Further Up & Further In

A Different Sort of Christmas

Frank and Helen arrived in the summer, leaving behind a rainy, grey one and finding themselves in a season fresh and green. Their memories of London became a cold, foggy memory, much like the city itself, as this new country took over their senses. Factory smoke became mountain winds, and cobblestone became dew-covered grass. Their eyes were brighter - as was the sun - and they heard nothing but good cheer and sounds of nature wherever they went. It became their country, their Narnia, and piece by piece their past faded from their memories.

Still, they each prayed every night, and Frank still sang his hymns. There was still a relationship there that they longed for, and if anything, being in Narnia made the yearning grow stronger. But there was a new name on their tongues, and they began to wonder how He fit into the equation.

King Frank and Queen Helen were crowned in the summer, and the months of their reign began to move by. By the time winter rolled around, their old holidays and traditions were the last thing on their minds. Winter was new to them, somehow. Colder. Snowier. Cleaner. And yet, with the two of them together, and the bright world around them, it was warmer, too. Surely they considered Christmas as the season approached, but neither were sure how it fit into their new lives, and in a way, they didn't need it. Everyday felt the way they needed it to.

But someone must have heard their prayers, for one day in the heart of winter, a strange sort of man appeared at the door of Cair Paravel. He wore red, silks, and furs, and had a long white beard. He had the face of a traveler, and yet a smile that felt like home. But if his appearance wasn't enough for the new king and queen, the sack he carried with him gave him away. He was Father Christmas, and he was real.

They didn't question when he showed up at their door. Surrounded by magic every day, it only made sense that he was real. It only made sense to believe. Yet in the spite of their joy, they were also confused.

"Father Christmas, sir, you are very welcome, indeed! But I can't help but wonder, why is it you are here? Why should we have Christmas in this world?" (For both Frank and his wife knew very well what Christmas meant.)

Father Christmas' eyes twinkled as he answered. "Have you not guessed? Your Majesties, we are all under the true king, in this world, and your own."

Helen grasped her husband's arm tightly. "Oh, you don't mean-?" Then, after a moment of studying the face of the man before them, she smiled brightly and squeezed tighter. "Oh, Frank! It's Him! Aslan, the Great Lion, he is one and the same! He is our Saviour!"

Frank smiled, too, as he put it all together. "Why, I do believe you're right! I can't think how we didn't see it before, Nellie. It's been such a puzzle... but I've always felt I've known him somehow, from the very beginning. Of course he's the same. I see it now."

Father Christmas began to hand them items from his large sack. "God's son was born in your old world, but why should we not celebrate him here? He is here with us, too, Your Majesties. He is in all worlds."

"Are you in all worlds, too?" Helen asked, heart fluttering. She knew the question ought to be childish, but she felt no shame in asking it.

"No, not like I am here," came the answer. "But there is magic in this world that your world didn't have! I am a legend there, but perhaps all legends are real in one world or another."

So began the first Christmas in Narnia. It was a different sort of celebration there; less about a Saviour's birth, and more about his very existence, and maybe even a little about the winter itself. It was a new country, after all, and everything had reason to be celebrated. It reminded Frank and Helen of their first year of marriage. Everything had seemed nicer. Their first birthdays celebrated together, and their first Christmas as a family, and even the first mouse hiding in the pantry were all things to enjoy, because it was a brand new life for the two of them. They were making new traditions, and creating new stories. Now, it was the same. A new world, a new life, and a new reason.

No one had made any plans to exchange gifts, but then, no one had made any plans at all. There were no traditions in place yet for this celebration. But as everyone received gifts from Father Christmas, they were inspired to make up gifts of their own. Everyone was happy to celebrate with what little they had; be it a little loaf of bread, or a pair of snowshoes, or a shared cask of wine.

The dwarfs presented Frank with a new sword which they had just happened to finish a matter of days before, and they offered a carefully gilded necklace to their queen. Somehow the dryads constructed Helen a new dress that appeared to be made of real leaves and flowers, though they didn't feel like it, and another group of them rounded up a wild, (non-talking) horse for their king. From Father Christmas himself, Frank received a map outlying the surrounding lands, (though none of them were yet occupied.) Frank had heard a little about them from Fledge following his flight into the Western Wilds, but he hadn't yet had the chance to explore them himself, (and truth be told, he was still a little nervous, having never been an explorer.) So he studied the map carefully, from it's southern desert to its northern moors, and while doing so he felt a new surge of confidence. This was his country, and he would not conquer it, but know it.

Helen, on the other hand, received a mirror, though it was unlike anything she had ever seen, (and indeed unlike anything Narnia would see again.) This was a magic mirror, and through it she could see anyone or anything in the land that she would like to see. Looking over Frank's map, she knew it would come in handy.

After the gifts were given, the fauns and satyrs began to build a fire, and told everyone they met that there would be a feast held following sunset. Frank and Helen, now, began to remember their old Christmas traditions, and wondered how to include them. Frank met with some of the fauns who played flutes, and the dwarfs with drums, while Helen met with the trees.

Now it began to get dark, but the fire cast a warm light and flickering shadows in the woods. The feast itself was held up as everyone awaited the arrival of Queen Helen, (especially her anxious husband,) but it turned out to be worth the wait. Helen arrived, but behind her trailed several trees, all decorated in whatever they could find.

Bright red berries, and leafy ivy hung across branches. From some sort of string, (it was too dark to tell what,) hung pebbles and shells. They didn't look much like the Christmas trees Frank or Helen would remember from England, but they were beautiful all the same, albeit in a different sort of way. After the meal, as the dance began, Helen laughed gaily to watch them.

Then, following his wife's triumphant entrance, Frank cued up the musicians. He'd worked with them for ages, humming notes and matching pitch, in order to teach them an English Christmas carol. As they played, Frank sung boldly, and Helen matched him and harmonized where she could, and their people listened along until they became familiar with the choruses.

Then came more dancing, and Frank and Helen joined in, spinning and hopping until they were red in the cheeks, and then embracing each other next to the fire to warm themselves back up. This was their life now, and they loved it, with every ounce of their being.

As the fire grew dim and the night grew cold, Frank and Helen trudged back to their castle, happy as they'd ever been. Christmas had a place here. Their faith had a place here. Their God ruled this world, too.

"Happy Christmas," Helen whispered into her husband's neck as they made their way up the steps.

"And to you, Nellie," Frank replied, kissing her forehead.

It was a different sort of Christmas in Narnia, but it was Christmas all the same.

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A/N: MERRY CHRISTMAS! Thanks so much to all of you who have been reading this so far! I pray your day is magical and new, and you find meaning in this season. ❤️ Our Saviour came to earth for us, and some day he'll come again! "Glory to God in the highest!"