The Early Chronicles: The Story of Swanwhite

Chapter 1

The warm, red glow of dusk swept across the courtyard as Swanwhite wearily tromped towards the castle after a long afternoon of swordplay.  A Faun trotted beside her, struggling to hold her heavy sword and shield.  Swanwhite's golden braid, though disheveled, shone in the evening sunlight, as did the silver helmet she held against her side.

"Stunning job, your majesty."  The Faun said breathlessly.  Swanwhite switched the helmet to her other hand and took her shield from the Faun to lighten his load.

"You needn't give me false praise, Ulmnus.  You heard what Rufus said.  'I have improved since last week but not enough since the week before'."  She quoted the gruff Minotaur's words in as low a voice as she was able.  

"Rufus means well, your majesty.  He forgets how to be patient and gentle at times."  Ulmnus said as he shifted the sword to a more manageable position.  Swanwhite said nothing and swung open the massive wooden door and handed her helmet and weapons to a waiting soldier.  

"You are dismissed, Ulmnus.  Tell Genevieve that I will be awaiting her assistance in my room." The Faun bowed and scurried out of the room almost before she had completed her instructions.  She eagerly marched through the long corridor and up the stairs in the  farthest tower to her bed chambers with wobbly and sore legs.  He bed chamber was at the very end of the hallway so she could be by a window, and was a splendid size with a four-post king-size bed, a wardrobe carved with intricate designs of Narnia creatures and plants, a wash basin, two arm chairs and a side table, a desk cluttered with papers, a bookshelf, and a balcony where she could watch the comings and goings in the castle.  Swanwhite unstrapped her gloves and placed them on the side table, and then collapsed in an arm chair so she wouldn't get the bed dirty.  She sighed and closed her eyes.  Sword training was usually loads of fun, but over the months and years Rufus had grown grumpier, and the mounting suspense of her coronation grew closer, and the expectations of her grew higher.  Now her workload had seemed to have doubled, and the subjects she studied seemed to have grown harder overnight.  

She wasn't alone with her thoughts for long, for a soft knock at the door and a twist of a nob revealed a delicate Beech Tree Dryad, Genevieve  She was very tall and slender, and wore a dress of white that contrasted with her dark hair.  She curtsied and floated into the room with a stack of folded clothes in her arms.

"Pleasant day, my lady?"  She asked in a sing-song voice.  She placed the clothes on the bed and began putting them away in the wardrobe one by one.

"As pleasant as it could have been."  Swanwhite answered and took off her overdress.  "I'm afraid you'll have your work cut out for you.  I seem to be a terrible mess."

"Not a problem, my lady.  It is a pleasure to serve you even after you've been in the mud."  Genevieve smiled cheekily.  Swanwhite was cleaned and changed into a blue frock with ribbons all across the bodice and long sleeves that dropped down to her waist.  Then Genevieve brushed her hair and styled it on top of her head and placed a gold circlet on her forehead.  She fastened a pearl necklace around her neck and then gave her blue satin shoes to wear down to dinner.  Swanwhite gave a twirl and after Genevieve had nodded her approval, she made her way downstairs feeling more like the queen-to-be that she was.  

The Great Hall was truly the most spectacular room in the castle.  With its white and yellow marble floors Swanwhite could even hear the soft padding of her slippers as she walked through to the table.  The walls were golden with engravings of Centaurs raging in battle, of Fauns dancing around fires with musical instruments, of Talking Beasts in the wild, and of royal men going hunting or at great parties.  On the ceiling was painted a scene of swans flying through the clouds.  Six white marble pillars with gold trim around the bases and tops protruded from the walls that were adorned with battle shields and tapestries of old.  The great table stretched nearly half the room and was made of a rich red wood that only Narnians have seen.  Several servants were already standing around the table ready to serve, and the Minotaur Rufus was seated, along with a few other soldiers and lords and ladies of the court.  When Swanwhite entered the room, they all stood up and the servants bowed.  Swanwhite smiled and then sat down at the head of the table.  They immediately engaged in a lively conversation and a hearty meal of stag, boar, figs, greens, stew, pudding, and apple pie.  Fauns and Dryads scurried about the room, scooping heaps of the delicious meal onto plates, (on Rufus's especially) and clearing dishes.  The men laughed and clinked their glasses together and the women whispered or giggled together.  Swanwhite always felt relaxed at the dinner table no matter how complicated or grueling the day had been.  She could even block out the dread of the next day's schooling without trying very hard.