~By the Lion's Mane: See You Again~

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Nineteen

~Rose~

There was nothing but happiness and comfort and love. I was surrounded by friends and people whom I had not seen in many years, but now those years seemed like the blink of an eye. I could barely remember what it felt like to miss someone and long to see them, or what pain was.

But after a time, I was to be reminded, and when that time came, I felt Aslan’s pull on me, and I answered.

When I entered His Country once again, I knew that something was happening. Aslan stood on the cliff-top, gazing West.

He turned, fixing me with his golden eyes. “Rose, the time has come, and Narnia is in need of help again.”

“But who can help?” I asked hopelessly, the long-absent emotion pressing on me again suffocatingly.

“I believe you have already met them once before. A boy, who at one time was most disagreeable, but who has undergone a great Change.” Aslan’s eyes twinkled.

I felt my own grow wide. “Eustace? Eustace Scrubb? You’ve brought him to help Narnia?”

“He will need some assistance, of course,” Aslan said. “One of his friends from school, Jill Pole. I have given her a set of signs to guide her in their task.”

I was speechless. The fate of my son, and Narnia, in the hands of Eustace Scrubb and a girl of which I had never heard.

“I see that you do not have much confidence in whom I have chosen,” Aslan said.

“I-It’s just that...” I couldn’t voice what I was feeling. I wasn’t even sure what it was. Maybe... disappointment? Doubt?

Aslan’s golden eyes were soft. “You are afraid that Rilian will be lost.”

I nodded.

After a moment more, Aslan spoke again. “Jill Pole is a proud girl. You know how Eustace is, though he has changed vastly for the better.” He studied me closely, and I felt laid bare under his scrutiny.

I sighed, gazing out across the vastness. “Obviously, you know what you are doing,” I said ruefully. “But please keep them safe,” I said, growing serious again.

And with the rise of a soft breeze, I felt myself drifting back to the land of light.

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~Eustace~

To my shock and amazement, I landed in the middle of a brightly colored crowd of who I assumed to be Narnians, at a harbor. I saw a castle for the first time up on a high cliff to my left, its towers and turrets and walls and windows gleaming majestically in the late afternoon light.

I stood and watched from a distance an old man boarding a ship, the crowd mourning. I hardly even noticed Jill land nearby, and ignored her presence until after the ship had departed.

Then she grabbed my arm, much to my annoyance, and said, “Scrubb! Scrubb, quick! Do you see anyone you know?”

I jerked my arm free of her grasp and snapped, “So you’ve turned up again, have you? Well keep quiet, I want to listen.” I went back to watching the crowd.

Jill huffed. “Don’t be a fool. There isn’t a moment to lose! Don’t you see some old friend here? Because you’ve got to speak to him at once!”

With a frustrated sigh, I gave in and turned to face her. “What are you talking about?”

With a pleading look on her face, she told me, “It’s Aslan—the Lion—says you’ve got to. I’ve seen Him!”