Disclaimer: I own nothing of the various Narnia franchises, everything belongs to the late C.S. Lewis and whomever he deemed worthy of inheritance-which is obviously not I.

Author's Note: Another day, another chapter finished. Hope everyone has been enjoying the story thus far, it's not long to go until the end begins to loom on the horizon.Just to clear up a few comments from last time, Edmund referenced wanting Caspian's head, he seems to know/get along with Edmund more then Peter so I'm assuming he'd worry more about him at first and only have a passing nightmare for Peter...until it's too late. Well that's all for now, please have fun reading this newest addition and drop a line if you're so kind.

Avoiding the constant whispering of the palace servants was harder then one might think. When Cair Paravel had been new there was an unwritten rule that certain maids and pages were not to be seen save for the evidence of a job well done, no doubt this came from their ruler's fading memories of England. Chamber workers were more like ghosts, they were in and out before the occupant even realized they even arrived and yet beds made themselves and vases magically refilled. That way should someone craved a private conversation there was no fear of being overheard or there was simply time to take a well needed moment of peace was needed. Now one saying that seemed to ring true in any world was that of the walls having ears, servants truly did know everything.

But it seemed that the decorum of said servants had changed in the last thirteen hundred years.

When a maid heard a rumor in the Golden Age she only told her fellow employees in the quiet of their wing. Or when a manservant overheard a possible conspiracy he went right to his Lord, not run shouting down the nearest hall.

Recently however Susan had noticed a lack of this discretion, in fact many of the palace workers she saw were a little loud with their gossip.

Thinking this only made her feel older then she already did.

But in her defense hearing the latest rumor on what design Lady Lilliandil might chose for her wedding or coronation gowns from her ladies as they tugged and pulled her hair up was not how she wanted to spend her morning. Let alone the thought that now even her own bedroom was not even safe from such comments. Then there was the constant blabber on how she herself had become the object of affection for several local and visiting nobles, not that she had noticed this over much at first. But oh, of course it was happening according to the help, who in turn had recently decided to play match maker by delivering flowers, trinkets and notes for the last week. Her chambers were beginning to resemble a florist shop and she was too kind to out rightly send them back, though she could grit her teeth in private. And heaven forbid she try to refuse something, this was then passed back to the sender as playing hard to get. All in all things that had started out as somewhat harmless gossip had suddenly intruded into her life and now she had half a mind to sack the whole staff and find new.

There was legitimate reasoning to propose to the King for this too, many of the current staff were so engrossed in palace drama that Susan had started to find jobs left unfinished as staff whispered to one another. In her opinion this was mostly due in fact because of the King. He might be the great unifier, explorer of uncharted waters and hero monarch of the century, but home maker he was not. For all the preparations he made for his grand adventure finding a proper Head House Keeper had not been among them, so in right male fashion he left another male to run things while he was away. When asked what credentials were presented for the current maids Trumpkin replied that they could work a broom…Susan wanted to hang her head in shame. This is what happened when any man, even Kings, were left alone without proper female companionship too long.

All in all, it was one thing after another and with her ever calculating mind she knew there was almost no chance for peace-she would if let alone try to fix everything by herself which would only end in a large headache.

So this was why the Gentle Queen found herself trying to locate one corner in the whole complex that did not have chattering twits of any kind occupying it, she needed to get away for her own sanity. When she herself tended to be the favorite topic of many of these gossipers it grated far more on her nerves then such silliness normally would. Her sanctuary was at last found in the wings which at one time were set aside for the bedchambers of her brothers. While their walls had indeed been painted in the King's respective colors there had not been any work done after that, which at first seemed a little odd. Susan chalked it up to romantic fancy after the initial feeling that perhaps she needed to have a talk with her beloved about being sentimental versus being obsessive. Being that her room was fully furnished down to the last cushion while her siblings had yet to even have a stool. The empty rooms and halls echoed with her footsteps, devoid of all trappings and furniture so that who ever did end up with the space would have the choice left totally up to them. It was quiet, peaceful and everything she had been looking for but still it came up slightly unnerving. After all, she remembered this place when it had been new, alive and filled with the personal touches of her siblings, now it seemed barren and lifeless. Eventually she found herself seated at the bay window at the far end of the hall, the view of the harbor before her.

Susan closed her eyes and breathed deep the dusty air that once was filled with the scents of pine and leather from Edmund's room. Behind her lids she could see in her mind's eye the beautiful blue curtains that once framed Peter's balcony. And in hear ears she could have sworn she heard Lucy's contagious laughter. Her senses were filled with years of memories, ghosts of events now ancient history. If only they were here to give her council perhaps the gossip hounds, incompetent help, even the harshest situation of all might have seemed just the tiniest bit easier to handle.

And from her sealed eye a single tear slipped past her shut lashes to trail down her cheek, how she missed her siblings.

With a delicate motion she caught the drop on her finger tip and opened her eyes to look into the glittering tear. The setting sun was streaming through the glass, hitting the water to make it shine, Susan smiled a little at how something that sprung from sadness could end up being beautiful. Her contemplation however was interrupted by the deep voices of men from the entrance of the wing. With her last remaining solitude interrupted she looked for a quick exit, in other circumstances she might call herself a coward but in truth she did not want to deal with anyone at the moment. Alas there was no secret passage for her to slip inside, only two were in this area and both were in the bedrooms whose doors were not close enough to reach in time. Having only seconds to spare Susan wiped her eyes of any still forming tears, she straightened her dress and stood straight, shoulders thrown back. The change from weeping girl to sure woman was swift and well practiced as she prepared to meet whoever managed to follow her.

"I should think these rooms are to be repainted, something not so antiqued and more refined," one of the voices said, it was thick with the Telmarine accent. "The Queen's Ladies in Waiting need their own wing I should think, as is tradition."

"Even if the King asked they be decorated this way? He had such research done to replicate the local colors as it was originally," the other was younger perhaps in tone but again it was the Spanish tone of the resident humans.

"And why would the future Queen's ladies be interested in such old fashioned designs? Especially if they were meant for a man? "

"Many of the women at court are Narnian, my lord, and these were the King's rooms."

"My own niece has been helping the Lady Lilliandil become acquainted with many of the ladies at court, none of the Narnian females volunteered to do so." Susan bristled at the comment. "And besides, as you know young women always want the best of everything- it is in their nature. Send out word to have this place stripped in time for the wedding and coronation, there will be no care of who used to sleep here."

"Yes, my Lord," footsteps in retreat made it obvious the servant or whatever he was had left. Just as one set of footfalls faded away the other became more pronounced, and the as the owner of those feet turned the final corner the Gentle Queen was not surprised at who she found there.

"Good evening, Baron de Leon," she greeted with a face plastered in cool sincerity when in truth inside she was itching to let into him. Having only met once in passing she really did not know this pretentious man but h was not one to be trusted, from what Caspian had told her.

"Queen Susan," he for once looked genuine in his reaction, "I did not know there was anyone here."

"No, I do not expect you did, not very many come to this part of the palace I assume." Her whole self felt slimy when this man was in close vicinity to her, there was just something not right about him. Nobleman that he was, etiquette demanded she at least be civil to him unless provoked. But it did not take much longer after first meeting de Leon that Susan knew just what sort of man he was.

"You assume correctly, it has yet to be occupied." Well informed.

"I came here for some privacy and to feel close to my bothers, these were once their room you know."

"Yes, I have heard that, the King did much work to rebuild this palace." Crafty.

"If they were here I am sure High King Peter and King Edmund would be much pleased with the results."

"One can only hope their new occupants will feel the same way." Sharp tongued.

"New occupants? Forgive me but I did overhear some of your conversation, please do explain."

"In your time handmaidens shared a room off of their mistresses', in Telmarine tradition they are given the more comfortable option of their own. I thought that with the upcoming nuptials work should be started at once, so that Lady Lilliandil might approve them before her ladies move in." Self serving and prejudiced.

"So royal suites are to be turned into playrooms for Telmarine teenagers?"

"Your Majesty please, there is no need to be testy. But if I were to answer you truthfully I would ask you a question to your own, are they really worthy of anything else right now?" he said, stroking his beard. Never in her life had Susan ever let her anger loose on a member of either court of commoner but this man knew too well what nerves to pluck to rise her ire.

"How dare you! These are my brother's rooms! Some of the most important decisions of Narnia's history were made right here! They should be honored not painted pink and given over to simpering girls so they can spill wine and smear makeup all over them!"

"If you did not notice Your Majesty, your brothers are not here and there is another King on the throne with a new Queen who will soon need use of your gracious hospitality." In short, this man was her enemy.

"Lady Lilliandil and I have become quite close, as you have surely heard, and not once has she said anything of this renovation to me," it took all the strength in her to not shudder when he moved even closer to her.

"The lady does not know all that much of the position she is about to take so I humbly asked a relative of mine to show her the way of things."

"You mean you planted someone in her circle to guide her, someone who I would say is looking out more for your interest then hers," she hissed. Thinking back Susan did recall seeing a Telmarine lady accompany Lilliandil when she herself was otherwise occupied. That had to have been the Baron's niece, she was slipping in her observation skills as of late, Caspian as much as she loved him was proving to be a distraction.

"If you want to be blunt then may I as well?"

"At this point I do not think even if I said 'no' you would oblige, but go on."

"You are not speaking with the logic which you were known for, Queen Susan, if I were to make an educated guess I would say you are talking from a broken heart instead."

"How dare you speak of my heart, you know nothing of me!" she made to walk around him when the man had the nerve to put his hand on her. She glared back at him, her upper arm being squeezed by his large, dark hand. "You will let go of me, Baron."

"I only wish to apologize for offending you, Gentle Queen, I do not mean to insult your feelings."

"But you will do so to my brother's memory, my intelligence and then dare to lay hand upon a Queen?"

"Everyone at court and the country know how you feel about our King, your last action before leaving three years ago made it legend," it was impossible to stop the red from entering her cheeks. "And so for that reason I have done my best to ensure such changes to the palace and make certain His Majesty's marriage goes according to plan. You must see how in the end this is for your own good."

"And how does that equal my well being?"

"You could not have missed the looks some of the older Telmarine Lords gave you upon your return and it has been hard to keep their opinions from spreading and causing a split in our nation." Slowly his grip began to lesson and the moment she felt freedom and swirled away, never once taking her gaze from his.

"I expected that, anything else?" she raised an eyebrow.

"Lady Lilliandil is a perfect combination of our two worlds, she would unite us all if she became Queen. Where would that leave you, Gentle Queen of Old? What are you even monarch of now, other than memories? If my words are harsh then it is because of the time in which I was born, one cannot expect such cultural teachings to simply fade with the changing of the wind. In my own way I see myself as protecting you both, by guiding her to her destined throne and you to your new place in the world. So please accept my apology for hurting your feelings, and to your heart for the horrible position you find yourself in." He gave a practiced, courtly bow to her that was all but ignored since she knew insincerity when it was before her.

"Get out of my sight," her voice was low and hard.

"Pardon?" he looked up, startled.

"I said get out of my sight. Or are you as hard of hearing as you are devoid of good intentions?"

"My Queen I meant no harm-"

"I am not 'your' Queen, and I think that is something you have been striving for since I arrived. So do not assume I am as easily lead as you would believe, though how you came to that conclusion I have no clue besides the inability to pick up a book and read." With all the regality within her Susan stared down the much taller man now trying so hard to hide his increasing temper and feeling triumphant when he could no longer hold her gaze. Her ego inflated just a little bit, even after a millennia she still had it.

"The King will not take so kindly to your lack of manners to his councilman, young lady."

"Somehow I do not think so. And if I were you I would refresh myself on my math skills as well as my reading, I have thirteen hundred years on you, Baron. So if you will excuse me, little boy, I have more pressing matters to attend to then play with you."

Lord Alfonso looked as though he might explode at any moment. His mouth gapped like a fish a few times, no doubt a reaction to being spoken to thus for the first time in his life. He left without saying another word, tanned face red with fury and a vein pulsing and near ready to pop throbbing on his forehead. The slamming of the wing's double doors worked as her notification that once again, she had her solitude. What happened next would have left her siblings in shock and wondering who she was and what had she done with their actual sister.

Susan burst out laughing, deep from the bottom of her stomach, whole hearted laughing.

Not once in her whole life, in England or in Narnia, had she ever let out a stream of insults to anyone and felt so good about it afterwards.

And worries from earlier in the day now seemed trivial and just as laughable as the look on the Baron's face when she called him a child and dismissed him.

She could see what Edmund loved his play with words so much now.

Still chuckling to herself Susan made her way into the opulent space that had been the High King's bedroom. With one hand holding in her giggles the other reached out to twist a knob on the fireplace, low and behold even the tunnel was rebuilt and waiting to be used. She slipped into the darkness, not in the least be frightened of long legged beasties that may be crawling about her due to her impossibly good mood. As she made her way through the path she still knew by heart she felt as though nothing could ruin her day now. Perhaps this was simply a side of herself she needed to use more often, too often she found herself to be the prim and proper example for everyone to emulate, never crossing the unwritten lines of decorum. This sarcasm she only ever though in her mind when she became agitated, maybe it would be better for her to let loose once in a while-only on those who deserved it though. And oh, did that stuck up noble need to be brought down a notch, or three. Putting that pompous man in his place felt good, she would have to tell Caspian all the details as soon as she saw him.

The tunnel from Peter's room let out to a hidden stair case along the cliff side, which in turn lead down to the beach. For a moment the sun blinded her, so she let her eyes adjust to the new light and while she waited she replayed her glorious victory over Baron de Leon in her mind. Once she could see once again she began the steep descent to the water's edge.

"I really have to compliment Caspian for a job well done," she reminded herself. He truly did re-create Cair Paravel down to the most minute of details, how he found such tidbits she could not guess but in the end she was indeed impressed. Even such aspects as hidden escapes for the monarchs like the route to the shore were not left wanting, it really was phenomenal. When she reached the bottom the first order of business was to throw off her delicate satin slippers and set them on the steps, there would be no need for them here. Feeling the warm sand between her toes was more relaxing then one would have thought, the smell of the salt air was calming and the breeze it was carried on brought more then just the scents of the sea. Memories of swimming with mermaids and playing games on the sand with her friends and family ran through her mind's eye like a movie. This beach was one of their favorite spots in all of Narnia, here they had a private place to soak in the sun and be themselves and for just a few hours not have a country to occupy every waking thought. Susan hiked up her skirts higher then any 'young lady' would dare as she walked into the surf, the water was cool and refreshing against her skin. Above her the sun was golden and warm as it continued moving further toward the edge of the horizon. Sunsets and sunrises were her favorite times of the day, watching as her title sake made a glorious show of starting and ending every day, such a brilliant display of nature made her proud to carry the name of the Southern Sun.

She went on walking along the beach, alternating between splashing in the waves and drying out on the sand. All was well until she came to a very familiar spot, and it was not one from distant memory at all. She had come far enough that she was now on the opposite side of the palace, actually walking away from it now to meet the circle of outcropping rocks that resembled a tunnel…very much like a train tunnel.

In truth she really did not know how to feel about this place, this portal. Was it a bad feeling, no that could not be true since this was the place that brought her home when she had very much given up hope of ever seeing it again. But it was also not a good feeling either, things might now happen the same way twice but that did not mean she might accidentally be sent back in a reverse of before. So she refused to go any closer, to not tempt the fates but she for some reason could not look away. Yes, it was a little scary to be so close to something to complex as the gateway into another world, that was the one feeling she could home in on. In the end she relied on her dearest weapon, the one she decided she might not want to take so seriously anymore but in this case it seemed the best choice. Logic stated she should not go any closer, so after one last long look she turned her back on the rock arch and started to make her way back to the stairs.

The sun glowing amber was her backdrop as she trekked along the beach, warming her with it's waning light as if to assure her the gateway had not stolen her away from it. All would have been well in the world had she not noticed the huge amount of splashing going on right in front of what could have been the loveliest of sunsets she had yet seen. Were the mermaids having trouble with a fish hunt? Perhaps the water sprites and dolphins were at their rivalry again? The answer came with the appearance of one such sprite, she came up with the waves and stood up like a living statue but made of ever flowing water.

"Your Majesty!"

"What's going on out there, is everything all right?" she asked the distressed looking, watery woman.

"They all but fell out of the sky my Queen, we tried to hold them up but they slipped through us! The mermaids dove down to find them!" If a being made solely of water could be out of breath it would sound like the sprite here.

"Find who?" Susan was painfully confused, had a bird or gryphon lost their baring and tumbled into the ocean?

The water sprite was not given the chance to answer, a call from her sisters made her motion her Queen to wait there as she dove into an outgoing wave. Meanwhile Susan was left bewildered on the beach, not entirely sure what was going on. The mass amount of splashing had diminished drastically but was now moving steadily towards the shore. Above the water her sharp eyes could make out the figures of mermaids on the inside of a cluster of sprites who were propelling them faster than normal through the current. Along with the sea creatures she could now make out the tops of heads, the mermaids were carrying not birds nor flying beasts but people. With her excellent vision it was not much longer until Susan could make out the features and faces of those being carried to safety.

She felt her eyes grow wide and her mouth fall open.

Not caring for the damage that would be done to her silken gown Susan ran out into the ocean, the heavy fabric might have weighed her down but it did not overcome the determination coursing through her at this moment. She was chest deep in when she met the mermaids and sprites bearing their precious rescue.

"Peter! Edmund! Lucy!"

Her siblings were coughing up salt water and pulling sea weed from their clothes and hair as she helped pull them to dry land.

"They should recover fine, Queen Susan, they were not under overly long," a mermaid with auburn hair and a sky blue tail reassured her.

"Thank you," she replied a little shakily. "How did they get there?"

"Like the sprite said, they just fell from the sky. We will send word with the seagulls to Cair Paravel to let the King know of their arrival."

"Yes, that would be appreciated," her smile was tiny and her words almost mechanical. The mermaid smiled warmly back, her webbed hand patting Susan's shoulder before she and her sisters hurried to their task. Next to her, her brothers and sister were expelling the last of the sand and water from their lungs and laying limply on the shore. Susan was confounded, afraid and soaking wet all at the same time, however what prevailed in her mind the most was the fact that her family was even more so than she. They needed to get inside and out of their drenched clothes, night was quickly falling and even summer evenings could have chilling winds.

"What...the bloody…hell happened?" Edmund was starting to notice is surroundings were no longer the undercurrents of the ocean.

"We'll find out later, for now I have to get you three inside," keeping her voice steady should have been awarded considering the situation.

"Sue?"

"That means you too Peter, come on Lucy to your feet," she went on as she helped her youngest of siblings to stand. "I know it's not easy but we have to get you dry."

"We went looking for you," Lucy coughed a few times, her face still white from nearly drowning. "It was raining….and I saw you fall down outside." Well, in her ever working mind she considered in any other circumstance that might have been sweet that they were concerned about her. Oh well, logical thinking or not there was a task at hand and Lucy was finally able to gather her bearings and stand on her own. Peter and Edmund were on their feet as well, still shaken but looking in shock and awe above them.

"Is that….Cair Paravel…?"

"Yes Pete," Susan left Lucy with Ed and turned to her older brother. He of all of them had the right to stare in such a way, Peter was always the one who fought the loudest for their right to return home.

"Who…?"

"Caspian, rebuilt it, down to every last detail. I can give you the tour once you're in dry clothes and not half drowned," she reached for his hand. "Come on, your stair is as good as new, we'll take that way in." He only nodded, still a bit dazed and the four began to follow her lead to the opening it the cliff face and then up the many marble steps. A dripping sound followed them through the tunnel, someone would have to light the torches and mop it up since there was no sun to make it evaporate away. When they at last emerged from the darkness and into the empty chamber her family was chilled from the water and walking so long in the cool tunnel. However there was nothing to be done until they came into the main palace, none of the rooms were even had a curtain she could use. Any cold she herself felt was pushed to the back of her mind, she did not matter when there were others to be taken care of. Some might call that a weakness she supposed, but it was the reason for her namesake and she saw no crime in caring for another above herself. Just as she opened the door into the hall there came a new noise other then the chattering teeth of those with her, footsteps again sounded in her ears for the second time this day.

"The gulls said she took a route out of the cliff side, this way," the voice was loud, sure of itself and oh so very welcome. Caspian came rushing about the corner, several handlers in tow with blankets and following them all with a look of most sincere concern was Lilliandil.

"Susan!" her love rushed forward, never minding the onlookers about them, to grasp her shoulders as he looked her over. "I heard you ran into the sea, are you alright?"

"I am fine," she reassured him quietly as the commotion increased around them. "I only wanted to walk on the shore when….they appeared," with a delicate gesture she motioned to the three shivering figures behind her.

"Ed! Lucy! Peter! It's true then," with a nod of approval from her the King went to greet his newest guests. Without a care to their soaked state he wrapped all three in a hug as best he could, Susan smiled to herself at the sight. She thought what she was seeing had to be one of the most heart warming things she had yet beheld. To see her siblings, especially the thickheaded one, embracing the man she loved like one of their own made her confident in the future despite all that set against them.

"So all Kings and Queen of Old are returned?" the question was asked in a breathless tone.

"They are, after being brought back to Narnia by falling the harbor," she answered the Star's daughter.

"When I heard of their arrival I was elated but now I am concerned for their health, they look ready to catch their death."

The proverbial lightning struck.

How she could be thinking what she was at a time like this Susan did not know but a more perfect opportunity might never come along again. She hoped that in the end Aslan and the parties involved would forgive her but such luck did not come twice and it was proving too hard to resist. "Would you like to help?"

"If there was anything I could do then I would," it also helped her conscience to observe how the blond woman could not look away from her elder brother.

"I need to show Lucy to my room, I know the quickest way but since Peter's room is well…unusable…would you show him the nearest open guest chamber?" A clever plan if she did say so herself, besides she knew how much the young star wanted to meet the historic King.

"Of course, I understand."

"Here," Susan lead the way the few steps forward to where the family was toweling dry. She tapped her lover on the shoulder, smiling and nudging her head in the direction of her friend and then her brother, without needing to be told Caspian's eyes lit up with recognition. "We need to get you all into a warm room with dry clothes but as you see your own aren't prepared so I'm afraid you'll have to make due with what we can."

"That's alright," Edmund went right on, enshrouded in a fluffy white towel and followed a helpful servant eager to assist the Just King.

"Peter I want to being Lucy to my room, you understand?"

"Of course, makes perfect sense," he nodded. "And don't forget Sue, you're just as soaked as we are."

She had forgotten about that little fact, only when her brother said the word aloud did she notice the shivering in her bones and the clamminess her drenched gown created. Caspian must have seen this as well, without even needing to ask he had draped in her a wool blanket. She spared him a quick yet warm smile before going on with her newly sprung plan and quickly lest she freeze in the process.

"Nothing has changed in the palace save for which rooms are open at the moment, if you don't mind being shown the right way?" she asked her brother.

"No problem, I just want to feel warm again actually," his own grin would have lit a room and the hearts of a hundred courtiers, as his sister she knew his affect on ladies and it seemed not even stars were immune.

"Then you should meet Lady Lilliandil, Ed and Lucy told us of her," she gestured to the lady. "Lilliandil, this is my brother King Peter," in turn she addressed the monarch. "She's a good friend of mine, and has volunteered to lead your way."

You would have to be blind, deaf and dumb not to notice the immediate attraction that sparked between the High King and the Star's Daughter. They couldn't take their eyes of one another, not even after he offered his blanket covered arm and they made their way down the hall.

"I would say that was unexpected," Caspian said once the servants were dismissed and Susan and he started making their own way out. "Except that mind of yours works too fast for such a coincidence."

"It is luck that they returned when they did, but how could I not introduce them when I know just how enchanted she was with his legends? It would be rude otherwise."

"Rude yes, totally against all good manners," he agreed with a smirk.

"And just look how well they got on, so it was for the best," she added.

"Are you sure 'Royal Matchmaker' isn't somewhere in your series of titles?"

"It's not at the moment but we can always hope."