𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐀𝐍 || 𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐚 [ I ]

Chapter 1

Feeling the wind caress her face, Muriel sighed and closed her eyes. She was seated in one of the many windows that overlooked the courtyard.

Yellow, red and orange flowers covered the walls, the sun shining down on the stone tiles.

Yellow, red and orange dresses covered the women that walked with baskets filled with all sorts of spices.

Yellow, red and orange were the colours that Muriel saw every day, she loved them, but she craved a change of scenery.

She craved adventures.

The princess of Archenland hadn't left her home in Anvard since her mother had passed away. Her father, the king, had no time for the 'nonsense' that his daughter came up with. Muriel had told him how she wanted to follow the Winding Arrow River or the Glasswater Creek and that she would go further North to see the ruins of Cair Paravel.

But the king of Archenland forbid it.

He didn't like the Telmerines, he didn't like Miraz and he certainly didn't like the idea of his daughter wandering around in that aslanforsaken land.

Muriel did understand his concerns, but she could fend for herself. Princess Muriel of Archenland was a fine swordsman all thanks to her mother. The queen of Archenland had always tried to get Muriel interested in reading, painting, sewing, dancing, singing, but Muriel wasn't made for these things. Her mother gave up and Muriel learned how to use a weapon. Now she won every combat against the noblest of knights and she could stand up against her brother, Darrin.

And Miraz? She found him a straight up murderer, killing Narnians in cold blood. Her father hadn't believed his wife when she told him there were still Narnians left in Narnia, but she did.

The queen had told him and their children stories about the golden ages, about the King and Queens of Old, and though her father wouldn't really pay attention to his wife, Muriel had been listening to her stories with wide eyes and an open mouth.

But now these days were over, the Telmarines had taken over Narnia a long time ago, the Kings and Queens of Old dissappeared. Nothing was like it had been anymore.

By the time that Caspian the Ninth, the former king who had firmly believed in the old Narnia ways, passed away in his sleep, Miraz, his brother had taken over in his stead and took care of his son, a young prince also named Caspian.

Muriel had met the prince once, when she was younger. Miraz had visited Archenland to discuss some things with her father and Muriel found him, Caspian the Tenth, wandering around in her garden, the only place where Muriel could be alone.

It had surprised her greatly because her garden wasn't so easily found. Thus Muriel had asked him what he was doing in her garden. He had simply raised his dark eyebrow and complimented her on the flowers that grew there, only when she heard his accent she realized that this was the prince she'd heard about from her father. She had mumbled a small thank you and asked him if he could swordfight. The two children had been playing with each other the whole afternoon, but Miraz left the same day and went back to Narnia angry.

The King of Archenland had refused to work with Miraz and this had been a very brave decision. She wasn't very aware of the situation yet, but Muriel knew that her father was afraid. Afraid of what Archenland would become once Miraz got his dirty hands on it, afraid what would become of Archenland if a war would start, but they hadn't heard from Miraz after that day and that had been a long time ago.

The young Muriel also hadn't heard from Caspian and since he was one of the very first children that had liked her, she was a little sad that he didn't visit again.

Muriel was older now, she had some friends. She loved to sneak to the kitchen and talk to the son of the cook, Killian. He was a little older than her, but they were inseparable.

And now that Muriel was old enough to marry, noble men came to her father and asked for her hand. Men had offered money, treasures and land in return and Muriel had felt like a slave and begged her father not to agree to these offers. Her father was a kind and understanding man and even though he and his daughter didn't always see eye to eye he did understand her concerns about these men and refused the offers.

Muriel smiled to herself, the conversations she had with her father about that matter had always amused her. Her father would tell her about the suiters that had come by that day, and to say her father wasn't impressed was an understatement.

Muriel sighed once again, her father was too busy with ruling Archenland so there were less conversations between the two.

Her thoughts were interrupted when footsteps approached. Muriel quickly hopped out of the window and closed it. Last time someone saw her legs out of the window they almost got a heartattack, when her father had confronted her with this she had simply shrugged and this had caused yet another argument. She was lucky this time for it was only her brother.

"Planning to throw yourself out of the window, dear sister?"

Muriel let out a scoff, her brother had a way with words.

Prince Darrin, heir of the throne, was named after one of the brave twins that had helped king Lune in his battles. It was normal for Twins to be called such names, for example Cor and Corin, Dar and Darrin. But Darrin no longer had a twinbrother which made him heir to the throne. Because of this, he got a lot more attention than his younger sister, Muriel. Muriel was surprisingly okay with that, most of the attention he received came from young women anyway.

"Even though living with you is a hard task, throwing myself out of the window won't solve that, dear brother." She saw her brother raise an eyebrow and continued, "besides, leaving you in charge of Archenland on your own doesn't seem like a good idea."

Now it was his turn to scoff, "please, we both know I'm smarter and stronger. And you know what? I'm even prettier than you are."

There was a moment of silence. Darrin and Muriel burst out laughing.

Muriel shook her head while laughing and spoke, "oh dear Darrin, are these thoughts the only thing that help you sleep at night?"

The prince didn't miss a beat and smirked as he replied "that, and the thought that you might throw yourself out of a window someday."

Muriel gaped at him, that was so rude. "I will tell father you said that-"

He laughed at her and winked. "Sure you will."

Muriel couldn't think of anything to say in return. It was checkmate and by the look on his face Darrin knew all too well that he was right. She huffed. Usually he was the immature one, but this time there was nothing else she could do. Thus she decided to do the immature thing herself.

Muriel balled her fists and hit his arm. The satisfied look on his face fell as Darrin hissed in pain. His hand went to his arm to rub the spot where she'd hit him. "You're very strong," he groaned.

A smug look appeared on Muriels face. "Thank you, dear brother, I try."

Darrin was ready to pick up their discussion again, but got distracted when a pretty lady walked by. She batted her eyelashes at him and walked further down the big halls. Muriel saw how her brother's eyes followed the maiden's moves and she gagged. "Please go and capture that girl's heart. Anything, just as long as I don't have to look at your face while you do it."

Her brother turned to her, bowed and kissed her hand mockingly. "My dear sister, no woman can outstand you or your beauty."

"Please," said Muriel as she rolled her eyes in disgust and waved him off, "spare me your flirtation."

Darrin grinned and ran off. Muriel was alone again.