Disclaimer: I Do Not Own The Chronicles of Narnia

Edit: 6/21/2019

(Cair Paravel, The Next Night)

Edmund cautiously peered over the top of the large bush he was hiding behind. The castle was ablaze with lights. The normally dim hallways were flooded with light from the torches lining the walls. Large candle chandeliers lit the palace ballroom and the scents of hundreds of entreès waited out the kitchen doorway.

Tonight was The Feast of Summer, and Narnians would come from far and wide to not only see the current monarchs but to dance to the local Faun's music. The hiding King had many fond memories of when he had attended the Feast. A look of almost longing flashed across his face before he turned to his companions.

"Louis, you take half of the men and replace the guard. Monroe, you take the other half and open the secret hatch in the back. I will be at the party and will take the crown if it is on display ahead of schedule. If not, we shall meet in the treasury at 10 o'clock. Any questions?" At the men's silence, he continued. "If we follow the plan nothing can go wrong. Let's go."

The men quickly followed his instructions. For his role in the crime, Edmund had to emotionally prepare himself. As much as he disliked stealing, he hated hurting his siblings even more. He just hoped that one day they would find the ability to forgive him for his deception.

Edmund glanced around the ballroom. People of all nationalities and countries were there. Carefully checking the string on his mask, he took a deep breath and walked in. The appetizers he tried first were delicious, obviously the work on Astrodome, the centaur chef at the time he was there. Just then a deep voice broke through the room's chatter.

"People of Narnia and surrounding lands, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you to The Feast of Summer! As you may know, this celebration has been going on for thousands of generations and ours will have a double meaning. On this day, 10 years ago, my brother and sisters and I were crowned rulers of Narnia. Please enjoy this celebration and more importantly, have fun!"

Edmund, startled out of his silent observation of the ballroom, stared at the speaker. For not 10 meters in front of him was his brother, High King Peter the Magnificent. His eyes widened at all the changes to Peter since he had last seen him. His brother had grown tall, with shoulder length golden hair and eyes that were joyful, yet serious. Edmund had to crush the instinctual urge to grab him in a bone-crushing hug.

After his speech, the man turned to assist a beautiful lady to her throne. Edmund gasped at the elegance of his older sister, Queen Susan the Gentle. She had long shimmering brown hair and the fairest face in the kingdom. Edmund realized all the things he missed with her, her first suitor, her first everything. These thoughts distracted him from realizing the arrival of his youngest sister, Queen Lucy the Valient, who engaged in conversation with her other siblings.

-Narnia-

"Oh, Peter your speech was simply wonderful! Although I must admit I can't believe we've ruled for 10 years!"

Peter smiled at his sister's excitement. After her breakdown last night, he was glad to see her in better spirits.

"I can almost believe it. Why just this morning I found a gray hair! I nearly had a stroke!

Susan's interjection brought him back from his earlier thoughts. He winked playfully at Lucy. "I'm sure we will survive such a horrid catastrophe, right Lu?"

Lucy's smothered giggles and Susan's undignified huff brought the smile back to his face.

"Peter?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you see that man, the one in the mask?"

"Yes. What about him?"

"He just looks familiar, don't you think?"

"Lucy, I've seen so many people lately everyone looks familiar. You're probably just imagining it."

Lucy looked indignant but continued to stare at the man with interest. Finally, Susan came to her wit's end. "Why don't you just go talk to him. Anything is better than memorizing everything he does!"

Lucy smiled, standing upright. "I think I shall." With that, she hopped off her throne and navigated through the crowd towards him.

Lucy searched through the tables. Finally catching a glimpse of the man through the crowd, she headed straight for him. Taking a deep breath she smiled brightly and said, "Hello! My name is Lucy, what's yours?"

Edmund spun around and looked down at his sister. She had grown into a magnificent lady in her own cheerful way. Realizing she had just asked him a question he swallowed his drink and replied with his cover story, "My name is Tiberius, Tarkaan Tiberius."

"A pleasure to meet you Taarkaan."

"The pleasure is all mine, your Majesty."

"How did you know I was a Queen?"

"I studied your country before I came, for I did not wish to bring shame to my people."

"Well as long as your here please call me Lucy, Taarkaan."

"Very well, as long as you call me Tiberius."

"Alright." She turned slightly as the band began a new song," Tell me, did your studies include some of our traditional folk dances?"

Edmund smiled and instantly lead her to the dance floor. They danced with spins and dips, twirls and two steps for quite some time before Lucy dragged him to the balcony, wanting him to see the stars.

"Are your Calormene parties as exhausting as ours Tiberius?"

Edmund learned on the balcony railing. " We mainly just sit and talk, however, I have heard that some of the parties in the estates by the river of Tashban can get quite wild."

Lucy stared at him in interest. "Please, tell me more about your country. Is it always hot in Calormine?"

"Yes. It often gets up to 120°F at midday. But you still work in it, heat or not. They say it makes you stronger but all it seems to do is kill the weak through heatstroke."

Lucy noticed the bitter edge of the last sentence held. She wondered what could have caused such obvious resentment in the man's speech.

" What do you mean? People don't just work like that for—"

" I don't want to talk about it."

The obvious harshness in his tone silenced her. After a few moments of struggling for a topic, inspiration struck. Quickly she said," I know what we can do! Let's go see the display. The guards refused to tell us what it was and I'm dying to see it."

"After you then Milady."