Author's Note: Hello everyone! Happy Easter to all and to all a good day!! I have such a great surprise for you all especially those who have following my other stories which are currently and for those who are very new to seeing me as an author!! Well here it goes...please welcome my very first, greatest, grandest, extravangandous, newest story I have ever written!!!! Yes I did it again! Here is my story called Dawn of the Day: A Child's Cry!! Trust me youll love it is dramatic, adventurous, stupendous and SO many things that you like in stories and I get the pleasure of writing this masterpeice!!
I couldn't have done it alone without my good friends there to help me, Miss Naomi Friesen (here is your belated b-day surprise!), and the great King Caspian the Seafarer! Who have both given me advice and helped me structure this story from beginning to end! Thank you both I owe you alot!!:)
And so on with the program!!!! Ladies and Gentlemen welcome please give me a round of applause for my newest edition to be born upon all my editions...The Dawn of the DAY!!! Enjoy!!
Disclaimer: I do not own anything or will ever own anything to do with C.S Lewis, Disney, or Walden Media! I am only responsible for my characters whom I created, and the lovely idea of writing this!
P.S: Happy Easter again and See you all at the reviews page:)
Chapter 1-Part 1: No Day like Today
"Maria! Hurry and wash these dishes now!"
"I'm coming, Mama!" I said as I entered the house. The dishes were piled up in a heap beside the sink. With a sigh, I began my day's work.
After I washed the dishes, I had to take the towels and sheets to the river and wash them so they would be clean. When I had finished, I trudged back home and spread the towels and sheets over a drying line near the rooftop. Then Mama gave me a bucket so I could bring some water back from the spring. I had no idea what Mama would cook, but I knew that she was awfully good at it; the aroma of her cooking never failed to make my mouth water for food. I quickly ran to the river which was less than a mile away and filled the bucket with fresh water, enough for one night, and then walked back home.
"Oh, Maria, thank goodness you're back! It's getting dark now," Mama said when I came in with the bucket of water. She smiled when she took it from me and placed it carefully on the table.
"Can I help you?" I asked eager to learn more recipes
"Why of course, Maria," Mama answered, smiling gently at me. "Why else do you think I tell you to watch me closely?" I was so happy I could hardly stop from laughing aloud.
My name was Maria. I was nine years old and lived in the land of Narnia. I inherited my mother Rosa's dark, thick, curly hair, while my soft, light brown eyes were from my father, Alberto. The name Maria was my grandmother's. She had been the very first to hold me when I was born, for there was no one else around to deliver me for lack of a midwife. Grandmother Maria passed away not long after I was born. I was only two and a half at the time of her death, which explains why I could never remember what she looked like. Mama had told me that grandma died of old age and that there was nothing I could have done to change that. She had loved me very much, Mother would add with a thoughtful sigh, and took good care of me until her death.
Papa, Mama, and I lived just a mile away from the town of Beruna, which was located near the heart of Narnia. There we dwelt in a small hut with only one room. Our roof was covered with straw and wool to protect our house from being drenched by the heavy spring rains. The walls were made from slabs of oak and pine cut from the trees that surrounded our house. My father himself built our humble home, and whenever a storm passed it held with surprising strength. I slept in a small spot across from my parent's bedroom where Papa built a door out of wood to hide my room and covered my small window with a thick bed sheet in order to protect me from enemies from the outside. I had a small bed that was just my size that was made from wood and straw, and was comfortable to sleep in.
My papa was a merchant who traveled to many countries to sell and buy his merchandise. Sometimes he even bought things and brought them home to us—something I never failed to look forward to. Papa had told me many stories of the countries he visited, such as Beruna, another Narnian city; Tashbaan, the capitol of Calormen; Anvard, the capitol of Archenland, and so many more. I listened with rapt attention when he told me stories of those places, and I never ceased to long for a time when he might take me with him on his journeys.
On days when I went to school, I would have to rise very early in the morning and walk the long mile it took to reach the school in Beruna. I would carry my books in a small potato sack to keep from having to hold them. My family was quite poor, and we couldn't afford certain things like other children, so my clothes were sometimes ragged and torn. When I finally got to school, I would always sit in the front seat where I could see and hear the teacher properly. There were only about five children in my class; several were from my village. Right next to me sat a boy named Antonio who looked even poorer than I was. He wore dirty clothes and torn shoes just like I did. School usually lasted for about 3 hours, and when it was through I would walk all the way back home.
"Hello!!" a voice yelled from outside the door. My Mama and I turned to face the source of the voice.
"Papa!" I squealed as I ran to him and hugged him tightly. He had left the day before to buy and sell more of his merchandise. In his arms were several bundles.
"Hello, Alberto. How was your day?" said my Mama when my Papa went to hug and kiss her on the cheek. She smiled bewitchingly. "I made your favorite."
"I can hardly wait," Papa replied, sweeping his dark hair back from his eyes and smiling down at her. "It was a fine day. I have brought back some things for you both from the country." He put down his bag and began to take a few things out from it.
"Oh, how wonderful!" Mama exclaimed, clapping her hands. I saw Papa pulling something out from his bag that looked a yellow sheet.
"You didn't really get this for me, did you?" Mama asked as she stared at the beautiful yellow slab of fabric.
"It is what you have always wanted," Papa replied with a wry smile.
"How did you know?" Mama asked, shocked.
"Because I'm your husband. I have seen how good you are with a needle, sewing all our clothes. I bought this from one of finest merchants in town. It cost me next to nothing—I know the man well," Papa replied, laughing a bit and rubbing his neck.
"Oh I love it, and I love you!" Mama cried, hugging the yellow quilt and then Papa tightly, crying and smiling
"What did you get for me, Papa?" I asked, curious. Papa looked at me and then at Mama, and winked.
"Did you think I forget the most important thing to give "The Queen"?" Papa asked as he smiled at me.
My mother used to call me "The Queen" when I was younger because I used to walk around with a cape (which was really a bed sheet) and a crown which I had made out of paper. I would proclaim—loudly—"The Queen has arrived!" I had also confided to my parents that I would have liked to someday rule the land, and perhaps live in castle.
"Happy birthday, Maria!" Mama and Papa shouted, hugging me tightly.
I was now ten years old. Papa pressed something into my hands.
"This is your gift from me, your Majesty," he said with a smile, recalling, perhaps, the many times they would set me on a pretended throne and play that I really was a Queen.
With a beating heart, I ripped open the parcel. Something sparkled inside—something beautiful.
"Thank you, Papa," I breathed as I withdrew the the beautiful jewel necklace I had ever seen. It sparkled with brilliant red rubies and silver white diamonds. Of course, they weren't real rubies or diamonds. We weren't that rich. But they were splendid imitations. Papa told me that the necklace was to always remind me of him, and that he wanted me have it for this very special day. I was so happy I could hardly contain my joy as Papa took the necklace and placed it around my neck.
"Your welcome, my Queen. I got this from the finest merchants in town who sailed through many seas and caverns to find a necklace such as this," Papa said with a noble smile. I just laughed. We both knew it was a fake. But it was fun to pretend otherwise.
"I love it, Papa! It's so beautiful!" I said, and hugged papa even more tightly.
"Wait, now. Don't get too excited about this necklace, for it is not only thing you have as a gift," Mama said suddenly. I looked at her curiously.
"What?" Mama stood up and told me to wait. She left and went into her room.
"Now close your eyes, Maria!" Mama said. Papa covered my eyes with his hands so I couldn't see a thing.
"Can I open them now?" I asked impatiently, excited to see what she had for me.
"Not yet…..now open them!" she said. Papa removed his eyes from my eyes and I turned to see mama. She held something in her hands that looked like a dress, a beautiful blue dress about my size. I looked at the dress, confused, and then to Mama, who stood smiling.
"So…does that mean that you like it?" Mama asked when saw my face.
"Is that for me?" I asked. I was shocked when she nodded her head
"I have been sewing this for many months. It took me a while to find the right material to make it," Mama said.
"And I found just the right silk to buy from another merchant. He sold it to me for less than he would normally charge for it," Papa said, a hint of pride in his voice.
"This is yours; the dress you have always wanted ever since you were a little girl and wanted to be a queen," Mama said, tears in her eyes.
"And now you are one—of sorts," added Papa. My eyes well up with tears and I couldn't see anything past the table. I stood, ran over to Mama, and hugged her tightly.
"Mama, I love it!" I said as I let go of Mama. She handed me my new dress and I held it in my shaking hands. It felt so silky and delicate, and I was afraid to drop it because it was so beautiful.
"You're welcome, Maria," Mama replied as she laughed and went to sit down. "Mother would be so proud to see her granddaughter."
"She would?" I asked.
"Of course!" Mama exclaimed with a soft smile. "Her favorite color was blue—just like yours."
"It's no wonder I love it so much, then," I said as I twirled the dress around. I began dancing with it, and Mama and Papa laughed.
We then ate dinner, talking and laughing with each other all the time until I began to feel a little tired and began to yawn. Mama told me I should go to bed because I had a long day. I refused to go at first, but then Papa said to listen to Mama and that he would bring me something back from his next trip if I behaved. I listened and hugged Papa goodnight as Mama followed me into my room and tucked me into bed. She kissed my forehead and told me goodnight. Before I fell asleep, I said a small prayer that my mother taught me. She had learned it from her mother. Mama then left the room and went back into the kitchen.
To be continued....