Unusual
Chapter 1
Terrifying
Miraz had a Thing for unusual women. Pretty, but unusual.
He had many women at his service, but one in particular he fancied above all the rest
And her name was Jasper.
"""""
Jasper grew up normal, working in the fields with her father. But when the new decree from king Miraz arrived, that "all girls above the age of ten must be brought over to the palace for "inspection"," her father knew that she would be killed. For you see, Jasper was not normal. No, not at all.
She was a Narnian.
"Daddy! I look stupid! Like a little boy now!"
"Yes! And that is what you shall become! You must not be known as a girl, you will be taken to the palace and destroyed!" He looked down at his little precious girl.
"But... but.. Why?"
Her father put away the shears he had been using to crop her long, white/silver hair into a younger, boys cut that most of the young lads working in the fields of the kingdom now often wore. He laced up the bindings that kept her breasts from being too prominent, and handed her a pair of burlap trousers and a worn-out, old tunic of a light-green color.
"You will be taken from me, and I can't let that happen! You are nearly thirteen now, and soon they will find out your true gender, and your heritage."
Now, though her father was of human descent, her mother was what was called a 'shewolf'. A person who could change their shape. And, unfortunately, their daughter had inherited it as well, being a wolf. When most wolves grow older though, they are completely in control of their phasing. But at this age, she would suddenly pop out a Tail, or wolfs ears, and, on very rare occasions, her beautiful blue eyes would turn a terrifying bright shade of golden yellow.
* Clip clop clip clop. *
"Come out! Come for inspection!"
Her father grimaced, and finished putting the boiled beet-root juice into her hair, making it a shade of red to match her mothers, and pouring water into her tunics armpits. The king's knights had been coming around to all of the farms. But at least the king himself has never even come about!
Shoving a hoe into her hands, and rubbing some dirt onto her face, he opened the barn doors, and came face to face…
With the King.
"""
Father immediately dropped down to one knee, and bowed. I did the same.
"Haha, rise! Good Orthohn! You are a friend here" he dismounted his horse, and handed it off to one of his many riders. He walked over to my father, and clapped his shoulder firmly. "How are you sir?"
The king didn't seem disgusted at the dirt and sweat on the Both of us.
"Alright my liege, but we have been working in the fields this whole evening. If I had known that your highness was coming, we would have cleaned up a bit."
"Hmm? We… Ah yes! Young Jasper." The way my name dropped from his tongue gave me the shivers.
Walking over towards me, he gripped my chin in a strong, but also very terrifying steady grip. Turning my face side to side, he looked at my eyes uncertainly.
"Why... Does he not speak?" he nearly whispered to my father. Not nearly as angry as I had thought, but more… curious? My father spoke up then.
"He is a mute, my lord. He... had an accident on a horse. He is still having trouble learning to hand- speak."
The king Miraz looked contemplative. "Ah, well. You have my sympathies dearest friend! Come! Let us dine!"
Alright, so... He just came over, and invited himself to dinner? Yeah, gotta' love our ol' King!
"""
Pots of boiled mashed potatoes were brought out by my mother, along with some very meager meat, and a simple loaf of bread. Water was served to me, and some mead to the rest of our table. My father sat across from my mother. A charming, lovely, cunning woman. She was a devoted family member, and loved us very much. It was said to me though that the king had often lusted after her, but when my father, A high ranking surf married her, the king had backed off. Now, the king sat at the head off our hap-hazardly-made small wooden table. And, very unlucky I, across from him.
I loved my family and I Knew this day, this time, and this night, that I was maybe never going to see them again.
"""
The meal went in silence. And I very often found the kings eyes on me when I would periodically look up to see him. His gaze was steady, thought full, and absolutely… terrifying.
When the meal was through, our bellies full, mother picked up the plates and all the dishes, and took them into the kitchen. When she returned, she sat down, and looked over at me. Her eyes were faintly glowing, and I could sense there was trouble. And it just so happened to be sitting but a few feet away from me.
The king smiled, and put his hands on the table.
Maira…" he softly, and gently called my mother's actual name. "Why, would you lie to me?"
"My lord?..."
"You said that you had a son."
"But… sir…" both of my parents said at the same time, both looking genuinely confused, and also worried. I tried to keep my head down, and stay inconspicuous, but the small, cramped room made it near impossible to really do so.
"You, Boy! Come here." I stayed in my seat, somewhat glued to the spot. His eyes narrowed at me then.
"Now…"
I sighed, and stood, walking over to him, as he pulled his old chair around to face me as I stood tall in front of him. He reaches out fast and grabbed my upper bicep, and pulled me flush standing between his knees, eye level with him. He dipped a finger into his cold drink, and wiped it across my small cheekbones. His large, calloused hand stayed on the left side of my face, his thumb just below my bright eye, and forced me to look at him. The grime had come off of my cheek, and fresh, smooth pale –ish skin shone from underneath.
"Well, say something to your king,… girl"
"""
Fear, it was all I could feel. Forming in my belly, like a pot of flaming bubbles, and crawling up into my throat. I had to tell him that he was surely mistaken. I started to bring my hands up then, forming the sign language, but he slapped me across the face. Hard. I only stayed upright because of his suddenly appearing hold on my small left arm. "Speak! I know that you can!"
"Yes, my lord?"
He smirked, a sly grin, and ran a hand through my hair, picking at a few stray, almost un-colored strands.
"Tell me, what did you use to dye her hair?" He twirled one of my shortish, chopped locks around his finger.
"Um, beet root juice, sir."
"Hmm…".
He suddenly stood up, and shoved me towards my mother and father.
"Say your goodbyes; you will ride with me to the palace posthaste."
I nearly started to cry.
"You all have disobeyed a direct order from your king, and shall be punished as such. Your punishment…," he pointed at me, "she comes with me."
"No!" my father was held by the guards of the evil, terrifying king. I hugged him, promising to come home very soon. My mother hugged me, and slipped a small wolf- shaped- stone into the fabric of my trousers.
The king growled. My mother's arms were then torn away from me.
"Come on now! It is time."
He grabbed me, kicking and screaming, and called out for his horse. The large, strong black beast was lead before us, and I was handed off to a guard as he mounted. "Here! Give her to me. Quickly!"
I was then hoisted up into the king's arms, and placed in front of him on his silver saddle. Leaning down to my ear, I could feel his face in my short hair.
"Try to escape, even think about running or jumping off away, and you will not live to see tomorrow."
Then, without waiting for an answer, he wrapped a hefty left arm around my waist, and used the other to grip the reigns.
"To the castle!" he then cried out to his men, and we started the long horse-ride through the forest, under the dark night sky, to the palace.
