Snowbrice 10, 849
Mum and Dad set out for the Western border to try to stop Jadis from killing the Tree of Protection and invading Narnia. They wouldn’t let me come because I would see enough battle during my own reign. Shream and Famina stayed behind to be my guards. Mum told me to pray to Aslan that she, Dad, and the army might be kept safe or welcomed into His Country. We also arranged for an Eagle named Selmon to go back and forth to keep me apprised of how the battle was going. That was two weeks ago.
Yesterday I got word that Dad received a serious wound from a Minotaur’s battle ax. This information hit me hard, but I kept my expression free of any distress. As soon as I was alone, I shakily prayed to Aslan that Dad would be fine and come home. I got my answer to my prayer in the middle court.
“My Princess,” a Boar started, “with the threat of Jadis’ invasion, I suggest that . . .”
“Princess Swanwhite!” interrupted Sir Temnay, the Fox Chamberlain. “Selmon arrives with urgent news!”
The crowd of Narnians stirred uneasily at the announcement.
“Let him enter and come forward, Sir Temnay,” I answered with a slight tremble in my voice. I stood and held my arm out as the guards opened the doors. Selmon flew in and perched himself on my arm. I listened intently as he whispered to me the news, which was mixed good and bad.
“Thank you, Selmon. You may fly back now,” I whispered, and he took off, leaving a room of worried and anxious people.
I turned my attention back to the Narnians as I tried to compose myself. “Narnians. The battle is done; the day is won.” Though this was great news, they did not cheer, for they could see that there was something more that I had yet to tell them. “However, my Father, King Gabriel of Narnia, has died from his battle wound, and my Mother, Queen Atarah of Narnia, is in poor condition from a wound she received at the end of the battle.”
As the Narnians took in this news, you could see the waves of shock go from front to back, side to side.
After a few minutes of letting everyone soak in the information, I added shakily, “They’ll be arriving within the next couple of days. Court is adjourned.”
It took a while before the Narnians started to exit the throne room, and it took all my strength to keep my composure. As soon as everyone was out, I fell back into my throne, curled up into a ball, and cried. At one point I even moved to Dad’s throne to try to gain my strength back, but all it did was weaken it. When I finally cried myself out, anger set it. I wasn’t angry at Aslan, I was angry at the fact that Dad died due to Jadis, and that Mum was probably going to follow.
To try to blow off some of the anger, I went to the stables, saddled my dumb Mustang Shema, and rode out as fast as I could go out to the beach and down the shoreline. Though I couldn’t see them, I knew the guards were keeping special watch over me. Once Shema and I arrived at the spot where I first came into Narnia, I turned her around and pointed her back towards Cair Paravel. The ride gave me a feeling of freedom and happiness, but it was only temporary. I gave Shema a good rubdown and some oats and went to my room to pray to Aslan.
Kneeling next to my bed, I began to pray. “Aslan! Help me, please! Dad has gone to Your Country, and I’m sure Mum is to follow, but I need help. Though I am twenty-one, I still need someone to act as a guardian. Please help me, Aslan . . .” I trailed off as I became suddenly tired.
I took off my crown and placed it on the table beside my bed, and then crawled onto my bed. Before I fell asleep, I said one more prayer. “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.”
-x-x-x-x-x-
Two days later, I was in the library looking up Narnian funerals when the horn from the gate tower sounded at the arrival of the army. After hearing the blast, I quickly got up, ran out the door, and down the corridor. The Narnians in the hall quickly got out of my way, knowing I’d probably run them over in my urgency. When I got to the courtyard, they were just entering with two stretchers near the front; one with Dad’s body completely covered, and the other with Mum, whose face looked terribly pale. I quickly ran to her side as General Kaymen and one of his lieutenants put Mum on the ground. She raised her almost lifeless eyes to meet mine.
“My daughter,” she whispered, “I’m sorry this happened.”
I tried to smile. “It’s alright Mum. It’s Aslan’s will . . .”
Mum raised her left hand up to my face, for it was her right shoulder that was wounded, and she said, “Don’t lose your faith in Him, dear. He’ll guide you through your toughest times . . .” she paused to take a ragged breath. “I love you, Swan.”
“I love you too, Mum. Tell Dad I love him, and I’ll see you later.”
“I shall. See you later . . . my daughter.” That was the last thing she said before she died.
A silent tear escaped as I got up and faced the centaur General. “Kaymen, please make sure that my Mother and Father are prepared to be buried – I am planning the funeral. I plan to have them buried at the cave where I was found.”
“Yes, my Queen. If there is anything you need, let us know.”
“I . . . I shall,” I replied hesitantly, not used to the title of Queen.
I re-entered Cair Paravel and went to work preparing the funeral. I had the Moles dig the graves; the Centaurs would carve the grave stones, the Dwarves would build the coffins out of the nicest wood, and the Dryads would dress Mum and Dad in their finest clothes, and everyone else would decorate the area as they saw fit for a funeral.
Instead of heading to the royal dining room for lunch, I went to my room and sat on my bed. I didn’t feel like eating, and I was worried about becoming Queen of Narnia.
“My daughter, it is not a good idea to not eat. You must keep up your strength,” said a deep majestic voice from behind me.
I whirled around to find a huge Lion sitting near the door to the washroom, which joined my room and Mum and Dad’s room. I knew the instant I saw Him—I knew it was Aslan. I hesitated going to Him, but after a nod of approval, I went and hugged Him. Aslan put His paws around me, hugging me back, and purred as I rubbed my face in His mane and began to cry.
“I don’t understand, Aslan,” I sobbed. “Why did they have to go?”
“Because, my daughter, you are my last Queen before Jadis succeeds.”
“What?” I asked, pulling back with confusion written all over my face.
“For good to make a definite impression, evil must prevail first,” He answered cryptically.
“But Aslan, what good could come from Jadis who is pure evil?”
“I shall inform you later, child, but not today. This afternoon, King Gabriel and Queen Atarah will be buried, and tomorrow you shall be crowned Queen of Narnia.”
“Aslan, I’m not sure I’ll be able to lead this country.”
“You deceive yourself. I know you will be a great leader of Narnia. And do not worry, there will be people to help you.”
“Thank you, Aslan.”
“You’re welcome, dear. Now you should eat before the funeral starts,” He said, gently nudging me towards the door. And He walked with me down the hall.