Owls in the Night

…

Lune

News came to Armouthe in the night. A relay of ravens, gulls and then owls had flown from Beruna via Glasswater to the Archen capital, carrying a personal message and a call for help. The pair of owls that had flown the last leg to support each other were at King Lune's window. Tap tap tap! Tap tap tap!

Lune jumped a little and roused himself, rolling his ponderous body across the bed and rang his bell. Two guards with equally bleary eyes stepped in.

"There is a messenger at the window, said Lune. "I want you to shine a light out there and make sure it is not some attempt at assassination by some rogue misery of crows before you let whatever it is in. I'll step into my dressing room as a precaution. If it appears genuine, I shall grant a brief audience and get the matter over with. They obviously cannot wait. Ho Hum, no rest for the weary."

He pulled his robes about his ample frame and began to lumber off into the next room to make himself more presentable, but he paused in the doorway to hear the conversation.

One of the guards went to the window and said "Who is it? Where are you from?"

"Who who, who who?" sad a large owl at the window. "Who it is, is Archen owls from the border lands with South Eastern Narnia. We bear a message sent by Narnian Ravens And Gulls which has been penned by none other than Lord Digory of the Apple, he who hails from the Dawn of Time!" The owl sounded excited and self important, if rather tired.

The guard was about to relay the message before opening the window but Lune was already striding to the casement and he wrenched it open. A blast of cold night air swept in.

"Did you say from the Dawn of Time? Lord Digory? Come in at once!"

And with that, both Great Horned Owls hopped over the casement. Lune and his guards stepped were enormous, as big as eagles.

"Who who, Lord King, who who indeed! But to you, to you, were we most earnestly set to deliver this mysterious message", hooted one. The other was grasping a stout cylinder that appeared to be made of several pieces of polished horn set end to end. It held out its leg and blinked its eyes.

Taking it Lune said, "Thank you most noble birds of the night."

But they did not fly off straight away. Both owls flapped over to the bed rail which creaked under their weight. The guard shut the casement quickly, closing off the chill air that was streaming in. The owls both looked about with huge yellow eyes and ruffled their feathers absorbing some of the warmth in the room after their chilly flight. Lune examined the cylinder to gauge its opening mechanism. It was a simple twist and then pull. Inside was the expected scroll of parchment.

Lune continued. "You may rest assured that you have now completed your mission. As is your due, Dorgin here will make sure you are well fed and rested and you shall be free to go on your return journey. I believe we have caught some goodly rats today. You shall be most welcome to partake tonight and to digest them over the coming day. I am hoping you will both be able to take a return message tomorrow evening after I have had some chance to consider what is in the letter.

The owls were far too big to be carried out to find food and rest, so Lune gestured to the door and said, "Dorgin will show you the way." Dorgin departed, followed by the two huge birds who flew down to the floor and then both lumbered out, talons clicking on the smooth wooden floor.

To the other guard he said, "Now, Gastin call Prince Cor to me here at once, and get one of the servants to bring something hot."

He shone the lantern at the tall clock on the wall that was ticking quietly. It was nearly half past three in the morning. He yawned again, had another stretch and got back into the warmth of the bed, positioned the lamp carefully and unrolled the parchment. There was a ring dangling from a red ribbon which was embedded in the wax seal. Then he read the long letter which was written in the hasty copperplate, that only a man of letters from Oxford University could manage.

To Your Majesty, King Lune of Archenland, Salutations.

From Lord Digory of the Apple, Peer of the Realm of Narnia, Guardian of the Lantern, Counsellor of the Narnian Privy Chamber, sometime acquaintance of Frank, First King of Narnia and Fledge, First Flying Horse at the Dawn of Time.

Written on the 30th Day of Frostbite, Beruna, Narnia. Year 1118.

I write to you with great urgency. You may be in some doubt about the veracity of my identity and for that I beg your pardon. Lady Polly of the Rings and myself, have been returned to Narnia under mysterious circumstances, we assume by Aslan the Great Lion and have been greeted by the Winterfather who has come early this year. We are from England, the same country as the High King Peter and his siblings. Indeed, it is my wardrobe made of Narnian Applewood though which they came to your world to oust Jadis. I have been harbouring them in my own house since they returned, which in our own time has been less than a week, but here, I believe, more than a year and a half. Sadly, I must confirm that there is no sign of their impending return. Instead, Lady Polly and I believe that we have been sent in their stead, but with a different purpose; not to rule Narnia ourselves but to help sort out this mess regarding succession.

Your own forbearance by not stepping in to take up the rule of Narnia directly, is appreciated by all we have met. For the Legates of Beruna have done extra-ordinary work to keep Narnia stable and it is to their lasting pride and credit. The Lords Tumnus, Peridan, and Daimyo and a Lady of Terebinthia are of particular note it would seem. But the unrest amongst noble guests and now regions of Narnia, which has begun in the vacuum following the High King's sudden disappearance and that of his family is of enormous concern and we wish to prevent Narnia's implosion. Therefore, I write to declare, that in the name of Aslan the Great Lion, the time has now come for neighbouring nations of goodwill to be seen to stand by Narnia in its efforts to identify and install its future royal family and government. And as Archenland holds such strong ties with Narnia, both ancient and recent, your personal and political support for this process would be welcome indeed.

Should your own personal attendance not be possible, I understand completely. However, I ask that you give your most serious consideration to sending a small delegation of patient, insightful and educated ambassadors from Archenland; for a period of up to six months. As Aslan has chosen to have us arrive in far more youthful guise than when we set out from England, this may be a sign that youth and idealism rather than venerability will be most needed here. I consider it only logical, given the recent youthful rule that Narnia had enjoyed for fifteen years following Jadis's demise.

I sincerely and humbly beg that a delegation is able to arrive within the month. Accommodations here in Beruna are rustic but comfortable and spacious enough for our purpose.

I am assured that should a Ruling King or Queen be found, approved, installed and crowned with all due preparation, blessings and ceremony, it is likely that the regional unrest in Narnia should also settle and that Cair Paravel will be reopened. I am glad to find that there is little dispute that Narnia is a land for a son of Adam or a daughter of Eve to be crowned ruler of. Therefore we work towards that goal with all due haste if not due speed.

In token of our earnest truth, Polly also attaches a ring, one of many gifted to her by the Winterfather. Its full uses are unknown, but she assures me she will know when it has been rightfully bestowed. She suggests that the stone set in it be breathed upon and rubbed once this has been accomplished. I cannot explain further. Only time will tell.

Digory of the Apple.

The seal that held the ribbon was impressed with the Seal of the Legates of Beruna.

…

Cor

Lune was sitting digesting this extraordinary missive, when Cor knocked at the door carrying another lantern. He was swathed in thick grey homespun robes and sheepskin slippers. His long straw coloured hair was half covered with a black floppy nightcap tipped over on one side. He looked nervous.

He was accompanied by a sleepy looking man-servant who brought a kettle of hot spiced tea and two mugs before poking the coals in the grate, setting some new wood and getting a merry blaze going.

Once he was gone, Core approached his father's bed, "Father?" Cor said, coming over and grasping one of the posts, "What is the matter? Is Calormen about to send warships and cavalry against us or something?"

"Nay my son, Rabadash stands by his peaceful stance. His father the Tisroc has learned his lesson I believe. Instead I have had owls in the night; from Narnia. They have delivered this. I think you will find it interesting."

He shifted a bolster, patted the bed next to him and flipped the blankets so Cor could get in next to his father. Cor needed no further invitation on this chilly night and snuggled into the warmth to read the letter, hanging the lantern nearby. He stopped here and there to re-read points, silently mouthing some of the unfamiliar words. His father maintained a patient silence, feeling proud (and relieved) that his bright son had been able to learn to read so well within only three years.

"Is this all true? Could it be? How would we know?"

"I have little doubt it is all true", intoned Lune. "This is the moment for which I have been waiting. I told you that Aslan would not have installed the young sovereigns and then taken them away without some larger purpose. Here we have it! The Narnian people have had fifteen years of bliss after a hundred years of trauma. They have now had eighteen months of self-rule and done rather well, but the cracks are beginning to show. The place is vulnerable to the interests and vagaries of other nations and Aslan has sent two arbiters with impeccable credentials to broker a solution with which all will be content. I see no reason to doubt this Lord Digory's claim. There is no hint of subterfuge or game playing. I do not believe anyone would have used both Aslan's and the Winterfather's names in vain. Open, frank words. An honest man I deem. And there is this." He waggled the ribbon and weighted the ring in his hand.

"Will you go father?" asked Cor, looking full into his father's face.

"It is tempting my son, the chance of a lifetime. But nay, I think I shall not"

"But why? And if not you, then who? I mean… whom?" he said, correcting himself

"Let me think on it, but if I am to take the hint from this letter I should say I shall send a group of young people including yourself."

"B-b-but father, is it really best to send me. Will they take me seriously? I would have thought Lord Col or Lord Darrin would be a better choice if not you."

Lune looked at his son with a mix of loving kindness and concern.

"I take your point my son, but you are the Crown Prince of Archenland. Neither your precedence nor your youth can be called into question. Take note. The task here is to be a part of seeing how a King or a Queen of Narnia is made. Remember, King Peter was only four and ten when he was crowned and you are near ten and eight. And Lucy was but seven. You will get no greater lesson in Kingcraft than by taking it in the august company of the servants of Aslan in Narnia itself. Mark my words. These two, Lord Digory and Lady Polly may not be over a thousand years old by their own reckoning, but I hazard that even in their own world they are older than I. And in ours they are youthful and vibrant; gifted with powerful talismans by the Winterfather. You will have much to learn from them."

Cor looked at his father gratefully but he knew that his father could probably see that inside he was quavering nervously.

"And I care not who you tell in the household about the general thrust of the letter nor whom it is from. It will do the young people in this court some good to consider an adventure elsewhere. All I ask is that you do not speak of the ring, nor of whom I have in mind to send just yet. I wish to test some waters before I speak more openly."

…

The next morning over breakfast toast and tea, the news in the night from Narnia was the talk of the table.

Cor looked tired as he shared the news. Corin intially looked wary and a little grumpy that he had not also been asked to join his father in the night to discuss this matter. But he joined the general interested speculation. Aravis looked thoughtful and didn't say much. Cor could tell that this was the moment she had been champing at the bit about, and he recognised that now the moment had come, she was being admirable in her restraint.

Tran was disappointed and said so. "A King-making! Some people have all the fun", he opined. He was due to return to the Lone Islands very soon and could not see himself going to Narnia.

"And the Lone Islands are a dependency of Narnia so I would have hoped we would have been invited. Still, father may have news of his own when he arrives in a few days."

Shar's country was in the opposite direction. But he still had some time before he was due to return. His own awed witnessing of the transformation of Rabadash by Aslan had convinced him that a visit to Narnia, the land of Aslan's original creation would be of utmost importance and thus he had visited once before when Peter was still High King. He still had vivid memories. But to visit for an extended period and be party to a King-making was a most extraordinary opportunity.

He said "Oh, my stars. I would so dearly love to be a part of this delegation. But as a visitor to these parts I am afraid it would take too many months before I could seek and gain my own father's permission. I think I must trust in Good King Lune's judgement and follow with his decision as to whether I may be allowed to join the delegation. Please put a good word in for me" he pleaded, looking across at Cor with doleful eyes.

Cor may have been tired, but he retained the presence of mind to say, "Look, father has asked me to share this with you this morning because he believes, and the Lord Digory believes, that this is the time for the younger ones to come forward. Not so much to offer themselves for the thrones, but to be witness to the events and to support the Narnian people and Talking Beasts in making their best choices."

But he then went on, with a smile, "You know, when I stumbled over the pass overnight into Narnia a few years ago, with Aslan's help of course, I came across the most ridiculously charming and frustrating set of creatures. A Hedgehog who couldn't remember anything beyond its need for sleep, a party of Rabbits who couldn't stop eating the dewy grass, a Squirrel, a Mouse; even a Faun, who wouldn't have been able to make a joint decision to save their own lives! It means we've got to help Narnia find the right people to sit on those thrones, who will respect and protect the silly mugginses and prevent anything bad happening to them!"

He said all this with a tone of authority and they all looked at him with a mix of surprise and respect. The fact that he had merely emulated his father's words from a few hours ago mattered nothing. They could see that he was trying to wear the mantle of crown prince and that he was doing rather well. And his words made sense. Seeing their faces, he continued,

"Well, we have a few Talking Beasts and Magical Creatures here in Archenland, certainly, but in Narnia they are absolutely everywhere. Honestly, you can't pull a bow to shoot a deer for fear it is a Talking one. Apart from the dwarves who took me in, the only sensible one there was a stag. It was he who raced away to raise the alarm about Rabadash. It means Narnia cannot afford to have anyone rash, arrogant, violent or vain on the thrones. And for that matter, neither can Archenland. That's why we need to have a few of us there"

…

Also sitting quietly listening, munching on toast and apples stewed with honey, was Lord Dar's eldest daughter Brin. She was only twelve and the youngest at the table. She was in some awe about the entire affair because it all seemed far beyond her years.

But she was also a highly logical child and tended to maintain a healthy scepticsm of all things so far unseen. She had never yet met Aslan face to face. She found it hard to believe that anybody could come from another world at all despite what she had heard about Lucy and the others.

"Oh they've probably gone back to Telmar or wherever they came from, to escape all the responsibility", had been her wisdom on the matter when news of the disappearance had reached Armouthe more than a year before.

She could always tell how who had eaten what and how much, at the meal table and she had a better head for money and trade than Corin and Cor combined and if truth be told, Aravis as well. Corin liked to joke behind her back that she would probably become the Chancellor of the Exchequer after her father if they weren't careful and lock the door of the treasury against them if they turned their back for five minutes. And he was probably right too.

…