One of the things I find interesting is that all of the magical portals to Narnia, with the exception of the rings, seem to only be used once per adventure and then never again (the horn was used several times but only once did it function as a portal). LWW appears to set this precedent, with Digory telling the Pevensie siblings that there's no use trying to get to Narnia via the wardrobe again (despite being an innately magical object by the time of MN), encouraging them instead not to "try at all." Aslan also tells Lucy "Things never happen the same way twice." Additionally, some are two way portals, like the wardrobe and others are one way like the caves in PC, while still others like the rings are two way but separated.

This variety and sometimes lack of explanation in storytelling is something that I've come to appreciate in Narnia's world. In some ways, the philosophy of magic in Narnia has overtones of magical realism in the sense that the fantastic or illogical is mundane and commonplace. Talking beasts, river gods, giants, Father Christmas, and witches--they are not fantastic within Narnia borders. Perhaps it only appears out of the ordinary because the stories are told at points of intrusions from outsiders (even if those outsiders are fulfilling a prophecy). As a writer myself who leans more detail and cohesion oriented on the hard vs. soft worldbuilding spectrum (and who gets hopelessly lost in said details), Lewis's freeflowing worldbuilding process has its appeal. Perhaps this type of writing that doesn't always view explanations as necessary but revels in the enchanting romp nonetheless is Lewis's way of becoming grown up enough to appreciate fairytales again.