Well...I'm quite surprised at myself. I had planned to wait awhile before beginning my next multi chapter story and instead focus on "Crownless", which is more a collection of connected one shots than it is a proper story, but here I am! I got the idea for this story while listening to the Focus on the Family Radio Theatre Productions of the Narnia books and then couldn't quite get it out of my head. I guess I'll see where it goes; I hope you all enjoy!

Once there were four children named Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy. It has been told in another story, and by a far better writer than I, how these four fell out of our world and came into another land called Narnia. In Narnia, they defeated an evil Witch, freed the land from her enchantments and reigned for many years as kings and queens in Narnia. Their reign became known as the Golden Age of Narnia and they were beloved by their people, for they were wise and kind rulers, great in council and in battle. But their reign was not always peaceful, and this is the story of something that happened in Narnia, in the fourth year of the Golden Age, which greatly disrupted the peace for a time and became even more important a great deal later on. This particular event was long remembered as one of the few times High King Peter was not the one among his siblings to react rashly through anger; for though Peter was called "The Magnificent" he was known to be swift in anger and terrible in battle when enemies threatened his land. But that is getting ahead of where our story really begins.

"Giants?" Lucy quite forgot her queenly poise in the excitement she felt at being invited to a great feast at a Giant's castle. Susan, who was far too proper to forget herself so easily, gave her sister a warning glare. The four monarchs were seated around a small council table, most of which was obscured by a gigantic roll of beautifully written parchment.

"I'm not entirely sure we should go," said Peter, examining the enormous invitation carefully. "At least not the three of you. It's a frightfully long way away and I don't feel right leaving Narnia unprotected so the four of us can go galivanting off to a feast."

"Yes, but I really think we ought to go, or at least you and I ought to, Peter," this from Edmund who looked very grave indeed, as if they had been invited to a council of war and not to a feast. "These northern giants are a great deal different from the ones we have here in Narnia and I've a feeling we don't want to offend them."

Susan pursed her lips and crossed her arms stubbornly. "Well I certainly don't want to go. It's nearly winter and I don't fancy traipsing across Ettinsmoor with snow threatening all the while. I don't believe Lucy should go either."

"But Susan! Surely one of us should go? Mightn't the giants be offended if both Narnia's kings attend with their warriors and a great show of force and the queens don't? Won't it seem like we don't trust them?" Lucy turned a pleading look towards Peter. "Please? Surely my going wouldn't do any harm?"

"She's got a point about it being a show of trust," Edmund added helpfully. "I don't think we should trust them, but it might be better if they think we do. That way, if they mean mischief they won't expect us to discover it and they'll be less cautious."

"If you think they might mean mischief then you really shouldn't go!" Susan countered sharply, her temper flaring. The usually gentle queen had been in a foul mood ever since the previous week when an ambassador from Telmar had attempted to buy her hand in marriage from Peter. The ambassador, of course, was quickly sent home empty handed, but the whole incident had left those involved rather more inclined towards suspicion.

Edmund rolled his eyes and seemed about to respond with a snappish comment when Peter decided at last that he had heard quite enough. "Don't get started arguing again, if you do we will never decide what to do. Lucy, sit down and do try to compose yourself; if we do go it will be far less like a holiday than you imagine. Susan, don't snap at Edmund like that, he's only trying to be sensible. And Edmund, really, you must try to stop thinking the worst of every invitation we receive. It's quite possible they are simply trying to be friendly and mean no mischief at all." That shut them all up rather effectively and Peter took a moment to feel rather satisfied by that fact.

"Now then," he said after a moment. "I suppose you're all right to some extent. We must go it seems, but if Susan will agree to stay here and take charge of ruling while we are gone I see no reason why Lucy shouldn't accompany Edmund and I as a show of faith."

Lucy clapped her hands together in delight. "Oh Peter! Thank you! I am so longing to go on an adventure again; it's so dreadfully dull learning to be a proper queen!"

Peter smiled indulgently at his youngest sister. "I dare say it may be nothing like you imagine, do try not to be too disappointed if this turns out to be dreadfully dull as well, Lu." But Lucy's eyes were shining and her enthusiasm was not to be dampened. She leapt to her feet, kissed Peter on the cheek, and dashed off at once in a flurry of skirts, much to Susan's chagrin.

"Lucy! Come back here at once! Lucy, you've forgotten your slippers!" But Lucy was already long gone and Susan shook her head. "Really, I don't know what's gotten in to her; she used to at least try to behave properly."

Peter and Edmund shrugged and exchanged confused looks; neither could quite see what was so improper about Lucy running through the castle in her bare feet. "You will be alright, won't you Su? Running the kingdom by yourself, I mean?" Peter asked quickly, trying to distract her from the problem of Lucy's abandoned slippers.

Susan smiled fondly. "Of course, I will, who do you think managed affairs last year when you and Edmund rode out hunting the remnants of the Witch's army?"

Peter grinned a trifle sheepishly. "That's a fair point, dear sister. But last year we weren't so beset by suitors seeking your hand in marriage."

Susan's expression darkened. "It certainly is nice to have two protective and heavily armed brothers present to suitably terrify anyone who dares press their suit too fiercely, but you forget that I too am armed should the need for force arise." Her eyes flashed dangerously; Susan might despise the very thought of war, or of taking a life but that did not mean she was incapable of doing so.

"And what of you, brother?" Peter turned to Edmund, who had grown rather more silent and thoughtful then he usually was. "Do you feel able to undertake such a journey with winter coming on apace?"

Edmund scowled more fiercely than Susan, which Peter would have deemed impossible moments before. "I'm not a child, Peter! I am perfectly capable of traveling in winter, whether I like to or not has no part in my decision. Sorry," he added a moment later. "I know you meant well by it."

Peter nodded and tried to force the persistent headache behind his eyes to abate. Giants! Why must every simple invitation become a diplomatic ordeal? And this one with giants no less. "Very well then, I will speak with Orieus and we shall leave on the morrow."

Susan rose, collected Lucy's slippers, and glided gracefully from the room, doubtless in search of her wayward sister. Edmund looked about to follow her when Peter called after him. "Edmund, a word?"

Edmund sighed, glowered at his brother and stayed where he was, his face half hidden in the shadow of the doorway. "Yes?"

"Are you sure you'll be alright? I'm really not questioning whether or not you are capable, only if it is entirely wise for you to come with me." Peter half expected his brother to fly into a rage or alternately to remain sullenly silent. Instead Edmund sighed and rubbed a hand across his face wearily, his expression may have been in shadow but there was no hiding the exhaustion in his movements. Winter always brought nightmares and sleepless hours for the Just King.

"Look here Pete, we both know I hate winter and we both know why, but I don't cease to be a king of Narnia just because it might snow. If anything, that's when I must become more a king of Narnia. Don't worry about me; I'll manage. It would be far less wise to go without me. We both know I'm the diplomatic one and you're the one who goes charging into battles without a plan." Peter thought he heard a hint of amusement in Edmund's voice, though his expression remained grave.

"Are you expecting it to be a battle? We are being invited to a feast, not a council of war."

"It's best to be prepared for any contingency, at least," he added with a smirk, "That's what my tutors are always telling me."

Peter smiled and left it at that; after all, it was no use arguing with Edmund once his mind was made up.

Far to the north, beyond the wilds of Etinsmoor in the great city of the Giants, the Giant king sat, surrounded by his councilors. He was a rather enormous giant; far taller than his gentler cousins found in Narnia and far wiser than the dumb and brutish giants of the lower Ettinsmoor.

He smiled at his comrades, but it was a rather nasty smile, and asked in a voice louder than thunder; "Well? Will the Narnian Kings and Queens attend me? What say you, my lady?"

A rather tiny person, in comparison to the Giants surrounding her, the lady in question stood, the folds of her dress rustling with the movement, and curtsied to the king. "My lord," she answered in a lilting, musical voice, "It is my belief that none so arrogant and self-assured as they could fail to do so. The Narnians are a trusting people, though rather lacking in intelligence. They will believe themselves honoured beyond measure and will heed not the trap you lay for them until it has sprung closed upon them. Besides, these four are but children, fair and kind children by all accounts, but children none the less. What child could bear refuse the chance to be honoured beyond all others? Thy wit for planning, dear king, is unparalleled in all this world beneath you." And she smiled, her eyes shining green as poison.

The king laughed, well pleased with her flattery, and the whole of his great hall shook with the force of it. "Then let us be well prepared to welcome our most royal guests!" His councilors added their deep, booming laughs to his and the whole earth seemed to quake.

Extra points if you know who the lady is; you got a bit of a hint! A tiny one though, I don't want everything to be too obvious. As usual I apologise for grammatical and punctuation errors, I'm always in a bit of a rush to post and often miss things. Leave me a review and let me know what you think of this first chapter and the general idea! Thanks for reading, until next time.

Cheers,

A