Chapter Forty-One: Tuesday's Child
I awoke the next morning to a tiny, chirruping sound right in my ear. I opened my eyes and saw a Hummingbird hovering over my head. I smiled at it and whispered, "Good morn," in true Narnian fashion. Moving carefully so as not to disturb my sleeping brother, I sat up, holding out my hand. The little Bird landed and I brought it close to my ear.
"Aslan asks you to join him in the seaside pavilion."
"Thank you," I whispered and it flew off. I rose and tucked Edmund in, then quickly dressed in the darkened room. My clothes were all too loose on me now, but I piled on several layers and wrapped a heavy cloak over my shoulders before slipping out the door. The lamps were still lit in the corridor as dawn was an hour or more away. The guards on duty turned to face me, but I gestured for silence and softly instructed,
"I'll bring one of the guards at the gate with me. If the king or queens wake up, tell them I won't be long."
The most direct route to the pavilion was out the main doors and so I hurried through the Cair to the great hall where the pillars rose like trees in a forest and acres of stained glass told Narnia's history. The guards, a Satyr and a Ram, both with the most magnificent, curling horns, bowed when they saw me and opened the door. A blast of freezing cold air off the ocean made the lamps flicker and carried the smell of salt and winter. I was immediately shadowed by a huge Tiger I recognized from Sharet's troop of big Cats.
"Good morn, Ricanus," I whispered, my teeth already chattering from the biting cold.
"It is, Majesty," he said with a bow, then said nothing and made no sound as he padded along beside me.
There was a faint golden glow like candlelight about the pavilion as we approached. Ricanus fell back and left me to walk the last hundred feet alone. Aslan waited for me, seated before the open wall that looked out over the Eastern Sea. There was still no hint of dawn in the sky and the whole structure was coated with a thick layer of ice. The Lion greeted me warmly and I returned his embrace. Then I pulled back, gazing up at him. He seemed large enough to fill the pavilion.
"You're leaving, aren't you?" I whispered, suddenly stricken.
His eyes were gentle and he knew I was disappointed. "I have a task to complete now that your brother is safe."
But I've hardly seen you! my thoughts wailed, then I realized what he meant. "The wand."
"The wand," he echoed. "I must remove it to a place where it will be well guarded. There is an island far, far across the Eastern Sea where the Birds of the Dawn gather every morning to greet the day. There it will be well out of mischief's way and ages will pass before anyone visits the island again."
"Good," I said.
"Do not tell anyone where the wand has been removed to. If they ask, just tell them it is safe."
"I will.," I promised, suddenly relieved that we were here alone. Aslan usually slipped away without fanfare, and I was glad for the chance to see him and say goodbye. If I knew Narnia and Narnians, today there would be celebrating and festivities for our return and I would have to tell the story of the quest time and time again. It was very nice to have the Lion to myself for a few moments and I stepped closer to his side. I think he felt the same about me, and we stood in grateful, comfortable silence for a little while, watching the ocean.
"And here is Mallo."
A wave of water spread all the way up to the pavilion and splashed against the rocks just past the steps. Mallo appeared from the crested wave, and to my surprise she came all the way to the icy steps. The Mermaid bowed deeply, first to Aslan, then to me, unaffected by the freezing cold.
"Mighty Aslan. High King."
I bowed to the leader of the Merfolk. "Greetings, Mallo. It's good to see you again, lady."
"And you, King Peter. News of your success gives up joy." From the water at her long tail she lifted a long, flat box made of coral, which she laid at Aslan's paws. "The White Witch's wand."
"Thank you, Mallo, for guarding this. It was very well done of you and your people," said the Lion. He leaned over and kissed her. She bowed deeply again, and the next wave swept up and she was gone.
Aslan sighed. I knew the moment of parting had come. I wanted to prolong it. "Aslan?"
"Yes, my child?"
I hesitated, knowing I wouldn't be able to convey adequately what I was feeling. "I...how...how...can I thank you?" For Edmund? For Narnia? For the life I now lived? For the love with which you've blessed me? My voice came out as a whisper barely audible over the turf. My eyes were brimming with tears but I made no attempt to stop them.
"Oh, Peter," Aslan said so gently his words were a caress. He put a paw on my shoulder. "Do you love me?"
I sniffed and nodded. My voice cracked as I whispered, "Completely."
"What greater thanks, what nobler gift could I ask, High King, than to have the absolute love of one such as you?" he asked, then gathered me close and kissed me on the forehead. He was warm and his mane smelled sweet and his paw was warm upon my back. Strength seemed to fill me as I wrapped my arms around him as far as I could. "You are more worthy than you will ever know, Peter Pevensie. Learn and grow, dearest child and highest king, and keep in your heart all the things you love best. It is no mistake that you are called the Magnificent and your grace is Narnia's greatest blessing."
His words were familiar and I recalled the day I had resolved to set forth on the quest. I smiled, blinking at my tears, his confidence and love warming me even as I drew away. Together we turned and looked to the east and I stepped over to lean against one of the pillars. The sky over the ocean was lightening with the pale colors of a winter dawn. Aravir stood brilliant above the horizon, still blazing bright even as the stars faded around her. The ocean spray was icy cold against my face and I breathed deeply, closing my eyes for a moment and filling my lungs with Narnia's fragrant air. I thought about rousing Edmund and heading down to the training grounds. It would feel good to have armor on again, to get back to training, back to my life...
When I looked behind me, both the mighty golden Lion and the wand were gone.
I smiled, but did not despair. Aslan would return and I was home.