AN: Right, I know that I probably shouldn't start another story while I still have another one on the go… But I really want to write this, partly because this will be the first one where it is actually sort of Canon! Wow! Isn't everyone proud of me? Or not, depending on your view…

Chapter 1

King Edmund the Just took off his helmet and held out his hand to his opponent, who was also his best friend.

"Well done, Fakir, you almost beat me this time!"

"Don't get cocky. You're only jealous that I thrashed you." the handsome Calormen boy said, flipping his head back from his forehead

"That was ages ago!"

"But you've refused to let me fight with my normal sword! Made me fight with these stupid straight swords!" Fakir cried. Edmund jovially put up his hands.

"Now, now. Don't get mad at me. You're not supposed to beat a King. And I can only just beat you now!" Edmund said and Fakir snorted.

"Yeah right! You're the best swordsman I've seen! You're a natural!" Edmund smiled in thanks, then stuck his sword in the ground and pulled off the heavy chain mail and pulled on a crushed velvet tunic that was slung carelessly over the fence.

"Aren't you meant to be getting ready for those Archenland ladies who are joining the guests?" Fakir said, doing the same as Edmund. Edmund grimaced,

"Yeah. Their meant to be famed for their beauty." He turned to Fakir "Is it just me, or is Peter trying to marry me off?" Fakir laughed.

"Well, there are all ways beauties around him, he merely wants you to try and make an effort so they'd stop bothering him!" Edmund smiled.

"Most guys would kill to be in his position! He's King and he's got loads of girls around him!"

"Ah!" Fakir put on his sage voice "There may be many beauties, but there is only one for him!" he gestured to where a pretty Calormen girl sat cross legged in the gardin, expertly painting a rose. Fakir and Edmund watched her for a moment.

"You know, personnaly I don't understand what he sees in her." Fakir said.

"Well she is you sister."

"You've got a point there." Fakir said. The boys smiled and walked on, turning a corner to the front of Cair Paravel. Standing in the driveway was the royal retinue, headed by Edmund's siblings: King Peter, Queen Susan and Queen Lucy, all dressed in sumptuous clothing and crowns. Peter glanced at where Edmund was standing and his expression hardened and he glared at Edmund.

"I think I should go." Fakir said, then hastily beat a retreat. Edmund sighed, then braced himself and squeezed himself through the crowd to stand next to Peter.

"Where were you!" Peter hissed, his eyes murderous.

"I was training. Look, I'm not late. They're not even here yet!" Edmund protested as a faun servant gentley clasped a cloak around his neck and placed a silver crown upon his head.

"That is not the point! The point is that yet again you are ignoring your duties!" Peter hissed and would have continued had not four horses appear from around the corner. Immdeadiately Peter straightened up and put on his 'King' face. As Edmund turned to look at the horses he wondered what had happened to Peter. He was turning into a control freak. He was no longer the boy who had come through the wardrobe with him and the rest of them. Edmund looked at his eldest sister, Susan, who was smiling prettily and politely; the perfect Queen. He glanced back at Lucy who had her hand on a golden brooch on her belt, a brooch in the shape of a lion: Aslan. Edmund looked back at the Archenland ladies. He was the only one who still thought about home. He still wanted one day to go back. He sighed and let the thoughts out of his mind. He looked properly at the figures on the horses. The first figure was their father; a portly gentleman in black robes which he had obviously thought made him look important and mysterious. Behind him on a dappled horse sat a girl in gold and forest green. She had blonde hair that curled down her back and beautiful olive green eyes. She was every bit as beautiful as the rumours had said, if not more. Behind her on a grey and black horse sat a girl in silver and spring water. Her black curls where lifted atop her head, where they spilled down her shoulders. Her ice blue eyes were framed by a black fringe. She was as stunning as her elder sister. Behind her on a chestnut charger sat a disappointingly unremarkable girl in bronze and an orange the colour of laughter. Her soft brown curls framed her face in a bored manner, her eyes; the colour of gold coins blinked in their too large settings, her nose was too sweet and soft for the rest of her angular, defined face. She was, Edmund decided, almost ugly. The man dismounted and helped down the eldest girl. She smiled at curtsied at Peter, who smiled back in return and helped down the second sister. Edmund smiled and stepped forward and held out his hand to help down the third sister. The girl smiled and Edmund immediately rethought. No one could describe a girl with a smile like that as ugly. No, she may not be beautiful, but she wasn't ugly. The girl took his hand and jumped happily down from her horse. The man smiled as Peter directed him towards the entrance.

"Welcome, Lord Peringal."

"Why thank you, your majesty. Again, I must thank you for inviting us to join such a prestigious party!" Peter inclined his head and nodded to the minotaur sentries, who opened the impressive oak doors to the castle.

"Ah, wait a little, your majesty. First I must introduce you to my lovely daughters." Lord Peringal said and gently took the arm of the eldest sister.

"My eldest daughter, Lady Serena" Serena dropped an elegant curtsy, her olive eyes fixed on Peter. Peter and Edmund bowed slightly and Lucy and Susan both curtsied slightly. Lord Peringal moved on to the middle sister.

"My middle child, Lady Miriam" Lady Miriam curtsied, her eyes gently smiling at Edmund. He bowed stiffly in reply. Lord Peringal then moved on the youngest sister.

"This is my youngest, Lady Cora" Cora smiled happily and dropped a curtsy that was definitely not the most elegant curtsy Edmund had ever seen, but it was certainly the happiest he had ever seen.

"I welcome you and your daughters, Lord Peringal." Peter said, before he finally managed to move Lord Peringal inside.

x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~x

Miriam strode along the marble corridors, acting like the castle was already hers. Behind her trailed the empty headed Serena and the giggly Cora. She pushed open the door to her room which she had been shown to earlier. Inside were her and her sisters trunks. She motioned her sisters inside, then closed the door. She turned and looked over Serena, ignoring the plain Cora.

"Now Serena, we have to make you look beautiful. Remember you want to make Peter fall in love with you." She told her elder sister, who was idly playing with one of her golden locks.

"Yes, Miriam."

"While I will have to look stunning for that Edmund. For we will both be Queens, and you" she pointed at her youngest sister "Can have a nice castle to live in."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Hope you like it! Oh, and please review!