Aravis tells her story

Aravis tells her story

The next day Aravis, Hwin, Shasta and Bree continued on their journey

Shasta enjoyed the time when it was just him and Bree traveling together

Aravis’s evil stepmom persuaded her father to promise Aravis in marriage to a man named Ahoshta

Bree and Aravis talked a lot because they knew a lot of the same people

Shasta and Hwin remained quiet for the most part

Aravis tells the group that her father is a lord over a province and that her mother and brother are dead

Her father married another woman. This woman hates Aravis

Bree wanted to decide on a place where they would all meet on the other side of Tashbaan if they got spit up in the city.

Aravis is supposed to marry Ahosta this year during the summer

Ahoshta is of base birth, but has good relationship with the king through flattery and evil advice

The started getting closer to Tashbaan, there were more, and larger, villages, and more people on the roads

They did all of their traveling now by night and hide and sleep during the day

He is 60 years old, has a hump on his back and is very ugly

They decided to meet at the Tombs of the Ancient Kings on the edge of the desert.

They started arguing about what they were going to do when they reached Tashbaan

As they talked about how to get through Tashbaan, Aravis was a little nicer to Shasta

When Aravis heard the news that she was to marry Ahosta, she became depressed and laid in her room and cried for a day

Aravis asks Hwin how she ever learned how to talk

Hwin suggested that the best way to get through the city was to wear disguises and go straight through from gate to gate.

Hwin explained to her that in Narnia most animals do talk and that if she was in Narnia she would be happy.

After a day of weeping, she saddled her horse Hwin and took a dagger with her and rode to an open place in the woods

Aravis did not believe that her horse spoke to her and that her fear of death was making her delusional

“O my mistress, do not by any means destroy yourself, for if you live you may yet have good fortune but all the dead are dead alike.”

Bree objects to this plan stating that he does not want to show up in Narnia looking like that

Hwin admits her plan is not a very good one, but it’s the best chance they have of getting through

Hwin pointed out that the real problem was not where to meet up, but how to get through the city

Aravis got off her horse Hwin and pulled out the dagger, closed her eyes and was about to kill herself when her horse spoke to her

Aravis prepared to stab and kill herself again but before she could Hwin put her head in between Aravis and the dagger and talked her out of killing herself

Aravis and Bree complain that there is now way that anyone could mistake Bree for anything but a war horse

Hwin replies by stating that the main thing is to get to Narnia

Hwin suggests that her and Bree cover themselves in mud, cut their tails and walk through town with their heads down as if they are tired and lazy horses

Bree pointed out that there were lots of houses and gardens on that part of the river and that they would be seen

Aravis suggested that they should swim across the river below the city during the night and not go into Tashbaan at all

Aravis was glad that she did not kill herself and decided to run away with Hwin to Narnia

When Aravis arrives at a town, she mails the letter that she had the slave write for her

Bree disagreed stating that Hwin would not be able to swim that far and ships would see them swimming across

They decided to try Hwin’s plan

The letter is a fake letter from Ahoshta (whom she is supposed to marry)

Shasta suggested that they cross the river where it was narrower

Bree reminds them to stay together

Shasta reminded the horses that whatever happens to not talk!

Steer Wrestling

The letter states that Ahoshta had made is journey to marry Aravis, but on the way there, he ran into Aravis in the forest.

Early the next morning the children cut the tails of Bree and Hwin with Aravis’ scimitar

They came out of the woods on top of a hill and saw thousands of lights below

They placed big packs on the horse’s backs, and the children pulled the horses along with a rope halter

Before she went to the forest, she gave the maid who was supposed to go with her wine that would make her sleep for two days, and made a slave who had taken care of her for a long time write a letter

Aravis heads towards towards the city of Tashbaan

Aravis waited for everyone in the house to fall asleep, then took as much money, jewels, and food with her. She saddled Hwin and rode off in the middle of the night.

Aravis asked her father for permission to take a maiden with her to the forest for three days to get ready for the marriage

Aravis believes that her deceitfulness will buy her enough time to get past the city of Tashbaan before anyone knows that she is gone.

Aravis’ father gave her permission

The letter continues by saying that Ahoshta fell in love with Aravis immediately and decided to marry Aravis right then and there in the forest and he has now taken Aravis back to his house

Aravis went back to her father’s house and pretended to be excited about her upcoming marriage