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he was not frightened： she had seen such things before。 but when she looked again he was only a tree； though he was still moving。
you couldnt see whether he had feet or roots； of course； because when trees move they dont walk on the surface of the earth； they wade in it as we do in water。 the same thing happened with every tree she looked at。 at one moment they seemed to be the friendly； lovely giant and giantess forms which the tree…people put on when some good magic has called them into full life： next moment they all looked like trees again。 but when they looked like trees； it was like strangely human trees； and when they looked like people； it was like strangely branchy and leafy people … and all the time that queer lilting； rustling； cool； merry noise。
〃they are almost awake； not quite；〃 said lucy。 she knew she herself was wide awake； wider than anyone usually is。
she went fearlessly in among them； dancing herself as she leaped this way and that to avoid being run into by these huge partners。 but she was only half interested in them。 she wanted to get beyond them to something else； it was from beyond them that the dear voice had called。
she soon got through them （half wondering whether she had been using her arms to push branches aside； or to take hands in a great chain with big dancers who stooped to reach her） for they were really a ring of trees round a central open place。 she stepped out from among their shifting confusion of lovely lights and shadows。
a circle of grass； smooth as a lawn； met her eyes； with dark trees dancing all round it。
and then … oh joy！ for he was there： the huge lion； shining white in the moonlight； with his huge black shadow underneath him。
but for the movement of his tail he might have been a stone lion； but lucy never thought of that。 she never stopped to think whether he was a friendly lion or not。 she rushed to him。 she felt her heart would burst if she lost a moment。 and the next thing she knew was that she was kissing him and putting her arms as far round his neck as she could and burying her face in the beautiful rich silkiness of his mane。
〃aslan； aslan。 dear aslan；〃 sobbed lucy。 〃at last。鈥�
the great beast rolled over on his side so that lucy fell； half sitting and half lying between his front paws。 he bent forward and just touched her nose with his tongue。 his warm breath came all round her。 she gazed up into the large wise face。
〃wele； child；〃 he said。
〃aslan；〃 said lucy； 〃youre bigger。鈥�
〃that is because you are older； little one；〃 answered he。
〃not because you are？鈥�
〃i am not。 but every year you grow； you will find me bigger。鈥�
for a time she was so happy that she did not want to speak。 but aslan spoke。
〃lucy；〃 he said； 〃we must not lie here for long。 you have work in hand； and much time has been lost today。鈥�
〃yes； wasnt it a shame？〃 said lucy。 〃i saw you all right。 they wouldnt believe me。
theyre all so …鈥�
from somewhere deep inside aslans body there came the faintest suggestion of a growl。
〃im sorry；〃 said lucy； who understood some of his moods。 〃i didnt mean to start slanging the others。 but it wasnt my fault anyway； was it？鈥�
the lion looked straight into her eyes。
〃oh； aslan；〃 said lucy。 〃you dont mean it was？ how could i … i couldnt have left the others and e up to you alone； how could i？ dont look at me like that 。 。 。 oh well； i suppose i could。 yes； and it wouldnt have been alone； i know； not if i was with you。 but what would have been the good？鈥�
aslan said nothing。
〃you mean；〃 said lucy rather faintly； 〃that it would have turned out all right … somehow？
but how？ please； aslan！ am i not to know？鈥�
〃to know what would have happened； child？〃 said aslan。 〃no。 nobody is ever told that。鈥�
〃oh dear；〃 said lucy。
〃but anyone can find out what will happen；〃 said aslan。 〃if you go back to the others now； and wake them up； and tell them you have seen me again； and that you must all get up at once and follow me … what will happen？ there is only one way of finding out。鈥�
〃do you mean that is what you want me to do？〃 gasped lucy。
〃yes； little one；〃 said aslan。
〃will the others see you too？〃 asked lucy。
〃certainly not at first；〃 said aslan。 〃later on； it depends。鈥�
〃but they wont believe me！〃 said lucy。
〃it doesnt matter；〃 said aslan。
〃oh dear； oh dear；〃 said lucy。 〃and i was so pleased at finding you again。 and i thought youd let me stay。 and i thought youd e roaring in and frighten all the enemies away … like last time。 and now everything is going to be horrid。鈥�
〃it is hard for you； little one；〃 said aslan。 〃but things never happen the same way twice。
it has been hard for us all in narnia before now。鈥�
lucy buried her head in his mane to hide from his face。 but there must have been magic in his mane。 she could feel lion…strength going into her。 quite suddenly she sat up。
〃im sorry； aslan；〃 she said。 〃im ready now。鈥�
〃now you are a lioness；〃 said aslan。 〃and now all narnia will be renewed。 but e。
we have no time to lose。鈥�
he got up and walked with stately； noiseless paces back to the belt of dancing trees through which she had just e： and lucy went with him； laying a rather tremulous hand on his mane。 the trees parted to let them through and for one second assumed their human forms pletely。 lucy had a glimpse of tall and lovely wood…gods and wood…goddesses all bowing to the lion； next moment they were trees again； but still bowing； with such graceful sweeps of branch and trunk that their bowing was itself a kind of dance。
〃now； child；〃 said aslan； when they had left the trees behind them； 〃i will wait here。 go and wake the others and tell them to follow。 if they will not； then you at least must follow me alone。鈥�
it is a terrible thing to have to wake four people； all older than yourself and all very tired； for the purpose of telling them something they probably wont believe and making them do something they certainly wont like。 〃i mustnt think about it； i must just do it；鈥�
thought lucy。
she went to peter first and shook him。 〃peter；〃 she whispered in his ear； 〃wake up。 qu