Chapter 12- "Peter's First Battle"

Vocabulary:

pant- to breathe with short, quick breaths
pavilion- a tent used as a shelter outside
mane- the long hair on a horse or lion’s neck
to draw a sword- to pull a sword out of it’s holder
salute- a gesture of respect
awkward- embarrassed
blame- to hold responsible for a fault or wrong action
faint- to lose consciousness, to fall suddenly into a sleep-like state
to kneel- to be on one or both knees, usually in reverence or respect
flat of the blade- the flat (not sharp) part of a sword


Chapter 12- "Peter's First Battle"

While the dwarf and White Witch were saying this, miles away the children and the Beavers were walking in what felt like a wonderful dream. They had left their coats behind long ago. They had been just as surprised as Edmund when they saw the winter vanishing and the whole wood changing from January to May in only a few hours. They hadn’t known (as the Witch had) that this was what would happen when Aslan came to Narnia. But they all knew that it was her magic that had made the endless winter; so they knew when they saw this magic spring that something had gone very wrong with the Witch’s plans.


They left the big river and started walking more South. The sun got low in the sky and the shadows became longer.

“Not long now,” said Mr. Beaver, and began leading them uphill. The climb, after a very long hard day, made them all pant. Just as Lucy was wondering if she could get to the top without stopping to rest, they were at the top.

They were on a green open space where they could see forest in every direction except to the east. There they saw a great shining thing that they knew to be the sea. In the middle of this open hilltop was the Stone Table. It was a great piece of gray stone on four short stones. It looked very old, and it was cut with strange lines and figures that might be the letters of an unknown language. They gave you a strange feeling when you looked at them.

The next thing they saw was a pavilion set up on the side of the open space. It was a wonderful pavilion, especially with the setting sun shining on it, with sides of yellow silk. High above it a flag with a red lion floated in the breeze. While they were looking at it, they heard the sound of music to their right. Turning in that direction, they saw what they came to see.

Aslan stood in the center of a crowd of creatures. The Beavers and children didn’t know what to do or say when they saw him. People who have not been in Narnia sometimes think that a thing cannot be good and terrible at the same time. If the children ever thought so, they were cured of it now. When they tried to look at Aslan’s face, they just caught a glimpse of the golden mane and the great, solemn, overwhelming eyes; and then they found they couldn’t look at him.

No one wanted to be the first to approach Aslan. For some time each tried to get the others to go first, and the longer they talked about it, the more awkward they felt. Finally Peter realized it was up to him. He drew his sword and raised it to salute. He stepped up to the lion and said:

“We have come – Aslan.”

“Welcome, Peter, Son of Adam,” said Aslan. “Welcome, Susan and Lucy, Daughter’s of Eve. Welcome Beavers.”

His voice was deep and rich and seemed to calm them. They all felt very glad now, and not at all awkward.

“Where is the fourth?” asked Aslan.

“He has tried to betray them and joined the White Witch, Aslan,” said Mr. Beaver. And then something made Peter say:

“That was partly my fault. I was angry with him and I think that helped him to go wrong.”

Aslan said nothing either to excuse Peter or to blame him. He simply stood looking at him with his unchanging eyes. And it seemed to all of them that there was nothing more to say.

“Please, Aslan,” said Lucy, “can anything be done to save Edmund?”

“All will be done,” said Aslan, “but it may be harder than you think.” He was silent again. Up until that moment Lucy had been thinking how strong and peaceful he looked; now she suddenly noticed that he looked sad as well. But in a moment that expression was gone and he clapped his paws and said, “Meanwhile, let the feast be prepared. Ladies, take these girls to the tent and take care of them.”

When the girls had gone, Aslan laid his paw on Peter’s shoulder (how heavy it was!) and said, “Come, Son of Adam, and I will show you the castle where you are to be King.”

And Peter went with the lion to the eastern edge of the hill and there he saw a beautiful sight. Miles and miles of forests and fields and streams led away to the sea. Just where the land of Narnia met the sea, there was something on a hill, shining. It was shining because of the sun reflecting on all the windows, but to Peter it looked like a star resting on the edge of the water.

“That,” said Aslan, “is Cair Paravel of the four thrones, where you will sit as King. I show it to you because you are the firstborn and will be High King above all the others.”

Peter said nothing, for at that moment a strange noise broke the silence suddenly. It was like a bugle, but richer.

“It is your sister’s horn,” said Aslan to Peter, in a very low voice.

For a moment Peter did not understand. But when he saw all the creatures rushing forward and heard Aslan saying, “Back! Let the prince prove himself,” he did understand, and started running as hard as he could to the pavilion. There he saw a dreadful sight.

Lucy was running toward him as fast as her short legs would carry her, and her face was as white as paper. Then he saw Susan run for a tree and swing up into it, followed by a huge wolf. Susan had not been able to get higher than the second big branch, and one of her feet hung down only inches above the wolf’s snapping teeth. Peter wondered why she did not get higher, but then he realized that she was about to faint. And if she fainted, she would fall.

Peter did not feel very brave; in fact, he felt like he was going to be sick. But that made no difference to what he had to do. He ran straight up to the wolf and swung his sword at its side. The wolf turned around and howled in anger. If it hadn’t needed to howl, it probably would have gotten him. As it was, Peter just had time to stick the sword between the wolf’s legs and directly into the its heart. There was a horrible confused moment, like something from a nightmare. The wolf seemed neither alive nor dead, and there was hair and teeth everywhere. A moment later he found that the wolf lay dead and he was straightening his back and wiping the sweat off his face. He felt tired all over. Then, after a bit, Susan came down out of the tree.

“Quick, quick!” shouted Aslan. “I see another wolf there in the trees. He has just run away. Follow him, all of you. He will be going to the Witch. Now is your chance to find her and rescue to fourth Son of Adam.” And instantly a dozen of the fastest creatures were chasing the wolf away through the woods.

Peter, still out of breath, turned and saw Aslan standing close by.

“You have forgotten to clean your sword.”

It was true. Peter blushed when he looked down and saw the sword, red with the wolf’s blood. He knelt down and wiped it clean in the grass and then dried it on his coat.

“Hand it to me and kneel, Son of Adam,” said Aslan. And when Peter had done so, he touched him with the flat of the blade and said “Rise, Sir Peter Wolf’s-Bane. And whatever happens, never forget to wipe your sword.”


Homework:
1. Describe three different ways Aslan affects the children and the Beavers.
2. Why does Aslan stop the other creatures from helping Susan?

(The answer to question #3 should be longer, at least a paragraph.)

3. The children and the armies are preparing for a war against the White Witch and her armies. This is the reason Father Christmas gave them the presents he did in Chapter 10. But even though the fighting has not begun, they have already used two of their presents. And though the armies have not yet met, this chapter is called “Peter’s First Battle.” Why do you think that it? What does that mean, considering what we discussed about the story as an allegory of the battle between good and evil?

Be ready to discuss these chapters and your answers to the questions in class on Monday/Tuesday.