King Edmund yawned as he hurried down to breakfast. He hadn't slept well.

"Come on, Ed. Mrs. Beaver made us some scrumptious waffles this morning." His sister, Queen Lucy said.

Edmund plucked her crown off and ruffled her golden hair.

"You're late, Edmund. Again." High King Peter said sternly in his older-brother tone.

"Sorry, Peter. The storm kept me up."

"It's alright, Ed." his older sister, Queen Susan smiled. "Now eat."

Edmund speared three waffles. "Peter, can I ride out today?" He asked

"Sure." Peter shook his blond hair out of his eyes. "Just don't go down a dwarf hole or something."

"I won't. Philip'll watch me."

Alex picked a blade of grass and stared up at the sky. She closed her eyes and pictured again the lion.

"You dead or something?"

Alex's eyes flew open and she saw a young man on a chestnut horse. She stood up. "Hello."

The stranger wore a leather jerkin with an embossed lion on it. At his side hung a sword and on he had a crown on his head. He dismounted. "My name is Edmund." he said and bowed awkwardly.

"Alexandria. Just call me Alex."

"Are you from Archenland?"

"No."

"Then where are you from?"

"The lion, Aslan sent me."

"Oh." Edmund was silent. "Well, let's get you to Cair Paravel. Mount up."

"Care what?"

"Cair Paravel. C-A-I-R P-A-R-A-V-E-L. It's our castle."

Aled slipped Jack's bridle on and swung up.

Edmund surveyed her curiously. "Come on. It's not that far." he said and spurred his mount into a gallop.

Alex laughed and followed. Jack caught up quickly.

"Your horse is fast." Edmund remarked. "Philip's not that young anymore."

Philip snorted. "I can still beat the youngsters. It's just carrying your weight, King Edmund, that's difficult."

"There it is."

Alex sucked in her breath and gazed at the towers and pennants. "Wow, it's so…beautiful."

"Thank you."

Alex dismounted and let the stable boy lead Jack away.

"Uh, Alex. Why don't you go with my sister and get changed. What you're, uh, wearing is not, well, um, the style in Narnia. Then I'll take you to the High King."

Alex looked down at her riding skirt and jacket and realized that she must look really weird to him.

Edmund led her down a long corridor and knocked on a door. A tall black-haired woman answered.

"Susan, this is Alex. She's been sent by Aslan. Dress her up."

The woman smiled. "Come in, Alex. We'll fix you up."

Alex stepped into the small bedroom. "Your name is Susan?"

"Susan Pevensie. Well, in Narnia, it's Queen Susan the Gentle."

"I'm Alexandria Parker."

Susan nodded. She rummaged through a pile of dresses and held up a blue outfit with sleeves slit to the elbows, ground length skirt and braided belt.

Alex slipped into it and turned to see her reflection in the mirror. "Perfect fit."

Susan smiled and began to brush her hair.

The guard before the court room looked Alex over suspiciously but let them in.

Straight ahead, on a tall throne, sat a kingly man. On his head was a gold crown, on his sword hilt, a red lion. He rose and hurried to greet them. He embraced Edmund.

"What now, Ed? Are you going to ask if you can marry this woman from Archenland?"

"Peter, this is Alexandria and she's been sent by Aslan. Alex, this is my brother, High King Peter the Magnificent."

Peter waved him aside. "Miss Alexandria, an honor to meet you."

"And you, sir." Alex curtsied as Susan had shown her.

"You are from another world, then?"

"I'm from London, England, sir."

Peter frowned. "England. It sounds familiar. And leave out the 'sir'"

"Yes, sir." Alex clapped a hand over her mouth.

Peter laughed. "You ought to spend some time with Lucy." he turned. "Hey, Lu!"

A young girl stood up from her seat on the steps. She was golden-haired and blue-eyed and held a book.

"Lucy, this is-"

"Alex. I overheard. My name is Lucy."

Alex curtsied again.

"Lucy, would you mind showing Alexandria over the castle."

"Oh, I'll do it." Edmund offered. "You can read."

As Edmund led Alex away, she asked him. "How many siblings do you have?"

"Three." he replied. "Peter, Susan and Lucy."

"And they all are kings and queens?"

"Yes."

"I'm only guessing, but I think Peter is the oldest, then Susan, you and Lucy."

Edmund grinned at her. "Right."

"Don't laugh at me, but do you and Lucy have a title?" Alex said, shy all of a sudden.

"You mean like 'the Magnificent'?"

Alex nodded.

"Lucy is called the 'the Valiant.' And I," Edmund used a kingly voice. "am King Edmund the Just."

Alex laughed.

"And here are your apartments." Edmund said. He opened the door with a flourish and bowed. "Lady Alexandria, only the best was found for you."

Alex rolled her eyes in mock horror.

"This is your bedroom, and your own bathroom and your closet. This door leads to my room and that one to Susan's."

"Thank you, Edmund." Alex gazed about the room.

He stood in the doorway, looking out of place. Alex glanced at him.

"I'm not good at this hospitality thing. Dinner bell will ring soon. Guess I'll see you then." He said awkwardly.

Alex closed the door.