Things Fall Apart

"Living fire begets cold, impotent ash."
- Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart, Ch. 17

Author: folklifefreak

Disclaimer: Sadly I am not C. S. Lewis, if anyone things I have the intellegence to create this world, I am flattered, but they are wrong. The Title and Quote are From Chinua Achebe's "Things Fall Apart" It is not to be confused with that story this is a Chronicles of Narnia fanfiction. Please do not sue me!

A/N: I had this idea from a little epiphany… I'll explain later. But anyway, I thought to myself, what if Aravis and Cor never met? So this is the situation, Edmund, Susan and the Narnian Troop never went to Calormen, but in the same way, Rabadash never attacked Archenland. Cor never left Archenland, Aravis never left Calormen, Bree and Hwin never left Narnia. Here are some things that stayed the same. Aravis and Cor lost their mothers, Rabadash remains an irrepressible imbecile, and Aravis' brother is still dead. As you may have guessed, Aravis is married to Ahoshta Tarkaan.

For anyone who is currently reading anything else I may have done, I have not abandoned them, I will be updating soon, I just had to get this out of my head.

Much Love!

FLF xoxo

Calormen

The world had become very dusty. That was what Prince Cor first noticed about Calormen; it was dusty. The heat was not such a big deal; after all, he'd spent a good few weeks in Galma. But this was a different kind of heat, altogether more… dusty, dirty, and when it wasn't dusty, it was wet, very wet, like being thrown under a waterfall, all the time. It was strange definitely. It was fair to say, they were not in Archenland anymore. But this didn't bother Cor as much as it should have. He was intrigued by this new country, where it rained in summer, and women gleaned in flooded fields of grass like plants. He was curious of their attire and Architecture, long columns and domed roofs. Cor felt that despite the fact that he would be surrounded by old and boring (not to mention Calormene) Politicians for the rest of his "holiday," he could enjoy it here.

His brother was likewise dismal and bleak over the prospect of five weeks in this hot and dusty country, but he saw no fun for weeks; boxing was illegal in Calormen since the death of Shin Tarkaan in a fight against a nameless peasant. At this moment as the Archen flagship The Ruby Rose docked in the Bay, Corin was being scolded by the boys' age old tutor, Mr Franklin, for a crime he hadn't committed yet.

Mr Franklin was as old as the hills, bent over with a cane he wasn't concerned to use. He held his spectacles on a long stick, despite the invention of the handles which could be placed over the ears. He was a conventional person, and followed the rule that nothing ever changes, and especially not people.

This is why Mr Franklin wasn't taking any chances with Corin. "You must see that you are on your best behaviour, Prince Corin. In this city, tomfoolery which you get away with at home, could lead to horrible punishments…" Franklin appeared to shudder at the though of it. Cor believed him to have recalled some passed trauma. Perhaps he put his foot in his mouth.

Corin disregarded this, and sighed. "Come on Frankie, do you really think I'm up to no good? What about Precious over there?" he pointed in Cor's direction. "Why do you never anticipate anything from him?"

"Because, Prince Cor has proved himself responsible," Mr Franklin said with finality. "and does not act in a juvenile manner when reproached."

"And because Prince Cor does not travel with boxing gloves to a country where the sport is banned." Cor remarked.

"I wasn't going to use them!" Corin replied defensively "You of all should know that they're my lucky charm!"

"Yes," Cor mumbled in agreement "I still have the bruises."

"D'you want another one?"

Cor raised his eyebrows in challenge.

"Either way, and Prince Cor I would this goes for you too," Mr Franklin put himself in between the boys and said, "You are here as ambassadors for your father, no one expects you to attend all of the meetings, the Foreign Secretary was not planning on having you there anyway. What I'm trying to say is; you are being trusted to be in a new city on your own, your father hopes that this trust is not unfounded."

Cor sighed inwardly, Father trusts us to go to practise our swordsmanship with full length swords, sharpened to a point, but doesn't trust us on holiday for the first time without a babysitter! He thought for a moment, and realised this was probably a good idea.

Stepping off the gangplank and into the docks, Cor saw that the two ships that had followed them were carrying all kinds of gifts from the hull. He wondered why Archenland sent gifts as a way of securing peace while Narnia didn't. He asked Corin.

"Because Narnia wouldn't have to worry about a troop of Calormene soldiers marching across the River Arrow," Corin said this with a little discomfort, Cor watched him strangely.

"Do you think the four will come to the coronation?" Cor asked his brother.

"Not if they don't have to." Corin replied "Which they don't. But they might come to settle trade interests; Queen Lucy's rather fond of Calormene silks."

So Cor had heard. But it was of no consequence were they not to come. After all, King Lune had decided to send his sons as ambassadors rather than go himself. Cor for one was looking forward to being in Calormen, he had heard much from his mentors of Calormen. It was a land of exotic fruits and warm lakes. Of long and dusty deserts stretching as far as the eye could see, or imagine. And the Cities of Gold and Alabaster, this land was rich; Cor for one was impressed looking at the pinnacle of the gleaming city of Tashbaan. But despite this, he couldn't help noticing the heavy iron gates he passed through, and the high walls, he couldn't help but notice the guards standing tall with long curved scimitars at their sides, and he couldn't help wonder what it was, in this wide desolate wasteland, that they were trying so hard to keep out?

*

Aravis could not remember the first time she saw Calormen. It was her birth day. But her earliest memory was of her mother making her some cool sherbet in a heat wave, which had caused the air to shiver. She had drunk down the sherbet greedily. She remembered her mother laughing and wiping down her face. So it was hot. She did not think so anymore. She stood between thin cotton drapes which blew in the chill wind, which blew the blossom off the trees. She looked out from this balcony onto the City and her courtyard. Being Wife of the Grand Vizier was not Aravis' highest aim, nor was it her first. But as she watched the slaves set up for the evening, she realised it was the only conclusion of her life, and so she was content.

She stood up and thought about dressing herself. She saw her brother's scimitar in the glass cabinet by the window, and wondered if anyone would object to her using it. She fought with it all the time in Calavar; but only when her father was away. She knew he wouldn't be too happy about it. She'd managed to bring it with her when she married Ahoshta.

She picked it up out of the cabinet and pulled the blade out of the thick leather sheath. The blade had words etched into it when her brother turned sixteen. His teacher Master Milao had given it to him, as Father did not want his son to fight, but to be a diplomat. It said

Let me be the light for the way; that they will know that I was here.

Aravis never understood this. She loved the blade though; it was so light that she could use it easily. It felt fluid-like in her hands and the hilt was so pretty, the leather had figures stiched into it, small and delicate… Aravis sighed and put it back; knowing that it was useless to dream, as one has always to wake up.

There was a knock on the door and a maid brought Aravis breakfast to her. She left it on the table on the balcony, and bowed leaving the room.

"Wait." Aravis called to her.

The maid turned slowly, her hands clasped in front of her, her head bowed "Yes, Tarkeena?"

"Could you tell the slaves to prepare my bath, I need to get ready now." She ordered.

"Yes Tarkeena."

"And tell the grounds man to cut back this tree, I can't see the view."

"Yes Tarkeena."

"And take down that horrid banner outside! It looks ridiculous."

"I'll tell the decorator immediately, Tarkeena." The maid left as quickly as she came.

Aravis sighed and looked out on the City. The day looked clear and Aravis could see far out into the desert, she strained her eyes believing she saw something on the blurred horizon. She thought she saw two peaks rising out of the northern horizon, diminishing in the haze that crowded the Desert. She sighed. She knew what the walls were for; they were to keep her in.

A/N: Hey! Look at that! You read the whole thing! I hope you enjoyed this first chapter. I now remind you that feedback is necessary for updates, so please review, or else i don't know what else needs to be done. Thankyou for your time!

Much Love

FLF xoxo