So I got a question asking if I named Laika after the first dog in space. Well, if I did name her after said dog, I didn't realize it. I just really like the name. In fact, before then I didn't even know there had been a dog in space. Well, you learn something new each day! Enjoy chapter 25. We're halfway through the series! Gasp!

PETER'S POV

After the initial argument between Lucy and Liliandil, everyone dispersed. I found myself walking down the hall past my old room and Lucy's room. Out of my little sister's room came a girl probably about seventeen or eighteen with long, black hair pulled up into a ponytail. She was carrying cleaning supplies, many of which fell from her hands when she went to close the door. She sighed in frustration and closed the door before going to pick up the supplies. When I moved to help her, I noticed the surprise light up in her soft, brown eyes.

"Oh, Your Majesty! I-it's all right. I've got it."

"I don't mind," I answered, picking up what she dropped. "And my name's Peter."

"Oh, um, thank you…Peter."

"Of course." I helped her put away the cleaning supplies and we walked in silence back to my sister's quarters. "You're Lucy's lady's maid, right?"

"Um, yes, I'm Julia," she replied, blushing and looking down at her hands.

"Pleased to meet you, Julia," I told her, smiling.

"You as well, Your M—um, Peter." I couldn't help but chuckle. She was a sweet girl. "Well, I have to go help the other maids um…clean up around Cair." She curtsied lightly before walking away. I liked that she called it Cair; it showed that she was very familiar with where she was. Lucy and Caspian walked up to me, and I noticed a little bundle of grey fur in Lucy's arms and realized it must have been her Wolf cub friend, Laika.

"Peter?" my sister asked. "What are you doing standing outside my room?"

"Um…I was coming to see if you were in there, and you showed up," I lied quickly. "Just wondering where you were, I guess."

"Oh…ok…?" I could tell she didn't really buy it, but she obviously didn't want to ask any questions.

"Oh, and I met Julia," I added.

"Oh, really? Isn't she wonderful?"

"I suppose. I didn't really talk to her." There I went again, lying about it. I just didn't know if I should tell her that I'd taken a quick liking to her lady's maid. I just hoped that Julia wouldn't say anything about it later.

"Oh, well I know you'd like her if you two talked. She's a great girl," Lucy gushed, and Laika nodded in agreement. Caspian chuckled and exchanged a knowing glance with me. He knew I'd been lying, too. I waved good-bye to them and walked away.

During the course of the next few days, Julia and I saw each other a lot. I found myself walking by Lucy's room more and more, hoping to catch a glance of the girl. Most of the time I didn't, but I was able to a couple of times. Every time we met, she seemed to be getting more comfortable around me. I felt myself getting more attached to her.

"After you finish working, would you like to go for a walk on the beach with me?" I asked one day. She seemed surprised, but pleased at the same time.

"Of course, I'd love that," she answered, smiling. She looked up as Caspian approached us.

"Love what?" he asked, his tone curious.

"Hello, King Caspian," Julia said, curtsying. "P—er…King Peter and I were just talking." Caspian grinned at me.

"All right," he answered. "Pete, can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Um, sure." I looked at Julia.

"I have to get back to work anyway."

"All right. Bye." I watched her walk away before turning to Caspian. "What is it?"

"You may be able to fool Lucy, but you can't fool me," he said with a grin, crossing his arms and leaning casually against the wall beside him. "You like her, don't you?"

"Well, yeah, she's a lovely girl," I answered.

"That's not what I meant, and you know it," Caspian chuckled, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, I don't know if I like her like that. She reminds me of Lucy." I saw the young king's eyes soften at my sister's—his fiancée's—name. I internally cringed at the idea of my youngest sister getting married so young, but I kept reminding myself that it was to a man I knew and trusted. I knew Caspian would treat her right—I could tell from the way he looked at her how much he truly loved her. I shook my head and returned to the matter at hand.

"Yeah," Caspian agreed, nodding. "They definitely are a lot alike. Which is why I knew Julia and Lucy would end up good friends."

"Lucy would have made friends with any of the maids."

"Yes, but I think it's different with Julia. They're so alike, they're almost sisters."

"Yeah. But of course, Lucy and Susan—" I began, but was cut off I spotted Lucy coming down the hall. I noticed Julia was with her, and heard them talking. I caught something about how Julia was going to take a break, and Lucy insisting she take the rest of the day off. My sister looked up at me and Caspian. She grinned at me before turning and kissing her fiancé. My anger flared up a little, but I kept telling myself everything was all right, that this would happen whether I wanted it to or not. And to be honest, when I saw Caspian's arm go around Lucy's waist possessively and his free hand reach up to cup her cheek, I had to admit that I did like them being together. It made Lu extremely happy.

Julia walked up next to me and motioned for us to go. I looked at Lucy quickly, but she and Caspian were speaking in low voices, their noses brushing, and I knew they were completely ignoring us now. I took Julia's hand and we headed out of Cair and down to the beach. We ended up walking barefoot through the light waves, talking, laughing, and occasionally splashing each other with the water. I had to admit, while Julia reminded me a lot of Lucy, I didn't view her as a sister. Especially not by the end of the day, when she was leaning her head against my shoulder as we walked back to Cair. Maybe, just maybe, I could be falling in love.