Prompt: Sometimes defeats are personal failures; sometimes defeats are the crumbling of a nation. Sometimes, like Aslan's sacrifice, defeat can be the truest victory. Write a story about defeat.

"Carry on, fight the dark," Aslan whispers in my ear.
"You can win your country's fight if you do not fear.
But a warning – it may not be quite how you expect,
For my ways aren't like yours, temporary and direct."

My face lights up in hope, then falls again as doubts reappear.
"But how?" I ask, "when there's so much to fear?
My country is in shambles; my followers, defeated too;
There's nothing left to hope for, it's very sad but true."

"With me you are secure, I'm holding you steadfast
When I'm with you, you shouldn't focus on the past.
I've conquered death and the evil that lurks around each day
Just put your trust in me; I'll make sure you're okay."

"I'll trust in you," I say, nodding to my Lord,
"I'll go onto this new path and take my first step forward.
But do tell me please, how can we win?
There seems to be no way, no chance of getting in.

The stable door is locked; your enemy runs free
My friend is captured too, and that's reality.
I'm trusting you, but how, I ask,
Can you expect completed, this impossible task?"

"My ways are different," He tells me again,
"But I will send helpers to assist and then
You'll be sustained through times of great trial
But fear not, they will last only a short while."

He left me then, and I was alone
I fell asleep to wait for the unknown.
While I slept a vision came to me, clear.
Incredible, I thought, and here's what appeared:

I witnessed a table with people around,
Talking and drinking and laughter profound;
Suddenly they stopped, and went all white-faced;
They stared at me, all cheer erased.

The tallest man rose from the table head
His powerful voice spoke and this is what he said,
"Spirit, whoever you may be,
I'm Peter the High King. Speak, I command thee."

My very best to answer, I tried;
I shouted and yelled, against silence I cried;
But it was no use, I was dumb to their ears,
Then, without warning the vision disappeared.

I awoke cold and stiff, but filled with wonder
At the events I had seen while I slumbered.
Then all of a sudden, straight out of the air
Two children appeared, a traveling pair.

They were friends they said and had dropped in
From worlds beyond to help my country win.
I welcomed them gladly and together we talked
Forming plans to conquer the ape and Tisroc.

Many things happened – too much to tell -
Let me shorten the tale but still tell it well.
We put on disguises and went to the stable
To rescue my friend and prepare as we were able.

During this mission, the girl named Jill
Disobeyed my orders and my will.
She went in the stable as I went around
And rescued a donkey without a sound.

This worthy creature – though I thought not at first –
Had become a pawn and was doing the worst
Of the ape's wicked plan to combine Aslan
With the devil – to become Tashlan.

This mule was pretending to be the god
And wearing a lion skin as his facade.
But it wasn't him, I learned quite soon
He wasn't very bright and followed the baboon.

Then we rescued some dwarfs and were grieved to learn
They didn't follow Aslan and wouldn't return.
One dwarf, however, he let the truth guide
And came to us, back to the right side.

Over the course of several days
We gained an eagle to help our ways.
Sadly, the eagle brought news of defeat
Of Cair Paravel through the monkey's deceit.

At last we decided it was time to attack
At the ape's midnight meetings – to finally fight back.
We heard his lies and our blood was stirred
Overome with righteous anger, a battle emerged.

It was a struggle, for though some switched sides,
Most were complacent and obeying the lies.
We fought bravely for hours, till nearly undone
But twas not enough, for we fell one by one.

Some didn't die, but were drug to the barn on the hill
Other terrors waited there that most certainly could kill.
I was fighting for my life, being pushed back toward
That terrible place which loomed so large it could not be ignored.

I knew that once I was inside, I would meet Tash face to face
At this thought my heart began to fiercely race.
I felt there was no hope, as I ducked beneath a pike.
Then an idea occurred to me as I met the Tarkaan's strike.

I let go of my sword and ran up to his front
And fastened my fists round his belt, with a grunt
I lifted that evil man up and away
To the stable behind him with no delay.

He flailed and screamed as I went through the door
I let him loose and he crashed to the floor.
My eyes widened in fear as I looked up and saw
Personified evil, horrible and raw.

It was Tash of Calormene, their demon-bird god
I winced as he waved his feathers and claws.
Then a voice came from behind, sweet and true
And bid the monster gone, and it obeyed too.

I turned around to examine this place
And see who had spoken with the voice of such grace.
There in my view stood queens and kings
And around them a world of glorious things.

"Where am I?" I asked. "There was a war.
But now I'm in a land of beauty galore."
The youngest girl laughed; I saw then it was Jill
She was all cleaned up and lovely, not like on the hill.

This group of people most certainly were
Those from the vision that had occurred.
They explained many wonderous things to me
And that the stable wasn't what it seemed to be.

Then Aslan appeared; He reopened the door
I could see the broken world I'd been living in before.
I stood on the side of Light and watched as all creatures came
But only those who loved Aslan entered our frame.

Then Narnia ended, I saw it with my own eyes
The land was made empty, which is how each world dies.
We stared in disbelief for a moment together
Then pressed onward and upward; it seemed like forever.

"Come up," voices rallied, "come further in!
This is Aslan's Country!" they said, as I grinned.
We all began running and at last I could see
Our seeming defeat brought true victory.

A/N: This probably didn't need to be quite this long, but I had fun writing it, so it is what it is. Please tell me what you think! Poems aren't something I do a whole lot of, so any concrit is welcome!