Hello once again everyone. I am pleased to say that I am almost finished with ACT 2, however, due to the extreme overuse of my hands, my wrists are shot. They are slowly recovering, but I will do my best to type up two pages of the story a day, and publish the chapters as I finish them. I will hopefully have Chapter 13 out in six days. Thank you to those who reviewed-

Terra-Thank you very much! I try my hardest to keep them in character.

Copperfox-I will keep that in mind as I write, and I think what I have planned will fufill that.

Please review everyone! I am proud to say that this has 33 reviews! Please keep them coming! I need them to improve on anything!

I shan't keep you any longer, here is Chapter 12.

Chapter 12: A Magnificent Party

"It's a gorgeous, sunny, summer's day in Narnia! Today is a perfect day for a party!" exclaimed Nerina one July day.

Everyone was overjoyed about Nerina's turn around the previous month. Since then, her wounds had scabbed over, and it would take a while longer before her skin was fully healed, but she felt wonderful. She ran around the castle grounds, laughing and having a lot of fun. Her voice and sinuses were still unhealthy, but everyone hoped the healing would come with time.

Today was time for a party, a birthday party, to be exact. For today was High King Peter's eighteenth birthday. Edmund had taken the unknowing Peter out riding for the morning so the girls could set up for the surprise party to be held that afternoon.

The three girls wore light-colored lawn dresses as they hung the decorations on the large veranda that overlooked Narnia.

"You're right on that one," said Lucy, hanging a streamer. "I just hope Peter is surprised. I myself am surprised that we have invited all our friends, and have still kept it a secret."

"Me too," agreed Susan. She stepped back to survey her work. "Well I'm done. Oh, and just in time too! The guests have started to arrive." She smoothed out her dress as a group of talking animals approached. "Time to be the Royal Hostess." She walked over to the group and greeted them, Nerina and Lucy behind her.

NTMNTMNTMNTM

About an hour later, Susan hurriedly turned to the guests.

"Alright everyone, here they come! Edmund has Peter's eyes covered, but we are all going to hide. They are just starting up the steps to get up here, so no more talking until we all yell "Surprise!"

The guests quietly scrambled, trying to find the best hiding place for them. General Oreius ended up having to hide just inside the doorway to the immense veranda. The Beavers hid behind some chairs, Mr. Tumnus found a place behind a large potted plant, and Fox claimed a spot by one of the two fountains, with the rest of the guests hiding elsewhere.

A few minutes after all the guests had found their hiding places, boots were heard.

"Can I take this blindfold off yet?" asked the voice of an impatient Peter.

"Now you can!" said his brother excitedly.

"What's all this?" asked Peter when the blindfold was removed.

"Surprise!" shouted everyone, jumping out.

Susan and Lucy ran to their brother and hugged him. Nerina hung in back of the embracing siblings.

"I thought I told you I did not want a party," Peter whispered to Susan.

You really did not expect Narnia to ignore the birthday of its High King, did you?" she replied with a smile.

"Well thank you all," said Peter to everyone on the veranda. "Thank you very much."

"Happy birthday High King Peter!" was the shouted response.

The food was brought out, and everyone picked a place to sit and enjoy the weather.

Peter found himself sitting on a fountain's edge next to Nerina and Susan.

When it was time for the cake, Peter got up and blew out the candles on a three-layered vanilla cake in the shape of Cair Paravel. He cut it, bringing two pieces for his sister and Nerina. They thanked him, and he left, coming back with his piece.

"Thank you so much for my party Susan," said Peter as he ate the cake. "This has truly been a great day."

"And it's not over yet!" his sister said with a smile. "We still have dancing and presents."

"Yes, and you must be sure to ask that nymph over there to dance. She's been looking at you the whole time," remarked Nerina.

If the Princess had looked up from her cake, she would have seen both Peter and Susan do a double take. They were shocked. Nerina had actually said something to Peter that was mildly conversational. Susan smiled- progress was being made. Peter looked around, and sure enough, there was the nymph who had followed him during the Coronation Ball. The music began, and he stood up.

"I guess I can be a gentleman," he said with a smirk.

"You're awful," teased his sister. "She really fancies you."

Peter just laughed and walked to the nymph. Others started dancing, and soon a centaur came and asked Susan to dance.

A while later, Peter came over to Nerina, who was still sitting on the fountain's edge.

"Aren't you going to dance?" he asked.

Nerina's eyes looked off into the distance. "No thank you," she said softly. She stretched, letting her sandal-bearing feet come out from under her dress. She turned her face up to the sun, and smiled at the warmth of its rays. "I'm just enjoying the sunshine."

Peter sat back down and sadly gazed at the Princess' feet, covered in small scabbed-over cuts.

Nerina reached up and rubbed her face. Peter knew that Nerina never discussed her wounds, except for mentioning them the day they found her alive, but he could tell the scabs on her face itched. She had four major sets of wounds on her face. One started near her left eyebrow, crossed her nose, and ended near her right ear. There were four lines on her left cheek, and a cut coming from the top right side of her lip, almost touching the first cut. There was also a large gash on her chin, which was what she was rubbing now.

"Are you sure you wouldn't like to dance?" Peter asked again. "I will dance with you."

Nerina turned her head and looked in the water." No thank you, I must go get my present ready. Excuse me." She got up and proceeded to walk inside.

Turn your thoughts away

From cold, unfeeling light -

And listen to the music of the night...

Peter received a wonderful assortment of gifts. He got a saddle from General Oreius, a gorgeous carved walking stick from the Beavers, a painting from Mr. Tumnus, a special case to hold his sword and shield from his siblings, and many other presents as well. Nerina went last, and when it was her turn, the piano was rolled onto the veranda.

Purge your thoughts of the life

You knew before!

Close your eyes,

Let your spirit start to soar!

And you'll live

As you've never lived before...

She bowed her head before taking a seat. "Happy birthday Your Majesty," she said quietly and stiffly. Louder she said, "I shall now play a song about a great bird's flight, in the hopes that, like a bird, the High King may soar to great heights during his rein."

Softly, deftly,

Music shall surround you...

Feel it, hear it,

Closing in around you...

Open up your mind,

Let your fantasies unwind…

She sat down and started to play. Everyone noticed the change. When Nerina, played, she was no longer the recovering Princess. She became like a wind, or a spirit, going wherever it pleased. Her facial expressions varied on the song she was performing. They could be anything from happy and carefree to serious and full of concentration. All four Pevensies enjoyed seeing their friend in a wonderful state, and so they encouraged her to play often. Nerina never refused a chance to play, and always delighted her listeners, no matter what song she chose.

Let your mind start a journey

Through a strange new world!

Leave all thoughts

Of the life you knew before!

Let your soul take you where you

Long to be!

Finally the song ended, and Nerina leapt up, beaming. As she curtsied, and as the applause continued, she changed into the recovering Princess once more.

The power of the music that I write –

The power of the music of the night!

An hour later, the party was over, and the five Monarchs waved as they watched the guests leave.

"Happy birthday Peter," smiled Lucy.

"Yes, happy birthday to me," replied Peter happily.

Song Used-Music of the Night by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, a genius in my opinion. The song is, of course from my all time favorite movie and musical, The Phantom of the Opera, and I am happy to tell you that I am going to see Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, also by Andrew, next Wednesday! I am so excited!

Anyway, please, please review!

Thanks!

Haras