NINE: THE FOUNDING OF NARNIA

The Lion paces the empty land, singing a gentler song that spreads grass and heather, then trees, across the valley and hills. As the world greens, Queen Jadis threatens the children and hurls the iron bar at the Lion’s head, but it glances off. She flees; Uncle Andrew falls in a brook while the Lion continues unperturbed.

Nearby, the fallen bar takes root and grows into a living lamp-post, revealing this world’s overflowing life. Uncle Andrew dreams of exploiting its magic, while Polly rebukes his violence. Remembering his sick Mother, Digory decides to ask the Lion for help and moves closer despite Uncle Andrew’s protests.

The Lion’s song shifts to a wilder tune, and the ground swells into humps that burst into animals, birds, and insects, culminating in an elephant. Strawberry, the cab-horse, brightens in the new air and joins the beasts. The Lion silently moves among them, touching selected pairs from each kind, who then gather around him as the others wander away.

In a solemn stillness, the Lion breathes over the chosen circle; small beasts grow larger, the largest shrink a little, and all strive to understand. A flash like fire passes, the stars sing, and the Lion’s deep voice proclaims, “Narnia, Narnia, Narnia, awake,” commanding trees to walk, beasts to talk, and waters to be divine.