16) Impressions Part 1 Liz's POV

LIZ'S POV

Peter smiled that sad smile down at me. "I'll either be back the day the princess comes, and I'll be before her if I am. Or a day after." I just nodded, blinking back the now familiar tears. "I love you." I nodded again, not trusting myself to speak.

I watched as they rode away, and I wrapped my arms tightly around myself. The princess was arriving in a week. Lucy, Susan, and Edmund were in Calormen, leaving the running of Narnia to Stephen and I. Great. And Peter ordered the stupid guards to keep their stations, keeping me away from the ocean. I could probably threaten a guard with a duel…

"I'm sorry Princess," The guard managed to stutter out. "But King Peter said I wasn't to allow onto the beach, under any circumstances."

I glared at him, enjoying how he crumbled under my gaze. "I want to go to the beach."

"I can't let you do that," The guard mumbled. I didn't feel like arguing, or getting the guard in trouble, so I left. Maybe I'd head for the library, or go get Stephen to duel with me. Library it is. I picked up what looked like a new book, The Royal Family of Narnia. This should be interesting. I opened it, and a small painting of Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy was on the first page. It gave a very brief bio of each, saying the page numbers where you could find the full story.

The next page had a portrait of Stephen, that little secret smile of his plastered on his face. It had information about him on the other side. I knew what was next. The painting was of me at the coronation, and I was smiling brightly, my eyes dancing. On the other side, was information, as well as page numbers for more paintings, and a full biography. "Has stated quite verbally that her favorite food is chicken." I expected the next page to start the biographies, but the next two pages were filled with a portrait so perfect it looked like a color photograph.

It was of Peter and I dancing at the coronation. I was smiling shyly at him, and he was smiling the same way back at me. There were pictures just like this one for fifteen pages. I shut the book; gossip much? Stephen walked in, he must have been looking for me.

"Liz!" He said, running over. "Let's go for a ride, we haven't been to visit the beavers in a while." I nodded, anything to get out. The beavers were actually the same ones that the Pevensies had met when they first came to Narnia. Mr. Tumnus, Lucy's faun friend, lived nearby.

"Liz! Stephen! What brings you here?" Mrs. Beaver said happily, going for a hug from me.

"We just thought we'd visit." I smiled back. She immediately started cooking, and promised chicken.

Peter might be coming home today. No matter what, Princess Julianne of Terabithia is coming. I really don't have anything against her, but she's probably everything I'm not. I wish we could just slow down. It's so fast. I just returned from Archenland, and now another princess is invading my space.

I'm not trying to sound possessive. I just wish we could all stay in the same place. It would be so much easier. I still have that book on Narnian royalty. It's unbelievable. It has a picture of me in my favorite dress, it has a picture of Peter and I fighting, it even has a picture of Anna.

Anna went with Peter. Not because she wanted to leave me, it was because she didn't want to leave Alex. Great, even my best friend didn't love me enough. Ok, so Anna is tied for my best friend. But Susan didn't stay either. Apparently, I'm the much-loved princess, that nobody sticks around for. I'm sure when little girls in vision themselves as princesses, they don't see my life. This is so messed up.

I'll shut up now. I know what some people would say. Oh, poor little princess. Ok, enough about me, really. I hear horns. Royalty is here. It's either Peter, or Princess Julianne. I'll give you three guesses at who you think I want it to be.

I ran out of the room, grabbing my crown as I went. If it were Princess Julianne, she would expect me to be wearing my crown.

Don't get me wrong; I love my crown. But it's just not practical to wear it 24/7. Would you like a semi-heavy piece of metal stuck on your head? Didn't think so. I passed Stephen, who rolled his eyes. I can't believe some people think he's the more mature of the two of us. I know; if it's Princess Julianne, I will look like a total mess. My hair is everywhere, my crown is lopsided, my feet are dirty (and barefoot), and my dress is cut five inches shorter, in a jagged line (long story, don't ask).

I passed Sirius, who hastily bowed, and I just nodded, keeping my pace. My sword was at my waist, just like always. What would the princess think of that? She would probably think it was impromptu, most did. I hadn't met another royal female who could use a sword like I did. Let alone beat the King on a regular basis.

I still was running. Believe it or not, I still got lost here. But never when I was in a hurry. It would still take me another three minutes to greet whoever was here. If it were Peter, I would get to see Anna. Not that I want Peter to come home just to see her. I'm getting closer. Peter, or Julianne. King or Princess. Love or hate (ok, I don't really hate her yet). I stopped at the doors, and took a deep breath; putting on the smile I'd want Peter to see, just in case.

I straightened my dress, and my crown. I ran my fingers through my hair, and took another deep breath. I pushed the doors opened.