(ducks as heavy things are thrown at me) SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY TIMES INFINITY I AM THE WORST WRITER IN THE HISTORY OF WRITERS I AM SO SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING IN LITERAL MONTHS PLEASE FORGIVE ME

Alright, in all seriousness, I really am sorry. I know there's no excuse for leaving you guys hanging for so long. I hope you enjoy this chapter anyway. Happy reading!

This story is based on an original idea from fellow Narnian Reading Pixie. The Chronicles of Narnia belong to C.S. Lewis.

It was a gloomy, rainy day, the sort of day that made you feel as if the world was weeping. The trees bent under the weight of raindrops and the earth was damp and muddy, but inside Cair Paravel's Great Hall, the entire room glittered and gleamed with candlelight.

Prince Jacob lit the first of the four enormous candles at the low table in front of the thrones and stepped back to let Ariel light hers. This ritual, the lighting of the candles, had been carried out every year since the four Kings and Queens of Narnia had gone out hunting the White Stag and had never returned. It was now five years since their disappearance, and the kingdom had given up all hope of them ever returning.

Jacob closed his eyes, thinking back to that terrible day when his father, uncle and aunts had vanished. The courtiers that had gone hunting with the monarchs had reported seeing Their Majesties ride on after the stag while the rest of the party had rested. After an hour, when the four had not returned, the party went to look for them. They had found the monarchs' horses tethered to trees outside a thicket, and had realized that they must have followed the stag into the dense undergrowth. Yet, after searching the thicket and clearing until nightfall, they had found no trace of the Four.
Jacob could still remember the moment that the Lord Peridan, Narnia's senior official behind the monarchs, who had accompanied them on the hunt, had come into the throne room and announced that the Kings and Queens were missing. He could still remember his mother turning pale as she realised that her husband had not returned to her.
For weeks after that, all of Narnia had been frantically trying to find the four sovereigns. Talking Animals had scoured every inch of Narnia's forests and glades. Dwarves had dug into the earth to see if they were hidden somewhere underground. Nothing had worked. The Kings and Queens were well and truly missing.
At last, the citizens of Narnia came to the conclusion they had all been dreading. Everyone knew the story of how the Kings and Queens of Narnia had come into Narnia through a wardrobe in Lantern Waste. Mr. Tumnus even testified that he had first met the Queen Lucy under the lamp-post that still grew there.
It was obvious that Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy, by some strange magic, had stumbled back into their own world. They could not be found because they were simply not in Narnia, nor in the rest of that world any longer.
At this realization, all of Narnia went into a period of mourning for their lost rulers. Prince Jacob, as the eldest child of one of the Four, was made King Jacob of Narnia, with his mother to rule as Queen Regent until he was old enough. But with their four beloved Kings and Queens gone, Narnia was simply not the same, and even five years later, the country felt their loss deeply.

Jacob shook himself out of his reverie at the sound of his mother beginning the prayer that always accompanied the lighting of the candles. "Aslan, we thank you for the lives and the reigns of the Four Kings and Queens of Narnia, who served their country so nobly. We thank you for King Peter…"

They always prayed to Aslan on these occasions. He was, after all, the closest thing Narnia had to a god, and he had supposedly created Narnia.
Jacob had never seen Aslan. He knew that the Lion had saved Uncle Edmund from the White Witch, although he wasn't quite sure how – his father had always promised to tell him the full story when he was older, and now he never would.

"…And we hope that, wherever they are, Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy are safe and happy." Jacob chimed in to the prayer with the rest of his family. They all bowed their heads in silence for a moment, and then, the ritual over, stepped back.

"What was my mama like?" Cosmo asked his father, Amberline. Of all the children, he was the only one who could remember nothing about the four King and Queens.
Amberline crouched down beside his son. "She was the bravest and the strongest woman in all Narnia, Cossie. Her smile was like sunlight on water and her laugh…" He shrugged. "Well, anyone who heard her laugh was changed forever."
"And do you miss her, Papa?" Cosmo asked.
"Yes, Cosmo." Amberline replied simply. "Yes, I do."

"We all do." Timothy chimed in. The tall, dark-haired carpenter had never been the same since his wife had disappeared. "And my Susan."
Ariel hugged her father. "Don't be sad. Mother would want you to be happy."

There was a tapping of hooves on the marble floor, and they all turned to see Mr. Tumnus coming into the throne room. The Faun had never fully recovered from the shock of losing the four Kings and Queens, especially Queen Lucy, his dearest friend. He blamed himself for their disappearance, as it was he who had told the rulers about the sighting of the White Stag. This was nonsense, of course – he wasn't to blame for their loss – but no-one could convince him otherwise.

"Your Highnesses, Lords and Ladies?' Mr Tumnus sounded heartbroken, and Jacob thought he knew why – today he, like the rest of Narnia, would be mourning the loss of the Kings and Queens. "The – the merchants from Terebinthia have arrived."
No one was surprised - they had been arranged for the delegation from the island country to arrive. The merchants were bringing goods from Terebinthia to trade for Narnian swords and wine.

Abigail nodded, composing herself. As the Queen Regent, she would be overseeing the trading, checking that the Terebinthian goods were up to standard and negotiating what the merchants would receive in return. "Thank you, Tumnus. Now then. Jacob, why don't you stay with me to receive the merchants?"
"Me, Mother?" Jacob was surprised. Normally, his mother preferred to go about her duties as Regent alone, claiming that she didn't want to burden anyone else. For her to ask Jacob to accompany her was unusual.

"Yes." Abigail said decisively. "You need to learn how to negotiate and bargain, Jacob. It will be a useful skill when you are king."
Her words sent an uncomfortable jolt through Jacob. He knew it would not be much longer before he would have to become Narnia's acting ruler. There were some – not many, but some – who said that he should have been made King already. After all, hadn't Jacob's own father been only thirteen when he became High King? And Jacob's aunt, the Queen Lucy, had been only eight when she ruled alongside her brothers and sister. Cosmo's age.
Jacob hated to admit it, but the idea of being King was not a pleasant one to him. The idea of so much responsibility, so much power, was daunting, to say the least. For years, people had been talking about when he was "ready to rule" but Jacob didn't think he would ever be ready.

He dismissed his thoughts as his mother settled herself onto the throne that had once been Peter's and motioned for Jacob to sit on Susan's. The servants carefully moved the table with the candles to one side, and, when she was ready, Abigail motioned for the doors to be opened.

Jacob leaned forward eagerly as the traders stepped into the room. He was not particularly curious about seeing them because they were Terebinthians – Jacob had been to Terebinthia before – but everyone knew that merchants were a completely different people entirely. They never settled for long in one place, but were always moving about, and they were some of the most curious people you could hope to meet.

The two men and one woman stepped up to the thrones and bowed deeply. They were dressed in the pale robes of Terebinthia, but with various jackets, waistcoats and belts, probably accumulated on their travels, over the top. They straightened, and one of the men addressed Abigail.

"Your highness. You honour us with your presence. I am Ricardo, leader of this company. We have brought fine silks and hand-crafted ornaments to trade."

"Very well." replied Abigail. "Let us see them then."

The man clapped his hands, and four men – presumably the merchants' servants – entered the room, carrying various boxes and bags. They opened them to reveal the goods the trader had spoken of.

Jacob stopped listening as his mother brought in the Narnian goods and began negotiating prices. He found this sort of thing rather boring, and he would much rather be out riding in the forest. It was such a nice day, such a shame to waste it…

"Thank you, your highness." said the leader of the merchants. He gestured for his servants to pick up the box of swords and casks of wine that he had traded the silks for.

"Just a minute!" interrupted Abigail. "What's that?" She pointed to one of the items the traders' servants were holding. It was a Terebinthian ornament that had not previously been negotiated on. Abigail was leaning forwards to study it, green eyes narrowed. "Bring it closer." she ordered.
The servant carried the object over to the thrones, and now Jacob could see what it was.

It was a large and very beautiful mirror, hand-crafted and with delicate gold filigree around the edges. The jewels set into the gold sparkled and caught the light as the servant held it up. Jacob could see the reflection of the room inside it, but it was strange. The colours, the lighting, the shapes… everything in the reflection seemed just a bit bigger, a bit brighter, a bit… more.

"This mirror was crafted by Terebinthia's greatest craftperson, Lady Dorenza, your highness." said one of the merchants. Jacob saw with surprise that it was not the leader, but the female merchant who had spoken. "It is a very rare and valuable piece."

"How much for it?" demanded Abigail.
"Two more swords, your highness." replied Ricardo.
"Done." answered Abigail. Jacob looked at his mother in surprise. The mirror was beautiful, but, compared to Cair Paravel's many ornaments and furnishings, it was little more than a trinket. He could see no reason to trade two of Narnia's excellent swords for it.

Abigail gestured for a footman to bring two more swords as the trader's servant placed the mirror by her throne. Jacob was still puzzling over why his mother wanted the mirror so badly, so he did not listen much to the traders as they thanked the Queen Regent and departed. As soon as they had, Abigail addressed the footmen and guards in the room.
"Please leave us for a moment." she said. "I wish to speak with my son in private."
When the room was empty, Jacob turned to Abigail. "Mother, why did you trade two swords for that mirror? What use is it to us?"
"Hush, Jacob." Abigail chided him. "This is not just a mirror. I have…" She hesitated. "My son, I have a gift for sensing magic in things. I tell you plain as day, this mirror is enchanted in some way. I know not how, but it is."

Jacob stared at her. An enchanted mirror? Surely not. Why would traders be in possession of an enchanted mirror? "But how…"
"Please." said Abigail. "Do not speak of this to anyone. It might be that this mirror is dangerous, Jacob. I knew I had to have it in the castle. It could be, possibly, that it is a portal of some sort. If so, it could help us learn where your father and your aunts and uncle disappeared to."

Jacob realised, suddenly, why his mother had been so desperate to own the mirror. If it could help them learn where the kings and queens were, then of course no price was too high to pay for it. But his mother was right in asking him not to tell anyone about it. The last thing Narnia needed was false hope that their rulers would be returned to them – and it could well be false if Abigail was wrong about it.

He nodded. "I won't tell anyone, Mother." he promised.
Abigail's face cleared. "Thank you, my son. And now, we must see to putting this mirror up. It will look well in the Entrance Hall, don't you think?"

OOO

Two weeks after the merchants had visited, the mirror had shown no signs of being magical, and Jacob was beginning to doubt that it was. In the time it had hung in the Entrance Hall, the mirror had not shimmered, glowed or revealed any hidden portals. Things did not even look bigger and brighter in it, as they had when Jacob had first seen it. It just hung there, very pretty, but not at all remarkable.

Jacob could see it now, standing in the Entrance Hall with his mother and Uncle Timothy. The two Beavers were also there, telling the tree nobles about a mysterious and disturbing change they had noticed to the Great River, which flowed past their dam.

"Changed nearly overnight, it did." Mr Beaver explained. "One day it was clear and fresh as you please, the next it was all dark and murky. Sort of like black ink, it was."
"And toxic, too." put in Mrs Beaver. "All the fish were dying, poor things."

Abigail frowned. "This is quite alarming. Have you any idea of what could have caused this?" Both Beavers shook their heads.

"It could be coal mining." Timothy put in, and everyone turned to stare at him."
"Coal mining?" Abigail asked. "Whatever do you mean?"
Timothy coughed. "Coal mining often causes coal dust to get into streams and rivers, turning them black and killing fish. Perhaps the Dwarves of the Northern Mines have been mining a large amount of coal recently?"
But Mr Beaver was shaking his head. "Sir, I've been living on that river for more than fifty years. In that time, the Dwarves have mined coal, gold, silver, iron, copper and rubies. There's never been a darkness in the river like this one."

"It's not a problem somewhere else." said Mrs Beaver. "There's something wrong with the river itself."

"It could be." agreed Abigail. "I will have to consult with the Centaurs. They know much about matters such as this. Beavers, I thank you for coming to the castle to tell us of the disturbance in the river. Please, be our guests at the castle tonight."
"It was nothing, dear." Mrs Beaver said warmly. "It was the least we could do, you know, for your good husband's sake, and his sisters and brother. We Beavers never forget our debts, you know."

Abigail directed a page to show the Beavers to the guest wing, and motioned to Timothy and Jacob hat she wished to speak to them. Before any of them could say a word, however, they heard a strange, piercing cry from above. Swooping down out of the sky came an Eagle. It was Silverwing, the sharpest-eyed creature in all Narnia.
Silverwing landed and bowed to each of them in turn. "Your Royal Highness, Your Highness and Your Grace." she said, speaking in the strange, song-like way of the Eagles, "I bring grave news. I have come from flying through the land, and going back and forth in it. I have seen a sickness and a danger in the land. A disease of some sort is affecting the Dryads and Hamadryads, the people of the talking trees. Look! A messenger is coming from their people!"

At once they saw a tall, tall figure coming out of the trees to meet them. It was like a man, but not like a man – something different in the shape of the face and the colouring told them that it was a very old Hamadryad, the spirit of an oak tree.

"Woe!" he cried. "O Highness and Leaders, woe! A great tragedy has befallen my people!"
"Speak, noble Tree." called Timothy "What is this tragedy?"
"A disease that turns the bark of trees black and destroys them." rumbled the Hamadryad. "A dark stain that seeps into the very heart of trees. Already, two Talking Trees have fallen to it. Many common trees that do not speak have been taken by it also. The disease is spreading. Soon it will kill more!"

Abigail and Timothy glanced quickly at one another, and Jacob knew they were thinking the same thing. Was this disease the same as the one that had polluted the river?

"There is no time to lose." Abigail decided. "We must send a group of healers to the afflicted Trees." She turned to the Hamadryad. "Master Oak, will you lead us there?"

OOO

Hours later, after organising a dispatch of healers to tend to the Trees, Abigail returned to Jacob and Timothy. They were back in the Entrance Hall, waiting for Belissa, Amberline and the younger children to return. They had been fishing for pavenders, not because there was any great need for them, but just to relax. Jacob sometimes envied his cousins, that they might go off on trips like this at their leisure, while he must help his mother with ruling.

Ah! There they were, coming out of the trees, talking and laughing. Once again, Jacob felt that twinge of envy. He forgot it, though, as Ariel gave a glad shout and ran to meet them.

"Father!" she cried, running up the castle steps. "We had such a lovely time. I caught –'' but they never found out what she caught, because just then the incident that stayed with Jacob for the rest of his life occurred.

The long floor runner in the Entrance Hall was slightly creased, and as Ariel ran towards her father, her toe caught the creased part. She went flying, straight towards the mirror, the one Abigail had believed to be magical.

Jacob flinched, expecting a crash as Ariel hit it but instead….
As Ariel fell into the mirror, the glass shimmered and rippled like water, and then, very simply, Ariel disappeared.

"Ariel!" shouted Timothy.

Jacob stared. One second Ariel had been there, the next she had not. He half expected her to pop out of the mirror, laughing, her dark hair blowing about her face and her eyes shining. But no, she was gone.

And now Timothy, with the thoughtless desperation of parents when their children are in danger, charged across the Hall and leaped into the mirror after Ariel.
Jacob gasped in horror, but it turned into a low cry of shock as Timothy's head appeared back out of the mirror a second later.

'Quickly!" he cried. "Everyone, through here! You must all see this!"
And he vanished once again.

"I knew it!" breathed Abigail. "I knew the mirror was magical!"
Without another word, she raced towards the mirror and dived in.

Jacob felt stunned. His cousin, uncle and mother had all disappeared in a matter of seconds. But now Abigail appeared through the mirror and gestured for all of them to follow her. "Come through!" she cried. "It's quite safe!"

There was as second's pause, and then, all at once, Belissa, Amberline, Faelyn, Layton and Cosmo all rushed for the mirror. One by one, the leapt through, until only Jacob was left. He stared at the mirror. What to do? On one hand, leaping into a mirror with no idea of where you would end up could only be described as foolishness, despite his mother's assurance that it was safe. On the other hand, he did not want to be left here alone to explain to all of Narnia why his whole family had suddenly vanished.
All this went through Jacob's head in a second, and then he set his teeth, ran towards the mirror and jumped through.

The sensation was of falling through icy-cold water, but he was not wet. He landed with a gasp, nearly bumping into Amberline.
Jacob had a vague impression of a large room, filled with children sitting at desks. At the front of the room – where they were – was a tall, dark-haired man, wearing what seemed to Jacob to be the strangest kind of clothes.

But he had no time to think about this, as the next second Faelyn had darted forward and embraced the man, crying out, as if she had gone mad, "Papa! Papa! Papa, papa, papa!"

Hope you guys liked it! Again, sorry for the long wait. Reading Pixie, thank you for being so incredibly patient. Stay tuned, everyone!
See you,
Duchess