Update: I started this story forever ago, it's gone through many different iterations, but as I've gotten older my writing style has changed, so I am going back through and rewriting the chapters - updating them so that they fit who I am now. I don't know if anyone will even read this since it's been so long since I've uploaded, but I think I would like to try to finish this story (no promises of regular uploads though as this is just my cathartic outlet). Anyway, enjoy the first few updated chapters. xx

A/N: Heylo, my lovelies! Here is a new story! This is going to be my first long story. I love CS Lewis and The Chronicles of Narnia, so I thought I would write my own little love story about the characters. :) Hope you guys like this! Read and Review and let me know what you think!

CH1

Reyna paced back and forth across the deck like a trapped animal. The ocean water lapped up against the side of the ship, rocking it gently from side to side as it maintained its heading straight towards the shoreline. The mentirelesslyworked as they managed the ship, their movements across the deck resembling little ants in an anthill. Reyna could feel her stomach lurch with every wave that passed, making her more and more nauseous. She usually loved being on the open water. Limea, after all, was a small island, so she grew up surrounded by water, but today she couldn't seem to calm her nerves - and by extension her stomach. She stopped pacing and braced her hands on the side of the boat, breathing the salty sea air deep into her lungs in an attempt to regain her composure. She took some stabilizing breaths that calmed her as the briny smell of the ocean filled her nostrils and lungs. Her eyes opened after a few moments, as she looked towards the helm she saw her father standing alongside the captain, staring out toward the mass of land that continued to creep ever closer.

Reyna glanced down as her dress flapped in the wind. It was plain. The pattern was simple. It was a dark brown color with a tan sash around her waist. The dress had long sleeves, and there was a band of embroidery along the hem. The embroidery was simple, just a conglomeration of swirly lines. The material was sturdy and meant for rough wear - quite unlike what she would typically be forced to wear at court in Limea. Reyna had never been one for finery and jewels. They made her feel like more of a doll than a person. They were always so ornate, bejeweled and trussed up with many layers of fabric. These felt so heavy when worn and reminded her of being weighed down by a ton of bricks. She glanced back up and felt the sea spray in her face lightly, her long hair flowing behind her in the wind. She had wavy auburn hair that, when let down, reached her waist. Her eyes were a unique shade of violet that sparkled when she laughed. She took another deep breath trying to regain a grip on her emotions.

King Archibald Castellian, Reyna's father, was journeying to Narnia to attend a peace conference of many nations. King Archibald was a man well into his middle age, with sun lines around his face with plenty of gray and white streaks running through his brunette hair. He was a king of the people and as such never shied away from a hard day of work alongside his citizens. He was tall with broad shoulders and a muscular build that bespoke his years of hard work and training in the military. While often stern with his courtiers and advisors, he always had a soft spot for his only daughter.

The world was ever-changing, as were the relationships between the nations. Limea was a small island country filled with lush farm-land and rolling hills. They primarily exported wares to surrounding countries and their economy had been booming over the last thirty years since King Archibald had come to power. Every five years representatives from all the nations would convene in a neutral country to discuss common issues: discuss trade and tariffs, settle old feuds, and draw up marriage contracts. King Archibald always attended in person if he was able; he felt that to be a good leader one must be an active participant in all things relating to the well-being of his people.

This was the first year he had brought Reyna to the conference. While normally she would be ecstatic about participating in such an interesting political event, her feelings were overshadowed by recent news her father had imparted to her. Being of age now at twenty, Reyna's father informed her that one of his goals for the conference was to draw up a marriage contract with one of the other nations.

Reyna and her father seldom clashed, but when they did it was often done with raised voices, pacing, and screams of frustration on one or both sides. Reyna always knew she could be expected to marry at some point, being the only daughter of a monarch, but she had been secretly hoping to convince her father to instate her has his heir to the throne and give over the desire to send her to a neighboring country as an olive branch. She had an abiding love for her country and the people who lived there. Ever since being a small girl she had the desire to learn how to become a good leader for her people.

Those plans swiftly changed when she turned eight years old, however, when she started etiquette and gentility classes with her governess. Instead of being trained to fight to defend her country she was taught how to set a proper table. Instead of reading about the history of the nations in order to use that information for international relations, she read about the royal pedigrees of different nations. She found rebellions in small ways: sneaking history books into her bedroom to pour over them at night, bribing the swordsmith to let her use the training swords every now, and eavesdropping on political meetings whenever neighboring dignitaries came to visit.

All those small rebellions would come to nothing it seemed, since she was about to be traded like livestock to the highest bidder. Reyna huffed a sign of indignation at the thought. When her father had first imparted the news, Reyna had wanted to rage, scream and cry about the unfairness of it all. But slowly Reyna was starting to resign herself to her fate; after all, duty was the one true love of monarchs.

Her fingers gripped the wooden side of the ship until she felt like they started tingling and she could feel tiny splinters pierce her skin. She continued to stare out over the sea attempting to rationalize her feelings and frustration 's thoughts were interrupted when she felt a steady hand on her shoulder. She sighed as she turned around to look at her father

"You look troubled, daughter." He said. She almost rolled her eyes at that. Instead, she settled for an exasperated sigh.

"I am, Papa! I was thinking about what you told me last night… about my marriage."

"…and?"

"I do not want to get married. I just turned twenty. I feel it is too soon to be talking of marriage!" She cried with exasperation.

"I recognize this is not necessarily what you want, my darling. But being twenty and being the only surviving royal heir, it is your duty to do what is best for your country." This was not the first time Reyna had had this particular discusson with her father.

"It just seems like there must be other ways for me to do the righ thing for Limea rather than leaving it! I still have so much left to do on my own and discover of the world. I'm too young to get married!"

"When your mother and I were married she was younger even than you." Her father responded softly.

"That was a different time father! This is now. In this day and age, some people like to find love and get married of their own volition. Not to mention, that I just know I am completely capable of ruling Limea by myself witho-"

"THAT'S ENOUGH, REYNA!" He said as she was about to continue her rant. "I know that this is not what you wanted. If I were a farmer and you a farmer's daughter, things might be different. You would be free to marry whomever you wanted, but you are not. You are a princess. And being such means that you have certain responsibilities toward me and toward your country. You cannot just marry anyone. I have coddled you for too long. I have wanted to keep you with me for as long as I could, but now…Reyna, I am getting old. I need to be sure that when I die that Limea is secure."

"I just don't see how you're doing that by sending me off to some foriegn country! I should stay on Limea where I belong." Reyna replied just as vehemently.

"Reyna you know that a single woman cannot rule Limea. The council would have a cow if I instated you as my successor."

"Yes, I am quite aware of the council's wishes. So instead, I get shipped off to a far-away land to be bred for their purposes and the council gets to choose the next leader of Limea. That makes all the sense in the world now doesn't it." Reyna rolled her eyes and blew out a long exhale, " The elders can go to the depths of the ocean for all I care," Reyna all but screamed in frustration, throwing her arms up into the air, "they are nothing but spiteful old men who stand on nothing but tradition and refuse to listen to reason or insight!"

"Reyna, do not speak of the elders in such a way. They are some of the wisest men of our time and have helped guide Limea from its start. I do not know where we would be without them." King Archibald said chidingly.

"Probably out of the dark ages and into the age of enlightenment," said Reyna under her breath, huffing.

"Your views of the Elders are beside the point Reyna Castellian, as you know, it is your duty to lead and serve Limea in this way and it is time that you step up and start acting like the queen that you will be one day and stop acting like a child. You would have had to get married some time, so it might as well be now." Archibald finished with a stern look on his face that softened when he took in her distraught expression. "My darling, you know if I could change things I would, but I am only one man and the council of Limea has been in place since the beginning as a means of balancing out the leadership duties and the power of the royal family. My hands are just as tied as yours." Archibald sighed deeply. "I desperately wish you could have found a love of your own, but sometmes life's paths don't go where you expect. Who knows perhaps your husband to be could surprise you."

Reyna stood watching her father as he said this. She knew this was hard for him. She was the youngest and so had never expected to have so much responsibility thrust upon her; to have the whole Castellian legacy resting on her shoulders. Archibald succeeded to the throne at age sixteen after the sudden passing of his father and older brother. When he rose to power, the council all expected him to marry a foreign princess to assist in stabilizing the country with an alliance. Young Archibald did the opposite of what was expected of him, however. He had long been in love with Denise Triblaut - the daughter of a Limean duke. He felt he had made promises to her that could not be honorably rescinded, and most importantly, he was deeply in love with her. So, against the wishes of the council, they were married.

They ignored everyone's protests and were happy to be together. They had many lovely years together, but they struggled to conceive. When they finally did, it was Reyna's birth that had taken Queen Denise's life. King Archibald had been devastated and chose to keep his daughter close to him because he didn't want to lose her as well - she was his last reminder of Denise. Reyna had long thought she would be able to marry a lesser lord, since the duty of succession would fall to one of her adopted brothers. But that wish was gone now with the loss of both of her brothers.

"Think of this opportunity not as abandoning Limea, but as fullfilling your duty to your country by sacrificing your personal desires for the betterment of your people." Reyna's father was telling her it was time to grow up and let go - for both of them. They needed to make decisions that were for the best of the kingdom. Reyna eyed the firm line of her father's brow and the unbending will behind his eyes and saw that her battle had been lost. She was fighting a war that had been doomed from the beginning, but looking into her father's eyes now, she felt the last flickers of hope sputter out. Nevertheless, Reyna decided to try one last counterstrike.

"Very well, Papa…I will agree with your decision." She took a deep breath and quickly said, "But please! Let me choose…" She pleaded.

"Have you not heard what I have been saying? You can't choose."

"Papa, you didn't let me finish. I will stand by your decision if I am allowed to choose the best out of the candidates. Papa, please. If I cannot marry for love, at least let me choose the life that I think I would be most happy in." She knew she was going out on a limb here, but she could see her father wavering. Hopefully, he would agree.

"Very well. You know I hate to deny you anything, my darling, and in this situation we both agree that we want the life that will bring you the most happiness." Relief and elation flooded Reyna's soul when she heard his words. Although it wasn't a total way out for her, she could at least have some agency over her future and would not be relegated to being a total political pawn.

"Thank you, Papa! Really, thank you, you don't realize what this means to me." She exclaimed as she threw her arms around him! He embraced her, happy that they would now be somewhat reconciled. As he glanced up, he saw that they were coming into port.

"Well, my darling, it looks like we have finally arrived to our destination."

As the sea-men started preparing the ship for landing, Reyna took the opportunity to take in this new country. Narnia was beautiful. The trees swayed slowly in the breeze, sighing a gently whooshing as they moved to and fro. It almost sounded as if they were whispering softly to each other. The sun shone brightly down on the beach illuminating the sand crystals so that they sparkled in the light of the day. Narnia was full of vibrant colors; bright blue of the sky, deep greens of the grass and the forest, blinding white sand, and the startlingly clear blue waters of the waves lapping on the shore that seemed to dance in and out. This land was alive; everything was alive. Rumors regarding Narnia abounded; there was talk of deep and old the magic that supposedly infused this land, of talking creatures, and a wild lion that had created it all.

She noticed a large party of people waiting there, next to the docks. As they got closer, she began to see their shapes more clearly. There were masses of animals of all kinds standing around conversing with each other; she had never seen anything like it. In Limea there were animals, but not like the diversity of animals on the beach, and they certainly didn't speak to each other. Reyna's father was one of the last guests to arrive, as Limea was at least a month's journey from Narnia. So, the welcoming committee was very large and combined those residents of Narnia and the visiting dignitaries from various countries attending the conference.

In the center of the group were three people. They were strolling leisurely towards the boat, stopping occasionally to speak with someone or to embrace an old acquaintance. From what Reyna could tell, the older one had long dark brunette curls that were pulled up into an elegant hairstyle with swirls and braids and jewels. She was tall and slim, with a pale complexion that made her look quite delicate, however not fragile. Her dark hair contrasted greatly with her pale skin, which was clear, with no blemishes.

The other one, who looked slightly younger, had lighter hair, a beautiful honey-brown. Her hair was let down and flowed across her shoulders. She had tiny flowers braided into her hair. Her expressions seemed animated as she passed through the crowd being pulled this way and that by waiting spectators. She was not as tall as the dark-haired woman, but she was not petite. Just smaller. She was not plump, but not slim either. Her skin was tanned and tiny freckles spotted her cheeks and nose. It looked as if she spent a lot of time outside in the sun.

The young man looked a little older than the woman with the dark hair; about in his mid-twenties. He had golden blonde hair and piercing blue eyes that Reyna could see from the boat deck. He was tall with a muscular build. His presence commanded attention and he walked with confidence and a smile that lit up his face. His bronzed skin shone in the sun, and the gentle breeze ruffled his slightly wavy blond hair. The sun gleamed off his face, and she found herself sighing when she saw him.

By this time the three monarchs, for they most certainly were, had arrived at the dock. King Archibald stepped off the ship and walked down the gangplank to meet them, gesturing to Reyna to follow him.

"King Peter, I assume?" Her father said, once he reached the dock.

"Yes, sir, that is the name that I claim as my own." He said with a great amount of ease, like he was talking to an old friend. "Allow me to introduce to you my sisters. Queen Susan," motioning to the dark-haired woman, "and Queen Lucy," to the lighter-haired woman. Both Queen Susan and Queen Lucy nodded as their brother introduced them. Reyna's eyes caught both of theirs and they smiled warmly at her. That helped relieve a few of her many nerves.

"It is our great pleasure to welcome you to Narnia, our home. I am sure that you are greatly fatigued after such a long journey by boat, so we have some refreshments back at the castle for you and your company to enjoy and revive yourselves."

King Peter's voice was deep and sonorous. It made him appear older and wiser than she was expecting from his appearance – Reyna wondered idly if he purposefully adjusted his voice at all to make himself appear more regal or imposing to others.

As Reyna glanced around, she noticed a figure running down the great hill that led to the castle. It looked like a man because Reyna did not see any skirts flying about. Perhaps it was a stable boy, he seemed to be clutching his head, as if he were trying to keep something on. His hat maybe? Reyna turned back to the conversation going on between her father and his new friends, fully stepping down off the gangplank and walking to stand beside her father

"Forgive me, King Peter, but I understood that you had three siblings. Not two. Have I been misinformed?" At this, King Peter and his sisters exchanged some embarrassed looks.

"Well, you see King Archibald…" King Peter was unable to finish his sentence because all of the sudden everyone heard a loud shout.

"PETER! I'M COMING! GOOD LORD THAT'S A LONG HILL! I'M COMING!" The figure that she had seen came sprinting toward their group; the crowd parted for him as he ran. Her idea of a stable boy flew from her head – he must be someone of importance for the crowd to part like that. He looked like a mad man, his arms flailing all about him as he attempted to stop his momentum, but it continued to carry him forward. He would have fallen on his face or continued straight off the dock into the water, but instead, he toppled right on top of Reyna.