Good afternoon, my sea anemones! (sorry, I'm in a weird mood) Here is part two of Cair Paravel, coming a bit earlier than expected, because the camping trip, I found, will not occur until two in the afternoon. Isn't lucky for me!

Note: In the movie, the fox was there for the coronation. Not so in my story, he will come into play later… ;-)

Also, in the first Preview for the movie that ever came out, they show Peter DANCING with like, this hot blonde girl after the coronation. As we all know, THAT scene never appeared in the movie. There are some bloopers from it, however, on the DVD set. I'll touch on that a little in this chapter.

Yes, Almyra, you're absolutely right—the mark they bear was slightly based on Cain bearing the mark…of…I think it was a murderer, I'd have to read that again.

And to Anorwen, I seriously laughed INCREDIBLY hard when I realized my misprint. That would be funny if they distributed the royal scarves, huh? Well, if you'd like to look back to chapter 25, I've fixed the mistake. ;-)

Well, Capegio, as long as you promise to behave yourself and not become an OC…I think I have a surprise for you in the NEXT chapter which I'll post Sunday or Monday.

In fact…

I dedicate this chapter to Capegio, my very first reviewer ever! (can you BELIEVE there is almost a hundred reviews now?)

Chapter 26, Cair Paravel, part two

The radiant sun streamed through the glass as we walked up the steps and stood before our appropriate thrones.

"To the glistening eastern Sea, I give you Queen Lucy, the Valiant." Aslan's voice boomed over the crowd, his voice like a wave crashing to shore.

Lucy beamed and almost giggled. Tumnus placed the crown on her head and shared a look with her.

"To the Great Western Wood, I give you King Edmund, the Just."

Edmund took deep breaths and shivered in excitement, barely keeping still. Tumnus put the crown on his head and smiled joyfully.

"To the radiant Southern Sun, Queen Susan, and Gentle."

Tumnus placed the crown on her head, and Susan gave a…well, gentle….smile.

"And to the Clear Northern Sky, I give you King Peter, the Magnificent," Aslan continued. I shivered with pleasure and bent my head so that Tumnus could place the crown easily on my head. With the lightweight of the crown came the feeling of responsibility.

It was a heavy responsibility.

But it felt…good!

"Once a King or Queen in Narnia," said Aslan softly, turning and looking at us each in turn. "Always a King or Queen in Narnia."

The whole room erupted into cheers and cries. It made me laugh aloud. What would anyone back at home thought if they saw this?

Ceremony ended pleasantly, and everyone jumped to their feet. The nimble-hoofed animals danced over to the tables and began serving the banquet.

We (that being me and my siblings) were seated at a long, long table, with Tumnus and the Beavers sitting in places of honor.

We sat, and ate, and laughed, and watched the dancing fauns and singing dryads. Everything was so colorful and fast, hours past without anyone noticing.

There was a slight clatter of hooves on the marble. Without letting anyone notice me leaving, I rose and quietly stole towards the noise.

"Oreius!" I exclaimed, seeing him with a few other centaurs, all talking and chuckling in a circle.

"Sire," he bowed low, but he did not meet my eyes.

"Oreius," I said, gratification going to burst any second. "I—I didn't see you, after the battle, and I wondered—

"We were sent ahead to forewarn the castle staff," Oreius said gravely, "To prepare for Your Majesties."

"oh," I said in a small voice. There was a silence. The other centaurs looked at me strangely.

"I just wanted to tell you," I began, my voice more confident than I felt. "You…you were amazing on the battlefield. I wanted to thank-you for being there for me. And…and I'm sorry, I mean, I'm very thankful…"

Oreius held up a hand, keeping me from embarrassing myself further. Why can girls always manage to say what they want at all the right times?

"I understand, Sire," Oreius looked long and hard at me. And there was almost a hint of a smile.

"Thank-you," this time, I bowed to him. The other centaurs opened their mouths in astonishment.

Then I left them alone, and hurried to join my siblings. I never reached them, though.

A tall, blonde—thing…I suppose, some sort of naiad, swooped upon me, took my hands, and pulled me to the dance floor.

"Dance with me, Sire," she giggled.

I felt the sudden urge to tell her I need to go sleep in my royal bedroom and had no time for dancing, but she wouldn't let me get in a word edgewise. She giggled, most of all, laughed, and pulled me around the floor in a smooth gait with the other dryads and fauns. It felt like hours, but I only danced for song or two. Finally I bowed to her, and tried to speak in my most gracious voice,

"Thank-you, Madam, for that uplifting….dance. I must return to my…uh…royal brother and sisters."

She curtseyed and giggled…again. "And thank-YOU, King Peter!" she said.

"We'll have to do it again sometime," I said, trying to be polite. I could have kicked myself in the stomach if my leg would go that far.

"Of course!" cried the naiad, skipping away.

I stumbled back to the table and tiredly lowered myself in my place.

"Took you long enough," Susan hissed. "Everyone was wondering where you went."

Thinking of Oreius, I muttered in a low voice, "Well, I had a little…business…to take care of."

"Did business have something to do with a tall, blonde, naiad?" Edmund's voice came muffled from his goblet.

"Why, Peter!" exclaimed Susan.

"Is Peter getting married?" asked Lucy, butting in quickly.

"No!" Susan and I exclaimed at the same time. Edmund exclaimed, "Yes!" at the same moment.

"I see," Lucy rolled her eyes.

Thankfully, the subject was dropped, but I could look none of them in the eyes for a moment or more.

It was some time later when I realized Aslan was gone. And Lucy had disappeared as well.

Fearing the worst, but knowing deep down that it had to come sometime—I found Lucy in a balcony, being comforted by Mr. Tumnus.

"Whatever is the matter?" I said.

Lucy kept one hand in Mr. Tumnus' strong grip, with the other hand she clasped mine and led me forward.

"Aslan is gone," she said in a hollow voice. "It was Time."

"I see." I said sorrowfully. She was right. It was time.

But I didn't even get to say goodbye.

The fact that I didn't know when I would see him again made me hurt inside. But I knew, somehow, he would return. But it may not be in the same fashion. I had to be patient—it's more probable that he would appear when I wasn't looking for it. I suppose Lions do unexpected things like that.

"Are you alright, Lucy?" I said quietly.

She nodded. Mr. Tumnus touched her shoulder and whispered, "I'll see you tomorrow, Lucy Pevensie, sleep well."

Lucy waved to him and held my hand still. "I'm tired," she said.

"You should start taking naps," I said jokingly.

"Peter!" she exclaimed. "I stopped when I was six, you know I did."

"Why, so you did!" I said hazily. "I'd forgotten."

"Oh," Lucy smiled. "Can we go to bed?"

"Of course!" I swooped down and scooped her up in my arms. The sounds of the party had begun to die down, and Susan and Edmund met us in the hall.

"Her Royal Highness is sleepy," I said, grinning.

"Goodnight, sires!" cried a chorus of voices.

"Goodnight, everyone!" we replied. The fauns struck up a Narnian Lulluby for Lucy's benefit, and all the gentle animals waved us away and were wreathed in smiles.

"I could get used to this," I said to Susan.

I ducked to avoid a playful smack on the head.

Thank-you for all your reviews, the updates will occur Sunday or Monday. Until then, I'll be CAMPING! Woohoo!