"The Lion and the Lark" Chapter One: Everything Changes
Disclaimer: I do not own the Chronicles of Narnia or Peter Pevensie although I wish I did. *sighs* Oh, well. I also do not own the Beauty and the Beast upon which this Fairy Tale was based. I do, however own my plot, Soraya Shadell, and her family. Enjoy!
Soraya Shadell gazed out of her open window. Here she was again, thinking of the worst.
After finishing the chores and putting her siblings to bed, the only ones awake now were Soraya's older brother Jonathan and herself. Jonathan was out riding, but she was once again awaiting her father's return from his travels to Narnia. Theron Shadell was a politician of sorts, often sent to faraway lands to negotiate certain peace treaties and trade agreements. Soraya herself hadn't traveled to far away places, as she was born and raised in Meridell for all 17 years of her life. The only traveling to faraway lands she had partaken in had been in the books she'd read.
Soraya wasn't like any other young women her age. Beside the fact that she was well schooled by her father on everything from archery to sewing, she'd rather read all day than gossip and would take great pains to avoid the teasing of the chauvinistic men in her village.
All men are the same, afraid of any challenge, intellectual or otherwise from a lowly woman whom they all see to be beneath them; but why are they always so intimidated? This was only the tip of the iceberg when it came to her thoughts on the subject. The next time they laugh at me, I will tell them this: You may laugh at me because I'm different, but I laugh at you because you're all the same.
However, the intimidation factor itself was true. Women and girls her age took particular pleasure in snickering behind her back, as young women like Soraya were typically unheard of and unnatural in their opinion, except for her Mother. She was the only one Soraya knew who broken the stereotypical mold. It wasn't that she wasn't pretty. In truth, Soraya was about average, with long dark tresses and blue-grey eyes. She was slender and is a little taller than most girls, standing at 5'8" without any shoes on, but even though she was decent looking, most men avoided her like the plague.
Most.
"Except for that insufferable jerk, Darrin," Soraya sighed. "The only way he'd leave me alone is if I lit a torch underneath him." She chuckled at the thought.
Soraya let out a deep gust of air that she hadn't realized she'd been holding in. "That's enough with thinking about people and pain that I don't need. Especially now, on the night of Father's return, I should be trying to be excited and happy to see him back home and in good health."
Turning towards the garden and leaning slightly out of her window, she listened intently. Horses. I hear the horses. That's Shadow whinnying! Father's home! Without a second thought, she raced down the stairs toward the front door and threw it open.
Right away she recognized her father's body and build, but the sight of his face took his breath away. Upon seeing his pale, clammy appearance Soraya glanced twice to make sure that it was really her beloved father she was looking at.
"Father," she began, "what has happened to you? You are a sight and look as though you've seen a ghost. Are you ill?"
As soon as he dismounted his horse, Shadow, Theron Shadell, strode over to his daughter and engulfed her in a bone crushing hug. Gasping, Theron whispered, "Oh, daughter. How I have missed you so. I fear that I am not ill; however, I wish that I were if it could reverse what I have had to agree to. I wish I could take back this entire trip…"
This comment from her father instantly sent Soraya into a slight panic. "What? Father, I am not sure I know what you are talking about. Maybe we should-"
But her father cut her off, "Come, Soraya. Inside. We need to get inside, for I cannot discuss this here. Something has happened. Something horrible, but I bid that talk in the study first. This directly affects you. I beg of you: please, heed my request."
Grabbing his satchel, Theron urged his daughter inside their country home. Until now, Soraya's home has been the pinnacle of sanctuary for her, but as they continued down the hall towards her father's study, Soraya had a feeling that all she felt and all she knew, everything, would be radically changed after tonight. For the better or for the worse, she did not know. She only knew that nothing would be the same.