Part 5

The rooms for the Archenlanders were in the same wing as the rooms for the visiting Narnian royalty.

Caspian's rooms were at the end of the hall, with Lucy's and Edmund's across from each other's next to

his. Then came Eustace's room, Arden's, and Teddy's, while on Lucy's side were Altaira's and Tracey's

rooms. (Lucy already KNEW she'd need the buffer.) All in all, it made for a very cozy royal gathering, with

Eustace and Teddy the only non-royals of the bunch.

Along the way, Lucy chatted politely, keeping a strong lock on her tongue. No need to have Caspian's

guests' eyes glaze over just yet.

Besides, Tracey was doing enough rambling for all of them.

She had evidently found Caspian quite appealing, and spoke of the fact that she rather liked Cair Paravel.

Altaira, walking in front where her sister couldn't see her, rolled her eyes. Lucy stifled a grin.

"Princess Altaira," she said cheekily, "what do YOU think of our Cair Paravel?"

Altaira smiled. "Next to Anvard, it is a most beautiful castle."

Lucy beamed. Since Caspian had shown her the rebuilt castle, she had been impressed with his

restoration. And she had always been proud of Cair, as she and the others called it. "Well, I've seen

Anvard, so thank you."

Altaira looked intrigued. "When…"

Tracey interrupted, apparently irked that the conversation didn't include her. "Come on, Ter. Queen

Lucy will think us impolite."

Queen Lucy wished dreadfully to push Princess Tracey off the tallest of Cair's towers. But that would be:

1) Rude to a friend's guest and a visiting dignitary

2) Against Aslan's wishes

3) Ruin the gardens below.

She simply closed her eyes a moment. When she spoke again, it was simply to say, "I will knock on your

doors when it is time to dine. If you need me, ladies…"

Teddy spoke, friendly. "And if I need you?"

She spoke teasingly. "There's almost nothing my brother cannot answer for you, Lord Theodore, but if

he can't, surely the question can wait until mealtime?"

Teddy pursed his lips. "Perhaps."

Altaira laughed and said, "Come now, Teddy, you'll scare her off! Behave, will you?"

"Thanks Princess Altaira, but I've had to put up with Edmund all my life. Very little scares me now." She

grinned cheekily at her brother, who pretended to look affronted, then smiled. The group turned into

the hall leading to the chambers.

At that moment, one of the maids came to Lucy with a message from the cook. Lucy looked it over, then

glanced at Edmund and Eustace. Edmund stepped into the breach, as it were.

"Sis, I'll take the visitors the rest of the way, if you have an agenda to be accomplished?" he inquired.

"Thank you, yes. Ladies, gentlemen, I shall see you later."

"Oh and Sis?" Edmund waited until Lucy had turned to head for the kitchen. "I'll make sure to scare you

later as well."

The entire party laughed at that remark.

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After handling the minor crisis, Lucy fidgeted until an hour and a half before lunch and couldn't take it

anymore. She was used to action and needed to do something. She changed into pants, riding boots and

a shirt, planning a ride on one of Caspian's horses, when a knock on her door interrupted her.

"Who is it?" she called.

"Altaira," came the reply. Well, just great. The first DAY of her King's guests, and she was showing her

lack of decorum. Oh well, couldn't be helped. She didn't have time to change.

She spoke, resignedly. "Come in."

Altaira did, peeking her head around the door. "I was wondering… Are there any…" She trailed off, eyes

widening as she saw Lucy's outfit.

Lucy blew a lock of hair off her forehead. "Yes, I wear men's clothes for various activities. More practical

than a dress."

Altaira's eyes lit up. "I understand!" She opened the door the rest of the way, showing her own

attire: A riding skirt and a shirt similar to Lucy's. Lucy's eyes lit up also. She beckoned Altaira in, closing

the door behind her.

"I LIKE your attire. Much prettier than mine!"

Altaira laughed. "Maybe, but yours is more practical than mine."

"Hmm…there has to be a way to combine the two." Lucy thought furiously. "I'll ponder it. Anyway, you

were asking…"

Altaira thought. "Oh? Yes, I was wondering if the stables had any horses for guests. I was feeling

restless."

Lucy smiled. "Oh, YES! Caspian has a GREAT stable! Let's go take a look."

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Lucy and Altaira passed by Caspian's study window just as he turned toward it. He had been working in

start-and-stop mode all morning, and he knew he needed to be more productive, but he just couldn't

manage it. He studied (haha. Get it?) the two young women as they approached the stables, one in

pants, one in a riding skirt, and wondered at the camaraderie that he saw. It seemed Lucy had made a

new friend. He wasn't surprised. Lucy made friends where ever she went. She was just the type of

person that drew people to her naturally. And he liked that about her. Just as long as the friends weren't

of the male variety.

He growled, then stopped short. Where had THAT come from? He was her friend. What did he care if

she had other friends that were male?

Or rather, what SHOULD he care? He didn't. She was entitled to have as many friends as she wanted.

Just not "call me Teddy".

He groaned and put his head in his hands, his elbows hitting the surface of his desk. He couldn't believe

this. He just COULD NOT BELIEVE this! What was he thinking? She was driving him crazy! This was just

not like him. He shook his head, hoping to shake away thoughts of his friend.

It worked long enough for him to get some work done. But deep down, in his subconscious, he knew

that the thought he was having were coming to a head—or rather, a heart. He'd have to reconcile them

somehow, or more people than just himself would be hurt.

End Part 5