Disclaimer: I don't own Narnia or any characters you may recognize from the books or the movies, I wish I did but I don't... I also don't own the Narnian Calendar. It belongs to Elecktrum who was kind enough to let me borrow it for my story. Her own stories are awesome and you should go read them too.
Summary: One hundred years of winter. One hundred years of suffering and sorrow. One hundred years of resistance.
Chapter One: The End of an Era
"Retreat! Fall back!"
The cry echoed through the air, almost lost amid the screams of the dying, the fearful, and the betrayed. The battle could have been won, the Witch driven off but She had more allies than they had realized. Cadfael scanned the battlefield littered with bodies and a growing number of statues. Statues, the Witch was turning the living to stone. He had not known such an act was possible until that day.
Everywhere he looked soldiers were fleeing. King Lew and his eldest three sons were slain. Cadfael had seen Lew fall. And of those still living, an increasing number of Narnia's army was fighting against their brothers and sisters. The Witch was attacking the archers now.
One of the Centauresses broke free of the press and galloped for the Witch, nocking an arrow as her cape, hair, and tail billowed in her wake. Cadfael, too far to be of aid, watched as the Witch whirled, Her wand glinting harshly in the sun, and then living flesh was frozen into cold grey stone even in the midst of loosing the arrow. Cadfael scanned the battlefield again, measuring the distance he would need to traverse to reach the Witch. Rangi was by her side with his young son, Otmin. What had possessed the Minotaur to bring a young one to battle?
Once he had called Rangi an ally, a fellow soldier and officer, even friend though he did not approve the Minotaur's unrestrained temper. No more.
"Cadfael!"
The Centaur brought his claymore up reflexively but halted the blow before it could fall on the grizzled Faun. "Rolus."
"The battle is lost. Return to your herd and warn them."
He did not move. There was still fighting and he could still make the difference by killing the Witch. The butt of a spear thumped solidly against his breastplate. Rolus glared up at him. "Captain Cadfael, leave the battlefield. That is an order."
After casting one last look over his shoulder as Jadis raised the severed head of the king high, Cadfael resolved himself to the bitter truth. There was nothing more he could do here. The army was scattering and Aslan alone knew how many had turned their backs on their oaths, their king, and the Great Lion Himself to serve the Witch. No, he could do nothing more here.
Cadfael galloped away from the slaughter, taking only enough time to clean his blade and then sheath it. He paused only once as night fell and he came upon a stream. Washing off the blood, grime, sweat, and lather, Cadfael gazed up at the stars. Their message had been uncertain the night before the battle, revealing only that Narnia's fate hung in the balance. Tonight they spoke of death and innocent lives lost.
There was a village nearby with an inn where he could rest after obtaining news of the rest of Narnia's movements. Would the princes send reinforcements? Leb, the elder of the twins, was king now. He felt a twinge of sympathy as he recalled his youngest royal charge, the little Princess Royal. The filly had never known her dam and now her sire was gone too. He hoped Asbolus would take her to be raised away from Cair Paravel either in his own house or in the house of his younger son, Petraeus, and his small herd. Either choice would be safer than the Cair after this upheaval. If they hid her well enough in Centaur territory, it was possible she could escape even Jadis' notice . . . and it would be easier than attempting to smuggle the filly into Archenland where her royal status would be far too conspicuous. The Crown Prince's wife . . . widow was Archenlandish and her family were powerful members of the court at Anvard. They might be able to ensure she and the King's grandchildren were smuggled out by sea to the safety of her family. Those foals might be safe since the line of succession would descend through Lew's sons and daughter first.
Cadfael emerged from the stream then set out at a walk, conserving his strength. The village was small and mainly populated by Humans although there was a family of Satyrs as well as some nearby Red Dwarfs and numerous smaller Animals in the surrounding woods. Its position on the northern trading road would mean they had up-to-date news. He did not know if his hope for news of reinforcements was good or wished in vain. But, he did know he could not continue on to his herd even to reassure himself that Selene and Oreius were safe without knowing that the war was truly over.
He smelled it first. The scent of burning wood and the sickening stench of burnt flesh stung his eyes and nose. Alarm began to course through him as he picked up his pace. He stopped just at the edge of the tree line, using the thick pine boughs to shield his presence from the casual observer, but he was still close enough to witness the destruction. The village had been burned to the ground. Only the crumbling remains of the blacksmith's forge and the skeletal remains of half-toppled chimneys survived the blaze. But that was not what caused horror to spear his heart. Cadfael stared at the ravaged remains of the villagers from the eldest grandsire to the tiniest foal. Their bodies had been piled in the center of the village square and left.
Aslan have mercy.
A branch snapped and Cadfael's hand strayed to his claymore. One of the Satyrs stumbled out of the underbrush, a broken look in his eyes. He did not appear to see Cadfael until the Centaur moved. Then he sighed. "Kill me. I have nothing more. All is lost."
"What happened here?"
"You're a soldier, you should know." The Satyr's bleak gaze turned to the smoldering village. "They came at dusk, Wolves and white Tigers, but behind them were Fell creatures. Werewolves, Horrors, Ogres. There were so many. We did not know they were upon us until the killings began. They burned down my Melia's Tree because we shared the village with Humans. They burned my Melia's Tree. They burned her. They burned her. They burned her. They burned her."
There was nothing more he would learn from the broken Satyr. Cadfael withdrew reluctantly, wishing there was some way to ensure the Satyr was watched over, but if the villages were being burned and innocents being slain, he had to continue on. Stepping onto the road, Cadfael could see the orange glare tainting the night sky in the distance and he feared that many more villages and homes would be razed that night as more innocent blood was spilt.
As he galloped down the road, Cadfael found his fears realized. Three villages along the trade route were razed and Humans and Nymphs were slain along with any who tried to protect them. It was almost dawn before he came across a village with survivors.
Only some of the buildings had been razed but the ravaged bodies were the same as in the other villages. Cadfael entered the village square slowly. There were three Fauns on the ground, their hands wrapped around their horns as large tears rolled down their noses. Only one looked up at his approach. Like Cadfael, he wore the armor of a Narnian soldier. "Captain."
He did not recognize him but nodded. "The Humans were killed here as well?"
The Faun sniffed and dashed away his tears, soot leaving a trail across his round cheeks. "They're killing the Nymphs too. The ones who look more like Eve's Daughters. Punishment for harboring refugees from Cleardale, the little village a few miles up the road."
"Why?"
"Humans are no longer allowed to live in Narnia. The new Queen is purging them from the land." The Faun made a bitter face. "If you know any Humans, Captain, you'd best warn them to flee to the sea. Jadis is hunting."
Cadfael stamped a hoof then gave a curt nod. Wheeling about, he charged off the road. He needed to reach Cair Paravel before the Witch and Her allies. The Line of Frank must be saved and he feared that Jadis' wrath would fall heavily on the capital, the seat of kings.
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Day and night, Cadfael raced to Cair Paravel, stopping only when he felt his strength nearly depleted. As evening began to darken the sky on the second day since the battle, he galloped past the harbor where boats were setting sail, resorting to oars if necessary, and people were streaming to the piers. On to Cair Paravel, gleaming white. Then harsh horns sounded behind him.
Cadfael paused in front of the gates and turned to look. Jadis' forces swept onto the harbor, Fell Giants laughing stupidly as they tore up the docks and threw the debris along with boulders at the departing ships while the other Fell creatures fell upon the crowd with deadly intent.
"Cadfael!"
At the call, he galloped inside Cair Paravel's walls. Stonebrook and Tuulea were standing on the steps leading to the palace when he finally reached them. Cadfael gave them no chance to speak; instead, he grasped the elder Centaur's arm tightly. "What of the Royals?"
"Fled to Archenland two days ago after receiving Lew's message. Asbolus was waiting for them."
Then there was no more time for speech as Harpies swept down, screeching and laughing as they knocked soldiers down from the battlements. Cadfael drew breath to order the gates closed but then the captives were herded in ahead of Jadis' forces. He was surprised to see ten Humans, nobles of the court, walking in the midst of them. He also feared what was about to happen as Jadis Herself entered the gates.
Tall, pale, and golden. She reminded him of a horrible, heartless reflection of Queen Swanwhite as four Cyclops carried her in on a chair. A joyless smile curved Her mouth as Her forces herded the people of Cair Paravel into the courtyard. The smile never reached Her cruel eyes during the time that Her forces hunted down anyone left in the Cair. Five Human foals were shoved into line with the other ten Humans. Then the Witch stood. "Today you witness the change of leadership and the end of an era! The Human pestilence shall be eliminated from the face of Narnia like the Line of Frank!"
One of the elderly Centaurs who served on the council stepped out from the crowd. "You are a usurper. The true heirs shall return."
Hope began to enter the downcast and frightened faces. Jadis' eyes narrowed then She smiled. "You are a fool, Centaur. Look." She gestured to some of Her soldiers and six bloodied swords were tossed to the stones before the elder's hooves. "The swords stripped from the bodies of the King and his sons dipped in their own blood and I have their heads too." The screams of horror seared into Cadfael's thoughts as much as the sight of the heads of Lew and his five eldest sons skewered on pikes paraded before the Narnians. Then Jadis raised a bloodstained necklace.
Tuulea gave a little sob where she stood between him and her husband, confirming the dread that it was the Princess Royal's. Before anyone could react, Jadis turned to Rangi. "Kill the prisoners!"
Cadfael watched, helpless in his horror and wrath, as the Humans were slain. Then Jadis turned that cruel facsimile of a smile onto the elder who had dared to speak up. "The Line of Frank is done. I, Jadis, am your Queen now."
The old stallion raised his head proudly. "None but Aslan's chosen shall reign as king or queen of Narnia. And Aslan Himself gave the right to rule only to those who may lay claim to the heritage of Adam and Eve. You are nothing more than an impost-"
His words were cut off as Jadis stabbed him with Her wand. Hatred danced within Her eyes. "I am the Queen by right of conquest!"
No one moved. No one spoke. Those who had never witnessed Jadis turn life to stone were too struck with fear to do so. Cadfael felt a check as he prepared to object, to attack. The stars had long foretold that a time of hardship was coming to Narnia. With Jadis' presence before him, Cadfael knew that the Witch was correct in one matter: It was the end of an era.
A/N: Please Read and Review! So begins the Long Winter Saga as told through the eyes of Cadfael and his son, Oreius. We're starting off fairly dark and it's a long road before we'll see the sun again so hold on to hope. Leave a review and let me know what y'all thought about this one.
A/N2: Most of my regular readers know that in my corner of Narnia the last king was the son of Swanwhite and he had seven children. I'm not going to focus much on the royal family after this chapter since their stories were ended due to Jadis' triumph over the king in battle. I also envision the Long Winter as starting two years after Jadis invaded so don't expect snow right away. More like in the next chapter or two. That said, I hope you enjoy seeing my version of how the Long Winter played out.