Here's the first chapter……..not totally sure where this will go. PLEASE review! Let me know what you think! Feel free to give constructive criticism! Special thanks to Lady Jill Pole for helping me edit!
Disclaimer: I don't own Narnia, C.S. Lewis does. I do own Spindell and Iridessa. Please do not use them.
Of Studying and Swinging
I sighed, slammed a dusty old book shut, and looked out the window of Cair Paravel's library. I was totally and utterly bored. Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy had all gone hunting for the White Stag. I had wanted to join them, but Peter had said,
"No, you need to stay at Cair Paravel and study history. You are still not up to date on what has happened the past 150 years."
"And how would you know that?" I had defiantly asked.
"Your tutor, the dwarf Spindell, informed me of your most recent test score. It was less than satisfactory." He had said with a frown.
"You need to spend more time with your books and less time on other activities. So, you are not going hunting this time."
He had finished with a tone that had said his mind would not be swayed, but I had decided to try one last time.
"But why is it so important that I study the history of the past 150 years of Narnia?" I had complained, and looked up at Peter with puppy dog eyes. I knew he could not resist them because I had seen Lucy give him that look many a time and he had relented whatever he was trying to make her do. But today it had not worked. He had simply turned away and said,
"Because you are a princess of Narnia, and princesses need to know about the history of their country."
And with that final statement he had pointed to the history books, closed the library door and left to go hunting.
So here I was, cooped up in a stuffy library studying boring old history while Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy were all out hunting the White Stag on a beautiful fall day.
Well, I may have to stay at Cair Paravel, but that doesn't mean Peter could ensure that I would study all day. Besides, I had studied for half an hour. That was enough right?
So I proceeded to shove the heavy, dusty book onto its shelf and make my way down the long winding staircase that led from the library down to the main level of the castle. Once I arrived, I made sure no one was around and walked down the well-lit castle corridors towards the castle gardens. I heard the stumpy footsteps of a dwarf and hurriedly ducked into a small alcove that sported a vase of beautiful fall flowers. Mere seconds later the form of my tutor, Spindell, walked right past where I was hiding towards the kitchen mumbling,
"I've got to get some food. I haven't eaten for two whole hours."
I stifled a giggle, for Spindell was considerably plump and loved to eat. Once he was well on his way towards the kitchen, I emerged from my hiding place, vowing to be more careful. If Spindell or one of his scholarly friends saw me outside the library, I was toast- to put it lightly.
I made it to the gardens without incident and proceeded to my special spot. My mother had long ago told me that ever since I was a little toddler I had loved to go to this secluded spot of the garden to play, sit and read, or think. It was in the corner of one of the older gardens on the castle grounds. Spidery vines climbed the old, crumbling walls of the ancient garden. A beautiful, though very old, fountain gracefully flowed down its tiered levels to a small pool where lovely water lilies floated on its rippling waters. Old cherry trees twisted their gnarled branches to form a sort of roof, but allowed sunlight to stream in, giving the garden a mystical touch. Beautiful flowers of all different hues were scattered all across the garden. Though I loved all of these aspects of the garden, especially the fountain, my most favorite thing of the garden was nestled in one of its quiet corners. It was the tallest and oldest cherry tree there. And hanging from its branches was an old swing hanging by twisted vines where dark pink roses had somehow managed to intertwine themselves. The seat was made of a special kind of wood that wore very well. That swing was where I had sat many a time reading and thinking through problems. Now, I sat there thinking of the events that had happened what seemed (and was) a very long time ago.
You see, my father had married my mother, a naiad. So, since my father was the king of Narnia, my mother became queen and then they had me. I'm part human and part naiad. I can control water and do pretty much anything with it, including dousing a certain high king with a "freak" rain shower. Right after my sixteenth birthday, my father died from pneumonia. Then, as the icing on the cake, a dratted witch showed up and kidnapped me, putting me into an enchanted sleep. She then proceeded to threaten my mother that if she didn't give up her throne I would die on the next Fall Moon Festival, 150 years from then. Long story short: My mother gave up the throne to save me and was promptly thrown into a dungeon to die, and the White Witch did not free me from the sleep. Thankfully, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy showed up and defeated the White Witch. Then Susan found me and saved me from dying just before the Fall Moon Festival.
So here I was, Princess Iridessa of Narnia, Dessa to my friends, swinging on a lovely fall day. I pumped my legs harder and rose higher and higher into the sky. Tears streamed down my face as I thought of all those memories. Oh mother! Why did you have to die?
A shout brought me out my reverie.
"Dessa! Come down from there!"
I looked down to see Spindell looking up at me, a scowl shadowing his face.
Uh oh. This didn't look good.
I reluctantly slowed down and hopped sheepishly out of the swing.
"Yes, Spindell?" I inquired, putting what I hoped was an innocent look on my face.
"What are you doing out here? You're supposed to be in the library studying your history. High King Peter will not be pleased."
Instead of answering the question, I asked a question of my own.
"How did you find me? I thought you were in the kitchen."
"I was in the kitchen. But I decided to bring you a snack. I assumed you had been up there all afternoon studying. Instead I found an empty library with the door wide open."
He frowned and looked up at the sky as if to ask Aslan what he had done to deserve a pupil like me.
"I see I will have to stay in the library with you from now on. Honestly, I would think a young woman of your age would be able to stay put and study for an afternoon. Come on, let's go. I have a quiz to give you, although I have a feeling you will not do well."
With that, he walked briskly out of the garden and I trailed behind him sheepishly.
As we walked along, he lectured me on the rewards of being diligent. I just rolled my eyes and took it patiently, half listening, half not. Honestly, he can be SUCH a drag sometimes! We arrived at the library and Spindell went about preparing the quiz for me. I hurriedly grabbed some books and tried to brush up on some things I was pretty sure would be on the quiz. As I frantically read, Spindell cleared his throat and said,
"Your quiz is prepared for you. I'll give you an hour to work on it. If you're not done by then, you'll just have to turn it in with some answers blank. Keep in mind that this quiz score will be reported to High King Peter."
With that final word he left me to my doom. I was almost positive I would totally fail this quiz. Oh well. I'd just have to do my best and bear the consequences, however painful. With that final thought I bent over the quiz for one long hour of torment.