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As you recall, in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy spent their lives as good kings and queens of Narnia, but eventually, after a long reign, were led back to the door of the wardrobe, where they once again found themselves children, as if no time had passed at all. Now it is a year later, and they are at the railway station, awaiting their transportation to boarding school. But they once again are magically whisked into the realms of Narnia. They have been summoned by the blowing of Susan's horn, which is only used in Narnia in extreme situations. This time it is Caspian who blows it, as he attempts to win back his rightful kingdom.

The children land in a dense woods on an island they do not recognize. As they reach the sea, they begin to see sight of another land, close, but still divided from the island by thirty or forty yards. But by now, they are hungry and thirsty. Edmund and Peter have the sandwiches their mother packed. (Lucy and Susan have left theirs at the station.) They find a stream, so they can quench their thirst, and divide up the sandwiches, and after eating, work their way upstream. They are soon surrounded by great apple trees bearing fruit, and can see that the island was once inhabited. As they explore more, they come to the ruins of a building that looks vaguely familiar, and, in shock, realize it was once their castle, Cair Paravel. But how could that be? It has only been a year since they were in Narnia. They finally understand that time here is nothing like time on earth. In fact, hundreds and hundreds of years have passed.

They find their ancient treasure house, and reclaim their gifts—all but Susan's magic horn, which as we will see is now in the hands of good Prince Caspian—and what has summoned the children back to Narnia. And they have visitors—a boat is observed carrying two men attempting to drop a bag overboard. Inside the bag is something alive. Susan uses her bow and arrow, and, without hitting the men, scare them enough to get them overboard, because now the inhabitants of Narnia are afraid of the woods, and especially that near the old castle.

What turns out to be in the bag is a Dwarf—Trumpkin, as we later find, who has been sent by Caspian to find the ancient Narnian royalty. Though he is not a believer in the old tales, nor does he believe in Aslan, he serves the true King, who is Caspian. He updates the children on what is happening.

Prince Caspian, still a boy, had been living with his uncle, King Miraz and the queen. He hated them, but loved his Nurse. One day, he innocently blurted out to the King the historic tales of Old Narnia that his nurse had been telling him—tales of Aslan and talking trees and animals. Now Narnia is run by a human race, the Telmarines, who have obliterated the truth about Narnia's history.

Immediately, Nurse is sent away, but fortunately, Caspiani's new tutor, a fat and ugly Dwarf named Doctor Cornelius, is not only kind, loving, and wise, but knows far more about Narnia than Nurse. This time, Caspian understands that he must not breathe a word of what Doctor Cornelius is telling him. He also learns that Miraz has killed his father, Caspian Ninth, the rightful king. Doctor Cornelius knows that change is in the air, and when the queen gives birth to a son, he awakens Caspian and helps him flee, because now his life is in danger.

So Caspian, the boy, flees, and meets along the way magical and mystical beings, kept long hidden and longing for the return of Aslan and the Old Narnian ways. Along with the Badgers and other talking animals, he meets good Dwarfs and other not-quite-human beings. But it is the Centaur, Glenstorm, that makes vocal the thought no one had dared yet to say—that there must be war and Miraz must be defeated. Supporters are called in and they begin plans. Doctor Cornelius, to Caspian's relief, finds them, but also informs them that they are being hunted down. They escape to Aslan's How, which is the site of the ancient Stone Table, where Aslan was sacrificed, then rose from the dead, in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Pattertwig, the Squirrel, is sent off to Lantern Waste, near the old wardrobe where the four children first entered Narnia, and Trumpkin is sent to the ruins of Cair Paravel. The horn is sounded, and all who have faith look for the return of the ancient Kings and Queens of Narnia and/or Aslan.

And that takes us back to the Dwarf, Trumpkin, who has been rescued by Susan's arrow. They begin their journey back to Aslan's How. Meanwhile, Lucy spots Aslan, but, as usual, no one believes her—except Edmund. This time it is Susan who is especially mean. Even after Aslan joins them, no one but Lucy can see him. Little by little, as they get readjusted to Narnia, they all see him, including the unbeliever, Trumpkin. They return to Aslan's How, and the final battle is planned, but this time not between warriors, but between Peter and Miraz.

I've probably said too much, but still there is a lot to ponder here, and it is in this book that some of the metaphysical/spiritual issues of which many of us are devoted, begin to arise. Again, this whole series is a must-read for both children and adults alike.

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