Prince Caspian
Written by C. S. Lewis
Illustrated by Pauline Baynes
Dedicated to Mary Clare Howard
1951
Sitting at a train station waiting to go back to school, Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy find themselves transported back to the land of Narnia. Once there, they discover that it has been hundreds of years since their reign as Kings and Queens.
Cair Paravel is in ruins! They meet a dwarf named Trumpkin who tells them of the evil King Miraz from Telmarine who has control of Narnia. They also learn of Prince Caspian, the Kings nephew, who is trying to overthrow his uncle. All five of them must race across Narnia to meet up with Caspian's outnumbered army before the Kings forces destroy them. On the journey, Lucy is visited by Aslan, who shows Lucy the way to the battle site. The siblings and Trumpkin all doubt Lucy, for they are unable to see Aslan. After becoming lost, they all decide to follow Lucy, and when they do, Asaln becomes visible to them. Upon reaching the battle, they find that Caspian's forces are near defeat. Reepicheep, (a mouse, by the way)a brave and faithful follower of Aslan, wants to attack the enemy head on. Instead, Peter challenges Miraz to a dual, the loser to surrender his army. Miraz accepts, and is defeated. The kings army attacks Narnias forces, and with the help of Aslan, the Telmarines are demolished. During the battle, Reepicheep has had his tail cut off( the tail to a mouse is his true badge of honor). Reepicheep's band of fierce mice are willing to cut off their own tales, so as not have an object of honor their own leader does not have. For this love and respect, Aslan restores Reepicheep's tail! Caspian is appointed King of Narnia by Aslan. The sibling children are ready to return to their own world, but before they do, Aslan tells Peter and Susan that they are getting too old and they will never return to Narnia.
