This part is where my OC's appear…and stay for the rest of the story. I hope you like them… and the rest of the tale!

Part 4

It started with a letter.

The four friends had scarcely settled into the castle when a messenger arrived for Caspian one morning.

He read the contents to himself, then the others, who were lingering over breakfast along with Trumpkin, who had been so stunned by the King and Queen of Old Narnia's return he had been speechless for several moments.

The message was this:

Caspian Atencourt the Tenth

King of Narnia,

I understand that you have just returned from a long journey and are settling your affairs. Welcome

back and I hope your journey was enjoyable.

Please forgive me for asking a favor of you when you are barely arrived. There are some affairs of state

that have appeared between our two governments, and I am hoping to settle them at Cair Paravel. I am

writing to ask your indulgence in allowing myself passage and lodging until these matters are settled. I am also asking that you allow my daughters and nephew, who are interested in seeing new lands, to join us.

Please advise by return messenger of your decision.

Thank you for your time,

Arden Deveraux the Second

King of Archenland

Caspian wasn't sure whether to groan or laugh. Although King Arden was a good caretaker of

Archenland, this was not the best time for a meeting with the head of state of a neighboring country. He

had so much to catch up on. Also, he DID have guests currently (including the one who was driving him slowly insane!)

He rather thought the main reason he didn't immediately answer yes was because of his friend. Lucy got

along with almost everyone, and would probably relish having other women around, but he was still

confused about what he felt, and didn't want more distractions than necessary to interfere with figuring

that out.

But he'd learned from the best sovereigns he knew, and the High King Peter and the rest of the Pevensie

clan had taught him that a good ruler must put his country's interests above his own. If Arden was

asking for a meeting, it had to be important.

He sighed, looking around. The table of his friends had grown quiet, and they were studying him silently.

He laughed inside. They looked curious beyond belief!

He gestured to the messenger. "Have you eaten?"

"Not yet, milord."

"I have to draft a reply. It may take some time. Please help yourself to some breakfast." He stood and looked at Edmund. "Lead him to my study when he has finished?"

"Sure," Edmund replied, not quite finished with his meal.

Caspian looked at Lucy next. She smiled at him. "Do we know how many yet?"

He almost looked surprised, then realized she could read him better than he could read her right now.

"Not yet."

She nodded and stood. "I'll inform the maids to expect guests, then. When shall I say, a week?"

He chuckled. "You're amazing. Do I even need to WRITE a response?"

She looked at him blankly, then giggled. "Of course, my King. You need to know if the arrangement will work for King Arden! You can't do that without a letter!"

Caspian shook his head, smiling. "I'll take my leave then, and write that letter." He looked at Eustace. "Do you ride?"

Eustace looked startled. "What?"

Edmund, Lucy, and Caspian laughed, not cruelly, at the young man.

"Sorry, forgot. Do you know how to ride horses?" Caspian asked.

Eustace looked thoughtful. "I never have before."

Edmund looked gently at his cousin. "It might be time you learned."

"I was hoping to take a horseback ride this afternoon if all of you are willing to join me. Save you,

Trumpkin." He said lightly to the dwarf. "I know you have no fondness for the activity."

"Tis true. I prefer NOT to have transport myself that way. I have some work to do anyway. But thank you

for thinking of me." He smiled at his King.

The four set a time, and parted ways.

CoN CL CoN LC CoN CL

After the ride (in which they learned Eustace did not have a bad head for the steeds), the next week

seemed to fly. Lucy and Edmund were helping Caspian get caught up on the work of running a country,

and Eustace was exploring. He had made great friends with one of the stable hands and the maids, and

they loved showing him around the castle.

The day of the arrival of the Archenland party dawned busily. Lucy was helping the maid clean her room,

when she heard Edmund's signature knock. She turned to see her brother standing there, smirking in a

friendly manner.

"Can't not help someone, Sis?"

She blushed. "Well, I did MAKE the mess, so…"

He smiled. "Say no more. You look pretty. You ready?"

She was wearing a dress in deference to her station and the guests arriving today, and it looked different

on her petite frame. She had become accustomed to wearing pants and boots on the Dawn Treader, and thought the dress pretty but unnecessarily fussy. However, she didn't want to embarrass herself or

Caspian with her wearing her "had become usual" attire.

She nodded and followed her brother out of her room, meeting Eustace along the way and finding the

entrance hall where Caspian was standing. He smiled and nodded at the three, as the herald announced,

"King Caspian the Tenth of Narnia, please welcome the members of the royal party of Archenland."

The door opened and King Arden stepped in first, a man in in his mid-fifties with graying dark hair and

hazel eyes. He and Caspian grasped hands, and introductions were made. Then came the rest of the

royal family.

Behind Arden was a young woman. Arden introduced her.

"My older daughter Altaira." She was in her late teens, reaching Edmund's height, with hair the color of dark honey and hazel eyes. She was quietly pretty, the type of woman most men would look at twice... unless and until they saw the second woman.

"This is my younger daughter Tracey." She was beautiful, with hair the color of corn silk and

eyes the color of sapphires, and the kind of perfect features that made men forget their name. Lucy groaned internally. She was surrounded by women who made her feel as if her outward appearance was not up to standards!

Her kinsmen didn't help, gazing at the princess as if she held the key to the universe. She didn't want to

look at Caspian's reaction, but she couldn't help herself. She turned her eyes toward him. He looked

mildly intrigued, but no more. Lucy sighed inwardly in relief, then caught herself. THAT felt like jealousy!

Since when had she become jealous of Caspian's attentions? Since, apparently, now, she thought,

confused.

Tracey smiled and nodded at everyone, then her eyes fixed on Caspian and her smile grew wider. Lucy

wanted to rip her hair out.

Then came the third in the party, a young man barely twenty. "And this," Arden finished, "is my nephew,

Lord Theodore Deveraux."

He was handsome, as tall as Caspian, with hair also the color of dark honey and eyes the bright

blue of Tracey's. Lucy sighed. He was gorgeous, the kind of man women were instantly attracted to… if they weren't in love with the blind king in the same room.

Wait, huh? WHAT? Where had that thought come from? And how could she send it back?

After smiling and shaking hands with the men, Theodore immediately zoomed in on Lucy, smiling as

brightly as if he'd seen her sister. Lucy looked around. Nope, she was the woman he was looking at. He

made a beeline for her, grasping her hand and kissing it reverently. "Please, my dear lady, call me Teddy.

I am most honored to meet you." Lucy shot a glance toward Caspian, gauging his reaction.

He was scowling at them, his dark eyes angry. For some reason, that gave Lucy hope—but for what?

Teddy was reluctantly releasing her hand, and Lucy flushed a little, unused to such male attention. Especially when it was from the wrong man. However, it WAS a nice change.

Edmund and Eustace were showering Tracey with attention. Lucy and Altaira rolled their eyes, and

caught the other one doing so. Altaira had a resigned expression on her face, as if this were a reaction

she had seen often—which, like Lucy's own experience, it probably was. Lucy smiled at the older girl.

The Valiant Queen decided to prod the men a little, just to see what would happen. "Well, gentlemen,

unless King Caspian and King Arden have other plans, I'll show our guests their quarters. Would you like

to follow us? Make sure the princesses make it safe and sound?"

Edmund smirked, Eustace flushed, and Caspian laughed. Arden and Teddy, obviously used to the effect

their kinswoman had on other men, chuckled as well. Tracey looked befuddled.

"Why wouldn't we make it-", she spoke in a musical lilt. Altaira interrupted.

"It's all right, Tracey. I'm guessing Queen Lucy was making a joke."

Lucy almost felt bad, but she spoke gently. "Yes, Princess Tracey, it was a joke. But the offer to show you

to your sleeping quarters was sincere. Would you follow me, please?"

Caspian looked knowingly at Lucy, and they held a short conversation without one word being spoken.

He didn't want her to take their guests the LONG way, through tunnels or any OTHER path but directly

there. He almost laughed at her disappointed tilt of the head.

At the conclusion of the nonverbal exchange, Lucy nodded and smiled.

Caspian spoke. "Your Majesty, do you wish to speak now or settle in?"

"It's Arden, please, to all of you. And I would much prefer to retire for a while, if that is all right?"

Caspian nodded. "Perfectly fine. I have some details to see to in my study, so I'll bid you good day."

He watched the group leave, giving Lucy another knowing look, changing to a scowl when Teddy offered

Lucy his arm. "Milady?"

Lucy giggled, then took it, and the group left the entryway to a grumpy-looking King of Narnia.

End Part 4

To help you picture the OC's:

Altaira- Shailene Woodley

Tracey- Gabriella Wilde

Theodore- Matt Barr