Narnia - Aslan's Return - 1

When morning finally dawned, Eve opened her eyes and was surprised to be looking straight into the deep brown eyes of Caspian. For a moment she was transfixed by the intensity of his stare; his eyes held so much emotion. Caspian blinked and the spell was broken. Eve sat up slowly, taking a moment to remember where she was. The night before seemed like a dream, but sure enough, when she looked around the camp she saw all the creatures she had seen the night before, still dozing.

“He didn’t come,” Eve whispered.

“Aslan usually appears when you least expect him to,” Caspian explained quietly.

Eve turned to look at him. She must have looked particularly sad because Caspian leaned forward as if to comfort her. Eve’s blue eyes searched Caspian’s brown ones, but after a second, Caspian pulled back, blushing, and stood. Eve looked away, fighting back disappointment. “Then how do we know what to do?” she asked crossly.

Caspian looked surprised at her sudden mood change. “We wait, I suppose,” he said flatly. “Or return to the castle.”

Eve stood and started walking towards the forest’s edge, not really paying attention to what she was doing. Caspian made to follow her, but hesitated. When Eve crossed into the trees and kept moving forward, though, he followed slowly. Eve wandered forward as if being called by some unseen force. It seemed to her that the forest had grown much lighter with a bright, golden light. Suddenly she stopped with a gasp, and Caspian rushed to her side. Eve stood as still as a stone, looking deep into the forest, between the dense trees. Moving between two oaks was a lion: a very large and golden lion. It was like looking at the sun, only it didn’t hurt your eyes. Eve later described it as one of the most wonderful and fearful experiences of her life. She knew at once that it was Aslan and as she thought his name, he turned to look at her, golden eyes swimming with warmth. Then he vanished. Eve hardly dared to blink, but Aslan did not reappear. Finally she turned to look at Caspian. He was looking at her with a worried expression.

“Eve? Are you alright?” he asked. Eve nodded slowly. Had he not seen the great lion? Caspian stepped forward and hesitantly touched Eve’s shoulder. “You’re as pale as a ghost, are you sure you’re alright? What happened?”

Eve stepped closer to him, suddenly cold. “I saw him for a moment.”

Caspian’s expression changed from one of confusion to one of understanding. “You saw Aslan.”

“Only for a second.” Eve felt utterly hopeless. The warmth Aslan had brought had disappeared with him. What are we to do now? If he won’t help us, then how are we to know what has to be done? Eve realized that they were only there because of a dream. Her dream. If nothing happened then everyone would blame her, and Caspian would be angry at her again. “After he leaves it gets so cold,” she murmured to herself, shivering. “Why wouldn’t he speak to me? What am I supposed to do if he does not help me…?”

“Give him time,” Caspian said softly. Eve suddenly felt a sudden need for comfort. She missed being able to hold her mother when she was sad or confused. Now she was alone; almost. Now she clung to what little comfort she had. Without thinking, Eve pulled herself close to Caspian, enveloping herself in his arms. She didn’t even notice his shock and discomfort at first. It took a moment for Caspian to embrace her back.

“He will help you. Maybe this isn’t the right time. Remember what I said, Aslan usually comes when you least expect it.” Eve nodded, keeping her face buried in Caspian’s tunic. Caspian put his head against her shoulder and pulled her even closer against him, shutting his eyes. For a moment he was painfully reminded of Susan.

Susan was embracing Caspian before she had to leave Narnia and return to her own world. Caspian buried his face in her shoulder, holding her tightly as if he could make her stay. Too soon she pulled away, her blue eyes sad, but resolute. Caspian watched her as she walked slowly back to her siblings without a backward glance. He felt his heart tear in two as he watched her walk through the door in the air and disappear. It was as if she had never been there; only the pain in Caspian’s heart told him otherwise.

Opening his eyes, Caspian felt his heart sink. He couldn’t let this happen again. If Eve would have to leave Narnia just like Susan then what was the use letting his heart get broken again? Pulling gently away, Caspian nodded back towards the camp. “We should go back,” he said quietly. Eve nodded, wiping away a single tear, and followed Caspian back to the camp.