Believe In The Magic Of Christmas
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A long time ago in a world not so far away, there lived a young prince with golden hair and eyes as blue as the sky. His mother had been his father’s queen before she was killed by her brother-in-law, the king.
She’d died giving birth to his younger sister, but he’d still grown up knowing that his duty would be to take care of her as well as himself until such time as they could rule over their kingdom together.
Their father wasn’t around much—the prince knew only that he was gone for months at a time on various adventures across the land. And now that Prince Zephyr was approaching manhood, their father had decided it was time for him to learn how to rule without him.
He’d sent the princess off into her own castle to be trained under one of the best advisors in all the lands, who’d come highly recommended from the neighboring kingdoms. And so Prince Zephyr had set off into the cold wilderness on an adventure of his own.
It hadn’t been easy for him, being away from her while she grew up with someone else; especially since he didn’t know when or if he’d ever see them again. But he’d promised her mother that he would keep his promise to watch out for her and do whatever was necessary to protect her from danger, even if that meant doing something like this journey alone.
There were two weeks left on the winter solstice before he would reach home again. He hadn’t told anyone, and nobody really thought that he had anything other than what he’d planned for his own self-improvement, because the prince loved to read books about magical creatures, magic spells, and mythical places.
It helped that the land surrounding his own castle had changed little since his parents’ days. Most people assumed that he simply liked to go outside and roam where no one could see him.
The wind was blowing strong, but he had a warm coat, and so the night was quite comfortable once the snow began to fall. As his mind wandered to thoughts of the past year, he felt a presence behind him, causing him to pause and turn. When he recognized the figure wearing the same cloak, it made his heart skip a beat. “You can’t be here,” he whispered.
“Of course I am,” said the stranger as he pulled back the hood on his cape, revealing his bright silver hair. “I never miss your birthday.”
Zephyr looked down at himself, noticing that he hadn’t changed clothes yet. His hair was wet and tangled; his shirt and breeches were damp, and the collar of his sweater was soaked through with melted snow. “But you’re supposed to be in Narnia! With Queen Susan!”
“I’ve missed my flight,” said the old wizard, shrugging apologetically. “And then there was the storm, and I lost track of time. It was very nice of Mr. Beaver to let me stay.” He patted the head of the animal that had curled up beside his feet.
They both fell silent after a few minutes. Zephyr’s mind drifted back over their last year apart, thinking of the stories and songs he’d heard from their neighbors about this mysterious magician whose existence was kept secret by none other than the prince himself.
It seemed that whenever a problem arose, no matter how complicated or bizarre, he was the first person to get involved. The villagers of the countryside often came running into town with their troubles, begging the prince for help—not because they were afraid of his power, but rather because he would always show up at the right time to offer some form of aid.
There weren’t many times when things went wrong in the kingdom, considering that the king had been dead for years and the royal family had already passed away. But when something did happen, people turned to Zephyr for comfort and assistance.
They knew that he wasn’t only their protector, but also one of the kindest souls in all the land. And the wizard was proud to have played a role in making the young man’s life better.
Suddenly the wizard reached down and took hold of the prince’s hand, squeezing tightly. Zephyr stared down at his friend, not sure what to say. He was glad to see his mentor, though disappointed that it had come to visit during such a difficult time.
But it was too late to worry about those things now. The man was looking up at him with a sad smile on his face. “Don’t tell anyone,” said the wizard, his voice soft. “That we’re here, or that I’m alive. If the people are going to hate someone, it should be me.”
Zephyr swallowed hard against the lump in his throat. “Why would they? You didn’t mean for any of it to happen.”
“I know. But the people don’t understand.”
“Then explain it to them,” offered the prince with an encouraging tone. “Tell them you were just doing what you thought was best.”
The old wizard hesitated. Then he said: “It was an accident. A terrible mistake. I shouldn’t have gotten involved—”
Zephyr grabbed the wizard’s shoulders tight, stopping him from speaking further. “No, it’s okay. No need for excuses.”
His friend smiled. “Well … maybe one. I was trying to help.”
Zephyr chuckled, nodding. He knew that the wizard wouldn’t be able to stop now, even if he wanted to. So it was much more convenient for everyone involved for him to keep talking.
He continued: “This was all a long time ago. Back when I first arrived here in this world.” He paused, remembering back to his early childhood days. “There was a boy who lived nearby, in Narnia. Prince Rufus, they called him. He used to go out hunting every day.
Once he got hurt on the hunt, and the witch put him to sleep until he woke up again. That was the end of the prince. The people mourned the loss of royalty; they prayed to Aslan that he would return soon enough. But the prince died. Just like that.”
“Aslan did come back,” said Zephyr softly. He remembered the time when he saw Aslan walking through the forest and told Mr. Beaver of it. At first, the old rabbit refused to believe it. But after witnessing it himself, Mr. Beaver had become convinced. Since then, the prince had remained awake and conscious and had been granted a second chance at life.
But Prince Rufus was still dead. He was gone forever. Only his spirit was left behind to walk the earth.
“I can imagine it must have felt horrible at first,” said Zephyr as he placed a comforting arm around the wizard’s shoulder. “When the people realized you had killed your friend. But it’s okay. You’re still alive.”
Mr. Beaver sighed. “I’ve always regretted my part in all this. Ever since then, I haven’t done anything else but wander these woods with my animals. I’ve never once tried to help anybody, not even myself.”
Zephyr shook his head vigorously. “That isn’t true,” he insisted. “You helped me when I needed you the most.”
“I did?” Mr. Beaver looked surprised.
The wizard nodded. “After we fought against the wolves together, I couldn’t find my way home anymore. You led me to a place where I could rest, fed me bread and cheese and dried meat. You made sure I was warm enough and well rested before you sent me on my way again.”
The wizard smiled, glancing over at the prince’s sleeping face. “And you saved us both from the fire-breathing dragon,” added Zephyr.
“Oh!” cried the wizard. “I hadn’t thought of that.”
“It wasn’t exactly your fault,” said Zephyr defensively. “But it happened anyway, so you might as well get some credit.”
Prince Rufus opened his eyes suddenly and turned his gaze toward them. Both men quickly stepped away to give their charge privacy.
The prince blinked several times, focusing on Zephyr and then the wizard. His face brightened with a big smile. “Hey, guys! What are you doing here? Did I fall asleep and wake up somewhere else?”
They exchanged glances with each other. “No, we’re still in Narnia,” said Zephyr.
The prince let out a heavy sigh, shaking his head in disbelief. “I’d love to know how I did that.” He looked up at Zephyr. “Are you really the prince?”
Zephyr laughed lightly. “I am now, but before I became his son, you could’ve sworn I was a beggar.”
Prince Rufus snickered. “I guess I’ll have to forgive you for lying to me earlier.”
The wizard nodded, looking down sadly upon the prince’s prone body. “Yes … you should.” He glanced up. “So … is that everything you want to know about my past, or do you have any more questions for me?”
Prince Rufus rubbed the side of his face nervously. “What about my mother? Is she coming back anytime soon?”
The wizard took a deep breath, thinking carefully before answering. “Maybe.”
Prince Rufus perked right up. “Really? Can you tell me what she looks like?”
“Well …” The wizard hesitated, searching his memory for an exact description.
Finally, he spoke: “Her hair was black and curly; her eyes were green and beautiful. She was pretty tall, and wore a lot of jewelry … just like the queen of England.”
Prince Rufus looked confused by the description. He shook his head, smiling faintly. “Not very helpful.”
“Sorry,” said the wizard, feeling guilty. “She didn’t look much like me.”
Prince Rufus stared at him, trying hard to remember anything else about her appearance. After a few seconds, he gave up. He sat up abruptly, placing his hands over his forehead and staring at the ceiling for a few moments. Then, with no warning at all, he began sobbing.
Zephyr and Mr. Beaver jumped forward to support him, pulling him close and rubbing his back gently.
After a minute or two, he calmed down again. They continued to hold him tightly for another few minutes until finally, he released their arms, wiping his tears with the sleeve of his robe.
“It’s just …” Prince Rufus sniffed once or twice. “This whole situation seems too unreal like it’s all some nightmare I’m going to wake up from in a minute.”
Zephyr nodded sympathetically. “But I guess nightmares really do happen.”
Prince Rufus shrugged his shoulders. “Sometimes they seem more real than reality itself.”
He glanced up at Zephyr again and gave him a weak smile. “Thanks for being there for me, kid.”
Zephyr shrugged lightly. “Just doing my job.”
Prince Rufus reached into his pocket and pulled out the ring that contained the eye of Aslan’s magic.
“Do you still think she’ll come back to claim me, after all these years?” he asked quietly.
The wizard nodded. “Yes, definitely.”
The prince sighed deeply. “I’m glad, but I don’t understand why.”
Neither one of the wizards had an answer for him. Instead, they merely held his hand and watched him sleep while the stars above shone brilliantly overhead.
***
As the three travelers walked along the road, they noticed a figure sitting on top of a nearby hill watching them with great interest. It stood up as they approached and came walking towards them, carrying something wrapped in a cloth.
Both Mr. Beaver and Zephyr recognized the man as King Edmund, who was dressed in fine clothes. When they got closer to him, he removed the bundle and unwrapped it to reveal a golden crown with a red jewel set within its center.
King Edmund smiled broadly, revealing sharp white teeth. “You made it back safely, then. How wonderful!”
Mr. Beaver grunted in agreement. “Indeed.”
“I knew you’d do the impossible and return to find your lost friend, even though he was missing for all those years,” said King Edmund.
Zephyr frowned thoughtfully, wondering what this king wanted. His eyes flicked briefly over to the crown. “Did you bring me a present, Your Majesty?”
“Certainly not! What kind of gift would I give you for saving me? Anyway, if I were giving you a reward, wouldn’t it be for rescuing the entire world?”
Zephyr blinked curiously at the king, taking in his words for a moment before asking: “And why is it that you think I saved everyone instead of you?”
King Edmund shrugged his shoulders and looked apologetic. “No matter how much we plan ahead, things rarely go according to plan, especially when you’re dealing with people, magic, and other powerful forces outside of the ordinary.”
“Oh really?”
“I mean, you’ve done such a marvelous thing here today … but maybe you hadn’t realized how dangerous it was.”
Zephyr nodded in understanding. “Now that you mention it, I probably shouldn’t have tried to save the prince myself.”
King Edmund nodded his head. “Of course. You know best about where you can and cannot be hurt. If someone could only see it that way. But unfortunately, most people are too stupid or arrogant to admit mistakes. Now, as long as I live, I will never forget the sacrifice you made for me. Never forget.”
At that moment, a dark figure darted behind the trees and appeared from behind a rock on the opposite side of the road.
The wizard, Mr. Beaver, and the prince all stared silently for a few seconds as King Edmund placed the crown upon his head. The prince was the first to speak again. “What’s happened?”
King Edmund pointed toward the approaching shape. “That’s Mordred, the bastard son of the king of Narnia.”
His voice suddenly grew cold and angry. “A traitor and underminer to his own kind! He’s been playing with us since he showed up, thinking that he could use me for his own selfish ends.”
King Edmund turned away from Mordred, turning to face Zephyr and the others again. “If I catch him with any further schemes against me, I promise you that there’ll be no escape for him.”
Zephyr’s eyes widened. “Meaning …”
The wizard nodded his head firmly. “He’ll die.”
Mordred stepped out from between the trees and onto the road. “Well, well, what do we have here?” He grinned wickedly at his father. “Looks like another failure.”
King Edmund narrowed his eyes. “Who do you think you’re talking to?”
Mordred scoffed at him. “The same person you’ve always been.”
The king turned his attention back to Zephyr. “Don’t look now, but I think I hear the sound of a thousand soldiers coming to capture me for the crimes I’ve committed against you.”
With that, he vanished in a puff of smoke.
Zephyr gasped loudly, looking at Prince Rufus in horror. “Where did he go?!”
Prince Rufus shook his head slowly, his expression filled with disbelief. “Why didn’t you warn us?”
She looked down at her feet sadly, trying to find the words to explain what she’d seen. “It’s just so terrible. He’s gone off to meet his death.”
Rufus took her by the arm, gently pulling her aside from their companions. He put his hand under her chin and pulled back her lips ever-so-slightly, examining her mouth closed. “Is there a scratch anywhere?”
Zephyr opened and closed her jaw experimentally. She felt something strange in her neck, and when she ran her fingers over it, it felt oddly sticky. After some experimentation, she discovered that it was a piece of the wizard’s beard stuck to her skin. She reached into her pocket to fish out the hair but found nothing there. It had either fallen away during her flight, or it might still be lodged inside her throat.
Her heart sank lower and lower as Prince Rufus examined his handiwork with a frown. “There’s blood in your mouth. Do you need healing?”
Zephyr shook her head quickly. “No!”
But he wasn’t ready to let the subject drop quite yet. “I’m worried about the fact that the wizard has disappeared after you said you knew where he lived. Maybe Mordred got lucky and caught him.”
“Maybe,” Zephyr admitted hesitantly, “but I don’t think so. Besides, you saw him vanish. And there’s something else … something that worries me even more than the wizard’s disappearance.”
Prince Rufus’ expression darkened. “And what is that?”
She looked deeply into his gray eyes and spoke carefully. “When King Edmund disappeared from before my very eyes … it seemed like he didn’t intend for it to happen. He just vanished like that, without any effort at all, as if it were completely natural.”
Prince Rufus raised an eyebrow. “You’re sure of this?”
“Yes.” Zephyr nodded vigorously, her hands shaking slightly with nerves. “This isn’t a trick or a lie. You should believe me.”
For a few moments, the prince studied her closely. Then he sighed heavily and turned his gaze back to the path ahead. “I understand why you wanted to stay quiet about the whole thing, but it seems that the time for discretion is over.” His tone was grave; there would be no arguing the matter. “We should get to safety right away, while they’re still searching for us.”
As Prince Rufus began walking forward, he called after the other children. “Wait! Prince Rilian, Prince Caspian!” He glanced back over his shoulder, smiling nervously. “Please, wait for me! My horse needs rest—I can’t travel much further.”
Prince Caspian nodded in understanding and turned to help the others on the horses. Prince William was already mounted, though, and stood waiting patiently until all the others were safely aboard. Prince Rilian gave Zephyr a smile and helped her mount her horse with a firm hand.
Once they were all settled and the animals were ready to ride, Prince Rufus climbed up behind them once more, giving Zephyr one last reassuring glance before disappearing into the woods.
The End