Chapter Fourteen
Sunlight burst through the curtains and penetrated Joy's eyelids. She winced at the bright light and slowly opened her eyes. A badger was waddling about the room and picking up the stray pillows which the girls had thrown on the floor during the pillow fight last night. Joy slowly sat up. "Who are you?" she whispered. The badger was startled but quickly smiled at her.
"You're awake?" asked the badger, and a series of groans and shoves broke out across the bed. "Good morning Your Majesties! Good morning Ladies!" The badger smiled as Lucy slowly sat up beside Joy. Susan quickly slid out from under the extra blanket and rubbed her eyes while Rebecca pulled the blanket over her head to block out the sunshine.
"Who are you?" asked Joy again, and the badger curtsied.
"I am Beatrice," she said, "your maidservant." She straightened up and looked at the girls. "Forgive me Your Majesties and Ladies, but you are all due in the Dining Hall for breakfast, followed by a rehearsal for the coronation." Susan and Lucy slowly climbed off the bed, yawning their heads off, but somehow managed to get down the hall to their rooms. Joy pulled the blanket off Rebecca's head and laughed when her sister let out a loud groan.
"Come on," said Joy. "We all have to get up!" Rebecca rolled off the bed and landed with a thud on the floor. She shuffled slowly to the door with her eyes half-closed. Joy started laughing at her when Rebecca suddenly squeaked and slammed the door.
"Peter's out there!" she whispered frantically. That sent Joy doubling over in laughter. Rebecca made a face at her, then peeked out the door again. Peter must have left for she darted out the door like an arrow from a bow and closed it quickly behind her.
Joy washed her face and then let Beatrice help her into a coral-coloured dress with silver stitching on the cuffs and around the collar. After running a brush through her hair, Joy rushed down the hallway, walking as quickly as she could without Rebecca telling her to stop running. She ran into Lucy at the stairs, dressed in pink, who was also walking rather quickly. The two girls walked up the indoor set of stairs without having to go into the yard, took a right turn down the nearest hallway and came out in the Dining Hall.
The table was set with seven place settings, and Aslan was seated at the head. Peter sat on his right, and the seat on his left was no doubt being held for Susan. Edmund was seated next to Peter, and the seat beside him was empty. Joy sat across from Edmund, with Lucy on her left and then Susan and Rebecca came rushing into the room, dressed in deep purple and sea green. Susan went to the seat on the other side of Aslan, but Aslan shook his head and said the place was for Rebecca. The children all stared at her, but Rebecca nodded calmly and made her way around the table where she took the seat. Then, Susan's slightly jealous look disappeared as a look of realization took over her features and she quickly sat down beside Edmund. The two exchanged smiles and Joy gave Rebecca a shrug before digging into the feast spread out before her.
Once they had finished the magnificent breakfast, Aslan stood up and told the children he would show them to the Keep and the Great Hall where the coronation will take place later that day. The children stood up as well and followed Aslan down a hallway. He led the six children North, up a large open-air staircase and into the Keep. A small narrow hallway greeted them along with a large window looking out at the sea and on the other side stood a marvelous set of doors in the centre of the Eastern wall. Joy thought they looked to be carved of ivory and stretched from floor to ceiling. Aslan pushed the doors open with his great paws and all the children gasped at the sight before them.
The roof had glass panels running the length of the room, making the room incredibly bright. Columns lined the Southern and Northern sides of the room, and they were carved of a light-coloured stone with a gold ring around the top just before the column met up with the ceiling. The walls and floor were made of the same material with a gold inlay lining the edge of the room, and a dais stood at the end of the room. Large windows also lined the Northern side of the wall. Up on the dais stood four thrones, all made of the same light-coloured stone. Each was inlaid with a design made of gold, and a cushion sat at the base of each throne. Behind the thrones was a huge stained-glass window which looked somewhat like peacock feathers, and it stretched all the way to the roof. Joy was awed by the sight, and as she looked around at the others, she could tell they were feeling the same way.
The children slowly walked forward, and the space felt too solemn to even speak. Joy was sure their voices would echo throughout the large space. The children slowly approached the dais and when they reached it, everyone paused. No one dared to step up on the stairs up to the dais, it seemed like a daunting obstacle in front of them. Joy looked at the others and saw only Rebecca and Peter with calm expressions. Susan and Lucy were smiling but Edmund looked solemn, and slightly guilty. Joy then remembered what had happened at the Witch's castle and understood how he felt. A large part of her deep shame for following Edmund welled up inside her and Joy felt unworthy to step on the dais. Aslan stood to the side of the room, on Joy's right, and explained how the coronation would proceed.
"First, our two sisters," he looked at Rebecca and Joy "will walk down the centre of the room, centaurs will stand before the columns with banners" he gestured with his paw to the centre of the room "and you will come up the stairs and stand over there, to the right of the dais." He pointed at the Northern wall, which would have been to the left of all the thrones. Rebecca and Joy took their positions and waited. Aslan then lined up the children in front of their thrones but told them not to sit. However, he did noticed how Lucy was much shorter than the seat of her throne and he told her she would have a footstool for the event. "Alright, now I will see all of you tonight," and he clapped his paws in dismissal.
The children stepped off the dais and Aslan left out the side door to the left of the dais. Joy approached Edmund, who was staring at his throne again over his shoulder. "Ed?" she asked, and he whirled around.
"Oh," he said, and his shoulders sank as he let out a long sigh. "I know what you're thinking."
"Yes," said Joy, "and you need to stop thinking about it." The bitter taste of being a hypocrite filled her mouth but she pressed on. "You were different when we stood in the Witch's Great Hall. You were filled with anger and greed," she said. "But I know you're different now, you're my friend and I'm glad for that." She gave him a light punch to his shoulder to make him smile, and it worked. He looked up and the smile faded.
"Will you forgive yourself then?" he asked. "I can tell you've been hard on yourself too." Joy felt caught and remembered the look in Aslan's eyes when he talked to her back at the Camp. He had forgiven her, why couldn't she forgive herself? Edmund lifted his hand, palm open. "I think we both need to forgive ourselves. Alright?" Joy slowly nodded and grabbed his hand, a slow grin blooming on her face.
"Alright, Ed," she said, and instantly she felt lighter, like a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders, and she could tell Edmund felt the same way. Edmund let go of her hand as Rebecca came up beside Joy.
"Come on," she said "lets head to the solar. Ember will probably be ready for another fitting." They waved to the Pevensies who were gathering around Peter and left through the carved ivory doors at the end of the room. "What a beautiful room," remarked Rebecca as they stepped out onto the staircase.
"Yes," said Joy. "That's more what I was talking about the other day when I said what I was expecting at the castle." Rebecca smirked and Joy felt slightly embarrassed so she quickly changed the subject. "Say Rebecca, have you seen your dress yet?" she asked.
"No," said Rebecca, and she shrugged. "I think Ember wants to surprise us," she said. They headed to the solar and spent the rest of the morning there while Ember stitched and pinned their dresses and the girls wore blindfolds so as not to spoil Ember's surprise. Joy did not know what expect, she only knew the fabric was silky and the sleeves felt like some sort of gauze. After her fitting, Joy decided to wander the castle to see what was going on.
The rest of the castle was a flurry of activity: getting the Great Hall ready, cleaning up the last few rooms in the Guest Wing, preparing the food for the banquet, dusting off the gold dishes, polishing the trumpets. Everywhere Joy went in the castle, there was always something happening. She was shooed away from the kitchen after snagging a piece of candied fruit from a tray. When she tried to watch the dwarves make the crowns, they told her to leave for fear sparks from the fire would burn her dress or her face. So, she wandered off to the stables to visit Philip, Sharon, Acorn, Liberty and Saffire.
She was just coming around the corner where the stalls were lined up when a flash of orange caught her eye. Joy stopped abruptly and quickly followed it while her heart was beating wildly. Hope bloomed in her heart. "Mr. Fox?" she asked, hoping she wasn't seeing things. A fox's head peeked around the corner ahead with the same intelligent eyes, and Joy let out a gasp of delight.
"Lady Joy?" asked the fox. Joy grabbed her skirts and ran forward.
"You're alive!" she shouted and dropped down to her knees. She wrapped her arms around the animal and gave him a tight hug. "I'm so happy to see you!"
"Now," said Mr. Fox "as a rule I don't accept hugs, but today I don't mind," and he nuzzled her neck while Joy laughed at the tickle from the whiskers. Then, the fox leapt away from her once she loosened her grip and shook out his fur, making Joy giggle. However, as the fox grinned up at her, Joy's laughter faded and serious questions filled her mind.
"But what happened to you?" she asked. "Edmund told me you had been turned into a statue on the other side of the river!"
"I was," said Mr. Fox "but Aslan brought me back to life when they raided the Witch's camp." He told her about his capture and Joy told him about the swim across the river, the naiad and the wolves that chased her and Philip to Aslan's Camp. She also told him about the battle and Mr. Fox said he wished he had been there to see her fighting. "It would have fulfilled my family's dreams to see you in action," he said. Joy wondered at the meaning of his words but brushed them off as wishing to see humans deliver Narnia from the White Witch.
"I'm so glad you're back," she said, "I've missed you so much." Mr. Fox smiled up at her.
"I missed you too," he said, "just no more hugs." He shook his head again like the thought disgusted him, making Joy laugh again.
"I promise," she said and held out her hand to him. Mr. Fox stared at it and looked up at her with curiosity.
"Do you want me to sniff it or something?" he asked, and Joy laughed.
"Oh, no," she said. "It's called a 'handshake' in our world." She gently picked up one of his paws and shook it in her hand. "Like that," she said. Mr. Fox nodded, then pulled his paw away.
"Well, thank you, Daughter of Eve," he said as he stood up "now I must get going. The coronation will be starting soon." Joy instantly jumped to her feet.
"Already?!" she exclaimed. At that moment, Ember appeared down the hall.
"Lady Joy, you have to get ready," she said. "The coronation starts in an hour!" Joy took off running down the hallway towards Ember.
"Good-bye Mr. Fox!" she called back over her shoulder. She reached Ember and said, "I'm sorry, I lost track of the time." Ember quickly turned around and she started walking quickly down the hallway. Joy had to jog to keep up with her.
"Its alright," said Ember, who gave her a brief smile and the two rushed through the hallways and dodged around centaurs, dwarves, and other manners of Narnian creatures, until they reached Joy's room. She left Joy at her door and ran off to get her dress. Joy entered her room, closing the door behind her and saw Beatrice busying about the room and the badger jumped when she saw her.
"We have to hurry," said Beatrice, who instantly helped pull the coral dress over Joy's head, forced her to change her shift, scrubbed her face and then sat her down in front of the mirror. Beatrice brushed her hair, parted it and then got to work. She braided the crown of her hair into a fancy braid, letting the rest hang loose, but wove it through with sky-blue ribbons and knotted them together at the back of her head. When she turned Joy around to admire it, Joy was amazed to see the ends of the ribbon disappear into her hair without a trace. Beatrice filed down the rough edges of Joy's nails with her own claws, then Ember came in with her dress.
It was a sky-blue colour, and fell straight from the shoulders to the floor, and Joy thought it looked like a waterfall. The sleeves were slightly puffed out around her shoulders and then fell straight to her wrists. There was silver stitching around the neckline which looked like tiny flowers, silver buttons lined up down the back, and the wispy sleeves looked almost see-through. Ember quickly undid the buttons and Joy stepped into the dress. The fabric felt soft against her skin, and once the last button was done up, Ember turned her around to face the mirror.
Joy hardly recognized the girl staring back at her. She seemed older, more like a Lady. Joy took a step closer to the mirror and smiled when the soft fabric swished around her ankles. "That's me?" she asked and she pointed at the reflection.
"Yes," said Ember, grinning from ear to ear. "Now I have to look at your sister," and Ember quickly left the room again.
"You look lovely," said Beatrice "and considering how I had to rethink your hair at the last second, I think I did a good job." She smiled and tightened the ribbons again. "I originally wanted to curl your hair."
"I'm sorry, Beatrice," said Joy, still staring at her reflection. "Its so easy to lose track of time in this huge castle," said Joy, and she spun around in front of the mirror. "I've never felt so pretty in my life!" Beatrice smiled and picked up a swatch of silver fabric off the bed.
"Your cloak, my Lady," she said and handed Joy a shimmering silver cloak with the golden emblem of Aslan as the clasp. Joy reverently took it from her and gently rested the heavy fabric around her shoulders. She did up the clasp and looked up at the mirror again.
"I still can't believe that's me," she said with awe. "I mean, what happened to Joy?" Joy stared at the reflection, feeling confused. "I don't think I'm proper enough to be a Lady."
"There is more than one way to be a Lady," said Beatrice "through loyalty and devotion to her friends and being brave when it counts." Beatrice smiled up at her and Joy smoothed the fabric of the dress with her hands, not sure what to say.
"Joy?" came Rebecca's voice along with a knock on the door. "Are you ready? We need to get over to the Great Hall right away." Joy quickly looked at Beatrice.
"Thank you for everything," she said, and Beatrice nodded before Joy rushed over to the door and pulled it open.
Rebecca looked gorgeous; her hair was pulled back in braids at the sides of her head, then wrapped around and criss-crossed around her loose hair until it tied together at the small of her back. Her dress was plum-coloured, with a slightly darker pattern of leaves and vines woven into the fabric. Golden lace lined the neckline and there was a panel of the same lace just above the elbow on each sleeve. She had a golden cloak with the same Aslan clasp resting at her throat.
"Rebecca," Joy gasped "you look perfect!" Rebecca slowly turned around, letting Joy admire the whole look of the dress. Once she faced Joy again, Joy stepped closer and whispered, "Wait until Peter sees you."
"Oh shush," said Rebecca, blushing. She made Joy straighten her shoulders and smiled wistfully. "You know," she said thoughtfully "I hardly recognize the dust-covered girl who was exploring the attic and reading my diary."
"Hey!" Joy stepped out of her grasp. "You were no fun anymore! What was I supposed to do to amuse myself?" Both girls laughed and started down the hallway. Beatrice, Ember and Rebecca's maidservant Echo the centaur followed them as they walked carefully up the stairs and down the hallways until they reached the Keep. As they stepped inside the Keep and the narrow hallway which encircled the Great Hall, the Narnians turned left as the girls went right. They thanked their Narnian friends before they parted ways, and Ember wished them both "Good luck," as they walked away.
The girls slowly approached the others, all dressed in glittering and beautiful clothes and the magnificent Aslan stood at the centre of the children. Peter's eyes nearly fell out of his head when he saw Rebecca, and Joy wished she had a camera to capture the expression on his face. She bit her lip to keep herself from laughing and went over to stand by Edmund. She told him he looked nice and he said she cleaned up good, and they both smiled. Even though Joy thought he looked rather handsome. Susan and Lucy gushed over the girls' dresses, and vice versa. Peter tried twice to say something to Rebecca, who merely blushed and acted like she had no idea what he was going to say, and Aslan smiled proudly at them all.
"Rebecca, Joy, get ready," he said. They moved towards the doors as they swung open and then the trumpets blared from inside the Hall. Joy barely had a chance to take a deep breath before Aslan said "Go," and the girls walked forward at an even pace.
Joy thought the room looked even more beautiful than it had that morning. Narnian creatures filled the room from the columns to the aisle, all dressed up in their finest and groomed to perfection. Centaurs lined the aisle with the dais beyond them, their armour shining in the sunlight and holding banners straight up towards the ceiling. A part of Joy wanted to act brave and confident, while the other part of her was afraid she would do something wrong in front of all the Narnians. It seemed like the longest walk of her life, until they suddenly reached the dais.
Rebecca lifted her hem and walked daintily up the steps in golden shoes. Joy lifted her hem so she could do the same, only to realize that she was still wearing her regular boots and not the silver flats which were back in her room and sitting underneath her bed. She paused at the foot of the stairs and looked up at Rebecca who was now in her place at the top of the dais. Rebecca gave her a discreet look, and Joy sheepishly smiled back. She then climbed up the steps and stood on Rebecca's left.
Now came the moment all of Narnia had been waiting for since before over one hundred years ago. The merpeople, who had been singing below the Northern windows, changed their song and Aslan came down the aisle with the Kings and Queens on either side of him. The centaurs, one of them being Orious, all turned their heads towards the dais as Aslan and the Kings and Queens walked by. The group stopped at the foot of the dais, and Joy was glad to see Edmund grinning from ear to ear. Then, the children walked up onto the dais and stood facing the Narnians with their thrones behind them. Aslan stood on the edge of the dais and was now facing the Narnians as well. Then, the music and the singing stopped and Aslan opened his mouth to speak.
"To the glistening Eastern sea," he said, "I give you Queen Lucy, the Valiant." Lucy gasped with excitement as she looked out at the crowd. The Beavers made their way up the steps and stood to the side near Rebecca and Joy. They were holding two velvet pillows with two crowns resting on each. Mr. Tumnus followed them, wearing a fancy new scarf. He picked up a delicate silver crown made of tiny silver flowers and placed it gently on Lucy's head. She smiled up at him, and he gave her a little nod, smiling back.
"To the great Western wood," said Aslan "King Edmund the Just." Mr. Tumnus picked up the other silver crown, carved with leaves, and put it on Edmund's head. As he stood up, Joy thought about how much he had changed. All of that mean and spiteful boy had now disappeared forever. She grinned at her friend with pride as he looked over at the others.
"To the radiant Southern sun," said Aslan "Queen Susan the Gentle." Mr. Tumnus picked up with twisting golden crown made of flowers and leaves, and slowly placed it on Susan's head. She smiled gratefully at the faun, and then he rushed to pick up the last golden crown.
"And to the clear Northern sky," said Aslan in a powerful voice "I give you King Peter," and Mr. Tumnus put the crown on his head "the Magnificent." Peter stood up, looking truly magnificent in every sense of the word. The children then sat down on the thrones, and Aslan turned around to face them.
"Once a King or Queen of Narnia, always a King or Queen," he said. "May your wisdom grace us until the stars rain down from the heavens," said Aslan. Then, Aslan, Rebecca, Joy and all the Narnians shouted "Long live King Peter! Long live King Edmund! Long live Queen Susan! Long live Queen Lucy!" The Pevensies all looked at each other with excitement and pure joy, and the cheering and rejoicing rang throughout the Hall. Rebecca nudged Joy's hand and she looked over as King Peter stood up, walked to Aslan's side and whispered something in the lion's ear. Joy wondered what was going on when Edmund and Lucy looked over at her and grinned. Suddenly, in the midst of the celebrating, Aslan clapped his paws together and called for silence.
"Silence!" he shouted in a strong but gentle tone. The Narnians quickly quieted down, looking at each other with slight confusion and whispering. "The coronation is not over," said Aslan. Joy almost sighed aloud for the cloak was getting very heavy on her shoulders. She then noticed the Pevensies and realized they were all looking at her and Rebecca with big smiles. Rebecca must have noticed for she looked over at Joy with confusion written all over her features. What was going on? And why were the Kings and Queens looking at them in this way? Aslan began to speak again.
"When the prophecy first came into Narnia about our Kings and Queens, all of Narnia was so excited that they waited with eager anticipation and passed the prophecy down from generation to generation," he said. All the Narnians nodded, agreeing with his words. "But," he paused "there was a second part, one that has been kept hidden from most of Narnia. Only a few select families were told with the understanding to pass it down from one generation to another. This way, word of the prophecy would not find its way back to the Witch." He looked down at the audience. "Fox and Ember are two members of the families. Unfortunately, a member of the third family, Auryn the dryad, is unable to be here today but Fox's initial report confirmed the fulfillment of the prophecy." The Narnians broke out chattering, now looking very confused. Joy noticed Mr. Fox standing in the front row, smiling at her. Aslan turned his great head towards Rebecca and Joy. "Kneel before me, children." Rebecca looked at Joy, slightly shrugged and moved forward. Joy followed behind her, her knees shaking.
"What's going on?" asked Rebecca as she knelt before Aslan's right paw and Joy before his left, and Joy was starting to feel nervous. The Narnians fell silent as Aslan raised his head again.
"The second part of the prophecy said that two Daughters of Eve would come with your Kings and Queens," he said, and Joy gasped. She stared up into Aslan's face, unable to believe the words he was saying. She looked over at Rebecca, who looked up at Aslan with utter peace and solemnity. "They would assist them and help take Narnia back from the Witch." Aslan scanned the crowd of Narnians. "They were to become Protectors of Narnia." Protectors?! A sense of purpose filled Joy and she smiled despite the serious moment playing out before her.
"Thank you, Aslan," whispered Rebecca as she bowed her head. Mrs. Beaver appeared on Aslan's left holding another velvet pillow with two thin circlets on it, one silver and one gold. Beside her came Ember and Mr. Fox. Joy noticed that the silver one had delicately carved arrows on it, and the gold one was carved with swords. Mr. Fox, now standing on his hind paws, picked up the silver one and placed it on Joy's head.
"To the Southeastern rivers," said Aslan "I give you Lady Joy, the Loyal Protector." Joy slowly stood up but didn't turned around for Mrs. Beaver had motioned for her to wait. She looked in the faces of the Pevensies, who were all smiling proudly at her. Then, Ember picked up the circlet of gold and placed it on Rebecca's head.
"To the Northwestern mountains," continued Aslan "I give you Lady Rebecca, the Brave Protector." Rebecca rose up from her knees, and both girls slowly turned around. Cheers erupted once again throughout the hall.
"Long live our Protectors!" shouted the Narnians. "Long live Lady Rebecca! Long live Lady Joy!" Joy looked at Aslan, who smiled at her and then walked off the dais. The Kings and Queens then stood up and bestowed honours on Mr. Tumnus, Mr. Fox, the Beavers and the Badgers, Philip, Ember, Oreius, Jamila and Coron.
After all the formalities were finished with, dancing took over the Great Hall. The children all hung up their cloaks in the narrow side hallway on wooden pegs and joined in. Those who were patient enough taught some traditional Narnian dances to the Kings, Queens and Protectors, and the children quickly caught on. At one point, all the fauns proceeded to lead everyone about the room in a line, kicking up their cloven hooves and laughing as the children tried to do the same.
Joy finally stopped after a dance that reminded her of a jig, and her feet were beginning to feel sore. She headed towards the ivory doors where other Narnians had left previously to go to the great feast in the Dining Hall. She looked over her shoulder and saw Peter and Rebecca dancing together. She smiled at the two and stepped out into the hallway.
"Are you finished already?" asked Edmund, running up beside her.
"I'm hungry," she said. "Come on," and they walked down the hallway and stepped out onto the open-air staircase. "Aren't you?" she asked, gathering her skirts so she wouldn't trip and fall down the stairs.
"No, I'm too excited!" said Edmund, coming up beside her "I also still have to wrap my head around what happened tonight," he said. "There's so much to think about." The two reached the bottom of the stairs and entered another hallway.
"I still can't believe it," said Joy. "I was made a Protector. I am a Lady of the Court!" They turned a corner and headed for the open door at the end of the hall.
"I can't believe that you were made a Lady," said Edmund, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "That one is the hardest thing to wrap my head around," he said with a smile and Joy whacked him hard in the shoulder. "Ow!" he exclaimed and Joy laughed.
"Just because you're King now, that doesn't mean you can get away with everything," teased Joy.
"You should be careful you know," said Edmund as he rubbed the sore spot on his arm "I could have you banished."
"Banish a Protector of Narnia?" asked Joy and she flippantly rolled her eyes. "Impossible," she said. They began laughing and Joy knew that she had found a lifelong friend in Edmund. "Thanks Ed," she said.
"For what?" asked Edmund.
"For being my friend," said Joy. Edmund smiled and held out his arm.
"My pleasure," he said. Joy looped her arm through his and they marched into the Dining Hall.
Inside the Hall, the two found the long table piled high with roasted meat, fresh fruits, flasks of many different drinks, and seafood dishes. Every dish the children looked at could hardly be compared to the next; everything looked that splendid. Joy grabbed a plate and started filling it up and popping some berries into her mouth when she thought no one was looking.
"I say Ed," said Joy, and she swallowed before continuing "all of you knew what was going to happen tonight. When did Aslan tell you?"
"Yesterday," said Edmund "when he sent you and Rebecca off to the solar." Edmund set his loaded plate down on the table. "Aslan told us about the prophecy and insisted that we were not to breathe a word of it to either of you. He wanted you to find out at the coronation." They moved to the windows with their food. "The look on your face was worth it."
"Well, good for you," said Joy "for keeping it a secret for so long." Joy took a bite of roast beef and sighed as the flavours burst on her tongue.
"You know, now that I think about it," said Edmund, his mouth full of food "I wonder if the Witch did know about the prophecy." He swallowed and looked over at her. "Remember when the wolves attacked us at the Camp and they insisted I hand you over to them?" Joy froze as the memories came flooding back to her.
"Yes," she said, "I think you're right!" She turned to face him. "She must have known something or suspected it at least. Maybe Auryn was captured and told her," suggested Joy and Edmund nodded. "I'm glad the Witch never succeeded in any of her plans." Edmund nodded again and swallowed.
"I think if we had all known about the prophecy," he said "we would have known it was you and Rebecca. You both stood up for Narnia in battle and you protected me on the battlefield, even when you ran out of arrows!" Joy smiled at his words. "Rebecca helped my family make their way to Aslan's Camp when we were separated," continued Edmund "and was prepared to fight and protect you and Narnia at all costs." Joy nodded in agreement.
"You're right, Edmund," she said, and she looked around the room. "I need to thank Aslan for all he's done," said Joy, but she saw no sign of the golden lion. "Where is he?" she asked, and Edmund shrugged for his mouth was full of food. Joy frowned at him and then went outside onto the balcony. She looked down at the battlements for any sight of the golden lion.
Nothing.
"Joy?" called Rebecca's voice from inside. Joy turned around as Rebecca appeared on the balcony. "There you are," she said as she approached Joy. "I couldn't find you in the Great Hall!"
"I was hungry," said Joy. "I just came out here to look for Aslan," and she stopped talking when Rebecca grabbed her hand.
"Come with me," she said, "Aslan wants to see us both." The two quickly entered the Dining Hall again. Joy called out "Save my food!" to Edmund as they passed him. They rushed down a hallway, took a set of stairs down to the ground floor and Joy was surprised to see Aslan waiting in the courtyard by a gate which opened to the grassy hillside. The two girls stopped before him, and curtsied.
"Aslan," said Joy as she straightened "I wanted to thank you for all you've done for me." Aslan nodded, his eyes smiling at her. Rebecca nodded.
"It is the same for me, Aslan" said Rebecca "I thank you for allowing me to grow and fulfill this prophecy," she chuckled "without us realizing it."
"You are welcome," said Aslan. "Now, may I see the compass?" asked the lion, and Rebecca produced it from an invisible pocket in her dress which Joy had not realized existed. Aslan held out a golden, velveted paw and Rebecca gently placed the compass inside the paw. He drew his paw close and examined it with his eyes. "You both have held this compass?" he asked.
"Yes," said Rebecca.
"And that was when all those markings appeared on the compass," said Joy.
"That was how the compass was supposed to worked," said Aslan, and he handed the compass back to Rebecca. "Once it had been held by both Protectors, the markings indicating your true calling would appear. And on the back is written the full prophecy in the ancient Narnian text."
"Thank you, Aslan," said Rebecca breathlessly "I shall hold to this special treasure every day and fulfill the prophecy with every word I speak or every action I take."
"I know you will, child," said Aslan, and he looked at Joy. Joy opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came out and she did not know what to say. "And now, I must leave here for a while," said Aslan.
"Leave?" asked Joy, finding her words again. "Where are you going?" she asked.
"Where I am needed most," said Aslan, and he turned to face Rebecca. Rebecca stepped forward, reached out her left hand and touched the golden mane of Aslan. Joy instantly ached to touch Aslan's mane herself, but she could not summon the courage to step forward.
"Please, Aslan," said Rebecca, her voice cracked with tears "don't leave us yet." She looked down at the compass in her right hand and took a deep breath. "There's so much I want to learn from you, and I don't know when I will see you again." Joy found her eyes welling up and she tried to blink her tears away.
"Beloved," said Aslan gently "I shall be watching out for you," he looked at Joy "and you, and all of Narnia. You both will continue to learn and grow along with our Kings and Queens, and I will see you both soon."
"Soon?" asked Joy, stepping closer. "What do you call soon, Aslan?"
"All times, any time," said Aslan "I will be back soon." With that, he turned his great head towards the gate and slowly walked away. Rebecca and Joy wrapped their arms around each other for support and let their tears flow freely down their cheeks.
"I miss him already," whispered Joy, and Rebecca squeezed her shoulder, too choked up to talk. A thought suddenly struck Joy and she broke out of Rebecca's hold. Taking the compass from Rebecca's hand, she looked down at the arrow and smiled. "Rebecca? I think I know what Aslan wants us to do now." Rebecca's teary eyes met hers and she looked down at the compass. She smiled and started laughing.
"He's right, and you're right," she said. The arrow was pointing back at the castle, and Joy grabbed Rebecca's hand after she wiped her eyes.
"Come on," she said, "I bet Peter and the others are looking for you." The two sisters went back into the castle and made their way back into the Dining Hall. The Kings and Queens were now gathered in the Dining Hall, eating and chatting with other Narnians. Joy spotted her empty plate on the window ledge and she gave Edmund a slight glare before she headed out to the balcony. She moved to the Eastern edge and looked out at the beach, lying far below the castle, and spotted some rather large pawprints in the sand. Sighing with defeat, she looked out at the setting sun.
"What are you looking at?" asked Edmund, and he set a plate of food in front of her.
"Oh, thank you," she said and looked back out at the beach. "Ed, Aslan is gone," and she pointed out at the beach. She sighed and dropped her hand. "And who knows when we'll see him again?" Edmund grew solemn and stared out at the fading pawprints. Then, a wistful smile crept over his features and he looked at Joy.
"Aslan knows," he said. "Aslan knows everything, and he will come back, Joy." Joy looked at him and smiled.
"Thanks, Ed," said Joy, and the two looked out at the waters.
And yet, their adventure in Narnia had barely begun.