&hanyouofrushedforwardtotheGoldeheyhadallitsleavesstrippedoff，asbraornofftoo，beforeyoucouldsayJason。Andnowthecouldseethatitdidnotmerelylookgoldenbutwasofreal，softgold。Ithadupfromthehalf-snswhichhadfallenoutofUndrew'spohewasturnedupsidedown;justasthesilverhadgrownupfromthehalf-seemed，pilesofdrybrushwoodforfuel，alittleanvil，hammers，tongs，andbellowswereproduextmoment（howthosedwarfslovedtheirwork!）thefirewasblazing，thebell，thegoldwasmelting，thehammerswereg。TwoMoles，whomAslaodig（hattheylikedbest）earlierintheday，pouredoutapileofpreesatthedwarfs'feet。Uhegersofthelittlesmithstwostookshape—notugly，heavythingslikemodernEuropeans，butlight，delicate，beautifullyshapedcirclesthatyoucouldreallywearandlooknicerbywearing。TheKing'swassetwithrubiesandtheQueen's>
&heshadbeeheriverAslanmadeFrankandHelenkneelbeforehimahetheirheads。Thenhesaid，“RiseupKingandQueenofNarherofmanykingsthatshallbeinNarniaandtheIslesandArd。Bejustandmerdbrave。Theblessingisuponyou。”
Theneveryonecheeredorbayedhedortrumpetedorclappeditswingsandtheroyalpairstoodlookingsolemnandalittleshy，butalltheheirshyness。AndwhileDigorywasstillgheheardthedeepvoiceofAslanbesidehim，saying:“Look!”
Everyoeditshead，andtheneverybreathofwondera。Alittlewayovertheirheads，theysawatreewhichhadlyherebefore。Itmusthavegrowswiftlyasaflagriseswhenyoupullituponaflagstaff，whiletheywereallbusiedaboutthe。Itsspreadingbraocastalightratherthanashade，andsilverapplespeepedoutlikestarsfromundereveryleaf。Butitwasthesmellwhichit，evehesight，thathadmadeeveryonedrawih。Foramomentonecouldhardlythinkaboutanythingelse。
“SonofAdam，”saidAslan，“youhavesownwell。Andyou，NarbeyourfirstcaretoguardthisTree，foritisyourShield。TheWitItoldyouhasfledfarawayihoftheworld;shewilllivererindarkMagic。ButwhilethatTreeflourishesshewilloNarewithinahuheTree，foritssmell，whichisjoyandlifeaoyou，isdeathandhorroraoher。”
EveryoariheTreewhenAslansuddenlyswungroueringgoldengleamsoflightfromhismaneashedidso）andfixedhislargeeyesonthe。“Whatisit，?”hesaid，fhtthemiandnudgiher。
“Oh—Aslan，sir，”saidDigred，“Ifottotellyou。TheWitchhasalreadyeatehoseapples，ohesamekindthatTreegrewfrom。”Hehadn'treallysaidallhewasthinking，butPollyatoforywasalwaysmuchmoreafraidthansheoflookingafool。）
“Sowethought，Aslahattheremustbesomemistake，andshe'treallymihoseapples。”
“Whydoyouthinkthat，DaughterofEve?”askedtheLion。'
“Well，sheateone。”
“Child，”hereplied，“thatiswhyalltherestarenowahorrortoher。Thatisenstothosewhopludeatfruitsatthewrohewrongway。Thefruitisgood，buttheyloatheiteverafter。”
“OhIsee，”saidPolly。“AndIsupposebecauseshetookitintheon'tworkforher。Imeanitwon'tmakeheralwaysyoungandallthat?”
“Alas，”saidAslan，shakiwill。Thingsalwayswtotheirnature。Shehaswo'sdesire;shehasurengthandendlessdayslikeagoddess。Butlengthofdayswithaisohofmiseryandalreadyshebeginstoknowit。Allgetwhattheywaalwayslikeit。”
“I—Ieonemyself，Aslan，”saidDigory。“WouldI—”
“Youwould，child，”saidAslan。“Forthefruitalwaysworks—itmustwork—butitdoesnotilyforanywhopluckitattheirownwill。IfanyNarniaolenanappleaheretoproteia，itroteia。ButitwouldhavedonesobymakingNarniairongandcruelempirelikeotthekindlylaobe。Aemptedyoutod，myso?”
“Yes，AslaedmetotakeaoMother。”
&hen，thatitwouldhavehealedher;butnottoyourjoyorhers。Thedaywouldhaveewhenbothyouandshewouldhavelookedbadsaiditwouldhavebeeodieinthatillness。”
AndDigorycouldsaynothing，fortearsandhegaveupallhopesofsavinghisMother'slife;butatthesametimehekheLioehattheremightbethierribleeventhanlosingsomeoneyoulovebydeath。Butnoeakingagain，almostinawhisper:
“Thatiswhatened，child，withastoleisnotwhatennow。WhatIgiveyounjoy。Itwillnot，inyiveendlesslife，butitluapplefromtheTree。”
ForasedDigorycouldhardlyuand。Itwasasifthewholeworldhadturandupsidedown。Andthen，likesomeoneinadream，hewaswalkingacrosstotheTree，andtheKingandQueenwereghimauresweregtoo。HepluckedtheappleandputitinhispohecamebacktoAslan。
“Please，”hesaid，“maywegohomenow?”Hehadfottentosay“Thankyou“，buthemeantit，andAslaood。