Chapter Three The Myth of Aslan's Blade

Peter and Edmund sat off to one side of the trail, talking quietly amongst themselves about what they should do next. A little bit away, Susan was reminding Lucy about the myth of the blade of Aslan. "It all started with the beginning of Narnia. When the chaos that would become Narnia came into creation, there was only a single man. A man born with the name of Aslan.

Lucy looked puzzled at that. "But Aslan isn't a man, he's a lion."

Susan held up a hand to quiet her. "I'm getting to that. It was his task to create all other life in Narnia. But first he had to conquer the other side of Narnia and defeat it. Light is always accompanied by dark. In that way, good is always accompanied by evil. Aslan had to fight the nameless source of evil in Narnia if he would wish for good to flourish over Narnia. To fight, the only weapon that accompanied him was a weapon beyond anything else of creation. Steel tempered by the heat of love and sharpened with flawless perfection."

Lucy nodded and said, "You mean the blade of Aslan."

"Yes. Aslan fought this battle for days on end, before the evil was finally defeated. Exhausted and wounded, Aslan collapsed to the ground and died. His task complete, the good that surged through his body and blood, began to spread over the whole country. Narnia had finally been born and the good would govern over all."

"But if Aslan is dead, then how come he can come back? And why is he a lion now?"

"Aslan is the source of all good in Narnia. As long as good remains in Narnia, then so shall he. And he is a lion now, because he cannot return in the same way that he was. So he returns as an animal. The one that most reflects his power, strength, and courage. A lion."

"What happened with the blade of Aslan?"

"As the myth goes, it says that the blade was laid down into the earth as Aslan fell after the battle. The best that can be determined is that it was somewhere in the Unknown Islands. The legend goes on to say that any who claim the blade for their own, become virtually invincible. The power of Aslan will flow through their arms. And with it, comes the power to wipe out good forever. And wipe away all memory and existence there ever was of Aslan's presence in the country."

Lucy took it all in and said, "So it's very important for us to get that sword back from Parlex as soon as possible."

From behind her, Peter said, "It's not as simple as all that now, Lucy. With the loss of Cair Paravel, we have no haven. And we have to fight an enemy that we have virtually no knowledge of."

Edmund looked at Peter. "Peter, that doesn't sound anything to you like when he were here last time?"

"Things are different now, than last time Ed."

Edmund folded his arms and said, "Aside from the potion being gone, like what?"

Peter was very tempted to tell Edmund about what Aslan had told him, but didn't. He knew that there had to be a reason for Aslan not wanting Edmund to know. He opened his mouth to speak, but didn't have a chance to say anything, because they heard a voice say, "I thought I heard something coming from over here! It might be more Narnians running from the castle!"

Another voice came through, a little deeper. "Well than go and look fool! Don't give them a chance to run and hide again!"

All four of them hid behind trees and shrubs. Peter was with Susan and Edmund was with Lucy. Soon a knight in dark armor with the Telemarine insignia on his chest came lurking around and just passed by Peter and Susan. Peter snuck behind him and grabbed a hold of him, tackling him to the ground.

Edmund jumped out to help Peter, just as another knight came out on a horse with a hand on his sword, unsheathing it toward Peter. Edmund raised his sword and deflected the blade from hitting Peter in the back. Edmund grabbed a hold of the knight's other arm and tore him down from his horse.

As the knight picked himself up from the ground, he kept his eyes on Edmund. "In a few seconds, you're going to wish you'd stayed out of this fight."

Edmund raised his sword in his fighting stance. "I doubt that very much."

The knight raised his sword and swung his at Edmund's head. Edmund blocked it away and swept his blade down the knight's feet. When they brought their blades back up, Edmund saw that half of his sword had been cut off.

He gaped at the blade and then looked at the knight, who had his sword pointed at his chest. "You pathetic little fool! Do you think a boy can defeat me? I am Parlex and soon, I will rule all of Narnia!"

Edmund just stared into his eyes. "Don't count on it!"

Just then a large rock flew through the air and his Parlex square in the back. Parlex fell to one knee and turned around in time to see Peter standing there, near the unconscious body of another Telemarine soldier. A couple of arrows shot through the air missed Parlex by inches.

Parlex looked at Peter and Edmund and hopped back onto his horse. "I'll see you two again. And by then, I will be the sole ruler of the world!" His horse began trotting away as more sounds came out through the forest.

They were two Narnians on horses. One of them was unmistakably, King Caspian, but no longer a boy. He had to be reaching his forties, by now. He took a look at Peter and Edmund, then at Susan and Lucy as they got out from hiding and smiled. "It seems that time doesn't have much of an effect the great kings and queens of Narnia."

Relieved to see that he was all right, Peter asked Caspian, "So how long has it been since last time?"

"It's been just over twenty five years. And I'm very grateful that you are all here. We need your help now more than ever."

Lucy nodded and said, "We passed by a wounded soldier on the way here. But it was too late to do anything for him. But we know enough to know what's going on."

Susan spoke up with, "But for now, is there anywhere we can go for some safety?"

Caspian said, "During war, no where is safe, but I can take you to the safest place we know of. Come, on the way there, I can fill in any gaps in your knowledge of the current events."