Back at Cair Paravel
It was a long trek to Cair Paravel, but everyone had made good timing and got there by early afternoon the day after the battle. This allowed them plenty of time to make preparations for the Solos' knighting ceremony, which was to take place the very next day. So there was a lot of activity going on in the castle, there was cleaning up and polishing in the throne room, decisions being made regarding what would be served at the celebration banquet, and the Solos were deciding on and being fitted in the special outfits they would wear. Currently, Lucy and Susan were helping Jaina decided on which dress she would wear.
"Are you sure you don't mind me wearing one of your dresses, Susan?" Jaina asked.
"Of course I don't mind, there are some dresses I barely wear anyway. Plus most of them are beautiful enough for a ceremony like this." Susan said.
"Oh ok, well let me take a look at them." Jaina said and began browsing through Susan's closet.
Susan did indeed have a lot of beautiful dresses, so it was hard for Jaina to choose one for the knighting ceremony. Both Pevensie sisters offered their advice as Jaina looked in the closet. There were so many dresses in so many pretty colors: green, blue, purple, red, yellow, and white. Finally the girls saw a dress that really caught their eyes.
"Oh, this is lovely." Jaina gasped as she pulled a red silk dress from the closet.
"It is lovely, you'll look so pretty in it." Lucy said upon see the dress.
"I agree, Lu." Susan said.
Jaina held out the dress in front of her to get a better look at it. It was indeed very pretty. It was made of authentic, soft Narnian silk with gold trim on the waistline and neckline. The long sleeves were light and flowy, as was the long skirt. Jaina stepped behind the changing screen so she could put the dress on, then stepped back out to show Susan and Lucy.
"What do you think? Should I wear this one?" she asked.
"Oh my, you look gorgeous." Lucy gasped.
"So I take that as a yes?" Jaina asked.
"Of course, silly. Why else would I say you look gorgeous?" Lucy replied and all three girls burst out laughing.
"You and your sense of humor, Lu." Susan said.
"I know, Susan. But why don't we show the boys now?" Lucy asked.
"Of course, Lucy. I want to show off my new look anyway." Jaina replied.
The girls laughed again as they walked out of Susan's room and down the massive hallway toward Peter's room, where he and Edmund were helping Jacen and Anakin decide on their outfits for the ceremony. As they rounded the corner, they happened to run into Mr. Tumnus. He as well was amazed at the beauty of Jaina's dress.
"My lady, you look simply stunning." he said as he took Jaina's hand and kissed it.
"Why thank you, Mr. Tumnus." Jaina replied.
"And what would you be doing at this fine hour, Tumnus?" Susan asked.
"I was simply offering my advice to your brothers on their attire for the ceremony tomorrow. Now I am needed with Aslan to discuss the ceremonial proceedings that you four discussed earlier." Mr. Tumnus replied.
"Sounds wonderful, Mr. Tumnus. Please carry on." Susan said.
"Yes, my lady." Mr. Tumnus said and hurried off in the other direction.
The girls continued on down the hall until they reached the door to Peter's room. Lucy knocked her little fist against it and was greeted with "Who goes there?" from Edmund.
"It's only your dearest, belovedsisters of course." she replied, earning a few snickers from Susan and Jaina.
"Well, I wouldn't exactly call you dearest, beloved—." Edmund started to say but was cut short by a loud slap and cried "What the blazes, Peter?"
"Ed, just be civilized for one moment and let the girls in." Peter demanded.
"Yes, your majesty." Edmund snapped before opening the door and letting the three girls into the room.
When Jaina, Susan, and Lucy stepped into the room, they were greeted with the sight of Edmund rubbing the spot on his head where he had been slapped by Peter and Peter looking over the attire that Jacen and Anakin were wearing. Both Solo boys were dressed up in pants made from real Narnian leather and wore long sleevedshirts with real Narnian tunics over them.
"Wow, you look stunning." Jaina said to her brothers.
"Thank you, Jaina. You look pretty good yourself." Anakin replied.
"Thank you, o beloved little brother." Jaina said, which earned her an evil look from Anakin.
In the evening
The Pevensies and the Solos were gathered once again in the balconied lounge that faced west, where they officially got to know each other in the beginning. Right now, they were having a late night tea and talking about the knighting ceremony the next day.
"Don't worry, we felt just as nervous as you did before our coronation." Peter said.
"We know that. But we're still nervous." Jacen said.
"Don't be, everything will be fine. And there's gonna be a party afterwards!" Lucy exclaimed.
"Sounds like lots of fun, Lucy. But the truth is, my brothers and I can't stay here forever. We have to go home eventually." Jaina said.
"What?" Lucy exclaimed, and her lip started to quiver indicating she would cry.
"Oh, Lu." Peter said and pulled his little sister into his lap and stroked her hair as she cried.
Susan and Edmund scooted over on the sofa towards their siblings and joined in comforting little Lucy as well. They too felt sad that their new friends would go home eventually. But they felt that a small compromise was in order so that all of them would be happy.
"Can you stay for a little while? A month, maybe?" Susan suggested.
"Well…ok. That sounds fair." Jaina said.
"And promise you'll come back for visits?" Lucy asked.
"Of course we will, Lucy. You know we'll be friends forever." Jaina replied.
"Thank you!" Lucy shrieked as she leapt off of Peter's lap and latched herself onto Jaina.
"No problem, Lucy." Jaina said, returning the hug.
"Just remember the odd time difference, ok? Now I think it's best we all get in bed for the big day tomorrow." Peter said.
Everyone smiled as they walked out of the lounge to their bedrooms for some much deserved rest, ready and excited for the big knighting ceremony that would take place the next morning.