Chapter 13

Chapter 13
Deep magic from the dawn of time

White Witch and the dwarf was walking with Edmund , he was so tired and hungry.

The Witch and the dwarf were talking close beside him in low tones.

They talk about plans of children.

Edmund found himself being roughly forced to his feet. Then the dwarf set him with his back against a tree and bound him fast. He saw the Witch take off her outer mantle. Her arms were bare underneath it and terribly white. Because they were so very white he could see them, but he could not see much else, it was so dark in this valley under the dark trees.

One moment  he heard loud shouts from every direction. And this lound said :

Let him lie down - give him some wine - drink this - steady now - youll be all right in a minute.

Then he heard the voices of people who were not talking to him but to one another. And they were saying things like Whos got the Witch? I thought you had her.

I was after the dwarf - do you mean to say shes escaped? - A chap cant mind everything at once - whats that? Oh, sorry, its only an old stump! But just at this point Edmund went off in a dead faint.

It was perfectly still and presently the moon grew bright; if you had been there you would have seen the moonlight shining on an old tree-stump

and on a fairsized boulder. But if you had gone on looking you would gradually have begun to think there was something odd about both the stump and the boulder. And next you would have thought that the stump did look really remarkably like a little fat man crouching on the ground. And if you had watched long enough you would have seen the stump walk across to the boulder and the boulder sit up and begin talking to the stump.

For it was part of her magic that she could make things look like what they arent, and she had the presence of mind to do so at the very moment when the knife was knocked out of her hand. She had kept hold of her wand, so it had been kept safe, too.

When children woke up next day , the first thing they heard -from Mrs Beaver -  was that their brother had been rescued and brought into camp late last night; and was at that moment with Aslan.

They saw Aslan with Edmund and they was walking together.

No one know what they talk , only Aslan and Edmund know about what they talk.

Here is your brother, he said, and - there is no need to talk to him about what is past. Edmund shook hands with each of the others and said to each of them in turn, Im sorry, and everyone said, Thats all right.

And then everyone wanted very hard to say something which would make it quite clear that they were all friends with him again -something ordinary and natural -and of course no one could think of anything in the world to say. But before they had time to feel really awkward.

Then they talking.

Peace, Beaver, said Aslan. All names will soon be restored to their proper owners.

ell your mistress, Son of Earth, that I grant her safe conduct on condition that she leaves her wand behind her at that great ok.

Itll be all right, whispered Peter in reply. He wouldnt send them if it werent.

A few minutes later the Witch herself walked out on to the top of the hill and came straight across and stood before Aslan. The three children who had not seen her before felt shudders running down their backs at the sight of her face; and there were low growls among all the animals present.

Witch looked Aslan exactly in his eyes; Mrs Beaver particularly noticed this.

You have a traitor there, Aslan, said the Witch. Of course everyone present knew that she meant Edmund. But Edmund had got past thinking about himself after all hed been through and after the talk hed had that morning.

He look at Aslan. It didnt seem to matter what the Witch said.

Well, said Aslan. His offence was not against you.

Have you forgotten the Deep Magic? asked the Witch.

Let us say I have forgotten it, answered Aslan gravely. Tell us of this Deep Magic.

Tell about written on that very Table of Stone , tell about hat is written in letters deep as a spear is long on the firestones on the Secret Hill , tell about , Tell you what is engraved on the sceptre of the Emperor-beyond-the-Sea...

You know that every traitor belongs to me as my lawful prey and that for every treachery I have a right to a kill.

Oh, said Mr Beaver. So thats how you came to imagine yourself a queen - because you were the Emperors hangman. I see.

Peace, Beaver, said Aslan, with a very low growl. And so, continued the Witch, that human creature is mine. His life is forfeit to me. His blood is my property.

Fool, said the Witch with a savage smile that was almost a snarl, do you really think your master can rob me of my rights by mere force? He knows the Deep Magic better than that.

Oh, Aslan! whispered Susan in the Lions ear, cant we - I mean, you wont, will you? Cant we do something about the Deep Magic? Isnt there something you can work against it? Work against the Emperors Magic? said Aslan, turning to her with something like a frown on his face. And nobody ever made that suggestion to him again.

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Come and take it then, said the Bull with the mans head in a great bellowing voice.

Fool, said the Witch with a savage smile that was almost a snarl, do you really think your master can rob me of my rights by mere force? He knows the Deep Magic better than that. He knows that unless I have blood as the Law says all Narnia will be overturned and perish in fire and water.

It is very true, said Aslan, I do not deny it.

Oh, Aslan! whispered Susan in the Lions ear, cant we - I mean, you wont, will you? Cant we do something about the Deep Magic? Isnt

there something you can work against it?

Work against the Emperors Magic? said Aslan, turning to her with something like a frown on his face. And nobody ever made that suggestion to him again.

Edmund was on the other side of Aslan, looking all the time at Aslans face. He felt a choking feeling and wondered.

Fall back, all of you, said Aslan, and I will talk to the Witch alone.

They all obeyed. It was a terrible time this - waiting and wondering while the Lion and the Witch talked earnestly together in low voices. Lucy said, Oh, Edmund! and began to cry. At last they heard Aslans voice, You can all come back, he said.

he Witch was just turning away with a look of fierce joy on her face when she stopped and said, But how do I know this promise will be kept? Haa-a-arrh! roared Aslan, half rising from his throne; and his great mouth opened wider and wider and the roar grew louder and louder, and the Witch, after staring for a moment with her lips wide apart, picked up her skirts and fairly ran for her life.

2. Answer these questions

a) Why did Aslan's creatures, that came to save Edmund, could not find the Witch?

b) What do you think Aslan told Edmund?

I thing that Aslan told Edmund  about witch , and he told that witch is very bad.

c) What was the Stone Table used for by the Witch?

No.

3. Choose five words, translate them and explain them.

1.       Prophecy – neišpildyti -the ability to say what is going to happen in the future

2.       Wand-lazdelės-a special thin stick waved by a person who is performing magic tricks

3.       scornfully - ižeisžia - showing or feeling scorn for someone or something

4.       renounce - atsisakyti - to say no for question

5.       Collar - apykaklė - a strap made of leather or other strong material which is put around the neck of an animal, especially a dog or cat