AN 2013; updates!: In honour of the fact that this fanfic has been favorited NINEY-ONE times and counting, I have decided to do something that I never do. I have taken a fresh look at this story and smoothed out mistakes and grammatical errors I was not aware of as a younger writer first working on this story. Normally, I am VERY big on not editing ANY of my old stories, because in my mind that is the only way my readers/reviewers will see my progress which took me many years of hard work and dedicated writing to get to. However, I could NOT ignore, any longer, the extreme popularity of this story. Truly I am flattered and humbled by the reception, kind words, and even wordless "favoritings" that speak for themselves.
So, now I invite you all to enjoy the Narnian version of a classic Norwegian folktale with me once again, cleaned up for a smoother, more enjoyable read. I assure you all, I have changed nothing regarding the events/characters of this story, all I have done is cleaned it up a bit. Think of this as my way of saying thank you to all ninety-one of you wonderful people!
Original AN from 2009: This fic is a Narnian take on some classic northen fairytales such as "East of the Sun, West of the moon" and "White Bear King Valemon" If you know anything about these fairytales (Or even if you don't) it shouldn't be too hard to follow I don't think. Just kept in mind that it's AU and you should be fine. And yes, this is also Peter/Susan so if you don't like that pairing, odds are you aren't going to like this fic.
This first Prologue part takes place shortly after "The magican's Nephew" and chapter one will start with "The Lion the witch and the wardrobe"
Prologue
Narnia was a beautiful new world blossoming and blooming into something more glorious and rich each and every day.
It was ruled over by King Frank and Queen Helen who'd been crowned by Aslan himself, the great Lion whose song had called Narnia into existence. They were good rulers and the people were happy. But alas there was one blemish in the perfection of that lovely land. And that was the evil witch who called herself a queen and empress although she hadn't any right to do so. Her name was Jadis and she'd come from another world by accident. Two harmless children whose names were Polly and Digory had come into the world from their own home in another place called 'England' bringing the horrible creature with them by mistake.
Of course they were very sorry that they had done so and wanted to right the wrong. Aslan told them to plant a magical apple tree that would keep the witch at bay, for the smell of the apples would sicken her as soon as she anywhere near it.
However, Jadis, none the worse for being challenged, vowed that she would lay waste to Narnia and some day, rule over it as a great queen. She took any bad souls who were willing to come over onto her side and convinced them to travel to the tree and chop it down.
King Frank had a terrible feeling that something of the sort was going to happen because some of the traitors had once been good-hearted and loyal to him. He had of course noticed the change in his friends and servants and ordered for as many apples as possible to be gathered and placed in the windows of his subjects to keep them safe from the witch.
It only did so much good, and although there were many happy times, there were others not so happy in which Jadis caused the Narnians much suffering.
They wondered if there would ever be any way of destroying the witch and despaired of Narnia ever being truly free. For, any homes that happened to be close to place of Ice that Jadis had set up in far north were victims to her tyranny. Many were even kidnapped and forced to be her slaves and work day and night in the castle, barely even allowed a moment to eat.
It was only by Aslan's good graces that King Frank and Queen Helen were able to keep Jadis (whom they re-named 'The White Witch' because of her white gowns and skin that managed to be white without being pale) at bay most of the time.
And it happened that Queen Helen gave birth to her first child; a son. She sat up in the bed with her back propped up against two layers of thick satin pillows, her forehead and cheeks flushed and drenched with sweat, utterly exhausted from bringing her baby boy into the world. But as she held him in her tired arms, she knew it was well worth it.
"Oh, Frank," sighed Helen, holding the little golden-haired baby up a little so her husband could see him. "Isn't he lovely?"
The baby looked up at his father and smiled his first smile.
Old Frank felt his heart positively melt when he saw the child and he had to blink back tears as he whispered, "He's perfect."
"What a darling little boy he'll be," Helen said softly, gazing down at the child in her arms. "He has the nicest disposition, I can tell." (It was true that the baby was rather quiet and not very fussy, but Helen probably would have said the same thing if he'd been bawling his head off.)
At that moment, the chamber door flew open, a wonderfully light aroma filled the air, and Aslan himself walked into the room, his golden mane swaying to and fro as he approached Helen's bedside.
"Welcome Aslan." King Frank bowed to him respectfully.
"Greetings, first king of the land of Narnia." Aslan nodded to him.
"Have you come to see our baby, Aslan?" Helen asked cheerfully. "Perhaps you would leave him with a blessing?"
"Daughter." Aslan's lips curled up into a smile. "I have indeed a blessing to bestow upon the child."
"Oh, wonderful!" Helen cried happily.
"I tell you that one day this boy will grow up to be the greatest king of Narnia that ever was. He shall grow up to be High King over all other kings in Narnia, even his own father he shall come to rule over. And it will be for his sake that the White Witch will come to an end." Aslan told them in a deep cheering but also somewhat grave voice.
"Did you hear that darling?" Helen whispered, kissing her baby on the forehead. "Aren't you glad, sweetheart?"
"My son, a high king." Frank smiled to himself. "I like that. And think, he shall bring about the end of that horrible witch someday!"
"Such a king should have a name," Helen said firmly. "Our sweet baby hasn't got one yet."
"What would you call him, Aslan?" Frank asked the Lion, who stood watching them with a peaceful expression on his golden face.
"Peter," Aslan told them. "That is a good name for the child."
"Indeed it is." Frank beamed at the Lion, feeling gladder than ever. "My great grandfather was called Peter, and he was a very good man." He looked over to his wife. "What say you, Nellie? Shall Peter be his name?"
Helen looked down at the baby once more. "Yes, Peter is his name. I can't think of any other that would suit him. From the moment Aslan suggested it just now, I felt as if that was his name and no matter what other name we could possibly give him, we'd always call him 'Peter' in our hearts anyway."
One of the midwives had seen all of this take place and spoke to a dwarf friend of hers about it.
"And the best part is that his rein shall be the end of that horrid witch who plagues us whenever she can get away with it!" she'd ended excitedly.
Now the dwarf she had spoken to was quite pleased by this news. A little too pleased. He shared it much too freely. He didn't bother to think if the person he spoke to might be a traitor or else a being flighty enough to change into a traitor someday. And because of this, only two weeks after Peter's birth, Jadis found out about the child and Aslan's blessing. She decided that she would not stand for this. She hoped she might even use it as a stepping stone to making herself the queen.
Helen placed her baby in the cradle of the royal nursery. "Nap time for you, Peter." She hummed a pretty lullaby a wood dryad had taught to her the other day and gently rocked the cradle back and forth.
Suddenly the windows and doors flew open and a burst of cold cruel wind rushed through the room. Jadis stood in the doorway, her eyes gleaming evilly.
"What do you want?" Helen gasped.
"What is this I hear about the future high king over Narnia? This king of kings? This great lord?" She laughed wickedly and walked steadily over to the cradle. Peering in, she added, "Ha, I see only a helpless babe. What is to stop me from getting rid of him now before he should become so great?"
"Get away from him!" Helen cried out, pulling the blanket protectively over his head.
"I can't kill him, though I almost wish I could." Jadis said coldly. "Aslan wouldn't let me kill him. But I can and will do this." She placed her long white hand on the top blanket of the baby's cradle.
Filled with courage only a mother who sees that her child is in danger can ever have or even understand, Helen shoved Jadis out of the way and struck her hard across the face.
In spite of the slap, Jadis seemed happy. "Your blows are of no use now."
"What do you mean?" Helen asked.
"Look at your darling baby boy now and see if he is quite alright." Jadis laughed.
"What have you done to him?" Helen pulled back the blanket and let out a sharp gasp, putting her hand to her heart.
Where her human baby boy, Peter, had been mere seconds ago, there was now a white bear cub.
"Aslan has left the child a blessing." Jadis said coolly. "I've left him a curse. That he should be a bear by day a human only by night. What good is he as a king now?"
Helen scooped up the white bear cub in her arms. She could still see her dear baby looking out at her, for his eyes had remained the same. He let out a frightened grunt and rested his head on his mother's shoulder.
"Don't look so stricken, Helen." Jadis refused to call her 'Queen Helen' knowing it would imply submission of which she of course had none. "There is hope for your stupid little bear-boy yet."
"I don't want to hear it." Helen told her sharply. "You've caused enough pain. Go away."
"I wasn't going to tell you." Jadis tossed her head back. "I'm not such a fool. Let Aslan tell you if he knows." And with that, she ran out of the castle.
Many guards were called out to stop her but all failed and she managed to get back to her castle in the end.
King Frank and Queen Helen were grief-stricken over the fate of their son. What could they do with a boy who was a white bear during the day and a human only at night?
"I don't care," Helen wept, clinging to her bear-baby. "I shall love him all the same. He's still my beautiful son."
"Loving him is never the question, Nellie." Frank said gently. "But is he safe?"
"Safe?" Helen said almost angrily. "Nothing is safe. Aslan himself isn't safe and yet, he is good. Couldn't our poor little son be the same?"
It was at that moment that Aslan returned and hung his head sadly as he looked over at the bear cub who had just turned back into a human baby now that the night had fallen. "Poor child."
"Oh, Aslan!" Helen wailed. "Can you do nothing to help him?"
"I can call up another tree to keep the white witch at bay once more. All of those whom she has already imprisoned are trapped, but it will keep her from taking more of them in the meantime."
"A fine idea," Frank said. "But what of Peter?"
"The spell can be broken," Aslan told them. "But not by me."
"Will you explain it all to us?" Helen pleaded. "I wouldn't hear it from that witch if she would have told me, but I'd hear it from you, Aslan. Do tell me what I am to do about my son."
Aslan told her how he might be saved. It would all depend on a daughter of Eve. If she fulfilled her role properly, she would save him. But if she should fail, he would be in danger, possibly even from Jadis herself.
"But what lady could have faith and love enough to rescue him?" said Frank hopelessly. "I don't believe the best woman in the world could meet the conditions needed."
"Don't despair," Helen said softly. "It is some hope. I shall hold tightly onto it."
"The poor lad," sighed Frank. "He'll have to be older in order to be saved and he'll never know what it's like to have a normal childhood."
"My poor high king," Helen whispered to the White Bear High King Peter who looked up at his mother unable to understand what was had happened to him and what would be sure to happen to him in the future.