Disclaimer:I don't own any of this! Lord of the Rings and everything it contains was originally the idea of J.R.R. Tolkien. Credits for Narnia and everything associated with it go to C.S. Lewis. The idea for this originally came from the video 'The king, the girl and the lion – Trailer' by Nonokun24 on YouTube. This chapter contains references to 'Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End', 'A Song of Ice and Fire', the television film/docudrama 'Hannibal', 'Chronicles of Narnia: The Horse and His Boy', 'Power Rangers Jungle Fury: Race to the Nexus' and 'Avatar: The Last Airbender: Book Two: Zuko Alone'. My humblest apologies if I forgot anything.

Author's Note: Happy New Year! It's my honor and pleasure to welcome all readers back! Thank you all very much!

Yeah, I took a lot less time this occasion. However, I'll unfortunately be unable to keep this up, especially with exams coming up… Still, I'll try my best.

Help is on its way, but time is short. With the all-important auction day fast approaching, it's time for everyone to take a stand.

I certainly hope you'll enjoy this!

And whether you did or not, please let me know in a review!

The Lone Islands

The albatross is flying, making him daydream

The time before he became one of the world's unseen.

Princess in the tower, children in the fields;

Life gave him it all an island of the universe.

Oh, now his love's a memory, a ghost in the fog.

He sets the sails one last time saying farewell to the world.

Anchor to the water, seabed far below,

Grass still in his feet and a smile beneath his brow.

This is for long forgotten light at the end of the world,

Horizon crying the tears we left behind so long ago.

So long ago…

So long ago…

Nightwish: 'The Islander'

Betrayed

(He can't change his stripes)

Deception

(An outrage!)

Disgrace

(For shame!)

(You know these outsider types)

Evil as plain as the scar on his face

(See you later, agitator!)

(Just leave us alone)

Deception

(An outrage!)

Disgrace

(For shame!)

(Traitor, go back with your own)

He asked for trouble the moment he came

(See you later, agitator!)

Born in grief

Raised in hate

Helpless to defy his fate

Let him run

Let him live

But do not forget what we cannot forgive!

No, he is not one of us!

He has never been one of us!

He is not part of us!

Not our kind…

Someone once lied to us.

Now we're not so blind.

For we knew he would do what he's done,

And we know that he'll never be one of us!

He is not one of us…

Lion King II: 'Not one of us'

(Peter)

Peter and Lucy awoke to sad organ music.

One of the Emperors of the Lone Islands before the Narnian takeover had been fond of organs and ordered one installed in the Palace. Now it was used by the Admiral, and it was a reliable, simple way to learn his mood for the day. This time he seemed near mourning.

Suddenly Lucy's Blood Warrior, Captain Targutai and a dozen marines entered.

Targutai briefly told them: "You have both been summoned by the Admiral."

At that, he and the Blood Warrior led the way for the siblings. The foot soldiers, armed with shields and pikes, followed.

Right before Peter entered his Palace, the organ music stopped. And in the dining room they were expected by Jarw – Tao, Shogun and Admiral, surrounded by all his Daimyo and Captains. Most of them were quickly and quietly eating; some – among them the Lord of the Jarw – Rhûnhirrim – had already finished and were looking at their front, somber.

Targutai, the Blood Warrior, Peter and Lucy bowed.

Tao nodded and gestured at some empty chairs. "Take a seat. Eat."

Peter answered: "No, thank you, we're not very hungry. What's going on?"

The Admiral stood. "Eat!" he ordered on a tone that didn't allow for backtalk. "You'll need all the strength you can get."

The newcomers decided to be good, sit down and eat breakfast after all. Not another word was spoken until Lucy, the last one, had finished – the poor girl had gotten stuck in the middle of a plate and had obviously eaten everything she could keep in.

Finally, the Shogun arose. He looked tired, Peter thought. As if he had spent the night not in bed, but on the battlefield. The men waited seriously but nervously.

Then the Admiral spoke: "My lords, I have a lot to tell you. But first of all: this day shall be my last."

Meanwhile…

(Thomas)

Far away, in the southeast of Rhûn, a Shogun was writhing in pain.

"What do you think, doctor?"

The healer looked up at the Heir of the Taisho Clan. Jogun Thomas seemed to be from times that seemed long passed. Despite the liters of Eastern blood in his veins he had the skin of a Westerner. More than others before him he had taken an interest in his Western roots, and he had a thorough knowledge of Narnian literature and poetry. Apart from his ancestors' Bushido he also tried to live by the courteousness of Narnian Knighthood. All Easterlings, save for his own family, considered him odd, but no one disputed his integrity or sense of honor.

The Heir was well protected by three distant cousins of his, all of which had become Blood Warriors to him. They were obviously related to him, for apart from the Shogun himself and Thomas they were the only ones who could pass for Westerners, with one clear exception: his younger sister Mariska. She was still asleep, but the Heir had been woken up, and loyal to their oath his Blood Warriors had accompanied him.

The doctor carefully answered: "I do not know a disease with these symptoms, my Jogun."

"Poison?" Rick suggested.

As Blood Warrior of a son of the Shogunate he had the right to speak freely. In him lived the Ape, of all the land mammals in Middle Earth the closest to humans and the cleverest. As befitting his birth he had been blessed with a good deal of common sense and insight. Rick was the youngest of the three, and he excelled in loyalty. Easterlings were accustomed to loyalty to the Clan, but he preferred loyalty out of friendship; among his close friends he also reckoned Thomas, however, so he still served the Clan's interests. This quick intervention wasn't really something for him; usually he thought before speaking. However, in this case, it was perfectly logical and he wasn't the man to waste time either.

The Shogun's physician sighed: "I fear so."

"Can anything be done?" Thomas asked in a remarkably calm way, even though his three protectors were well aware he was gravely worried.

The healer answered: "I am sorry. I do not know this poison. Before I've found an antidote, your father will have died."

"You can't just let him die!" Jeroen shouted indignantly.

The Horse lived in him, which caused him to be fierce in battle and likewise to not contain himself in deliberations either. Of the three Blood Warriors, he was the middle one, and like Rick he was both admired and considered odd by the Easterlings. His courage and contempt for death were highly commended and widely praised, but many men of Rhûn took offense to the liberties he claimed; many wondered if he would have refrained from speaking freely if he hadn't taken the Holy Oath – a question which remained unanswered.

The doctor responded: "A wrong medicine is the most lethal poison. Forgive me; I have no aid to offer."

Thomas merely nodded and looked at his father pensively.

After a brief, uncomfortable silence Jeroen stepped closer. "Blood of my blood…" he started, but Thomas raised his hand and the younger fighter remained silent.

Finally, the Heir said: "A Shogun has the right to die by steel."

Steven came forward. Of the three Blood Warriors he was the eldest, and the only one older than Thomas himself. By birth he was a Tiger, and when the situation called for it he was undeniably brave, but he was first of all a huge mystery box. He could be the gentlest man in the Taisho Clan, or the cruelest Blood Warrior in history. Thomas had succeeded in channeling his ruthlessness, but his council never grew truly consistent. The Easterlings decidedly felt no affection for him, but they respected him deeply; he rarely spoke, but people listened to him.

Now he drew a long dagger and offered it to Thomas. The Heir sighed and took the weapon.

He bent over his father and asked: "Father, will you grant me the certainty that you reside in the Palace of the Dragon?"

The Shogun nodded, but laboriously spoke: "Everything I've done, I did so you would still have a Clan left to rule. But you must never forget who you are."

"I won't, father," Thomas promised.

However, his father asked: "Who are you?"

The son answered: "I am your son."

The Shogun asked more fiercely: "Who are you?"

The Heir replied: "I am Jogun Thomas of the Taisho Clan, soon to be Lord of the Taisho Clan."

The older man grabbed the arm with the dagger. His grip was surprisingly powerful.

Again he asked: "Who are you?"

Thomas took a few moments to think. Then he said loudly: "I am Thomas of House Pevensie, Seventh of that Name in my House, Heir to all the Pevensies and rightful High Prince of Narnia."

His father nodded and let go.

The Heir took a moment to suppress his emotions. He would mourn later, tomorrow, next month or next year, as fate would stand for it.

Swiftly and suddenly he used the dagger to stab his father's heart. Within seconds the man was dead.

Appearing calm to the eye, he drew the dagger back out and returned it to Steven. After that, he bowed, followed by his life guards and the doctor.

Then the door burst open. "Thomas! I heard something's wrong with dad. What's going…"

The new Lord rose and turned around. "Sister," he spoke, unnaturally calm. "I was unaware you have been woken up."

Behind Mariska a 13-year-old girl appeared who immediately started trembling. "That was my work, Master," she said as if confessing to murder.

Naveen was actually the daughter of an Eastern warrior whose exact identity remained shrouded in mystery. What was clear was that he had fallen during or right after the infamous March on Darklings, an attack by a coalition of 10 Clans on the Darklings. 10.000 good Easterlings had been slaughtered; the remainder of the 10 Clans had been attacked directly and as an entity the Clans no longer existed the day after the last attack. The girl who had now found a safe refuge with the Taisho Clan had only been a baby, and Jogun Thomas a child. Along with the other survivors she had been forced into a life of servitude. When she was nine years old, Thomas and Mariska, quite by chance, had noticed her and bought her. Ever since she had been Mariska's handmaid. Thomas generally didn't interfere with her all that much, thus she barely knew him and was much less at ease with his very peculiar demeanor for an Eastern nobleman. Mariska by now she had gotten to know as a nice girl who liked to laugh and smiled a lot.

Hesitantly the young slave continued: "I heard something was wrong with the old… wise Master. So I said to myself my compassionate Mistress might want to be there for her father. Forgive me, noble Master… It was inappropriate for me to show initiative where you deemed it unnecessary."

Thomas waved the apologies aside: "No, no. That's alright. While you're here, lay out our ceremonial robes, will you?" Meanwhile he had put a faint smile on his face, just clear enough to let the girl know he wasn't angry with her.

Apparently it had worked; Naveen at least looked relieved when she bowed deeply and said: "Of course, Master. I'm on it." She immediately ran out.

Thomas ceased his attempts to smile.

Mariska asked concerned: "Brother, what's wrong?"

She looked past him and turned pale. Jeroen put his hand on her shoulder – which, if he hadn't taken the Oath, would've cost him at least the hand in question, rather the arm in question and probably his head.

Very softly he said: "Milady, your brother, who is blood of my blood, has… ended your father's life."

"What?" the girl shouted startled.

First she stepped back; then she walked at her brother.

Loudly and shrilly she asked: "Thomas, what have you done?"

The young noble composedly answered: "Nothing. Father had already been murdered, Mariska. I cut his suffering short. Good gods, should one feel guilty about that?"

"Father… murdered?" his sister whispered aghast.

Grimly Thomas nodded. "And if Khamûl isn't behind it, I must be next, because killing idiots isn't hard. Well, I need to be crowned today. Then we'll lay him to rest."

(Lucy)

The Shogun stretched out his hands in an adjuring way and the pandemonium which had followed his last statement died out.

Loudly he declaimed: "All of you hear why this must be so! My honor has been violated by my great foolishness – the foolishness to come here. For while I was here, with three of my five ar-quan, most of my Daimyo and many of my ashigaru, my Clan has been attacked."

Again uproar briefly erupted, but that died off spontaneously.

Fiercely the Admiral continued: "The Great Dragon gave me a vision. A vision which proved that I also failed in another way in my duty to protect. A vision which would break any father's heart. I saw my son, my heir, the strength of my blood, in chains and locked in a prison cell."

Now furious howling broke loose; some nobles smashed their cups; many struck the table hard; several even drew their swords; and all shouted out their indignation. Finally Jarw – Tao put his hands up again to silence them.

His voice shaking with anger, he continued: "And with that by no means the least tolerable has been said. I have seen how my daughter's virginity was taken by force!"

This time, it didn't seem like anyone would be able to halt the fuming outcry. Lucy had tears in her eyes; Peter cursed loudly and roared along with the Easterlings.

"Blood!" Targutai yelled. "We demand blood! Blood of these hajishirazu, to wash this disgrace away! Blood!"

"To death! To death!" Peter joined him.

The others shouted in approval. It took the yelling at least 15 minutes to die out, even though the nobles kept furiously staring out in front of them. Lucy looked a little fearful; she had never seen her eldest brother so angry.

Still, she asked: "Uhm… What are those… hajishirazu?"

The Shogun replied: "Those are people with no shame, no civilization, and above all: no honor. Also known as the third category: the Barbarians."

Lucy was confused: "Third category?"

This time, it was Peter who answered; his lips barely moved and his face was still contorted in anger. "Easterlings divide peoples in three categories. They themselves are the highest category: the Faithful. The Union – Narnia included – is the second category: the Outsiders. With that they mean that while yes, we are inferior, because we do not believe in the Dragon, we still do know civilization. The rest – Orcs, Haradrim, Khândians and others – are the third category: the Barbarians."

"Oh," was all Lucy said.

There was silence for a few moments.

Then she hesitantly said: "I dreamt too. Edmund once told me I'm a… dreamer. I have visions, if you will. I dreamt of a dark, tall, slender boy. Actually he looked a little like Edmund – but not in his face. And… I think I sensed his emotions."

The Admiral looked at her sadly, but gestured for her to continue her tale.

The High Queen went on: "He was sad, but mostly… angry. Really furious. That hate… I've never felt anything like that. As if only one person truly mattered and that person suffered terribly."

Jarw – Tao nodded. "That could be right. I do not mind you knowing I have a stronger bond with my son and my wife with my daughter, but no bond is as strong as the one between Kandar and Karnak. If a day had come – which, to our good fortune, it pleased the Dragon to forbid – when my son had been forced to choose between his sister and myself, he would've chosen her." The man didn't seem to mind; quite the contrary, he smiled proudly.

Targutai confirmed that judgment: "You raised him well, tono."

Jarw – Tao smiled a little wider and turned to Lucy again. "Please continue, Princess."

The girl nodded. "I was… warm. As if a blazing fire burned inside me. Hatred and heat. That's how I remember it."

Now the Emperor of the Lone Islands, the Admiral of the Eastern Fleet and the Captain of the Dragon Galley exchanged quick glances.

Peter broke the silence. "Dragon Fire," he whispered in awe.

Targutai nodded. "And even if you're not used to it, you shouldn't feel it so intensely."

Jarw – Tao ended the short discussion with the remark: "That is a matter on which the sages should deliberate. However, for me it is no longer a relevant discussion. Your men, Your Majesty, will undoubtedly attack during the auction. I will seek death in that battle. My men I hereby order to fight their way to the ships. Targutai, you go there now. Take as many men as you can."

The Captain nodded, appointed an ar-quan and several other Daimyo and left with the selected nobles following close.

The Admiral grimly looked at Peter and Lucy. "I'll see what I can do for you."

Author's Note: Well, at least this was longer. Twice as long, I think. I like this chapter more than the last, but that's because there wasn't a lot to the last one. Anyway, I hope this makes you feel welcome in 2016!

So, the conflicting interests and the personal and ideological tensions between Sauron and his Eastern subjects are reaching a breaking point. But what can the Shoguns do?

Coming up next on 'The King, the Girl and the Lion – With a Vengeance': Everyone agrees winning the war imperative. But even the wise tend to forget why they're fighting in the first place…

Now, of course I keep promoting the videos by Nonokun24 and EdwardElricGirl200 on YouTube; search 'the king the girl and the lion trailer' and they should be easily found. My friend Supreme Arcanite Magician has an interesting fanfic called 'Yu-Gi-Oh: European Duel Academy'. Now, I'd like to add something else to the list: 'The Sun Sets in the West.' Like 'Slave Girl' (which I'm seriously not over yet), I've started a review for it which is probably deceptively negative, while the story is actually honestly a pearl. Check it out (and I can only hope you'll still want to get back to me).