A/N: The last gift! Will it be wasted like the others? Bit shorter than some chapters, but there now, it's all good!
Disclaimer: No. I don't own anything. (The lyrics belong to Evanescence.)
Meanwhile, Anya was debating, back and forth, what she should do. Should she use the final gift, to see her beloved one last time? Or should she save it, and bide her time? At last she came to a decision. And so she walked through the castle gate and headed towards the throne room. She would see Corann this last time, and then return home. There was nothing else for her here, and she had no reason to stay.
"She's back!" Redival squealed with greed, as Anya entered the throne room. "What have you brought for me this evening, girl? More silk? More gold?" "No, my lady," Anya answered, bringing forth the third – and last – box. Once more, she held it high above her head, and tipped out its contents. Out poured jewels, jewels of every kind and colour, jewels of every shape, all of the highest quality and all sparkling. And by the time they had finished pouring out onto the ground, the pile was twice as tall as Anya! Redival went wild with greed, and rushed over to touch them. "Same price as before then?" she cackled. "He must be awake this time, my lady!" Anya demanded.
But, when at last she was shown into Corann's chamber, it seemed Redival had lied to her again. There, beside his bedside, was another goblet – the same as had been there the last two nights, and Corann was fast asleep. Anya wept. And, as before, when she had finished weeping, she began to sing.
Dear my love, haven't you wanted to be with me
And, dear my love, haven't you longed to be free?
I can't keep pretending that I don't even know you
When at sweet night you are my own
While she was singing, she hadn't noticed Corann began to stir. So she jumped when she heard his voice join hers.
We're leaving here tonight
There's no need to tell anyone
They'll only hold us down
So by the morning light
We'll be halfway to anywhere
Where love is more than just your name
They stopped singing. Anya smiled. Corann smiled, as though he still didn't quite remember her. Anya leaned in, and kissed his cheek. Something was triggered in Corann's mind. "Stop!" he cried urgently. "Why?" Anya asked, confused. "I…I promised someone…." The memory was there, but Corann couldn't quite get a good glimpse of it. Redival's magic was weakening. Anya laughed. "Me!" she said. "You promised me!" With that, the spell was broken.
For you see, Redival had, as usual, given Corann a goblet of wine to drink before he went to sleep. And Corann had pretended to drink, but really, none had so much as touched his lips. And so Redival had left the room, and Corann had sat up, determined to meet this mysterious stranger who had been visiting him each night. But he had had a full day, and against his will, had fallen asleep - a naturally sleep, not a magical one which none can be woken from. He explained all this to Anya, and then the happy pair quickly found themselves shimmying down the castle wall, and running out of the town.
Forget this life, come with me, don't look back you're safe now
Redival, meanwhile, was in her treasure room, sorting her new jewels into categories and marveling at her good fortune. Every now and then she would stop and look down at her splendid new clothes. "Silly girl," she chuckled to herself.
Unlock your heart, drop your guard, no one's left to stop you now
Anya and Corann stopped suddenly. For there, in the middle of the road, stood Aslan. "Quickly, on my back," he said. "There isn't much time." They obeyed, and soon found themselves flying back towards the castle. Anya and Corann looked at each other worriedly. "There is nothing to fear, my children," Aslan said, almost laughing. "I simply have some unfinished business with the Tarkheena." Anya and Corann found themselves outside Redival's treasure chamber. Aslan drew out a great breath, and the finery of the three gifts disappeared – even the silk. Corann and Anya laughed at the sight of the wicked queen in her underclothes, and of course, she heard them laughing, and was quite alarmed to find them sitting atop a great lion outside her window.
She jumped up and rushed to the window, shaking her fist at them. "Curse you! Curse you both!" she cried. "And you! Demon! False god of the barbarians! May the bolt of Tash fall on you from above! May –" But she never got to finish. For Aslan shook his mane (gently, lest his two passengers should fall off) and her nose became bigger, and her arms and legs became shorter and her feet and hands shrunk up all together and her fingers and toes were squished together to form trotters, and her body became huge and swollen and she shrunk a good deal in size. And the young prince and princess of Lithosa couldn't help but laugh when they realized that Aslan had turned Redival into a pig!
Then Aslan turned himself about, and began heading back to Lithosa.