Susan and Lucy exited their bedroom with light hearts and dancing steps. They'd finished getting their gowns fitted and their hair pinned up and were now headed downstairs to meet their brothers and formally enter Anvard's great hall for Cor's celebration feast.

"Oh, I'm so glad that Peter didn't think it was necessary to return home right away!" Lucy enthused, clapping her hands excitedly, "Cor's celebration party will truly be one of kind."

"I don't think Peter needed any convincing—we've all been waiting for this day for a long time," Susan responded, her eyes glowing with happiness, "And I hope that what this house has been through over the past decade will never be repeated—let tonight truly be one of a kind."

Lucy cringed, her face twisting with horror. "A repeat would be terrible," she agreed.

Their steps slowed as they contemplated a repeat of the past decade, but their happiness soon returned. Then Lucy jumped in front of her sister, blocking her path.

"Let's not go down right away.," she said, "I just remembered that Aravis told me that she wasn't sure how she'd look in our northern fashions—as she called our dresses." She paused, her eyes dancing, "Let's go find her and tell her that she looks absolutely fabulous!"

"I hope that's not why she decided to move to another room this afternoon," Susan pondered, as they hurried through a maze of hallways, "Aravis would look wonderful in a sack. She's beautiful."

Lucy grimaced, "Oh, I hope not too, but the more I think of it, the more I conclude that that is the reason." She frowned, Poor dear, I wish she'd told me."

"A curse that many a good woman falls for," Susan mused.

"Too true," Lucy agreed.

Suddenly, the sound of soft crying froze them in their tracks. They looked right and left but saw no one and turned to face each other in confusion.

"You'd think we'd be used to the labyrinth of a palace's hallways by now—especially in a palace that is like a second home." Susan muttered, annoyed with herself for not being able to locate the direction of the sound.

"Shh," Lucy cautioned, her finger poised over her lips and her eyes almost crossed. Slowly she turned her head, selecting the hallway diagonal to Susan's back. Then her face broke into a wide smile and she pointed that way.

"There!" she exclaimed.

Susan turned slowly, eyeing the hallway with the curios expectation, then she stepped forward and waved for Lucy follow. They peered around the corner and their expressions changed to shock. A young blonde boy sat on a bench outside his bedroom, tears streaming down his face.

Corin." Susan spoke gently as she knelt beside him, tying to pulled his hands away from his face, "What could possibly be wrong, child? What with your brother home and Rabadash munching hay in a cattle-boat, what do you have to be sad about?"

"There now," Lucy consoled, sitting down beside him, she rubbed his back, "Tell us what happened?"

Susan managed to pull his hands down and both girls drew back, startled.

"Cor?"

Suddenly, the difference dawned on Susan."Why, you've had a hair cut! Oh, how wonderful you look."

"You do look splendid," Lucy encouraged, "How does it feel?" She paused, "That's not why your crying is it?"

"No, no." Cor assured them, his voice croaking like a frog, "I like my haircut. It makes me feel like I just cut off all the years that I spent in Calormene, wondering who I was and where I came from."

He grinned, then grimaced, "I'm crying because I've never been to a royal dance before. I don't know what will happen and I don't know any dance steps."

He sighed and frowned, "I'm sure that Corin and Aravis have been to tons and tons of dances and they'll have a wonderful time—but not me." He looked up into the Queens' eyes, pleading, "Do I have to go?"

"I'm afraid so, dear," Susan replied, suppressing a tender laugh. She tugged him to his feet, "Where would we be if the guest of honor didn't come?"

"And don't think that we'll leave you stranded out there," Lucy encouraged, taking his other hand, "We know tons of dances too and they're actually pretty easy." She gave him a smile, "Narnian songs are very repetitive. Once you learn the steps, you just repeat them over and over."

Susan opened Cor's bedroom door and motioned for the others to enter. "We'll give you a quick lesson," she said.

But before anyone could move, they heard the sound of timid steps approaching from behind. They turned to see Aravis walking slowly toward them. She stopped short when she spotted Cor, her face growing red.

The former Tarkheena looked absolutely lovely wearing a flowing lacy royal blue gown and with her ebony hair caught up in the long stems of two tiger lilies. The orange flowers contrasted the blue dress with stunning effect.

The two sisters' eyes lit up, smiles of satisfaction creasing their faces.

A Dryad did her hair, Lucy noted, understanding that no Human could have looped the stems into such a position.

"You look amazing, dear," she said, clasping her hands with pleasure.

"More beautiful than any jewel," Susan agreed, her eyes sparkling.

Cor stared at his friend, dumbfounded and dazzled. For a minute he was too awestruck to say or do anything. Then he simply nodded proudly.

After hosting the most joyous feast to ever grace Anvard's dining hall, King Lune solemnly rose to his feet. His gaze moved down the long table, acknowledging everyone with a warm smile and a nod. Finally, he came to the two blond boys sitting on either side of him. Watching the expressions of father and sons was enough to make everyone's eyes misty.

Then Lune roughly cleared his throat, "My dearest friends, our hearts have been lighten recently, haven't they? It seems strange to me to not be weighed down with the burden that I've carried all these years. Does it not feel as though we've been walking on air these last days?"

He continued, "For the sake of my gratitude and the gratitude of my entire house and all of Archenland, I find it necessary to bestow our thanks to you all with not just words, but tangible gifts."

The tetrarchs shifted uneasily in their chairs. None of them felt like they needed tangible rewards, but Lune was already staring at them. His upraised hand silencing their unspoken objections. "No, no, dearest friends," he said, "Do not speak out of turn; only listen to me."

Bowing his head, Lune collected himself. "First, we all must lift up praises to the Lion. It is because of His great wisdom that we are celebrating tonight. It is because of Him that we are not only celebrating the return of my oldest son, but also the return of two Talking Horses and the safety of all Archenland and Narnia." He smiled warmly at Aravis as he finished, "and the freedom of a new and dear friend as well."

"It is the Lion's wisdom that has done this, not our own."

Painfully, he continued, "I must confess that I haven't always been the strong faithful man that I appeared to be. There have been many a day—and night—when I cried out to Him for answers, many a time when I felt like I hadn't been dealt a square deal, and many times when I thought that my pain was too much for me to bear."

Resolution came to his face, "But, friends, I have now seen wisdom and it was not my own. I have seen great power and it was not the work of my hands. If the Lion were here right now, I would bow before Him and not speak. What could I say to Him?"

"Friends, let us all lift up thanks and praise to Him now."

Silence pervaded the dining hall as everyone gave thanks to the great wisdom and works of Aslan. Then Lune resumed with the ceremony.

His eyes found young Squeakacheep and he smiled warmly, "To the youngest and smallest warrior at my table, I would like to present you with this medal." He held up a mouse-sized gold medallion fastened to a scarlet sash. Four rubies sat along its circumference, one marking each of the cardinal directions: north, south, east, and west.

"This, little friend," Lune said, as he gently buckled the sash across the mouse's chest, "is given to you in honor of your humble and valiant service to not only your own Kings and Queens, but also for securing the safe return of my son and the safety of our two nations."

"It is meant to be kept for all time and passed down to your children and your children's children for time out of mind so that all future generations remember you and what you have done."

Squeekacheep bowed deeply, "Thank you, sire. It is a reward that I did not ask for, but one which I will treasure and teach my children and grandchildren to treasure."

"That is well."

Lune continued, handing out many special awards to many Narnian and Archenlandish Lords and Ladies. At last he came to the tetrarchs. He bowed deeply then spoke, emotion making his voice pipe a few octaves higher than usual. Tears blurred his vision.

"My dearest friends," he said, "I feel as though trinkets and awards would never be enough to thank you for all that you've done for me. Truly, you were sent into this world for not only the sake of Narnia but also for my sake. You are the Lion's blessing to me."

He continued, "How many times did you comforted me and strengthen my resolve to keep going? How many letters did you send to encourage me? How many times did you simply arrive at Anvard because you just had a feeling that I might need you? The answer is infinitely higher than any man or Beast could count. How can I repay such a debt? I cannot. I truly cannot."

He held up a hand, silencing Peter before he could speak, then continued.

"These last few days, I have endeavored to show my gratitude to your house in some legal way, but I've been confounded in that as well, for it seems that I had forgotten, in my haste to give you some reward, that Archenland and Narnia have already signed an oath of everlasting friendship."

"So, what shall I give you, friends?" he asked, "I wish to give you something tangible, but since I know not what, I will leave the question in your hands. Talk amongst yourselves and then tell me. Take as long as you like."

He bowed low again, then finished, "But, for tonight—right now—let us dance."

As he turned away, but the tetrarchs just stared at each other, to dumbfounded to speak.

Several hours later, Susan and Lucy sipped on glasses of champagne punch, talking in low tones as they watched their brother's endlessly twirling Archen Ladies around the ballroom.

"What can we possibly say to him?" Lucy queried anxiously, "He simply won't hear of giving us nothing."

"Then I suppose it isn't right of us to deny him the privilege," Susan said simply, her eyebrows furrowed with concern, "We'll have to talk to the boys about it."

"But how will it look on an international level? Do you think it would look like so sort of bribe?"

Susan shrugged, "I don't think so—although I suppose another country could protest, if they wanted to make hay."

"Oh great, now I've got an image of Rabadash in my mind," Lucy scowled, then snickered.

Susan laughed too, then continued.

"Everyone knows that Narnia and Archenland are close friends—and before the Witch's reign, I understand that the two houses were really related."

She paused, studying each of their brothers, "Lu, have you ever know them to have so much energy? They've been out there almost the entire time."

Lucy quickly covered her mouth, having just taken a sip of her drink, "No!" she gasped and giggled, once it was safe. "Goodness, they're usually the ones trying to avoid ladies."

"Never successfully though," she added, laughing.

"Of course not," Susan replied, "They're Kings, after all."

Lucy studied the boys longer, then said, "You know, I bet they're dancing so much because they're so happy that Cor is home."

"Well, if you put it that way," Susan replied, setting her glass down, "I feel bad for not being out there too."

Lucy set her glass down too, "Let's find Cor and Corin."

*~0~*

Across the ballroom, Cor and Aravis stood against the wall, looking completely uncomfortable in their surroundings.

"You should go dance, Cor," Aravis instructed, wrinkling her nose at him, "Whoever heard of a Crown Prince not dancing at a ball?"

"Shut up, Aravis," Cor muttered, "You don't know what it's like. You've were raised around all this stuff." He gestured around the room, looking exasperated.

"I wasn't raised around this," she hissed, repeating is all-encompassing gesture, "Centaurs and fauns and Talking Mice, for goodness sake." Her eyes welled up, "They love you already, but me, I just know they hate me. I'm the enemy to them." She looked on the verge of tears, "Maybe it was a mistake to come."

"You mean you want to go back and marry that ole humpback Grand Vicar?" Cor asked slyly, hoping to tease her into a better mood. He felt bad that she felt like a fish out of water. "Wouldn't you get arrested for child abuse on the grounds that your kids were as ugly as their father?"

Aravis stiffened momentarily, then giggled. With faux loftiness, she said, "No, silly, child abuse isn't a crime in Calormen." She paused before adding, "Really Cor, for a future King, you need to have a few courses in the art of Foreign Law." She grinned, teasing him, "Schooling, you know."

"Shut up, Aravis," Cor muttered.

There was a lull in their conversation for several minutes, then Cor pleaded, "When will I get to met him, Aravis?"

"Meet who?" she asked, confused.

"You know who," Cor replied, sulking.

"I do not," Aravis hissed, "You've met a ton more people than I have here—and they all like you."

"Well, then he must like you better than he likes me."

"That's ridiculous. Everyone here likes you better than me."

"Not him."

"Who are you talking about, Sha—Cor?"

"You know perfectly well—"

"No I don't—and if you say—"

"Aslan, you idiot—why hasn't he come to me?

"Don't you dare call me an idiot! I don't care if you're a Prince now. You have no right—"

Suddenly, she recognized his words, and her mouth clamped shut, her face reddening. "I'm sorry, Cor," she said, "I don't know why He hasn't come to you. I'm only sure that He will. Queen Susan and Queen Lucy told me that He is Lord of everything in this world and that He has His own way of doing things."

Then she couldn't quite resist a subtle jab, "Maybe if you stopped referring to Him as him and started saying Him."

"Shut up, Aravis." Cor muttered, his face reddening.

"It's a perfectly good reason," she retorted, sounding lofty again.

"Don't you guys want to dance?" Corin asked, coming up from behind. He spoiled the rest of their argument without realizing it.

"No!" Cor and Aravis answered together.

"Father says you have too," Corin admonished his brother, "It's only polite to dance at your own party."

"Shut up, Corin," Cor sulked, then he thought of something, "Isn't it worse to leave someone standing along the wall?"

"Nice try, brother. Aravis can dance if she likes, but you have to dance."

Aravis smirked and rolled her eyes.

"I can't dance," Cor stated flatly, his face reddening.

"That's a bunch of bosh," Corin shot back, "I heard Queen Susan and Queen Lucy gave you a lesson."

"Oh yeah, one lesson."

"Are you questioning their teaching skills? I'm going box you for that." He raised his fists.

"Boys, boys!" Edmund admonished cheerfully, coming up behind, "What's this about?"

"Cor won't dance at his own party."

Edmund raised an eyebrow.

"I don't want to leave Aravis standing on the wall by herself."

Edmund's eyebrow rose higher.

"Aravis," he asked gently, suspecting that she had something to say.

"I can't dance," she answered softly, her chin wobbling ever so slightly.

Edmund eyebrow rose even higher. He bowed slightly, "Forgive me lady, but I've never met a former Tarkheena who couldn't dance."

"I bet you've never met a former Tarkheena either," Aravis replied, showing some of her wit.

Edmund smiled, "Clever—too clever, in fact, for me to allow you to stand on this wall." He bowed again, then extended his hand, "Will you give me the honor of a dance, dear lady?"

Aravis could hardly say no.

As he lead her to the dance floor, Edmund turned back to the twins, "Cor, Lucy is waiting to dance with you—I'll warn you, she won't take no for an answer. Corin, you're with Susan for this trip. I suspect that the girls will want to switch partners after a dance or two."

"Alright!" Corin was gleeful. He began hustling his brother forward.

"What?" Cor was dumbfounded, but he found it useless to resist.

"Weren't Cor and Aravis cute tonight?" Lucy asked, from the bed.

"Yes, indeed," Susan answered, from the floor, where she was rooting through her pack, "and I don't care what Cor says, he's not half bad at dancing."

"I was particularly proud of Aravis for not saying a word whenever he stomped on her toes, but you're quite right, he didn't step on her often."

"Of course not. He took a lesson at our Royal Dance Boot Camp, you know."

"That he did. He's our star pupil, that's for sure."

"Corin could use some refresher lessons," Susan grumbled, then her eyes lit up as her hand found Swanwhite's diary.

Lucy giggled, "Oh, I know! I thought we'd cured his two left feet years ago."

"Maybe he's just excited to have his brother home." Susan rose to her feet, then stopped short. Her eyes widened, "Queen Lucy, what are you doing?"

"Writing in my diary," Lucy replied casually.

"Since when do you write in a diary?"

"Since you found Swanwhite's collection."

"Since the beginning? You can't be serious! How come I didn't know this years ago?"

"Oh, but I am serious," Lucy chuckled, "I just thought that it would be wonderful to follow in Swanwhite's footsteps—you know, leave a personal account of our reign for someone to find years and years after we've gone. Think of it, Su. Swanwhite has been a wonderful help to you, I know—and I think the rest of us too—though we never met her. What if I could, through my writing, help someone the same way, years and years—perhaps centuries from now?"

Susan smiled insightfully. It was just like Lucy to think of such a thing, "That would be special. What a wonderful idea, Lu."

Lucy nodded, "I think so—and as for you not knowing about my diary sooner, I really don't know. You're usually much more observant." She laughed as her sister's pillow's smacked into her face.

Susan shook her head, letting out a mock huff, then slid under the covers and opened Swanwhite's diary. She said, "Well then, at least I know that you won't mind the lantern light."

She read.

My grief over young Tarkaan Joey's untimely passing is still palpable. I feel as though I've lost a dear friend, even before I knew him well.

Of course, I'll always be grateful to him for rescuing me in Tashbaan but my gratefulness make my heart ache all the more. It doesn't seem fair that he, a mere child, has died before me, an adult and Queen. In fact, I see the terrible irony that he rescued me and I only got him killed.

Perhaps he would have lived long if he had remained in Tashbaan? Perhaps I was wrong to send his heart toward Narnia. I ask myself those questions, but then I remember that he may never have come to know Aslan if we hadn't met. On the other hand, doesn't the Lion give everyone a chance to know Him, no matter where they're from? Then again, perhaps it was I who was meant to tell him about Him.

I have so many questions and no answers. Where is He?

Susan sighed, sadden again by the knowledge that a long ago friendship wasn't given much time to blossom. But even in her sadness, she couldn't help but to be elated about a particular friendship, in this present age, which would not suffer the same fate.

"Leave him be, Peter!" Susan spoke in frustration, her hands on her hips.

"Why should I?" Peter fired back, equally frustrated, "His request is ridiculous. Narnia needs no payment for playing the part Aslan clearly assigned us." He gritted his teeth, "We need no favors from Lune or his house!"

"I know, I know, brother." Susan replied, calmly laying her hand on him, "But he requested that we think of something, so I think that turning him down is worse. Think how grateful you would be if he'd rescued one of us?"

Peter sighed heavily, "I know, I know, you're right, but this is ridiculous. Does Aslan give us something every time we do some good in His name?"

"Does He like it when we accept His rewards when He chooses to give one?" Susan asked pointedly, giving thrust for thrust.

She went on, "We should ask Lune for something that will benefit both Narnia and Archenland."

"Like what?" Peter asked irritably, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Well, since you asked," Susan smiled coyly, "I thought of an idea last night."

"Oh? Did Swanwhite's diary give you inspiration?"

"Nope," Susan replied, grinning, "It just sort of floated in on my dreams."

"Well, that's as good as any other way to get inspiration." Peter replied, "What is it?"

"Oh no, you don't!" Susan snapped, good-naturedly shaking her head at him, "Ed and Lu need to approve it too."

"Round them up then," Peter said, "Powwow in my room in thirty minutes."

A half hour later, Peter, Edmund, and Lucy took up various places around the High King's guest bedroom and stared at Susan, who stood in the center of the room.

Lucy sat on Peter's bed, clutching a pillow tightly to her chest, confident expectancy written on her face. She was glad that this business would soon be settled and she didn't doubt that whatever Susan suggested would be their final decision. Her sister had a knack for this kind of things.

Edmund was sprawled in an overstuffed chair looking, to anyone who didn't know him, as if he was bored out of his mind. In truth, his siblings knew that his naturally calculating brain was itching to hear what his older sister had to say. He too was glad that she's come up with something to resolve this. What could they possible asked their dear friend to do for them or Narnia? The problem felt, to him anyway, almost like an international scandal.

Peter was leaning against his door, his arms crossed, his eyes narrowed, and a scowled twisting his face. His conscience nagged him to trust his oldest little sister, but he was still annoyed at having been put in this situation.

"Well?" he asked, opening their meeting because he was High King.

Susan gave him a sympathetic smile. In truth, she understood how he felt, Lune's request did seem extreme but, in this case, she knew that proper protocol wasn't on his mind. Courtesy and friendship must be taken into account.

"I propose," she said, seeing no reason for random pleasantries, "that we ask King Lune for the pleasure of visiting Cor and Corin whenever our duty permits and he obliges—and include Aravis in our request as well."

"We already have that promise from him," Peter grumbled.

A light popped on in Lucy's head, "That promise deals solely with Corin—made after Cor was abducted. It need revising."

"Exactly!" Susan said.

Edmund gave his older sister a twisted smile of approval, "Kind of sneaky—I like it."

Peter began to nod, relief washing over him, "Very good, Su, very good indeed."

"I thought that you'd approve." Susan replied beaming, then asked, "Shall we vote to make it official?"

"All in favor, say aye," Peter said, hustling things along.

"That's not exactly proper parliamentary procedure for calling a vote, Pete," Edmund pointed out.

"Shut up, Ed, or you'll be out of order," Peter snapped with a smile.

"That's not proper either," Edmund rolled his eyes.

Lucy giggled, then got the ball rolling properly, "I move that we approve Susan's plan and carry it out pronto."

"Second," Edmund huffed, rolling his eyes, then smirking at Peter.

Peter returned the smirk, then officiated the vote, "We already discussed it—all in favor, say aye."

"Aye!"

"Motion carries. We'll adopt Susan's plan and carry it out pronto."

"Well, I'm glad that's over," Susan sighed.

"We all are," Edmund said, speaking for the others. He sank deeper into his chair as his limps relaxed.

With their business taken care of, the siblings gravitated toward a small window, overlooking the courtyard.

"Cor and Aravis sure seem to enjoy hanging out together," Peter observed.

"I suspect that I'd like hanging out with someone with whom I've been through so much," Lucy replied. Then she grinned, "That's why I like it when the four of us are together."

"I just knew there was a reason that I like having the rest of you around so much," Edmund joked, drawing a laugh from everyone.

"It looks like they're arguing again," Susan commented, cocking her head.

Edmund surveyed the scene below, then said, "You know, I wouldn't be at all surprised if the two of them got married one day."

Everyone laughed then, after a few more minutes of watching, they quietly filed out of the room to find King Lune.

*~0~*

"I'm telling you Aravis, He must like you more than me!" Cor ranted, "That's the only explanation for why He hasn't come and explained Himself to me."

"Now Cor," Aravis replied calmly, "When I met Him, I got the impression that He doesn't need to explain Himself to anyone."

"Well, I think that He should," Cor pouted.

"King Edmund told me that He does explain, but it's in His own time, not ours."

"Well, I think that He needs a new clock."

"Cor! Honestly, haven't you listened to anything I've said?"

"Anything you've said?" Cor's eyes flashed with anger, "As if you're all-knowing all of the sudden!"

"I didn't say that, you—you—" Aravis was so angry that she was at a loss for words.

"All I want is to meet Him!" Cor shouted at no one in particular, his eyes filling with tears, "Everyone says how wonderful He is and I don't know." He started to cry, "I just don't know."

"I have come," a deep rumbling voice resonated behind them.

Late that afternoon, as the sun was quickly sinking behind the hills, the tetrarchs, Aravis and their company hurriedly prepared to depart for Narnia. The Anvard courtyard bustled with activity as they saddled their horses and helped to load the pack animals. Everyone was a little sad to be leaving so soon, but duty had called. Peter had received a notice from one of the Cair's pigeons, but interestingly he hadn't told anyone exactly what the message said. Aravis took leaving the hardest, stealing glances at Anvard's high walls even as chatter swirled around her.

"I'm so glad that Cor finally got some of his story explained to him," Lucy said happily, as she tightened the girth on her saddle."

"He was a little upset that Aslan didn't tell him all the details about everything that's gone on these past ten years," Peter recalled, "I had to sit him down and tell him that that's just how Aslan works sometimes—most of the time actually."

"Just most of the time, Peter?" Susan asked, giving him an odd look, "I should think that you mean all the time. Since when have you heard of anyone getting their entire story told to them all at once?"

"Never," Peter acknowledged.

"I feel like I've missed out on something when Aslan comes and I don't get to see Him," Lucy said wistfully.

"He has others to look after Lu," Edmund reminded her, as he loaded a mule with several heavy packs, "He was here to take care of Cor this time."

"Oh, I know," Lucy replied, "But I still feel sad. I don't think I can help it."

"Truth be told," Edmund admitted ruefully, "I often feel the same way."

"You mean you always feel the same way," Susan said, "But we've all come to know His ways."

"I'm beginning to see why everyone around here loves Him so much," Aravis said, sneaking a remorseful look at Anvard as she saddled her mount. The mare took the opportunity to jerk away from her, "Oh you—" she said grumpily.

Peter chuckled then, catching Susan's glare, clamped his mouth shut. "Would you like me to hold her?" he offered.

"Well, I suppose so," Aravis sighed, "although, it kind of hurts my pride to admit it."

"Pride is a tricky thing to manage," Edmund recalled.

"Hwin never pulled away or fidgeted when I saddled her," Aravis remembered sadly. Then she blushed at having admitted to breaking a Narnian law in front of the Narnian tetrarchs.

Edmund patted her shoulder, "I once read in a book that King Frank was a cab driver in our world before he came here."

Aravis gave him a funny look, but when Susan started talking to Peter, she stole another glance at Anvard. Edmund and Lucy were listening to their older siblings.

"Honestly, brother," Susan said, anxiously looking at the setting sun, "Is it really necessary for us to leave tonight? Can we not wait till morning?"

"I'd love to stay longer too, Su," he answered, reading her mind, "but apparently the Telmarines have figured out that we've been gone for almost a week—and it'll be a week or longer by the time we've ridden all the way home."

His siblings stiffed, now alerted to a potentially serious problem.

"Not nice of you to not fill us in, brother," Edmund pointed out, a little cross.

"I know," Peter redden, looked at the ground, "I shouldn't have. Will you accept it as a big brother's instincts dying hard?"

The younger three glanced at each other, having a silent powwow amongst themselves.

"I'm sorry." Peter said, unsure if he should be amused or concerned, "Will you forgive me?"

"Yes, of course," Lucy said, suddenly grinning. The middle pair nodded, smirking a little.

Peter gave a relieved sigh.

"Is the Telmarine ambassador in his residence?" Edmund asked.

"The note didn't say," Peter replied, "I asked in my reply."

"He probably wasn't," Lucy put in, "He's just the sort of dirty sneak that would run home and tell his King that we're gone."

"I have to agree," Susan said, then noticed Aravis staring at Anvard.

"You'll miss this place, won't you, dear?" she asked softly.

"More than I could have imagined," Aravis whispered, turning away so they wouldn't see her cry.

The tetrarchs glanced at one another, taken by surprise by this turn of events. Before any of them could say anything, a side door opened and Cor bolted out, followed more slowly by Lune and Corin.

"Aravis!" the older twin shouted, "Aravis, wait!"

The entire Narnian company looked him way as he ran up to his friend, skidding to a stop in front of her.

"Aravis," he said, puffing hard to catch his breath, "Father says that you can stay here. Will you?"

Taken by surprise, she said nothing immediately and after the awkward lull, Cor began to plead with her.

"Please say you'll stay. I'll miss you if you leave. Father says that there've been no women at court since mother died. And you'll have so much fun with Father and Corin—they've been properly trained, after all. No more beggar's brat to keep you company—."

Aravis stirred to her senses, "Would you just shut up, Sha—Cor! I haven't called you a beggar's brat in over two weeks. Of course, I'll stay."

She glanced at the tetrarchs, "Is it alright if I stay here?"

"Of course, dear," Peter spoke for them, "If that's what you want."

"Yes," Aravis whispered, "Yes, this is what I want."

Author's Notes: You know, it would have been so much simpler for me in this chapter if I'd had Cor meet Aslan before now and if I'd kept Tarkaan Joey around for at least one more chapter. Oh well, what's done is done. I also regret not adding in more chapters at Anvard or in Archenland before now.

Now that we've come to the end of the Horse and his Boy section, I'd like to take a little break to work on other stories and contemplate where I want this one to go.

As for Lucy's diary, in time, I'd like to go somewhere with that. How about a sequel that has Lilliandil finding and reading it? In time, I want to write that one.

You'll also see Squeakcheep's medallion again.

Oh, and I competed on a parliamentary procedure team when I was in middle and high school, so I couldn't resist adding that in.