Disclaimer: I own nothing to do with Narnia.

Prologue

Narnia had always been a seafaring kingdom. Its conquest of the Lone Islands, long before the dominion of the White Witch, had established it as a great power of the sea. From the sands of Calormen to the frosts of the Northern Wastes, Narnian dominance at sea was legendary and undisputed.

The Golden Age came and went, and still Narnia was the undoubted master of the ocean. But in the waning years of Old Narnia, that legendary prowess began to fade. The ships dwindled, until only a cursory fleet remained, and Narnia's rulers became weak. Elsewhere, watchful eyes noted the kingdom's decline, and their owners were glad.

The invasion by Caspian of Telmar was the first time Narnia had ever been defeated at sea. The Narnians were devastated by the power and sophistication of the Telmarine fleet, and the sheer number of men at Caspian's command. The King of Telmar conquered Narnia easily, and there made his abode, free from the instability and treachery rife within his own kingdom.

But the Telmarines failed to learn the lessons of history, and within a few generations of the Conqueror's death they too were cowering inland, the coasts abandoned and feared. The great castle of Cair Paravel, already crumbling, was finally abandoned, and the Telmarines constructed a new fortress, far from the uncertainty of the vast ocean.

By the time of King Caspian IX, none in Narnia had anything to do with the sea. Caspian was a firm king, and the country prospered under his rule, but he too was afflicted with fear of the sea. Yet he was a great man, and in him the blood of his ancestor Caspian I ran true, and beneath his fear he felt a longing for the sea.

And so he gathered about him seven great lords, and told them of his desire: that Narnia's rule of the waves would return, leading to the re-establishment of the kingdom as a power rivalling the Calormene empire to the south. The seven lords, at the king's direction, journeyed to the coasts, and there from a crumbling dock they set sail in a small boat they had constructed themselves. Without great incident they arrived at Galma, where by necessity seafaring activity continued, and there procured a sturdier vessel and supplies fit for a voyage. And they explored the seas close to Narnia, re-initiating contact with Terebinthia and the Seven Isles, and extending the dominion of their king.

But when they returned, flushed with victory and great tidings, they found Caspian dead. His brother Miraz had been appointed Lord Protector, for the young prince was but a child, and unprepared to wear the crown. At first, Miraz continued his brother's policies, under the watchful eye of the Queen, but after her death he became proud, and elevated those of his followers he considered worthy of his trust. And the seven lords were uneasy, and they began to murmur against the Lord Protector.

Argoz was from the sunny fields of the South, where the sun danced on the flowers and cloudy days were rarer than a centaur sighting. He was a proud man, fast in friendship but also quick to anger. He was accounted by many the chief of the seven lords.

Bern came from the bustling town of Beaversdam, close to the stronghold of the Telmarine kings. He was a quiet man, deep in counsel and considered by many wise. He was not a man of action, preferring contemplation and peace.

Revilian and Restimar were brothers, and they came from the wilds of Lantern Waste. This was a sparsely populated region during the days of the Telmarines, who maintained only very few outposts to guard against possible invasion from the western wild. Revilian was a jovial man, and once had great vigour, but he had grown rounder in his latter days, and was fond of good food and wine. Restimar had more frugal tastes, but he loved the company of women, and the other lords disapproved of his debauchery.

Rhoop came from the northern frontiers, where the snow frosted the mountaintops throughout the year. He was a great man of arms, and a true friend. Like Argoz, he was a proud man, but his pride was more ostentatious and had less of Argoz's easy charm. For this reason his company was not sought save by those he considered friends, and around whom he might drop his façade.

Mavramorn came from the green fields near Beruna, the son of the chief warden of that region. He came to the Telmarine fortress as a young man, and became great in friendship with Octesian, who had been raised in that stronghold. Mavramorn was quiet of character and considered introverted by many, revealing his true nature only to those in whom he had placed his trust. Octesian was more open, and more easy in company, but they both shared a love of beauty and majesty, and a secret desire to possess it for themselves.

The seven lords were not convinced by the Lord Protector's explanations concerning the death of their king, and they spoke more and more openly against him. Others too became wary of the Protector, and listened to the lords' words. But Miraz was aware of them, and he resolved to prove his strength and destroy any resistance to his reign. Belisar and Uvilas came to an unhappy end; stray arrows on a hunting party, it was said. The Passarids, a proud and ancient house who hearkened to the words of the lords, were dispatched to the northern border in a hopeless assault on the giants.

In victory, Miraz became more ruthless. Arlian and Erimon and many others he implicated in a plot of treason against the young Prince Caspian, and had them all executed; the two brothers of Beaversdam were declared insane after they questioned the Protector's right to rule. But Miraz was cautious of approaching the seven lords themselves, for they were great in power and much loved by the people.

For long Miraz considered possible methods to discredit or remove the seven, for they were the last obstacle in his ultimate plan. For many months the answer eluded him, until, at last, the flash of inspiration came. In after days, when he brooded for long hours alone in the highest tower of his fortress, he could never account for the idea – it had been so sudden. All he knew was that it had come in the treasury, as he ran his fingers over an opulent statue of solid gold. A statue of a lion.

Author's Note: This is my second story, and rather different from the first, so I would really appreciate feedback on how well I have pulled this off. Reviews would therefore be immeasurably helpful!