Teeny Prince Caspian storylet

[marcicatverse]

I have not seen the Prince Caspian movie, and it has been many years since I read the book. Still, when has that ever stopped me? Here is a teeny, tiny snippet of a story inspired by... well, pretty much just the movie trailer. Plus a long explanation.


I was very intrigued by the previews for Prince Caspian -- the swooping into the castle via giant bird-things in the dark of night? Very cool. However, I was discouraged by the fact that *every* review I read included the phrase "high body count." So I looked it up on wikipedia instead of going to the theater, and learned that at the end of the book (and presumably the movie as well) Aslan tells Peter and Susan that they are too old to return to Narnia. Well. Not only is that a complete and total lie (not to give away the last book or anything), it seemed unfair. Also, completely missing a major plot point of the story. Aslan wasn't the one who called them there in the first place -- it was Caspian, using the magical horn of help-calling.

Here's my interpretation: *Caspian* called the Pevensies to Narnia, and then Lucy called Aslan. I know he's a great big lion with nifty powers and knowledge, but I can't believe he actually controls the magic of Narnia to the extent this movie implies. He just doesn't seem like that much of a micro-manager to me, you know?

So I wanted to write a story to redress this greivous wrong I felt had been done by the movie/book/Aslan/C.S. Lewis. Well, really I just wanted to write something to give Peter a chance to go back to Narnia, because I think he'd want to. Plus, it seems like Caspian could really use some help. It's not like he has a ton of experience running a world, and Peter totally does. And I thought of a title I really liked. So I wrote this:

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


Calling Peter Pevensie

The Beginning

Peter blinked, or at least tried to. He was … somewhere much darker than his room should have been in the middle of the day. He'd gotten in the habit of sneaking back to the dormitory during meals, but he'd only just stepped through the door when everything went dark. Every muscle tensed and he tried to will his eyes to adjust. He couldn't hear, couldn't see -- he was afraid that if he tried to move, he might not be able to do that either. Time seemed to freeze, then twist, and then suddenly shift and Peter stumbled forward onto uneven ground.

He had to hold up a hand to block the sun. Birds were chirping, leaves were rustling; it was a forest -- a Narnian forest. He turned in a slow circle. "Caspian?" Peter called out hesitantly.

He saw the horse first, then Caspian, kneeling on the ground next to her. As Peter approached, Caspian opened his eyes. "Peter!" he said happily. He pushed himself to his feet and they grabbed forearms before embracing. Peter laughed.

"It worked."

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

After those 185 words, I pretty much stalled out. I had some other ideas, but couldn't quite manage to get them written. I thought it would be cool to see Peter doing his math homework in a Narnian castle, and writing treaty ideas in the dormitories at school. He could totally whip out first-hand knowledge of previous alliances/battles/strategies/groups that would be incredibly helpful to a new king whose power base was somewhat fragile and potentially suspect. And there would be the question of whether Aslan would do anything about it, or if Caspian would visit Earth, and what they were using to keep their worlds aligned to maintain a synchronous passage of time in both places.

But… I didn't write those parts. And I'm sick of beating myself up because I haven't written them. So I'm releasing this tiny snippet into the wilds of the internet, with my best wishes and a long and rambling explanation.

Comments

[nikkisilver.livejournal.com]

I like this little snipet. ::nods::

Please do stop beating yourself up over it. Maybe you'll write it someday down the road... maybe not. There is no way I can write all my own ideas that pop up all over the place. I mean, even if I didn't do a single other thing than write I could never get them all done.

You are awesome! You write awesome stuff! Now on to the next story with you. :-)

[starandrea.livejournal.com]

I love you so much! And everything you write! ::snuggles:: Check you out, with your VISION. You know, as much as I love the snippet itself, I also love the way you've described things around it: the introduction, and the "epilogue," as it were ♥ You are extra fabulous, and it just goes to show that who we are shines out in everything we do, not just the things that we work at, polish, and present as finished pieces ^_^

[funkyinfishnet.livejournal.com]

Cute little snippet, I love the hope that's there. Go you for trying to make a difference and righting (writing? maybe) a wrong. It doesn't matter if there's no more to it, you can only write what's there in your head. Great work :- )