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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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"Well," said the Dwarf, "as you've saved my life it is only fair you should have your own<br />

way. But I hardly know where to beg<strong>in</strong>. First <strong>of</strong> all I'm a messenger <strong>of</strong> K<strong>in</strong>g Caspian's."<br />

"Who's he?" asked four voices all at once.<br />

"Caspian the Tenth, K<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> <strong>Narnia</strong>, and long may he reign!" answered the Dwarf. "That<br />

is to say, he ought to be K<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> <strong>Narnia</strong> and we hope he will be. At present he is only<br />

K<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> us Old <strong>Narnia</strong>ns - "<br />

"What do you mean by old <strong>Narnia</strong>ns, please?" asked Lucy.<br />

"Why, that's us," said the Dwarf. "We're a k<strong>in</strong>d <strong>of</strong> rebellion, I suppose."<br />

"I see," said Peter. "And Caspian is the chief Old <strong>Narnia</strong>n."<br />

"Well, <strong>in</strong> a manner <strong>of</strong> speak<strong>in</strong>g," said the Dwarf, scratch<strong>in</strong>g his head. "But he's really a<br />

New <strong>Narnia</strong>n himself, a Telmar<strong>in</strong>e, if you follow me."<br />

"I don't," said Edmund.<br />

"It's worse than the Wars <strong>of</strong> the Roses," said Lucy.<br />

"Oh dear," said the Dwarf. "I'm do<strong>in</strong>g this very badly. Look here: I th<strong>in</strong>k I'll have to go<br />

right back to the beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g and tell you how Caspian grew up <strong>in</strong> his uncle's court and<br />

how he comes to be on our side at all. But it'll be a long story."<br />

"All the better," said Lucy. "We love stories."<br />

So the Dwarf settled down and told his tale. I shall not give it to you <strong>in</strong> his words, putt<strong>in</strong>g<br />

<strong>in</strong> all the children's questions and <strong>in</strong>terruptions, because it would take too long and be<br />

confus<strong>in</strong>g, and, even so, it would leave out some po<strong>in</strong>ts that the children only heard later.<br />

But the gist <strong>of</strong> the story, as they knew it <strong>in</strong> the end, was as follows.<br />

CHAPTER FOUR<br />

THE DWARF TELLS OF PRINCE CASPIAN<br />

PRINCE CASPIAN lived <strong>in</strong> a great castle <strong>in</strong> the centre <strong>of</strong> <strong>Narnia</strong> with his uncle, Miraz,<br />

the K<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> <strong>Narnia</strong>, and his aunt, who had red hair and was called Queen Prunaprismia.<br />

His father and mother were dead and the person whom Caspian loved best was his nurse,<br />

and though (be<strong>in</strong>g a pr<strong>in</strong>ce) he had wonderful toys which would do almost anyth<strong>in</strong>g but<br />

talk, he liked best the last hour <strong>of</strong> the day when the toys had all been put back <strong>in</strong> their<br />

cupboards and Nurse would tell him stories.

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