The Place Where We Belong

by clearwaterangel

After Caspian's coronation, the Pevensies are haunted by the idea of having to return to England, but is there a possibility that things will be different this time? After all, Narnia is where they belong. Suspian, PeterxOC, EdmundxOC, LucyxOC. Mainly movie-verse but may incorporate elements from the books. Rated T just to be safe. R&R!

1. Chapter 1: Troublesome Start

Disclaimer: I am not an heir to C.S Lewis, so sadly, I do not own anything other than the plot and my original characters. Also, English is not my native language, so please be patient with me :D

Enjoy!

Chapter 1: Troublesome Start

Happiness and celebration were filling the air of the grand ballroom at the Telmarine castle. Excited chatting and light conversation vibrated around the high-ceilinged room, the cheerful notes of music humming in the background. The whole combination created a warm, agreeable murmur, very inviting and unobtrusive. The newly crowned king was being pulled around the room by people wanting to talk to him and congratulate him, and he was doing his best to please them all, offering polite answers and kind smiles in an effort to make everyone feel appreciated, even if this meant that he was the only person in the ball who wasn't enjoying the party celebrating his own coronation.

Peter was standing near the refreshments table, sipping from his goblet every so often. His ocean-blue eyes scanned the room lazily, stopping on his siblings and some other guests every now and then. He smiled welcomingly when someone approached him with some friendly chatter and amicable questions, which often turned into some light conversation. Once he was left alone again, his eyes would continue to roam around the room, the king enjoying the quietness of his thoughts. However much Peter liked to participate in the social rounds inherent to grand events, he also enjoyed watching everything from a certain distance, taking a moment to relax, to forget the pathos of a sovereign and catch a glimpse of the interactions between guests, some of which could be greatly entertaining in their hilarity. Peter smiled as he took a sip of his drink, having just seen a poor man spilling his wine on a lady's dress and then making things worse by trying to wipe off the stain. The glint of an imposing golden crown then caught his eye, his smile widening at the current misfortune of newest king of Narnia, who was talking to some old, balding men. Peter snorted at the look in Caspian's face, whose boredom at the speaker's rant was evident despite his indulgent expression, the vacancy in his eyes indicating that his mind was anywhere but following the conversation.

Moments later, after a faun had left Peter to himself once more, he again caught sight of Caspian, this time on one of the farthest corners of the ballroom, smiling kindly to a woman, and Peter guessed she was some noblewoman. A group of other men snatched him away almost as soon as he had curtsied to the woman and after short minutes talking to them, he was led away once more, this time relaxing a bit, as his new companions seemed to be close friends. Peter spent his time watching the Telmarine king being dragged randomly along the room, prompting memories of the times when he and his siblings ruled Narnia, and when he as High King was requested by everyone in the room. He had missed those times – not that he would admit that out loud – when he held a good part of the spotlight during all sorts of events. Memories of that awful year in England made their way to his mind next, the angst and the frustration he felt back then, a slight frown tainting his otherwise calm expression. The moment he realised they were back in Narnia had been wonderful. This had been their true home for years, the place where they had all thrived and had been allowed to be themselves. Finally, after months of feeling powerless and of being treated like a worthless underage boy, he was back to the place where his actions had a meaning, where his past was still remembered and acclaimed. He shook his head at this thought. No, it was not right to have such thoughts. It was Caspian people were praising and talking about, he was their king and it was him who meant the most to Narnia now. He sighed again, acknowledging his damaged pride and envy of the Telmarine, although it was a good sort of envy, for he wished Caspian no wrong.

Edmund was leaning casually against a wall, partially hidden on the shadow of a pillar. He had never enjoyed the shower of attention from guests, knowing that hardly anything during social events was said or done sincerely; he preferred to watch everything and everyone from afar, enjoying the company of his thoughts together with some good wine. His eyes darted expertly among his family members, making sure Lucy was not getting herself into trouble – like that time when she hid under a table and fell asleep there, sending them all into a panic, especially Peter, who was on the verge of sending an expedition mission after her around Cair Paravel. He smiled at Susan, who was talking graciously with some other women and laughing frequently. A small string of pity was strung in his heart when he saw Caspian trying to break free from a small group of people, a tired look on his face. For a moment he thought of intervening to save his friend from the grasp of the boring noblemen, but he knew Caspian was perfectly capable of charmingly weaving his way out. He then looked around for his brother and found him staring vacantly at the crowd, more specifically at Caspian's back, a light frown pulling his eyebrows together. With a sigh, Edmund gulped the last sip of his wine and trotted towards his brother, gracefully avoiding the crowd, grabbing a pitcher of wine before slipping beside the Magnificent King.

"Hey Pete" he said, bumping his brother's arm with his elbow to call his attention.

"Oh, hi Ed" Peter answered, slightly startled by his sudden appearance.

"You seemed in deep thought" the Just King pointed out, taking a sip from his wine.

"Oh, did I?" Peter replied, the subtle grimness of his tone not escaping Ed's notice.

"Poor Caspian has been led around all night" Ed commented, looking sideways at Peter, registering his reaction. The Magnificent King's lips twisted into a small smile.

"I feel for him but I most certainly do not envy him. He is resisting quite well, though, poor sod must be begging for a chair and some drink" Peter remarked with a chuckle.

"I sort of miss those times, you know, when we would be twirled around by people" Ed said, casually taking a sip.

"What are you talking about, Ed? You always managed to sneak away from harassing guests" Peter said, lifting an eyebrow and smirking.

"Not always! You were just too busy to see! I had to bear these awful old ladies who would comment on how they would love to be a few years younger to properly admire such handsome kings. Believe me Pete, the wink I got from one of them continues to haunt me, I still have nightmares!" Edmund defended, shuddering. Peter winced and admitted his brother had a fair point, breaking into a loud chuckle at Edmund's disgusted shudder.

"Those ladies were indeed quite- jolly to put it nicely" he said, the ghost of his laugh still on his voice.

"You bet, and they had jolly hands too, mind you" Ed added with a wince. "Anyhow, this is Caspian's era; he deserves the attention after everything he has done. We can only look from the back row and enjoy our time here while it lasts" Edmund then said seriously, looking at the crowd ahead. Peter didn't answer, his smile vanishing quickly behind his cup as he took a long sip of wine. He knew Ed was right and he knew Caspian had the makings of a great king, but he couldn't help feeling like he had been pushed aside, that his place had been taken away by Caspian, that he had been forgotten.

"Come on Pete, it's time we accept reality" Edmund said in a low voice, patting his brother's shoulder. The eldest King of Old nodded slowly and sighed again, his gaze falling on Caspian once more.

"He will need our help, at least a little longer" he said, gesturing with his head at Caspian's general direction.

"I agree, good intentions and honesty count a great deal, but not everyone is content with the new state of things and that always means trouble" Ed said, frowning slightly.

Caspian excused himself from a company of particularly annoying noblemen and scanned the room for an available bottle of wine and a glass, quickly spotting a refreshments table nearby. Pouring himself a large glass of his favourite sweet wine, he was grateful for having been able to reach the table without being dragged into another tedious chat, and he had only stopped a few times to curtsy at some noblewomen. He gulped his wine with a contented sigh – he had been parched after all that talking – and turned to look at the ballroom full of people, the glimpse of a blood red dress catching his eye, his gaze meeting Susan as she spoke to a couple of elderly ladies. She looked very beautiful. The crimson colour of her dress blended in perfectly with her natural beauty, highlighting her pale skin and crystal blue eyes. She was breath-taking, unique in her effortless beauty and even more in her passionate character, and he allowed himself to stare at her for a little longer than it would be polite, taking in the little details he had not noticed before. Truth be told, he had frequently stolen glances at her, yet this was the first time he could leisurely gaze at her, the tensions of battle and impending threats of the past weeks often requiring him to cut his glances short and focus on the matters at hand. Susan's gentle laugh pulled an unconscious smile to his lips, and he must have look rather foolish as one of the ladies in Susan's company murmured something to her and pointed in his direction causing her to turn and look at him. She smiled gently and he inclined his head courteously in return, giving a few steps in her direction when a plump man grabbed him by the arm and dragged him to the side with such force that his drink spilled everywhere. He sent Susan a sorrowful look as he offered an awkward smile to the apologising noble, biting a curse at him for his awful timing. At least Susan seemed to have enjoyed his little scene, a spark of laughter widening her smile before she once again turned her attention at the two ladies.

The same situation went on and on again, every time Caspian intended to talk to Susan someone would cut his way and lead him elsewhere. He was cursing his luck under his breath when someone touched his arm lightly and he groaned, not at all in the mood to hear another foul talk about politics.

"Oh, I'm so sorry Caspian, is this a bad moment?" said a sweet, high-pitched voice slightly tinted with disappointment. For the umpteenth time in the evening, Caspian wanted to slap himself.

"Oh, Lucy, please forgive me, I had been haunted and pestered by a flock of obnoxious men all evening" he apologised, his posture relaxing a bit at the little queen's giggle.

"Oh, I know, that's why I thought I had to save you. No one should have to deal with them for so long" she said with a big smile. For the first time in the evening he laughed sincerely, imagining how awful he must have looked for her to feel the need to save him. "I appreciate your thoughtful care, My Queen. No babbling nobleman can compare to the grace of your company" he said in a mock formal tone that had the little queen giggling loudly.

"Then let's dance!" she proposed excitedly, pulling him towards the centre of the room, where some other couples were twirling to the chords. The slow melody then gave way to a very lively tune and Caspian spun Lucy around, twirling her a tad more than what the dance called for, causing the girl to be giddy with laughter. They danced merrily for a while, Lucy squealing loudly every time Caspian twirled her and drop her in extravagant fashion, both bursting into laughter right away. The music slowed down to a softer rhythm and Caspian held her close, his hand pressing her upper-back gently while hers held his forearm, as he was too tall for her to reach his shoulder. As they danced, the Valiant Queen noticed that Caspian shot small glances at Susan, averting his gaze a few seconds later. As he once again stole a glance at her sister, Lucy giggled, causing him to look down at her.

"What is it, Lucy?" he asked, meeting her sparkling blue eyes.

"Oh Caspian, you think I haven't noticed how you are stealing glances at Susan when you think no one is looking?" she giggled, amused by his surprise and sheepishness.

"I-she-I-I was just-um- making sure she was alright, yes" he stuttered, the light uncertain tone in his voice eliciting another giggle from Lucy.

"Sure you were, but just so you know, Peter is already in his sister-surveillance mode, so she's covered" Lucy told him with a grin, pointing to where Peter was. Caspian raised his eyebrows at this and followed her gaze, a smile creeping up his features as Lucy's words turned out to be true. Peter's glare was stuck to Susan's current companion, looking like a strategist analysing his opponent. Caspian's smile tensed when he recognised the man in question, the son of a Telmarine lord and a known ladies' man.

"Go ask her for a dance!" Lucy chirped excitedly, earning an unsure look from Caspian.

"You think? I mean, I could not possibly leave you on your own" he said, grinning at her.

"Oh, stop being adorable and go. If I know Susan, she is just being polite and I'm certain she'd much rather dance with you" Lucy insisted, prodding him impatiently. He looked at the little queen and then at Susan, clearly hesitating.

"I'm not sure it's a good idea, Lucy" he said in a low voice, looking at Susan smiling at something the man had said. Lucy rolled her eyes and sighed, taking his hand in hers and pulling him towards her sister.

"Lucy, what are you doing?!" he whispered vigorously.

"Helping you" she replied, smirking a way which had Caspian thinking that she truly was Edmund's sister.

"Queen Lucy, King Caspian, what an honour" Susan's companion greeted as soon as they were close enough. Caspian was happy to notice that the man did not seem pleased at their interruption.

"Lord Hiriam" he addressed with a cold smile. "How is Arine? Or was it Miria? I'm afraid I have not kept track" he enquired, enjoying how the lord's jaw tensed before breaking into a rehearsed smile.

"It is unfortunate that our conversation must end so soon, yet Her Majesty has promised me this next dance" Hiriam said with a slight air of victory.

"I beg your pardon?" Susan said, looking surprised. Caspian suppressed a loud snort at Hiriam's deflated expression.

"I was about to ask you, My Queen" Hiriam added through his fake smile.

"You will have to forgive my sister, My Lord. You see, it is customary for the eldest king and queen of Narnia to share this particular dance. It is one of the great dances of the evening and one all guests have been looking forward to" Lucy intervened, grabbing the man's arm and steering him away, discretely giving them a thumbs up a few paces away. Caspian and Susan chuckled at Lucy's antics, both visibly relieved.

"Well, it seems we must keep up with tradition, however new. Would you honour me with this dance, Your Grace?" he asked, bowing elegantly and holding out his hand.

"I would certainly do" Susan answered, sliding her palm into his.

"You seem relieved, My Queen" Caspian commented a few minutes later, noticing she seemed more relaxed.

"Oh, I am. I don't mind the social rounds so much, but the diplomacy required is exhausting" Susan confessed, sighing tiredly. "I was so grateful when you and Lucy arrived" she added, smiling warmly. Caspian couldn't help but smile as well, just as he did every time she smiled at him, always kindly and tenderly.

"It pleases me to hear that, Your Grace" Caspian replied, sliding his hand off her back to hold her hand as required for the next step in the dance.

"Ah, Caspian please, drop the titles, you called me Susan in the battlefield and it was just fine" she told him sternly. Caspian nodded accommodatingly and they spent the rest of the dance in a comfortable silence, sharing a couple more dances before curtsying to one another.

"Would you mind terribly if we went over to get something to drink? I haven't been able to drink anything until now" Susan asked softly, almost apologetically.

"Certainly, My-Susan" he said, cringing internally at his mistake and bad cover up, yet Susan did not seem to notice. As they walked over to the table holding the refreshments, a man blocked their way, eliciting a quiet groan from both royals.

"King Caspian, I was afraid I had lost you forever to the crowd. I would love to hear your opinion on my project of decorating the outer walls of the castle with scenes of your victory in the Telmarine Battle and of your momentous meeting with the Kings and Queens of Old. I was thinking marble or granite would be perfect and…" the overexcited noble burst out and Caspian had to pinch himself to keep himself from growling in irritation. Susan noticed this and as the man ranted on, she decided to get them out of this situation. Praying for her aptitudes as an actress to be believable, she let out a shaky whimper and leaned some of her weight on Caspian's side, touching her forehead lightly with her fingers. Her act succeeded in catching the men's attention and Caspian immediately wrapped an arm around her waist, the other fanning her face while he frantically asked her what was wrong. She would have laughed at the hilarity of the scene, but focused on keeping her act together.

"Oh, it really is nothing, my pressure must have dropped a little, I just need some fresh air" she said in a faint whisper.

"Oh, of course, of course" Susan heard the middle-aged man say as he moved out of their way. Caspian then guided her towards the glass door that led to the terrace, leaving the man behind, standing like a pillar and not really knowing what to do. As soon as she they were out of sight, she stood straight again and exhaled loudly, looking up at a very baffled-looking Caspian, who appeared at loss by her sudden outburst of vitality. He blinked several times and opened his mouth to speak, stopping as she laughed.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Caspian. I'm fine, I promise, I'm fine, I just pretended to feel faint so he would to let us go" she revealed, biting her tongue sheepishly. It took a short moment for Caspian to register what had just happened and his handsome features broke into a large smile followed by a throaty laugh, a warm feeling spreading on his chest.

"You certainly fooled me and I bet Lord Tumar is still dumbfounded. He is a good man, he just has a tendency towards excessive and excited blabbering" Caspian commented, chuckling softly.

"Good then, at least that gives us some time to catch a break from the diplomatic smiling, my cheeks are sore" Susan joked, rubbing her cheeks. The glass door was then thrown open again and a copper-blond head popped out.

"Oh, thank Aslan I found you, there is an overexcited nobleman saying you nearly passed out" Lucy said, her frown melting into an expression of relief. Susan smiled at the sincere concern in her sister's eyes and reassured her sister on her perfect health, explaining why she had had to put up that little act.

"Oh, right. Well, I better get back inside before this reaches Peter and he starts fancying himself a doctor again" the young queen commented with a loud sigh, sharing a look with Susan.

"Oh, god, anything but Dr Peter-stein!" Susan exclaimed jokingly, making Lucy laugh. "Oh and Lu? Could you bring us some drinks? I'm afraid that if either of us goes inside, we won't make it back" Susan asked, smiling pleadingly at Lucy.

"Alright, but only because I am in a very good mood" Lucy replied jokingly, and the king and queen laughed.

"Isn't she always in a good mood?" Caspian asked, looking at the girl's retreating back, and both started laughing again. Lucy returned a moment later holding two cups and a bottle of wine, mumbling something about it reminding her how she would sneak out with some wine when she was 16, back in their previous reign.

Peter's gaze hardened when he caught a glimpse of Caspian helping Susan through the terrace doors. He was well aware of the looks the Telmarine had been giving his sister and he knew Caspian was not the only. Certainly, Susan was a beautiful young woman and he could not pretend otherwise, but there was something unsettling in how most men looked at her, a gaze so full of lust it was repulsive. He could not help remembering how Rabadash had looked at her, the way his eyes roamed over Susan with a sort of hunger, and how his obsession had made him kidnap her and force her into marrying him. Peter pressed his eyes shut to get rid of the memories. As if reading his mind, Ed patted his back. The Just King had seen Caspian and Susan going outside and was waiting for his brother to make a comment about it.

"Pete" he said in a soothing tone. "If there is anyone perfectly trustworthy to be alone with Susan, that's Caspian" he added with a reassuring nod. Peter clicked his tongue and groaned slightly before murmuring something incomprehensible, yet not enough for Edmund not to make out most of it.

"Yes, I have seen how he looks at her, but really, Pete, he wouldn't try anything improper, he's a decent lad" Ed retorted, raising his eyebrows at Peter. Peter looked at him and sighed.

"Fine" he grunted and Ed knew the he had won this argument. A fit of giggles caused him to look away from his brother and he caught a group of girls looking at them, twittering and gesturing in their direction, whispering behind their hands.

"Alright, my cue to leave, your fan club is here" he groaned, pouring himself some more wine. "Why don't you ask one of them to dance, you know, distract yourself a bit, this is a party after all" Ed suggested, patting Peter on the back. Out of nothing better to do, Peter decided to heed his brother's advice, acknowledging the girls with a courtly nod.

"You should join us, Ed" the Magnificent King invited.

"Oh no, you know I don't like the attention. Girls are not my idea of an interesting party, yet. You go, I'll be around keeping an eye on Lucy" Ed replied, and Peter rolled his eyes, straightening his coat and stepping closer to the giggling group of ladies.

In the terrace, the Telmarine king and the Narnian queen were leaning on the stone railing, cups and bottle between them. Caspian had taken off his crown and placed it on his far side, turning his back to it. Susan observed the whole scene curiously, intrigued by his actions.

"You don't seem to like it very much" she remarked casually. Caspian looked at her with an expression of genuine surprise for a split second before offering her a small smile.

"Well, it is rather bulky" Caspian said simply, taking the extremely ornamented golden crown in his hands. "It's not so much that I find it hideous, but for me it is heavy with the thoughts and memories of those before me. It's like it has the extra burden of the past, a past that has tainted so many reigns before, and it is not what I want for this new era" Caspian explained, gazing at his own reflection in one of the gems. He fought the urge to scream at just how alike he looked to all those kings whose names and portraits he had been forced to remember, he looked so…so...so Telmarine! Yet, one thing he was certain of: he was not going to be like them, no, he was already a far different and better person than they were. A soft hand on his shoulders pulled him out of these thoughts, a pair of grey-blue eyes meeting his gaze as he turned his head round.

"You will give it a new meaning, Caspian. You are a different, you have a good heart and you have everything your predecessors lacked, that is enough for you to get rid of the horrible ghost you feel in this crown, for you have it by right and not by greed for power. You are leading Narnia into a radiant new era, you love your people and they love you back, that alone makes you a far better king than any of those who sat on the throne before you. I am convinced that with time that burden will become much lighter until one day it disappears" Susan stated, her gaze never leaving his. Her gentle voice was calming, soothing, touching his heart and ridding it of the sourness his previous thoughts had poured on it. He felt warmth spreading on his chest, bringing serenity to his soul. "And if you still think it is too troublesome, you can always give it to Peter, he will love the attention" Susan joked, and he chuckled, slightly guilty about laughing at Peter's expense. Yet, her harmless joke had given him an idea, one which would rattle more than a few of the snooty lords of his Council. Oh, this would be fun.

Susan watched as Caspian's expression lit up with laughter before relaxing once more, glad she had cheered him up a little. Nevertheless, despite his casual nonchalance he noticed a look she had seen on Peter so many times in the past, whenever he would feel overwhelmed. They had been so young when they became the sovereigns of a vast kingdom and it had been particularly hard for Peter to appear wise and fair in spite of his insecurity of inexperience. And now she could see the same look in Caspian's eyes.

"For all it's worth, I think you already are a great king. You were doing great back there, talking to everyone, making them everyone feel special. You were giving them each your full attention and it shows how much you care for them" she mused, making a small gesture towards the room full of people. "It is all very daunting, especially at the beginning, and to say we were intimidated would be an understatement. We had never been around royalty, we were never trained to reign, and all of a sudden we find ourselves being expected to rule a country, we were terrified! Yet we chose to trust Aslan and did what we thought was best for Narnia, and so will you, Caspian. You have the resolve to do great things and the courage to stand up to your beliefs. It may not seem so right now, but you will get used to this responsibility" she added, her clear blue eyes vibrating with confidence in his abilities, her hand squeezing his shoulder gently. Her words made him feel important, but above all, he felt cared for, a feeling he had been sorely missing for a very long time. With her characteristic kindness and warmth, she had been hoping to infuse some courage into him, someone she had known only for a few weeks, a simple action that carried so much meaning to him. He stepped a little closer, still looking into her eyes, and slowly took her hand from his shoulder, kissing it gently.

"Thank you, My Queen" he said just above a whisper, smiling timidly. Susan could feel her cheeks starting to blush and hoped Caspian would not notice in the faint light of twilight.

"Anyway," she said after a moment, feeling the need to say something. "If you ever need some advice, we'll be glad to help" she stated with a smile, taking a sip of her wine. She imagined sitting with Caspian in the cosy room he had chosen as his study, sharing laughs as they went over paperwork, and Susan could feel her cheeks burning up again.

"Is everything alright?" Caspian's accented voice enquired, deepening Susan's blush as she nodded, biting a curse behind her apologetic smile.

Their chat soon evolved into another topic, conversation flowing comfortably between them, peppered with their chuckles at the antics of several guests. They were both visibly relaxed and having a good time, unhindered by diplomacy and courtesy. Caspian had been going over the details of some childhood anecdote when he noticed Susan was giggling quietly.

"Your Highness?" he wondered in confusion, eliciting a loud chortle from the queen.

"Oh, forgive me, Caspian, I have only just noticed how strong your habit of calling us by title is. It is amusing after everything we have gone through" Susan explained, chortling mirthfully and causing Caspian to chuckle as well.

"It really is mostly out of habit, but there is also the fact that you are the Kings and Queens of Old, you are a legend" he argued.

"A legend? Oh, wait till Peter and his swollen ego hear about this." Susan badgered, once again sharing a laugh with Caspian at Peter's expense. "But really, forget who we are, or were, we are just four nosy children who stumbled through a wardrobe" Susan added with a playful smile.

"You are much more important than what you give yourself the credit, Your High-Susan," Caspian replied, catching his slip of the tongue in time to correct it. "I would not have gotten this far without your help. The four of you have been great allies. No, more than that, you have been great friends" he said sincerely. Susan smiled to him, very touched by his words. Friends. Other than Professor Cornelius Caspian had never had many people he could sincerely rely on and call his true friends. How different things were at present, now he had the Pevensies, he had the Narnians, he had his people. A grin stretched across his lips whenever he thought about how quickly Edmund had become his best friend, whereas Lucy adopted him as another brother almost immediately, a feeling he was glad to reciprocate. Peter, well, Peter was different. They had had a difficult start and they were still prone to heated arguments, but it seemed that at last they were beginning to get along. Susan had become a source of encouragement and comfort when doubt took the best of him, her kindness heightening rather than softening her strength and stoic determination. He admired her drive and her permanent concern for others regardless of the situation, as well as her strong sense of humanity which allowed her to be compassionate even for her enemies and made him feel fortunate to be considered her friend. And yet, if only she could be more than just a friend… Caspian opened his eyes wide, realising he had been mute for several minutes and risked a glance at Susan, who was staring contently at the vastness ahead. He cleared his throat and took a sip of his drink admonishing himself for that ridiculous last thought.

An enjoyable silence settled between them as they witnessed how the last light of day was swallowed by the velvety darkness of night, stars scattered generously across it. As if coming out of a slumber, Susan looked up, suddenly remembering she had interrupted Caspian earlier on and had hijacked their conversation into another direction. Caspian seemed to have forgotten it as well, furrowing his brows as he tried to remember.

"Oh, yes, I remember" Caspian said after a moment. "I have been toying with the idea of rebuilding Cair Paravel for a few days now and I wanted to know your thoughts about it. I have noticed that you do not seem very comfortable in this castle and I understand that it is foreign for you. Cair Paravel is your home and it deserves to be brought back to its former glory" he spoke, his whole expression lit up. Susan looked at him in honest surprise for a moment, at loss of words. She felt genuinely touched by his concern and kindness, yet she felt that a small matter needed clarification.

"It is such a considerate thought, Caspian, but I can assure you we are comfortable here; it may not seem so sometimes, but I think it is just a matter of us growing familiar with it. I'm sorry if Peter makes it look like an awful arrangement, but he does not like to get lost. The idea of rebuilding Cair is a beautiful gesture and one which means a lot to us, but it would not be fair to spend resources on the ruins of an old palace when there are so many more important matters at hand" Susan argued, allowing a glimpse of the adult Queen of Old.

"Certainly, yet to me Cair Paravel is a symbol of Old Narnia, to build it back to its past splendour is not only a tribute to you and the Narnians, but also as proof of the union of both cultures, Telmarine and Narnian, to evidence that both can coexist" Caspian parried, yet his voice was laced with the warmth of someone talking about a particularly pleasant dream, and Susan could not help smiling, not quite surprised at the deeper meaning behind his intentions. "You know, I have always imagined how it looked like. I remember spending hours picturing the grand palace towering over the sea, imagining its shapes and colours before running to the Professor's study and asking him to show me the drawings he had found in his books. I could spend and indeed did spend whole afternoons listening to his stories, about the Great Battle and how you all fought and defeated the White Witch. The Professor has many books in which the great parties at Cair Paravel are described, but the references to the palace are pretty much restricted to it being majestic and large. The Professor had this beautiful sketch and I used to close my eyes and imagine I was there, dancing with the fauns and dryads, running around the apple orchards. So you see, I have a special love for Cair Paravel as the site of my childish fantasies and make-believe adventures, and it is not hard for me to imagine just how much it means to you all since it was your home" Caspian told, turning to look at Susan with a small smile. Susan opened her eyes as he stopped talking, not having realised she had closed her eyes halfway through Caspian's tale, allowing herself to be enveloped in the peaceful feeling emanating from his storytelling.

"The way you speak about Cair, about the stories you were told, it makes me wish I had met the young Caspian, it makes me wish you had lived all those moments with us, all the parties, all the summers and the winters. We used to love running around the orchards in the snow or during spring and fall, laughing ourselves silly by falling on piles of fresh snow or spoiling our appetite by eating countless apples. Lucy insisted on collecting the cores of every apple we ate and then dutifully planted them back, although she sometimes made more holes than she had apples and there would be people tripping all over the orchard for days afterwards. Edmund twisted his ankle on one once and spent the following week limping around Cair against the physician's orders, demanding that Lucy be prevented from carrying out any gardening unless under the surveillance of a trained professional" Susan was forced to interrupt her tale by a constricting feeling in her throat, exhaling a shaky breath as tears blurred her sight. Closing her eyes, she gathered herself and brushed away her tears, looking at Caspian with a sad smile. "I am sorry, Caspian, I guess nostalgia got the best of me. You must think me silly, especially since I should be enjoying everything, while it lasts" she apologised, battling a new batch of tears which threatened to fall at her last remark. Her heart was painfully squeezed at the thought of returning to England, where they would have to witness the cruel remains of war. She felt Caspian's warm hands wrap around hers and squeeze them softly, and she smiled gratefully at him, thankful for his small gesture.

Caspian could not think of any words of comfort and cursed himself for not thinking of anything better than holding her hands. Truth was, her statement had caught him completely off guard. He had never considered the possibility of them leaving, and for a second his breath got caught in his throat at the thought of them being gone, leaving him alone once more. He refused to belief they would go through that fate again. No, Aslan would never allow that. Narnia was their home, a home they came back to after 1300 years of absence and the place where they belonged, how could they ever leave again? He shook his head to get rid of such awful thoughts.

"Aslan won't let you leave" he said, squeezing her hands tightly. She nodded and gave him a teary smile and he wished nothing more than to wrap his arms around her and embrace her tightly, prevented from doing so only by his chivalry. Susan took a deep breath before taking a sip of her drink. Caspian was right. There was no certainty that they would have to leave this time and she trusted Aslan would allow them to stay. With renewed determination, she decided not to allow her fears prevent her from enjoying her time in Narnia.

A knock on the glass caused them to turn around and they saw Lucy waving at them, beckoning them to get closer.

"Did I interrupt anything?" she asked with a grin, raising her eyebrows suggestively, enjoying Caspian's visible awkwardness and Susan's light blush. "Anyway, the Narnian faun lyrics will begin soon and I thought you would like to dance. Also, you have to come see Peter" Lucy said with a giggle and Susan knew this meant Peter was making a fool of himself. Noting Caspian had perked up at the mention of the faun tunes, Susan grabbed his arm and pulled him towards the ballroom.

"Come, it is time you learnt a Narnian dance or two"

Once inside, Lucy quickly pulled them by the hand and led them closer to where Peter stood.

"Oh boy" Susan murmured, shading her eyes with her hands and rubbing her forehead. Not far from them in one of the corners, Peter was teaching Narnian steps to a pretty girl, his hands in places Susan knew they shouldn't be. The Magnificent King was pulling the girl close to him, a little closer than propriety allowed although not too close for it to be compromising, yet from a certain distance it did look less than appropriate. Luckily, most of the guests were too tipsy to notice, but Peter should know better.

"I think he has had a few glasses too many, he's been all flirty for some time" Lucy commented with a grimace.

"Surely His Highness has the best of intentions" Caspian argued feebly in Peter's defence, both queens looking at him in disbelief.

"His Flirty-ness more like" Lucy giggled.

"Oh don't defend him, he has clearly got the wrong intentions" Susan objected, frowning in disapproval at her brother. At that very moment, Peter closed the distance between him and his companion to whisper something in the girl's ear, sending her into a furious blush. Susan groaned at the tasteless scene before her while Lucy wrinkled her nose in disgust.

"Oh please..." Susan breathed as Peter used his closeness to steal a kiss from the girl, and Caspian coughed, hoping to cover his chuckle at the whole situation.

"Bleurgh!" Lucy whispered, sticking her tongue out.

"This, ladies and gentleman, is truly kingly behaviour" a slightly nasal voice commented mordantly behind them and they all turned to acknowledge Edmund as he came to stand next to Caspian.

"I'll have a talk with him lat- oh god, he just winked at her" Susan noted, looking away from the scene, quite revolted. She then stormed towards the eldest Pevensie, a scolding burning in her lips.

'Oh-o, that has done it" Lucy commented, clapping her hands excitedly.

"Finally this got interesting" Edmund said with a malevolent smile, and Caspian thought his friend was enjoying the whole thing a bit too much.

"I don't see why it is so bad, His Majesty-"

"Peter" Edmund corrected, earning an irritated look from the Telmarine.

"Peter appears to be sweet on the girl, perhaps being a tad too flirty, but I do not see what the harm is" Caspian argued, taking a sip of wine.

"It's not that simple" Ed replied gravely, growing very serious all of a sudden, a fact that did not escape Caspian's notice.

"I do not believe Peter has anything dishonourable in mind" Caspian replied, frowning at Ed's incredulous look. The Just King proceeded to cover Lucy's ears, eliciting a loud protest from the young girl, which he ignored.

"Please, you cannot possibly be so naïve. Of course he's got something dishonourable in mind! This is not the Magnificent King from the books, Caspian. What you see here is young Peter, a rather randy young Peter, whose title does not keep him from growing all hot and bothered at the sight of pretty girls batting their eyelashes at him" Edmund exclaimed. "But that is not the issue. Even if Peter were to genuinely fall in love with this or any other girl, it would not be worth the heartbreak if we end up leaving like last time" the young king added a moment later, his expression devoid of all its previous mirth. Caspian looked at his friend and agreed he had a point, feeling a stab in his chest for the second time that evening at the thought of their departure.

"Peter!" Susan hissed, practically yanking him away from his charming dancing partner. "Excuse us" she apologised with a smile, giving Peter a pointed glare. "I promise I'll return him in a jiffy" or whatever is left of him, Susan thought bitterly, dragging Peter by the arm.

"What is wrong with you!" Susan chided, pulling him around an empty corner.

"Seriously, Su, I do not need you lecturing me just because I was having a bit of a good time. I am entitled to have some fun, damn it" Peter retorted, growing upset and Susan smelled some alcohol in his breath.

"How many drinks have you had, Peter? You reek of alcohol" Susan asked disapprovingly.

"What does it matter?" Peter replied, exhaling loudly at the disappointed look in her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Su, I didn't mean to be a jerk" he apologised, having the decency to look abashed.

"Well, I am glad to see that you are sober enough to realise this" Susan said coldly, her expression softening a moment later. "Look, there is nothing wrong with you enjoying the party, even flirting a little here and there, but you have to admit this was way beyond that line" she noted, looking intently at him.

"Well, perhaps a little over the line, yes" Peter agreed, a hint of mischief in his smile. "You kissed her, Peter! You can't just go making girls hope for a future with you, when we are not sure we have a future here! This girl may be just a party conquest, but it could have become something much more serious. Have you thought of what would happen if she ever demanded a more formal attachment to you or threatened scandal? And if not her then her parents, who in all likeness must have seen your less than proper exchange!" the Gentle Queen whispered furiously, fuming at Peter's negligence. The thought of leaving and the fervency of her speech appeared to have struck Peter, sobering him up and bringing a serious expression to his handsome features.

"You are right, as you often are" Peter admitted, offering his sister a small smile. "I will take care of this mess, alright?" he added, placing a kiss on Susan's forehead before walking away, looking for his previous companion.

A few weeks later, the joy of the end of conflict and the excitement of the coronation had faded into daily life and the inhabitants of Narnia were gradually getting used to the new changes in the realm. The five monarchs had quickly resumed their duties and could be seen holding audiences, heading meetings with the Council, organising reconstruction operations, carrying out intercultural gatherings between Narnians and Telmarines, drafting new laws, reviewing old ones and, overall, working on encouraging the cooperation between the different inhabitants of the land. However, there remained a lot to be done before a harmonious union could be achieved.

The day had started out with a gloomy weather, the sky grey with a thick mass of clouds, winds whistling around the corners of the castle and the narrow streets of Telmartown, while every now and then, gusts of wind and rain tapped the windows. Caspian and the Pevensies were having breakfast when they were interrupted by disturbing news delivered by an alarmed faun.

"Your Majesties, my apologies, but you are urgently needed in town" he said, trying to catch his breath. Caspian, Edmund and Peter rose to their feet immediately, their half-eaten plates completely forgotten as they called for their horses to be brought, the three of them riding towards the city a few minutes later. A loud cacophony of yells and jeering welcomed them as they approached the main square, where a crowd Narnians and Telmarines were gathered, each side shouting at the other. At the centre of the crowd, two louder voices could be heard, a couple of self-entitled representatives bellowing their demands and throwing accusations to one another, their yells inciting the crowds into heated reactions.

"We only want some land to live decently!" a faun yelled to a Telmarine.

"Those lands are ours! You have no right to invade them!" the man spat back, fierceness accentuating his features. In the heat of the arguments, no one had noticed the three kings, who observed the whole situation from the side, the height disparity allowing them to see over the crowd.

"Oh, for goodness' sake!" Edmund groaned irritably and dismounted his horse, pushing his way through the crowd and disappearing from view.

"What is he doing?!" Peter murmured, trying not to lose sight of his brother's head, but failing almost immediately.

"I don't know. He is getting closer to the fountain, I think he is trying to step over- oh, I know!" Caspian told, immediately dismounting his horse, followed by Peter, both kings having a fair idea of what Edmund had in mind. The Just King forced his way through the mass of people and had managed to reach the centre of the square, where a tall fountain rose over three stone steps. Still unnoticed by the bellowing crowd, he stood on the edge of the fountain, being careful on his steps as the rain had made the stone slippery. Taking a large breath, he let out a piercing whistle, succeeding attracting the attention of the crowd, who started elbowing and tapping each other, pointing to the young king. The yelling and hollering continued for a small moment after this, yet silence was finally achieved. Peter and Caspian then joined Edmund at the fountain, choosing to remain on the steps.

"Much better. Now please, let's calm down and have a civilised conversation" Edmund said, clearing his throat.

"My King, what we ask is only fair" the arguing faun conveyed, bowing to Edmund. "We only want to build our homes and bring our trades closer to the city"

"Of course the boy will favour you, Narnian, he is part of your lot!" came a yell from the Telmarine mob. Caspian decided it was time to intervene and stepped forward.

"Both sides are going to be listened, unbiased and with equal attention, in order for a mutually favourable solution to be found" he spoke in a conciliatory tone.

"Your Highness can't let those creatures come and demand rights!" a Telmarine exclaimed.

"Narnians, like all us Telmarines and our ancestors before us, belong to this land and are entitled to the same rights. We were all born in Narnia and that makes us all Narnians, with disregard of ancestry. As such, both races deserve to be treated with respect" Caspian replied sternly. "Now, for the sake of negotiation, I ask you to choose your representatives, whom we will hear at the castle" he added, his grave voice carrying effortlessly across the square. The small square buzzed with the murmurs of the crowd, some whispered exclamations heard occasionally.

"I suggest you all return to your work and activities and I trust you to remain civil in the meantime, violence and hostility are not the solution" Peter intervened, his voice serious and impressively commanding.

"He means us!" came an exclamation among the Telmarines.

"Do not tell us that, tell them, they are the beasts!" another voice was heard.

"I meant everyone, Narnian or Telmarine" Peter replied raising his voice only slightly, his tone calm and regal, yet husky and imposing, reverberating in the small square. The crowd finally started to thin out moments later, the villagers spreading out into the different streets and alleys which soon hummed with gossip. The kings got back on their horses and returned to the castle, followed by the previously badgering man and faun, who had been wordlessly chosen as representatives of each side.

Back in the castle, Caspian asked for Susan and Lucy to be called to the smallest of the audience rooms, the three kings having considered it less daunting and more welcoming to the two villagers. Allowing Peter to go ahead, Caspian slowed his step, motioning Ed to do the same. He had noted his friend had remained very quiet during the ride back and had a hint of the cause of such behaviour.

"You alright?" He asked casually.

"I'm fine" Edmund answered flatly, looking at the corridor ahead of them.

"They have called me 'boy' many times before, you know" Caspian said, throwing a side glance at his friend. Edmund tensed for an instant before relaxing and rolling his eyes at Caspian, yet said nothing.

"Just don't make too much out of it, that man clearly wanted to irk you" Caspian said with a shrug.

"I know. I'm fine, really" Edmund stated. "For the past year I've had to get used to being ignored and looked down at because of my age, so I believe I can handle one man calling me 'boy'. I can tell you it is much easier when you are back in a place where your name appears in history books" Edmund remarked nonchalantly. Caspian patted his friend in the back and chuckled, admittedly surprised at Ed's wisdom.

"Sometimes I forget you were an adult once"

Susan joined the three kings a short moment later, taking a sit next to Peter.

"Where is Lucy" the Magnificent King asked.

"She preferred not to come, you know she doesn't like conflict audiences" Susan explained.

"Alright, then let's begin" Caspian said, gesturing for the guard to open the door and let the men in.

"Well, I think I speak for all of us when I say I am grateful you have agreed to do this in a diplomatic way" Susan told, her soft voice visibly soothing some of their guests' tension. Caspian's lips pursed into a small smile, amazed at her natural warmth and her ability to be naturally welcoming.

"Very well, faun, what is your name?" Peter asked, his tone approachable despite his serious and imposing posture.

"My name is Garr, Your Majesty" the faun said, bowing to his king.

"And you, sir?" Peter asked, keeping his tone as friendly as with the faun.

"Farrian" the man answered simply, bowing his head briefly. Raising an eyebrow, Caspian noticed the man's missing acknowledgement to Peter but brushed it off as a lack of habit. Guess having five monarchs all of a sudden does take some getting used to.

"Alright then, please Garr, tell us what is your claim" Susan said delicately, smiling encouragingly.

"Your Grace, we only ask for some land where we can live decently. We only want a place to build our homes, plant our food and carry on our crafts" Garr explained.

"Very well. Farrian, tell us about your concerns on this matter" Edmund spoke, piercing the man with his brown glare.

"We don't want these-these- savages invading our lands! We have worked hard to own our homes and some have been in our families for centuries!" Farrian spoke, his strident voice resonating in the small room.

"I remind you, Farrian, that the Kings and Queens of Old are your sovereigns in the same degree as I am, and for this they deserve the same respect. I will ask you to mind the way you address them" Caspian stated, the look on his eyes betraying that however small, his warning must be heeded. The man froze on the spot and fidgeted, but said nothing. "Alright. The issue at hand is that Narnians are in their right to wish for lands where they can live and work, whether these be in the city or elsewhere, so some lands must be shared" Caspian said, looking at Peter, Edmund and Susan.

"But Your Highness, you can't take our lands from us!" Farrian argued desperately.

"Calm, Farrian, we are not going to take your lands or any belonging to your fellow workers and city inhabitants. I am witness that many among you have inherited them from your ancestors and I know well you all work hard. The lands I propose to divide have long been neglected by their noble owners – and I can personally account for this fact – and it is my idea to reach an agreement with the proprietors whereby the lands would be willingly bequeathed or bought by us, if Their Majesties agree to it. There are also some lands belonging to the royal family which I am glad to dispose of for their use by the Narnians" Caspian suggested, turning to look at the Pevensies and listen to their thoughts on the matter.

"I find this idea to be fair to both sides" Peter voiced.

"I also agree to this being the best course of action, at least for the time being, since we must consult experts and devise more viable long-term solutions to the new flux of inhabitants to Telmartown and other cities" Edmund agreed, his characteristic practicality already in motion.

"I think it is a sensible solution which provides relief to the Narnians while at the same time reassures the Telmarine population on their rights to their property. However, the process of relocation and reconstruction needs to be carried out in a peaceful environment and, if possible, with the cooperation of both Narnians and Telmarines. Houses will need to be built and the terrain will need to be prepared to welcome buildings and farming. This is by far a tough task and all help is welcome. I would like to have your word, gentlemen, that such conditions will be met" Susan spoke next, addressing the faun and the man.

"For our part, we Narnians only wish to live in peace and harmony. We are willing to leave the past behind and start anew in our relationship with the Telmarines" the faun affirmed. The Telmarine man hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"I cannot speak for all my fellow Telmarines, for there are some who remain prejudiced towards the forest folk. Nevertheless, I am witness that most of the inhabitants of Telmartown and its surroundings are curious about the Narnians and are likely to be willing to establish a peaceful coexistence" he said, offering his hand for the faun to shake. The Narnian stared at the man, lost at the intent of the gesture.

"It is a peace offering, Garr. You return it by shaking his hand" Susan explained.

"Oh, so this is how Tumnus must have looked like" Ed whispered, leaning closer to Peter, who chuckled quietly. The faun did as told and the tension in the room eased perceptibly.

"Garr and Farrian, you may go back to your people and tell them about what has been decided in this room" Caspian directed, the four monarchs rising to their feet, signalling the end of the audience.

Once the men were gone, Susan spoke again.

"Well, I think it is correct so say that this went well" she commented.

"There are Telmarines who don't like change and won't be willing to change their habitudes, whether we like it or not" Caspian explained sourly.

"I believe that sooner or later they will come round. If there are Telmarines willing to give Narnians and chance and if their relationship prospers, I don't see why it wouldn't be possible" Susan replied, seeing the trouble in his eyes.

"It went much better than I thought it would, I was expecting them to jump at each other" Edmund confessed, a small smirk forming on the corners of his lips.

"For a moment I feared that too" Caspian agreed, and both shared a knowing look.

"So what about the owners of the lands you promised to the Narnians?" Peter enquired with a frown.

"Ah, yes. That may prove to be problematic" Caspian said, sinking lower on his chair and exhaling loudly. "They belong to some wealthy aristocrats. The twist is that, although they appear to be the rightful owners to all of their lands, in truth they are entitled only to some of them. The rest has been acquired throughout the years, not always in the most honest of ways, and mostly as payments for some dirty deeds" Caspian explained with a dark expression.

"What?! Caspian, you are giving them a reason to upraise!" Peter voiced in a slight yet noticeable accusing tone.

"And what do you suggest?! We cannot simply strip the working families out of their land or leave the Narnians to do what they can with what they can find!" Caspian burst, his temper rising at Peter's judgement.

"I just think there must be another way" Peter replied, his voice raising an octave.

"Only if you cut the forest or have them live on the outskirts of the city, either way would result in isolating them!" Caspian replied hotly, standing up from his chair.

"But the lords have the means to start another war!" Peter responded, almost shouting, raising from his chair, facing Caspian.

"Alright, that is enough! You are fighting like those two in the square and this is neither the example we want to set nor the way to deal with this" Edmund intervened, pushing the men apart and placing himself between them.

"I think Caspian's idea is good. If the lords don't seem to care about those lands and the Narnians will give them a better use, we'll discuss the matter with the noblemen and reach an agreement. It is not as if we would be taking the land by force since the lords will be given the choice" Susan intervened, her cold glare letting the eldest kings know this was the end to their argument. Caspian took a deep breath and excused himself, his boots clicking against the marble as he left. Edmund followed him, knowing he was still livid.

"Very well handled, Peter, very mature" Susan reproached disapprovingly. Peter rolled his eyes and sighed.

"I'm not in the mood for being lectured, Su" he said and rose from his chair, leaving the room an instant later.

Soon enough, the news had spread around the city. Reactions were varied among the nobility and although there was a surprising number among them who appeared willing to cooperate, many others had been particularly vocal in their disagreement, livid at the thought of losing some of their patrimony, and requested private audiences or a meeting of the Council. Lucy refused vehemently to participate of a discussion that would most certainly result in conflict before any progress could be made, so the four remaining monarchs sat in the throne room, where four additional majestic thrones had been added for the Kings and Queens of Old. Rows of chairs had been placed in front of them in a semicircle, where the noblemen took their places, some sitting, some standing, fierce and outraged.

"Majesty, you can't take the lands from us! They have been in our families for generations!" one of the lords protested.

"Yes, why do we have to share them with the-the- Narnians, why can't they find lands of their own!" another one argued.

"Or stay in the forest as they have done until now!" a third joined in.

"Gentlemen, please, let's remain civil and keep our voices down" Caspian said, raising his hands so as to mollify the three men. It did not help that his irritation towards the men in front of him was growing with each word they uttered; soon enough he would be the one who would need mollifying.

"Nobody will take any land by force, so rest assured. We only wish to count with your goodwill and cooperation so as to strike a deal that would be favourable to both sides. The Narnians, like any hardworking Telmarine, have the right to a place where they can live and work decently" Caspian said, his tone firm despite being quite nervous, waiting for chaos to ensue any moment.

"Why it's us who have to lend our lands!" a lord yelled, losing whatever composure he had left.

"The reason is simple: you have the land to spare. You have to agree, My Lords, that some of you have more lands than you can manage and that these may be put to a better use than their present state, which in the vast majority of cases is resumed to neglected gardens and overgrown bush" Caspian said reasonably, the room buzzing with murmuring as the noblemen began muttering among themselves, some of them agreeing, others still upset.

"This is unbelievable! We are being coerced into giving our lands to these- whatever they are!" a slim lord said, a livid expression in his dark eyes.

"Narnians, Lord Haren, they are Narnians. As per the lands, it is of my knowledge that several lands, quite vast I may add, which are currently under your care were given to you by Miraz as retribution for your participation in her- that scandal years ago" Caspian told, his dark chocolate eyes piercing the man with a sharp cold look, lividness mixing with contempt while a vile taste dripped on his tongue when he mentioned his uncle.

"Who?" Edmund whispered to Peter, who shook his head, knowing as much as his brother on the subject.

"The lands in question were my father's personal training grounds before his death, and so it was easier for Miraz to use them in his – how to call them – negotiations, for there was no one to claim them. In this particular case, Lord Haren, I am revoking Miraz's decision to dispose of those lands" Caspian explained, facing the thin man with a stony expression.

"This is preposterous! Those lands were given to me due to my long years of honest service to the crown! Your Majesty has no right!" the man vociferated, held by the two men standing closer to him in a feeble effort to make him regain his seat. Caspian contained the urge to laugh at the irony of Haren talking about honest service.

"Oh, but I do. I am only restoring what is rightfully mine, Lord Haren. Therefore, as of this moment, the lands adjoining your property from the west and those closest to the castle, as well as half of your property on the outskirts of the city are no longer under your legal ownership by royal decree" Caspian said, his tone changing into a cold tone. The man opened his eyes wide, burning Caspian with his intense glare but chose to seethe in silence.

"As per the rest of you, Your Lordships, it is our most humble wish that you agree to share some of your lands with the Narnians, as it is only fair. Both the forest folk and Telmarine folk are Narnian-born and, as such, should enjoy the same right to a dignified living" Susan intervened, addressing the group of gentlemen before her with the gentle smile to which she owed her title.

"I will yield up 2/3 of my property on the north bank of the river crossing the city. For quite some time now I have had no purpose for them and the costs of maintaining them have become quite encumbering, I think they will be in better hands with the Narnians" a plump noble said warmly, bowing his head at Susan and offering Caspian a smile.

"Your offer is most kind, Lord Sarian. Your generosity and selflessness are an example to be followed and are most greatly appreciated in these difficult times" Caspian replied, his words sincere but pointedly arranged to take a jab at the rest of the noblemen in the room.

The rocky dialogue with the lords carried on for several hours. Currently, there was silence in the room. Caspian had been cold and sharp in his replies to the group of opposing lords, who insisted that they were all being trapped and forced into giving up their land. Caspian knew this was a fruitless discussion, for these men would never accept the changes brought by not just one but five new monarchs. They made a point on antagonising him because they had enjoyed an advantaged position during Miraz's time as Lord Protector and his short reign; they were not going to change, not now and not in a million years.

"If I may, Your Highness, before we continue with the discussion at hand, there is a question which has been a matter of concern for many among us. I must ask, My King, whose authority are we to heed? You have to agree that the occurrence of five monarch is most uncommon" one man asked, appearing to be very pleased with himself for bringing such a matter up and causing his fellow lords to start murmuring again, many nodding in agreement.

"Ah, Lord Bartrian, your question is very pertinent, as per usual" Caspian said with a stiff diplomatic smile. Edmund glanced at his best friend, having caught the evident sarcasm in his tone. "Narnia is a wonderful land, have you had the opportunity to meet the Talking Animals yet? A true wonder, I must tell you, and they are certainly not common. The fauns, centaurs, giants, dwarves and all the forest folk are most extraordinary in their uniqueness, and this is because Narnia is extraordinary, unique and uncommon. Certainly, anywhere else the fact of having five rulers would be uncommon, but not here, not in Narnia, for everything around us is uncommon. I believe you wish to know if any of us reigns supreme above the others. The answer is simple, no. The five of us rule on equal terms, influence, duty and responsibility. Furthermore, the Kings and Queens of Old deserve as much respect as any past Telmarine sovereign. Does this answer your question, or should I develop anything further, my Lord?" Caspian explained, gritting his teeth into what was supposed to resemble a pleasant smile.

"And yet Your Grace was named High King of Narnia on your coronation" the man argued feebly.

"It is a matter of tradition, Your Lordship. It is a tradition among Narnian sovereigns for the eldest to be styled as High King or Queen; thus, King Caspian, as the oldest of us five, was crowned High King of Narnia, just as my brother was during the Golden Age" Susan explained, the kindness of her explanation managing to enrapture a number of lords and get the attention of even the most obstinate among them.

"If I understand well, this means King Peter is no longer High King?" another lord spoke timidly, genuine curiosity and confusion evident in his voice.

"No. Old Narnian law states that once a King or Queen of Narnia, always a King or Queen of Narnia" Edmund intervened, this being his area of expertise. "This means that once a sovereign has been named, crowned and styled as High King or Queen, their title remains with them forever to be transmitted to their descendants. In this particular case, given that the High King of Old is still alive and ruling alongside the new High King, the law allows both to be styled as High King, even if this does not give them precedence over one another or over the other sovereigns" he explained.

"Was it not more practical to have just one king?" the plump Lord Sarian enquired, visibly interested.

"It is not a matter of practicality, my good lord. The ancient scriptures, written before time was created, establish that Narnia must not be ruled by just one, but by several" Edmund replied. The room then fell quiet once more, the silence disrupted only by the quiet whispering of the group of noblemen. Then, one by one, an unexpected majority of lords chose to imitate Lord Sarian, agreeing to sell or bestow part of their lands to the Narnians, and many among them appeared excited and curious about the Narnians and their culture, much to Caspian's surprise and delight.

Once the hearing was over, Caspian left without a word, leaving the three other monarchs in a puzzled state. He walked fast, grateful for the fact that he had not encountered any servants on his path. After a few turns he finally pushed through a set of glass doors and into a small inner court, just big enough to contain a slim fountain and some bushes. Caspian sat on the fountain's stone edge, reaching into the cool crystalline water and splashing his face. As if the encounter with Miraz's supporters was not bad enough, his exchange with Haren had made his blood boil. The whole event had left him with a vile taste on his mouth and he felt disgusted at his own attitude. He was conscious of their stupidity and knew they would do and say anything to oppose him and yet he had let his temper get out of hand. How could he pretend not to care for what they were saying, to ignore their clear wish to be as uncooperative as possible?! They are Telmarines, adapting to change is not in their habits. No matter how much he tried to wrap his mind around this fact, anger and disgust got the better hand and he wanted to scream in rage at how these men's attitude stalled a whole population. Yet, not all Telmarines were like that, among them there were good people genuinely willing to befriend the Narnians, learn from them and exchange customs; to him they were a source of hope, the tiny beam of light in this post-war chaos. He did not feel capable of handling this, he simply didn't know what to do! He feared an uprising, or worse, a civil war, just like Peter had said before. As much as he hated to accept it, the Magnificent King was right on this. He couldn't change the way things were in Narnia if he wasn't strong in his decisions, yet it felt like such a heavy burden to carry, and he wasn't ready. He couldn't help but groan, his hands covering his face, a small grunt of despair escaping his throat.

Muffled steps on the grass alerted him of the presence of another person and he looked up, meeting the golden haired king carrying an unreadable expression on his sea-blue eyes. Exhaling a long breath, Peter sat on the stone edge, a few inches away from Caspian. He said nothing for a moment, looking ahead and searching for the best words to start a conversation.

"You handled the situation back there very well, I would have lost my temper much sooner; those men are certainly nasty" he said, choosing a friendly approach.

"They are vile, repulsive, selfish and greedy, not that I could expect anything from Miraz's henchmen. At least Sopespian is gone, he was the worst of them, a true snake under human form" Caspian said bitterly. Peter nodded in agreement. "Everything is so difficult when they are involved. They make a point on being unhelpful and putting up as much resistance as they can; all they do is put obstacles in my way, expecting me to fall. Today I only just managed to keep them at bay because were caught by surprise, but they are vicious and I'm sure that as soon as they've had more time to think, they will strike back, they always do, and by Aslan I don't know if I will be able to stifle them then" Caspian said miserably, dropping his head into his hands again. Peter looked at him, taken aback by Caspian's sudden outburst. For a moment, the two men stayed in silence.

"If it is of any comfort, the Golden Age was not at all golden at the beginning and we had more than our fair share of trouble. We were clueless about pretty much everything that needed to be done. After the White Witch was defeated, there were several groups among the Narnians wanting things to continue as they were, that is, they wanted us to grant them the same privileges the White Witch had granted them. They were opposed to every change we implemented on principle, even those benefiting them, and refused every proposal we made. They would not even consider them; they repelled everything that differed from what the White Witch had given them until then. It was infuriating" Peter told, his gaze lost in the sky.

"But you had Aslan with you, and the Narnians loved you, they still do" Caspian said, looking ahead as Peter was doing.

"One thing you have to know is that Aslan comes and goes according to his own will and time. He left on the day of our coronation, so we had to face the opposition on our own. My personal worst were the Ettinsmoor giants, I get a migraine just by thinking about them. They were such a handful, extremely violent, stupid and short tempered so talks lasted for ages, with the added detail that just one or two spoke our language, and not very well at that" Peter said with a small chuckle. "And the Narnians love you too, Caspian. You are already a legend: the Telmarine who saved them and freed them after 1300 years of hiding" Peter said, looking at the Telmarine at his side. "Dealing with the opposition is a trying and exhausting matter, yes, but it is something you eventually get accustomed to. Our role as sovereigns is to make sure that the needs of greater population are covered and that their rights are respected, whatever the matter. Once you are certain that your decision is fair, the opposition of a selfish minority will not mean anything, just keep in mind that what is fair will not always please them. Every great king has had to deal with a bunch of idiots whose only aim in life is find stuff to complain about, it is an occupational hazard" Peter commented, and Caspian knew he spoke from experience.

"I do believe that most Telmarines will learn to live peacefully with the Narnians, and even establish a friendly and supportive relationship. What troubles me is the possibility of rebellion among Miraz's supporters, because unless I start bribing them like Miraz did, there is nothing I can do to convince them to help" Caspian replied, his voice tired, having thought about the topic thoroughly and repeatedly.

"Then don't. Why waste time on people who do not want to be convinced? You are the king, Caspian, you cannot go around trying to please everyone. Every ruler has an opposition, the key is what you make of it; either you give them more importance than they deserve or you ignore them and prevent them from distracting you from those who really need you, from the bigger picture" Peter encouraged, and once more Caspian had the feeling that his fellow king was speaking from experience.

"Thank you, I appreciate your wise and encouraging words" Caspian said sincerely, offering Peter a small smile. Peter pattered his shoulder gingerly and somewhat awkwardly followed by a small rather uncomfortable silence between the two, both feeling the need to say something.

"I am sorry to ask, but, why are you trying to help me now, Peter? It's not that I don't appreciate it, it's just that- I mean, never mind" Caspian enquired shyly, uncertain of how Peter would react and not wanting him to misunderstand the intention behind his question and take offense. The Magnificent King sighed and looked away, his frown deepening.

"I know I have behaved quite badly towards you from the beginning and that I'm probably still quite irritating at times, and I am truly sorry for that. I still have trouble admitting that this second time in Narnia has been tough on me. I know it was wrong to expect a great reception, yet I arrived here hoping to be the great hero from the past who came back to save Narnia once more and be the one who gathered the Narnians, give them the courage to get out from hiding. Yet the next thing I know is that you had already done that, you had even secured some weapons and had crafted something of a strategy against Miraz. Then it became clear that the way I used to do things in the Golden Age was not going to work this time if only by the fact that I have no clue on anything Telmarine related. That is an area where the advantage is undeniably yours, being a Telmarine yourself, thus making you a better king for this new Narnia. I still have problems accepting that this is not my time and that leadership belongs to someone else now. I do not doubt that you have it in you to become a great monarch, you have proven that already. I suppose I just need time to get to terms with the idea. Hopefully I'll still be able to help you with my experience, since it is all I have left to offer" Peter admitted, opening up to Caspian. This moment of honestly allowed the Telmarine King to see Peter in a new light. He was a good man, one with insecurities and flaws which he tried to hide behind the pathos of the legendary King of Old, a role he felt obliged to perform not to disappoint everyone's expectations. Perhaps for the first time after the conflict had ended, Caspian saw Peter as a young man, burdened by responsibilities that were beyond his years.

"I did and do not want to take anybody's place, Peter. It is true that I was raised to reign over the Telmarines, but I am much ignorant of Narnian laws and traditions; I do not know what the Narnians are expecting of me and I hope not to disappoint them. You and your siblings, you are much of Narnia's Kings and Queens as I am. I-I do not feel capable of fulfilling the expectations placed on me, not alone, and this is why I need the four of you by my side. You say you believe that I will become a great king, well, at least that makes one of us" Caspian stated, choosing to speak honestly, just as Peter had done.

"Caspian, please, we were scared out our wits at the thought of having to oversee of a whole country. For weeks I could barely take care of my family, how could I look after thousands of people?! But we managed, and I like to think that we did something good. Anyway, as long as we are still here we will help with anything you need" Peter said, sadness creeping up his heart at the thought of leaving again.

"That is the point, Peter. As much as I'm flattered by your words, I do not want you to feel like you're here just to give me advice. You are more than just a source of information, you are not books! You are the Kings and Queens of Old, and together we rule in equality. I do not wish just for your experience, I want you all to reign by my side, not above or below me. Your place as High King is still here, unoccupied. I only took the throne that belonged to me by birth right, but yours is still there, waiting for you to sit on it" Caspian spoke, fiercely trying to prove his point. Peter looked at him, genuinely moved by his passionate speech. The Magnificent King drew a long breath and exhaled, looking down at his shoes.

"It is not that simple. We don't know if we are staying, Caspian. We don't know if we are going to stay long enough to give some meaning to those thrones. What's the point of sitting on them now only for them to be vacant once again" Peter replied, dropping his voice, his tone filled with a hint of hopelessness. Silence danced between the two men, both looking away.

"I prefer to believe that this time you are staying for real" Caspian replied after a moment, surprising Peter with his certainty. The Magnificent King could not help to smile, infected by the Telmarine's optimism.

"Anyway, on an unrelated topic, I was hoping I could ask you something" he said, his voice calm and casual, and Caspian nodded. "Earlier on, you mentioned a scandal involving a person, a woman I believe. Is it someone important?" Peter added curiously.

"Ah, that. I'm afraid it is something personal. That person is someone important to me, and I promise you I will tell you, all of you, everything about it once I have sorted some things out, but for now I'd rather not talk about it" Caspian told him with a sad smile. Peter nodded in understanding and did not ask any further, yet his curiosity was piqued. Who could this woman – if indeed a woman – be and why was she so important to Caspian? He let the matter drop and give the man the space he deserved, but made a mental note to ask him again in a few days and maybe try to get some answers.

"Thank you, Peter, I am glad we had this conversation" Caspian said frankly, extending his hand for his fellow king to take. He then excused himself and left, leaving Peter to stare at his back as he retreated, the matter of the mysterious woman still in his head.

The lords' riposte did not take long to arrive, for an urgent meeting of the Council was called two days later at first light. Caspian and Ed were in a huff because of the early wake up call, having spent most of the previous night discussing the day's events and thus not getting much sleep. The four of them tacitly agreed not to bother waking Lucy up, knowing she would refuse to participate once more. Additionally, it would be a crime to wake her up so early. The weather appeared to mirror their spirits, the morning greeting them with a pale greyish light, a wispy silver mist hovering on the ground. Susan seemed to be the only one who did not mind the early start much, yet the prospect of having another round of angry men snapping at them and among themselves was a most unappealing way to start the day.

They dragged themselves to the Council room, greeted the few lords who were already there and took their places, muscles tightened by the coldness of the room. Noticing Susan rubbing her hands together, Caspian asked a servant to light some fires and put a coal heater at Susan's feet.

"They call upon us and don't even arrive on time!" Ed commented, not bothering to hide his irritation. Nearly fifteen minutes had gone by and more than half the chairs of the Council were still empty. The few lords who had arrived on time were among those Caspian felt most friendly about, for they had tried to put a stop to Miraz's corruption and abuse despite being reduced to a minority.

"They are doing it on purpose" Caspian said, trying to repress a yawn. The royals had to wait another ten minutes before Lord Haren and his group of troublemakers finally arrived, looking mildly pleased with themselves, a fact that did not escape Caspian's notice, and by Peter's and Edmund's expressions, neither had them. It could only mean that hell was about to break lose.

"Apologies for the tardiness, Your Graces, we were delayed by unavoidable matters" one of the lords told, not a single drop of sincerity in his words. Caspian arched an eyebrow but remained silent. As neither he nor the Pevensies spoke, a tall, bulky lord decided to open the discussion.

"We have all gathered, Majesty, to ask Your Highness to reconsider your decision to allow the Narnians to live in the city, taking up on lands belonging to the nobility. Additionally, it is our wish to remind you of some privileges your uncle had formally agreed to regarding the members of the Council" he said, and some of his fellow lords smirked.

"Ah, of course, the privileges, or should I say, the bribes Miraz offered you in exchange of support. What was his offer to you, Lord Garrien? Oh, I remember, it was the exclusive right to the customs duties on foreign ships. And you, Lord Qaar, more lands perhaps? I know for a fact that you charge absurd rents to your tenants" Caspian said, gripping the arms of his throne, for the single mention of his vile uncle sent fire through his veins. The lords in question opened their eyes widely and looked at Caspian in shock.

"We are only demanding what is ours by right, Majesty" another lord argued, rising to his feet.

"Let me ask you something, My Lords, how exactly did you obtain this right you speak about so fervently? Have I not told you we would not take anything which truly belongs to you? However, many among your properties and privileges were obtained through dishonest and dark deeds, of which blackmailing, kidnapping and even murder were the order of the day. How can you claim this as your right, when there is nothing legal about them coming into your possession? You may consider them as privileges resulting from your position or from your so called 'services to the crown', but let us not forget that privileges can be revoked and unfortunately for you, those privileges died with Miraz" Caspian said, his tone firm, his glare piercing the group of noblemen as he spoke.

"Your Highness forgets that as members of the Council we are entitled to some privileges which cannot be disposed of so lightly!" some lord spoke, banging his palm on his knee.

"Certainly, yet I believe that the keyword in your argument was some privileges, Lord Tir. It has come to our attention that the Lords of the Council enjoy privileges exceeding in quantity and importance, and which do not appear to match any criteria of attribution" Caspian explained, pleased at the dumbfounded expression in the man's face. Whispers of outrage were growing louder. "More importantly, Your Lordships seem to forget that the current matter is not one of legislation, but a matter of reorganisation and redefinition of a corrupt and outdated system of privileges based on dubious merit" Caspian added, a small spark of his flaming anger making its way to his voice.

"I am afraid I must remind Your Grace that you need the approval of the Council before taking such a delicate step" another lord spoke, and by his tone Caspian and the others knew he was being careful with his words. Edmund cleared his throat.

"I cannot help but to notice that Your Lordship speaks in terms of Telmarine law, which is clearly structured around the occurrence of a single ruler and is therefore ill-suited in this situation, for there are five of us in the throne. Under such scheme, a Council is fundamentally needed to prevent a monarch from implementing a dictatorial regime. Narnian law, on the contrary, is founded upon the principle that several sit on the throne and thus, each monarch acts as a balancing force against any abuse from the others. Consequently, new laws, decrees, legislation or any royal decision only require the approval of the reigning Kings and Queens" Edmund explained, although his words were steadily challenged by the expressions of indignation coming from the Council seats.

"I will not have a mere child giving me orders!" Lord Tir bellowed, fixing Edmund with his glare, diplomacy gone out of the window.

"I suggest you measure your words carefully, My Lord, for I may be young but I am still your king" Edmund replied icily.

"This is unconceivable! For 1300 years we have obeyed the same laws established by the founding ancestors when they arrived to this land; Caspian IX followed them and so did his father before him. Now we are supposed to accept a violent change in the way we live in order to accommodate the arrival of four children and their talking pets!" Lord Haren exclaimed then, his sunken greyish face red with anger.

"You only prove my point, Lord Haren, this system dates from the arrival of the first Telmarines to Narnia and is therefore outdated" Caspian replied, his calm expression contrasting greatly with that of the Lord in front of him.

"Your Grace, you cannot ignore the Council!" another lord argued, his voice strangled with a mix of fright and outrage.

"Certainly, but it can be modified" Peter told with a smirk. "It is the wish of High King Caspian that the number of Council members be revisited, current members reviewed and Narnian members added" he explained, causing uproar among the noblemen.

"Your Grace, I beg you to reconsider. Council seats have always been a hereditary right; you cannot replace the current seats with fairy tales!" Lord Garr complained, livid at the thought of having fauns, dwarves and centaurs in the Council.

"Hereditary or not, the Council needs new members, new ideas and a new perspective. A number of hereditary seats will be maintained yet Narnians deserve a representation in the Council so decisions can be made according to both Telmarine and Narnian principles and customs" Caspian explained, his tone flat. No matter how much he tried to give a clear explanation and reassure these idiots, they would always miss the point completely.

"What do these Narnians know about our laws anyway!" another lord added, supported by a chorus of exalted noises.

"And what do you know about ours" Peter retorted, beginning to lose his temper. Edmund placed a hand on his shoulder and sent him a meaningful look, silently telling him to calm down.

"For heavens' sake! We are letting children run our kingdom! Look at them, they are barely capable of growing facial hair! Caspian IX would have never let this happen! Our forefathers must be twitching in their tombs at this lack of respect!" Lord Garrien exclaimed, his tone dramatic and exaggerated.

"This is a new era!" Caspian shouted, tightening his already clenched fists, his knuckles turning white. "Telmarine beliefs were built over the oppression of the Narnians! I promised them I was going to give them back their kingdom, and I'm keeping that promise! If you were expecting me to be a selfish tyrant like those before me, then I'm sorry to disappoint you" Caspian resumed, his words dripping with disgust and contempt. His outburst echoed on the stone walls, succeeding in bringing the lords to silence for a moment, yet among them were some who were not deterred.

"Your Majesty is young, maybe your decisions need to be pondered more carefully" Lord Tir ventured in what appeared to be a calming tone, but which Caspian found insulting and patronising. He was ready to retort when a grave yet slightly nasal voice stopped him and he looked at its owner.

"Age is not the matter here. If it were proof of intelligence and experience, Miraz would not have been so naive not to see his own lords plotting against him. He already underestimated us and it became his undoing. Are you sure you want to make the same mistake?" Edmund said, the irony in his tone fuelled by his own temper rising, a mischievous smirk on his lips.

"Is this a threat?" Lord Haren huffed.

"No, it is merely a statement of the facts. You defend age as the source of experience and yet both Miraz and Sopespian, as grown and seasoned adults, should have known better before choosing to rely on their pride and greed to win a battle" Ed quipped matter-of-factly.

"You speak so eloquently, King Edmund, yet what would you know about winning battles" Haren retorted, almost too pleased with himself.

"I suggest you pick up a history book, Lord Haren, you may learn a thing or two" Ed snapped with a smirk. Caspian knew how lethal it could be to engage in a battle of wits with Edmund; the Just King had a mean streak about him and a talent to outsmart his opponent with quick and intelligent yet incredibly scathing remarks. Haren had no chance of outwitting him.

"You little-" Haren spat, yet the men around him quickly got hold of him, preventing him from talking. At least some of them had an instinct of survival, Edmund noted in amusement.

Notwithstanding, the lords were relentless.

"Your Grace cannot possibly let those creatures live among us, they are savages!" A middle-aged lord bellowed, a vein popping on his neck.

"If you took a moment to get to know them better, you would see they are more civilised than many" Susan said cuttingly, her clear eyes narrowed slightly by her frown. Caspian felt a new wave of anger towards the lords as these so called gentlemen had succeeded in upsetting Susan with their insults. The lords felt silent and looked at Susan for the first time since the beginning of the heated discussion, as if finally aware of her presence. The room fell silent for a few seconds before the lords burst into laughter. Caspian and the Pevensies looked at them in confusion.

"I think they finally lost it" Edmund murmured, earning a nod from Peter and Caspian.

The lords took several minutes to regain their composure, Caspian's temper shortening considerably at the looks they threw at Susan through the remnants of their laughter.

"A woman meddling in politics? This must be a joke!" Lord Haren commented, hints of laughter still in his voice, looking at Susan disapprovingly. Peter and Edmund jumped from their thrones, furious and ready to pounce at the lord, but were stopped a couple of steps ahead by Caspian's livid cry.

"ENOUGH!"

Silence fell on the room as Caspian's yell echoed on the walls, every pair of eyes fixed on the young king, who had risen to his feet and had grabbed the squalid lord by the front of his robes, holding him inches from his face.

"This is your Queen you are speaking about! You owe her respect and I will not tolerate any of your condescension towards her in my presence!" Caspian roared, livid and trembling with fury. The lords had gone too far.

"Caspian, please, calm down" Susan asked quietly, appearing at his side and placing her hands on his arm, succeeding in smothering some of his wrath, her gentleness soothing his temper.

"Your Queen has taken pity of you, you should be grateful" Caspian spat, letting go of the man and walking back to his throne.

"I suggest we interrupt this meeting for a recess, I believe we all need a moment to gather our composure" Susan told, hoping to placate the angry men in the room.

The so far unfruitful discussion was resumed a few minutes later, yet contrary to Susan's intention, the small break had done nothing to alleviate the tensions.

"The decision has been made and I will not go back on it, whoever is not happy with it or with the new order of things is free to leave" Caspian said cuttingly, prodded by yet another petition for him to reconsider.

"How dare you, kid, we have been sitting in this Council before you were even born!" one of the oldest lords protested, his hand cutting the air, emphasising his words.

"Then it is high time you left. The Council needs people with an open mind and who are willing to work together for what is best for everyone and not just themselves" Caspian retorted, his temper flaring darky in his chocolate orbs.

"This is outrageous!" the same lord exclaimed, trembling with anger.

"What is outrageous is the fact that you are only waiting for a good moment to stab me in the back, just like Sopespian did to Miraz! We will gather a new Council, whether you like it or not!" Caspian answered heatedly.

"This is leading nowhere" Susan sighed, rubbing her temple.

"I agree" Edmund whispered back, taking a deep breath and standing up. "Your Lordships have expressed your grievances and they have been heard. We will now ponder on the question. You will be duly informed once a decision has been reached. Good day to you" he said firmly and commandingly, leaving no room for more outbursts of temper as he offered his arm to Susan and started walking towards the door.

"Your Grace-" one of the lords begun, yet was ignored by the four monarchs as they all left the room.

"Do you think they will ever leave us alone?" Peter asked a few moments later, massaging his temples.

"No, they won't. The issue now is to find a way to keep them from trying anything worse, although I think I have an idea" Caspian answered, throwing a glance at Peter, who recognised a confident and cunning spark in his dark eyes.

AN: So, new story in a very, VERY long time! This actually came about when I was rereading my previous story a few months back and I realised that the premise of the story had not allowed me to add much detail to the beginning of the story and it is really something I wanted to do. I hope you all enjoy this new fic, which more or less (more less than more) follows the same lines as my previous fic. I will try to update as fast as possible, although it may take a while (this very chapter has taken a few months to be ready).

I know this chapter contained I bit too much conflict and discussions, but they were necessary for me to be able to introduce some information and get it out of the way so I can carry along with the plot :)

Reviews and comments are welcome!

Cheers!