The Beginning

[NarnianAtHeart]

PROLOGUE

Location: Narnia- Cair Paravel

I was known as Andrya, the daughter of royals. My parents, Swanwhite and Orion were the rulers of Narnia. Jadis had been in Narnia for 200 years, slowly growing stronger in the dark magic. The tree of protection was still thriving, with lots of dwarves tending to it daily. It was a time of relative peace. I was in line for the throne. The problem was, I didn't want to take on as much responsibility as I would have to. To be honest, I resented legal matters. I couldn't tell my parents, as they would tell me what they always told me; "Darling, you are the oldest of the family. You are in line for the throne."

The problem was, I didn't want to.

I couldn’t tell my friends, they would think it cowardly. Besides, I didn’t seem to have many of them these days.

Maybe I could ask Cyfrin for help.

*************

Location: Narnia- Gadleigh Fortress

Cyfrin did not come to Narnia often, as it was still a bittersweet place for him. Narnia was a beautiful land with more wondrous and talking animals than any other. Even in his own home of Telmar, the vast majority was human. For years he fought against Narnia, for years he was the reason so many warriors never returned home to see this land again. He wasn't ashamed of it, but wished it had never happened. Now, here he was, the most renowned survival trainer in all Narnia. Whatever loss he caused he had a chance to try and create a better reputation through his teachings, at least that was what he told himself.
Throwing his leather jerkin over a chair, he sighed, running his tanned fingers through his hair before exiting the room he had been given for studying and lodging. Between journeying across borders, under trees and over ravines he had barely stayed in civilization for more than a few weeks in over a year and a half. He was tired. He needed a drink and so in the corridors of that palace, he took out his water skin and looked out the windows across the stunning blue ocean.

[NarnianAtHeart]

*I changed Marrietta's name to Andrya*

CHAPTER 1

Location: Archenland- Etmoryn

Eirlys had just come home and she was extremely tired. She had been a scroll keeper for just over three months now, and it was draining work. Eirlys had been orphaned at the age of two, with her parents dying at the hands of Cyfrin the warrior. The king of Archenland had pity on the infant, and named her Eirlys. Three months ago, she had left the castle to become a scroll keeper and diplomat. The scroll keepers legalized transactions and diplomats delivered legal papers. She exited her room, deciding to take a walk.

**********

Location: Narnia- Cair Paravel

“Hello Cyfrin,” Swanwhite greeted the handsome young man entering the bailey. Cyfrin bowed. “Your highness.”

“What brings you here at this hour?” Swanwhite inquired.

“Your daughter, if you may.” he replied. Swanwhite looked at him questioningly. “And what would you want to do with her?”

“She requested the presence of me tonight at the Choosing.”
The Choosing was an annual ceremony where all the orphans age 15 living in the castle were assigned their life-long jobs.

“I see….” Swanwhite said slowly. “I must admit, I wasn’t surprised when she requested your company.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Your brother, Shiloh will be representing the craftmakers, Shane will represent the cooks of the castle, Aygist is representing the gardeners, and Eirlys will be representing the scroll keepers and diplomats.”

“Fascinating….” He said, sounding slightly bored. “May I see your daughter now?”

The queen took the hint. “Right. Jeda! Show this man to the library. Sen! Escort Andrya to the library. Don’t keep the young man waiting!”

“Thank you, your honour” Cyfrin bowed.

[NarnianAtHeart]

Location: Narnia- Cair Paravel

The Library

“Cyfrin!”

Cyfrin stood up to see the elegant young girl running toward him. “Hello, Andrya.”

Andrya stopped seeing the distressed look on his face. “What happened?” she asked quickly.

“Lord Mortholt disappeared yesterday.”

Andrya gasped. “Lord Mortholt?! How?”

Cyfrin shrugged. “That is what we cannot figure out. Oddly, they found a realistic replica of him made out of stone right after he disappeared! What’s more, the statue had been placed where he had been seen last, walking in the woods. ”

“Oh,” Andrya said softly. “I’m sorry. I knew how close you were to him.”

“Yes…" He agreed "It remains a mystery.”

[NarnianAtHeart]

Location: Archenland- Etmoryn

Eirlys was packing for her journey to Cair Paravel that night. She knew that being requested to stay at Cair Paravel for the Choosing was a big deal. Out of all the people in the land she had been chosen to represent her work.

After she had accepted the invitation, she had learned that Cyfrin would be there. Cyfrin was a painful subject for her. She hated the idea of working with the person who killed her parents. She hadn’t entirely forgiven him for that.

At least she would be staying in the most luxurious castle in all of Narnia and Archenland, and she could reconnect with Andrya. They hadn’t seen each other since Eirlys started her job. The girls had grown up going to parties together, since their guardians knew each other and ruled Archenland and Narnia. She remembered staying up late at night giggling endlessly.

She smiled. Even with the thought of Cyfrin being there, she was looking forward to going.

[NarnianAtHeart]

As I should have explained before I started the fanfic, this is sorta a backstory to what is happening.

My goal in this fanfic, is to describe the way Jadis started her 100 years of winter reign.

According to Jewel, in LB, Swanwhite was the last queen to rule before Jadis.
I thought, "What if I could elaborate on this? How did Jadis come into Narnia?"

As you may have guessed already, Jadis has made her first move; Lord Mortholt.

Please send me a PM if you have any suggestions to improve this fanfic (and any others if start more).

Enjoy!

[NarnianAtHeart]

**********

Location: Cair Paravel- The Garden

Cyfrin and Andrya were walking through the palace gardens. Andrya noted something was different about Cyfrin. He seemed distant.

“What’s wrong?” she asked

“Hmm?” he replied. “Nothing.”

“Cyfrin, there’s something wrong”

“No there’s not”

“Yes there is”

“No there’s not. I was just uhhh…. thinking”

“About what?” she prompted

“About you”

“Me?!”

“Yes.” Cyfrin stopped walking. “I needed to ask you a question”

There was a pause. Andrya looked at Cyfrin. “What is it?”

Cyfrin looked slightly nervous.

“Will you marry me?”

“WHAT?!” she exclaimed. “But I….. My father…….”

“I already asked your father. He approves….. Unless you don’t want to….. Maybe I shouldn’t have asked…..”

“Oh, Cyfrin!” she interrupted. “I will!”

Cyfrin, looking extremely releaved and started singing:

Cyfrin:

I suppose that I look different without the robes and crown

I come this day before you with no riches, no renown

For here I am no leader, I am just a humble man

And I only ask you take me, you take me as I am

I'm not looking for perfection, I'm not offering a saint

I'm not looking for a pretty bird to put in some restraint

The only thing I want is that you love me if you can

And I only ask you take me, you take me as I am

I offer you a look inside, I offer you that trust

I need your strength to help me fight the battles that I must

I need you to remind me of the light we bear within

That there's more to life than struggle and the things we seek to win

Don't take me out of duty, don't take me out of pride

Just take me if the man you see is one you'd stand beside

I'm offering an open heart, I'm asking for your hand

And I only ask you take me, you take me as I am

As I Am by Heather Dale from Avalon, 2010