What, an update so soon! *gasp* Posted 1/3/22.
A sound rang through the air, and Jill Pole awoke.
She was uncertain what had woken her from this deep sleep, but nevertheless she was awake, and her mind clear. She padded softly across the room, stockinged feet quiet as she went to the window, shifting aside the curtain.
The moonlight was bright; nearly full, bathing the world in cold silver radiance. It reminded her unpleasantly of the passing of time, and how in three days she would be forced to return to Experiment House, her least favourite place in the entire world.
Before then—tomorrow, in fact—she would have to suffer through a day in the company of Eustace Clarence Scrubb, her least favourite person in the entire world.
Why her parents and his were friends she had no idea. But the fact remained that they would go off and talk to each other, and she and Scrubb would spend uncomfortable hours in each other's company. Sometimes he would bring a book, generally an encyclopaedia, or sometimes his horrible collection of beetles, which he would pin and examine with almost sadistic pleasure, ignoring her protests.
Jill Pole did not like Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and she had to survive his presence at Experiment House as well.
She closed her eyes, then reopened them, feeling suddenly weary. A second later, however, the blood in her veins seemed turned to ice at the sight presented before her, as shock robbed her of her breath.
There was a creature, huge in the shadowy moonlight, and casting a terrible shadow. Its face was mostly shadowed, but living eyes met her own, sentience and emotion clear within them. Jill had barely a second to comprehend that the creature standing there—that should never, never have been so close and certainly not here—was an improbably enormous Lion, before he threw back his head with a thunderous roar. The world was shaking with it, like an earthquake, but somehow Jill was not afraid.
The Lion turned so that his face was entirely visible, but looked directly at her. Perhaps that was what had woken her; a roar like this. Yet why had nobody else reacted, come out? Why only her?
"Jill, you who may protect Narnia, come forth—come to me."
Was it the Lion who had spoken? Surely his lips had moved, but how could a Lion speak? Strange things were happening, and she could not understand them; she had to go along with it anyway, for if she did not the Lion might eat her in one dreadful mouthful. He was so large.
Slowly Jill slipped downstairs, stepping lightly and wondering if anything, anything at all, would wake her somnolent parents, if a roar like that had not. She opened the door, moonlight illuminating her figure as she stepped out. The Lion seemed even more enormous now, closer, and she had forgotten all worries about Experiment House.
She could not bring herself to come closer to him, and he never moved a muscle, only stood watching her in a way that simultaneously terrified and elated the child.
"Sir," she said at last, her voice weak and faint, especially after the sound of his wild, rich voice, "will you—are you going to eat me?"
"Child," he said, "I have swallowed girls and boys, men and women, empires and kingdoms."
Which, she reflected, was not really a reply at all.
"But—but will you eat me?"
The Lion did not reply for a moment, then he said simply, "Come, Daughter of Eve… your presence is desperately needed in Narnia, this moment. Come to me."
It seemed the worst thing she had ever been asked to do, to come to the Lion. But she did, somehow, step after step, gaze meeting his. Not because it was easy, or that she was fearless: but that Jill feared looking away from him still more than she feared looking into the great amber eyes. She could not understand his expression; it was somehow deeper, more, than she could comprehend.
At last, at long last, she stood directly before him.
"Please, Sir, what is this Narnia?"
He bent a little closer; she could feel the warmth of his breath. "Narnia is a country in another world, Child. And Narnia needs your help, for her King despairs. Come, let me breathe on you."
She closed her eyes. "And what would you have me do for Narnia? Sir?"
"Come to Narnia, and you will find out. Narnia needs you."
Jill thought she heard the unspoken, And you need Narnia, hanging in the air. It was true. And yet, she did not know this Lion. She did not understand. The moonlight was bright as she gazed into his eyes, trying to fathom their unfathomable depths. Could she trust him? Perhaps she would have to, or return inside and wonder for all of her life what she had missed.
"I will come."
"Remember me, for I am Aslan," said the Lion, or maybe he didn't quite say it—perhaps Jill somehow just knew—as her home, and all of England, disappeared at his roar.
They were standing in a wood, in bright sunlight, and she could see him more clearly this time. It brought out the rich colours of his fur, the warmth of his gaze, and made her suddenly conscious of the fact that she was wearing her night clothing.
"Aslan," said Jill, blinking in the sunlight and breaking the living silence, "please, where are we?" She stammered a little with the last words, looking around her in wonder. Without the wonderful creature before her, she thought she could have forgotten everything and slept forever in this place.
"We are in a Wood that lies between the Worlds."
He was very close, and very large, Jill realised: towering over her, strong and utterly right. She was no longer afraid, only in awe; even if he would eat her, she somehow felt no fear.
Aslan breathed upon her, and she felt strength and courage flow into her as for the first time she felt she could, perhaps, be of assistance to the mysterious land she would go to. In a flash, her drab clothing changed to a brilliant array of colours that would not go amiss at a fancy-dress party. The unfamiliar weight of a short sword hung at her waist.
"Now you are ready, Daughter of Eve."
"Please," said Jill, nervously, "my name's Jill."
Aslan made a sound that for a moment concerned her, until she realised he was laughing. "I know, Jill, Daughter of Eve, I have known from the moment I selected you."
"Why me?" she asked suddenly. "Why did you pick me? I'm just a kid."
"It will become clear, as time passes, why you were the one to be sent to Narnia. But now, the time is indeed passing, and Narnia's need is dire."
"Do we need to go, then?" Emboldened by her new attire, Jill squared her shoulders and said as strongly as she could muster, "I am ready."
"Very good, Daughter of Eve. All will be revealed when you arrive. If you ever are in dire need, say that Aslan sent you, and you will find help—remember that…." A pause. "And now—"
Aslan roared again, for the third time in her knowledge, and this time the world seemed to shatter and twist and reform into a high, beautiful room, though dark and cold by comparison. She dropped to her knees, a spike of pain shooting through them as they came into contact with the stone floor. Despite the many flickering torches, the room was dim. Outside, it was night.
Jill got up slowly, carefully, and looked all around her. Aslan was gone, and she was alone in a strange world with no idea what to do or where to go. Tentatively, Jill drew the sword at her hip, although she had no idea how to wield it. It was small, lighter than she had expected, and she moved it carefully from side to side, trying to mimic the drawings she had seen of gentlemen in single combat. She would need training.
"Drop that!"
She knew instinctively that no human mouth had ever spoken in such a way, and bent down slowly, holding the sword out at arm's length, to lay it gently on the floor.
Into the light sauntered a sleek Leopard, eyes fixed on the weapon. "I said," he said dangerously, "drop it. Not put it down slowly. You're lucky I felt friendly today. Or rather, tonight."
"Well, I thought it might be damaged if I dropped it," explained Jill, backing away and holding out her arms.
His gaze whipped to her own and she stiffened in fear.
"What do I care of the weapons of humans, Human Child?" he said. "You are neither my King nor my Queen, nor even the young Prince. You are an intruder, Human Child, and for your weapons I care nothing." He stalked closer, then delicately picked up the sword and took it away, gazing at her the entire time until it was stowed away safely in a dark corner. "Why are you here at this time, after sundown, Human Child? What are you here for?"
"Please," Jill said rather faintly, "please, may I see your King?"
"Explain your errand." The Leopard's voice was low. "Do not raise your voice lest you disturb those who sleep."
"P-please," she stammered, "I was sent to help Narnia, because I was told that the King despairs—"
The Leopard lunged at her, bowling the unprepared child over. His heavy paws pinned her shoulders to the floor, and she stared up at him in sudden terror.
"How could you know such a thing?" he hissed, breath hot and frightening on her face. His teeth were inches from her neck.
"Aslan told me," she said, and the Leopard's claws dug into her shoulders.
"How so?"
"I am from another world," she said. "Please take me to your King."
"Explain to me before I take you to the King."
Hesitantly, Jill told him everything she thought relevant, about Aslan and seeing him in the garden, then the Wood and being encouraged—given both what seemed so much information, and yet so little. The Leopard picked up his paws and stepped away from her at the conclusion of her tale.
"Come with me, and I shall take you to a room where you may rest and refresh yourself. We in Narnia are not entirely savages. In the morning you shall meet with the King. At this moment he is also resting, and your mission is not so urgent that we must needs break into the King's uneasy sleep."
"Of course." Jill got up; her shoulder blades were protesting at the violent contact with the smooth stone floor.
The Leopard padded in front of her, and they passed through narrow passages lit only by the occasional torch. It occurred to her that she did not know the Leopard's name, but when she ventured to whisper once, he turned and snarled silently at her.
Eventually, they arrived at a small door, which he opened with the ease of practise, standing up on his hind legs to do so. Jill suppressed her awe, and instead looked inside the pitch-black room.
"Take the torch from outside," the Leopard ordered her softly. "See where you are to sleep, then replace the torch and go to bed. There is not long until dawn, when you will arise once more."
"Of course. Thank you," she said, thinking ruefully of the deep weariness that was beginning to rise within her. It would not be abated in a few hours. The flickering torch showed a small, narrow room, a mirror on one wall, stone underfoot and a small bed in the corner. It was an odd mix between bare and opulent—there was not much furniture, only the bed and a single chair in another corner—but what there was looked to be of the finest quality, as she would have expected in a King's castle. There was a neat curtain completely covering any view of the sky.
The Leopard turned to go, eyes filled with fire from the torch's reflection, but Jill said suddenly, "Wait!"
"What is it?" he hissed softly. "And keep your voice down; there are others trying to sleep here."
"Sorry," Jill apologised in a whisper. "I remembered I didn't know your name, and people—" She broke off, realising that she actually had no idea if people existed in this world at all. "—Those who are keeping this place safe, might think that I am an intruder unless I can tell them who put me here."
"Since I shall be returning to you," said the Leopard, dryly, "I hardly think it matters. However, to satisfy your curiosity…." He bared his teeth, looking menacing. "My name is Dalin. Now get inside and I'll lock the door. If you need to get out, you can probably force your way through that window. And before you ask, I am locking it in case you are actually a liar who intends Cair Paravel harm."
"Cair Paravel?" asked Jill. Dalin's eyes glittered in the near-darkness as, by his unspoken command, Jill backed into her room.
"The castle you are in. The home of Manrian, King of Narnia, his Queen Lily, and his son Cirian, as well as the many troops and guards necessary to protect Narnia. Once home to the Four Kings and Queens of Old—High King Peter, Queen Susan, King Edmund and Queen Lucy, they from another world who came to take Narnia out from under the rule of the White Witch, with the help of Aslan. Perhaps they came from your world. None knows but Aslan, and I know not where he is, even if I should desire to question him. So, now you know—this is Cair Paravel, and we are in a dire state you will learn more of in the morning, when I shall fetch you to the King's audience, if he is so inclined."
Dalin jumped backwards and slammed the door with a hollow boom. Jill was left alone in the blackness, and soon all sound faded.
Like any tired eleven-year-old, Jill was quickly asleep, a world away from anyone she had ever known, and without the faintest idea of what the morning might bring.
In Narnian time, this is set during the Dark Age and soon prior to the reign of Caspian the Conqueror (Caspian I). In England's time, it is set approximately three days before the beginning of school and the events of Prince Caspian. Thus, Jill goes to Narnia first (this time) at eleven and a half, then waits approximately one and a half years (VDT being a year after PC and SC around six months later) before returning in SC.
What do you think of the story so far, this chapter specifically? Please read and review, and follow and favourite if you are so inclined! I love feedback, positive or negative. Or both! (Please no swearing, but otherwise be as harsh as you like so long as you tell me what the problem was with, not just saying 'I hated it'.)
Suggestions are also welcome! I can't promise I'll put them in, but they will certainly receive careful thought and grateful thanks.