Back at the castle, the two queens strolled amongst the gardens, laughing at the events of the past evening when the beavers had come to visit.
"Ah, twas a lovely time," said Susan as she paused to admire a bright crimson rose that had just bloomed.
"Yes, and I especially loved the crumpets that Mrs. Beaver baked for us!" said Lucy, but then she sighed. "I only wish Peter and Edmund could have been here to enjoy it."
Susan turned to her, offering a half smile. "They'll be home soon."
"I hope so—two weeks seems like an awful long time already, and I miss them."
The girls continued to walk about the castle gardens, and eventually made their way around to the courtyard in front. However just as they were about to turn to go inside, Lucy noticed something in the distance. No, someone, running up to them.
"Susan! Whoever could that be?"
Peering out beyond the gate, Susan gasped. "Why, its Nimius the fawn!"
"But didn't he set out with—"
At that moment, Nimius burst through the courtyard, panting. Lucy wasted no time in rushing over to him.
"My good Nimius! Whatever is the matter?"
The fawn drew in deep breaths and fought to regain his composure. Once he had settled down, he looked at the queens with such a sorrowful expression that Lucy couldn't help but put a supporting hand on his shoulder. Susan did the same, and asked, "Dear Nimius! Please do tell us whatever has happened to you so that we might help!"
Nimius only seemed to sink lower at this statement. "Oh my queen…" He moaned, and dropping to one knee, he couldn't bring himself to look up as he spoke. "I bring grave news. The gravest news in all of Narnia." He choked on his words. "Several days ago, while we were crossing a rocky cliff on the way to fight the giants in the north, a landslide formed. Like none I have ever seen. I was traveling in the back so I just narrowly escaped before…before the boulders came crashing down and…"
Lucy's face turned a deathly white. Trembling, she said lowly, "What of Peter and Edmund?"
Nimius could not bring himself to answer and a dead silence rung in the air before Lucy shrieked, "What of Peter and Edmund?!"
The fawn fought tears as he choked out the words he dreaded to say the most. "Never did the land of Narnia do anything to deserve more faithful and true kings than the ones that are lost to her this day."
Everything before Lucy's eyes seemed to swim before her as she sunk to her knees and wept bitterly. She clung to her sister as she joined her.
"No…no! It c…can't be true!" She wailed, burying her face in Susan's cloak. "Tell me he's lying Susan! Ple…e….ease!" She shook as she sobbed.
The eldest queen held her tight, and simply gazed ahead as if in a daze. In a hoarse whisper she mouthed the words, "Aslan…oh Aslan..please no…"
Dawn came early, and Peter realized that he had fallen asleep. The first thing he did was check Edmund's pulse. He still felt one, as light as it was. He closed his eyes in relief.
Suddenly though, he became aware of an unfamiliar sound that echoed throughout the cave.
Drip. Drip. Splash. Drip. Splash.
Shifting his gaze towards where the noise was coming from, Peter's heart …could it be?
Lining the wall, a trickle of water flowed down from a crevice overhead. It was about two inches in diameter, and it appeared to be getting stronger the more it fell.
Peter's heart leapt at the wondrous sight of something he did not expect to ever see again. With every ounce of strength left in him, he brought himself up to his knees and crawled over to where the water was.
Arms trembling, he cupped his hands the best he could and scooped the fresh water off the wall, bringing it up to his chapped lips. Never had anything tasted so refreshing in his life. As soon as he swallowed, he felt as though a new wave of energy swept through his entire body, from the top of his head to the very tip of his toes. His strength was returning.
After a few sips, he immediately went to Edmund. Propping his brother's head up with his arm, Peter cupped his hand once more and collected the water. As carefully as he could, he poured some into Edmund's mouth.
Please wake up…please.
He continued to repeat the process, and as he did so, the slight trickle had turned into a mini stream. After several moments, Edmund's eyelids fluttered open. He coughed.
"Pete?"
Peter sighed in relief as his brother attempted to sit up. The water was having the same effect on him as it did Peter. As he did so, Peter embraced him, his eyes moist.
"You made it," He said.
Edmund returned his embrace. After a minute, he suddenly shouted, "Peter, Look!"
The water on the wall had dried up entirely, leaving not so much of a trace of it's existence only a moment before. Letting go of Peter, Edmund ran his hand against the stone wall.
"Its gone. All of it. Oh! But what's this?"
Directly beneath where Edmund's hand was, there appeared on the ground to be a gold stamp of some sort, covered with a thin layer of earth. He brushed some of the dirt off of it to try and see it more clearly.
"It's a paw print," said Edmund, examining it further. Peter scooted closer and looked on at the curious sign on the ground as well. After a silent moment, both boys turned their heads to one another and said in an awed whisper, "Aslan."
He had sent the healing water to them. "Edmund, look what direction the print is facing."
Indeed, the golden paw print seemed to be facing the cave wall, as if it was exiting the place. Edmund touched it again. "But why would He have left it this way if there is no-"
"Wait!" Peter interjected, for he now noticed something else that he could have sworn was not there before. Right above the print, a crevice about the size of his hand ran along in between the two boulders. It grew larger with each passing second, until it was large enough to crawl through. The boys could only look on in wonder at this marvelous sight. Aslan had sent them a way out.
"Come on!" said Peter as he proceeded to crawl through the opening. Edmund followed quickly behind him.