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The_Complete_Chronicles_of_Narnia_(volumes_1-7,_in_order_of_publication)

The_Complete_Chronicles_of_Narnia_(volumes_1-7,_in_order_of_publication)

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But immediately, from beh<strong>in</strong>d Tash, strong and calm as the summer sea, a voice said:<br />

"Begone, Monster, and take your lawful prey to your own place: <strong>in</strong> the name <strong>of</strong> Aslan<br />

and Aslan's great Father the Emperor-over-the-Sea."<br />

<strong>The</strong> hideous creature vanished, with the Tarkaan still under its arm. And Tirian turned to<br />

see who had spoken.<br />

And what he saw then set his heart beat<strong>in</strong>g as it had never beaten <strong>in</strong> any fight.<br />

Seven K<strong>in</strong>gs and Queens stood before him, all with crowns on their heads and all <strong>in</strong><br />

glitter<strong>in</strong>g clothes, but the K<strong>in</strong>gs wore f<strong>in</strong>e mail as well and had their swords drawn <strong>in</strong><br />

their hands. Tirian bowed courteously and was about to speak when the youngest <strong>of</strong> the<br />

Queens laughed. He stared hard at her face, and then gasped with amazement, for he<br />

knew her. It was Jill: but not Jill as he had last seen her, with her face all dirt and tears<br />

and an old drill dress half slipp<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong>f one shoulder. Now she looked cool and fresh, as<br />

fresh as if she had just come from bath<strong>in</strong>g. And at first he thought she looked older, but<br />

then didn't, and he could never make up his m<strong>in</strong>d on that po<strong>in</strong>t. And then he saw that the<br />

youngest <strong>of</strong> the K<strong>in</strong>gs was Eustace: but he also was changed as Jill was changed.<br />

Tirian suddenly felt awkward about com<strong>in</strong>g among these people with the blood and dust<br />

and sweat <strong>of</strong> a battle still on him. Next moment he realized that he was not <strong>in</strong> that state at<br />

all. He was fresh and cool and clean, and dressed <strong>in</strong> such clothes as he would have worn<br />

for a great feast at Cair Paravel. (But <strong>in</strong> <strong>Narnia</strong> your good clothes were never your<br />

uncomfortable ones. <strong>The</strong>y knew how to make th<strong>in</strong>gs that felt beautiful as well as look<strong>in</strong>g<br />

beautiful <strong>in</strong> <strong>Narnia</strong>: and there was no such th<strong>in</strong>g as starch or flannel or elastic to be found<br />

from one end <strong>of</strong> the country to the other.)<br />

"Sire," said Jill com<strong>in</strong>g forward and mak<strong>in</strong>g a beautiful curtsey, "let me make you known<br />

to Peter the High K<strong>in</strong>g over all K<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong> <strong>Narnia</strong>."<br />

Tirian had no need to ask which was the High K<strong>in</strong>g, for he remembered his face (though<br />

here it was far nobler) from his dream. He stepped forward, sank on one knee and kissed<br />

Peter's hand.<br />

"High K<strong>in</strong>g," he said. "You are welcome to me."<br />

And the High K<strong>in</strong>g raised him and kissed him on both cheeks as a High K<strong>in</strong>g should.<br />

<strong>The</strong>n he led him to the eldest <strong>of</strong> the Queens - but even she was not old, and there were no<br />

grey hairs on her head and no wr<strong>in</strong>kles on her cheek - and said, "Sir, this is that Lady<br />

Polly who came <strong>in</strong>to <strong>Narnia</strong> on the First Day, when Aslan made the trees grow and the<br />

Beasts talk." He brought him next to a man whose golden beard flowed over his breast<br />

and whose face was full <strong>of</strong> wisdom. "And this," he said, "is the Lord Digory who was<br />

with her on that day. And this is my brother, K<strong>in</strong>g Edmund: and this my sister, the Queen<br />

Lucy."

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