AN: No one ever said that the Kings and Queens of Cair Paravel had to be related. I recently read a story where they weren't. It led to this...
What if Susan never entered Narnia through the wardrobe with the others- what if her place was taken by a girl from the Narnian world? How would the story be different?
Currently being re-worked
Movie based
It was late by the time fourteen year old Rowena returned to her family's little one room hut in the slums of Tasbhaan. She was a kitchen slave in the house of one of the most prominent families in the Calormene metropolis (a job she'd been doing day in day out since she was five years old) Her little brother- three year old Ascher- was still awake and in their mother's arms.
"Tell me a storwy" Ascher commanded in the imperious manner of children his age
Their mother sighed tiredly and kissed his dark hair. "Very well my darling"
Rowena smiled, settling on the floor to listen in- Mother was a wonderful story teller, a talent which Rowena envied.
"Once upon a time" Mother began. "In a land far to the north- Narnia by name- there lived a handsome king and a beautiful queen…"
Rowena was no stranger to this story; it had always been one of her favourites. Her favourite part was about how Aslan, the Great Lion, had given the Narnians hope. Before the last of the humans (sons of Adam and daughters of Eve as they called them) had fled the land he had told them that one day two sons of Adam and Two Daughters of Eve would enter Narnia, defeat the witch in battle and be crowned kings and queens over Narnia and its territories.
As she sat listening to her mother tell the story to Ascher, Rowena felt her eyelids grow heavy. Her head lolled and she was asleep almost before she knew it.
She found herself standing in a beautiful meadow surrounded by lovely flowers of every possible colour. The blue of the sky was deeper and more pleasing than the hue of the sky over Tashbaan. For once she was not too hot, never before had she been this comfortable whilst outside, although that might have had something to do with the light breeze which was spreading the meadow's light perfume.
Looking down she found herself wearing a loose dress made of light fabric in a pleasant shade of pale green, her dark hair had pulled away from her face and fell down her back in a single plait.
What was this beautiful place?
"Rowan" a sudden voice from behind made her jump
She turned and found herself face to face with the biggest lion she had ever seen- there was such wisdom and kindness in those beautiful golden eyes that there was no way to mistake this being's identity
"Aslan" she breathed, kneeling before Him
"Rowan" Aslan smiled. "Rise daughter"
"My name isn't Rowan" she protested. "I'm Rowena"
"From now on you are Rowan child*" He told her. "It is my Father's will. You are Narnian and so must have a true Narnian name"
"Oh Aslan" Rowan breathed.
"Come to me Dear One" Aslan said. "Meet me at the Stone Table- it is time for the Prophecy to come to pass"
"You mean the Four are coming?"
"Narnia needs you Rowan" Aslan told her. "And remember that no one is told any story but their own"
"Yes Aslan" Rowan nodded. "Sorry Aslan"
"Wake Daughter" the Great Lion bestowed a Lion's kiss upon her brow. "Your journey is just beginning."
Rowan awoke on the very spot that she'd fallen asleep in; strangely she wasn't as stiff as she should have been, sleeping as she had been, sat against the wall of the hut with her legs crossed.
Her parents and brother were still sleeping. Her parents were wrapped in each other's arms under their shared blanket and Ascher curled up beside them, sucking his thumb. Rowan sighed, it would be easiest to leave them now, before they had chance to stop her… before she had chance to change her mind.
She crawled across to her family and kissed each one of them.
"I love you" she whispered, fighting the urge to cry. "But I'm called by Aslan- I promise we'll see each other again"
She pulled her winter cloak from its crude wooden hook by the door and fled into the warm night- the North Star and gut feeling guiding on her path.
~V~
*I changed the name for a reason- in the bible God changes at least three people's names
Abram and Sarai (sp?) in the Old Testament became Abraham and Sarah and in the New Testament book Acts Saul becomes Paul. I have a second reason for changing Rowena to Rowan, but that will become apparent later
AN: This is just a short prologue- the Pevensies enter in the next chapter.
In the mean-time, please R&R