Disclaimer: I sadly own nothing related to The Chronicles of Narnia. Only original characters belong to me.

AN: Here's the next chapter. Thanks for reading, and please don't forget to review!

Chapter 11: Friendships:

When word came that the King and the army were approaching, everyone rushed to line the streets, ready to cheer on their ruler and congratulate them on a job well done.

I, however, was not one of them.

Rather than be crushed by the crowds, Professor Cornelius suggested we wait in the library for word from the King, as he was sure that we would both be summoned into Caspian's presence for a private chat. I wasn't sure why I would be involved in any private talks between the two of them, but I chose to keep my mouth shut and just do as the Professor said. Besides, I had no desire to be one of the young adoring girls outside, simultaneously throwing flowers before Caspian's feet while giving him flirtatious smiles and goo-goo eyes as he rode past.

While we waited for all of the noise to die down, the Professor and I sat together in the library, keeping ourselves busy by reading, having tea, and playing chess or checkers. As we played or read, my little bird friends came to keep us company, as the noise going on outside had frightened and disturbed them. The red-winged blackbird, Inkwing, even asked to be taught to play checkers, and turned out to be quite good at it.

Hours went by, and it was starting to get dark by the time things began to quiet down. The real festivities and celebrations would start mid-morning tomorrow, after all of the soldiers had gotten the chance to unpack and get a good night's rest. In the meantime, all of Narnia's citizens would have their own private parties at home.

The Professor and I had just settled down for a delicious roast beef dinner when a cloaked figure slipped into the room and shut the door behind him. I was alarmed, but the Professor wasn't. Rather, he merely pulled up a chair and from amongst the numerous spare objects he kept in the library, found a spare plate and cup for our guest to use.

"I think you had better remove your hood, before Ali starts calling for the guards," teased Professor Cornelius.

I almost fell out of my chair as the stranger revealed himself to be Caspian himself. "Oh, don't ever do that again!" I scolded him. "You scared me half to death!"

Caspian chuckled and accepted a fork, knife and spoon from his old teacher. "Forgive me, but it was the only way I could escape. The amount of admirers wanting to speak with me was beginning to get oppressive."

Chuckling, I offered him the serving utensils, so that he could help himself to the large platter of meat and vegetables. "Oh, well, that's alright, then." I threw a glance towards the fireplace. "You'd better help yourself, before Fang decides that he wants to finish off the beef while we're not looking."

Caspian and the Professor laughed while Fang rolled his eyes and went back to chewing the massive bone that the beef had been carved off of, ignoring us completely as he focused on his own dinner.

We ate in comfortable silence, though I was dying to know all of the details about what had happened with the Giants. But since I didn't want to be caught talking with my mouth full, or to have the food grow cold and tasteless while we talked, I squashed down my impatience and ate my dinner. As always, the food was delicious; the succulent taste of the beef and vegetables in gravy helped distract me from the questions burning inside.

After we'd finished and the dinner dishes removed, dessert was brought and served, each of us getting a lovely slice of cake filled with candied fruits. There was a sugary liquid frosting to be drizzled over the top, but the cake was, in my opinion, more than sweet enough on its own. Fang, of course, gobbled up his share, and had to be given a small dish of milk, to cut through the sweet.

"You're getting fat with all of your pampering," I teased, taking his empty bowl from him. "It's been too long since I took you for a run outside."

Fang snorted while the others laughed. "And how would I have run through all of the snow piled up on the meadows? And it is no better now, even if it is spring, given that everything is covered in mud and the days are still chilled."

"Running will warm you up quite fast," I retorted, but with a smile. "But you're right about the mud. Even Roan doesn't want to head out into it, not when there is a risk for injury."

Caspian nodded his agreement. "It was rough riding, both to the North and back. We had to stop a good distance away just to wash up before coming to the castle, or else we'd have looked the shambles upon our return."

The image of a muddy, grumpy Caspian almost had me laughing in his face. Luckily, I kept my cool and took a sip from my cup, to hide my laughter. From the glare that Caspian was giving me, though, it clearly didn't fool him.

"It isn't funny," he said, fighting his own smile. "Arriving covered in mud, dirt, grass and who-knows-what else is not the way a king should appear before his people!"

I didn't answer him –instead, I just smiled and went back to eating my cake, trying not to look smug. Caspian chose to not press the issue, which I thought was very smart of him.

When dessert was over, all that remained were a handful of crumbs and bits of fruit, which I swept into a handkerchief for my feathered friends, who were waiting for the treat at the open window. They knew that the kitchen had been baking this cake, and since it was a favorite of theirs, they had waited until now to get some.

Watching me closely, Caspian gave me the oddest look. "I certainly hope that you aren't going to save that for a midnight snack," he said jokingly. "Surely the Professor isn't starving you, that you need to save crumbs for your meals?"

Sticking my tongue out at him, I otherwise pointedly ignored his jibe as I went to sprinkle the crumbs along the stone outcrop just below the window, much to the birds' delight. When I had first begun feeding them, I had thought that their feeding perch had been part of the gutter system, when actually it was merely just an ornamental outcrop of the building itself. In fact, it had probably been designed by one of Caspian's ancestors for the sole purpose of feeding birds.

"Do not tease her so," Professor Cornelius chided his old student. "She has made friends amongst the birds, and she enjoys feeding them. Besides, with food still scarce, they depend on her, especially since the females will be laying eggs soon."

With my back still to them, I stood and watched the birds gobble down the fruit and cake bits. I had grown especially fond of my winged friends –their chipper voices and mere presence had kept me sane during the winter, when I had been forced by snow and cold to stay indoors. Those who hadn't flown South for the winter had visited me whenever the days were clear of snow, and Inkwing was one of them.

During those days, Inkwing had relayed news to the Professor, and told me stories he'd heard from his friends amongst the forest animals. Then, when it had been too cold for my little visitors to remain outdoors, the Professor had allowed them to settle on the mantle, where I had set up a few mounds of clean rags as rough nests for them and their mates. With the coming of Spring, the rag nests were now gone, and all of my birds had started building true nests in the royal gardens.

'Why do I have a feeling that I will be feeding all seven of them an extra two or three times a day, since the male birds have mates to feed, and the females will soon be laying eggs?'

When they finished their snack, each one of them cheeped their thanks and flew off. Meanwhile, Inkwing gave me a brief word of gratitude, and took off, just before the sun set into true darkness.

Turning, I found Caspian giving me a smile. "If I did not know better, I would swear that you were one of the ancient Narnians, from High King Peter's time," he said. "I have yet to see any of the court ladies play such a gracious hostess to the birds around the castle."

I smiled. "Some things take time," I said, returning to my chair. "You haven't even been king for an entire year yet. Give the people time to adjust and get used to it all. It will all come together."

Professor Cornelius nodded in agreement. "Speaking of coming together, I found it quite a good sign that the Centaurs and Fauns were accepted into the army so quickly and quietly. It looked very impressive, with them marching behind you as you left the castle."

And that brought us to the topic that I wanted to hear about the most: the events in the North.

Apparently, the Giants hadn't expected a united Narnian army marching up towards their boarders, and were quite surprised that the Old Narnians had been so easily integrated into the army, which had once been filled exclusively by humans. Upon seeing the Centaurs, a race well-known for their mysticism and fighting skills, a few of the Giants began to have second thoughts, but not all of them.

The clans that had been peaceful immediately sent out a messenger under a white flag, signaling their willingness to talk. Seeing the coat of arms of the Buffin clan, and knowing them to be trustworthy, Caspian had ordered a large pavilion tent to be erected, big enough for a Giant to sit under, and received the messenger there.

The messenger had quickly acknowledged Caspian as the rightful ruler of Narnia, and explained that, after millennia of being afraid of the Telmarines, the more aggressive Giant clans were ready to spill over their borders into Narnia proper, where they had thought that the country would be fractured after the wars.

"The greedier, more ambitious clans wanted to expand their territories, and thought that Narnia would be a weak target," Caspian said, accepting a goblet of wine from the Professor. "If it hadn't been for you, Ali, I would never have proven us to be otherwise."

I almost choked on the apple cider I'd been drinking. "What?" I managed to cough out. "Me?"

"Yes, you," Caspian confirmed with a nod. "You suggested that I include the other Narnian peoples in the Council, and while I was speaking with the Giants' messenger, a letter came with your idea to ask the others what they knew about Giants. With their knowledge about the Giants' habits, traits, and weaknesses and what it would take to gain their respect, I was able to forge a treaty with the more aggressive clans, without creating anymore strife between us."

I listened in fascination as he described the situation.

Armed with a mind full of facts about Giants, Caspian had quickly deduced how to best appeal to them and their natures. In a letter to the hostile clans, he had graciously declared that he wished to remain allies with his neighbors to the North, and said that as long as they surrendered and swore not to attack Narnia for any reason, the Giants would be left in peace.

The consequence, Caspian had declared in the message, of going against Narnia would be war. He did not hesitate to mention the legendary catapults used by the (former) Telmarine army, which had so effectively defeated Narnia when they had invaded. Given what I remembered from the movies, the catapults could take down a walking tree –thus, it was easy enough for them to knock out a Giant.

"I also gave subtle hints as to the skills of the Centaurs, and how great size does not always promise a victory in battle," Caspian said, smiling as he stared into his cup. "It took a few days for the Giants to finally see my points, and with the Buffin clan there to do some careful talking on our behalf, we were successful in having representatives from all of the Giant clans meet with me to sign a treaty of surrender."

I sighed in relief. "Well, thank goodness for that," I said, going to light the candles. The sun had set some time ago, but Caspian's recount had been too good to interrupt for the sake of a few flickering flames of light. "I'm glad no one was hurt during this whole thing."

Caspian chuckled and set his goblet down on the table. "Unfortunately, Reepicheep would not agree with you," he remarked with a smile. "He wanted to see if a Mouse could defeat a Giant, and possibly have a tale written about him. He's very disappointed in not getting his wish."

Professor Cornelius and I laughed at that, our amusement coming to an end as Fang lifted his head and looked at me. "This is all very nice, but it is late, and I am trying to sleep," he retorted. "You should rest, too, Ali -you're due to start your rides out again tomorrow. Roan is getting too fat for his own good, even if the stable boys have been allowing the horses out to graze and run in a fenced field."

"You're one to talk," I said right back at him. "You're not the slim thing you once were, either! At least I manage to keep my figure in check with my weapon's training with the king. You, on the other hand, had better start your own walks, before you join Roan and me on our rides out of the city!"

Fang snorted and glared at me. "I refuse to submit myself to such criticism. I will see you upstairs, when you decide to come to bed." Then he left, waving his tail haughtily.

"You shouldn't tease him so," Professor Cornelius said, only meaning it a little. "But he is right –it is time for bed, and I am an old man."

Caspian nodded and rose, offering me a hand to help me up. I looked at him in surprise, but accepted it, automatically taking it the same way I always did whenever we were at the practice yards and I had been tossed into the dirt: by clasping his wrist in a firm grip and letting him pull me up. He had probably anticipated a ladylike touch this time around, but he wasn't surprised at the grip he received instead.

The two of us then helped the Professor to his feet, and like any good assistant who was fond of her mentor, I led him back to his rooms and put a pot of water over the fire in his sitting room, for he was fond of late-night teas. The banked fire would keep the water warm enough for his needs, and would provide something to brew his pain medicines in, in case his joints started to ache while he slept.

'They don't always bother him, though,' I reminded myself. The joint pains had only shown themselves during the cold winter months, and were starting to ease with the arrival of warm weather.

I returned to the library to find Caspian still there, a concerned look on his face. Quick to reassure him, I smiled. "He'll be alright. With winter nearly gone, his body will be alright again soon. The cold weather was hard on him, and it takes a little time for the body to adjust with the seasons. He'll be fine."

Caspian sighed in relief, and smiled. "I am glad that you are here to help take care of him, Ali. He was always caring for me when I was young, and now that I am King, I wish I could do for him as he had done for me."

My hand reached out to give his arm a sympathetic squeeze. "You are," I gently told him. "By taking care of Narnia and all of its peoples, you are doing everything he could have hoped for. I know that he is proud of you –if he wasn't, he wouldn't be recording every one of your deeds in that history book he's writing about you!"

I waved towards the two texts that lay on the Professor's desk. "He's actually had to start another, after the first one was filled. If that doesn't declare how proud of you he is, I don't know what will."

Caspian grinned. "You a very unusual and fascinating young woman, Ali," he said, grinning even wider as I blushed. "Will you be coming to the ball that will be occurring tomorrow evening?"

I had to blink at him. "Ball? What ball?" I asked, beginning to panic at the thought of attending a large social event.

He shrugged and looked more than a little frustrated. "It is a foolish thought of my Councilors, who say that this ball is to celebrate our triumph in the North, but I know it is so they can present their daughters to me," Caspian said, annoyance filling his voice. "It is not required that you attend. I merely hoped to have a friend to speak with."

I laughed and patted his hand in sympathy. "Sadly, I will not," I apologized, frantically thinking up some good excuses to not go. "I cannot dance, I lack the ability to interact with the nobles, and have absolutely nothing to wear to such an event. The Professor and I purchased clothes for me that are meant to be functional rather than fashionable, meaning that they're supposed to get dusty and dirty. I've no dress that would be suitable for a ball."

None of these excuses were false, either. I could not dance in any way; not in my world, or in the Narnian fashion, either. Besides Caspian, I had never talked with any of the nobility; Caspian was no trouble talking to, because he was pretty casual, at least for a king.

And as for an outfit, I honestly had never considered the idea of wearing a fancy gown here at the castle for any reason. Cinderella, I was not, and besides, since I lacked the traditional and local social skills, it was probably a good idea for me to keep away from anything 'social.'

Seeing his skeptic look, I had to smirk. "Besides, I doubt that I would be well-accepted by the ladies who wish to snare you as their husband. I would be seen as a competitor for your attention, and I have no wish to come under the scrutiny or hateful glares of the court ladies!"

Caspian gave a playful sigh. "Ah, well," he said, giving me a smile, "I suppose I shall have to survive on my own, then. Goodnight, Ali. Sleep well."

He turned to leave, but then swung back to face me. "Please inform the Professor that I would like to speak with the two of you in a few days' time? I would do so tomorrow, but with the ball occurring, it would be best to meet after it is over, when everyone is well-rested."

I nodded. "Of course, whenever you wish," I said, puzzled at the sudden seriousness on his face. "May I ask what it is you would like to discuss?"

He hesitated a moment, then answered, "I would rather it wait. There are some things I must still do before I go further on this."

Well, that made sense, I guess. "Very well," I acquiesced. "In three days, then? Will that do?"

"Perfect," he replied with a smile. "In three days, then, Ali."

And off he went, leaving me more than a little puzzled about the whole thing. Ah, well, no use worrying over it now. Besides, I had more than enough on my plate, since I had to get not only Fang and Roan back in shape, but myself also. And with spring having arrived, I needed to pray that no other interesting events happened before the whole Dawn Treader voyage.

'He has to build the ship, first,' I noted. 'You can't go on a sea voyage without a ship!'

Oh, crap; how I was going to convince Caspian to build a fleet of ships just on my say-so? That was completely beyond my limited 'powers of persuasion.' Hopefully, he'd think of it on his own. All I could do in the meantime was wait and see what happened, and hoped that I didn't blow things up too badly when things occurred.

Yawning, I banked the fire, blew out a majority of the candles, and headed up to my rooms.

AN: More excitement next chapter! Review?