Summary: Princess Giovane and her family are invited to Cair Paravel's ball in
celebration of their victory in the Battle of Beruna. But after Giovane has played
the castle's grand piano, which has not been played for centuries, her parents
fall ill and so does her kingdom and now Giovane has to fight a battle of her own.
With the High King Peter by her side, they journey to the Land of the Crying
Nymphs to undo the curse that has befallen the Celstians and their royal family
and break the curse that has fallen upon ivory. This my first fic so please be nice
if you have any suggestions you might want to bring to my eyes then review—
pretty please?
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Narnia characters (in fact anything in the
story that has to do with Narnia, I don't even own the creatures!), but I do own
Princess Giovane, Baldis, Kingdom of Celestia and all the other characters I
forgot to mention . If any of these are found in other fics, I swear I am
innocent!
-- nascar-freak --
Chapter 1: A Narnian Invite
Princess Giovane looked over the veranda of Castle Celestia. From there, she watched
her people. She saw how they went about their afternoon chores, how farriers tended
to the horses, how smiths molded their silver, how vendors sold and traded, how
children played, how fathers worked, and how mothers cared for their homes. The
princess could never have felt any more content than she was now. As she took in a
deep breath, she heard someone clear her throat. Giovane turned to see her maid-in-
waiting, "Yes, Martha?" she asked. The maid smiled and curtsied, laying her hands on
her white skirts, "You Highness, the Majesties wish you to the Throne Room at
once."
Giovane nodded her thanks and straightened her gown. It was emerald green with a
silver under bodice. The royal seamstresses had sewn it for her 16th birthday two
years ago. Martha hummed. Giovane looked at her with a questioning look and
Martha whispered, "I have heard, that during the Battle of Beruna, Queen Susan had
worn an emerald green archery dress and saved her brother, King Edmund, from one
of Jadis's dwarves," as Martha said this, her eyes became knowing and bright.
Giovane smiled, "I see," and walked briskly to the Throne Room to meet her parents.
As the princess walked through the halls, her brown wavy shoulder length hair
bounced lightly upon her back. She had her mother the queen's features. Fair skinned
with rosy cheeks, was Giovane's complexion. But her eyes, an icy blue from her
father the king; they sparkled with wisdom and greatness. Giovane smiled at the
thought of her parents. She loved them as much as they loved her and now, she came
before the Throne Room. The palace guard smiled and bowed, "Your Highness," he
said and opened the great diamond doors. Giovane nodded and entered the great
room. She walked upon the scarlet carpet that stretched beyond her to the three
thrones ahead. The princess walked and found her parents seated in their thrones and
speaking with a royal page, who was holding a scroll and had a cape around him.
Giovane made herself present by curtsying before her parents, "Ah, Daughter!" said
her father in his loud voice, "Sit upon your throne, we have news from Narnia."
Giovane was surprised at the mention of Narnia. As she sat upon her throne, she
looked at the page and noticed he had goat's legs instead of a human's. He looked at
her and bowed low, "Princess of Celestia, it is an honor!"
Giovane smiled and nodded, "Thank you, Faun," she what to call the page, since
Martha had told her many stories about Narnia, including the magical creatures with a
fluid tongue. The page straightened up and the queen spoke, "Tell your king that we
shall accept his invitation and arrive early for the ball."
The faun nodded and said, "You are free to come at any time, Your Majesty, and we
shall welcome you in Cair Paravel."
The queen nodded, "Well said, Mr. Tumnus, well said."
Giovane jumped in her seat at the name, 'Tumnus'. Martha had once told her that the
first creature Queen Lucy had met when she first entered Narnia, was a Faun named
Tumnus. The faun and the Majesties didn't seem to notice her reaction.
After further discussion, the Faun clopped away. The King turned to his daughter and
smiled, "And you are well, little one?"
Giovane nodded, "Yes father."
The queen smiled, "Well I hope you are up to some traveling this week,"
"Why is that, mother?"
"The Narnian court has invited us and the other royal families of different
neighboring countries, to attend a ball in celebration of victory over the White
Witch."
Giovane could hear excitement in her mother's voice, but she wasn't really sure if she
would be willing to meet the old Kings and Queens of Narnia, They are bound to be
aged! she thought. The king smiled, "Well, daughter? What say you?"
Giovane smiled, "Aye, shall I pack this evening?"
The Majesties nodded to her and Giovane excused herself to make arrangements for
her things. She left her parents in the throne room discussing about their own
traveling plans.
"Oh, Your Highness, do tell me about Narnia when you get back," Martha giggled as
she helped her mistress pack a few gowns into a trunk. Giovane smiled, "I shall,
Martha, I will tell you everything," she folded a midnight blue velvet ball gown and
placed it in her bag. Martha kept busy with a petticoat, "My, my, the Narnians must
be very happy, very happy indeed!"
Giovane watched as Martha packed the last of Giovane's things into the trunk. The
princess looked out the window. The sun was beginning to set and the village had
almost completely fallen into a peaceful silence. Giovane breathed and said, "I shall
make arrangements with the stables, do call me if I'm needed."
Martha gave a curtsy and Giovane walked from her chambers.