A/N: I published this story a while ago, but this is the rewrite as I wanted to add more character development.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything, Narnia belongs to C.S. Lewis, and the characters within this story are based on the characters within his book.
The primordial waters washed over her body, droplets running down her naked body purifying her from the inside, healing her ailments. Cupping the clear water in her hands, Alessandra scrubbed the water into her checks, her eyes, desperately hoping for it clarity.
For years the young Queen had made her pilgrimage to the small river in the west clearing. It was her solitude and salvation. Her small gaggle of Ladies stood a little away, her guard further behind the trees. The seclusion gave her strength as she allowed herself to sink further into the gentle running steam. She just permitted herself to be in the water. Relaxing as the tiny pink fish swan through her legs, grazing her skin and sending tickles up her body.
She would have stayed there till her skin would be wrinkles, had it not been for a messenger on horseback. Alessandra could hear the sounds of the hooves and the 'neighing' of the horse. She remained eyes closed in the water, willing it to go away. She squeezed her eyes shut as she heard the whispering and the soft footsteps of one of her ladies.
"Majesty" The lady's soft voice was impossible to ignore. Alessandra groaned as she opened her eyes. Her lady–in-waiting stood on the edge towel in hand. "Forgive me, a messenger from your brother-in-law. He says it is urgent" Rubbing her hands over her face, she rose from the water, wrapping the garment around herself. The Queen irritably walked towards the knelt messenger, his head buried deep into the crook of his arm.
"Speak, what news does Miraz shower me with." Her voice took on it's familiar uninterested tone.
"Majesty, Forgive me…there is no easy way to say." The messenger half mumbled, his eyes more interested in the mud.
"Just say it." Alessandra commanded, hoping to get back in the clear water.
"The King…has died…he passed within the hour." Alessandra felt she couldn't breath. In that moment she became keenly aware of the cold afternoon air settling in. Her skin became goose-pimples as she stared at the forest floor, her face horrified. She didn't notice her matron had sent the messenger away and was gently grabbing her shoulders. Her king, her husband, her life was dead.
"Majesty I suggest we return to the palace for the prince." The matron led her away towards the little cottage of residence. The journey back to the castle felt long and suffocating. It was a feeling Alessandra always felt when he travelled back from her relief at the springs.
She couldn't attend the funeral directly as she was a women. Instead she was forced to watch her husband's final journey from the viewing tower, a black stone tower with dark windows, allowing the Queen to look out but no one could see inside. The procession began from the King's room, his body now encased within an oak coffin decorated in runes. The coffin was carrier by the highest members of the court, while the rest and the young prince would follow behind.
Alessandra heard the lamenting music coming towards her as the Heavy doors opened behind her. With her passive faces, Alessandra saw the tall, red haired women entered to watch with her. She bowed deeply, " Majesty."
"Sister." Alessandra replied as she looked back towards the procession as it began their way towards them. The red haired Prunaprismia made her way to the window; the sound of her dress against the carpeted floor was the only sound that filled the little chamber. Both the women stood in silent, dressed in black gowns trimmed with dark blue, the dark blue continued into their veils upon their heads.
The procession made their way under the tower, Alessandra breathed heavily, holding back her tears. She sees her little Caspian walking alone behind the coffin. The little boy was dressed in a fine little suit in the traditional colours of black and dark blue, his blonde hair covered by a little black gap. His face beneath was puffy and red from tears, he sobbed as fresh tears stained his ruddy cheeks. Stop crying Caspian, please.
"Our poor prince, what a pity. How can he show the people he is fit to rule them? I pray to the gods we will have no wars during his minority." Prunaprismia said beside her, she all but said her sister had mothered the boy too much. Telmarine society had no room for weakness, and a king most of all needed to be strong for his people. Alessandra knew with a crushing certainty boy kings did not live long.
"His Highness, Prince Caspian the tenth, Crown Prince of the kingdoms Narnia and Telmar, borne to us in the year 2290, heir of His Majesty Caspian IX . Will here by Crowned at this place King Caspian Decem, King of Narnia and Telmar upon the untimely death of his predecessor Caspian IX."
The Telmarine lord spoke from his dais in a stone cold room cloaked in black and blue, the acoustics perfectly turned to carry the speaker voice to the ears of all presence, all but one. On her throne the deputy Telmarine ruler sat lifelessly only vaguely hearing the words everyone know already knew. Instead she peered down at her ring, twisting the precious onyx inlay around her long fingers, while her hair created a curtain, shielding her from the truth. Raising slightly her dark eyes caught sight of the empty throne beside her, sending a pang of sadness to form within her.
She remembered the sunny summer she had sent with Caspian; to her it felt like a life time ago, a time she could believe thrones and ambition did not exist. A time when he was hers alone, it was only him and her and the passion between them. She longed to go back to those days when she did not have to worry about heirs or the treason of her relatives. It had been the context her dream, she had cursed her ladies every morning they awoke her from such a dream.
Around her sat only her husband's most trusted and endowed Lords, their eyes intently focused of the newly widowed Queen Alessandra. Most had found the girl odd, a quiet little mouse they nicknamed her. At parties, the Queen was the first one to leave, complaining of headaches or other ills. Most had heard the rumours of the Queen not leaving her bed for days, more so then normal for a mother. The sat on their wooden chairs, each in their uniforms of black and blue that smelled of smoke, it rose from them like a collective sea, each with thoughts of the future brewing in their heads. The most confident however was the brother in law Miraz, the man who had been the cause of King Caspian's death and the young Queen's most significant enemy.
"Your Majesty?" The Telmarine lord, Lord Sopespian looked up from the scroll in his hand, his face hollow that gave away no emotion. Despite being the Queen's own cousin, Sopespian's loyalty had easily swayed to the second in line; Miraz. He however had hidden motives and patience that would make him the less likely opponent.
"Yes My lord." The Queen breathed and lifted her eyes with reluctance, her heathy husband had been found dead in his bed a little over a week ago, leaving her three year old son Caspian as heir to the throne. This pained the Queen already fragile mind set, knowing she would have no more say within her only son's life. In times gone by, the Telmar line had been riddled by Queens trying to take over as regent, one even killed her own son to take his place; another killed him as a boy to save him being killed by his uncle.
"The coronation of the new King will take place in two days' time, the arrangements have already been prepared, but Your Majesty still needs to choose a male regent in this time of need." Upon those words, Alessandra's eyes closed in defeat, once the large heavy crown was placed on her son's golden head she would lose him forever.
Alessandra rose from her stone throne, feeling trapped and suffocating within the stone walls. "I will decide in my own time, in that time you will have your answer, gentlemen." On cue the men stood from their chairs in respect as she gracefully left the council room in hope of the outside air. However many of the lord's found their loyalty turning against the poor Queen.
For the first time in what felt like a lifetime, Alessandra smiled as she chased the young Caspian in the green gardens of Castle Caspian. At that moment she did not care for the Telmarine traditional views, nor did she care she was a Queen, all she cared about was the boy who was outrunning her.
Caspian on the overhand ran like no tomorrow. He felt free as the wind threw his golden curls everywhere. An old dark statue of an ancestor in his sight, his prize. Caspian knew if he reached it, he would be a great King, he told himself over and over as his little lungs worked overtime. Most importantly he knew he would win the race alone. His lifted a small chubby hand as he ran closer.
"Told you I'd win mama." He laughed, as his mother followed in behind, out of breath, her dark dress grass stained and her hair awry. Underneath her dress, her chest heaved and her heart pounded, making her feel alive again, a feeling she hadn't felt since her husband's coronation.
"I had no doubt my darling." She smiled as her breath very slowly returned to normal; she hid her emotions from her young son. Since his birth she knew he would be King but she never thought it would happen while he was still a child. As with Telmarine tradition, Caspian would only rule under a male lord protector until maturity. For Alessandra she knew who ever she picked they would use Caspian as a political pawn and puppet, it was the ways things were done. She had little doubt that this was the last time she would see son, all ruddy faced and smiling.
"Mama, do you think I be a good King?" Caspian asked looking up to a nearby statue of his father. The smile dropped from Alessandra's face as she dropped to her knees. As she eyed her son, she saw her late husband within the boy's youthful face; it took all her strength not to look away.
"Of course Caspian, but you must promise me you will be a fair and merciful ruler, whose judgement is not based on his own greed but of those of his people. Promise me Caspian." Alessandra seriously instructed on her son, her hands on his tiny arms. The boy nodded look sudden, however his innocent mind contained a burning question.
"Will I be like High King Peter mama?" Alessandra's dark eyes widened upon this. She quickly scanned around in case anyone was listening. But they were alone.
"Who told you of him?" She hissed, garbing the boy's small arms more forcefully. Ashamed Caspian looked down as he played with strands of Alessandra's auburn hair. "Caspian." She lifted Caspian's small chin so his watery grey eyes locked with her own brown ones.
"Nurse Helga mama." The young confessed boy, looking to be on the verge of tears. The queen's face softened as the kind smile returned to her face.
"Caspian I'm not anger at you, I could never be. But you must never tell anyone, do you understand?" she knew with this new information Caspian could become a better King that his ancestors, but he would need the right training.
"Yes." He smiled a toothy grin, Alessandra was no prophet, but she knew in her heart her son would be the greatest King Narnia would ever know. But until then she feared for his future, partially if Miraz became Lord Protector.
"Good boy." She kissed the young boy's golden hair, a trait he had inherited from his father. "Now I believe I win this time." She whispered before running towards the palace, slowly to allow Caspian to catch up.
"You sent for me your Majesty?" A familiar voice rung through Alessandra's tired ears. She turned from her place at the window to look upon Professor Cornelius, a short man she had known and befriended since childhood. The Queen had known since long of her friend's true heritage, but she had a secret fondness for the old stories.
"Yes Cornelius, the young prince knows of the old tales, I want you to teach him to be King. Caspian was a brilliant man, but small minded, I want my son to be better." She turned to look at him; he hadn't change much since she had last seen him. Cornelius on the other hand saw the scattered grey hairs and small wrinkles that made the Queen appear older.
"I will of course do as Your Majesty commands." He bowed low of his aching joints, it was a symptom of being half-dwarf.
"I do not command you as a Queen, but ask a friend." She responded back sinking back in to the chair within the chambers. She felt as if she wore a mask, pretending to be a Queen who did not-could not show her emotions, while inside she felt numb, if she was honest with herself, she was always numb. Feeling herself getting too uncomfortable she sprung herself back onto the floor, taking to pacing as her head began to throb.
"My lady, please tell me what troubles you." Cornelius asked, while the queen paced, her long auburn hair stood a mess against her back as she released a shuttering breath.
"It's Caspian; the council has decided Miraz would be fit as Lord Protector, refusing any of my wishes. He will be King will my son remains a pawn. Under my brother in law this country will fall and my son will die." Tears she had kept locked away now ran down her cheeks. "My innocent boy will be lead like a sheep to the slaughter and I cannot save him." Her right hand held the stone wall to provide support. "What did my son do to deserve this? How have more pitiful Kings have grown old and fat while my boy will be murdered in his sleep." she half whispered to herself.
Cornelius ignored formalities as he wrapped his arms around Alessandra's shaken form. The queen wished and prayed she could go back to her younger years when she and Caspian would run around in the gardens and play their games until it ended on their bed. Back then she didn't need to worry about producing an heir, or the horror of losing her husband and then her son.
"Promise me, you will look after him, save him from the corruption ahead." She whispered looking her friend straight in the eyes.
"I will." She grateful nodded as she allowed tears to fall. She wouldn't even allow herself to cry in front of her horrible ladies, but now she didn't care. She couldn't even pinpoint why she was crying, she just found the tears wouldn't stop.
"Do you know why I always loved the old tales… It gave me something to believe in, that maybe there was more than man's greed." She said through tears. "I've prayed to him, when everyone believed me to be baron, I prayed and I borne Caspian, I pray now he will deliver my son. But… I fear this time I will not be heard."
"I do not believe that my lady, I believe Aslan has a plan and Caspian is very much a part of that, your prayer will be answered." He held her shaken form; she was only half listening, her head becoming clouded.
"I hope you are right, I would give my life a thousand times over to save my son." A wave of tiredness hit the queen, she slowly removed herself from her friend's arms. "I want you do promise me you will take care of Caspian for me."
"You have me word Majesty. Sleep well." He cooed as he refused to let go of her little pale hands.
"Thank you old friend. I envy children, to them their greatest fear is the night, and the night houses the darkened shadows where our fears live. Look after my son, I fear for Caspian the night has only just begun." The queen departed to a poisoned sleep, her last words forever living in Cornelius' brain. For Caspian the night has just begun.
A/N: please post a review to tell me what you think.
