Haha, sorry for all the emails about this chapter 7 for all you who are following! I've been away from this for so long that I forgot how to upload chapters. =p

But it's all good now. This chapter is a pretty cute one, especially at the end. I really happen to like it, so I hope you do too!

Queen Lucy loved her dress. She hugged the girls so many times, and kept saying how she would be the prettiest girl there. Susan had seen hers at the same time, and later on she had come up to Katriana and whispered that next time she wanted her to design her dress. Katriana had blushed with great pleasure.

Lucy had also spent a lot of time talking to Katriana. She was very interested in her, since she was new. Katriana tried to be as vague as she could, but still respectful to the curious queen. One of these times she had caught Peter standing a ways off, watching her. She had concentrated very closely on Queen Lucy after that.

The day of the banquet finally came. Katriana had just gone to her room to get ready for it, when Queen Lucy came in with her new gown on, along with Alia. They were both smiling mischievous smiles, and kept on looking at each other.

"Do you need something?" asked Katriana warily. She didn't understand what was going on.

"We wanted to give you something," said Lucy, as she motioned through the open door at someone Katriana couldn't see. Grimmel came in with a beautiful dress. Katriana gasped. It was made of light pink velvet, with a wide skirt and very wide sleeve holes. It had a neckline like Lucy's, but there was cream silk underneath. A band of the same silk wrapped around the bottom of the bodice, and came to the back to make a knot, which let the silk strands run down almost to the floor. The back had a corset-like appearance. The bodice was decorated with flowers embroidered on with cream, silk thread as well as a pale green for all the leaves. The sleeve bottoms opened on a tilt to reveal the silk lining inside.

"But…why?" Katriana whispered.

"I heard that you were performing tonight, so I thought that you might need a nice dress for the occasion." Lucy smiled radiantly. She was the kind of queen who loved to give gifts, even if there was no real reason for the occasion.

Katriana reached out and touched the soft material. It was the prettiest thing she had ever seen. She heard a cough, and looked up. Lucy and Alia were both looking at her.

Katriana smiled. "Thank you so much. I don't know how to express how much this means to me. Would someone… would someone help me into it?" Here Lucy and Alia grinned.

"We'd be glad to," answered Alia.

Katriana stood in front of her mirror a bit later, shocked at what she saw. The girl in the mirror was not her. It couldn't be her! But there she was, wearing the same dress and everything else as Katriana. Alia had lent her the pearl earrings again, and had put the pink ribbon back around her neck. She was now curling Katriana's hair. Katriana touched one of the curls that had spilled over her shoulders.

"What are you going to sing?"

Katriana smiled at Alia. This was about the fifteenth time Alia had asked that. "Oh, something. I haven't decided yet."

"Well, you better decided quickly! You're going to sing right after the meal is over."

"I know! Don't worry about it!" Katriana was surprisingly not fretting over the song. It was a very nice surprise to her.

"Ok," Alia said warily, as she finished up the last curl. "There, now you look like a brown-haired angel."

"You've certainly made me feel like one," Katriana murmured as she stared in the mirror.

The evening was beautiful. The food was wonderful, and the guests were enjoying themselves very much. The hosts loved entertaining, so everything went off without a hitch. After the meal was over, Queen Susan introduced Katriana, and Katriana walked up the steps of the dais. All eyes were on her, but she felt unusually calm. She waited until the room was completely quiet, and then she broke the silence with one, long, beautiful note.

What no one else knew was that Katriana had actually asked some of the fauns and dwarves to help her by playing with her as she sang. They joined her in harmony as she continued to sing. There were no words to the song, but it didn't matter. It was like the piece she had played for King Peter. You could see what was happening without any words. It held the audience transfixed for the entire song. It was heartfelt and uplifting.

When the song came to a conclusion, she felt drained. She breathed hard. She had never done that as a human, and she found it quite tiring. Her lungs complained for air. She hardly noticed the thunderous applause that filled the room. It fell on deaf ears. She only saw his face. The shock on his face; in his blue eyes. She licked her lips and curtsied. Then Katriana got off the dais and walked down. The applause continued, but she did not hear it. She no longer cared for it. She hadn't for quite some time. She stood in front of their majesties from both countries and bowed. The room quieted.

"The song I sang was in honor of all that you have done for Narnia. For the freedom you bestowed on us when you came to power. That enabled us to have the strong alliance that we now cherish with our sister nation, Archenland. We thank you." She bowed again. The applause roared throughout the room once more. But she only saw him. He held her gaze for what seemed like forever. Even as she walked out of the room, she could feel it on her back.

She was greeted with hugs and joyous congratulations by Alia and the rest of the castle workers. Back in the throne room music could be heard. The musicians had struck up a dance tune, and many of the guests began to dance. She sat down in a chair near the door. She found the party and its participants intriguing. She took a plate of food from Alia, and tapped her foot to the music as she ate and listened to the conversation around her. She was startled by a light tap on the shoulder.

She turned to find King Peter standing there. The little hallway became quiet in the presence of the high king. Katriana stood so as not to be disrespectful. She set her plate on her chair and curtsied deeply. She rose to meet his gaze calmly.

He faltered before speaking. "I… I was wondering if you would give me the honor of the next dance." A few quiet gasps of surprise were heard. Katriana studied him for a moment before giving her answer.

"I would be delighted to." She curtsied again. He held out his hand for her. She took it. He led her out onto the dance floor just as the band was preparing to begin again. Katriana would never forget the feeling of the first time she held his hand. It remained with her till she died.

"What was it like?" asked Alia eagerly as Katriana lay on her bed that night. Katriana smiled. She had been asked that so many times that night that she could practically give her answer without thinking about it.

"It was wonderful. Like walking on air," she answered. She closed her eyes and put her hands behind her head as she relished the memory of the dance.

Alia rolled her eyes. "I meant what was it like to dance with him?"

"I know that's what you meant, but you're going to have to dance with him to find out."

Alia sighed in frustration and sat down hard on Katriana's bed. "You are so difficult sometimes!"

Katriana laughed. "I'm stubborn! I can't help it." She rolled over so that her back was to Alia. "I'm going to sleep now. Goodnight!"

Alia took the pillow she had with her and hit Katriana's head with it. Katriana laughed again but did not return the hit. Alia shook her head. "You are stubborn."

But as Alia went back to her own room, Katriana's smile faded. Was being stubborn a good thing?

The guests from Archenland stayed for the rest of the week. It was a wonderful time of celebration. King Lune of Archenland was very good friends with their majesties from Narnia, so the time spent at Cair Paravel that week was extremely enjoyable. There were many hunting parties and rides taken on Narnian ships, as well as smaller banquets and parties. Games were played on the lawns outside of the castle.

Katriana found herself busy with helping Mrs. Beaver in the kitchen instead of the sewing room. She didn't enjoy it as much as embroidery or sewing, but it pleased her none the less. During this week she became very familiar with the castle and its hallways. She no longer found herself lost or asking for directions. For this she was pleased. She slept well at night after a long days' work.

As the week came to a close, Katriana was glad to see the guests leave and the castle return to normal. She had liked all of the bustle and excitement, but she liked the peace and quiet better. She was not the only one.

Peter sighed as he settled back in his chair. The week had been long. He was glad that it was over.

"Oh, wasn't that fun!" exclaimed Susan as she twirled around the room in happiness. "And it was so sweet of you to ask Katriana to dance. What a nice way to thank her for her performance! She did so wonderfully! We shall have to ask her to do it again soon, I think," she said as she walked out of the room.

Edmund watched Peter from across the room. He was leaning against a wall studying his brother with his arms across his chest. He let silence fill the room for a moment, waiting for Peter to say something.

"I did not do it as a thank you," said Peter quietly. He sat with his hand over his mouth in thought.

"I know," said Edmund. The room fell silent again. Edmund quietly left the room. Peter sat there for quite some time.

Lucy rose from the window seat that she had occupied this whole time. She delicately walked over to Peter and touched his leg. He looked up at her, then pulled her into his lap. She laid her head on his chest as he wrapped his arms around her. They sat there like that for a long time.