Mainly about prayer and our interactions with God.

But when he had said “Yes,” he thought of his Mother, and he thought of the great hopes he had had, and how they were all dying away, and a lump came in his throat and tears in his eyes, and he blurted out:

“But please, please – won’t you – can’t you give me something that will cure Mother?” Up till then he had been looking at the Lion’s great feet and the huge claws on them; now, in his despair, he looked up at its face. What he saw surprised him as much as anything in his whole life. For the tawny face was bent down near his own and (wonder of wonders) great shining tears stood in the Lion’s eyes. They were such big, bright tears compared to Digory’s own that for a moment he felt as if the Lion must really be sorrier about his Mother than he was himself.

SOMEONE JUST GIVE THAT BOY A HUG ALREADY.

That’s such a wonderful metaphor, though – looking up from the claws of punishment in despair, and finding unexpected love and understanding.  Unfortunately, there are no hugs quite yet, as Aslan impresses upon him that something has to be done to keep the Witch out of Narnia, and that’s both more urgent and impacts more people than Digory’s Mother.  He doesn’t even answer Digory’s question, or at least not with a “Yes” or “No”, much like prayers in real life.  He’s left to wonder whether it’s even in Aslan’s power to cure her or not (as obvious as it seems that he can, Digory might not be so sure).

Anyhow, Digory is supposed to find a garden in the Western mountains and take a fruit from a tree growing in it (doesn’t that ring a bell?), providing the seed for a tree that is supposed to keep the Witch away.

Aslan then provides Strawberry with a pair of wings and a new name: Fledge.  Aslan provides all of the expatriates with new names, in fact, since the Cabby and his wife are no longer the Cabby and his wife but the King and Queen of Narnia.  Fledge promptly offers to fly Digory up to the mountains, and Polly volunteers to come with them.

“I wish we had someone to tell us what all those places are,” said Digory.

“I don’t suppose they’re anywhere yet,” said Polly. “I mean, there’s no one there, and nothing happening. The world only began today.”

“No, but people will get there,” said Digory. “And then they’ll have histories, you know.”

Good old Professor Kirk!  Go look up a Calormene history at your local library.

“Well, I do think someone might have arranged about our meals,” said Digory.

“I’m sure Aslan would have, if you’d asked him,” said Fledge.

“Wouldn’t he know without being asked?” said Polly.

“I’ve no doubt he would,” said the Horse […]. “But I’ve a sort of idea he likes to be asked.”

They’re not left to starve, of course – Polly turns out to have a bag of toffees in her pocket, which is good enough for a couple of kids.  They also get the bright idea to plant one of the toffees and see if it will sprout into a toffee tree.  Before they go to sleep, however, they seem to catch a glimpse of the Witch passing by.

Next time: An unexpected meeting…