Firstly I have to apologise for not writing in so many months. I do not have any more honest reason than I have had no motivation nor ideas to write. Now I will do my best to at least post two more chapters before this year ends.

Secondly, a big THANK YOU to all of my followers. It means so much to me that you like the story, and also made me feel even worse for not writing in so long. This is for you!

And a special thanks to the mysterious Guest who gave me a much needed "flick on the nose". I'm still not sure if I managed to correct all of my errors, but please send me a new message to let me know. This goes to all my followers, please be a bit mean if there is something you does not like, it's much appreciated!

On my profile you can read things about my writing that can be useful to know.

Characters and places belongs to C.S. Lewis, except for the things I add.

The start of something new, part 1

A total of a month had now gone by since Peter, Susan and Edmund had left Narnia. The realisation that the siblings was not going to return had started to sink in and because of this, the Narnians did now look to their new queen for answers.

Lucy had during the last two weeks since her big speech tried her best to please her people, but for most of the time she had been forced to let others answer in her place.

It was not that she could not help, it was just that she could not give them the help they needed.

It was an early morning, but outside it was still dark due to a troubling sky.

"Celind, what am I going to do?!" Lucy exclaimed and sat down at the mirror.

The servant girl did not know what to say, she just walked up to Lucy and started to brush Lucy's long red hair.

"I have seen my brothers and Susan help ever since we were crowned many years ago, so why can not I help?!" Lucy continued with a small shiver in her voice and stared at her pale reflection.

The area around her eyes shifted in a light blue-black colour, making her otherwise vivid eyes look dark and hard. Her cheek bones were more highlighted because of her unintentional weight lost.

A sudden knock on the bedroom door made both Lucy and Celind twitch.

"Yes" Lucy answered with a strong voice.

Into the room walked another servant, a young faun with golden brown fur.

"My highness" he spoke politely and bowed "The council wish to speak to you in the great hall".

"Thank you, tell them I will be down as soon as I am dressed" Lucy answered in her Queen-tone.

The faun left the room with another bow.

Celind picked out a beautiful golden dress and helped her queen to put it on. It looked unflattering when on Lucy as she could not fully fill it up.

"Do not worry, milady" Celind said as natural as she could, but Lucy clearly heard the concerned undertone "I sew it up later so it will fit you better".

Lucy watched herself in the mirror, but was not satisfied with the way she looked. A bit unhappy she tried a smile, but it looked more tortured than welcoming. She decided to just put on her "Queen mask" before walking away to met the council.

As she entered the big hall she quickly noticed the faces of the people gathered, a mix of shame and something unreadable was clearly visible.

"Ah, queen Lucy!" Oreius, a centaur and Peter's loyal servant, welcomed and nodded as a courtesy "We are sorry for waking you up at this time of day".

Lucy smiled, hoping it would look real.

"Do not feel sorry, I was awake already!".

Everyone who was not a centaur sat down by a big table, Lucy at the top. It was a mix of fauns, dwarves and other creatures living in Narnia.

"So, what is it you wish to tell me?" Lucy spoke up since nobody seemed to want to be the one to tell her what this sudden meeting was about.

Everyone looked to each other, trying to make the other one talk. An awkward silence fell over the room like a heavy cloud and no sound was heard, except the rain that was now falling forcefully outside.

"Please, I will not get angry".

After a few more seconds of oppressive silence, Heroq, the high-positioned dwarf, cleared his throat.

"My queen" he started, carefully choosing his words "We have discussed the... situation of King Peter, King Edmund and Queen Susan... and about your... accomplishments as our current leader...".

Lucy felt how her heart dropped and clenched her fists under the table for not losing her Queen face right in front of everyone, since she was sure it would not help her.

"And we have come to the conclusion that we believe you should allow someone else to take your place as Narnia's leader" Heroq continued as careful as before and quickly added "Temporarily of course. Just to give you time to adjust to the fact that you must rule on your own".

Lucy realized that they had now confirmed her biggest fear, that she would have to live alone and do everything on her own. Even if she had talked about being the queen Narnia needed her to be, despite her siblings's non-participating, for not too long ago, she had always hoped deep in her heart that they would return and everything would go back to what is was before.

Now, with that option in hand, she was not sure that she would be able to make it.

Lucy did not own the experience which her siblings possessed, so maybe it would be good to let someone else rule for a time. She would be given the time to observe and learn before she would step up and take her rightful place both as queen and leader.

Still Lucy could not give the leadership away since she was the queen and the Narnians believed she was capable. They trusted her to lead Narnia in a fair and just way.

"I fully understand your concerns, my esteemed council" Lucy began confident, even if her inside wanted to run away "And I can see the good that would come out of letting someone else lead, but I am still the queen".

The council was quiet, waiting for her to explain further.

"As I am the queen, it is my duty to be Narnia's leader. Therefore I am asking you not to take my leadership away, but help me become the leader Narnia needs me to be".

Still there was no reply. Lucy started to wonder if this was not the answer they hoped for.

"You taught my brothers and sister before me" Lucy continued slightly annoyed over their reactions "I not demanding you as your queen. I am begging you, as your equal, to teach me".

Once again it were seconds of oppressive silence before Heroq spoke up.

"My queen" he said steady "Of course we have taught the Kings and Queen Susan, but it took many years until they reached the knowledge they posses now. Also, we are not asking you to leave as Queen, but to allow someone to take the decisions on the bigger matters, such as the army and expanding Narnia's borders".

Lucy was close to lose her temper, but the meaning of the dwarf's words hit her.

"Expanding Narnia's borders?" she asked surprised "Why would we have the desire to expand our borders?".

Heroq looked as if he been caught with his hand in the cookie jar, before turning to his fellow council members for help.

I do not want this to be too long, so you will have to wait for the rest :P