from the ridge with amazement. Soon there was nothing to be seen but the two first stars, who turned around to face the Narnians.
"Who is your leader?" the man-star asked in a deep voice.
The Green Narnians shifted feet and looked guilty while the Free Narnians looked about for Princess Talia.
Rahai felt a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. Even if Talia had survived the Calormenes, it was unlikely that she would survive the stars, who would no doubt think her an enemy because she was Calormene. The last Rahai had seen her, she had been headed south into the woods...
"I am their leader!" a voice called.
Rahai melted with relief. It was Talia's voice. She saw her niece emerge from the woods, walking besides Bree, who was carrying someone who was tightly tied to the saddle. The whole hill murmured sentiments of relief as they watched the young woman approach.
Talia stopped before the stars, wide-eyed. She bowed. "My Lord. My Lady."
"Princess Talia. Daughter of the High King," the man-star bowed back. "You are known to us. We have watched you for many a year."
If Talia was surprised, she didn't bat an eye. "I thank you for your assistance. We could never have won this battle alone."
"It was foreseen many years ago that this day would come," the man said. "You yourself witnessed the telling of the prophecy."
Surprised understanding flooded Talia's face. "... The stars are watching...and will be there at the last..."
Rahai was shocked to realize she recognized those words. She had heard them repeated to her by Saedra, when Saedra had explained where she had gotten her necklace. Father Christmas had given her a warning:
"The golden ring warns
Against completing the circle
By repeating the mistakes of the past.
The diamond is to remind
That the stars are watching
And will be there at the last."
The first part of the prophesy had come true…Saedra had repeated her mother's mistake by having an affair…And now the second part had come to pass!
The woman-star nodded. She had a melodic, peaceful voice. "Yes."
Rahai saw that the crowd was parting and uttering gasps. She adjusted where her horse was standing so she could see.
It was Aslan, the huge, golden Lion, leading a procession through the crowd. On his back was little Ethan, holding onto Caulitha, whose head was hanging floppily, indicating that she had still not awoken. Behind Aslan was Cristabelle, glowing with a peace that Rahai had never seen her have; Aslan had obviously spoken to her about something. Her stomach had become quite noticeable in the last months. Tumnus was also there, followed by all of the people who hadn't been able to fight: children, faunlings, shoots, and youngsters.
The procession came to a halt when Aslan met the two stars. The stars bowed deeply and reverently. Ethan and Caulitha were helped down, Tumnus taking the frail girl into his arms.
"The Calormenes will be half to Archenland by now," the man-star said. "If they have survived that far."
"Well done, Tarva," Aslan half-purred, half-growled. "Narnia is once more for the Narnians."
And as if called, the stars that had chased after the Calormenes returned, emerging from the wood and illuminating the area. They gathered around Tarva and the woman-star, facing the Narnians.
Aslan turned his wise eyes on the woman-star. "Alambil, you have your peace."
"Thank you, my Lord," she bowed.
Talia, who looked like she couldn't help herself anymore, burst out: "Aslan, can you not help my sisters? Caulitha is dying and Edina is...is..."
"Bring the girl to me," Aslan said, looking at Tumnus.
The aged Faun obeyed, carrying Caulitha to the Lion. Aslan looked down with great sorrow into the unconscious, green-tinged face of the blonde girl. The necklace Saedra had given her hung from her thin neck, reflecting the stars‟ light in a prism.
"This child has carried a curse since the womb," the Lion said gravely. "A poison has been in her veins her whole life. No ordinary poison, but a poison derived from a plant that Jadis herself planted in the easternmost part of Telmar when she fled from me the same week I created this world. Jadis is even now returning to the west, searching for that precious plant that will augment her power. She didn't need it when she had her wand, but now it will be used for her devious purposes."
Talia looked crestfallen, glancing around. "Edina isn't here?" Apparently she had expected Aslan to have somehow save her little sister.
"Sir," Bree offered, "When Princess Talia and I were in the forest, the serpent...thing...tried to attack me. I scared it off, being much bigger, and she escaped into the dark headed back toward the battle. Maybe a star saw her."
Aslan's eyes turned to the stars. "Did anyone see the girl, the one who is even now fleeing north in fear that I might kill her yet again?" The way he asked it made Rahai sure that he already knew the answer.
There was a pause. And then a star, an older one with a long, white beard, stepped forward.
"I did, Sire," he said, looking ashamed. "My post in the heavens made it so when I landed, I alighted in her path."
"And what did you do, Coriakin, when you met the girl who is infested with the very Witch that has been a blight on Narnia's happiness since the beginning of time, the one who killed King Lune personally?" Aslan almost growled.
Coriakin looked down. "I...let her pass."
A surprised murmur passed through the crowd. Rahai noted that Talia didn't react, but was actually looking shame-faced.
"You let her pass," Aslan repeated.
"Yes, Sire, I...I couldn't kill her. She was just a girl. An innocent girl. I saw the witch in her, yes, but I couldn't bring myself to harm her..."
Talia looked distinctly comfortable, and Rahai knew why. Talia had confided to Rahai how she and Saedra had protected Edina from prosecution when they knew she had killed Lune. Talia was no doubt thinking that she was as culpable in protecting her sister as Coriakin was.
Aslan continued in a firm voice, "And yet you are a star, Coriakin. You foresee the future, as is your charge. You know what the girl Edina will become."
Coriakin couldn't meet Aslan's eyes. "Yes," he choked. "Narnia will suffer for what I have done."
"Look at me," Aslan ordered.
And Coriakin met Aslan's eyes. They stared at each other for some time, having a mental conversation that the non-stars weren't privy to (Rahai had long decided that the stars communicated nonverbally, for the stars only spoke when they were addressing humans).
Finally, Coriakin nodded somberly. "I understand. It is more than I deserve, Aslan." And then he stepped back into line.
Talia, overcoming her shame at Coriakin being punished for a crime she had also committed, spoke again. "Is Edina lost? Will I ever see her again?"
"No, child, you will not see her again," Aslan said with tears in his eyes. "Your sister will never be the person you knew. She will always have to coexist with her captor, fighting her evil nature. And her good side is what will keep Narnia safe for many years. She will fight against the evil in her all she can. But Jadis is stronger, and she will win in end."
Talia's face scrunched up with the urge not to cry; she turned away in embarrassment. She wasn't an emotional person, and Rahai knew she hated to be seen in tears.
"But there is hope for your other sister," Aslan continued. "Though she is cursed by this poison called Marrina Felcar, she can be healed. But it will take many, many years. And it will take magic that Narnia cannot provide for her. Ramandu?"
Another star stepped forward, this one looking so old that he was hunched over and decrepit, with a beard that dragged on the ground. "My Lord?"
"I charge you to take High King Petrels daughter and watch over her. Love her as a daughter, for she has not known her father." And once again there was a pause as if Aslan was speaking to him nonverbally.
Ramandu nodded. "I will be honored to watch over this girl as I grow young again."
"What does he mean?" Talia interjected. "Can't you just heal her, Aslan?"
"Caulitha's illness cannot be dragged from her body so suddenly," Aslan said with pity in his eyes for Talia. "She needs years of healing. And you, dear heart, will be in my country long before that day comes."
Talia looked devastated. Rahai moved to go near her to comfort her, but Bree acted first, nuzzling her ear encouragingly.
"My Lord," Tarva, the man-star said, "It is nearing dawn."
"Yes," Aslan said. "You will need to return to the skies before then. I release you to go home. Your work is done. The Calormenes will not return to Narnia for many ages yet."
Ramandu went to Tumnus to take Caulitha from him; the Faun relinquished her reluctantly. And then suddenly, all at once, the stars shot up into the sky. Talia cried out as she watched Caulitha disappear, going higher and higher against Ramandu's chest. She fell to her knees, sobbing in despair into her hands. Rahai rushed to her niece's side and cradled her in her arms.
The light left the clearing, and soon the stars were back in their rightful places, twinkling in the heavens, as the sky began to get pink.
Aslan turned to where Cristabelle had her arm around Ethan. The little boy stared up at Aslan with wide blue eyes, looking neither frightened nor intimidated, but rather sad.
"My child," Aslan said, looking at the boy, "your dear cousin is in a safer place. And one day, she will be Queen of Narnia. But this is not her time. This, son of Queen Susan, is your time."
"Sire," Ethan said, "I...I feel too young! I don't know much."
"You have your mother's wisdom and your father's devotion," Aslan said. "That is all you will need." He looked at Tumnus. "Watch him and guide him."
"I will, Sir," Tumnus bowed.
Aslan raised his voice. "I hereby present to you Ethan, King of Narnia, Emperor of the Lone Islands! All of the Narnians that have turned against me shall hereforth pledge their allegiance to King Ethan and submit to his edicts. But though you may have mercy now, you will have hard lives. For turning to Calormen and to Jadis instead of to me, you will have sorrow and pain in your futures, and you will be remembered with embarrassment and shame, until your names have been forgotten, as if you never existed."
His announcement was met with more murmurs, but he ignored them and looked at the person whom Rahai had barely noticed, but should have. It was the person tied onto Bree, who until now had watched the whole proceedings with horror and fear. It was Zahar, whose luxurious Calormene dress was filthy and torn. Her makeup had run down her face, and she looked pathetic more than anything.
"Untie her," Aslan ordered.
Talia was still sobbing, so Rahai jumped to her feet and obeyed. As she helped the First Wife down, Rahai could feel Zahar's hand trembling. The First Wife didn't dare look Aslan in the face.
"You do not approach me with pride as your husband did when me met me," Aslan observed when she was before him.
"No, Sir," she said in a defeated, low voice. "I have nothing to be proud of."
Talia's tears were ebbing, and she jumped to her feet when she realized that Zahar was the center of attention.
"Aslan, it's my fault—" Talia started.
"I know what has happened," Aslan said. "I know that Zahar was once a slave, abused, taken advantage of, treated worse than any being should ever be treated. I know that she did anything she could to escape that life, and that this whole campaign has been to avenge the wrongs she thinks Saedra and Talia committed against her. But child," he said to Zahar, "you blame the wrong people. Why do you not blame the society, the evil people who treated you the way they did instead of blaming her that cares for you?"
"I...have no answer..." Zahar admitted, shamefaced. She paused. "I fooled myself..."
"Do you want to change?"
Zahar looked up into his eyes. "Yes."
And then Aslan opened his mouth and breathed upon her. As he blew, Zahar's face changed visibly, even though the makeup obscured it. She looked calmer, more at peace. Her lips were no longer held in a thin line, but were smooth and relaxed. There was a new life in her eyes.
"You will return to Calormen," Aslan said, "where you will remain as First Wife. You will encourage your husband to implement new laws, ones that will prevent other people from experiencing what you have gone through."
"Aslan," Zahar said—there was a change in her voice as well—"I don't know how much I can do..."
"There is much you can and will do," Aslan said. "You will help usher in a new age of prosperity and peace for Calormen. You go with my blessing, daughter."
Zahar looked up at him with gratefulness. "Thank you."
Then Aslan turned his eyes onto Talia and Rahai. "We must talk privately."
