Grace Tells Another Story

26

[Well, here we are. The final chapter. Thank you so much for all who have followed along with Clara's story.

Now, I know in the BBC Silver Chair edition, Caspian appears as a young boy about Eustace's age. However, I am going to change it up and imagine a young Ben Barnes, like that in Disney's Prince Caspian or Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

Without further adieu, hope you enjoy!]

On the castle bridge, a lion roared and Aslan appeared.

Jill and Eustace turned and the former said, "Oh, Aslan. I'm sorry for the mess we made of things. I forgot the signs and then-"

Eustace cut in. "And we nearly got eaten by Giants. And, well-"

"Silence," Aslan told them. "I'm not here to scold you after you've done well the work I sent you to do in Narnia."

"Please, may we go home now?" Jill asked.

"I have come to bring you home." He let out a roar and the three of them appeared where the children had first arrived. Rushing water sounded and Caspian laid in the water, his head against a rock. Clara sat on another rock next to him.

"Son of Adam, go into that thicket and pluck the thorn that you will find there," Aslan instructed and Eustace glanced at the thicket. "Bring it to me."

Eustace walked to the thicket and pulled the thorn from it. He brought it to Aslan who said, "Drive it into my paw."

"Must I?" Eustace asked, hoping he wouldn't actually have to.

"You must."

Eustace dug the thorn into the back of Aslan's right front paw and the Great Lion let out quiet pained growls.

The water surrounding Caspian turned red with blood and the old man became young again. He opened his eyes, stood, and took his wife's hand. Together, the two began walking towards the others. Clara had a soft smile on her face.

"Eustace," the young man said with a smile. "How good to be with you again."

"But he-" Eustace began, glancing at his friend. "Isn't he-"

"We saw him with our own eyes," Jill stated,

"Yes," Aslan confirmed, "he has died. So did she. Most people have, you know. Even I have."

Still smiling, Caspian said, "Clara and I see what's bothering you. I'm no ghost. Nor is she. If we appeared in Narnia, I suppose we'd be ghosts. But here, in Aslan's Country-"

"Aslan, can we stay?" Eustace asked.

"No, child," Aslan replied and the boy hung his head. "When you meet here again, then you will have come to stay, Now you must go back to your own world."

"But we want to see you again," Jill said.

"And you shall, child."

"What did you mean, sir, that you were there too, in our world?" Eustace wondered.

"I am. But there I have another name. You must learn to know me by that name. That was the very reason you were brought to Narnia. That by knowing me here a little, you may know me better there."

"Aslan," Caspian called as he stepped up to the Great Lion, "I have always wanted to have just a glimpse of their world."

Clara nodded as she took her husband's hand. "As have I."

"Is that wrong?"

"Neither of you can want wrong things now that you have died, my son and daughter," Aslan replied. "You both shall see their world for a few minutes of their time." Caspian and Clara nodded, squeezing their hands together. "Now. Draw your swords." The five appeared in Jill and Eustace's world. "But use only the flats. Not the blade. For it is cowards and children, not warriors, you fight."

A roar sounded and the gate and a portion of the wall on either side of the gate door was blasted away.

Eustace, Jill, Clara and Caspian ran towards the hole in the wall with their swords and bow and arrow drawn.

The children saw the four approaching and one boy yelled, "Back! Back!" Instantly, the group of children turned and ran away.

The four lowered their weapons, turned, and walked back towards Aslan.

"You must say goodbye, Caspian, Clara," Eustace said.

Aslan let out a breath and Jill and Eustace's clothes were transformed to what they had been wearing before their adventure.

The friends shared a look, then turned to look at the rising figures of Caspian, Aslan and Clara and they waved.

"Goodbye, Aslan," Eustace called.

"Goodbye," Jill repeated.

"Goodbye."

"Goodbye, Aslan!"

"Goodbye, Clara!" the children added.

Clara waved and smiled. "I shall hopefully see you again, Friends of Narnia."

Caspian and Clara faded from view. Aslan let out a roar before he also faded from view.

Back in Aslan's Country, Caspian took his wife's hand and they walked away, as far as the eye could see and further beyond.