Chapter 3: Aslan

Buffy, the Beavers and the children walked on hour after hour into what seemed a delicious dream. Long ago they had left the coats behind them. They walked on in silence drinking it all in, passing through patches of warm sunlight into cool, green thickets and out again into wide mossy glades where tall elms raised the leafy roof far overhead, and then into dense masses of flowering currant and among hawthorn bushes where the sweet smell was almost overpowering.

Buffy was surprised as she saw winter vanishing and the whole wood passing in a few hours or so from January to May. After the thaw had been going on for some time, she realized that the Witch would no longer be able to use her sled.

"Not long now," said Mr. Beaver, and began leading them uphill across some very deep, springy moss in a place where only tall trees grew, very wide apart. They eventually reach the top without another long rest.

Buffy took in the green open space from which she could look down on the forest spreading as far as one could see in every direction—except right ahead. There, far to the East, was something twinkling and moving.

"By gum!" whispered Peter to Buffy, "the sea!"

In the very middle of this open hilltop was the Stone Table. It was a great grim slab of gray stone supported on four upright stones. The next thing they saw was a pavilion pitched on one side of the open place. A wonderful pavilion it was with sides of what looked like yellow silk and cords of crimson and tentpegs of ivory; and high above it on a pole a banner which bore a red rampant lion fluttering in the breeze which was blowing in their faces from the far-off sea.

Something within Buffy stirred and directed her attention to her right. There she saw Aslan standing in the center of a crowd of creatures who had grouped themselves round him in the shape of a half-moon.

"Go on," whispered Mr. Beaver.

"No," whispered Peter, "you first."

"No, Sons of Adam before animals," whispered Mr. Beaver back again.

"Buffy," whispered Peter, "what about you? You have been our protector after all. Ladies first."

Buffy glanced at her wards and nodded. She stepped forward. She glanced over her shoulder as Peter, Susan, Lucy and the beavers moved to follow. They advanced to the Lion.

"Hello, Aslan," Buffy said.

"Welcome, Buffy, Daughter of Eve and Daughter of Sineya," said Aslan. "Welcome, Peter, Son of Adam. Welcome, Susan and Lucy, Daughters of Eve. Welcome He-Beaver and She-Beaver."

As Buffy looked at Aslan the feeling, she had felt at the mere mention of his name felt one hundred times more profound.

"But where is the fifth?" asked Aslan.

"I am afraid to say," Buffy said. "That he has joined the White Witch."

"That was partly my fault, Aslan," Peter said. "I was angry with him and I think that helped him to go wrong."

Aslan said nothing either to excuse Peter or to blame him but merely stood looking at him with his great unchanging eyes. And it seemed to all of them that there was nothing to be said.

"Please—Aslan," said Lucy, "can anything be done to save Edmund?"

"All shall be done," said Aslan. "But it may be harder than you think." And then he was silent again for some time. The Lion shook his mane and clapped his paws together and said, "Meanwhile, let the feast be prepared. Ladies, take the younger two Daughters of Eve to the pavilion and minister to them."

When Susan and Lucy had gone Aslan laid his paw first on Buffy's shoulder and then on Peter's shoulder and said, "Come, Daughter of Eve and Daughter of Sineya. Come, Son of Adam. I will show you both a far-off sight of the castle where you two are to be King and Queen."

"I cannot remain, Aslan," Buffy said reluctantly as they went with the Lion to the eastern edge of the hilltop. "I have a sister. I am her only family she has left."

"You may one day see her again, Daughter of Eve and Daughter of Sineya. But it will likely be a time after you have become Queen," Aslan said. He directed hers and Peter's sight toward the mouth of the great river. Their sight found something on a little hill, shining. It was shining because it was a castle and of course the sunlight was reflected from all the windows which looked toward Peter, Buffy and the sunset.

"That," said Aslan, "is Cair Paravel of the five thrones, in two of which you two must sit as King and Queen. I show it to you both because you, Son of Adam, are the firstborn and because you, Daughter of Eve and Daughter of Sineya, are of the Chosen. You, Daughter of Eve and Daughter of Sineya, dedicated your life to the protection of others and gave your life to save your sister. The two of you will be High King and High Queen over the rest."

Neither Buffy or Peter said anything, for at that moment a strange noise woke the silence suddenly. It was like a bugle, but richer.

"It is your sister's horn," said Aslan to Peter directly though he spoke to Peter and Buffy.

For a moment neither Buffy or Peter understood. Then, when they saw all the other creatures start forward and heard Aslan say with a wave of his paw, "Back! Let the Prince and Princess win their spurs," did they understand.

Buffy took off with Peter right behind and they ran toward the pavilion. And there they saw a dreadful sight. The Naiads and Dryads were scattering in every direction. Lucy was running toward them as fast as her short legs would carry her and her face was as white as paper. Then they saw Susan make a dash for a tree, and swing herself up, followed by a huge gray beast.

Buffy strode forward as she reached behind her to the holster across her back and slid out the Scythe. Peter followed Buffy's lead and unsheathed his sword. Ahead they saw a wolf standing on its hind legs, with its front paws against the tree trunk, snapping and snarling. All the hair on its back stood up on end. Susan had not been able to get higher than the second big branch. One of her legs hung down so that her foot was only an inch or two above the snapping teeth.

"Get your sister," Buffy ordered Peter as she strode toward the wolf.

Peter looked at Buffy, he did not feel as brave as she looked. He watched as Buffy rush straight up to the monster and aimed a slash of her Scythe at its side. That stroke never reached the Wolf. Quick as lightning it turned around, its eyes flaming, and its mouth wide open in a howl of anger. Buffy spun the scythe in her hands and plunged the stake end, with as much Slayer strength as she had, between the brute's forelegs into its heart.

The Wolf seemed neither alive nor dead, and its bared teeth knocked against her forehead, and everything was blood and heat and hair. A moment later she found that the monster lay dead, that Peter had driven his sword into it.

Seeing Buffy attacked by the Wolf, something broke within Peter and he had rushed to defend her. "Are you alright, Buffy?" he asked.

"Yes," Buffy answered as she looked at him and smiled. He was younger than she was but, in that moment, she felt that it was right to give him a kiss. So that was what she did as she kissed Peter passionately.

After a moment, Susan came down the tree. She watched as Buffy broke the kiss and saw that her brother felt pretty shaky. Whether it was from the battle with the Wolf or the kiss she didn't know.

"Quick! Quick!" shouted the voice of Aslan. "Centaurs! Eagles! I see another wolf in the thickets. There—behind you. He has just darted away. After him, all of you. He will be going to his mistress. Now is your chance to find the Witch and rescue the other Son of Adam." And instantly with a thunder of hoofs and beating of wings a dozen or so of the swiftest creatures disappeared into the gathering darkness.

Peter, still out of breath, turned with Buffy and saw Aslan close at hand. "You two have forgotten to clean your weapons," said Aslan. They looked at Buffy's Scythe and Peter's sword and saw they were smeared with the Wolf's hair and blood. They stooped down and wiped the weapons quite clean on the grass, and then wiped them quite dry on their coats.

"Hand to me the sword and kneel, Son of Adam," said Aslan. "Kneel, Daughter of Eve and Daughter of Sineya."

Buffy and Peter glanced at each other and did as instructed as they knelt before the lion. Aslan then struck them with the flat of the blade and said, "Rise up, Sir Peter Wolf's-Bane. Rise up, Lady Buffy Wolf's-Bane. And, whatever happens, never forget to wipe your weapons."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

When Buffy and the Pevensies woke up the next morning the first thing they heard—from Mrs. Beaver—was that Edmund had been rescued and brought into camp late last night; and was at that moment with Aslan. As soon as they had breakfasted, they all went out, and there they saw Aslan and Edmund walking together in the dewy grass, apart from the rest of the court.

As the others drew nearer Aslan turned to meet them, bringing Edmund with him.

"Here is your brother," he said to the Pevensies, "and your last remaining ward, Daughter of Eve and Daughter of Sineya. And—there is no need to talk to him about what is past."

Edmund shook hands with each of the others and said to each of them in turn, "I'm sorry," and the Pevensies all said, "That's all right."

And then Pevensies wanted very hard to say something which would make it quite clear that they were all friends with him again and of course none of them could think of anything in the world to say.

Buffy stood looking at Edmund as she thought about Faith, how his path had been similar to Faith's and how his siblings welcomed him back with open arms. It made her wonder if maybe she had been too harsh with Faith. She knew if she ever made it back to her world, she intended to visit Faith in prison and apologize.

It was then that one of the leopards approached Aslan and said, "Sire, there is a messenger from the enemy who craves audience."

"Let him approach," said Aslan.

The leopard went away and soon returned leading the Witch's dwarf.

"What is your message, Son of Earth?" asked Aslan.

"The Queen of Narnia and Empress of the Lone Islands desires a safe conduct to come and speak with you," said the dwarf, "on a matter which is as much to your advantage as to hers."

"Queen of Narnia, indeed!" said Mr. Beaver. "Of all the cheek—"

"Peace, Beaver," said Aslan. "All names will soon be restored to their proper owners. In the meantime, we will not dispute about them. Tell your mistress, Son of Earth, that I grant her safe conduct on condition that she leaves her wand behind her at that great oak."

This was agreed to and two leopards went back with the dwarf to see that the conditions were properly carried out.

"But supposing she turns the two leopards into stone?" whispered Lucy to Peter and Buffy.

"It'll be all right," whispered Buffy in reply.

"He wouldn't send them if it weren't," Peter added.

A few minutes later the Witch herself walked out on to the top of the hill and came straight across and stood before Aslan. The three children who had not seen her before felt shudders running down their backs at the sight of her face; and there were low growls among all the animals present.

Though it was bright sunshine everyone felt suddenly cold.

The only three people present who seemed to be quite at their ease were Buffy, Aslan and the Witch herself.

"You have a traitor there, Aslan," said the Witch. Of course, everyone present knew that she meant Edmund.

"Well," said Aslan. "His offense was not against you."

"Have you forgotten the Deep Magic?" asked the Witch.

"Let us say I have forgotten it," answered Aslan gravely. "Tell us of this Deep Magic."

"Tell you?" said the Witch, her voice growing suddenly shriller. "Tell you what is written on that very Table of Stone which stands beside us? Tell you what is written in letters deep as a spear is long on the firestones on the Secret Hill? Tell you what is engraved on the scepter of the Emperor-beyond-the-Sea? You at least know the Magic which the Emperor put into Narnia at the very beginning. You know that every traitor belongs to me as my lawful prey and that for every treachery I have a right to a kill."

"Oh," said Mr. Beaver. "So that's how you came to imagine yourself a queen—because you were the Emperor's hangman. I see."

"Peace, Beaver," said Aslan, with a very low growl.

"And so," continued the Witch, "that human creature is mine. His life is forfeit to me. His blood is my property."

"Over my dead body," Buffy said as she unsheathed her scythe.

"Fool," said the Witch with a savage smile that was almost a snarl, "do you really think he can rob me of my rights by mere force?"

"Actually yeah, I can," Buffy chuckled. "After all I have strength proportionate to a vampire. Which is stronger than a human."

The Witch ignored Buffy's comment as she continued on. "He knows the Deep Magic better than that. He knows that unless I have blood as the Law says all Narnia will be overturned and perish in fire and water."

"It is very true," said Aslan, "I do not deny it."

"Oh, Aslan!" whispered Susan in the Lion's ear, "can't we—I mean, you won't, will you? Can't we do something about the Deep Magic? Isn't there something you can work against it?"

"Work against the Emperor's Magic?" said Aslan, turning to Susan with something like a frown on his face.

"Fall back, all of you," said Aslan, "and I will talk to the Witch alone."

As the Pevensies obeyed, Buffy didn't move.

"You too, daughter of Eve, daughter of Sineya," said Aslan looking at the blonde Slayer.

Something in Aslan's words made Buffy obey in a way Giles never had. She holstered the scythe and walked toward the Pevensies.

t was a terrible time this—waiting and wondering while the Lion and the Witch talked earnestly together in low voices.

Lucy said, "Oh, Edmund!" and began to cry and Buffy pulled the girl into her arms holding her comfortingly. Peter stood with his back to the others looking out at the distant sea. The Beavers stood holding each other's paws with their heads bowed. The centaurs stamped uneasily with their hoofs. But everyone became perfectly still in the end.

At last they heard Aslan's voice, "You can all come back," he said. "I have settled the matter. She has renounced the claim on your brother's blood."

The Witch was just turning away with a look of fierce joy on her face when she stopped and said, "But how do I know this promise will be kept?"

"Haa-a-arrh!" roared Aslan, half rising from his throne; and his great mouth opened wider and wider and the roar grew louder and louder, and the Witch, after staring for a moment with her lips wide apart, picked up her skirts and fairly ran for her life. "We must move from this place at once, it will be wanted for other purposes. We shall encamp tonight at the Fords of Beruna."

Of course, everyone was dying to ask him how he had arranged matters with the witch; but his face was stern and everyone's ears were still ringing with the sound of his roar and so nobody dared with the exception of Buffy, who decided to wait till later when she could ask him alone.

After a meal, which was taken in the open air on the hill-top, they were busy for a while taking the pavilion down and packing things up. Before two o'clock they were on the march and set off in a northeasterly direction, walking at an easy pace for they had not far to go.

During the first part of the journey Aslan explained to Peter and Buffy his plan of campaign. "As soon as she has finished her business in these parts," he said, "the Witch and her crew will almost certainly fall back to her House and prepare for a siege. You may or may not be able to cut her off and prevent her from reaching it." He then went on to outline two plans of battle—one for fighting the Witch and her people in the wood and another for assaulting her castle.

"But you will be there yourself, Aslan," Peter asked after a while.

"I can give you no promise of that," answered the Lion. And he continued giving Buffy and Peter his instructions.

For the last part of the journey it was Buffy who saw most of him. "You're going to do for Edmund what I did for Dawn aren't you?" she asked now that they were semi alone.

"Yes," Aslan replied. "And much as the guide told you, Death is a Gift. To die so another can live…"

"So, I'm truly dead?" Buffy asked.

"Yes and No," replied Aslan.

"You do know I hate cryptic," Buffy whined.

Aslan chuckled. "You are here talking to me. Are you not?" he asked. "You have talked to the Sons of Adam and Daughters of Eve, have you not? And they are not dead. Yes, in your world you are dead. In Narnia you are very much alive. Think of this not as an afterlife but a continuation of your life."

It was still afternoon when they came down to a place where the river valley had widened out and the river was broad and shallow.

This was the Fords of Beruna and Aslan gave orders to halt on this side of the water.

But Peter said, "Wouldn't it be better to camp on the far side—for fear she should try a night attack or anything?"

Aslan, who seemed to have been thinking about something else, roused himself with a shake of his magnificent mane and said, "Eh? What's that?" Peter said it all over again.

"No," said Aslan in a dull voice, as if it didn't matter. "No. She will not make an attack tonight." And then he sighed deeply. But presently he added, "All the same it was well thought of. That is how a soldier ought to think. But it doesn't really matter." So they proceeded to pitch their camp.

That night Buffy stood looking out at the river as Aslan came up beside her. "You are having trouble sleeping," he said.

"Thinking about Dawn," Buffy said. "She has my friends to watch out for her of course. But otherwise she's alone, and she's going to be alone for the rest of her life, isn't she? If I'm dead, that means I can't go back, doesn't it?"

"There are magicks in your world that could bring you back," Aslan said. "But they have to be cast in your world. So yes, you very well may never go back. Does that sadden you?"

"Yes," Buffy answered as she wiped a tear from her eye. "I mean I knew what I had to do. But I thought when I jumped, I would finally be done. But I'm here still fighting. Don't get me wrong, I will protect them, shoot I'm even falling in love with one of them. Which is funny because I've never dated younger men."

"Maybe, Buffy Summers," Aslan said. "Once you have defeated the Witch you will finally be done."

"Maybe," Buffy answered.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"Can't you get to sleep either?" said Susan as she came up beside her sister.

"No," said Lucy. "I thought you were asleep. I say, Susan!"

"What?"

"I've a most horrible feeling—as if something were hanging over us."

"Have you? Because, as a matter of fact, so have I."

"Something about Aslan," said Lucy.

"Either some dreadful thing is going to happen to him, or something dreadful that he's going to do."

"There's been something wrong with him all afternoon," said Susan. "Lucy! What was that he said about not being with us at the battle? You don't think he could be stealing away and leaving us tonight, do you?"

"Where is he now?" said Lucy. "Is he here in the pavilion?"

"I don't think so."

"Susan! let's go outside and have a look round. We might see him."

"All right. Let's," said Susan; "we might just as well be doing that as lying awake here."

Very quietly the two girls groped their way among the other sleepers and crept out of the tent. The moonlight was bright and everything was quite still except for the noise of the river chattering over the stones. Then Susan suddenly caught Lucy's arm and said,

"Look!" On the far side of the camping ground, just where the trees began, they saw the Lion slowly walking away from Buffy into the wood. Without a word they followed.

"Stop," Buffy said upon hearing the girls' footsteps. "This is something he has to do."

"What?" Lucy and Susan asked looking at Buffy.

"It is a noble sacrifice, just like I did for Dawn," Buffy said.

Susan and Lucy's eyes went wide in realization as they followed by Buffy, who was trying to stop them, ran into trees following Aslan.

He led them up the steep slope out of the river valley and then slightly to the right—apparently by the very same route which they had used that afternoon in coming from the Hill of the Stone Table. On and on he led them, into dark shadows and out into pale moonlight. He stopped and looked round. It was no good trying to run away so they came toward him. When they were closer Buffy said, "I tried to stop them. I know from Dawn watching as I jumped that…"

Aslan nodded in understanding.

"Please, may we come with you—wherever you're going?" asked Susan.

"Well—" said Aslan, and seemed to be thinking. Then he said, "I should be glad of company tonight. Yes, you may come, if you will promise to stop and stay with Buffy when I tell you, and after that leave me to go on alone."

"Oh, thank you, thank you. And we will," said the two younger girls.

Forward they went again and Susan walked on one side while Lucy and Buffy walked on the other side of the Lion.

He then stumbled and gave a low moan.

"Aslan! Dear Aslan!" said Lucy, "what is wrong? Can't you tell us?"

"Are you ill, dear Aslan?" asked Susan.

"No," said Aslan as he glanced at Buffy. "I am sad and lonely. Lay your hands on my mane so that I can feel you are there and let us walk like that."

And so, the three of them did what they would never have dared to do without his permission, but what they had longed to do ever since they first saw him—buried their cold hands in the beautiful sea of fur and stroked it and, so doing, walked with him. And presently they saw that they were going with him up the slope of the hill on which the Stone Table stood. They went up at the side where the trees came furthest up, and when they got to the last tree Aslan stopped and said, "Oh, Buffy…children. Here you must stop. And whatever happens, do not let yourselves be seen. Farewell."

And Lucy and Susan cried bitterly as Buffy wrapped her arms around them both as he turned and walked out on to the top of the hill.

"Dawn listen to me. Listen," Buffy whispered to herself as she remembered what she had told Dawn before she had jumped. "I love you. I'll always love you. But this is the work I have to do. Tell Giles I figured it out. And I'm okay. Give my love to my friends. You have to take care of them now—you have to take care of each other. You have to be strong. Dawn. The hardest thing in this world is to live in it. Be brave. Live. For me."

"What was that?" Susan asked as the three of them crouched in the bushes, looking after Aslan.

"Something I told Dawn, before I did for her what Aslan is about to do for Edmund," Buffy said.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

A great crowd of people were standing all around the Stone Table. And right in the middle, standing by the Table, was the Witch herself.

A howl and a gibber of dismay went up from the creatures when they first saw the great Lion pacing toward them, and for a moment even the Witch herself seemed to be struck with fear. Then she recovered herself and gave a wild, fierce laugh. "The fool!" she cried. "The fool has come. Bind him fast."

Four Hags, grinning and leering, approached him. "Bind him, I say!" repeated the White Witch. The Hags made a dart at him and shrieked with triumph when they found that he made no resistance at all. Then others—evil dwarfs and apes—rushed in to help them, and between them they rolled the huge Lion over on his back and tied all his four paws together.

Then they began to drag him toward the Stone Table.

"Stop!" said the Witch. "Let him first be shaved."

A roar of mean laughter went up from her followers as an ogre with a pair of shears came forward and squatted down by Aslan's head. Snip-snip-snip went the shears and masses of curling gold began to fall to the ground. Then the ogre stood back and Buffy, Susan and Lucy saw that Aslan looked all small and different without its mane.

"Muzzle him!" said the Witch as he was muzzled.

Then the crowd began to drag the bound and muzzled Lion to the Stone Table, some pulling and some pushing.

"The cowards! The cowards!" sobbed Susan. "Are they still afraid of him, even now?"

"No," Buffy said. "It's fun for them now."

When once Aslan was on the flat stone of the Stone Table, a hush fell on the crowd. The Witch bared her arms. Then she began to whet her knife.

At last she drew near. She stood by Aslan's head. Her face was working and twitching with passion, but his looked up at the sky, still quiet, neither angry nor afraid, but a little sad.

Buffy was sure that was the look that Dawn had seen on her face right before she jumped for her sister.

Then, just before the Witch gave the blow, she stooped down and said in a quivering voice, "And now, who has won? Fool, did you think that by all this you would save the human traitor? Now I will kill you instead of him as our pact was and so the Deep Magic will be appeased. But when you are dead what will prevent me from killing him as well? And who will take him out of my hand then? Understand that you have given me Narnia forever, you have lost your own life and you have not saved his. In that knowledge, despair and die."

Susan and Lucy did not see the actual moment of the killing as they turned into Buffy burying their heads in her sides as Buffy herself closed her eyes. "Be brave," she whispered to the two girls. "Live. For him."