Fairdawn 23, 838
As she grew older, Queen Atarah became more and more uncomfortable with the concept of possibly not having an heir to the throne. She and her husband, the king, tried most diligently to produce a child, but it always ended up in a miscarriage or stillborn.
The queen was most worried now, for she had come to the point in her life where she was past her childbearing years.
“Aslan,” the queen said as she knelt by her bed, praying. “What will become of Narnia? My husband and I have no children, and therefore no heir. I cannot have children now for sure, Aslan. How will your kingdom have a leader?” Atarah began to weep. “Aslan, please send us a child! I promise I will care for him as if he was truly my own. Please Aslan, please.”
A wave of sudden exhaustion and relief came over the elder queen as she slipped into bed. Atarah felt her worries slip away, and had faith that Aslan would come through as she fell asleep.
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King Gabriel waited until he was sure his wife was asleep before he entered their room. Changing into his night clothes as quietly as he could, the king thought about not having a son or daughter to teach how to rule and fight. He knew it troubled his wife very much, but he also knew he couldn’t do anything about it.
Slipping into bed, the king watched his queen sleep peacefully. Just an hour ago she had been a mess of worries, but now she bore a relaxed expression on her face.
She must’ve prayed before she fell asleep, he thought.
Gabriel had not been a very religious man, but believed Aslan deserved his devotion all the same. He was never brought up to pray to Aslan for anything, except for going into battle and guidance in serious affairs. After meeting Atarah, Gabriel started to pray more frequently to Aslan on things he thought were important.
Thinking he had nothing to lose, the king got out from underneath his covers, knelt down up against his bed, folded his hands, and prayed to Aslan. “Great Lion, please bring us a child to make him or her heir of the throne. Narnia is going to need a leader after my wife and I enter your country. Please help us, Aslan.”
After he lay down beside his queen, Gabriel felt his worries flee his mind, and fell into a peaceful sleep.
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During that night, Aslan came to both the king and queen in identical dreams. The monarchs were on a beach near the water line, and they saw the Great Lion farther down the beach and ran to him. After hugging the Lion, the couple pulled back with wondering looks.
Aslan chuckled. “I have come to tell you both that I have decided to give you what you ask.”
Atarah and Gabriel smiled. “Thank you, Aslan,” Gabriel said.
“You are most welcome, my son. The child shall appear near the cave a mile from Cair Paravel. Take her in, and treat her as your own. She will not understand this world; be patient, she will come to understand and believe. When you find this child, you shall name her Swanwhite. She shall come within a year. Make sure you prepare a room for her.”
Atarah began to cry happily, and threw her arms around the Lion’s neck and buried her face in His mane. “Thank you, Aslan. We shall do our very best to care for and educate this child you send us.”
“You are most welcome, my daughter.”
After the queen pulled back, the monarchs bowed and curtsied to the Great Lion, then all swirled around them and went black. Waking up, Gabriel and Atarah looked at each other and smiled. They were going to have a daughter.
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