Chapter Fifteen
***
"Sire, look on the countenance of the Calormene captain", said Farsight.
"What of it?", asked Tirian.
"He has called on gods he does not believe in. How would it be if they have really come?"
In the meantime, Chlamash decided to head for Aslan's Howe, where he knew Rishda would send Calormene troops to launch an attack there. He went off, and Marietta saw that Tirian and his gang were there. In the meantime, Tirian rally up the Narnians to join their side. There was the dogs, mice, squirrels, a boar, and a bear. Marietta decided to join in as well. The rest, however, didn't want to. Tirian sent the mice and squirrels to unbind the cords of the horses that were bound at the bottom of hill. They scampered away, but there was little time to think now.
"Sire, the Calormenes assembled", said Jewel, "They've now come!"
"Take alive all that you can", said Rishda to the Calormene troops, "Hurl them into the stable or drive them into it if you have to! When they're all in, we'll set the stable on fire to make an offering to the great god Tash!"
"So that how he hopes to win Tash's pardon for his unbelief", said Farsight.
"Alright, time for battle plans", said Tirian, who had little time as Rishda and his army were advancing, "Over to the left Jill, and shoot the arrows before they reach you. Boar and bear next to her. Poggin on my left; Eustace on my right. Hold the right wing Jewel. Stand by him, Puzzle, and use your hoofs. Marietta, stand on the other side of him, and wield your sword at them if need to or shoot them with the arrow. Farsight, fly over them and use claws and beak. Dogs, just behind us."
Then Chlamash left for Aslan's Howe. Meanwhile, the battle began! It was quite fierce between the Calormenes, their allies who were Slinky the fox, a wolf, a bull, and Wraggle the satyr, and Tirian and his army. Marietta's blood was running cold as she struck down two Calormene soldiers with her sword. She was able to shoot a couple of them with her bow and arrow. She heard Rishda's voice called out-
"Fall back!", he cried out, "Reform!"
The Calormenes fell back, and the Tirian and his army turned to the other direction as well. The losses were three dogs and a fourth wounded, and the bear. Tirian saw that the Calormenes were regrouping, and they had little time.
***
Chlamash arrived in time at Aslan's Howe to rally up the refugees there. He addressed the refugees and prisoners as the Calormene soldiers and rogue Narnians sent by Rishda were advancing.
"What is a Calormene doing here?", asked Master Cordell.
"Citizens of Narnia and Archenland!", Chlamash called out, "The Tisroc has sent the navy to ransack Cair Paravel! Rishda Tarkaan has ransack the tavern, the woods, the town of Chippingford, and has declare war on Stable Hill and Aslan's Howe! Will we allow it!?"
The Narnians and Archenlanders refugees decided no, they were not going to! They got every weapon they could find to defend for themselves.
"Chlamash, isn't it?", asked Master Cordell, "I'm sorry that I misunderstood!"
"No need to be sorry", said Chlamash, "Calormenes have been prejudiced of Narnians and Archenlanders as well. Now, will you help me?"
"Even to the death!"
Master Cordell and Chlamash rally up Narnian refugees from Cair Paravel and fought back the Calormenes and rogue Narnians that Rishda has sent!
***
Then Tirian heard the dwarfs jeering as well. He wanted them to join their side.
"Not likely!", said Griffle, "We don't want any more lions or Calormenes or kings or monkeys!"
"The dwarfs are for the dwarfs! Boo!", shouted the dwarfs.
Then they heard the sound of drums. It was the sound of a bull-hide drum. Eustace and Jill hated the sound, and they didn't know what it meant.
"Listen", said Eustace, "Drums."
"Does it mean more dwarfs are coming?", asked Jill
"It's a Calormene drum", answered Tirian, "It means more Calormene troops are somewhere near."
"Emeth told me of this", said Marietta, "Rishda must be calling for more soldiers to his aid."
"Sire, look!", said Farsight.
They looked up, and saw that the horses were free from their bonds. Just as Tirian and the rest were getting ready to cheer, there was the sound of hissing arrows from the dwarfs. They were shooting at the horses. Not one of the horses reached Tirian and the rest. Eustace and Jill were sobbing as the horses were shot dead.
"Brutes!", sobbed Eustace.
"Do not get your bow string wet, Jill", said Tirian to Jill, "Eustace, do not scold like a kitchen girl. No warrior scolds."
Marietta could not believe what she just saw. She never thought that the dwarfs would shoot the horses and she cried along with Eustace and Jill. She cried when she thought Emeth was dead, and now she was crying when the dwarfs have shot the horses before they could even reach them.
***
Emeth was not the dead soldier thrown out of the stable. When he went inside the stable, he saw there was a Calormene soldier in the stable, and they had a brief fight. He killed him, and threw him out. Emeth looked beyond, and found himself in a beautiful landscape. He kept calling out for Tash, but there wasn't any answer. When he was at a narrow space, there came a Great Lion. The speed of him was like the ostrich, and his size was an elephant’s; his hair was like pure gold and the brightness of his eyes like gold that is liquid in the furnace. He was more terrible than the Flaming Mountain of Lagour, and in beauty he surpassed all that is in the world even as the rose in bloom surpasses the dust of the desert. Emeth fell to his feet, and was in fear.
"Son", said the Lion, "You are Welcome!"
"Lord, I am no son of yours but a servant of Tash", said Emeth.
"Child, all the service thou hast done to Tash, I account as service done to me."
"Lord, is it true, as the Ape said, that you and Tash are one?"
"It is not!", the Lion growled, "We are opposite! I take to me the services which you have done to him. For I and he are of such different kinds that no service which is vile can be done to me, and none which is not vile can be done to him. Therefore if any man swear by Tash and keep his oath for the oath’s sake, it is by me that he has truly sworn, though he know it not, and it is I who reward him. And if any man do a cruelty in my name, then, though he says the name Aslan, it is Tash whom he serves and by Tash his deed is accepted. Do you understand, Child?"
"Yes, but I have been seeking Tash all of my days!"
"Beloved, unless your desire had been for me you would have not have sought so long and so truly. For all find what they truly seek."
The Lion told Emeth that they shall meet again, and that he was to go further up and further. He was marveled that the Lion called him "beloved." In the meantime, he sat underneath a chestnut tree.
***
Back at Stable Hill, Tirian heard that the drums were being answered. He, Marietta, Jewel, Poggin, Eustace, Jill, and Farsight were discussing on what they should do. Eustace was now hating the sight of the stable. Tirian wasn't fond of the sight either.
"We have little time", said Tirian, "We must attack now!"
"Sire", said Poggin, "If we advance, shall we not be encircled and get sword-points between our shoulders?”
"The further we are from the stable door, the better."
"Away from the stable and whatever demon dwells inside", said Farsight.
"I hate to think what the Calormene captain might do", said Marietta.
Tirian gave instructions. Marietta and Jill close by where the White Rock was as Tirian instructed. Jill shot a wolf that joined the side of the Calormenes and two more soldiers. When three Calormenes got any closer to where the White Rock was, Marietta would put up a good fight and struck them down. She even managed to shoot about three of them before they got any closer. Farsight used his beak to peck at the Calormenes, and some covered his eyes with his helmet. Tirian, Poggin, Jewel, and Eustace were charging at the Calormenes, and fought them. It was going to work. However, Marietta saw that new Calormenes were coming from every direction, and these new ones had spears!
"Fall back to the rock!", Tirian called out.
Tirian and the rest went to join Jill and Marietta at the White Rock. Tirian wanted to compare the first fight and the second fight. However, Jill noticed that Eustace was missing.
"Calormenes are carrying him into the stable!", said Farsight.
"The rest of you, wait here", said Tirian, "Jewel, come with me."
Tirian and Jewel went over, and saw Calormenes carrying Eustace. But before they could reach them, the Calormenes threw Eustace into the stable, and close the door on him. Calormenes stood to form a line between the stable and the White Rock. There was no getting at it now. Jill was crying. Then there were arrows from the dwarfs. That time they were shooting at the Calormenes.
"30 of you keep watch over the fools at the White Rock!", Rishda commanded, "The rest of you, after me, that we'll teach these dwarfs a lesson!"
Tirian saw that Rishda and his soldiers were fighting the dwarfs, but it didn't last long. He and Jewel went to join the others at the White Rock. The Calormenes bound eleven dwarfs, and led them to the stable. The door was open once again.
"Throw them into the shrine of Tash!", said Rishda.
After each dwarf, after one and the other had been thrown in or kicked in the stable, the door was shut again. Rishda bowed low to the stable.
"These are also for your burnt offering, Lord Tash!", he said, "Tash! Tash! The great god Tash!"
"Tash! The great god Tash! Tash the Inexorable, the Irresistible!", chanted the Calormenes.
"At least that man has dropped his nonsense about Tashlan now!", said Marietta.
Poggin noticed water coming out of the White Rock. They decided to have a drink while they were still alive. It was refreshing. Then Tirian turned to Marietta.
"Marietta, tell me", said Tirian, "What did the Calormene captain do to you?"
She proceeded to tell him of all that happened the night before, and what Rishda did to her. Tirian was horrified to hear that the Calormene captain would do such a thing to a tavern maid.
"I have a feeling that one by one, we shall pass through that dark doorway before morning", said Poggin, "There's a thousand deaths I could think of that I would have rather died."
"I feel the same", said Marietta, "Though I'd much rather die than be the Tarkaan captain's bride."
"It is a grim door", said Tirian.
"Is there anything we can do to stop it?", asked Jill.
"No, fair friend", said Jewel, "It may be for us the door way to Aslan's country. We shall break bread at his table tonight."
"My lord King", said Marietta, "If it is at all possible, I would like to testify."
"I see what I can do", said Tirian.
"It might be too late for that now", said Poggin, "The Tarkaan captain approaches!"
Rishda has turned his back from the stable and approach the White Rock. He stood right before them. Marietta was sure she seen enough of him.
"Listen!", he called out, "If the dogs and the boar and unicorn and the tavern maid come over to me and put themselves at my mercy, they shall be spared! The boar will go into a cage in the Tisroc's garden, the dogs in the Tisroc's kennels, the unicorn when I have sawn his horn off will draw a cart, and the tavern maid will be mine and my only tarkheena! But the eagle, the children, and he who was the king will be offered to Tash this very night!"
The answer were only howls and growls. It would seem they have answered, "Who'd want that!?" "Never!" Meanwhile, Rishda got closer to Marietta, and she was shivering in nervousness.
"Time has come, sweet one!", he said to her, "You stand near the doorway of the shrine of Tash the Inexorable, the Irresistible. I can spare you from it if you will be my tarkheena! Choose me or the stable! What is your answer?"
Finally, Marietta had it! As Rishda was getting closer to her, she smacked him in the face! There was no way she was going to spend the rest of her life with a man like him! Now she'd had to go into the stable.
"Get on warriors!", Rishda called out, "Kill the beasts but take the two legged ones alive!"
Then the final battle began. It was hopeless with the spears. Everyone now was fighting for their lives. Tirian saw a big Calormene pulling Jill by her hair and threw here into the stable. Marietta decided to duel with Rishda, and it was done in slow motion. He soon knocked her out. Tirian took over dueling, which was also in slow motion. Rishda edged Tirian near the stable doorway on purpose since their dueling began. Two Calormenes were standing there, ready to slam it shut the moment he was inside. Then Marietta had an idea once she got herself up. She got herself over to where the stable was as Tirian and Rishda were dueling. Once they were near the doorway, Tirian swept his sword underneath Rishda's scimitar. Tirian seized Rishda by the belt with both hands. Marietta threw herself into the stable first. Then Tirian jumped back into the stable, still holding Rishda by the belt.
"You shall meet Tash yourself!", said Tirian.
Tirian and Rishda were inside the stable. Tirian found himself in strong light. He turned to look at Rishda, but Rishda was not looking at him. Rishda fell on his face down wards on the ground. A terrible figure came. It was smaller than what they've seen at the Tower, but still bigger than a man. He had four arms and a vulture's head. Marietta looked on and saw the horrible creature. She had heard of Tash, but it never crossed her mind what he might look like.
"You have called me into Narnia, Rishda Tarkaan!", it croaked, "Here I am! What have you to say?"
Rishda could not say anything. Tash pounced on the miserable Rishda, and tucked him right underneath his two right arms. Tash looked on and gazed at Tirian with one of his terrible eyes. He also looked on Marietta with his terrible eyes. Then there was voice from behind Tash.
"Monster, go away!", it called out, "Take your lawful prey to your own place in the name of Aslan and his Father the Great Emperor over the sea!"
Tash vanished with Rishda under his arms.
**
Aslan's Country
Marietta now looked cool and fresh as she had been bathed. She looked around for a moment, wondering where she was. She wandered, taking in all the beauty of the landscape, she saw a lion. He came closer to her. She fell at his feet.
"Child, you are welcome", said the Lion.
"Thank you, Lord", said Marietta, "But what has happened?"
"Daughter, you have showed so much dedication and were hardworking. You were also able to see the good in each person, regardless of what nationality. You did not give into the Tarkaan captain's proposal for marriage. Instead, you chose to throw yourself in. Once you did, the king of Narnia threw himself and the Tarkaan captain in."
"It's because I'd much rather have died than be the wife of a Tarkaan."
"Beloved, it was the choice you made. Now, come, there is someone waiting for you."
Marietta realized it was Aslan. He led her to where a chestnut tree was. He told her that they shall meet again, and she was to go further up and further in. Then he turned away. Then she saw a Calormene underneath a chestnut tree. She knew at once it was Emeth.
"I thought you were dead", said Marietta, coming towards him.
"No, no", said Emeth.
She sat down close beside him underneath the chestnut tree. He put his arms around her, and he told her of all that had happened to him. She even told him of all that had happened to her on the other side of the stable, how she threw herself into the stable. But now, she felt refreshed. They even told each other how they've met with Aslan.Statistics: Posted by jasmine_tarkheena — Sun May 22, 2022 10:33 pm
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