The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

The wolf that fled following the death of Maugrim returns to the Witch and advises her to flee too. Instead of escaping, the Witch orders the wolf to call to arms all her supporters. Recalling that four humans must sit on the four thrones at Cair Paravel to complete the ancient prophecy, the Witch concludes that if she kills Edmund the prophecy cannot be realized. The Witch is preparing to kill Edmund when Aslan’s allies arrive and rescue him, but the Witch transfigures herself and her dwarf servant into a boulder and a tree stump in order to evade capture.

Waking the next day, Lucy, Susan, and Peter discover that Edmund has been rescued. Aslan talks to Edmund in private, and though it is not revealed what the Lion says, it leads to Edmund apologizing to his siblings and the four children reconciling. The dwarf arrives and requests that Aslan grant the Witch safe passage to discuss something he claims will be to both parties’ advantage—Aslan agrees.

The White Witch enters Aslan’s encampment and recounts the ancient magic that is “engraved on the sceptre of the Emperor-beyond-the-Sea” (153). The rules of this magic specify that the Witch has the right to claim the life of any traitor in Narnia—including Edmund—or fire and water will destroy the country. Aslan concedes that the Witch is right but takes her aside for a private conversation. When the pair rejoin the anxiously awaiting children, the Witch glows with triumph. Aslan announces that the White Witch has renounced her claim on Edmund’s life. When the Witch cryptically questions how she can be sure Aslan will keep his promise, the Lion responds with such a roar that she flees in fear for her life.

After the Witch leaves, Aslan orders that everyone leave the Stone Table, as “it will be wanted for other purposes” (157). Aslan, his supporters, and the children go to set up a new encampment. Aslan doesn’t disclose what passed between him and the Witch, but the lion seems distant. Aslan explains to Peter his plan for the campaign against the Witch but warns him that he may not be present for the battle. A feeling of dread settles over camp, although no one is sure why.

That night, unable to sleep, Lucy and Susan go in search of Aslan. Spotting him heading back along the path to the Stone Table, the sisters follow him, but after a while he catches sight of them. Aslan seems sad and is glad of the children’s company, though he tells the girls that they can only go with him if they promise to leave when he asks them. As the lion and the sisters walk on, Aslan becomes increasingly distressed and tells Lucy and Susan, “Lay your hands on my mane so that I can feel you are there” (162). On reaching the Stone Table, Aslan instructs the sisters to leave him, and the girls feel distraught, although they don’t understand why.

Rather than abandon Aslan, Lucy and Susan hide in the bushes and watch as a crowd of the White Witch’s followers gather around Aslan. The crowd consists of mythological creatures, and at the center of them stands the Witch herself. The Witch orders her servants to restrain Aslan, who does not resist. The Witch’s followers mock and humiliate the great lion by shaving his mane before muzzling and beating him. Aslan makes no attempt to fight back and is bound to the Stone Table. The Witch tells Aslan that he is a “fool” and that she will kill him instead of Edmund to satisfy the old, deep magic, as they agreed in their secret conversation. However, once Aslan is dead, the Witch declares that she also intends to kill Edmund, as there is nothing to prevent her from doing so, and to claim Narnia forever. Lucy and Susan, still secretly watching, are devastated and hide behind their hands so that they don’t have to see the actual moment that the Witch kills Aslan.