Prologue
There is a world far distant from our own, in a place where time and space are completely different from our own. Here lies Narnia, a land of peace and tranquillity where good Kings and Queens rule from the ancient palace of Cair Paravel.
Each King or Queen has a Protector, a powerful being (not always human) who protects them from any threat that may hold sway. Many Protectors have died for those they serve and they are always putting themselves in danger for the sake of the monarch. This ancient legacy has existed since before anyone can remember.
An ancient prophecy foretells the arrival of two Sons of Adam and two daughters of Eve, all of who will rule Narnia together. This is largely seen as a blasphemy of the laws that bind Narnia.
The prophecy also talks about a Protector different from the others. She will be a daughter of Eve, but there will be conflict within her heart – the love that she holds will be strong, but while two compete for her heart, there can only be one victor, one who will win her.
It is unknown how and when these five will enter Narnia, but many are wary of the day that they arrive and are suspicious of their intentions. However, the Narnians had bigger concerns when Jadis of Charn, the last of a long-dead race, entered Narnia and proclaimed her intentions to steal the crown from the beautiful Queen Swanwhite.
Jadis has managed to invade and anyone who stands in her path is turned to stone. Swanwhite knew she had to escape the palace, and so she enlisted the help of her Protector, a young woman by the name of Lady Sarah...
"We must hurry, your Majesty." The meaningful whisper echoed through the corridor, and Queen Swanwhite followed the sound of Lady Sarah's voice, drawn to it as if by a string. It was the only guide she had in this deep labyrinth that made up the corridors of Cair Paravel.
The burning torches on the wall held no warmth for either the Queen or her Protector. Since Jadis had arrived, they felt as though they were chilled to the bone, and Sarah's teeth chattered as she stumbled on. Her sword was drawn and she glanced around her for any signs of life, anything that might bring harm to her Queen.
Swanwhite gazed at the young woman leading her to safety. Lady Sarah was her most trusted friend, and a fearsome warrior at only twenty-three years old. Her auburn hair was starting to stick to the back of her neck, and the bright colour contrasted with her pale grey eyes and fair skin.
"Do you know where we're going, Sarah?"
Swanwhite didn't like to ask, but she had to know the truth. Her Protector would never knowingly lead her Queen into danger, but Lady Sarah seemed to stop and hesitate every now and again, dithering as if she didn't know what the future could hold for her.
Swanwhite had not been told before where they were going, because she trusted Sarah to lead her out of this precarious situation.
"Away, my Queen." Sarah's voice faltered slightly.
That was the best answer Swanwhite could expect right now, and she was quite surprised when Sarah pulled open a stone grate and stooped down, holding a flaming torch in front of her as she glanced around.
"It's all clear, your Majesty."
Swanwhite gathered her skirts and stepped through the grate with the grace expected from one of her rank, closely followed by her loyal Protector. She could tell that Lady Sarah was on edge, but also knew that the young woman was brave and would protect her at all costs.
Since Jadis had stormed Cair Paravel, determined to hunt and kill Swanwhite, Lady Sarah had taken the initiative to flee with the Queen straight away. While this was seen as cowardly in Swanwhite's opinion, the Protector did not lack intelligence. She knew what would happen if Jadis caught up with them and knew that the Narnians would prefer a runaway Queen to Jadis.
Waiting at the end of the hall was Lord Nazareth, one of Swanwhite's most trusted advisors. He flapped his arms, urging the Queen and her Protector to hurry. Sarah quickened her pace and Swanwhite followed suit. Lord Nazareth glanced around him suspiciously and drew his sword.
"If we don't leave immediately, her spies will catch us," Sarah told him fervently, her grey eyes darting from side to side, clearly as nervous as Nazareth was.
Lord Nazareth nodded vigorously. "I absolutely understand, Lady Sarah. We must make haste."
They moved out into the courtyard, and Lady Sarah gripped her Queen's arm as she glanced up at the moon overhead, full and round. Somewhere nearby, a wolf howled, sending chills down the young woman's spine. Sarah wondered whether the other inhabitants of Cair Paravel would have the sense to flee. Jadis could take over the palace, but she would have no real power while Swanwhite was alive – which was why Jadis would kill her.
Lord Nazareth paused, spinning around as if he might have heard something. The Protector rolled her eyes and stalked over towards him, grabbing him by the shoulder and whirling him back, an impatient expression on her face.
"We don't have time to waste. Her spies will catch us."
"They most certainly will," agreed Lord Nazareth, and impaled Lady Sarah through the stomach with his sword, "In fact, they already have."
Swanwhite was more shocked than Lady Sarah. She clapped both hands over her mouth to restrain a cry of horror, and she watched as the blood blossomed from her friend's wound.
Lady Sarah's grey eyes were wide, but she appeared more confused than anything else. Her hand groped almost blindly for the wound, and she found it as the warm blood stained her hand. Her grey eyes were full of alarm as she glanced from Lord Nazareth to Queen Swanwhite.
"I'm sorry, your Majesty. I've failed you." Her voice was hoarse and she sounded on the verge of tears.
Swanwhite watched in numb disbelief as the Protector collapsed to the ground, and Lord Nazareth busied himself cleaning the blood from his sword. There was nowhere for Swanwhite to run, they both knew it. Her Protector was dead, and surely she was going to be next. She tried to maintain her composure. She was, after all, the Queen of Narnia.
A group of wolves ran into the courtyard, snarling and barking. Their teeth were bared and they looked savage. Swanwhite knew better than to even move. It wasn't as though she had much of a chance anyway. Without Sarah, she was nothing.
An elegant woman trailed behind them, a woman more beautiful than anyone Swanwhite had ever seen – even more beautiful than her. The woman clutched what appeared to be an ice spear, and she examined Swanwhite with disdain. Her lips curved into a smirk, but her eyes remained cold.
"So this is the former Queen of Narnia. How pathetic. It seems her poor, dead Protector had more gumption. Shame, really."
Lord Nazareth glanced beseechingly at the woman, the woman Swanwhite realised must be Jadis. Who else was capable of bearing such cruel, ruthless beauty with such ease? At her heels, the wolves snarled threateningly, but Jadis paid them no attention. Her eyes were fixed on Nazareth's.
Jadis inclined her head. "Kill her."
Swanwhite was frozen in fear as Nazareth moved forward, sword in hand. She couldn't believe that he had betrayed her to Jadis. Why would any Narnian ever want to serve this horrible woman? She attempted to stop her heart racing and she watched Nazareth with her chin tilted defiantly. Demeanour was everything – she'd learned that lesson from her father, and she had hoped to teach it to her children one day. Now, there would be no children.
"You are a traitor to Narnia," she informed Nazareth coldly, "You will be doomed until the day you die – so mote it be!"
Nazareth's eyes widened as Swanwhite's voice echoed around the courtyard with a definite ring of power. She had used strong words and he wondered if Aslan had heard her. Best not to think of such things. He moved quickly, stabbing the once radiant Queen through the heart.
Jadis watched, her mouth twisted in contempt, as Swanwhite fell to the ground, toppling over the body of her fallen Protector. They were both weak. Now she would establish a strong Narnia – one where it would be eternally winter.
"Unfortunately, Nazareth, she was right about you." Jadis turned to stare at the man with her head cocked to one side. "You have served your purpose." She smiled down at the wolves at her feet, still snarling with their teeth bared. "Kill him."