Chapter 3: Settling In

After placing dresses in both Emma and Parker's rooms Susan and Lucy walked out into the main living room, where Peter, Edmund, and Caspian were all lounging around. Caspian had been given his own Wing on the West side of the castle but he spent a lot of time in the Pevensie's wing. Wonder why that is. Lucy smirked to herself as she watched Caspian's eyes immediately land on Susan as they walked into the room. I wonder if I'll ever find love like that. Lucy's thoughts then drifted to Landon, the stable boy, and a smile immediately graced her face.

"So have they settled in?" Peter drew Lucy from her thoughts.

"Oh yes, they both loved their rooms and we laid out dresses on each of their beds for dinner. Emma seems homesick, but she'll learn to love it here." Lucy then moved to take a seat next to Peter while Susan sat next to Caspian on the opposite couch. Edmund had taken a seat near the fireplace.

"I don't see why they'd be homesick, I mean what would they go back to? A coffin?" Edmund turned.

"Edmund!" Susan scolded. "They just lost their lives for Aslan's sake. They had families, how would you feel if this happened to you?"

"Hate to break it to you sis, but this did happen to us"

"We were fortunate enough to come as a family, we are still a family, and they have lost theirs and come with only eachother".

It was Lucy's turn to speak up. "Then we must make them apart of our family, they can't feel like guests, this is their home now too, and we must show them that". The Pevensie sibling all stared at Lucy in awe, despite her bubbly and childish behavior, there were times when Lucy spoke with more wisdom than anyone else.

"You're right" Peter said. "We must welcome them and learn more about them".

"Are you serious guys?! Think about what you're saying Peter, two new girls, that's like twice the drama! Besides they don't seem that nice to me." Edmund butted in.

"Are you sure you're not just thinking about Emma?" Susan smirked.

Edmund's face darkened, "Absolutely not! Susan you're crazy, I mean, I mean she's like a little devil! Did you see her disrespect me?! I'm a king, and she needs to learn to treat me as such".

Caspian finally spoke, "I'm excited to get to know these girls," Lucy saw Susan's face sadden just a bit, "I've never seen anyone poke Edmund's buttons like Emma just did" Caspian concluded.

"It was most definitely amusing…" Peter said. "I'd be interested to see how dinner goes.

"Oh yeah, it'll be just great". Edmund scowled.

"Let's get to it then!" Lucy rose and the Pevensies and Caspian then followed her out of the room toward dining hall.

Emma stood on the balcony of her room looking out over Narnia, waiting for the servant that would bring her to dinner. The bath had felt great, and she had come out of the washroom to find a sky blue dress waiting on the bed with an attached note.

Emma,

We've picked this out for you to wear to dinner, hope you like it!

Susan and Lucy

Emma studied the dress laid out before her. It was floor length and v-neck, with dark blue stitched designs around the bottom. She put it on and studied herself in the mirror, Wow, she thought. It felt like she was wearing the sky. The dress complimented her skin perfectly. She left her hair straight down her shoulders and walked over to the vanity.

Oh lord. Seriously? This is way to complicated. She decided not to apply any more makeup, and to just keep the makeup on that had survived her bath. She walked out onto the balcony and watched the sun set behind the mountains in the distance. This is definitely a better view than in Manhattan. Emma continued to watch the sunset until she heard a knock at her door, time for dinner. She began to worry.

Emma walked into the hall with the older woman and waited for her to get Parker from across the hall.

Parker walked out of her room and saw that the servant lady had retrieved Emma from her room as well. She smiled as she looked her up and down. Parker had always been jealous of the way Emma was able to not care how she looked but still be beautiful. She walked over to give her a hug.

"You look beautiful Em!" She let go and let Emma look her up and down as she spun around.

"So do you Parker! Gosh you look like a princess." Emma said.

Parker stopped twirling and took Emma by the arm, "Well then that makes two of us".

Emma smiled, but it was instantly replaced with a nervous frown. "Are you ready for this?" She asked.

"No, not really, but we have to try, I mean Em we just died, there's no going back… We're here now and I think we should embrace it and try to make the most of it". Parker said.

"Gosh, stop making me say this! You're right…" Emma was looking at the ground.

"I think that accident did something to your brain because you've said that today more than you've ever said it, like at all!" Parker was laughing.

Emma started to laugh too, "Yeah well this time I mean it! I'm not every gonna say it again, OK?!

"Haha whatever you say" Parker said.

The two best friends then followed the servant down many hallways before finally arriving at what was apparently the dining room. Parker and Emma approached the door, and Emma quickly turned and whispered to Parker, "Did you remember any of that?" she asked.

"None of it, everything looks the same" Parker whispered back.

"Great…" Emma straightened just in time for the doors to open, she followed Parker inside and stopped to take everything in. The room was large, with a long wooden table in the center, made to fit a lot more than seven people. The walls were lined with lots of windows and glass doors that opened onto a patio that led to gardens. Emma noticed Parker curtsy and copied.

"Oh please, we're friends, there's no need for that!" Lucy rose to usher us to our seats. At the head of the table was Peter, to his left sat Susan, and across from her Caspian. Edmund sat next to Caspian and Lucy sat next to Susan. Parker instantly took the seat next to Lucy, leaving Emma to sit next to Edmund. Oh fantastic. Emma reluctantly went over and sat down, shooting Parker a death glare as if to say, thanks a lot… Parker just laughed to herself.

Caspian coughed, "So, uh, Parker tell us about yourself".

Parker stopped eating and shyly looked up… she stuttered. "Uh, well…" she thought about what to say, "I'm 18, um… I go to, well I mean I went to Leman Manhattan boarding school, Emma was my roommate. Um I was an only child, never really saw my family. I love the arts: uh like dancing, singing, painting, sketching, I also play the piano and guitar. Yeah I think that's pretty much it".

"I'm sorry, this may seem too personal, but why did you never see your family?" Peter asked.

"I'm sorry but that's a bit too personal…" Parker looked down as if she was about to cry, then she stood up, "Excuse me, I'm really tired and not that hungry I think I'll just go to bed. Thank you so much for your hospitality". She curtsied before briskly walking away. Emma was shocked, Parker had always been the one to control her emotions, she started to stand up as if to follow but Peter cut in, "Please, Emma, let me, I shouldn't have asked, it's my fault I want to apologize".

"Oh, um, alright, but heads up she's not going to be in her room, I know her better than anyone and on the rare occasion she gets upset she always wanders to clear her head". Peter stood and bowed before exiting after Parker.

The awkwardness around the dinner table that night had doubled after Peter and Parker left. Everyone seemed to sit in silence, it was only Lucy who sometimes tried to start conversation, but no one seemed in the mood for talking.

Edmund was the first to leave. "Well this is just plain awkward for I'm just gonna leave while I can".

Emma scoffed.

"I'm sorry, is there something you'd like to share with the class?" Edmund had turned back to glare down at Emma.

"Oh nothing, nothing, it's just hard to believe you're a King, the way you act, I mean you run from tough situations".

Edmund began to boil, "You don't know anything about me and actually I make a great King! Besides I wouldn't be going around judging character, I mean you just died for Aslan's sake, who found you in the woods and kept you from starving? We did. Who provided you with warm clothes and a place to sleep? We did. Who's offering you a new family? We are."

"We? I think you mean everyone but you! I swear it's like you only care about yourself you insufferable little prat" Emma was standing now as well, Edmund suddenly grabbed her by the shoulders, whispering viciously in her face, nose to nose.

"You have no idea what you're talking about".

"Maybe not, but I've got a pretty good idea, traitor". Emma smirked and said the last word with poison before SMACK, Emma felt a stinging in her right cheek and felt blood begin to drop from her lip. There were gasps from the room as Caspian immediately stood and hauled Edmund back from Emma, holding him by his shoulders. Emma just stood there and calming said, "Good try but I'm used to it", before turning and walking out.

"Edmund?!" Lucy gave her brother a look of disappointment before rushing after Emma.

Susan stood and walked over to Edmund who was burning a hole through the door Emma had just walked out of. "Edmund, what were you thinking?"

Edmund then turned, his glare now focused on Susan, "Look you think you're so high and mighty but guess what you're only a year older than me so quit acting like a mother and act your age" Edmund was leaning intimidatingly over Susan, being taller. "I will when you will". Susan replied just as harshly. Edmund took another dangerous step forward before Caspian grabbed his shoulders and placed himself between Edmund and Susan. "Enough Ed, take a walk or something to clear your head".

Edmund seemed to realize he was digging himself into a deeper hole, so without saying another word, he turned and stormed out just like everyone else.