Whisked Away

79. Emeth and Further Up and Further In

Edmund's POV
"Lead on to him, then," Peter replied to the dog's barks, "Whether he meets us in peace or war, he shall be welcome."

We were then led to a dark man sitting against a tree. He rose to his feet and said gravely, "Sir, I know not whether you are friend or foe, but I shall count it an honor to have you for either. Has not one of the poets said that a noble friend is the best gift and a noble enemy the next best?"

"Sir," I replied, "I see no cause for war between you and us. This is High King Peter of Narnia and I am King Edmund. That is Queen Lucy, King Levi of Archenland, his brother Prince Levian, Lord Digory, Lady Polly, King Tirian, Queen and General Shifra, Lady Jill, Lord Eustace, and Poggin the Dwarf. Jewel the Unicorn, Azar the Phoenix, Faresight the Eagle, and Puzzle the Donkey."

"It is a pleasure to meet you all," the man replied, "Know, oh warlike kings, and ladies whose beauty illuminates the universe, that I am Emeth the seventh son of Harpha Tarkaan. When I first heard that we were to march into Narnia I rejoiced, for I had heard many things of your people and desired greatly to meet you in battle, but when I discovered we were to work by lies and trickery, my joy departed from me.

"And most of all when I heard we were to wait upon a monkey, and it began to be said that Tash and Aslan were one, then the world grew black to my eyes, for always since I was a boy I have served Tash and my great desire was the know more of him. I desired most to see his face, but the name of Aslan was hateful to me.

"I began to think Rishta the Tarkaan was described by the ape, but as I watched his speech and actions I realized he did not believe in Tash himself, for if he did how could he mock him so? But last night, as some of you know, the ape brought not forth the yellow thing and told us that if we wished to look upon Tashlan, as they had begun to call him, we must enter into the stable.

"I first thought it was only their trickery, but seeing the cat come out in a rage and terror, I thought that perhaps the real Tash had come..." Emeth continued to explain how he had volunteered to go in and killed the man at the door. He told of how he had met Aslan and the great lion had explained to him that because he had never been told the truth of Aslan, he had not known he was worshiping the wrong person.

"And since then, O Kings, Queens, and Ladies, I have been wandering to find him, and it is the marvel of marvels he called me Beloved," Emeth continued, a genuine smile crossing his lips.

We soon departed from our spot, Emeth following behind us and talking gently with King Levi and Prince Levian. Shifra had come to my side and commented, "It's strange that this land is so like Narnia, and yet it's so different."

"So it is," I exclaimed, "Everything has more color and is...deeper somehow, yet it's all the same."

A great smile coming across her face, Shifra suddenly cried loud enough for the entire party to hear, "In all my 3,060 years I have never been as happy as I am now. This is where I have been searching my whole live although I never knew it till now." Spreading her wings, she took off into the sky, quickly followed by Azar and Faresight.

Jewel went back on his hind-quarters and began to gallop further into the country. Puzzle followed after him and soon we were all running. Even though we were running harder and faster than any of us ever could have in England, none of us grew tired or out of breath. We ran and ran further and further, passing hills and valleys until we reached Caldron Pool in the far north of Narnia.

While the flying creatures flew over the waterfall, the rest of us began to swim. Somehow we swam right up the waterfall until we were up in open country. Before us were great golden gates.
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Shifra's POV
When we had reached the golden gates, everyone hesitated, but soon a horn blew over the land and the gates opened. Reepicheep stood before us and said, "Welcome, in the lion's name. Come further up and further in." All of us that knew him, rushed forward to greet him, but soon more people came out.

I heard the voice of King Erlian saying to Tirian, "What, lad? Art thicker and taller since I last saw thee."

Then came someone who caused Digory and Polly to exclaim, "Fledge! Good old Fledge!"

As I watched all this, I heard another voice behind me, "Geez Godmother, I thought you'd be happier to see me."

I turned and saw the face of Zyanister. "Zyanister!" I exclaimed, rushing to embrace him. We were all urged in and the first person I saw upon entering was Cor. "Cor!" I cried.

"Godmother!" he replied. After I had greeted him and Corin I saw Cori and Corian. Then came Zyan and after him Lord Drinian and Rynelf.

"Shifra?" a voice whispered. I turned and could not stop the tears of joy from flowing down my cheeks as I embraced Queen Swanwhite.

"Swan!" I cried. Darr joined in on the hug and Dane was right behind him. I embraced my friends joyfully until I turned to see the friends I had missed the most. Frank and Helen sat on thrones under a great tree in the center. "Frank! Helen!" I rushed forward and embraced them both.

I greeted so many people over the next few hours that I could scarcely remember who I had and had not greeted. I saw Rilian, Zori, Rosaline, Rose, Zane, Levi's son Cor, Lune, and so many others I forgot who was who after a while. When I had greeted most everyone, a voice behind me asked, "Having fun, daughter?"

"Father!" I exclaimed, rushing to embrace the magician Coriakin. We were just beginning to really talk and catch up when I heard a sound out of time itself: King Frank's horn.

"Ah," said my father, "the King's horn, we must all go up." When we reached the thrones, Aslan himself was waiting for us before the thrones.

"Now, first, Puzzle," he commanded. The poor donkey came forward looking very frightened. He softly whispered something to the donkey and then sent him away. "You do no yet look so happy as I mean you to be," he commented to the others.

"We're so afraid of being sent away, Aslan," Lucy admitted, "You have sent us back to our own world so often."

"No fear of that," Aslan replied, "Have you not guessed?"

"We died didn't we?" Edmund asked.

The lion nodded and spoke once again, "You and your father and mother have all died. Now Shifra, come forth."

I left my father's side to move to the lion. "Yes, Aslan?"

"Child, we all owe a great debt to you," he said, "You have born much of the pain that would have befallen you and you brought one here who wouldn't have been otherwise."

Zyanister stepped forward and said sheepishly, "I didn't believe in Aslan until you showed up. Thank you, Godmother, because of you I can spend eternity with my brother and my ancestors."

I could only smile until Aslan said, "You have born a great weight on your shoulders for a long while. You took the safety and wellbeing of everyone around you on yourself, but that in now over. Live in peace, live without worry." And I did, for eternity.