The storybook I would love to be trapped in.
The sun was high in the sky, throwing its warmth down in golden pillars around the vibrant cityscape. Days like these would be spent in lands with fire-breathing dragons, unicorns, elves and all kinds of magical creatures but today, I have been moping around due to the lack of new adventures to sink into.
Just then, a ray of light at my bookshelf caught my eye. I walked over slowly, squatting down to grab the book.
The Last Battle by C. S. Lewis; it was my favourite book of all time. Carrying the book in my hand, I went to my cozy corner and settled down.
Day turned into night soon enough and I realised was not alone. With me, were two children, around my age. We were together in a dark, cold and muddy place with a man tied up in front of us. I walked around him, studying his profile while the two of them were busy freeing him.
It turned out that the two children were called by Tirian, who claimed to be one of the Kings in Narnia and the two children were supposedly the chosen ones, related to the High Kings and Queens of Narnia. It did not really matter to me who they were yet - I was busy being amazed at where I was.
Together, we walked to the bottom of the valley, taking time to introduce ourselves as we refreshed ourselves with a little fountain. The two children, a girl and a boy, introduced themselves as Jill Pole and Eustace Scrubb. I did not have time to introduce myself as the two children were busy sharing the story of the Ones who found Narnia.
We continued our journey, unsure of our destination but we trusted Tirian to lead us to a safe place. After what seemed like eternity, we reached an open grassy space. A square and short tower, with very few narrow windows and a heavy-looking door facing us. It sat in the middle of the open space, with a stream at at the far side of the tower.
We soon found ourselves in a rather dark and damp place, with all sorts of armours and weapons hanging around. Tirian showed us a plate-mail which Eustace commented as "funny looking". Tirian agreed, saying that it was not smithed by any Narnian Dwarves and it was the Calormene's outlandish gear. Before we all settled down, Jill pointed out that I had not introduced myself.
After my self-introduction, all of us settled down for the night, sleeping in the armoury, the only safe place for all of us now. I have watched Jill and her archery skills in shooting a rabbit (not a Talking Rabbit thankfully). Though she was not up to the Narnian standards, she was pretty good. Eustace was pretty flexible - being able to learn the skills of a scimitar after mastering the use of a long sword. Tirian fitted me with a bow earlier on, and surprisingly, I was not as bad as I thought. I guess it was one of the effects which Narnian air often has on visitors from our world.
The next day, or rather evening, we planned to save Tirian's Unicorn, Jewel, first. And if we succeeded, we would try to get away Eastward, and meet with the little army Roonwit the Centaur would be bringing from Cair Paravel.
Tirian briefed us all on how we should behave, now that we were in disguises of the Calormenes. I felt the rush of adrenaline pumping through my body, and my head was soon dizzy with excitement. All four of us started out on our journey with all the great Narnian stars burning in the night sky.
We almost got lost, but thanks to Jill's extraordinary skill of being able to read stars. Also, she knew the Narnian stars perfectly - even when the Spear-head was hidden, she could still work out the direction from other stars.
The woods was awfully quiet, making our rescue mission harder as fear and gloom now reigned over Narnia. When we neared the place where Jewel was held captive, Tirian decided he would go alone. Jill, Eustace and I stayed hidden in the bushes, watching Tirian boldly walk up.
We waited for quite a while and then we heard Tirian's whisper. The rescue mission went on perfectly well, and so we headed for home. After a while, Eustace raised an interesting question, "Where is Jill?" Knowing how quietly she could move around, it was a worry. At that moment, a drum beat from faraway could be heard. Jewel cocked his ears forward and said, "Dwarves."
Dwarves were treacherous beings, they were the enemies too. And then came the sound of hooves. The three of us and the Unicorn stood dead still, for there were so many different things to be worried about now. The steady beat of the hooves came nearer until a standstill and a voice asked if we were still there.
Thank God, it was Jill. With everyone safe with us, we all headed in the direction of home. There was a moment of silence until Eustace asked, "What do you mean you've got
him?"
Jill simply replied, "The false Aslan."
Tirian was shocked. "What have you done?" He asked Jill, puzzled.
Jill explained that when Tirian had got the sentry out of the way, she thought that she should have a better look at what's inside the stable. It was pretty dark in the stable, so she struck a match and could not believe her eyes. The Aslan everybody's been waiting for was nothing but a Donkey with a bundle of lion-skin tied onto his back.
There was a sound that sounded like rasping metal. Tirian was drawing his sword, ready to smite off the head of the accused Donkey. But Jill was quick to protest, saying that it was not the Donkey's fault, but it was the Ape's fault. She explained that the Ape managed to brainwash the Donkey into pretending to be Aslan for the Donkey was not as smart as the Ape.
Jewel interrupted the conversation, warning of the impending danger. The dwarves were nearing but Tirian was unafraid, for he has the fake Aslan now. He would unveil the Ape's vile plot and show them that this Aslan was not worthy of anything. Everyone was joyous and we set off in the direction of the drumming.
There were two Calormene soldiers leading the group of Dwarves. Tirian was mistaken for a Tarkaan of great lord, so the soldiers came to a halt and spoke with him. The Calormene soldiers were bringing these Dwarves into the salt-pits of Pugrahan, to let them die there, as said to be what Aslan ordered.
So I boldly showed them all what they had been listening to, believing in. The Dwarves were all staring at the Donkey with open mouths, unable to believe how they had been able to fool into believing that Aslan is back.
The Calormene soldiers had their spears down and ready for action. They asked for the password, and the King said, "
The light is dawning, the lie is broken. Now guard thee, miscreant, for I am Tirian of Narnia."
Tirian had drawn his sword, signaling for us to fight. Eustace drew his sword, while Jill and I positioned our bows and aimed. We managed to clear the soldiers, and now we had the company of many Dwarves, who would fight with us to save Narnia.
All of us continued traveling until an Eagle appeared, coming down to alight on a rock. It brought news of heart wrenching sights. It said it had saw two sights - One was that Cair Paravel was filled with Dead Narnians and living Calormenes, that Cair Paravel was taken by sea. And the other was Roonwit the Centaur lying dead with a Calormene arrow in his side.
It was a long way to go, but we all perservered. With sights and sounds all around me, the weirdest I had ever seen was probably the figure, larger than me, with the head of a bird and four arms, running through a forest. Tirian said it was the lord of the Calormene.
Together, the four of us and the Talking Beasts, whom we had set free along the way, set off for Cair Paravel to save Narnia. The road back to Cair Paravel and the saving of Narnia was not an easy path, but after numerous battles, all of us prevailed and the lord they had been worshipping eventually defeated the Calormenes.
Then there was a great sight that set all of our hearts beating. The Seven Kings and Queens of Narnia were standing before us, with Jill and Eustace among them. Immediately, Tirian and I felt ashamed at our battle suits but when I looked down, we were in fresh, cool and clean clothes, dressed in clothes we would have worn for the great feast at Cair Paravel.
At long last, the moment we’ve all been waiting for – Aslan. The time of salvation has arrived and It has come to save us… As for the ones who chose not to let anyone save them, they were left behind in the shadows, for the only prison they have is their mind and they are afraid of being taken in that they cannot be taken out.
In the new land of Narnia, everybody lived, even those who had died for a noble death defending Cair Paravel and though I did not do as much as Jill and Eustace did, I was given a noble title of the Queen’s Knight (although I am a female). It was a land where love blossomed and nobody aged. I could have chose to stay along with the Kings and Queens but there was no place for me to stay on… But in my heart will be memories of Narnia and everybody in it, Talking Beasts and the kindness of everybody.
Catch Inkheart in cinemas from 22 January 2009!
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