Full Summary: Years after the Battle of Beruna, the Pevensies have taken their places as the rightful kings and queens of Narnia. But as monarchy, they must read about the surrounding countries, and Narnia's history, before and during the Long Winter. They apparently had allies, countries that risked their welfare for the better of Narnia, and one that took the risk actually paid the price. Borovia used to be part of the lands but it has vanished from the map. History tells the tale of its downfall against the White Witch and how the cruel queen allowed no survivors and granted no mercy towards them.

History said there were no survivors.

Fate decreed otherwise.

Author's Note: This is a different version of the Prologue, since I believe I started a bit rocky before. Sorry about that :)

Prologue

Something woke her up, something dreadful. At first all she heard was the silence of the winter night and next she heard the dreadful screams that rose throughout the country. They've come, she thought, and being prepared for this moment only grabbed her cloak and ran out of her quarters.

"Get up, princess. Now!"

Eleanor, the child princess tossed and turned in her little bed, wishing to be left to sleep, but the voice came again followed by a good shake by the shoulder. Eleanor closed her eyes tightly and soon noticed other sounds around her. Curiosity aroused, the child sat up in bed and found the eyes of her maidservant, Maria staring at her in the dark. Eleanor squinted as Maria began shuffling about the room, "What's wrong, Maria?" asked the little girl. "Hush, my princess. There's no time. We must leave at once." The maid hastily buttoned an overdress on Eleanor's nightclothes and threw a cloak on the princess. The child was never so confused in her life, "Maria, what-"

"Hush. Stay silent, and follow me. Make haste, princess!"

Eleanor soon found herself being dragged out of her grand quarters and into the cold corridors of the castle. The moment she left the room she was greeted by the sound of war: the shouts of men and women alike, within and out of the palace, the cling-clang of armor against armor, and the heartbreaking cries of numerous children from the village outside. Eleanor's eyes widened in terror as she felt Maria's handclasp tightly around hers and they made their way down the winding halls. Soon enough, Eleanor found the displeasing scent of blood being wafted in the air through the castle. She cringed. Something was terribly wrong. To validate her thoughts, Maria led the way through an open hall that looked down to the lower floors. Eleanor could have screamed, but she was too terrified to even open her mouth, for below her she saw a battle being waged. Being such a young girl, one would think that witnessing a battle in her own home would be terrifying, and it no doubt was. Eleanor tried to make out the soldiers and to whose sides they belonged but the maidservant pulled her further down the hall. Eleanor found herself running through the chambers of the Old Pillars and saw each of the stone structures looming menacingly above her in the dim light. Passing the hall, the two darted through a large arch that led to the floors that Eleanor's mother had forbidden her to enter. It was a dreadful passage. Dark and cold, the narrow way had been paved with stone and had windows that only allowed very little moonlight to come through. The princess squirmed. Maria stopped midway and knelt before the princess, "Listen to me, my princess," said she and revealed a golden necklace from her sleeve. She made to place it on Eleanor but the child princess shied away, "What's happening to Borovia?" she cried. Maria looked horrified, "Not so loud!" she said. Eleanor, being a young and scared girl only wailed louder, "I want mama! Where is she?"

Maria had no choice. She forced the necklace around the child's neck and said, "Do not lose this, no matter what. Do not-- "

"Who goes there?"

Both Eleanor and Maria fell in a dead silence as the voice spoke again, "Borovian traitors?" it cackled bitterly and soon Maria could see the faint glow of a torchlight flashing against the stonewalls behind her and the princess. Eleanor's eyes grew wide and suddenly felt herself being lifted from the ground. Maria began a frantic run down the hall and soon came to a fork of two paths. The maid chose the left and began to deliberately brush herself against the wall. Eleanor would have asked what the reason behind this measure was but she was scared as she saw the torchlight flit behind them then disappear. Maybe it went down a different path, the princess mused. Maria set her down to the floor and laid a hand on an unusual polished stone on the wall. She muttered something under her breath and a language foreign to Eleanor reached her ears. Her eyes widened as the stones in the wall began to shift and gape to reveal a dark secret passageway beyond. Maria, without hesitance, grabbed Eleanor's hand and pulled her through just as the stones closed in behind them.

Eleanor found it terribly dark in the passageway that she relied on Maria completely to watch their passing. Maria kept her hand on the princess's, who struggled so much to keep up with the maidservant. Eleanor found herself taken through twisting paths and various staircases always leading them lower and lower underground. What happened next though, was most unexpected.

"Some one's down here!"

The voice called out and Maria heard heavy footfalls behind them. She breathed hard and though trying to sound brave, Eleanor could clearly hear the fear in her voice.

"They're in the tunnel," Maria whispered, "How?" she was so stricken by fear that she resorted to carrying Eleanor again. Running swiftly, Maria came to a long flight of stairs that led narrowly up. She finally came to a great wooden door with iron bolts and locks. Setting the princess down, Maria pushed hard on the door and ushered the child out before her. The door led outside to the back of the castle. Eleanor had never been more glad to have arrived outside, and to have seen the snowy plains before her. Maria soon followed, shut the heavy door and again muttered something under her breath. Eleanor heard the strange language once again and she soon heard the bolts behind the door lock themselves shut. Maria walked over to the young girl, "Come here," she said worriedly, "Listen to me. I haven't much time."

"But why? What is happening to Borovia?" Eleanor could not help but feel hot tears fill her eyes and roll down her cheeks. Maria was alarmed again and she looked quickly around her, "Quiet, princess! They'll hear you!"

"Who will hear us? I don't understand! I wan my mama, my papa!"

"Princess, listen to me!"

But it was too late at that moment. Maria heard soft foot falls walk towards them. She looked to her right and growled. She stood bravely before the child princess, "Jadis," she hissed. Eleanor cowered fearfully behind her maidservant, so terrified of the woman who now stood before them. She knew her. Her mother had told her who she was. This woman, pale faced and tragically beautiful with lips the red of blood and eyes the lovers of death; her body covered in fur in the color of the blue of winter, a crown of ice atop her head, was the White Witch Jadis. Her gaze fell on the princess for a moment and she laughed sweetly as she turned to look back at Maria, "Narnian," she began. Eleanor tore her eyes from the Witch and looked up at her maid, who did not flinch. Maria was a Narnian? How? The maidservant never seemed to speak of her origins at all, but Eleanor had not made anything of it. But of all origins, was her maidservant truly from Narnia? The Witch spoke on, "You're just like any other I have killed," she smiled, "Are you not tired?" Jadis's smile left her face and she added spitefully, "Your country is already suffering."

Maria replied bravely, "My country may be under your accursed winter, Jadis. But it won't be for long, neither will Borovia!"

"Fool!" the Witch said angrily.

"I am no fool, Witch! Aslan has not abandoned Narnia yet. The prophecy will be fulfilled, and you will be ripped of a crown that is not yours to wear!"

Jadis screamed angrily, and in her rage, raised her long smooth blade and struck at the maid. Shrieking in utter shock, Eleanor saw Maria grip her stomach and kneel to the ground. The princess held onto her, "No! You can't – Don't go, please!"

Maria smiled weakly, "Don't lose the necklace," she said, "I did this for Narnia. Now go." And with that as her last words the maidservant fell dead on the ground. Jadis sneered and looked coldly at the princess, "Finally."

Eleanor stood and staggered backwards.

"Eleanor!"

The child princess swiveled to find her mother and siblings, rushing towards her.

"Mama," Eleanor cried, "Stay back!"

The Witch laughed, "Well, what have we here? Come to speak truce, Your Majesty?" The queen gritted her teeth, "What do you think you're doing?"

"Don't question me," Jadis's voice rose, "You have already pledged your loyalty."

"Only under your wicked spell!" the queen spat, "Borovia will fight, even to the death for what you have to done to us, and our neighboring lands—"

"Silence yourself, my queen," Jadis said forcefully, "I may spare your life."

"To the death, White Witch, Empress of nothing!"

Jadis laughed, "Do you really think that can stop me?" Before any of the three royals could react, the White Witch had struck their mother dead. Eleanor froze as she watched her own mother fall. Her breath caught in her chest, her heart pounded fiercely in her ears. The sound of a sword being unsheathed startled her and she saw her older brother growl and the Witch. The child made to run forward, "Ludwig, don't!"

Ludwig never took his eyes off of the Witch, "Mathilda!" he called, addressing his next sister, "Take Eleanor, keep safe!"

Eleanor screamed and rushed forward only to be grabbed by Mathilda who tearfully tugged at her sister and ran. Eleanor caught a glimpse of her brother behind her lashing his blade furiously at the Witch. Mathilda cried and ran on, pulling Eleanor along towards the nearest woods. Then, as the sisters ran, Eleanor felt the brush of light petals against her cheek and she heard Maria's soft voice, calm and sure, "To Narnia, my princess. May Aslan be by your side."

Eleanor breathed hard and slowed as the petals disappeared from sight, leaving the child wondering if she ever saw them at all. What happened next left her in grief, pain, and shock all at once. Mathilda had fallen dead to the ground, a spear through her back. Eleanor cried and cried, her last family, gone forever. She knelt by her sister, screaming to the skies when the Witch arrived, her face cold and furious, "Are you next, Borovian girl? Come to me!"

"No!" Eleanor said through her tears, "Stay away!" She was rooted to the spot, so young and unsure of what to do, so lost and too scared to move. Jadis was about to take another step forward when an arrow, coated in brilliant gold with scarlet feathers at its end struck the ground between the Witch and the princess. The princess choked her tears back as she heard a deep and gentle voice tell her, "Run now, child. And do not look back. I will be with you all the way." Eleanor felt a strange wave of calm as the voice spoke to her, but it was soon replaced by fear when it ended. Tearing away from her sister she made for the Western Woods but felt her feet taking her there as if at their own will. She heard the Witch scream furiously behind and that only made her run even faster. Plunging through the trails, she ran. Eleanor looked up and found the trees rustling their leaves and bending at the cold wind, standing above her with branches stretching far above and blotting out the sky.

She was unsure of how long she ran when she finally tripped on a protruding branch and fell heavily on the ground. The child struggled to get up but found her legs had grown unbearably sore and her breathing had become terrible gasps. She looked around and felt her vision failing too.

The last thing she saw was a friendly looking beaver, which unusually, seemed to look concerned about her. And strange of all, though she did not hear a sound, its lips moved.

Author's Note: Prologue of the trilogy! :) Please review. You know any writer loves them :)