Prologue

Sixteen year old Prince Caspian Ⅹ was feeling particularly cooped up one day. His professor had kept him inside all day and he hadn't had many stargazing nights, so he hadn't been outside much recently. And today was such a lovely day. He knew his professor and aunt would probably frown upon his leaving, especially without guards, but he didn't care. Prince Caspian changed into some suitable clothing and snuck out of his bedroom. He was thankful when no one stopped him in the halls of the castle and he made his way outside. He decided it was best to stay near the castle today, so a search party wouldn't come after him. Thankfully, none of the guards stopped him as he walked out of the castle and into the town.

Prince Caspian thought the town was unusually busy today, but maybe that was because it was such a nice day. The weather had been rather dismal lately, but it was sunny today and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. Prince Caspian smiled as he saw the boys chasing each other, the girls playing, the women socializing, and the men laughing.

Prince Caspian continued on his way, nodding and smiling politely at everyone who acknowledged him. He was nearing the center of the town, where the square and several stores were located. There was a baker, a tailor, a florist, and a blacksmith there. Prince Caspian frowned slightly as he saw there were several people in the square. They seemed to be watching something. Upon getting closer, he heard laughter, clapping, and music. Intrigued at what he was seeing and hearing, Prince Caspian walked towards the crowd. Everyone was too focused on what they were watching and didn't notice him approach, so he wordlessly joined the growing crowd and watched what was happening. There were several couples dancing to the song being played. Prince Caspian smiled at the sight, thinking it was amazing to see people dancing without a care in the world, but noticed the middle couple was doing a different dance than everyone else. The man was older, judging by his greying hair, but the girl was much younger… his age, perhaps. It looked like a father and daughter. Prince Caspian was a little surprised when he found himself staring at her. Her moves were graceful and fluid. Her dancing was captivating and she seemed to be one with the music. If he were honest with himself, he'd say he'd never seen someone dance so beautifully. When he pulled his gaze away from her, he wasn't surprised to see that he wasn't the only one staring at her. In fact, several of the eyes in the crowd seemed to be trained on her and following her every move. Soon, the song was done and the dancers each struck a final pose before they broke away, clapping with smiles on their faces.

"Sing something for us, Jules!" the elderly man in the middle suddenly said. His dance partner, and the girl Prince Caspian assumed was his daughter, froze in shock.

"Yeah, Jules! Sing for us!" another voice piped up. Soon, everyone seemed to be encouraging the embarrassed and flustered girl to sing. Suddenly, a young girl ran forward and stood in front of the older girl.

"Will you please sing for us?" she asked. The older girl, Jules, smiled gently down at her.

"What's your name?" she asked.

"Camilla," the girl answered.

"Well, Camilla, what would you like me to sing?" The young girl positively beamed at Jules' question.

"Sing something special!" she requested.

"Special? What kind of special?" Jules asked. Camilla seemed to think about it and Prince Caspian realized the crowd was now listening to them.

"Sing something you haven't sang in a long time," Camilla requested. Jules looked thoughtful for a few seconds before her face lit up.

"I've got just the song," she said. Camilla squealed in delight and the crowd cheered a little as well. Prince Caspian remained silent, wondering what she was going to sing… and wondering why everyone had specifically requested she sing in the first place.

Jules picked up a strange case and opened it before pulling out an instrument Prince Caspian didn't recognize. The largest part was a wide, curvy piece made of wood. A stick was coming out of it and extended a couple feet. It certainly was a larger instrument. There were six strings on it as well. Jules quietly plucked at one of the strings and twisted a strange dial at the end of the instrument. She seemed to check the other strings and listened to the sounds they made before clearing her throat. The previously quiet crowd fell dead silent and looked at Jules.

"Okay," she started, "just as Camilla requested, this is a song I haven't sang… or really even thought of in a long time. This is a song my mother used to sing to me when I was little. It's called…" Jules trailed off and Prince Caspian knew why. She had seen him. However, she quickly recomposed herself and continued. "It's called 'Good Riddance.'" Jules then began the song.

Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road

Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go

So make the best of this test and don't ask why

It's not a question but a lesson learned in time

It's something unpredictable, but in the end is right

I hope you had the time of your life

So take the photographs and still-frames in your mind

Hang it on a shelf in good health and good time

Tattoos of memories and dead skin on trial

For what it's worth, it was worth all the while

It's something unpredictable, but in the end is right

I hope you had the time of your life

It's something unpredictable, but in the end is right

I hope you had the time of your life

It's something unpredictable, but in the end is right

I hope you had the time of your life

Prince Caspian now knew why everyone had wanted her to sing. He had never heard the song before, but that didn't matter. It was her voice he was paying attention to, not the song. He barely registered the pleasant tune, he was too busy marveling at Jules' voice. He'd never heard a voice so clear and pure. She seemed to capture everyone's attention, as well, not just his. Even some birds had come and landed on the ground around her. Her voice was so captivating that Prince Caspian found himself thoroughly disappointed when the song ended. Everyone broke out into applause and Prince Caspian joined in wholeheartedly. A wide smile graced Jules' face, but it fell quickly at the sound of a yell. Everyone gasped and whipped around when a head of blonde hair darted through the crowds, followed by a red-faced baker.

"THIEF! THIEF!" he cried. The blonde boy gasped and everyone could see the loaf of bread in his hand. Prince Caspian wasn't quite sure what to do, especially when he saw some of the crowd exchange shocked and scared looks.

"No, please!" the boy cried. "I promise to pay later, please!"

"Lies!" the baker hissed. He stepped forward towards the boy and raised his hand. Everyone's eyes widened and a few screams sounded as he brought his hand down.

"NO!" Everyone heard. The sound of a hard slap pierced the air along with the voice of a familiar girl: Jules. She had flung herself in front of the boy and taken the slap for him.

"Move out of the way, you foolish girl," the baker threatened. Prince Caspian did not know what to do. He'd never seen something like this before. He wanted to intervene, but he worried it only make matters worse. And he was practically frozen in shock at what Jules had done. But… a very small part of Prince Caspian didn't want to intervene. He wanted to see what would happen.

"No," Jules said firmly to the baker. She reached into the pocket of her trousers and retrieved some money. "Take it."

"What makes you think I would accept anything from a little street rat like yourself?" the baker spat. Prince Caspian felt shock wash through him again. Jules was… homeless? He looked at her, to see how she would react, but her face remained stoic.

"If you will not accept the payment, then you are technically giving the bread away, meaning you have absolutely no right to chase after this boy, accusing him to be a thief." The baker was stumped at that, but soon, he took the money with a huff and stomped off with a scowl. The crowd had apparently decided it was a good time to disperse, but Prince Caspian didn't move. He stared at Jules in wonder as she kneeled before the boy and spoke softly to him. What she had just done was…

"She's really something, isn't she?" Prince Caspian heard. He tore his gaze from the girl and saw the man she'd been dancing with earlier.

"Yeah, she is," Prince Caspian agreed. "Who is she?"

"That's a good question, my liege," the man replied. "I doubt she knows the answer to that herself."

"Is what the baker said true? Is she a…?"

"Yes, Jules is homeless," the man replied sadly. "I would take the girl in, but she refuses to accept help. Wants to make her own way in the world, I guess. She seems to be happy though, so I've left her alone." The man turned to leave, but he turned back to Prince Caspian a few seconds later.

"I've never met a kinder soul than Jules," he said. "She really deserves more than life has given her." With that, he left. Prince Caspian didn't doubt what he'd said and turned back in time to see Jules leading the boy and the young girl named Camilla towards a nearby fountain. Prince Caspian watched as she pulled out a rag and began to clean the boy's hands. When he approached them, he saw that they were cut up.

"Are you okay?" Prince Caspian spoke up once he reached them. The group of three jumped and looked at him. Camilla gave a squeak of shock and excitement. The boy gasped and his eyes widened a considerable amount. Jules' eyes were slightly bigger than normal, but that was her only reaction.

"Yes, we're okay. Thank you, my liege," she said. Prince Caspian came and sat down on the other side of the boy as Jules finished cleaning his hands.

"Now, Jordi, what am I going to say?" Jules said in a motherly tone.

"That stealing is bad," the boy, Jordi, replied timidly.

"And it is," Jules replied. Her tone became gentler. "I know it sometimes feels like stealing is the only way, but it's not."

"But I can't make money," Jordi said. "I'm not good at singing and dancing like you." Jules smiled softly at the boy.

"So, what are you good at?" she asked.

"I… I like books," Jordi said. Jules' smile widened.

"Well, I heard not long ago that a certain bookstore owner was looking for some extra help," she said. Jordi's eyes lit up.

"Truly?" he asked.

"Yes, Jordi," Jules assured him. "The store is just in that direction. The owner's name is Mateo. Just tell him I sent you." Jordi suddenly wrapped his arms around Jules and she returned it with a small laugh.

"Thank you, Jules." With that, he was off.

"You're good with kids," Prince Caspian commented, having been there for the entire exchange.

"Thank you," Jules said. She watched Jordi run off with a light fondness in her eyes. Then, she turned to him. "Is there anything I can do for you, my liege?"

"Oh, no, um…" Prince Caspian said awkwardly. "It's just… you are a very good dancer and singer." Jules' pale cheeks turned pink.

"Oh, um, th-thank you," she stuttered. Prince Caspian smiled slightly, but his attention was turned to Camilla as she spoke.

"She really is!" the girl agreed. "Good enough to be a princess!" Prince Caspian wasn't blind to the mischievous look in the girl's eye and wondered how a little girl could imply what she had.

"Camilla, be polite," Jules scolded lightly. Her cheeks were even pinker than before, though, and Prince Caspian was sure his were a little redder than normal. "Now, I think it's time you got home. Your mother will worry."

"Bye, Jules! Goodbye, Prince Caspian!" The two waved as the little girl took off running for home. Prince Caspian went to say something, but paused. Jules' gaze had left Camilla and was now aimed at the ground. Before, Jules' eyes had been filled with nothing but kindness and a slightly innocent light. The looks were still there, but they were almost overpowered by a look of sadness. No, sadness wasn't right… that was too generic for the emotion Prince Caspian saw in Jules' deep jade eyes. He didn't know her, but the complete and utter sadness and despair in her eyes practically tore him apart. He'd never seen a look like that before, and he knew it was the look of someone who had known rock bottom… of someone who not only had nothing, but had lost everything and everyone dear to them. If this was true, he understood why no one knew much about Jules. He'd want to keep all of that a secret as well if he were in her position.

"Prince Caspian!" he suddenly heard. He, once again, had to tear his gaze away from Jules to see his professor coming towards them. Looked like his free time was over.

"Professor," Prince Caspian greeted. "I want you to meet someone. This is Jules." The girl bowed slightly and smiled at Professor Cornelius, the previous look in her eyes now only a haunting memory in Prince Caspian's mind

"It's an honor to meet you," she greeted. Professor Cornelius smiled at her, but his eyes were studying her.

"Is Jules short for Julianna?" he asked her. She looked up at him, her eyes slightly wide.

"Y-yes," she said.

"A beautiful name," Professor Cornelius complimented. "The name of the Guardian of Narnia." Prince Caspian, who very much loved hearing stories of the old Narnia, just now realized that.

"Yes, sir. My mother believed in her, and when she saw my head of curly hair, she decided to name me after her." Prince Caspian and Professor Cornelius nodded. All of the stories of Lady Julianna had described her as having dark curly hair.

"I only hope I can be as kind and brave as her one day," Jules continued.

"I'm sure you will be, my dear," Professor Cornelius said. There was a pause before he suggested something that caught the girl off guard. "Why don't you come to the castle? You look like you could use a good meal and a fresh change of clothing." Jules looked down at herself, a little self-conscious, but couldn't help but agree with him. She was rather thin and very rumpled looking.

"I wouldn't want to impose," she said starting to turn down the offer.

"No, please come," Prince Caspian then said. "It'll be fun." Jules looked at his smile for a few seconds and slowly nodded, her own smile appearing on her face. Then, the group of three made their way towards the Telmarine Castle, Professor Cornelius' gaze almost never leaving Jules. On her neck, was a mark… something Prince Caspian had dismissed as dirt, but Professor Cornelius knew better. He hardly dared to believe it, but there it was right in front of his eyes. The mark on the side of the girl's neck was, clear as day, the head of a lion.

Hey all! Here's the prologue to my new story, the sequel to "Discovering Their Guardian." Let me know that you all think :)

Cheerio!