a/n: And now the REAL story begins, hehe. I did make a few changes though. I can't remember who ruled after the Pevensies in the books (maybe Caspian, but I'm not sure). I changed the timeline a bit to there being no one to follow their rule, etc, etc (pardon the meddling. It's all for the good of the story!) And also, in the books, Tumnus slowly looks older as the children grow up, but in my story Tumnus is not old and crinkling simply because this image creeps me out. I'm not sure how I'm gonna do it yet, maybe I'll give the fauns a longer lifespan like Tolkien's elves or something. Use your imaginations! But there will be no crinkling Tumnus in this story! …Ahem. (And, yes, I did make up Calaberith because I'm just too lazy to look up little minor things like that; I just wanted an excuse for them to party ;0) )
Also, yes, I'm aware of the typos in Chapter 2 and thanks for pointing them out, but I thought I should get the hang of the new fanfiction just a little more before I go, erm… "fixing things" again, hehe. Well, all that said, let Chapter 3 begin!

The walls and gates to the castle were white just as the castle itself. The massive gates arched high above them. They parted slowly like clouds to reveal a full view of the castle. Elizabeth followed Farren through a courtyard with lush lawns and little fountains and flowers. A few strolled one way or another.
Elizabeth was by now feeling very out of place, but tried her best not to let it show. She followed the fox up some large steps and down a number of hallways until they stood facing yet another set of doors. These doors though, were far grander than any others Elizabeth had seen within the castle. An intricate design of pure gold wove it's away across the doors, shimmering in the sunlight that peered through the window to Elizabeth's back.
Farren exchanged a few words, quietly, with the guard. It seemed they knew each other well, Elizabeth thought. She supposed a messenger may come and go enough to know the guards better than the King and Queen themselves.

The large doors to the throne room were thrown open and Farren and Elizabeth stepped inside. Laughter rose from within, making Elizabeth feel a little more at ease. At the least she new the King and Queen had to be in a good mood. She took refuge in the thought.
"Your Majesties," said Farren bowing.
Being warned ahead of time of how you were to approach royalty, Elizabeth followed suit and curtsied best she could without falling on her face. As, slowly, she looked up, dreading the eyes of those so much higher than herself, she found not two, but four 'your Majesties.' Elizabeth wasn't quite certain what to make of this. The two appearing youngest were not young enough to be prince and princess. But their eyes were kind; not the stern, demanding faces she had been expecting.
There were a few others in the room as well. Most of them Elizabeth found to be rather odd looking. Some were short and stubby with long beards and grim faces, there were three beautiful, elegant ladies with earthy tented eyes and skin, and a large eagle ('Haradoth, perhaps,' thought Elizabeth), and also two individuals, just a bit shorter than Elizabeth, with faces and bodies like men and the legs and horns of a goat. One had silky black fur on his legs, the other a dark brown. The black one of them sat next to the youngest queen. He had a kind smile about him. She liked him almost immediately, as much as she now thought she might like the kings and queens.
The queen turned and said something to him quietly. Elizabeth had a feeling it was about her. This made her eyes drop and her cheeks flush bashfully. She hated the feeling of just knowing when you're being looked at or talked about.
There were a few whispers and stirrings about the room, but then complete silence with a single gesture from the oldest king.
"Farren, old friend," he said. "All are pleased to find you safely returned. Congratulations on your excellent health and safe arrival."
This was followed by a few "Here, here's" and other words of agreement.
"Thank you, your Majesty, of course," said Farren.
He greeted each king and queen individually with a bow:
"Queen Lucy. Queen Susan. King Edmund. King Peter. I present to you Lady Elizabeth Rodrafell, from the lands beyond. She is, by my own fair judgment, I believe, the one we have been searching for."
"Lady Elizabeth," said the King. "I know I speak for all of Narnia in saying how deeply we thank you for aiding us in our time of need, for coming here before us today, and for your great sacrifice on the behalf of us all. Everyone here is in your debt and at your most humble service."
This was followed by further more "Here, here's" and applause from one or two.
"Th-thank you, your Majesty," stumbled Elizabeth, not quite knowing how she was expecting to respond. And she couldn't help but take note of the 'your great sacrifice' part.
Elizabeth and Farren were offered seats and King Peter turned back to the council.
"Now," said the King, "although we may now be able to undo most of the evil that has been done (presuming that we have acted in time, which I pray is so), there still remains yet another trial that we have yet to overcome. It is known by all of you that a tyrant has entered our fair lands. We must decide how this is to be handled."
"We must catch her off guard!" said an older dwarf. "Surround her at her own camps and cut her off at the roots!" This dwarf had a gray beard, but still the vigorous, youth like face of a warrior.
One or two of the other dwarves nodded their agreement.
"Now, Glomber," said King Edmund, "you more than any here should know by our prior experiences that such things should not be handled so hastily. Arrodris already has her spies hidden throughout our own lands. I have seen them, brother," he said to Peter. "She will catch word of any attack days before it is to take place."
King Peter nodded solemnly.
"Yes," he said, "Arrodris has grown far too powerful to be overcome by an ambush."
"I have also seen many of her spies in the forest and mountains," said the eagle. "It was just yester-eve I caught sight of a small fox who I followed right up to the cave the witch had been hiding in within the Northern Mountains. She was accompanied by a giant and two ogres. (Had she not been I might have taught her something right then.) The fox and she discussed plots of an attack on Cair Paravel within a fortnight. It seems even some of our own have been turned to her."
"What awful news," said Queen Susan.
"I had hoped," said King Peter gravely, "that this might be handle without a war. But there seems smaller hope of this with every passing hour. It seems we have no other choice. We have only to decide how and when."
"I say tomorrow!" piped Glomber. "Why the wait?"
The other dwarves exclaimed their approval.
"There shall not be any definite plans made until we arrange a meet with Arrodris, if at all possible," said Peter over their noise, which quieted them. "King Edmund and I have already discussed the matter. If she refuses, only then shall we act out in force. Let us not forget that we are Narnians, and this must be handled justly lest we make tyrants of ourselves."
"Well said," came the brown faun.
"There's no more to be done today," said Peter wearily. "We shall discuss it further tomorrow. But tonight, I urge you all to forget your troubles and be of good heart."
This seemed to lighten many spirits as though the remembrance of some well awaited celebration. They all began talking among themselves as some began leaving.
"Farren and Haradoth," said King Peter. "King Edmund and I would like a word with you in private."
"Of course, your Majesties," responded the two.
The Kings rose.
"Lady Elizabeth," said King Peter. "The castle is your home for the present. Everything here is yours to use at will."
"Thank you," replied Elizabeth, forgetting to say 'your Majesty,' but the King didn't seem to notice.
King Peter, King Edmund, Haradoth, and Farren all left through a door off to the right.
'Traitor,' Elizabeth thought in the back of her mind, holding Farren to his promise to remain by her side.
Here Queen Lucy rose from her seat and rushed to Elizabeth.
"Oh, we are so happy to have you here!" she said, taking Elizabeth by both hands. "Aren't we, Susan?" she said.
"Yes," said Susan, smiling. "From my heart."
"Oh!" said Lucy excitedly. "You have arrived on such a wonderful day! Tonight we have a great feast for Calaberith, celebrating the arrival of Spring. It's a most wonderful celebration! You can borrow one of my dresses."
Elizabeth found herself laughing and Lucy began laughing also. It all sounded so wonderful, yet a bit overwhelming. It sounded as though they all expected much more of her than she had thought. Did they mean for her to rule? 'Surely not,' she thought to herself. She didn't wish to bring up more of her own uncertainties now that they seemed in such a fair mood. But she did like the kings and queens, Queen Lucy especially much.
'Besides,' she thought to herself, 'what's the worst that could happen?'

And there it is. A bit shorter than I intended and I know a tad short on explaining some things, but I'm in a bit of a rush at the moment. The other things will have to wait for Chapter 4. In the meantime, tell me what'ch ya think!