Listen to the audio for “Inklings // June 2024” here.
The subject for the June Inklings link-up (see Heidi’s post here for rules to link up!) is an archery scene in book or film. I’ve chosen a scene from Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis, in which the Pevensies are in the midst of convincing Trumpkin the dwarf that they would be a useful addition to Caspian’s army (which Trumpkin is rather skeptical about, as to outer appearances they’re just average British schoolchildren). It’s a little longer than my previous Inklings choices, but a little extra C.S. Lewis never hurt anybody.
…“That’s quite true,” put in Peter. “The best swordsman in the world may be disarmed by a trick that’s new to him. I think it’s only fair to give Trumpkin a chance at something else. Will you have a shooting match with my sister? There are no tricks in archery, you know.”
“Ah, you’re jokers, you are,” said the Dwarf. “I begin to see. As if I didn’t know how she can shoot, after what happened this morning. All the same, I’ll have a try.” He spoke gruffly, but his eyes brightened, for he was a famous bowman among his own people.
All five of them came out into the courtyard.
“What’s to be the target?” asked Peter.
“I think that apple hanging over the wall on the branch there would do,” said Susan.
“That’ll do nicely, lass,” said Trumpkin. “You mean the yellow one near the middle of the arch?”
“No, not that,” said Susan. “The red one up above – over the battlement.”
The Dwarf’s face fell. “Looks more like a cherry than an apple,” he muttered, but he said nothing out loud.
They tossed up for first shot (greatly to the interest of Trumpkin, who had never seen a coin tossed before) and Susan lost. They were to shoot from the tops of the steps that led from the hall into the courtyard. Everyone could see from the way that the Dwarf took his position and handled his bow that he knew what he was about.
Twang went the string. It was an excellent shot. The tiny apple shook as the arrow passed, and a leaf came fluttering down. Then Susan went to the top of the steps and strung her bow. She was not enjoying her match half so much as Edmund had enjoyed his; not because she had any doubt about hitting the apple but because Susan was so tender-hearted that she almost hated to beat someone who had been beaten already. The Dwarf watched her keenly as she drew the shaft to her ear. A moment later, with a little soft thump which they could all hear in that quiet place, the apple fell to the grass with Susan’s arrow in it.
“Oh, well done, Su,” shouted the other children.
“It wasn’t really any better than yours,” said Susan to the Dwarf. “I think there was a tiny breath of wind as you shot.”
“No, there wasn’t,” said Trumpkin. “Don’t tell me. I know when I am fairly beaten. I won’t even say that the scar of my last wound catches me a bit when I get my arm well back -“
“Oh, are you wounded?” asked Lucy. “Do let me look.”
“It’s not a sight for little girls,” began Trumpkin, but then he suddenly checked himself. “There I go talking like a fool again,” he said. “I suppose you’re as likely to be a great surgeon as your brother was to be a great swordsman or your sister to be a great archer.”
While I find this scene amusing, I must admit I sympathize with Susan – I think I would also feel a little guilty about beating poor old Trumpkin again!
Have you read Prince Caspian? What’s your favorite book in the Chronicles of Narnia? Who’s your favorite Pevensie?
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How lovely! (A little C.S. Lewis is quite excellent, I’ll agree :))
I also sympathize with Susan quite a bit—not just in this scene, but in general as well. I’d like to think I’d have been more like Lucy, who had such an amazing and steadfast faith, but in reality I’m not sure. We’re all a little more like Susan then we’d like to think, perhaps, because all of us have our doubts and some of our journeys to faith are longer and more arduous.
I agree! I think one of the great things about Narnia is that you can relate to all the Pevensies to an extent. Which is the mark of a great story, when you can see parts of yourself in everyone! 😀
Now I feel like an inferior Narnia fan, because it didn’t even cross my mind when I was thinking of things for this prompt ;P Ah, well . . .
I sympathize with Susan in this scene, too, but DO NOT ask me who my favorite Pevensie is!! ‘Tis too much for my poor heart to choose one. (Do you have a favorite, though? :P)
Heh, I think that might just be more a sign that you know more archery scenes than I do! Narnia was almost the only thing I could think of…
Do I have a favorite? Oh, goodness…hmm. Edmund may be my very favorite, but they really are all great. As you know 😛
Well, but I couldn’t think of *anything* you see. And then the ones I thought of I didn’t like very much. ;P
Oh, I love Edmund. I think I go through phases–one will be my favorite for a time, and then another will take tops.
Isn’t that always the way, though? Whenever you really need to remember a particular kind of scene, you can’t think of one. Such is Life.
Ah, that makes sense…and hey, you can go forego the agony of choosing just one that way ;P