21. "[...] sometimes a moment might be short, but it's long enough to illuminate a lifetime."

Of course, there were many moments, looking back. The moment I realised Caspian really was our King—but Nikabrik was making a fuss, and I didn't get to dwell on it much, since I was threatening to sit on him. Nikabrik? Ah, lad, that's a sad tale for another time. He was a friend of mine till I was far older than you are. No, that's the moment I received a new leader, a new purpose—even a little bit of hope. But not much hope, you know. A rag-tag army of claw and fang with a boy as its general doesn't have much hope against thousands of Sons of Adam with armour and weapons they know how to use.

What's that? Of course we won! Don't belabour that point; I'm just showing that it wasn't our doing that won the country.

Some could also say the moment I volunteered to go to the Eastern shore was the most important. It changed my life, that it did. I had no belief in what I was doing, but I did have obedience—loyalty. Loyalty runs strong in Dwarfs. Let me tell you a secret: if you win a Dwarf's loyalty, he's yours for life. Remember that. You might need it. But I went out of loyalty, and love for a King—a good King—but not love for his beliefs. So my whole heart wasn't in it, and that makes it a lesser moment then it should have been. Trufflehunter should have been the one to go, if we wanted someone with belief. But perhaps the Lion knew I needed it more.

The moment I got beaten by a little boy and then a little girl—now that's a moment to remember! It was the first time I saw it—that sometimes the small and young can be used to overcome the strong and wise. Wise in my own eyes! But everyone thinks they're right; I just thought that more than most. And then, after being beaten by two children, a third one offers to heal me, and does! I had no idea the company I was keeping, and that's the Lion's truth.

But ignorance stops that from being my favourite moment. I learned I was a fool and I was grateful for the lesson, but that's not enough to shape a life on. It calls for a change, but it doesn't give a direction for the change. If it did, I would have voted differently when we were discussing which path to take back to King Caspian! Faith has a way of clearing the mind—when it's faith in the right Someone, of course. When it's faith in the right Someone.

And meeting that Someone—well, that would change anyone's life! Anyone with eyes to see, that is. But that—that's not the right moment either. I looked at Him and I could only be afraid. Of course, I still feel a bit of fear when I remember His face—only a fool doesn't! Someday you'll meet Him yourself, and You'll understand. But no, that wasn't the moment.

He pounced on me—just picture it, someone as large as four of your father pouncing! And tossed me up—a Son of Earth, falling in the air! And caught me again, of course, but the terror—He threw me where I had no business being, no help to myself at all! Nothing I could do but fall. Fall and be caught.

And then came the moment. This Lion, who could eat all of me in a single bite, who was inescapable, you know what He said to me?

"Shall we be friends?"

There. That's the moment. When something—someone—that good and that powerful offers to be friends, and you know you have nothing to offer—

Well, that moment changes your life. There's something about being chosen, being friends, that gives you courage for anything that comes after.

Shall we be friends. Heh, it makes me chuckle today. I had no idea what friendship with the Lion meant—battles and peace and ruling Narnia while your father takes his sweet time at sea—and brings back a wife, at that!

Now, young prince, what about you? What's your favourite moment?

Eh? Dinner! Why yes, I suppose food appeals to one so youn—what? Oh, because your mother and father laugh with each other. Well, I suppose that's worth remembering. Be off with you, then, and go to dinner!

Ah. Narnia is in good hands. It might be time for a bit of sleep before I'm needed to babysit again—

Oh, coming, coming! It's just a suit of armour, don't cry, it's easily put back together again…