Chapter Text
Prologue
There was a time when the fierce and beautiful land of Narnia was ruled by the Great Kings and Queens of Old from the world of men. Their legacy became known as the Golden Age throughout history. Under the guidance of High King Peter the Magnificent, Queen Susan the Gentle, King Edmund the Just, and Queen Lucy the Valiant, Narnia prospered. They protected the kingdom from the Great Western Wood to the Glistering Sea, and from the southern reaches of Ettinsmoor to the borders of Archenland. Their reign lasted for fifteen years after the Pevensies defeated the White Witch alongside Aslan, the Great Lion.
The White Witch, Jadis, was my mother. Once Queen of Charn and ruler of Narnia for a century during her reign of eternal winter. My name is Eirlys, known as the Frozen Princess, who betrayed her own flesh and blood. My actions were just, for my betrayal was meant to save our people. During the Battle of Beruna, I saw nothing but death. I watched Narnians fight one another for the sake of a prophecy foretold by the Deep Magic. Yet I could not succumb to such violence, let alone kill the boy, Edmund, who had fascinated me from the very beginning. A connection first sparked by his young sister, Lucy. Edmund saw the innocence within me. He looked beyond my cold exterior and found a remorseful soul.
So, I forced my people to retreat... or at least those who remained faithful to me.
At the time, my magic was bound to Jadis's. Long ago, we had fused our magic together. I should have died on the day of the Pevensies' coronation. However, Aslan came on the night of the coronation and restored my magic. I am indebted to the Great Lion and have kept my end of the bargain. None of my subjects shall attack the Kingdom of Narnia. In exchange, I was granted rule over the Western Wilds, a land of untamed mountains and vast pine forests beyond the Western March. Aslan never anointed me, yet like the rulers of Archenland and Calormen, I was a queen in name. Upon that day, Aslan called me Queen of the Wild.
For fifteen years, I honored that contract. There were several Dark Narnians who refused to accept it and sought revenge. As punishment, I banished them from Stone Castle to fend for themselves. Even during those fifteen years, I was determined to avoid confrontations with the Pevensies. Although I was considered the most wanted fugitive in Narnia, we never crossed paths—except for Edmund in the Western March. The last time I saw Edmund was the day he and his family vanished.
Rumors spread that the White Stag had been seen in the Lantern Waste. According to legend, whoever caught the beast would have their wishes granted. This caught my interest, considering Jadis's reindeer had been missing since the Battle of Beruna. All morning, I searched for the mythical creature until I finally spotted it. I was close to capturing the stag when I noticed the Pevensies nearby. I hid out of sight... until Edmund and I crossed paths. We had encountered each other time and again over those fifteen years, yet no words could be exchanged, especially not during the brief moment before Queen Susan approached. Still, the expression on his face was one of surprise and wonder.
Several months—nearly a year—after the hunt came the day the Pevensies vanished. Narnians from across the kingdom came to Stone Castle, accusing me of murdering them. My people held them back as I tried to be the voice of reason. However, they would not listen, charging me with harming or even committing regicide against the Pevensies. A battle nearly erupted until Aslan appeared, explaining to all the Narnians that the Pevensies had returned to their world.
The question then became: who would rule Narnia?
The minotaurs immediately elected me as their choice for ruler, for I was Queen Eirlys, the rightful heir to the throne through the late Queen Jadis. The other Narnians objected to having the White Witch's daughter rule Narnia. Aslan literally had to roar for everyone's attention before declaring that Narnia should be governed by a Son of Adam or a Daughter of Eve. Therefore, a human descendant of Archenland would rule. Even so, I remained ruler of the Western Wild.
With the appointment of Prince Corin as the new ruler, I could tell he was not entirely a Son of Adam. The scent of a naiad, inherited from his ancestor King Frank, lingered in his blood. Over time, many kings and queens passed until the lineage ended with Queen Swanwhite II. She died without an heir, which led to Narnia falling into anarchy. Centuries of conflict followed, with rivalries between the Northern Witches, the giants, and countless other factions across Narnia. Meanwhile, the Calormenes and Archenlanders battled for influence and control over the kingdom. Yet I continued to stand my ground in the Western Wilds, occasionally attending those ridiculous gatherings about power, government, and threats.
During one of these gatherings, I gazed into my crystal orb to glimpse the future. There had been several assassination attempts on my life over the centuries. However, as I checked the orb to ensure my safe journey back to Stone Castle, something else appeared. Instead of a safe route home, I saw a gigantic black griffin shrieking as ships sailed beneath its wings. The black griffin soared along the coast of Calormen, wreaking havoc upon the islands until even Cair Paravel was gone.
By 1998, unknown ships sailed to Narnia bearing orange sails emblazoned with a black griffin. They were humans who called themselves Telmarines, settlers from the island of Telmar, a colony of Pirates. They invaded Narnia with advanced weaponry, destroying Cair Paravel within a single week.
The Narnians fled to Stone Castle as refugees while several leaders and I searched for a way to repel these invaders. Years passed, with battles won and lost, yet the humans never crossed my borders. Their advancements in warfare baffled everyone, from their powerful crossbows to their devastating catapults. It wasn't until the fifth year that the Telmarines arrived outside Stone Castle with those very siege weapons. Rows of men stood in formation, wearing metal-faced helms and carrying shields marked with an eight-pointed star. Their king, Caspian the First, was determined to destroy my fortress. Yet I was equally stubborn, using magic and my armies to drive back these invaders.
Unfortunately, after a week of battle, the Telmarines shattered Stone Castle with their catapults, leaving us Narnians with no choice but to flee into the forest. In response, I cast a spell upon the Shuddering Woods. Any Telmarine who dared enter would feel the darkness itself. It was during that year that I became known as the Dark Witch, an omen of death to those who crossed my path. For I would destroy anyone who sought to harm the Narnians of Old.
Since then, I have served as the leader of the resistance. Our refuge became the ancient Stone Table, hidden by magic and time beneath the earth and transformed into a fortress now known as Aslan's How. Every Old Narnian holds onto the hope that one day a true Son of Adam or Daughter of Eve will return and help reclaim our homeland. There were many attempts, battles, and massacres over the centuries.
Then one day, I met a human—a Telmarine.
Crown Prince Caspian IX.
He wanted to restore Narnia.
For years, he and I communicated through our mutual friend, Doctor Cornelius, who was part dwarf. From his youth to his ascension as king, I watched Caspian IX grow into the ruler Narnia needed. He wished to meet the Narnians of Old, yet only one badger was brave enough to reveal himself: Trufflehunter. The wise badger shared the forgotten stories of Narnia, helping my Telmarine friend understand the truth of the land and its people.
When Caspian IX was crowned king, I was introduced to his wife, Seraphina, and later to their son. For a time, everything seemed to be going according to plan. The first few years of his reign brought hope that Narnia's future might finally change.
Unfortunately, during the third year of King Caspian IX's reign, he died. Murdered by his own brother, Prince Miraz. Queen Seraphina did her best as Regent, striving to honor her husband's wishes, but she too met an untimely end. She succumbed to a fever so severe it seemed to melt her from the inside out. I suspected foul play by Miraz, but I could never prove it.
Still, I did not give up so easily.
I had made a promise, and I intended to keep it.
Doctor Cornelius, my trusted friend, watched over the young crown prince and taught him about Narnia of Old. For a short time, I watched over the boy as well, disguised as a nurse who entertained him with stories of ancient kings, queens, and forgotten heroes. Everything remained hidden until Caspian X was thirteen years old and accidentally mentioned those stories to the Lord Protector. Miraz promptly dismissed me, still unaware that he had an enemy living within his own castle.
I knew that one day Caspian would become king.
One day, he would be the king who will restore Narnia to its rightful glory.
Before my magic fades.