Prologue

Hendon House Girls Academy was one of the best girls boarding schools in England, with everything a girl could need. Run by Mrs. Ellen Merrythought it was rank top 3 in England.

Like Hendon House, St. Finbar's Boys School across the way was also a highly regarded boy's boarding school. It was run by Mr. John Step, a former Army man from the First World War.

Now one thing Mr. Step and Mrs. Merrythought had in common was they both loved discipline and were both famous for it. Their schools ran like clockwork and if you dared step out of line then you had better pack your bags and leave before they caught you! But unlike Mr. Step, Mrs. Merrythought hated when the boys and girls 'fraternised' as she called it. However the rules were that after lessons, the students from both schools would be allowed meet in the green area between the schools, heavily supervised by teachers. On weekends they were allowed out between 10 and 4 to the nearby town.

On this afternoon, both Mr. Step and Mrs. Merrythought were standing by their respective gates leading into their schools. Giving each other a sharp nod they looked to the oncoming crowd of students. As they approached they boys detoured to the right and the girls to the left, walking past their principals, nodding and welcome back and thank yous.

Kate, Edmund and the others were part of the last wave of students that approached the gates. Kate and Edmund were holding hands, both having forgotten about their rings, talking to the others. Kate laughed as girls who past Edmund and Peter gave appraising looks, much to each boys satisfaction. Narnian training had given each boy a fairly healthy amount of muscle and both walked with a sense of pride, not able to just step out of their King roles quite so quickly. Everytime a girl so much as looked at Edmund Kate gave the most spectacular glare that would kill, causing each girl to turn frontwards again and keep her head down. Edmund would have laughed but he too was jealous.

Kate had a fair share of admirerer's. Edmund too would stare each boy down until they looked away, submitting each face to memory for another time. Peter, Susan and Lucy found this all very amusing. "No wonder you too are married!" Peter said, loud enough for them to hear but low enough to be ignored by the crowd.

"What do you mean?" Kate asked. Edmund too looked confused. Susan answered "Everytime someone so much as glances at you the other is sending death glares their way!" she laughed. Kate smirked and Edmund seemed unfazed by their comment. Kate started lagging and Edmund, catching on, started walking slower.

"What's up?" He asked. She smiled "I've never felt this much jealousy before!" she said embarrassed. Edmund laughed "Well can you blame them for looking!" Kate smirked inwardly, but kept her not impressed face on. Only that she was carrying her case did she not hit him. Seeing she wasn't impressed he smiled.

"Well it's nothing new for me! Remember when that Duke came from the Archenland?" he asked. Kate nodded remembering the duke in question had arrived for her wedding not knowing she was the bride had tried to flirt with her for the whole night until Peter came over, having had to came Edmund down already, and Duke straightened up.

"High King Peter!" he said giving a small bow. "How are you?"

"Very good! I'm sorry for the interruption but the bride to be is needed!" he said taking Kate's arm. The look on the young Dukes face was priceless. Peter gave the man a small bow and as they walked to Edmund Kate could almost see smoke coming from his ears. "Thank you!" She whispered to Peter who laughed.

"Personally I would have let you talk to him all night..." seeing the annoyed look on Kate's face "...but my very over protective and may I add jealous baby brother seemed to have other ideas...one involving a sword!" he said with a face that made Kate think he was serious. She smiled. "And the last thing we need is a war before the wedding!" she said and he nodded.

"Oh yea!" Kate said "As I recall you wanted to duel him!" she said. Edmund put on an innocent face "It was all in your honour!"

"Well aren't I lucky to have you then!" she said leaning in giving him a quick kiss. He smiled and they looked ahead to see the schools had come into view. Kate spotted Lucy and Susan waiting near the girls entrance and Peter walking away from they towards Kate and Edmund.

"Time to say goodbye lovebirds!" he smiled. Kate and Edmund didn't though. Kate put her bag down and hugged Edmund "Why are we always saying goodbye?" she asked.

"At least we can see each other every day unlike at the professors" he said trying to lighten the mood. She smiled and nodded. She picked up her bags and kissed him. Peter having enough pulled Edmund away "Come on Ed! Kate let go!"

"Fine!" she said with a pout. Susan and Lucy were laughing as Peter pulled Edmund towards St. Finbar's gates, hitting him once round the head for making him wait and acting like, from what they heard of Peter "A love sick puppy". He looked back once at Kate before disappearing into the gate. Sighing she turned to her sisters who smiled exasperatedly at she smiled "What" Can't I say goodbye to my husband?" she said as she joined them laughing. Susan shook her head and then remembered. "Speaking of marriage, you're 15 and you're wearing a wedding ring!" pointing to Kate's left hand.

"Oh thank you!" she said pulling the ring off and slipping it into her pocket. Picking up her bags the 3 walked by Mrs. Merrythought, nodding as they went. "YOU!" she said pointing at Kate "A word!" Kate walked over to her principal. "Your name?"

"Kate, Miss. Kate Kirke!" she had just remembered that the Professor was her guardian. She couldn't wait to tell him about how Narnia had changed.

"Ms. Kirke! Here at Hendon house we teach you how to be a young lady and that does not include fraternising with boys in public!" her voice was between angry and hysterical "Do not let me catch you in such behaviour again or there will be consequences! Understand?" Slightly scared Kate nodded and understood her dismissal, walked to where Susan and Lucy waited "What was that about?" Lucy asked. Kate laughed "I don't think she approved of your brother!" Susan shook her head and Lucy smiled.

"This is going to be an interesting year!" Kate said as they walked towards their new home.