Prince Caspian | Chapter 14: How All Were Very Busy

Chapter Summary:

Part 1:

This chapter begins just before the dual between Peter and Miraz. The Old Narnians and the awakened trees are watching from one side, while the Telmarines are watching from the other. On the field in the middle is Peter and Miraz, and around them are the Bear, Centuar, and Giant (for Peter) and three Lords, including Glozelle and Sopespian (for Miraz). 

Peter and Miraz begin to dual, each injuring the other--a pierced armpit for Miraz and a sprained wrist for Peter. Both sides cheer on their respective King. During a break, Edmund and Doctor Cornelius tend to Peter's wrist, and Peter tells them to give his farewells to the others, just in case. Edmund and all of the Old Narnians are extremely nervous.

The fight resumes, and King Miraz falls with his back toward Peter. Peter steps back to allow Miraz to get up, but Lord Glozelle rushes in and stabs Miraz in the back. Lord Sopespian rushes for Peter, but Peter cuts off his head. Cries of treachery are heard on both sides, and the respective armies rush toward each other. However, the awakened trees quickly and easily overpower the Telmarines, until the Telmarines are backed up to the Great River. At the Great River, the Telmarines find that the bridge has been destroyed, and they are forced to surrender.

Part 2:

The second part of this chapter tells about what happened that morning. Aslan, Susan, and Lucy, along with many of the awakened trees, run to the bridge at the Ford of Beruna and destroy the bridge at the request of the river-god. 

Then, the party runs through Narnia, gathering followers and striking fear into many others. Schoolchildren and teachers alike stop their activities to follow Aslan and the ever-growing group. Last of all, they come across a crying child. The child is upset because her Aunt is dying. Aslan goes into the house and finds the Aunt. The woman sees Aslan and immediately feels better. Aslan tells her that she can ride on his back. Aslan, the woman, and the entire party go to the battlefield, where the Telmarines are now backed up against the river. The woman on Aslan's back is Caspian's old nurse, and is reunited with Caspian.

Reflection:

This is a pretty neat chapter in the context of Prince Caspian as a whole. In the same way that Prince Caspian begins the story at point B, then tells about point A, and then moves forward to point C, this chapter does the very same thing. We begin the chapter around Noon on the day of the dual between Miraz and Peter, see the results of the battle, and then only thereafter do we see all of the preparation that Aslan, Susan, Lucy, and company have done--at the end of which, we catch up with the Peter and Miraz storyline. It is really a fascinating device, and it is being used inside of itself in this chapter. Pretty neat, and definitely creative. 

But as a result, this chapter does have a fragmented feel to it, which is why--for the first time--I have separated the chapter summary into two parts. The first part, of course, occurs later chronologically than the second part, but that's just the way C.S. Lewis has written it. 

With that in mind, a reader who has moved through the four TCON novels should now notice a major pattern to the texts--in which the conclusion of the novel is based upon a battle. Indeed, that is the case here--and it is perhaps the most decisive battle of the bunch thus far, thanks to our newfound friends the talking trees. This particular battle is also different in that it is largely based upon the dual between two individuals--Peter and Miraz. This has not been the case in previous TCON installments. And as a result, we really do get a much more raw feeling to the battle--C.S. Lewis spares the reader very little detail when Miraz is murdered by the traitor Lord Glozelle, and only second later, we see Peter whopp off the head of Lord Sopespian. This is not the nice, clean battle of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. This is a battle with serious consequences. Of this Edmund is keenly aware throughout the entire dual between Peter and Miraz. If I recall, the scene makes Edmund sick to his stomach, and understandably so.

Nonetheless, the good guys are once again victorious. And they are largely victorious due to Aslan (as usual), who travels in a Jesus-style manner through the towns and villages, healing others and recruiting disciples on the spot. Indeed, there are both children and schoolteachers who literally drop what they are doing to follow Aslan. Now, why Aslan is building up an army for a battle that he isn't going to be contributing to is rather beyond me, but perhaps the next chapter will tell. Onward to the last chapter of Prince Caspian.