Chapter 9: Dione's Blessing
Digory had kept his mouth shut. He'd been growing more and more uncomfortable. He sincerely hoped that, whatever happened, he wouldn't blub or do anything ridiculous.
"Son of Adam," said Aslan. "Are you ready to undo the wrong that you have done to my sweet country of Narnia on the very day of its birth?"
"Well, I don't see what I can do," stated Digory. "You see, the Queen ran away and–"
"I asked, are you ready?" repeated the Lion.
"Yes," answered Digory. For a second he'd had some wild idea of saying 'I'll try to help you if you'll promise to help my Mother', but realized in time that the Lion was not at all the sort of person one could try to make bargains with. But when he'd agreed, he thought of his Mother, and he thought of all the great hopes he had, and how they were all dying away, and a lump formed in his throat and tears pooled in his eyes. Digory blurted out, despite the lump in his throat, crying "But please, please – won't you – can't you give me something that will cure Mother?"
Up until that point, Digory had been looking at the Lion's great feet and his huge claws, but now, in his despair, he looked the Lion in the face. What he saw surprised him. For the tawny face was beat near his won and large shining tears stood in the Lion's eyes. The tears were so big and bright compared to his own, that for a moment Digory felt the Lion must be sorrier about his mother than he was himself.
"My son, my son," said Aslan. "I know. Grief is great. Only you and I in this land know that yet. Let us be good to one another. But I have to think of hundreds of years in the life of Narnia. The Witch whom you have brought into this world will come back to Narnia again. But it need not be yet. It is my wish to plant a tree in Narnia, a tree that she will not dare approach, and that tree will protect Narnia from her for many years. So this land shall have a long, bright morning before any clouds come over the sun. You must get me the seed from which that tree is to grow."
Dione listened in on their conversation. Her heart ached at the thought of her sister hurting this land and its people, but she knew it would happen. She vowed to herself to help, if she was permitted, and keep this new land safe from her sister.
"Yes, sir," responded Digory, though he didn't know how he was going to be able to find the seed, but he felt sure he could do it. Aslan took a deep breath and stooped his head low enough to reach Digory'd and gave the boy a Lion's kiss. And all at once, Digory felt that new strength and courage had been given to him.
"Dear son," Aslan spoke, "I will tell you what you must do. Turn and look to the West and tell me what do you see?"
"I see terribly big mountains, Aslan," answered the boy. "I see this river coming down the cliffs in a waterfall. And beyond the cliff, there are high green hills with forests. And beyond those are higher ranges that look almost black. And then far away, there are big snowy mountains all heaped up together – like pictures of the Alps. And behind those, there's nothing but sky."
"You see well," complimented Aslan. "Now the land of Narnia ends where the waterfall comes down, and once you reach the top of the cliff you will be out of Narnia and into the Western Wild. You must journey through those mountains till you find a green valley with a blue lake in it, walled round by mountains of ice. At the end of the lake, there is a garden. In the center of that garden is a tree. Pluck an apple from that tree and bring it to me."
"Yes, sir," Digory nodded. He hadn't foggiest idea of how he was to climb the cliff and find his way among all the mountains, but he didn't want to say that for fear to would sound like making excuses. But he did say, "I hope, Aslan, you're not in a hurry. I shan't be able to get there and back very quickly."
"Little Son of Adam, you shall have help," reassured Aslan. The Lion then turned to the old cab-horse, who had been quietly standing beside them the whole time, swishing his tail to keep flies off, and listening with his head tilted as if the conversation were a little difficult to understand.
"My dear," Aslan spoke to Strawberry, "would you like to be a winged horse?"
Strawberry shook his mand and his nostrils widened, and he gave the ground a little tap with one back hoof. Clearly, he would very much like to be a winged horse. But he only said:
"If you wish, Aslan – if you really mean – I don't know why it should be me – I'm not a very clever horse."
"Be winged. Be father of all flying horses," roared Aslan, his voice shaking the ground. "Your name is Fledge."
Strawberry – or rather Fledge – shied, just like he'd have shied in the old miserable days when he pulled a handsom. Then he roared. He strained his back as if there were a fly biting his shoulders and he wanted to scratch it. Then, just as the beasts burst from the ground, wings burst from Fledge's shoulders, wins that spread and grew, larger than eagles, larger than swans, larger than angels in church windows. The feathers were the same chestnut and copper color as his coat.
Fledge gave his new appendages a great sweep and lept into the air. Twenty feet above everyone, he snorted, neighed, and curvetted. After circling once, he dropped to the earth, all four hooves together, looking awkward and surprised, but extremely pleased.
"Is it good, Fledge?" asked Aslan.
"It is very good, Aslan," responded Fledge.
"Will you carry this little son of Adam on your back to the mountain-valley I spoke of?"
"What? Now? At once?" Fledge was surprised that his first task for Narnia came so quickly. "Hurrah! Come on little one, I've had things like you on my back before. Long, long ago. When there were green fields; and sugar."
"What are you two daughters of Eve whispering about?" Aslan turned, very suddenly, to Polly and the Cabby's wife, who had been making friends. Dione had wanted to join but still hung back, unsure how she would be welcomed, and afraid to be turned away.
"If you please, sir," Nellie, or Queen Helen as she now was, said, "I think the little girl would love to go too, if it weren't no trouble."
Dione moved forward upon hearing that. If both children were going, perhaps she should offer to go. She could help protect them, and prove she meant to harm to this land and its inhabitants.
"What does Fledge say about that?" Aslan asked.
"Oh, I don't mind two, not when they're little ones," answered Fledge. "But I hope the Elephant doesn't want to come as well."
The Elephant had no such wish, but Dione did, so she stepped into the group as the new King of Narnia put the children on Fledge's back.
"Would I be able to join the children, or am I too much?" She asked, her voice strong but wavering at the end under Aslan's gaze.
"Even if you were not too much, I have yet to speak to you, young witch, and there are things we mush discuss," Aslan answered for the winged horse. The Lion turned back to the horse and gave a warning.
"Do not fly too high. Do not try to go over the tops of the great ice-mountains. Look out for the valleys, the green places, and fly through them. There will always be a way through. And now, begone with my blessing."
"Oh Fledge!" exclaimed Digory, leaning forward to pat the horse's neck. "This is fun. Hold onto me tight, Polly."
The horse lept into the air, circling once or twice before flying westward. The trio was soon gone from sight.
"Now, young witch," Aslan turned to Dione once the children were out of sight. "I shall speak to you."
Dione had never felt smaller before in her life than at that moment. In a family where everyone was taller than her, she still felt larger than she did with the weight of Aslan's gaze on her. But she held his gaze and stepped forward.
The Lion turned and walked down towards the river, away from his council and the new King and Queen. Dione was worried she'd be sent back to Charn, or even simply executed for trespassing in this new world. Though those seemed like very extreme options.
"Be calm, child," Aslan spoke, calming the poor princess. "No harm shall befall you in Narnia."
"Then what shall become of me?" Dione needed to know.
"You may return with the boy and girl to their world, live an ordinary life, or you may live here and serve Narnia. You can guide her rulers and help right the wrongs your sister will bring," Aslan offered.
"Then I shall stay." Dione kneeled in front of the great Lion, her head bowed as low as it could go. "My sister is the last of my people, the last of my family, and she is my responsibility. I pledge on the magic that created this world, that I shall serve Narnia and protect its people for as long as I am able."
"Rise, young Witch," Aslan's voiced rumbled. "Rise Lady Dione, first Lady of Narnia. Let us go celebrate this first day."
Night soon came, and there was much to celebrate. King Frank and Helen were given royal robes, though no crowns had been made yet. Dione was appointed as Queen Helen's lady-in-waiting and advisor. King Frank, upon learning Dione was a princess, asked for guidance as well, which Dione humbly gave. No one on Charn had ever wanted her advice.
The celebration with the Narnians was grand. There was a large fire, around which Fauns and Nymphs danced, and a great feast. The festivities lasted long into the night, and everyone eventually fell asleep where ever they were.
Faunes leaned against each other. Wood nymphs were half hanging from tree branches, if they hadn't disappeared into their trees. The river nymphs slept on large rocks in the stream. King Frank and Queen Helen slept against one of the bears. They'd been talking and all drifted off one by one. And Dione fell asleep curled next to Aslan, whom she'd been asking about plants. The wood nymphs had braided unfamiliar flowers into her hair and she longed to know what they were.
The next morning bought a small breakfast feast of mostly fruits. The Talking Beasts and the creature of the forest began to get to know their sovereigns better. Fine clothes were brought forth to dress them.
In the early afternoon, Fledge appeared once more in the sky the children safely on his back. Once the flying horse landed, the children safely on his back. Once the flying horse landed the children dismounted. All the animals, dwarves, satyrs, nymphs, and other things dew back, allowing Digory to reach Aslan.
"I've brought you the apple you wanted, sir." Digory held the apple out to the great Lion.