A/N: Sorry about how long this took to get up.

Dressed in her most formal gown, with her crown snug on her forehead, Lucy sat on her brother's throne and stared down at the Calormen ambassador. Leaning against the side of her throne was a sword. "Queen Lucy, what is the meaning of this?" The Calormen ambassador declared, "I am an import-"

"SILENCE," Lucy said loudly and coldly. She looked beyond the ambassador and his retinue to where Junea was standing. The guard nodded slightly. "You are missing a servant, ambassador."

"Nonsense," the ambassador replied.

"You are," Lucy said in a soft, chilled voice, "missing a servant." She stood, but did not step down to his level. "In the days since Our brother-Kings left Us, We have made it our business to know all strangers in fair Cair Paravel. There were none tonight, save your people, and one of them is missing."

"Now see-"

"Your servant is not the only missing person on this night," Lucy continued, "Our sister-Queen Susan has been taken from Cair Paravel. Her guards lie slain in her rooms. Tell me, we have not had new servants in a year, and all of them are accounted for. Why should We not assume then that it was your servant that spirited away Our sister-Queen? Indeed, as the servant was in your employ, We could even believe that you participated in this foul deed." A fierce, cold joy surged within her at the look of fear on the ambassador's face. "It is only Our word that keeps you from knowing an earthen grave thus far."

"Majesty," the ambassador said, "I am at your mercy, I swear, I did not know one of mine would commit such an act." He turned to the man closest to him, "Who is missing?"

The advisor trembled, "He is a footman, Tarkaan. Cousin to one of your own, who took ill before we left."

Lucy nodded to herself, they were trying to cover their own necks, just as Kegen had predicted. "We will stay our hand," she said, catching the room's attention. "However, our brother-Kings may not be so merciful. You, Tarkaan, and your entourage, are commanded to remain in your own quarters until our brother-Kings returned. Pray to Aslan or your own Tash that Queen Susan is found quickly." She stepped back and seated herself pointedly on her throne and silently hoped that her worry did not show through.

Once the ambassador and his people had been ushered out, Kegen stepped up beside her, "Well done, Majesty," he said softly.

Lucy smiled slightly, "Thank you." She stood up, "Next is the worse part." She glanced around to make sure that no one else was near enough to hear her. "Prepare seven squads," she said, "they are to head south as soon as they are provisioned. Mix Fang and Guard for them. Then prepare a half-squad of Fangs, but do not send them out." She glanced around again and dropped her voice slightly, "Your father recognized the missing servant, Kegen. The only place he would have known such a man."

"Is in his home country," Kegen finished, equally softly.

"I fear the Calormen angle is a trap," Lucy said, "a ruse to keep us looking that way."

"What do you propose, then?" Kegen asked.

"Your half squad, plus three, are going to your father's homeland," Lucy said.

"Majesty, you cannot possibly," Kegen said after a brief moment.

"You have a choice," Lucy replied. "Either you put together that half squad and go with me or you will be chasing me across all of Narnia because I am going."

"I will prepare the men," Kegen said.

"Just out of curiosity," Lucy said, "where are we headed?"

"Terebinthia," Kegen replied, "We'll need to hire a ship."

"Take care of it," Lucy replied. "I must make arrangements with the council."

"I go," Kegen replied with a salute.

Lucy left the throne room and hurried through the corridors to the council room, where Tumnus was already waiting, "Lucy!" Tumnus said.

"Mr. Tumnus," Lucy replied, hugging her friend quickly. "I need a favor," she said.

"Of course, what can I do?" Tumnus asked.

"Don't act surprised," Lucy replied. "I'm going to say some things that will be shocking, but I don't want you to be surprised about any of it. I also want you to know that Peter is aware of what I'm about to tell the council and has spoken favorably of the idea."

"All right," Tumnus replied.

"Best take a seat," Lucy said, turning her head to the door, "they're coming."

As Lucy sat down in her brother's chair, the Narnian Council filed in to take their places. "Majesty, this is highly unusual," Carrick, the Red Dwarf representative said.

"Thank you," Lucy said, "for coming so quickly." She waited until they were seated and stood up, "Not three hours ago, our kingdom suffered a mighty blow." She announced. "Queen Susan was abducted from her very chamber by a servant of the Calormen Ambassador. The Ambassador has claimed innocence and I have chosen to stay my hand. Our brother Peter will deal with the Ambassador. I have sent word to both King Peter and King Edmund of what has befallen us and hope to see their return soon. As we speak, the harbor has been closed and teams are initiating a ship to ship search while others patrol the roads into and out of Cair Paravel." She raised her chin, "In this time of uncertainty, it is my intention to insure that Narnia does not fall into the arms of chaos. Should anything befall me before my brothers' return, look to Mr. Tumnus. He will stand as Regent until a monarch again takes the Throne."

"Majesty, this is highly irregular," Goldwing protested.

"My brother, High King Peter, spoke favorably of the idea," Lucy replied, "not six weeks ago. I do not intend for anything to happen to me, but neither did any of us expect my sister to be abducted." She took a deep breath, "The hour is late, and morning will come upon us soon enough. For those of you will feel they cannot seek their beds just yet, I ask for reports on Calormen and your informed opinion of their response if we send their ambassador back in more than one piece." She looked at each of her councilors, "It is only mercy that keeps me from ordering those men dead. If anything else untoward occurs, then there will be no mercy, only justice." She turned, "Mr. Tumnus, please, walk with me." She strode from the room.

"Majesty," Tumnus said, "Is this wise, to name me the Regent, surely there are others?"

"No," Lucy said, "you are the best choice in this moment." She opened one of the hidden passages and gestured Tumnus inside. Once the door was shut, she turned to her friend, "I'm leaving, to go after Susan. I am not going to Calormen, however. I do not think our missing servant is, in fact, of that country."

"Leaving?" Tumnus replied.

"An owl has already left the palace with a message from Peter. At dawn, the owl will pass the message on to a falcon. Peter will have that message in less than three days' time. He will be a week to ten days on the return. Edmund will be here with a week of Peter's return. Two weeks, Mr. Tumnus, is all it will take. I know we can trust you to make the right decisions for Narnia." Lucy said, she kissed her friend's cheek, "Please? I have to get to Susan before something happens to her."

Tumnus smiled sadly, "I never could say no to you, my lady."

"Thank you."