~*~*Before The Golden Mane~*~*
by: NatalieLeon10694
Prologue:
The Sun fell slowly between the peaks of the Northern Mountains.
The dark glow of the rust sun dimly lighted the small valley below called Narnia.
Watching this sunset was a Lion.
Not simply the Lion you're familiar with from the books.
This Lion has another story; a story that a handful had heard of...
until now
A long time ago, In a huge white palace near the sea a child was about to be born. This was not just any child, this was the Emperor's son. His highness was pacing nervously outside the Royal Quarters. Their first son, probably his only son, his heir to the throne was coming. The dreams and hopes he had since he married his wife all riding on this still unborn child.
His wife, the Empress, has been in labor since early afternoon, nearly five hours has past and there was no news. Thoughts were circling in his mind giving him a horrible headache. What if this baby doesn't survive? What if I lose her? What if I lose them both? Quickly, he stepped out onto the balcony which had a perfect view of the western shore line. The image of dark blue waves crashing rhythmically upon the shore and the courtyards full of exotic flowers below would hopefully calm him. The Emperor hunched over the white marble railing looking out towards the sea. The salty breeze gently blew at his coarse brown hair. He inhaled deeply, loving every bit of this soothing setting.
The Emperor at that moment received a vision. He now claims it a vision but that night he thought he was just seeing things. Along the shoreline he saw creases in the wet heavy sand. They were paw prints! The biggest he had ever seen. His eyes curiously followed the track this "mystery creature" was making. Halfway up the shoreline the Emperor saw the beast. It was a huge burly male lion. What was going on? This island had no lions on it! Where did the creature come from? Before he could answer any of these questions the lion disappeared along with it's prints as if the waves had washed them away, never to be seen again.
"Your Majesty!" startled, he turned around. It was a nursemaid, Alexia was her name. " Anvena, The Empress, has given birth to a son." her voice was warm with happiness. The Emperor was so overjoyed he almost hugged the nursemaid. He tried to maintain a regal composure but found it hard to keep when he walked into the room. Anvena, the beautiful Empress, slouched comfortably on layers of pillows behind her back. Her long golden hair was undone and rested on her shoulders. And in her hands was a bulk wrapped in a white fleece blanket. Everything went numb in the Emperor's body when he saw two little hands appear from the coverings of the blanket and heard the sweet sounding gibberish of his new son.
The Emperor sat on the bedside close to his wife, who laid her head on his shoulder. "It is a boy Kalecgos, a boy." came Anvena's soft loving voice. Emperor Kalecgos smiled and kissed her forehead. "So I've heard." he murmured looking down at the blanket. The baby's skin was a light pink and he had a chubby looking face but that would eventually go away. Tiny little strands of blonde hair, like his mother's, were plastered to his scalp. The Emperor could see that the child inherited his masculine shoulders and face shape but many of its facial features were from his mother. Her chin, her cheek bones, her nose, all notable features of her.
"He's so beautiful," The Emperor whispered breathlessly as he extended his finger out so the baby could grasp onto it. He turned his head to his wife and added. "Like you."
Anvena let out gentle laugh.
"He'll probably end up acting like you." She began. Her happy expression faded into seriousness and she asked The Emperor: "What are we to name him, Kalec?" The Emperor thought of this for a moment. There were so many names suitable for this child. Then he remembered the image of the Lion on the shore. Was that a sign of his son's birth? The child needed a name as strong and majestic as a lion. The Emperor took the child into his own arms and raised the child towards the sky.
" My son, The Heir to my throne, has been blessed with the image of a lion to proclaim his birth. A vision of such power given to a newborn deserves the honor of a child with a powerful name.
With that, I name this baby boy...
Aslan."