Disclaimer: I own nothing to do with Narnia; C. S. Lewis does.


Chapter One - Miraz Triumphant

Light trickled down into the gloom of the Narnian council chamber, a very tall, forbidding hall sculpted from dark marble. Ten high-backed chairs were spaced in a wide circle around the room, with an eleventh - a luxurious, empty throne - mounted on a dais in front of a window. In each of the other chairs sat a man, and each was clearly a great lord, such was the dignity of their bearing and the opulence of their dress.

"My Lord Protector," one of the men was saying, "I wish to raise with you the matter of the Lords of Beaversdam. I am grievously distressed concerning their treatment. For what purpose have you sent them to the dungeon, where criminals only rightly reside?"

"A necessary precaution to protect us all, my Lord Argoz," Miraz, the Lord Protector, replied smoothly. "The brothers had been instable for some time. It was becoming clear that someone would soon be hurt."

"I noticed no instability," observed Lord Bern.

"You were not following the signs," said Miraz. "I have seen them accumulate. The Passarids and their mad giant-slaying lark, Arlian and Erimon's thoughtless treason - they are all symptoms."

"Symptoms, my Lord Miraz?" queried Lord Mavramorn.

"Symptoms of our crowded state. Narnia is a small kingdom, and our numbers grow every day. Jealousy stirs within our borders. Even some of you -" he cast his eyes around the room "-are beginning to harbour desires for your neighbours' land. We have outgrown Narnia, my lords. We need new lands to conquer."

"My lord," suggested Lord Bern, "perhaps it is time to crown Prince Caspian. A symbol of national unity, to foster common pride in the resilience of the Telmarine monarchy, could be the solution to this problem."

"But Caspian is only a boy," protested Lord Glozelle. "He cannot properly govern for many years yet. And the Lord Miraz has served us well as Protector."

Miraz inclined his head in acknowledgement.

"No, my lords," he said. "We must search further afield for the solution. Did I not promise my late, much lamented brother Caspian IX to take care of his son? How would I be doing that, placing him in such danger and with such responsibility before he can possibly deal with it? No. We need to expand the realm of Narnia. What of the Lone Islands? They are unsupervised; they have not been visited for many years. And beyond them - who knows? There could be wide lands to the east for us to occupy!"

"I will go!" said Lord Argoz impuslively. The sea called to him, but something else - an unexplained feeling - indicated to him that this was the right thing to do.

"And I," said Rhoop.

One by one, the lords pledged themselves to the quest - Revilian, Octesian, Bern, Mavramorn and Restimar. Each felt the sea-longing, and each the unexplained urge and righteousness.

"My Lord Protector, I am sure, will need some help while these noble lords are absent," Glozelle was quick to note. "I think that it will serve Narnia best if Sopespian and I remain behind - much as our hearts yearn for adventure - to help Lord Miraz keep some semblance of peace in Narnia."

"Excellent!" said Miraz, rising, a gleam of triumph in his eyes. "I knew that such great lords of Narnia would not forsake their duty to their ruler!" Some of the lords shifted uncomfortably at this. "You will set forth in a week!"

"But, my Lord Protector," interrupted Bern, "there are no ships in Narnia. How can we reach these distant shores without a vessel?"

"The province of Galma retains sea-faring folk," noted Sopespian. "Perhaps a galley could be bought from there?"

"I will arrange it," said Miraz. "I will leave you, my lords, to your preparations."

He swept from the chamber, his long robe billowing behind him, Glozelle and Sopespian close behind.


A/N: As usual, please review. I do not know the potential of this idea, and as the completion of this particular story will, I think, take some time, I will only continue if it is seen to have some promise. Feedback is therefore much appreciated.