Disclaimer: I don't own anything!
A/N: This tale is set post-the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
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Narnia truly looked its most beautiful in the summer. Of course, that was a matter of opinion, but Evren, the dryad of a quaint Privet tree, always felt the most at peace during Narnia's summer. Actually, the more she thought about it, she realized she had never truly experienced a Narnian summer. She had spent the previous two years of her life in Archenland, south of Narnia, studying the earth, its ecology, and how to tap into its powerful resources. She had stayed in Archenland, even though Narnia was her homeland. She had stayed in Archenland, because Narnia was not safe. She had stayed in Archenland because if the White Witch, who had ruled over Narnia with an icy fist, had heard of what Evren was doing, she would have been killed.
As the carriage she was riding in trundled through the summer heat, Evren leaned her head against the window, looking out at Narnia's beauty. She had never been able to see it in this way before, without any snow or ice – now the lush grass waved even with the slightest breeze; the trees, full of life now, cast their cooling shade.
Evren had always wished to see Narnia like this. And now that she finally could, it seemed the cruelest form of irony that she was a prisoner while experiencing it.
Evren took a deep breath and collected her thoughts. She could hardly believe that she was being transported through Narnia by royal carriage, although the circumstances were hardly something to rejoice over. She was a prisoner, accused of crimes that she did not commit, and a victim of fear and racism. She was on her way to the South Bridge, where the Royal Envoy from Cair Paravel would meet with hers, and she would then be taken to the royal capital itself, where she would be put on trial.
Evren was baffled by the whole state of affairs, but she kept her peace – as a dryad, a being highly connected with the earth, her years of meditation and study of the earth's peace had taught her to control herself at all times, and being arrested was no exception.
The carriage rolled to a stop. Evren looked out the window, this time not at Narnia's beauty, but trying to make out their new surroundings. She saw a rushing river, a tiny bridge, and a house right next to the bridge. She could see the royal escort up ahead. Though she knew she hadn't done anything wrong, knots of fear began to form in Evren's stomach. She had been practicing magic, after all, and she should have known that Narnia would have been wary of any kind of magic at all at this point in time – so soon after the reign of a tyrannical witch. But Evren had nothing but honest and good intentions – hopefully the new monarchs at Cair Paravel would be able to see that.
Dear Aslan, Evren prayed silently as the carriage door was opened for her, please watch over and guide me…
She stepped from the carriage into the bright summer sunlight. It was late morning, and even as Evren stood, two guards – satyrs, in fact – flanking her sides, she could tell the hottest part of the day was almost upon them. She breathed deeply – she could almost taste the coming heat.
She looked around. Guards and officials from the royal envoy were beginning to approach. The two guards on either side of her looked too nervous to come near her, but at a swift, hard look from the coachman, a dwarf, they stood at attention. The dwarf jumped down from his seat and also faced the envoy.
It was two centaurs and a faun that approached. They all stared at Evren, not without a trace of fear flashing in all their eyes. But Evren simply looked back at them, keeping her gaze steady and innocent. One of the centaurs, who had long black hair and a stern face, stepped forward and spoke. "This is the prisoner – the witch?" (As if that had not been made quite obvious enough, Evren thought, smiling slightly.)
"Yes, General Oreius, this is she." the dwarf spoke, his long, auburn beard twitching as he spoke. He had to crane his neck back quite a bit to be able to look up into the great centaur's face. "I know she will get to the Cair safely in your hands."
"Very much obliged." the centaur nodded his thanks. "Bring her this way – Her Majesty would like to meet with her."
"Are you sure that is wise-" the dwarf began, but was cut off by the centaur, General Oreius.
"It is what the Queen wishes," he said, a slight tone of exasperation in his voice. "She insists that she know who it is that's causing all the fuss and fear."
Evren, upon overcoming her annoyance at being spoken of as if she weren't there, quickly grew frightened. A queen – one of the monarchs? No one had told her that she was going to have to explain herself to a queen before even reaching the capital! She felt the earth beneath her feet trembling along with her as she was led over to another carriage – it was much larger and nicer than the one she had just been riding in, with intricate gold designs along its plush blue siding, and four horses to guide it. The faun walked up to the door of the carriage and rapped politely on it.
"Your majesty, the prisoner is here!" he called. There was no answer. He knocked again. "Your majesty?"
"Here! Sorry-" a voice called, and Evren, despite her fear, felt her spirit rise a little at the kindness in the voice. The group, prisoner and captors all, turned to see the owner of the voice, a beautiful young woman, walking quickly back towards them. "I'm terribly sorry, just thought I ought to introduce myself to the bridge worker and his family. They were awfully kind, you know, I couldn't tear myself away." She stopped upon seeing Evren. The two teenage girls looked at each other. They could not have been more than a year different in age. Evren felt ugly and plain next to this girl, who had full, rosy lips and stunning brown eyes. Perched on her long dark hair was a golden crown, and it glinted in the sunlight. The aura around the girl radiated of kindness and loveliness and understanding. In turn, the girl looked at Evren, and, as she always could, was able to tell that this prisoner standing before her was not a danger in any way. In fact, the young queen thought Evren was beautiful, and almost fantasy-like, with her wavy brown hair, bright green eyes and sun-touched skin.
"You must be Evren." The young woman said. "It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Susan."
