Disclaimer: I do not own Narnia.

A/N: Sorry this chapter was so long in the making. No I have not dropped off the face of the earth. Really. ;) Due to the content of the reviews for the last chapter, I have decided to continue this story. Hopefully the rest won't be quite so dark as the first chapter with Miraz killing his brother.

--Reviews--

Swanwhite2: Me too. I'm getting sick of the movie fics. LONG LIVE THE BOOKS!! ;)

7Knight-Wolf: It is awfully creepy. I don't like writing villains, though my friends tell me I do it rather well. /evil grin/. I'm glad you caught that little reference to them. It's a bit hard to include book characters in fanfics when you know so little about them. And as for your last comment, the ending is going to be hopeful for sure. There's no way I could leave it this dark the whole story. /shudder/

Queen Su: Sick? Thanks a lot, Su! Join the club. I dislike traitors (like Miraz) too, though traitors can mend. I have known one that did. /evil grin/ (that was a quote)

Dearborn: My /ahem/ uncle's story shall continue indeed. ;) Thanks for the review.

Legolas: Yes it is sad. Very sad. Caspian the Ninth's eyes are brown, and Caspian the Tenth's eyes are blue. As for the other part...I goofed. I thank you for telling me of my mistake. ;)

V E R A-crystal-: I'm glad you liked it so! It is being continued even as you read this. ;)

The Halfling of the Shire: But of course, my hobbit friend. If it's about Miraz, than it's sure to be evil. /shudder/ Glad you liked it, and I'll be sure to fix those mistakes. ;)

Wathira: Thanks for your criticism. I know it was a bit rushed, but I wanted to give this fic a sense of urgency. The rebellion was meant to be short. It was just a few peasants being annoying. Sorry if I didn't clarify that enough.

moviefan178:...okay. Dude. Read. The. Books. Lol Halfling.

Queen Miraz: Ah. Thanks. I'm glad you liked it.

--Chapter 2--

After a night of restless tossing and turning in my bed, I arose and washed my face. I drew back the curtains to reveal the sun, shining brightly. Another sunny spring day. I dressed in black, keeping in mind that the entire castle, perhaps the entire country, would be grieving the death of the King. And expecting me to grieve with them.

A knock came from the door of my bedchamber. Clenching my jaw and trying quickly to look serious and subdued, I stepped across to the door, preparing to face a mournful friend.

My brother is dead.

That didn't affect me at all. If anything, I felt a fierce joy at the thought. I quickly tried something different.

My father is dead.

Nothing. My emotions concerning the death of the two other male members of my family were not distressing ones. I thought back…

My mother is dead.

At last, a pang of sadness filled my heart. My mother had been the only one who cared for me in our household. She had died when I was fifteen, leaving me friendless and loveless.

That would do. Mother was the only person I had ever cared for enough to be sad at their death. I thought it again, just to prepare myself for the person outside who would expect me to be inconsolable.

My mother is dead.

With a deep breath, I opened the door. The first thing I saw were those large emerald eyes, wide with sorrow and pity, and set in a deathly pale face. Then, a strand of familiar flaming hair fell across the person's face.

Prunaprismia stared up at me for a moment, unsure of what to do.

My mother is dead, I thought, frantically trying to appear grief-stricken.

My expression must have convinced her, for Mia flung herself forward, wrapping her arms around me, and holding me.

"I'm so sorry about your brother, Miraz," she whispered softly, sobbing as if her heart would break.

I held her close, my face emotionless and hard. I wanted to appear as if I was having a hard time containing my grief. Apparently, it was working.

"Mia," I whispered, releasing her and looking into her tearful eyes again. "It's all right. Don't worry about it."

Her beautiful eyes filled with tears again.

"The funeral is later today. They're burying him in the mound beside your father's tomb."

I nodded jerkily. He would be buried near father with the rest of the kings.

"Elenor will need consolation," I said softly.

To my surprise, Mia's face grew hard.

"I suppose," she said shortly.

I smiled ever so slightly at this.

"Why Mia…what's wrong? Don't you like my sister-in-law?"

Mia looked up at me again, and this time her emerald eyes looked as hard as diamonds.

"Honestly, Miraz? No. I don't."

"Why ever not?" I asked quietly.

Mia glanced up at me, her eyes softening a bit.

"I'm sorry, Miraz. I never told you because she was your brother's wife. I…I always liked your brother."

She blushed and looked down. It was just as well, for my face grew hard; I unconsciously tightened my grip on her arm.

"What do you mean?"

Mia looked up again, startled.

"Not like that!" she exclaimed when she saw the look in my eyes. "I liked him because he was so kind to you."

Caspian had been kind to me. As much as the King could be kind to a younger brother who would always be Prince.

"But her…" Mia's words trailed off into silence.

"Why don't you like her?"

"I…she…" Mia searched for words. "I'm not sure. But she's so beautiful…such a perfect Queen. Almost too nice. I never did like Elenor."

Mia looked down, a bit embarrassed.

"Nonsense," I said quickly, hardly thinking as I said the words that had always been in my mind, "you're twice as beautiful as Elenor."

Mia's eyes changed, the sorrow leaving them completely as her whole face lit up in surprised joy.

"Do you mean it, Miraz?" she asked shyly, smiling up at me.

I cursed inwardly at the bother of romance. If only I had learnt more from Caspian when I had the chance.

"Of course, Mia. Why would I lie to you?"

Mia hesitated, and then smiled again, this time sadly.

"I have to go. The funeral is about to begin."

I nodded reluctantly, and began to return to my room, but Mia caught my hand.

"Miraz…"

Something in her tone made my heart beat more quickly in apprehension. She seemed worried.

"Yes, milady?"

Mia fidgeted with her dress sleeve, and then looked down.

"Never mind. I'll ask you later."

Then she turned and floated down the hall in her long, black gown. I watched her go, feeling an unfamiliar longing to go after her, to ask her what it was that she wanted to ask. Instead, I turned and reentered my room. Heaving a huge sigh, I plopped down onto the bed.

The night before, I had realized that taking the throne would not be won by simply killing my brother. Now I had Elenor, my brother's son, and all his loyal friends to worry about. They would not let me take Caspian's place, I realized, clenching my fist. They would want to wait until his son was old enough to be king, and then crown him.

I had to rid myself of my brother's friends. And Elenor, if it came to that.

Quickly, I threw on a nicer tunic and cloak, and stood looking in the mirror. Who was this man before me, I wondered, that he could kill his own brother and feel no remorse.

He was a strong man, bitter and ready to take what he wanted without hesitation. A man who was stubborn and willful; who hated taking orders from others, including his late older brother. A man who was skillful at hiding his emotions and making others think that he was something he was not.

He was a man who wanted desperately to be king; to have the one thing which he had been denied his entire life and which he would never have unless he killed his brother.

I was that man.

TBC...