Lady Adelaide of the Lone Isles was among the first to receive the Lord Eustace as he arrived from Narnia. Apart from her own horrid voyage back, very little had changed since she left her home, and was desperately keen to hear any news that her friend may have from the king.

Eustace was met at Bernstead by a great gathering of people. The news that the king had sent a messenger had raised great hope on one side and great foreboding on the other. Lady Adelaide and Lord Karl were the official welcomers (at their father's request) and publicly greeted the ship as it came to the island.

The procession that awaited the crew of the Morning Bearer was a little more than they had expected. They had heard of the growing discontent in the Lone Islands, and were not expecting a parade and flags and waiving people to be there to welcome them. Lord Eustace led the way off the gangplank and was publicly welcomed by the Duke's two children.

Adelaide was so happy to see him she could hardly keep a straight face in front of the hundreds of onlookers. His arrival had signaled some sort of success in her quest, and her brother knew it. The islanders were so thrilled that the king had sent someone to them personally that all the trouble Karl had brought up was completely forgotten - at least for the present.

After the official welcome the royal family and the governing people of the islands proceeded to the duke's palace where it would be Eustace's time to speak publicly and deliver his message.

Although he had several things he wanted to say at once, the two month journey had given him ample time to compose his speech, and he knew he had better stick to it. His first order of duty was to publicly announce the birth of the new Crown Prince Arthur, and proclaim a public holiday in celebration. This met with even more happiness among the populace and Karl's shoulders slumped noticeably. Adelaide smiled at her brother's frustration, as she could tell from Eustace's manner that the news would only get better.

His next order of business was a public apology from King Rilian and Queen Jill to the people of the Lone Islands for their long silence. They truly begged their pardon for not answering their concerns earlier, and pledge to always be available to listen to in the future.

Eustace looked over and saw Adelaide beaming. Karl's head was in hands.

"And finally," Eustace concluded, "the means by which the king offers to keep this promise," he turned to the duke's children and crossed the floor to stand in front of Adelaide. She stared at him in surprise wondering what in the world he was planning on doing. He reached his hand out and she took it, suddenly very self-conscious. "My Lady," he bowed as he led her to the center of the floor. "I have the very great honor of repeating the king's request that you join the Royal Court of Narnia as Official Ambassador."

The cheer that went up in the hall was deafening. Eustace hadn't been so proud in all his life, but he was confused when he saw her reaction.

Adelaide was so amazed she had no idea what to do. If she was going to be honest with herself, when Eustace had taken her hand and led her to the front of the assembly, this was not the question she had been expecting. Rather, she had something very different in mind. And now, she was trying very hard not to show it. This was an honor she had no idea was coming, and was nearly dumbfounded by Rilian's request.

And of course, this came not from Eustace but from Rilian! Rilian was a good enough fellow, but not her favorite person - not by a long shot. And Eustace really had come all this way just to relay a message from him. She was very frustrated.

But this wasn't the sort of offer she could refuse. This was an honor that had never been bestowed on any islander in the history of Narnian rule. What could she do but gratefully accept it? She nodded her acceptance and the assembly was adjourned to spread the news to the villages.

As everyone filed out Karl and a few of his followers left together. Adelaide watched them go a little sadly. "It'll never be enough," she sighed, not really aware she'd spoken aloud. Eustace was glad he was the only one to hear her. Very quickly they had become the only two left in the room as the last few stragglers left.

"It's a start," he said, trying to sound encouraging. She turned in surprise.

"There's more, isn't there?" she was surprised herself that she'd been able to figure it out. He nodded to her then looked around the large room. She nodded. If there was indeed more private information, this was not the place to disclose it. "This way," she led him through one of the back doors.

The assembly rooms of the palace was a large old building, filled with hundreds of tiny rooms that were very easy to get lost in. She led him to the first one they came across and shut the door behind him.

"I have a warrant for your brother's arrest," Eustace confessed.

"Oh sweet Lion of the East!"

"I can use it or not, based on what I see here. Or I can turn it over to you."

"To me?"

"Rilian and Jill understand. You know your brother best, I'll leave it to you. Should I arrest him?" she looked at him curiously and then seemed to make a decision.

"Let's see what they're doing, shall we?" without another word she left the room and led him down another hall and through several empty rooms. She stopped abruptly in front of a large door that was partially closed. Eustace could hear voices inside and gathered that this must be one of Karl's regular meeting areas. No wonder, he thought. This far underground nobody outside the duke's family could ever find it or even know it existed.

"It's that damned sister of yours," he heard one voice say. "If she hadn't pulled that stunt and sailed off the king never would have found out."

"I know," the second voice said. Eustace recognized it as Karl's and nodded to Adelaide who motioned for him to keep quiet. "And it's no secret any longer where she was this summer. But we've still got a chance here."

"How so?" a third voice asked.

"So what if the king does know that we intend to attack? Why is that any reason to pull back. We'll lose the element of surprise, but -"

"But the king is planning on restoring diplomatic relations. We can't claim the tyranny angle anymore."

"Certainly we can," Karl answered his friend. "It's just a matter of spinning the story the right way. We'll still have the islands independent of Narnian rule - just as they were always meant to be."

Eustace had heard enough. Without waiting for more he went through the door and utterly astounded the men inside. "Karl, Lord of the Lone Islands, I'm placing you under arrest for treason against King Rilian and Queen Jill of Narnia." Adelaide was at first afraid that Eustace had gone overboard - it was him against three men - but the second he entered the room Karl's friends ran like lightening out the other door, leaving the man utterly alone against the messenger of the king.

Karl was arrested and quickly named his co-conspirators. The men were rounded up and wee being held until arrangements could be made to send them to Narnia for trial (as was the custom for charges of high treason). The news of the young lord's arrest did not go far, as it was quickly overshadowed by the death of the Duke himself.

The second Duke of the Lone Islands had passed away in his sleep the night after his son's arrest. Adelaide became the head of her family overnight and was very distraught. She sought Eustace's aid in establishing a new way of governing, as she herself had no wish to rule the islands.

The two of them organized a parliamentary system with the islanders electing their representatives and replacing them when necessary. Bernstead would remain the headquarters of the government and Adelaide recommended her cousin, Theodore Bern, to serve as the next duke. Theodore accepted the post, under the provision that the islanders have the power to remove any member of the royal family if necessary, and elect the next successor themselves. Very happy with their new plans, Adelaide and Eustace set sail back on the Morning Bearer to report the modern progress to Rilian and Jill.

They didn't make it.

A week into their journey their ship came upon an unchartered island that none of the crew had seen before. To only one did the isle look familiar, and Eustace quickly ordered that they go ashore. This island he had seen once before. It was the same he had seen once with Edmund and Lucy, and he knew very well who it was that awaited him on the land. He was right. Once aground he took off searching, with Adelaide following him. Before long they came upon the Lion himself.

"Oh Aslan I am glad to see you," he said honestly. Adelaide hung back in awe of the great Lion she had heard of for years. Eustace turned back and reached for her hand. "This is Adelaide," he said happy to finally make the introduction between two of his favorite beings.

"Greetings to you, Daughter of Eve," the Lion nodded.

"Hello, your - um..." she bit her lip and whispered to Eustace. "What do I call him?"

"Call him Aslan, silly."

"I'm sorry," she said to the Lion. "Hello, Aslan. It's very nice to meet you finally."

"Finally? Daughter of Eve, I have been with you your entire life, do you truly think this is the first time we meet?" Adelaide wondered at the comment but Eustace was smiling and she figured they had some sort of special understanding that she was not yet privy to. Then the Lion faced Eustace. "The time has come, son of Adam, to return you to your own world. You have done well the work you were given to do, and I am proud of you."

"But - Aslan, must I truly go back? I don't mean to complain, but Jill..."

"The daughter of Eve has left your world for good. One has left. One may return."

Adelaide's eyes widened. "Oh, you don't mean-"

"It is now the time to restore a balence to the two worlds. Neither of you truly belong in this one, just as neither the king nor queen truly belonged in the other. Daughter of Eve, you are to return to the other world with the Son of Adam. It is for you to see, and for you to stay there."

"I see," she said quietly. "So if I go - I go for good."

"Adelaide," Eustace said gently, "I don't think you have a choice." A look at the Lion quickly confirmed this. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," she smiled. "I really am fine. I'm so tired of all of the islands and their struggles. I'm ready to go - and with Karl finally taken care of there's really nothing for me to stay for. Rilian and Jill are good rulers and they've listened to us. I want to go."

"Adelaide..." Eustace began but couldn't really think of anything to say. He was surprised to see her so quickly decided and positive about the change that would soon come. Without realizing it he blurted out "Marry me!"