Chapter 3
The Tale Of Narnia
Lucy Pevensie sat at the edge of the Thrashing Creek in New Narnia. She stared out at it. The raging rapids were coming down very fast. Her cordial and dagger were on her waste. Jill Pole, another famous Narnia savior, walked over to her from the Forest Of Greenthumb.
"Hi, Lucy, what are you doing over here?" asked Jill, joining her at the creek's edge.
"Oh, hello Jill." said Lucy, kindly. "I was just thinking about our past adventures of Narnia and Susan."
"Don't think so hard on Susan. You remember what Aslan told us? He said, 'Susan will join us in Narnia some day'." said Jill.
"I miss her terribly. I know Peter and Edmund, even though they don't say it, miss her terribly too." said Lucy. "And, where is Aslan?"
"I have no idea." said Jill. "You should come visit Claire Dome with me, Peter, Edmund, Eustace, Professor Kirke and Ms. Plummer. The Elf Paravatia will be accompanying us as well."
"Alright," said Lucy, standing up.
The castle of Cair Paravel was only a mile up through the Forest Of Greenthumb. The journey was very peaceful and serene. It had been like this for nearly a year. There were no more battles and evil beings in Narnia. Aslan had made sure to make the New Narnia as heavenly as possible. Which he had done. For all of Narnia's legendary creatures still roamed the lands, while the many Kings and Queens of Old Narnia lived in Archenland, Telmar, and the Lone Islands, while the Pevensies lived in Cair Paravel.
When Lucy and Jill arrived at the entrance to Cair Paravel, Peter, Edmund, Eustace, Paravatia, Professor Kirke, and Ms. Plummer were already waiting. Peter was carrying a brown sack, which held various food supplies.
"Your majesty!" said Paravatia the Elf, running into Lucy's arms.
"Why, hello Paravatia." said Lucy.
"Where did you head off too Lu?" asked Peter.
"Down to the Thrashing Creek." said Jill.
"Well, shall we be off." said Edmund.
"Do lets," said Polly Plummer. "I haven't been up to Claire Dome, yet. And I've heard from Rasdius of Archenland that it is a wonderful place to visit."
"Horace!" called Edmund. At that moment, a beautiful chestnut horse came running around the edge of Cair Paravel. It was followed by a white horse called Swan, a brown horse called Harper, a black horse called Blackheart, a bronze horse called Espis, a gray horse called Silverwing, and a magnificent golden horse called Destiny.
"Lets ride, then, shall we?" said Eustace, getting onto Blackheart.
Lucy and Paravatia got onto Destiny, while Jill got onto Espis.
Edmund got onto Horace, the chestnut horse, and Peter got onto Harper.
Professor Kirke got onto Silverwing and Ms. Plummer got onto Swan.
"Lets be off, Harper." said Peter.
"You heard him, talking horses. Lets ride!" said Harper the Horse.
All seven horses sped off away from Cair Paravel toward the Western Woods, which would soon lead to the trail to Claire Dome. They had rode for hours and soon came to a resting place just a five miles into the Western Woods. It was soon getting dark.
Eustace and Edmund made a fire. Peter opened the sack he was carrying and pulled out bear meat. He placed them on sticks and placed them in front of the fire. All was peaceful.
"Everything is so peaceful in New Narnia." said Eustace, suddenly. "Its so relaxing." He had lain down.
"Yeah, I know what you mean." said Peter.
"Much different in our day, aye Polly." said Digory Kirke.
"So true," said Polly Plummer. "I remember when were at the coronation of dear King Frank and Queen Helen. Remember, Digory?"
"Yes," said Digory Kirke.
Lucy was staring up at the moon, with Paravatia in her lap. She looks down at the Elf.
"I remember when we first met you Paravatia." whispered Lucy. "It was right in these very woods, we found you happy and free."
"Yes, your Majesty." Paravatia, whispered back.
In an hour's time, the bear meat was ready to eat. They had each had a great breakfast and lunch, but weren't too hungry. Lucy had a deep yearning question she had wanted to ask Peter for sometime now.
"Peter," said Lucy.
"What is it, Lu?" said Peter, chewing on the tender beat meat.
"Where do you suppose Aslan is?" asked Lucy.
"No, idea." said Peter. "Haven't seen him in months now that I truly think about it."
"Haven't you wondered if he's alright or what he's doing?" asked Lucy.
"We know what he's doing." said Edmund. "He's probably trying to sustain order in other countries. As you know, many Kings and Queens from different eras have returned to live in New Narnia. Just like the Caspians. Their all staying at the Castle Rivage over at the border of Archenland. It is a very huge job, Lucy."
"I just want to know why hasn't he shown himself to us in all this time." said Lucy.
No one spoke. To be honest, they had all wondered the same thing.
"Anyway," said Jill trying to change the subject, "we better head out for Claire Dome early next morning. So we'll be there by noon and back by nightfall."
"I agree with Jill." said Polly Plummer.
"Me too," said Peter.
They slept the night away. They awoke the next morning to find their royal horses gone.
"Where are our horses?" asked Eustace.
"I don't know. Maybe they ran off in the night?" said Edmund.
"We'll have to continue on foot then or should we turn around?" said Peter.
"No!" said Jill. "We can't go just yet. We're already five miles into the Western Woods. A few hours walk won't do any harm."
"Pole is right," said Eustace. "I believe we should continue to Claire Dome. Maybe someone may have some spare horses."
Peter, the High King, had come to his decision.
"Lets continue." he said at last.
Soon, they were now continuing toward Claire Dome on foot. The journey through the forest was much more difficult without the aid of a horse. It was much more humid and very little air was passing. The trees were becoming much more thicker, then less thick, then more thicker, and less thick again.
"Where are all the talking beasts of the Western Woods?" asked Lucy, after a mile. "We should had run into something by now."
"And the Dryads and Naiads too." said Edmund.
"Something isn't right at all." said Eustace.
The forest floor soon turned sharply to the left. Within the hour, the group had finally left out of the Western Woods, and crossing the dangerous rock basin, of Ettismone toward what looked like the entrance to Claire Dome.
"I see something your Majesties!" said Paravatia, after an hour's walk into the basin.
"What is it, Elf?" asked Eustace.
"A person," said Paravatia.
Someone was standing near the entrance to Claire Dome, doing a strange and weird hand movement. At that moment, the entire sky turned black. The sun vanished and they were plunged into eternal night.
"What's happening?" said Polly Plummer, alarmed.
"That person there is doing dangerous dark sorcery!" said Peter, pointing at the figure.
"Oh dear Aslan, please help us!" whispered Lucy.
At that moment, the ground began to quake and Edmund vanished into the darkness.
"Edmund!" cried Lucy.
Next, Professor Kirke.
"Professor, no!" said Peter.
Then Ms. Plummer.
"Ms. Plummer's gone too!" said Jill.
Jill and Eustace vanished together.
"Jill! Eustace!" said Lucy, beginning to cry. She held Paravtia tight to her chest.
The earthquake continued.
"What do we do Peter?" asked Lucy, terrified.
"RUN!" shouted Peter over the quake.
They sprinted across the basin as the ground started to split open. Lucy screamed. Soon, Peter was swallowed by the darkness.
"NO! Not you too, Peter!" screamed Lucy.
She stopped in her tracks and held onto Paravatia.
"Dear, faithful Elf, you must save us!" said Lucy.
"But your Majesty, how?" said Paravatia.
"Go! Go to Earth! To England! To London! Find her majesty, Queen Susan at once!" said Lucy, who sounded much more like a Queen, then a scared teenager. "Bring her back to Narnia, whether she likes it or not!"
"Yes, your Grace!" said Paravatia. "But, how can I get there?"
"In the name of Aslan! Now go!" said Lucy, setting Paravatia on the ground. She unsheathed her tiny dagger from her waste and ran toward the person standing on the other side of Ettismone. Paravatia watched in terror.
At that moment, two things happened at once. Lucy had vanished into the darkness and the ground opened underneath Paravatia. She was falling into the dark gorge and would soon reach her death at the very end.
"Oh please, dear Aslan, in your name rescue me!" said Paravatia. As she continued her fall, a bright light appeared underneath her. The light swallowed her and she had vanished from the gorge.