The Magician’s Nephew: Chapter 12 Summary & Analysis

Digory is determined not to cry in front of Aslan. Aslan asks Digory if he’s ready to undo the wrong he’s done to Narnia. Digory begins to protest that the Queen has run away, so he doesn’t know what he can do. However, Aslan just cuts him off with, “Are you ready?”

Digory had momentarily entertained the thought of bargaining with the Lion for his mother’s sake, but quickly realized that the Lion isn’t someone you bargain with. But at the thought of his mother, Digory starts to cry. When he looks at Aslan’s face, he’s shocked to see Aslan’s own eyes filled with tears. Aslan tells Digory that he understands his grief, but that nobody else in Narnia knows about grief yet, so Digory must help him protect Narnia against the Witch’s return.

Aslan explains that Digory must help him plant a protective tree in Narnia that the Queen will never dare approach, allowing Narnia to enjoy “a long, bright morning” before any clouds appear. Aslan takes a deep breath and gives Digory a kiss that sends strength and courage flowing into him. Then he instructs Digory to look westward. Digory does, seeing mountains, forests, and waterfalls. Aslan tells him where to find the border between Narnia and the Western Wild. Digory must journey through the mountains there until he comes into a green valley. At the end of a lake in the valley he will find a garden. Digory must pluck an apple from a tree in the center of the garden and bring it back to Aslan.

Next, Aslan promises Digory help. He turns to Strawberry, who’s quietly listening nearby. He asks Strawberry how he would like to be a winged horse. Strawberry shakes his mane and taps his hoof with delight. Though Strawberry modestly points out that he isn’t the most clever horse, Aslan pronounces Strawberry “the father of all flying horses” and renames him Fledge. Massive wings sprout from Fledge’s shoulders, and he makes an awkward but delighted first flight above them.

Fledge agrees to bear Digory to the mountain-valley with the garden, and Queen Helen speaks up to say that Polly would love to come along on the journey, to which Fledge agrees. King Frank boosts the children onto Fledge’s back, and Aslan sends them off with his blessing, promising that “there will always be a way through.” Soon Fledge and the children are flying high above Narnia, and the King, Queen, and Aslan are only faint dots below.

Once they’ve flown beyond the boundaries of Narnia, the sun begins to set, turning the sky golden. Fledge’s wings are beginning to tire, and they haven’t yet spotted the lake Aslan spoke of, so they decide to stop for the night. They settle in a warm valley in the midst of snowy mountains. Fledge immediately tucks into a supper of grass, while Polly and Digory realize that they’ve made no arrangements regarding their own meals. Fledge says that Aslan would have arranged, and surely knew of the need, but would probably have liked to be asked.

Digory thinks of sending Polly home via ring to get something to eat, but she refuses to leave him. In the end, Polly finds a sticky bag of toffee in her pocket, so the children each eat four toffees and plant the last, figuring it will yield a toffee-tree by morning. Then they nestle under Fledge’s wings for the night, watching the stars come out and talking over all that’s happened. Just as they’re about to fall asleep, they think they hear something; Polly thinks she sees a tall figure heading westward. But finally they crawl under Fledge’s wings again and fall asleep. Fledge stays awake for a while, keeping watch.