THE GREAT MEETING ON STABLE HILL Fop, a long time they could not speak nor even shed a tear. Then the Uni stamped the ground with his hoof, and shook his mane, and spoke.
"Sire," he said, "there is now no need of sel. We see that the Apes plans were laid deeper than we dreamed of. Doubtless he has been long i traffic with The Tisrod as soon as he had found the lion-skin he sent him word to make ready his navy for the taking of Cair Paravel and all Narnia. Nothing now remains for us seven but to go back to Stable Hill, proclaim the truth, and take the advehat Aslan sends us. And if, by a great marvel, we defeat those thirty enes who are with the Ape, then tain and die in battle with the far greater host of them that will soon march from Cair Paravel.」
Tirian nodded. But he turo the children and said: "Now, friends, it is time for you to go heo your own world. Doubtless you have done all that you were sent to do.」
"B - but weve dohing," said Jill who was shivering, not with fear exactly but because everything was so horrible.
"Nay," said the King, "you loosed me from the tree: you glided before me like a snake last night in the wood and took Puzzle: and you, Eustace, killed your man. But you are too young to share in such a bloody end as we others must meet tonight or, it may be, three days hence. I e you - nay, I and you - to return to your own place. I should be put to shame if I let such young warriors fall in battle on my side.」
"No, no, no," said Jill (very white when she began speaking and then suddenly very red and then white again.) "We wont, I dont care what you say. Were going to stick to you whatever happens, arent we, Eustace?」
"Yes, but theres o get so worked up about it," said Eustace who had stuck his hands in his pockets (fetting how very odd that looks when you are wearing a mail shirt). "Because, you see, we havent any choice. Whats the good of talking about oing back! How? Weve got no magic for doing it!」
This was very good se, at the moment, Jill hated Eustace for saying it. He was fond of being dreadfully matter-of-fact when other people got excited.
When Tirian realized that the twers could not get home (unless Aslan suddenly whisked them away), he wahem to go across the Southern mountains into Arland where they might possibly be safe. But they didnt know their way and there was no oo send with them. Also, as Poggin said, ohe enes had Narnia they would certainly take Arland in the week or so: The Tisroc had always wao have these Northern tries for his own. In the ead Jill begged so hard that Tirian said they could e with him and take their ce - or, as he much more sensibly called it, "the advehat Aslan would send them".
The Kings first idea was that they should not go back to Stable Hill - they were sick of the very name of it by now till after dark. But the Dwarf told them that if they arrived there by daylight they would probably find the place deserted, except perhaps for a ery. The Beasts were far thtened by what the Ape (and Ginger) had told them about this new angry Aslan - or Tashlan - to go near it except when they were called together for these horrible midnight meetings. And enes are never good woodsmen. Poggin thought that even by daylight they could easily get round to somewhere behind the stable without being seen. This would be much harder to do when the night had e and the Ape might be calling the Beasts