The Beast Must Die: Chapter 5
"Edmund! Come to supper!"
"Coming Sue, just a sec!"
"Oy have you seen Peter? Is he back yet?"
"Haven't seen him! Wait, never mind! he's here! Be right there! Hey Peter, good to see you back, hey will you take a look at this?" Edmund's hand appeared from behind a wall of dusty leather-bound tomes. Peter picked his way down the tall book-lined aisles to the back of the library...into the far corner, to Edmund's sanctuary.
"Edmund, you know that librarian friend of yours will not be pleased when he sees this...goodness Ed what have you done here! Some of these look like they're older than this castle itself…"
"Peter, they are! That's what I wanted to show you! I found some of the oldest books in this library and would you believe they're still readable? Hey, you remember Mr. Beaver who told us about the prophecy? Peter, I found that book of prophecy! And that's not the only prophecy that's been made!" Far down in the hall they both heard Susan calling again faintly, but they both now ignored her for the time being. Ed had Peter riveted. Edmund continued: "This same book also predicted the White Witch's reign, even set the number of years it would last! Peter, it talks about us too, and Aslan! Of course it's rather vague and difficult to understand, but it's as if when things do happen, the prophecies suddenly make sense!"
"But do these books say anything about our future? What are we supposed to do now that Narnia is unified and peaceful again?"
"Peace is a relative term, young human!" The voice came from behind a bookcase, where both Edmund and Peter quickly spun around to see the old grey-haired librarian appear, this time balancing a set of thick glasses on his thin nose. "Indeed, it would be impossible for peace to be absolute in any case, for perfect peace only breeds unstoppable chaos. Good creates its own evil; this is the great paradox, the great balance that keeps Narnia, and indeed all things in check. Oh, but dear me, what have you done stacking so many old tomes here! How am I to sort them back now!" Edmund shifted uneasily, Peter tried to divert the old man's attention back to the original subject.
"Please sir, what you were saying about balance...surely now that Aslan is back we can expect Good to always stand triumphant over all Narnia now."
"Indeed, can we? Narnia was a good peaceful land until the White Witch came and conquered and subdued it. Then, one more powerful than her came along and replaced her, namely you four and Aslan. But what is to stop one coming along who is more powerful than Aslan, then one more powerful than that? Indeed, even down to the elements of Magic, the Good and the Dark powers have fought constantly since the beginning of time. Powerful and influential as your Majesties are, you are but pawns in this feud, caught up in a struggle that has already been laid out and predicted in these pages" the old man pointed his cane at the stack of leather and paper Edmund now shrank behind. Peter spoke up again.
"Sir, if we are but pawns, at least we have Aslan, he's the most powerful creature in all Narnia, and he's good! not safe or tame...but good. Surely he can ensure that peace and prosperity shall stay in Narnia permanently."
"My
boy, there are things in this world that even Aslan himself must
answer to. You should know that better than anybody having seen
Aslan lay down his life for your brother" Edmund
winced and stared at the floor as the painful memory was again
dredged back up. And besides, if Aslan is so powerful, why did
he have to wait a hundred years before delivering Narnia from the
Witch, hmm? Trust me young lad, there are things that even the
Great Lion himself fears... oh but dear me, where is my head!
it's past supper time, and I'm sure you are hungry." and just
like that, the old man turned and hobbled away. Peter was still
in something of a daze, his forhead scrunched up as he tried to
process all this grey-haired librarian said. Finally, he turned
to Edmund and said:
"C'mon Ed, I'm sure Sue and Lucy are
ready to kill us now for being so late. Let's go"
"Right behind you, brother, I am ever so hungry!" Edmund rose to leave, but stopped suddenly. "Peter, don't move!"
Peter
froze. "What is it?
"Look down, at your foot!"
Peter did, and there, on the floor was a loose piece of yellow
parchment. Peter bent to pick it up. It was cracked and
brittle with age, indeed it appeared as if the paper would have been
turned to dust had Peter stepped on it. Curious, Peter tried to
read the ancient careful writing. Ed looked over his shoulder
and helped out. Between the two of them, they managed to
decipher:
...Shall be in the days Of the age's first spring
Dark magic shall rise Death's life shall it bring.
For when the Dark Magic Has founded it's hour
Shall find it a vessel And fill it with power.
Ambassador, victim, One broken, alone
Dark magic will find him and make him it's home.
The time has been set, one cannot ignore
The time that the One shall encompass the four
For Darkness shall reign when the Darkness has won…
The Beast then must answer for all it has done.
"Peter! Edmund! Really, we've started eating without you! Your supper's getting cold! Lucy run up and fetch them, will you?" Edmund snatched up the paper and stuffed it in his pocket
"Coming, Sue! We're coming!"