A/N: Well, this certainly has been long overdue, so my apologies for that. Hope you enjoy - and as I've got the next chapter already written, there's a very good chance it'll be up in the next week or two.

When morning arrived with a rush of colour and the songs of a bird quartet, Carolyn awoke to find that she was still in Stephan's room. She was quite comfortable, which was rather unexpected after spending the night curled up in an armchair, so she did not move. Instead, she kept her eyes closed and listened to the sweet melodies of the birds. It was with a start when she realized that she could understand the words the birds were singing, and immediately sprang up and dashed to the window.

"How sweet the sun upon the shore," the birds sang,
"of worlds long lost and known no more.
Where grow the hallowed oak and pine
And run the crystall'd waters fine
There tread thee soft and say no word
For Aslan's name will soon be heard
Ringing 'cross the hills and vales
Singing all the long lost tales..."

"How glorious," Carolyn whispered, completely caught up in the enchanting melody. She found herself wondering again who Aslan was, and started when there came a loud creak from behind her.

Turning around, Carolyn saw Stephan standing only a few steps behind her, looking innocently about the room. Her eyes narrowed. "You were going to surprise me again, weren't you?" she accused.

"Was not," he countered, but there was little heat in his words. "Are you hungry?"

Carolyn noticed for the first time that morning the dull ache in her stomach. "I am, rather," she replied.

"Well then," Stephan said, and ran to the table, which was empty save for a silver bell.

"Oh," said Carolyn as she hurried over beside Stephan. "Ought we to touch it?"

"Monaster did say to ring if we need anything," Stephan replied, and right away lifted the bell and tipped it side to side. When no noise came forth, he tried again once more, before he turned it upside down to examine. "Why, its missing the inside bit. The part that makes it ring."

Carolyn took the bell from him and examined it, but it was just as her brother had said. "Perhaps there's a bell in my room?" she began, but at that moment there was a light tap at the door."

The children looked at each other, their eyes wide. Then Stephan shrugged and made his way to the door, which he opened without hesitation.

Two large bluebirds stood on the floor, a covered tray sitting between them. Stephan stepped back in surprise, opening the door further, and the birds flapped their wings and rose into the air. As they did so, the children noticed that a leather strap ran from both birds' claws and down to the sides of the tray, thus making it possible for the birds to carry.

Carolyn moved out of the way as the birds neared the table, where they set down the tray carefully, before slipping off the leather straps. "Is there anything else you wish for?" one of the birds asked, perching on the top of the tray's cover.

"No," Carolyn answered shortly, still rather shocked.

But Stephan was not yet ready for the birds to leave. "How did you know we were hungry?" he asked, coming closer.

The second, smaller bird had perched on the back of a nearby chair and was busy preening her feathers. "You rang the bell, silly," she said in a high, breathless voice.

"Elia," the other bird said warning.

"But the bell is broken," Carolyn told them. "It made no noise when we rang it."

"That is because you didn't need to hear it," the first bird explained. "We did."

Carolyn pressed her lips together in confusion, but said nothing more. The birds took their cue and lifted into the air.

"Wait!" Stephan exclaimed as they flew through the door. "Do you know when the king will arrive?"

The smaller bird turned back. "After noon, they say," she giggled, and flew off.

Stephan closed the door and saw that Carolyn had already removed the lid to the tray. There was plenty of food - pastries and bacon and hard boiled eggs, and even some tea, all of which smelled incredibly delicious and irresistible. They each pulled up a chair and sat down, Carolyn reminding Stephan sternly to tuck his napkin into his collar before allowing him to start. The food tasted just as good as it had smelled, and when each had eaten until they could eat no more, they sat for a moment in silent contentment.

A sharp rap at the door disturbed them, and Stephan jumped up from his chair and ran to open it. The two birds had returned, bearing a bundle of clothes that they lay on Stephan's bed. "An outfit lies ready in your own room, mistress," the small bird twittered as they left.

"Well then," Carolyn said. "I suppose we had better get dressed." Before Stephan could protest, she went out to the hall and next door.

It turned out that her room was the mirror image of Stephan's, with a large bed and a fireplace, and a table with another silver bell. On the bench at the end of her bed lay a pale yellow dress with delicate lace along the sleeves and a rich, brown sash around the waist. Carolyn ran her hand over the soft fabric and studied the delicate embroidery. She hadn't worn seen anything this beautiful since before the war - but no. Not thinking about that.

Carolyn dressed quickly, admiring herself in the full sized mirror on the back of the door. She enjoyed the feel of the loose fabric on her skin, so much less confining than the clothes she had owned in Britain. Her hair was rather a mess, but there was a brush waiting on the bench, so she undid her braids and spent some time combing out the knots. Without her mother's help, she would be unable to braid her hair again, so Carolyn left the ribbons beside the brush and after one last look in the mirror, went out into the hall.

The two birds were again waiting, along with Stephan, who looked quite splendid in his blue tunic.

"There you are, then," twittered the smallest bird, looking Carolyn over with a pleased expression. "You do look good in these proper clothes."

"They are much nicer than British clothes," Carolyn admitted, "Less confining."

"Oh, those stupid, confining British clothes!" the bird exclaimed.

The larger bird rolled his eyes. "You do not even know what British means!"

"Well if it is British clothing, it must be confining," the female bird replied haughtily.

Carolyn and Stephan were both rather bemused by this exchange, and Stephan asked, "What are your names?"

The birds stopped their bickering immediately. "I am Elia," the smaller bird said, "and this is my mate Flester."

Carolyn politely introduced herself and her brother, and how-do-you-do's were exchanged.

"Now I daresay you'll want a breath of fresh air," Elia said immediately.

Both children agreed at once, and as they followed the birds down the hall, Carolyn whispered to Stephan, "Ought we to ask them the way back home?"

Stephan shook his head immediately. "Do let's wait for the king."

Carolyn was rather relieved to hear him say this, for although the responsible part of her knew it was important to return home as soon as possible, she did wish to meet the king. After all, as she told herself, it was not every day one got the opportunity to speak to royalty.