Disclaimer: I do not own C.S. Lewis works.

Chapter 1

Coral cradled the baby in her arms.

"She has your laughter, dear one." She whispered to the empty room.

There was no reply. She hardly expected there to be. Standing up, she placed the child back into the cradle and walked over to the window. Her long red-gold hair flew in the slight breeze as she peered out through the window, looking for someone.

But that someone would never come.

Of course not.

She spun around as the door flew open.

"Your Highness." The Faun bowed.

"Mr. Tumnus!" Coral's face broke into one of her rare smiles. "How do you do?"

"Ill, thank you." His face was grave. "The Calormenes have arrived on the border – armed and ready to fight. Our troops are there as well. You…" His gaze flicked to the child. "…and the child must flee at once."

Coral turned pale, and scooped up the child.

"You don't mean to say that they would kill…" She couldn't bring herself to say it.

"I do."

"Let us away at once!" She commanded. Then her voice broke. "But where to?"

"Don't worry, madam." Mr. Tumnus reassured her. "There are many nooks and crannies that the Calormenes cannot fit in."

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As Coral slipped beneath the rock face, she wondered what her husband would think of them now. Fugitives, running from their enemies. Cowards, really. She wondered what he would think if he were here.

But if he were here, she wouldn't need to run at all.

"You will be safe here." Mr. Tumnus told her. So. Her daughter was to be brought up in a cave house while battle raged outside.

At least she would be safe.

At that thought, Coral let out a disbelieving snort. As if she could be safe now. The Narnian troops, though courageous and feared in battle were nothing without a commander.

And they lacked their commander now.

King Peter the Magnificent, King Edmund the Just, Queen Susan the Gentle and Queen Lucy the Valiant.

Where were they now?

Where were they when Narnia needed them most?

Dead, most likely. They had disappeared, a week ago when they carried on the hunt of the White Stag alone. Narnia had been thrown into confusion. The Calormene had heard, and rejoiced. For centuries they had coveted this small land of talking beasts. And now that the monarchs were dead, it was theirs for taking.

"I will be back, lady." Mr. Tumnus patted her hand awkwardly. With that, he bounded out of the cave, leaving Coral staring blankly after him.

Well. At least she still had her memories, one thing her daughter would never have.

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"Coral, daughter of Archenland." The High King's eyes were warm.

"High King Peter." Her words caught in her throat. He was so near, so near that she just wanted to flee. But she couldn't. He was a guest in her father's home, after all. And as princess, she was expected to show him common courtesy. "I welcome you to Archenland. I hope that you will enjoy your stay here." She curtseyed again, and moved on to each of the monarchs.

When she reached the end of the line, she paused for a moment. She had heard much about the youngest queen of Narnia.

"Good afternoon, Princess." Queen Lucy surprised her by greeting her first.

"Lucy!" Queen Susan hissed, disapproving. Queen Lucy turned and made what looked suspiciously like a mischievous face at Susan. King Peter let out a short, strangled laugh.

"Good afternoon, your Majesty." Coral curtseyed. What she had not expected was to feel Queen Lucy's hand in hers.

"Let's not have that stifling civility, Princess." Her eyes danced and laughed. "My name is Lucy. Please, use it."

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Ah yes. There, during the monarchs' summer visit to Archenland, Coral's friendship with the queen had begun. Lucy was everything Coral longed to be: friendly, open, warm, unassuming, humble and most of all fun.

Being the oldest princess of Archenland meant that though she could not rule, she was born with all the constraints of the crown prince.

The crown prince. Her brother: Cor. He was a great heartache to her parents, for he had disappeared when he was very little. His twin brother, Corin, had taken his role, and Cor had been given up for dead.

But fortunately, sometime in the Golden Age... the last time the Calormenes had tried to invade... he had been recovered. Recovered and restored. He would be leading the Archenland half of the army... he was a good leader... but...

To be honest, he just wasn't Peter.

The baby beat her little hands, crying for attention.

"Hush, child, hush…" Sitting down on the wooden chair, Coral started singing – an old Narnian lullaby that had no words, only meanings.

Content, the baby lay in her arms. At peace, the way she could never be.

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