Yule 15, 849; Thirdday
Amesh and I had been courting for nearly six months, and almost every evening we sat and talked, or sat in silence in each other’s company. Today was no different. We were sitting in a private living area with a fire blazing in the fireplace.
We sat snuggled on a sofa in front of the fire, gazing into it, when Amesh asked, “My Lady has been teaching songs about Aslan to the Narnian children. Where do they stem from?”
“They were originally from the weekly celebrations of Aslan in my world. I did have to change them slightly to fit Narnia, but they mean the same thing,” I replied. Long ago, I had told Amesh about why I wore my Miraculous Medal, who Aslan was in my world, and how we celebrated His birth, life, death, and resurrection.
He looked down at me. “Would my Lady mind singing one of the songs – unchanged – that you would sing during your advent season?”
I smiled at him. “Of course, I’d love to.”
I thought about which song I should sing. I had two in mind; one was shorter and the other longer. Finally, I decided on the one I knew best, “People, Look East.”
“People, look East. The time is near Of the crown-ing of the year. Make your house fair as you are able. Trim the hearth and set the ta-ble. People, look East, and sing to-day: Love, the Guest, is on the way.
“Fur-rows, be glad, though earth is bare. One more seed is plant-ed there; Give up your strength the seed to nour-ish, That in course the flow’r may flour-ish. People, look East, and sing to-day: Love, the Rose, is on the way.
“Stars, keep the watch when night is dim. One more light the bowl shall brim. Shin-ing be-yond the frost-y weath-er, Bright as sun and moon to-geth-er. People, look East, and sing to-day: Love, the Star, is on the way.
“An-gels, an-nounce on this great feast: Him who com-eth from the East. Set ev-‘ry peak and val-ley hum-ming With the word, the Lord is com-ing. People, look East, and sing to-day: Love, the Lord, is on the way.”
I had been looking into Amesh’s eyes the whole time I sang, and I saw the appreciation on his face as I finished.
“That was as beautiful as Narnia herself,” he commented.
“Why, thank you, my Lord. You are too kind.”
“Nay, my Lady deserves it.”
I laid my head on his chest before I asked, “What do you think of Narnia, Amesh?”
He placed his hand on my head and started petting my hair. I could hear the smile in his voice as he replied, “Narnia is a wondrous country. She retains a beauty throughout each season that comes. And her people are extraordinary, as well. I enjoy being here, especially with you.”
I smiled. “As do I.”
-x-x-x-x-x-
Yule 25, 849; Sixthday
Cair Paravel was full of Christmas spirit throughout the day. The Narnian children there were singing the songs that I taught them, and among them the newest one, “O Breathe on Me, O Breath of Aslan”; and they were doing a lovely job of it, too.
“O breathe on me, O Breath of As-lan, Fill me with life a-new, That I may love the things you love, And do what you would do.
“O breathe on me, O Breath of As-lan, Un-til my heart is pure; Un-til my will is one with yours, To do and to en-dure.
“O breathe on me, O Breath of As-lan, My will to yours in-cline, Un-til this self-ish part of me Glows with your fire di-vine.
“O breathe on me, O Breath of As-lan, So I shall nev-er die, but live with you the per-fect life For all e-ter-ni-ty.”
While they celebrated throughout the day, the Narnians – myself and Amesh included – gave gifts to each other. In the private living space that we had silently declared our hideaway, the two of us exchanged gifts. I gave Amesh a book that gave a detailed history of Narnia.
“This is wonderful, Swanwhite. I will most enjoy reading it,” he said after he opened it. He turned to reach behind him to grab the gift he’d gotten me, and handed it over. “I hope you treasure this as much as you treasure me.”
I opened the box and found a small, diary-sized leather-bound book. When I opened it, I saw that it was filled with poetry – Calormen poetry, written by Amesh. I looked up to him and saw a smile on his face. Putting down the book, I threw my arms around his neck.
“Oh, thank you, Amesh! I can’t wait to read it.”
“You are most welcome, Swanwhite. Now, would you tell me the story of Aslan’s birth in your world?”
“Well, it all started with Mary, daughter of Saint Anne, who was betrothed to Saint Joseph. She was visited by the Archangel Gabriel. The Angel was sent by God (or the Emperor-above-the-sea) to ask Mary if she was willing to be the mother of the Savior. Mary, who never sinned, who never had the stain of Adam’s sin on her heart, said yes; she would be the mother of our saving Lord, and she became pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit.
“When Joseph found out that Mary was pregnant, and not by his doing, he planned to let her out of their betrothal quietly so she wouldn’t be humiliated. But God sent an Angel to Joseph in a dream to tell him to take Mary as his wife, for her pregnancy was the Holy Spirit’s doing, and that she carried the Savior.
“When the time came for Mary to give birth, she and Joseph had been traveling to Bethlehem – the City of David, of whom Joseph was a descendent. When they arrived, there was no room at the inn, so they had to take shelter in a cave used as a stable for farm animals. There, the baby Jesus was born and wrapped in swaddling clothes.
“During the days that they stayed in Bethlehem, the family was visited by many people who came to do the Lord homage. Then there came a day when God sent an Angel to Joseph in another dream to tell him to flee Bethlehem to Egypt because King Herod of Judea wished to kill Jesus, and Joseph did as he was told. And to this day in my world, we celebrate Jesus’ coming.”
“That was a wonderful story, Swanwhite.”
I offered a smile, which he returned. Then a voice from behind us said, “Yes, a very wonderful story.”
We turned around, and to my surprise found a jolly old man with a white beard, wearing a red velvet suit, and holding a big red velvet bag.
“Father Christmas!” I exclaimed, getting up to hug him.
“It’s good to see you, Lass. I’m mighty sorry about your parents.”
“Thank you. Now, why are you here so late? I thought you came last night.”
“Aye, I did, but the gifts I brought must be given in person.”
“Oh, I see.” I turned to include Amesh. “Father Christmas, this is my suitor, Amesh. Amesh, this is Father Christmas.”
Amesh bowed his head slightly to him. “It is an honor, sir. Swanwhite has told me about you.”
“Why, I am flattered. And the two of ya are on a first-name basis, eh?” Father Christmas winked at me. “He must be a keeper, eh Lass?”
I looked to Amesh and took hold of his outstretched hand. “I hope so.”
“Oh, I have a feelin’. Anyway, the two of ya might do with these.”
Father Christmas reached into his bag and pulled out two objects. He handed Amesh a boot dagger, and gave me what looked to be a large, beautiful hair clip. However, when I looked closer, I saw that the clip contained a small dagger.
“These will be helpful to ya in the future.”
“Thank you, Father Christmas,” I said, and reached up to give him a kiss on the cheek.
I stepped back, and Amesh bowed his head slightly. “Thank you, kind sir.”
Father Christmas bowed his head to Amesh. “I look forward to seeing the two of ya next Yule. Farewell.”
“Farewell,” Amesh and I said in unison.
After Father Christmas left, Amesh turned to me and said, “Could you sing a Christmas song before we head off to sleep?”
I went and sat back down on the sofa; Amesh sat down next to me. “It’d be my pleasure. This one’s called ‘Away in a Manger.’”
“A-way in a man-ger, no crib for a bed, The lit-tle Lord Je-sus laid down his sweet head; The stars in the sky looked down where he lay, The lit-tle Lord Je-sus a-sleep on the hay.
“The cat-tle are low-ing , the ba-by a-wakes, But lit-tle Lord Je-sus , no cry-ing he makes; I love thee Lord Je-sus! Look down from the sky, And stay by my cra-dle till morn-ing is nigh.
“Be near me Lord Je-sus, I ask thee to stay Close by me for-ev-er, and love me I pray; Bless all your dear chil-dren in thy ten-der care, And fit us for heav-en to live with thee there.”
We both hummed the song as we walked to my bedchambers. When we arrived at them, I was sad to see him leave. Noticing this, Amesh gently grasped my chin, and made me look him in the eye.
“Do not be disheartened by this, love. We will soon live out our lives together, if it is Aslan’s will. Sleep now; we shall see each other in but a few hours.”
I smiled sleepily at him, and he pulled me into a hug. When he released me, he said, “Sleep well. Aslan’s Blessings be upon you.”
“And you. Sleep well, Amesh.”
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