The Griffins and the Beavers had been walking through the snowy forest all night without stopping.

Peter yawned. "I'm not sure how much more of this I can take," he whispered to Lois.

"We've just gotta keep goin'," said Lois. "We don't want that witch catchin' up with us."

Up ahead, Mr. Beaver stopped and looked over his shoulder at the Griffins. "Not long now," he said. "Just a bit farther."

He turned and started heading up a hill, and the others followed.

As they climbed, the trees became fewer and farther apart the higher they got. Finally, at the very top of the hill, they emerged into a clearing from which they could look down on the forest spreading as far as they could see in any direction- except straight ahead.

"Look!" Meg exclaimed, pointing down. "I can see the ocean!"

It was true. In front of them, the hill sloped downwards to the edge of the sea. But the beach was covered in snow, and there were no waves crashing on the shore, because the water was frozen over.

"Boy," said Peter. "I bet it'd be fun to skate on that."

"Pee-tah, you don't know how to ice skate," Lois reminded him. "An' besides, that ice is probably dangerous. It could crack if you stepped on it."

"Hey, what's that?" asked Chris. He was looking down at an object on the shore below, a grim slab of gray stone supported by four smaller stones.

"That must be the Stone Table the beavers talked about," said Brian.

"Yore absolutely right," said Mrs. Beaver. "An' look, there's a bunch o' tents surroundin' it. That's gotta be Aslan's camp!"

Now the sun was rising over the sea, giving the Griffins new hope. As light filled the sky, they all hurried down the hill.

When they reached the bottom, a centaur came running out of the largest tent. He had a bow slung over his shoulder. "Welcome, Griffins," he said. "My name is Moonwise."

Peter was astounded. "How do ya know who we are?"

"Aslan has been expecting you," Moonwise answered, jerking a thumb over his shoulder at the tent he had just exited. "He's right in there."

"All right!" said Meg. "I can't wait to meet him!"

Moonwise led them inside the tent, where Aslan and his supporters were gathered. There were animals of every description there, as well as dwarfs, centaurs, dryads, naiads, and fauns. But the Griffins' attention was taken up entirely by the sight of the great lion himself. They had seen lions at the zoo back home in Quahog, but Aslan was twice as big as any of those. They were in awe of his golden mane and his royal solemn eyes.

When Aslan saw the Griffins, he stepped toward them and emitted a loud roar, but somehow the Griffins weren't scared by it. When he heard the roar, Peter became rejuvenated with a new energy, and all of his fatigue evaporated. Lois suddenly felt a new confidence that she would be able to reunite with Stewie, and everything would be all right. Chris felt as if Aslan embodied the assurance that he'd waited to experience all his life. Brian thought he would have been a better dog for all of his days if he'd known there were such things as this in the world. And to Meg, the sound of Aslan's roar was like the voice of the best friend she never knew she had.

"Welcome, Peter and Chris, sons of Adam," said Aslan. "Welcome Lois and Meg, daughters of Eve. Welcome Brian the Dog."

"Are you Aslan?" Peter asked. It may have been a stupid question but he couldn't think of anything else to say.

The lion nodded his velvety head. "That is one of my names. Later, you will learn others as we grow to know each other better." He turned to Mr. Beaver. "Thank you for bringing them here. You have done well, Harry."

Chris was confused at this. "Who's Harry?"

Mr. Beaver turned red. "I'm Harry. That's my first name."

Peter started laughing. "Oh man, no wonder you just wanted us to call ya 'Mr. Beaver!'"

Lois said to Aslan, "Please, sir, my youngest son Stewie is bein' held captive by the White Witch. Can you help us rescue him? They said you could." She indicated the beavers.

"All shall be done," said Aslan. "But it may be harder than you think."

"What do you mean?" asked Lois.

Before Aslan could answer her, the air was suddenly filled with a chorus of howls.

Moonwise the centaur sprang up and notched an arrow to his bow. "That's the witch's wolves!"

Mrs. Beaver covered her face. "Oh, I just can't bear the suspense! I'm all on pins an' needles! Wot will happen next?"