Chapter One: Mara

I always considered myself lucky to have a horse. I was one of the few in my village that actually did. But I loved her more than anything and had worked hard to finally have enough money to earn her.

I guess my love for hoses had stemmed from my uncle, my father's elder brother, who was one of the grooms at Cair Paravel, the castle where the four rulers of Narnia lived. (We lived in Archenland, a small country on the border of Narnia.) Whenever he visited when I was a little girl, he would tell me stories of the beautiful royal horses that he took care of at the palace, and as I grew older he even taught me to ride his horse, Storm. Now, however, he was getting older and he complained of his aching joints or back whenever I begged him to go for a ride with me. So for now, it was just me and my horse, Jeanne.

As I was an only child, and Jeanne was a Talking Beast, she was one of the few people that I could actually hold a conversation with. However, even our time together was being restricted as my jobs and responsibilities around the house increased with my age. My parents were even urging me to get a job, a subject I tried to avoid talking about.

Today was one such day, when my mother and father were talking with me about my future, and I was feeling particularly frustrated. They pleaded with me, but I was too stubborn to budge.

"Mara, dear, you know that there isn't much chance for you to get married. I don't know if your father and I could afford the dowry and take care of ourselves. Unless you want to live with us for the rest of your life, you're going to need to get a job," my mother said in her gentle tone of voice. We weren't that poor of a family; we lived a comfortable life. But we didn't have enough money for any frivolities... like my marriage.

"I don't mind living with you! I want to help you," I said rather sharply.

"We're perfectly fine on our own, whatever you might think," my father, who never took anything seriously, said with an amused expression on his face.

"Well," I said, giving up with arguing with them, and instead resorted to using logic, "what sort of job would you suggest?" I asked, folding my arms across my chest.

"Well, Mara, we haven't really thought about that yet, but-" my mother began.

I interrupted her. "All right then. Once you find a suitable job for me, we can resume this discussion," I said hastily and went outside. I knew that I was being impudent, but I really didn't want to continue that conversation, especially the part about not being able to get married. I would never dream of troubling my parents, and I knew that they could never afford it, so I tried not to think of it, but I really didn't want to spend the rest of my life alone.

Jeanne, who had been grazing near the back of our home, lifted her head as she saw me coming. She must have noticed my flustered expression, as she shook her mane and trotted towards me.

"Pestering you about the job again, aren't they?" she asked, meaning my parents. I nodded, and stroked her neck.

"I hate to disagree with them, but I really can't stand to leave home," I told Jeanne. "I really don't think I have anything to offer to the world besides caring for my parents. They aren't as young as they used to be, and... this village is all I know," I said with a sigh.

"I sympathize with you, Mara, however," Jeanne began, then stopped, as if debating whether she should continue or not. "Don't you think you should try to escape the familiarity of your life and try to experience something new?"

My expression grew flat. "I... I suppose I would like to. But it's just not the prudent thing for me to do right now." Jeanne tossed her mane again, this time somewhat exasperatedly. Suddenly her ears pricked up and her head turned to the dirt path that passed in front of our house. I looked in that direction and saw a sight that instantly cheered me up.

"Uncle!" I shouted, running up the path to meet him. I hadn't seen him in such a long time. As he reached the house and dismounted Storm, he grinned. The edges of his eyes crinkled.

"Hello Mara," he said, embracing me.

However, my happy mood was instantly dampened when I saw who else had arrived at our home. Dismounting rather ungracefully from Storm's saddle was my cousin, Auriga.

Let me tell you something about Auriga. She is. Well. She's, in some terms, a lot of things I am not. She's very, very stunningly pretty. Long, waist length brown hair falling in soft waves, big blue eyes with ridiculously long lashes, beautiful pale skin, a nice figure, you name it-she had it. I, on the other hand, possessed less than desirable stick-straight brown hair; freckles and a dark complexion. I was tall and skinny and shaped like a straight line. She was, however, not nearly as close to horses as I was, my one satisfaction.

You see, boys, to say it crudely, line up for her. I think she has driven at least five men crazy. Fifteen wedding proposals already (there are only about twenty suitable men in our village...) and she doesn't even have a dowry.

I smiled stiffly at her, then turned back to my uncle.

"Come inside!" I said, leading him inside and conveniently forgetting Auriga, who was struggling to get her feet out of the stirrup. Jeanne snorted at me, but I ignored her. "You must be tired after your ride."

"Indeed," he responded tiredly. "I don't have boundless energy like certain nieces of mine," he teased.

As my mother and father saw him, they immediately stopped what they were doing to greet him. We didn't get many visitors, so my parents were happy for the company.

"How are you, brother?" my dad asked with a grin. "And there is the lovely Auriga," he said, beaming. I try not to be the petty type of girl who gets jealous easily. But it was just so hard when even your parents seem infatuated with someone and leave you in the dust.

"Actually, I have some good news and some bad news," my uncle answered.

"Oh dear," my mother said, frowning.

"No, no, you'll be happy about this, I promise," he said mischievously.

I was curious already. Uncle's good news was always exciting news from the palace or something. I loved his stories.

"I'll tell you the bad news first," he said. He paused for dramatic effect, a habit of my uncle's that was extremely vexing. "I have decided to retire from my position at Cair Paravel."

"What?" I shrieked. "You cannot be serious!" I was incredulous. But there was Uncle, grinning like a mad person. And Auriga, seated in a chair, her lips pursed bemusedly. This was immensely frustrating.

"What's the good news, then?" I asked him, trying to disguise the impatience in my voice.

"They're going to need a replacement for me, you know."

"...and?" I said, still not realizing what he was getting at.

"I thought you might be a good replacement for me, Mara," he said.

Oh.

Oh dear.

"I... I don't know..." I spluttered.

"Oh, this is such a wonderful opportunity," my mother said, a slight pleading tone in her voice. My father raised his eyebrows.

I sighed. "Are you sure you two will survive all on your lonesome?" I asked my parents wearily. They laughed and reassured me that they would be fine.

"Well?" my uncle asked expectantly.

"Of... of course I'll take it!" I said, stunned, but cheerful. My father put his hand on my shoulder.

"Great, Mara, I'm so proud of you," he said proudly. I positively inflated from the praise.

"But you haven't even heard the best part yet!" Auriga piped up from her chair. "I'm coming too! Not as a groom, of course. I'll be working as a librarian's assistant!" she said enthusiastically. Even though her tone was cheerful, I could see she wasn't very enthused with her job. I supposed that living among the royals would more than make up for it, however.

I harrumphed annoyedly. She didn't even need the job. I'm sure she was just doing it to live in the palace. All she had to do was say yes to the rich lord's son who had asked her, though she had no dowry, and she and her dad would be set. But no. She made it hard for all of us...

Okay, do I sound a little, hmm, whiny? It's because we have a long history. She has always, always, been that perfect girl. No matter how great I am with horses, no matter how hard I work around the house, no matter how much my parents or my uncle beams and praises me, it never makes it better when I hear the whispers, the comparisons, especially among the young men. Not only is she gorgeous, she's the perfect daughter. So sweet, so kind...to everyone but me, that pitiful little "horse girl."

"How wonderful!" my mom beamed, putting her arms around the both of us. I grimaced.

"Yes..." I muttered, "wonderful. Simply wonderful."