Ayslan the great

Everyone knows the story of the great Ayslan, creator and king of Narnia; yet not everyone knows of how Ayslan became so great. It started in a lonely circus in the middle of nowhere on another world entirely.

The Great Lion was painted in faded red lettering above his cage. The circus folk called him GL when the public wasn’t about. They did so in a mocking tone and he didn’t really blame them. He did not feel great nor did he particularly feel like a lion. When he was a cub, he had heard stories of bold lions walking the plains, feeling the sun beat down on their majestic fur. They were the kings of their lands, rulers of their Prides and not to be messed with.

In a marked contrast, he laid in his cage, resting his head on his paws. He was miserable. The Ringmaster loved to threaten him with the fire-sticks. The heat of the fire and the strange flames scared him. Rain started slashing through the bars, but there was no place to go. He was trapped in this tiny cage with barely enough room to stand or turn around. The thin layer of straw beneath him was old and dirty. If he were standing, his ribs would easily be visible, but he was too lethargic to bother with such things as standing. He slept fitfully whilst the thunderstorm crashed on. He dreamt of gorgeous fields covered in sweet smelling grass. He dreamt of large forests spanning on endlessly as far as the eye could see. And he dreamt of talking animals.

He woke feeling like he hadn’t in years—alive. His dream had left him renewed. He knew what he had to do; break out. He would have to time this well—if he were to pull it off. The thunderstorm crashed on through the entire night and no one had bothered to come and check on him. He was angry at this. They didn’t care if he lived or died. He was a tame lion to them. “I’ll show them,” he thought, “I’ll show them all. I am NOT a tame lion.” He heard a sound issue forth from his throat. It started low and then became so loud it over took the thunder. It was a mighty roar. A roar such as he had never heard before. Maybe, just maybe, he was majestic after all.

He brooded all night, thinking of his best means for escape. Ignoring the hunger pains, he waited. It was almost noon before anyone even bothered to notice that the lion was more alert than he had ever been. Families with little children had come up to his cage all day and stuck their hands in his cage, petting him. He could barely contain the resentment. But he did, he had an escape to pull off. Finally, it was time for his show and the Ringmaster came to fetch him. “What has you so riled up, you stupid animal,” he sneered. “Well, you better snap out of it, you have a show to do and then I’m selling you to a restaurant this evening. They want lion filets, though I can’t imagine they are going to get much out of your skinny body, but at least they can sell your pathetic pelt.” The Ringmaster fumbled with the locks on the cage. There was no time to lose, the lion thought to himself. When the door was opened and the Ringmaster unaware of the danger, he leapt from the cage and landed hard on the Ringmaster.

“You tortured me,” he bellowed in roars, “you treated me like a tame lion.” And with a few jerks from his teeth and swipe from his paw, the ringmaster was no more. People began screaming and running away. Mass panic ensued. The few brave enough circus officials grabbed torches and tried to take the lion out. But he was angry, really and properly angry. The injustice done to him was inexcusable and he was tired of it. He roared so loud that quite a few people clapped their hands over their ears; even as they ran away. The earth shook under the lion’s feet and he began to run.

The wind in his fur blew away the stink of the squalor conditions he was forced to live in. The ground beneath his feet felt cool on his paws. He was a real lion and he was free. He ran into the forest as fast as he dared. After several hours, he realised that no one was chasing him anymore. Slowly he meandered through the forest, allowing himself to explore his new world at his leisure. Eventually, he found a cave and settled down for the night. As he laid his head on his paws, he noticed the blood of the ringmaster, matted to his fur.

Was he right to have done what he did? Falling asleep took a long while. Whilst he slept, he dreamt. A beautiful woman stood in front of him. “Hello, Ayslan,” she said.
He looked at her, not realising she was addressing him. Finally he said, “They called me The Great Lion, in the circus.”
“Indeed you are,” she said smiling, “I am whom some may call Mother Nature and I have been watching you. You are not yet the proud and majestic lion that you have dreamt of, but I know what you will become my son and I am proud.”
“But I killed someone,” the lion replied sadly. The weight of the Ringmaster’s death had been troubling him.
“It is true, you have. Know this, the choices you make directly impact not only yourself but others as well. I know you will be a truly great lion one day, if you aren’t already. Knowing when to be harsh and when to be kind and compassionate will be the mark of your greatness my son. Now let me show you something, Ayslan,” she said waving her hand in the air.
A beautiful city appeared in front of him. It was filled with lampposts and cars and wonderful buildings.
“In this world, events are happening that will destroy the world I have planned for you to govern,” she explained grimly. “Some humans have found my magic rings and have teleported themselves into the other realms and awakened a ruthless and power hungry witch. Ayslan, I wish to impart you with my magic. Only then can you step through my portals and stop the witch Jadis from her destructive ways. With my magic, you will be capable of speech and reason. You will be able to create life and help stop Jadis from destroying what I am trying to create. I shall place humans in your path to help rule this world should you be willing to do this. What do you say? Are you ready to stop being a circus lion and become Ayslan?”

He woke to a load roar. The dream was so vivid, so real. He had roared yes, yes he wanted to become this Great Lion, but it was a dream. And it was a shame it was over. And just as he was about to go back to sleep, he noticed a pool not far from his cave. A pool that had not been there before he went to sleep. Maybe it wasn’t a dream after all? With that he stood and headed to the pool. He stepped in and felt himself slip off into another world, a world where he would be Ayslan, and most certainly he would not be a tame lion.

Story by Raven Based on the Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis. All characters belong to him.
Overlay by Ziva