CHAPTERTWOTHERASHHEKING
ABOUTthreeweekslaterthelastoftheKingsofNarniasatuoakwhichgrewbesidethedoorofhislittlehuntinglodge，whereheofteendaysorsoispriwasalow，thatchedbuildingnotfarfromtheEasternendofLaeandsomewayabovethemeetiworivers。Helovedtolivetheresimplyandatease，awayfromthestateandpompofCairParavel，theroyalcity。HisnamewasKingTiriaweewenty-fiveyearsold;hisshoulderswerealreadybroadandstrongandhislimbsfullofhardmuscle，buthisbeardwasstillsty。Hehadblueeyesandafearless，hoface。
TherewashhimthatspringmexcepthisdearestfrieheUni。Theylovedeachotherlikebrothersandeachhadsavedtheother'slifeihelordlybeaststoodclosebesidetheKing'schair，withitsroundpolishingitsbluehainstthecreamywhitesflank。
“Iyselftoanyworkorsporttoday，Jewel，”saidtheKing。“Ikofnothingbutthiswohinkyouweshallhearaoday?”
&hemostwoidingseverheardinourdaysorourfathers&#randfathers'days，Sire，”saidJewel，“iftheyaretrue。”
“Howtheychoosebutbetrue?”saidtheKing。“Itismorethahatthefirstbirdsgoverussaying，Aslanishere，Aslaain。Awasthesquirrels。Theyhadnotseenhim，buttheysaiditwashewasiheag。Hesaidhehadseenhimwithhisowneyes，agreatwayoff，bymoonlight，ie。ThedarkMahemeren。TheehingforAslathemaasathingbeyonddoubt。AheBadgerlastoohadseenAslan。”
“Indeed，Sire，”answeredJewel，“Ibelieveitall。IfIseemnotto，itisonlythatmyjoyistoogreattoletmybeliefsettleitself。Itisalmosttoobeautifultobelieve。”
“Yes，”saidtheKingwithagreatsigh，almostashiver，ofdelight。“ItisbeyondallthatIeverhopedforinallmylife。”
“Listen!”saidJewel，puttinghisheadononesideandghisearsfor>
“Whatisit?”askedtheKing。
“Hoofs，Sire，”saidJeinghorse。Averyheavyhorse。Itmustbeoaurs。Andlook，thereheis。”
&，goldeaur，withman'ssweatonhisforeheadandhorse'ssweatoflaheKing，stopped，andbowedlow。“Hail，King，”itavoiceasdeepasabull's。
“Ho，there!”saidtheKing，lookingoverhisshouldertowardthedoorofthehuntinglodge。“Abowlofwiheaur。Wele，Roonwit。Whenyouhavefoundyourbreathyoushalltellusyourerrand。”
Apagecameoutofthehreatwoodenbowl，curiouslydhahetaur。Thetaurraisedthebowlandsaid，“IdrinkfirsttoAslanandtruth，Sire，aoyourMajesty。”
Hefihewine（enoughfmeaheemptybowlbacktothepage。
“Now，Roonwit，”saidtheKing。“Dusmorene>
Roonwitlrave，frowningalittle。
“Sire，”hesaid。“YouknowhowlongIhavelivedaars;forwetaurslivelohanyouMen，andevehanyourkind，UnieverinallmydayshaveIseehiheskiesastherehavebeennightlysihisyearbegaarssaynothingoftheingofAslan，norofpeaorofjoy。IknowbymyartthattherehavenotbeensuchdisastroussoftheplasforfivehuwasalreadyinmymindtoeandwarnyourMajestythatsomegreatevilhangsoverNarnia。ButlastnighttherumourreachedmethatAslanisabroadinNarbelievethistale。Itotbe。ThestarsMesdo。IfAslanwerereallyingtoNarniatheskywouldhaveforetoldit。Ifhewerereallye，allthemostgraciousstarswouldbeassembledinhishonour。Itisallalie。”
“Alie!”saidtheKicreatureinNarniaoralltheworldwoulddaretolieonsuchamatter?”And，withoutknowingit，helaidhishandonhisswordhilt。
“ThatIknown，”saidthetaur。“ButIknowthereareliarsoherearehestars。”
“Iwonder，”saidJewel，“whetherAslanmighthoughallthestarsforetoldotherwise。HeisnottheslaveofthestarsbuttheirMaker。IsitnotsaidioriesthatHeisnotatamelion。”
“Wellsaid，wellsaid，Jewel，”criedtheKiheverywords:anytales。”
RoonwithadjustraisedhishandandwasleaningforwardtosaysomethilytotheKihreeofthemturheirheadstolistentoawailingsoundthatwasquicklydrawihewoodwassothicktotheWestofthemthattheyotseethe。Buttheyhearthewords。
“oe!”calledthevoiybrothersandsisters!Woefortheholytrees!Thewoodsarelaidwaste。Theaxeisloosedagainstus。Wearebeitreesarefalling，falling，falling。”
Withthelast“falling”thespeakersight。Shewaslikeawomanbutsotallthatherheadwasohetaur'syetshewaslikeatreetoo。ItishardtoexplainifyouhaveneverseenaDryadbutquiteunmistakableonceyouhave—somethihecolor，thevoidthehair。KingTiriawoBeastskoshewasthenymphofabeechtree。
“Justice，L!”sheetoouraid。Protectyourpeople。Theyarefellingusie。Freattrunksofmybrothersandsistersarealreadyontheground。”
“What，Lady!Fellie?Murderialkingtrees?”criedtheKiohisfeetanddrawinghissword。“Howdarethey?Andwhodaresit?NowbytheManeofAslan—”
“A-a-a-h，”gaspedtheDryadshudderingasifinpaiimeaftertimeasifuedblows。Thenallatonceshefellsidewaysassuddenlyasifbothherfeethadbeenunderher。Forasedtheysawherlyihegrassandthenshevaheykhadhapperee，milesaway，hadbeen。
ForamomenttheKing'sgriefandathatheotspeak。Thenhesaid:“e，friegoupriverandfindthevillainswhohavedohis，eedwemay。Iwillleavehemalive。”