The Green Rings

A sequel to The Chronicles of Narnia and maybe even to Alone.

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"It was a rich place: as rich as plumcake" -Digory, The Magician's Nephew

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The place where Ben and Miranda had teleported to was a strange place. The sort you would find in stories about Arabian Nights, Chinese Legends and Stories from Eldorado. The guards were dressed in deep red shirts that came up to their hips, and absolutely straight pants. Each had a chains wrapped around their waists with little knifes attached all the way round. On their heads they wore feathers. In all, they looked like a cross of Redcoats, Native Americans and Turks. The leader of this strange pact of guards stepped forwards.

"Strange people you are, where do you come from and how did you suddenly appear over here?" he asked. Miranda looked at Ben who seemed to be having trouble talking. Miranda put on a brave face and replied gracefully:

"Sir, we are coming from England, in Europe and as for how we got here we do not know." She replied. The guard looked at her then rubbed his chin.

"Interesting… so you must be of one of the other worlds." He said. Then turned to his guards. "Drop the weapons! Take them all to the palace." He ordered and the guards did as they were told. Miranda turned around to look at Ben and almost cried out when she saw another, darker skinned, slightly taller boy standing right behind him, as if he were one of them. The boy looked at her, winked and put a finger to his lips as if telling her to not say anything yet. Miranda's mouth shut and Ben found his courage again.

"Um, excuse me sir… where exactly are we?" he asked as the guard turned away and then looked back.

"You're in Anrain," he said. "Please follow me." Ben took Miranda's wheelchair and tried pushing it but it got stuck in the sand. One of the guards took out a whistle and blew. Immediately two men appeared holding some type of stretcher, with a small hut-like box on top. Miranda had seen one of these before, but she couldn't remember what they were called. The men held out a hand to her and slowly and cautiously helped her onto the stretcher. As they began marching towards the palace Miranda leaned down to Ben who was walking right besides her.

"There's a strange boy walking on my other side," she said. "I don't know him but he acts as if he came with us, and it feels kind of… right, somehow." She said. Ben looked over Miranda and at the boy, who he hadn't noticed. He then looked at Miranda and was about to whisper something in her ear when a loud noise interrupted him. They looked up startled, and both were left speechless as the huge gates opened and they were led into a huge garden so oriental looking that Miranda could have sworn she's stepped into Ancient China. They were quickly led in and before Miranda could register anything in her mind she found herself being presented in front of a large audience.

"Sire, I present to you Julianqi, and the daughter of Eve, and son of Adam that he conjured up in front of us." Said the guard as the audience silenced. Miranda and Ben looked at each other then at the king who sat on the throne above them on a balcony over looking his court.

"Interesting," he said as he looked at the two and then at the boy who seemed to be named Julianqi. "You are not from here are you?" he asked the boy. The boy shook his head.

"No, I have been sent out on a quest by the great god Tash, in search of an artifact that Aslan had placed in one of the five kingdoms of Anrain. If you please, I am tired and so are the chosen ones. By the great god Tash, would it be an offense if I asked for three separate rooms and tending too? Then I shall tell you my story, or what Tash will allow me to tell, at the nine star dinner." He said kneeling. Miranda's head began to swim with thoughts.

'I thought we were the adventurers… and here it turns out that we are nothing but tools for someone else's adventure.' She thought. Ben was obviously thinking the same thing. Yet both stayed quiet as they were led away to separate rooms.

~*~

A bath later Miranda found herself being dressed up by a maid into glittery, bell-bottomed style trousers and a short top that showed a bit of her stomach if she stretched. It was silk and cold, but it was elegant. Once she was dressed the maids left and Ben came in wearing a long robe of some sort. Miranda was sitting underneath a canopy bed that could probably fit three. The canopy was held from a single hook over the center of the bed and spread out like a wave of stars around her. On one side of the room there was a fireplace and on the other a dressing table. In front of the bed there was a large window over looking a courtyard with a fountain and many potted plants around it. One on corner a woman sat playing something that seemed to be a cross between a guitar and a cello.

Ben walked up to where Miranda was sitting and pushed the curtains aside. He sat down next to her and then put his hand in his head. He started to shake slightly, Miranda got the impression that he was crying but when he looked up she found that instead he was laughing.

"Why Ben! What's the matter? What do you find so funny?" she asked. Ben stopped laughing.

"You look beautiful, this is a dream isn't it?" he asked. Miranda was slightly taken aback but she smiled and shook her head.

"No, I mean… unless we're sharing the same dream. Though I find this place a very odd mixture. It's neither Arabian, nor Oriental, nor British, nor Indian… yet the styles and ways are so alike each other. It's as if all these different cultures have been so thoroughly mixed up here that they've created a new culture altogether." She said. Ben raised his eyebrows.

"Very detailed observation!" he said. Miranda shrugged.

"What about that boy? I think his name was Julianqi… yes, that was what it was! What do you think is up with him, he seems so… so… in control of us." She said. It was Ben's turn to shrug.

"I really have no clue but my guess is that we'll find out more at the 'Nine star dinner', whatever that is." He said just as the door opened and they were summoned for dinner. Ben helped Miranda on to her wheel chair and a maid came up to push her wheel chair, despite Miranda's protest that she could manage it herself. They walked through the corridors in silence, and passed through many confusing doors and such until they were led into an open courtyard that was lit by lamps, typically British styled lamps.

The courtyard was all marble and cold. In the center there was a large depression filled with water and in the center was an island with a table set for twelve. There was music, though the source was unknown and seemed to be coming from everywhere. A few people sat at the table, and just as Miranda was wondering where to get to the area before them the water began to bubble and a small plank turned up from the water. Miranda stepped onto it and so did Ben, then the maid pushed it off and it floated towards the island. Once it hit the dry marble they got off and the plank sank down leaving the water bubbling again. They joined the people at the table who stared at them and whispered to each other. No one talked to them… except for the little girl in the pinkish-white gown and blazer who offered them the appetizers (that they did not touch, because they looked so normal that it scared them).

They sat for ages, and then the trumpets blared and out walked the king and Julianqi trailing behind him with a serious expression on his face. They came to the table and everybody rose then sat down after the King had sat down on one end while Julianqi at the other.

Miranda clenched her jaw, a little irritated by the boy's superior look.

"That stupid git is probably going to offer us as a sacrifice after this." Hissed Ben and though Miranda wanted to agree she knew that logically she couldn't, because they wouldn't have been treated this nicely otherwise. The king then snapped his fingers and the music stopped and everybody silenced. He looked at Julianqi and smiled at him. Miranda frowned and so did Ben. The king smiled at Julianqi, ignoring the other two, who in turn got even more irritated.

"Tell us, Julianqi, what is your story? And why would Tash come to see you? After all, we are his real servants." He said. Julianqi cleared his throat.

"I am from the south, the forests beyond the great desert, and beyond the seas, and even beyond the mountains of the south. I have been travelling for two and a half years and have still a long way to go." He began. Miranda stopped making faces and leaned over to listen more carefully. It was then that Julianqi noticed the two and went slightly red.

"Ah-um, well, before I begin… before I tell you my story, I would like to acknowledge my companions… Leila and… um, Orcagon. They are good friends of mine…" he said. Miranda stayed quiet at this but Ben spoke up.

"What utter nonsense! My name is Ben and I-" he began but Miranda put a hand over his mouth. Julianqi went even redder and the King raised his eyebrows.

"Yes, his name is Ben… I am sorry. He is more of…Leila's friend than mine." He said. The king nodded.

"Interesting, but you conjured them only a few hours ago. Do you often meet when you travel through the worlds?" he asked. Julianqi nodded and so did Miranda. Ben shook his head but he was ignored. "That's nice, but please… do go on with your story." He said. Julianqi took a deep breath, smiled apologetically at Miranda and Ben then proceeded onto his story.

Writer's Notes:

Well then, I guess you can tell that the next chapter will be Julianqi's story, or half of it… depending on how long I feel like keeping it. I guess it's at this point that I shall reply to all to a couple of the reviewer's comments/questions.

Malefika - hmm, but the C.S.Lewis style is the whole reason I'm even writing the story! However, on your request I started to use a bit of my own style… what do you think? Glad you like the fic.

Green turnip - The truth is that this fanfic is based in an unknown era. (Giving me more flexibility on the customs and the settings etc. ^_^) So… it was before airplanes became available for cheap transport for the general public and before the advancement in medicine, yet after World War 1 or 2.

Arcee- Good idea… wish I had thought of it before I finished chapter two… oh well…

Hyacinth- Whoops, sorry… my mistake. Original Fiction? Well, no… not really considering I'm going to start using C.S.Lewis's characters starting from this chapter onwards, well, some of his characters.

Aerin Brown - Thanx ^_^. I'm glad you liked the idea, I wanted her to be different from other heroines (yes, you did spell that right… I think… oh well, it's not as if my spellings are 100% great ^_^).

And to everybody else who I did not mention because I'm so freaking lazy to answer everyone individually (my apologies): Thank you so much for your support and compliments. I'm so happy you liked my fanfic. I was afraid at first that you people would think it ridiculous and stupid and all but I'm glad you liked it instead. I'll try to get chapter four out as soon an possible but that may be a bit difficult due to exams and all ^_^. I'll post in Jan some time. Thank you so much! ^_^.