Issa wearily looked around the underground tomb once more, this place had been her sanctuary for a hundred years and it had protected her from the darkness of the white witch's terror but now she was about to venture into the unknown. She had been told that Narnia would not be how she remembered it and Issa wasn't sure whether that was a blessing or a disguise as the last things she remembered of Narnia was death, war and the sounds of people screams. "I'm scared." Issa admitted.
"That is to be expected your highness but you need only remember that we are here to protect you and no harm will ever come to you as long as we live." Samson, the white horse that was part of Issa's guard assured her. Issa had seven guards. Starfire and Ulysses were the two centaurs then there was the two leopards Sarabi and Caldor, then the two fauns Jessup and Hasfur followed by Samson. Although the princess was comforted by Samson's words, it was the fear of the unknown that really scared Issa, from what she had been told Narnia was still in the long winter that had began shortly after the white witch had conquered her father's kingdom. Everything she had ever known was gone including the narnia that she had loved and grown up in. But she had to be strong because there were people counting on her and more importantly Aslan and the sons of Adam and daughters of Eve were here to return peace to the place that she called home.
"I guess we should be leaving, Aslan and the others will be waiting for us and just because I've been asleep doesn't excuse us for being late." Issa said and without a moment's notice the guard set forth out of the tomb and down a passageway that seemed to go on forever before they finally came to the end of the passageway judging by the white light that came was coming from the end of it. Caldor informed Issa that they were near the mountains not too far from the caldron pool, which was on the western side of the western marsh. Issa knew vaguely where that meant they were but she had spent most of her life living primarily on the eastern side of narnia. Issa's heart dropped at the thought of her home. Cair Paravel. What had become of it? Although it wasn't the most appropriate time to ask about it but Issa just had to know. "Cair Paravel… what did the witch do to it? Is it standing?" she asked quietly but the silence that they had all been walking in made Issa's voice seem louder.
"The castle is abandoned and has been for many decades but it still stands, the white witch has forbidden anyone from entering it, the punishment for anyone who does is death. But remember sweet princess, the prophecy… if the sons of Adam and the daughters of eve are to sit on the thrones then Cair Paravel would remain standing." Sarabi said as her tail brushed ever so slightly next to Issa.
This came as much of a relief to Issa and the idea that Cair Paravel had fallen just like her family would be too much to bear for the young princess. The last memory she had of her home was when her mother came barreling into the great room where Issa and her three brothers had been idly playing to tell them that their father had just sent word that it wasn't safe for them to remain in narnia and that they must leave for Archenland immediately. Papa, Mama, Frank, Nolan and Corin. It seemed like a lifetime ago that the six of them were all together and happy and for some it would be but not to Issa, she was still here whilst her family had been gone from this life. If she closed her eyes she could still hear the sound of their laughs. "Your highness…?"
Issa hadn't realized that her mind had wondered off on it's own accordance and she smiled a watery smile on her face as she turned to her protectors. "Sorry Samson, my mind was elsewhere… you were saying?"
"It's time."
Pulling her hooded clock closer to herself Issa looked at her guard for a moment before nodding and then proceeding to mount herself onto Samson. It took Issa a brief second to adjust to being in the saddle but once she was ready, the group emerged out of the passageway, which was hidden in the mountains, just like Caldor has said. The air was crisp and all Issa could see was pure whiteness as everything was covered in snow and it reminded Issa of the glorious winters that she was used to in narnia. But now it was less glorious as the year long winters were used to keep the populace in command. However in an odd way Issa still thought her home looked as beautiful as ever especially now in the early evening and the moon was already high in the sky.
There would be time to reminisce over her old memories but this was not the time, Issa needed to focus on getting to Aslan and helping with whatever part she was supposed to play in helping to defeat the white witch. However a small part of the princess hoped that once they had arrived at Aslan's camp she would receive answers to all of her questions. Issa knew that if anyone were to know the reasoning behind her century long slumber then it would be Aslan. She had grown up being told stories of the 'true king of narnia' was and how he would always be there to help when narnia was in true danger. Although Issa's faith in Aslan faltered for a brief time after the murder of her family, she didn't understand how he would let the white witch kill so many and leave narnia so defenseless against the white witch.
But that had all changed a few weeks before Issa was rescued from being the white witch's captive as Aslan had appeared to her in a dream. Although she had never met him beforehand, she immediately knew who he was just by looking at him and the first thing he did was apologize to Issa. His sincerity over not being able to help and over everything that the young princess had lost had struck Issa and he promised her that she would no longer remain in the clutches of the white witch. Aslan kept true to his word and weeks later Issa was rescued by a group of Narnians sent to rescue her by the man or rather lion himself but in a way Issa was still a captive in the white witch and always would be.
But as scared as Issa was, no longer did she want to hide away in the shadows or in the comfort of a tomb. She was a survivor of the destruction that the white witch had caused and the last living member of Narnia's royal family. She may have been powerless to do anything back then but this time was different and so she prayed for the strength to meet her destiny. "I will be strong."