Disclaimer: Me own nothing. You no sue. There's also the slight problem of me having a total life savings of about five bucks.
Author's note: This fic takes place a few months after the Pevensies are crowned. I wrote this after seeing the new movie and loving it.
Queen Lucy awoke to early birds singing outside her window. She sat up slowly, running her fingers slowly through her cropped hair. She flung off the sheets and slipped into her light sandals, padding over to the wardrobe in the corner of her room. There she paused, smiling at the similarity to the wardrobe that had brought her to Narnia. But the carvings on this wardrobe were distinctly Narnian, with fauns and wood nymphs dancing along the curve of the dark red wood. Lucy opened the door and admired the gowns that hung there, each one handmade by the many followers of the Crowned Four. The youngest Queen donned a powder blue dress embroidered with golden flowers. Then she settled her delicate crown on her head and trotted down the spiral stairs.
Queen Susan met Lucy in the carpeted hallway. The two queens walked quietly to one of the balconies that jutted out of the smooth outer wall of Castle Cair Paravel. The girls were bathed in a soft light as they turned to the deep blue of the ocean. A balmy sea breeze lifted their hair from their faces and rustled their skirts about their ankles. Together they watched the golden sun rise in the east, chasing the rosy fingers of dawn across the brightening sky. Susan put her arm around her younger sister's shoulders and hugged her as the morning chill caused them both to shiver slightly.
"I wonder if that's the same sun as the one back in England," whispered Lucy, watching a gull winging its way south. Susan shrugged, inwardly asking the same question. They were so far from home, she thought as the Narnian sun hovered above the shimmering Narnian sea. So far from home.
Finally Susan took Lucy's hand and led her back inside. They wandered down a spiral staircase to the dining hall. King Edmund was already present. He was seated at a small breakfast table at the far end of the room. Lucy sat next to him, buttering a slice of toast. "Where's Peter?" she asked as Susan sat also.
"He just got word that the ambassador from Archenland will be arriving soon," answered Edmund, straightening his dark green tunic. "He's making preparations for him."
"Archenland is the country in the Southern mountains, right?" said Susan, fingering the hem of her napkin. She had spent hours poring over maps of Narnia and the surrounding nations.
"Yeah, and Peter thinks we might have a chance for an alliance," Edmund answered. "We're also getting the ambassador from Calormen, which is even farther south. But they've got a bigger empire and aren't as interested. Tumnus says that we should watcj out for them."
"I'm sure Peter and the others will be able to make some kind of peace," said Susan patiently, helping herself to a hard-boiled egg. Edmund let out a small disbelieving sound but otherwise was silent. He had distinctly quieted since his coronation, turning more thoughtful and less contrary. The two girls appreciated the change, as did Peter.
A Faun clothed in royal livery trotted up to the door. "Milord and ladies," he said, "Ambassadors Bor and Borin of Archenland have arrived. The High King requests your presence in the throne room."
The three quickly rose from the table. Edmund straightened his dark green tunic as he stepped out the door, his sisters following in his wake.