Peter looked up at the eagle that extended its leg with a letter tied to it. "Thank you Noble One." Peter greeted the bird carefully removing the letter. "I am afraid I have little to suit your appetite, but there is some cooked meat if you like." He gazed at the bird as if waiting for a reply, then sighed. "I guess you do not speak, pity Raliean was an excellent counselor." Peter set the letter on the table and went to the kitchen. He returned with his leftovers – fried fish and vegetables. He normally fed them to stray dogs but instead offered the food to the eagle. It gulped down the food as he opened the letter after examining the seal.

"Zarri academy, Finally." He read the letter through with a pensive look on his face – it was wordy but amounted to 'we'll interview you'. He then looked over at the eagle. "You will wait for a reply, Noble One?" the tan head bobbed and Peter removed a parchment and a quill from the desk and wrote:

From His Royal Highness, Peter the Magnificent, High King of all the Kings of Narnia, Emperor of the Lone Islands, Lord of Cair Paravel and Knight of the Order of the Lion To Aliari Scanira, Esteemed Headmistress of Zarri Academy, Greetings.

It has pleased us to receive your gracious invitation to meet with your esteemed personage. We wait on your convenience. We have taken the liberty of engaging the hospitality of our respected friends, the goblins of Gringotts, at our convenience. We eagerly await your reply as to the time and date when we will have the pleasure of making your acquaintance in person.

Most Sincerely,

Peter, High King of Narnia

Peter held his signet ring over his candle for a long moment then seared the crest into the thick parchment with the ease of much practice. He then folded and addressed it before sealing it in wax, again using his signet. He offered the letter to the eagle.

"Noble Friend, Please take this to the Mistress of Zarrri academy at your convenience. Is there ought else that you require?" The bird offered the leg with the clip on it and Peter attached the letter with a gentle smile. "Thank you friend." He watched the eagle fly away and sat to write his siblings that he had received correspondence from Zarri.

Aliari looked up when the eagle flew through her open window and transformed into a wild haired blond youth.

"Yes Malek?" She waited and he offered her a letter written on parchment and addressed in an elegant hand. She turned it over and frowned at the seal – a roaring lion with double barding and a crown above a sword. "Have you seen this seal before?" The youth shook his head.

"No headmistress. But he wore it on the 3rd finger of his right hand." She nodded thoughtfully and opened the letter. She raised an eyebrow at the salutation and frowned at it slightly.

"Describe him."

"Handsome, blond human male, apparently 20 years of age. He carries himself well. Lives in the Human world but has a supply of parchment and quills and is practiced with both, and with his signet seal. He greeted me as an equal and lamented the fact that I did not answer by commenting that Raliaen was an excellent councilor. He fed me fried fish and bangers after apologizing for not having anything more appropriate. He asked if I would wait for a reply and once he had written the letter, all of 15 minutes, asked I would bring you the letter 'at my convenience' thanked me and called me friend, Oh, and he addressed me as Noble one." The boy paused. "I liked him." Aliari chuckled.

"I can see that. Go and rest you'll be returning tomorrow." The boy turned to go then looked back.

"Who is he?" she raised an eyebrow, "I mean he knew to address me and –" Malek sighed, "Never mind."

"He and his siblings are potential student here – that is all you need to know."

"Yes Ma'am." He left and Aliari reread the letter thoughtfully. Her former pupil, Iarque Weasley sang their praises, they called the goblins friend and had hospitality with them. She had also heard a rumor that 4 magi had been present at the Midwinter Revel, one was Iarque. Pursing her lips she dipped her quill and began her reply.

Aliari heard the goblin announce her, though she only knew that because she heard her name – the announcement was in the garbled goblin tongue. There was a reply in the same language and her guide ushered her into the chamber. She half expected to see another goblin as she glided into the room however the only occupant was a tall blond man who rose from his seat as she entered.

"Welcome to Gringotts, Headmistress." He strode forward and extended his hands, she gracefully placed one of her own in them. He lifted it brushing a kiss upon it.

"The hospitality of Gringotts is well renownd, your majesty." She replied with a slight curtsy. He chuckled and motioned toward the setee.

"Please sit Lady." Aliari allowed him to escort her to the the plush seat and sank onto it as he released her hand. "Would you care for refreshment?" His tone, she noted, was solicitus and genuine. She nodded and hid her surprise when he spoke in the garbled language of the goblins – very few learned that tongue. The goblin who had escorted her bowed and disappeared, closing the door behind him. He turned to her his smile gentle, "Tgisak will return with refreshment, but for now may I offer you tea?" she nodded and he poured the tea, she accepted the cup and sipped the steaming liquid.

"I was surprised to hear you speak their tongue –that is quite the accomplishment." She watched his reaction closely, but the soft chuckle and smile as he sipped his own tea revealed little but his wry glance.

"It is is it not? It took us a long time to learn." She smiled, the young measure time strangely.

"It cannot have been so long." At this he raised an eyebrow.

"Is that so?" he smirked slightly and she frowned with a slight nod. "It took nigh on 10 years to master the tongue and more to use it with ease."

"You must have been very young when learning." He nodded, his gaze far away.

"Indeed, I was but fifteen when Gripshok first came to us, yes fifteen. But there was so much to learn" he shook his head, as if to return himself to the present and fixed his bright blue gaze on her. "You wish to lean more of me, and by extension, my kin before you decide." Aliari nodded slowly.

"Of course. You are an unknown royalty. Only the Goblins know you and respect your claim with friendship." He nodded.

"Go on." She pursed her lips, he was smiling – he was amused! "What have you heard of us?"

"That you can dance like fauns and speak like centaurs." His smile be came a smirk. "You live as humans, but know the ways of lor. You speak to bird and beast and treat all with respect."

"So nothing bad?" his tone was light and his easy grin infuriating.

"I am not usually in a position such as this." She replied tartly. "your powers and race are unknown, but are eztrordinary. Your crest is both authentic and unknown. No one has heard of Narnia but the goblins, so how is it that you know their customs?" He did not reply, just sat as if waiting. "You speak as though you have lived long but are a boy!" He laughed when she stopped, but it was a jovial laugh, not a mcking one.

"Do you feel better? It is best not to stew." She frowned realizing that she had blown her top – without realizing it. She buried her embarasement, but he gave her a knowing look. "Don't be upset with yourself – people have often told me that I can be aggravatingly agreeable." She gazed steadily at him, lips pursed for a long moment then she sighed.

"You are indeed." She gazed back at him calmly – there was no way she would stoop to asking to the answers to the questions she had blurted out. He smiled knowingly.

"You wil have your answers – for now I believe we should dine." He nodded toward the door. She turned to see several goblins carrying a small feast. He rose and offered her his arm courteously. She accepted it gracefully and they were soon seated at a small dining table. "You know of Underhill?" he asked lightly as they began their salad. Aliari nodded, of course she knew of the underground – half of her students were from there or their ancestors were. "And you know that not all beings come from this earth."

"Of course. They are the creations of the Fae." He shook his head.

"No. Some are of course but sil others come from other worlds, and there are many. There are also many ways to transport between them – the fae are able to control those portals, we lowly mortals cannot." She stared at him – what did portals have to do with –

"Time passes differently underhill." He nodded.

"It does indeed, and in Narnia."

"Narnia is another world." He nodded, his steady gaze meeting hers.

"Yes. But that does not change our status."

"No, but it explains much."

"We do not wish to broadcast this, it would be unwise. For better of for worse we are here and here we will remain." She nodded slowly.

"I understand. I shall leave it to you to answer for both your crest and your origins."

"Then we are accepted."She nodded and he smiled, "That is good."

"I will of course be needing your information, and we shall have to schedule a skills interview." He nodded and gestured towards the small tea table near the door.

"I have writtedd out the information, Iarque was most helpful. We will be available for the interview at the end of June. I appoligize for the delay but my sister is abroad." She nodded.

"I understand. Perhaps the third of July?" He chewed his dessert thoughtfully, then nodded.

"That will be satisfactory. The third of July it is. Shall we have the interview here?"

"That would be acceptable. At the ninth hour." He nodded and they finished the dessert. "The parchment?" She asked and he nodded and rising, offered her his arm. They returned to the settee and he lifted an envelope from the polished wood table and offered it to her.

"We used the standard format." Aliari nodded, opening the envelope – they certainly had.

Peter the Magnificent, High King of Narnia, Emporer of the Lone Islands and Lord of Cair Paravel and knight of the Order of the Lion

Age: 72

Species: Human

Abilities:

Susan the Gentle, Queen of Narnia

Age: 70

Species: Human

Abilities:

Edmund the Just, King of Narnia, knight of the Order of the Table

Age: 69

Species: Human

Abilities:

Lucy the Valiant, Queenof Narnia, Lioness

Age: 67

Species: Human

Abilities:

Eustace Dragonkin, Prince of Narnia, Knight of the order of the Table

Age: 17

Species: Human

Abilities:

Jill the Clever, Lady of Narnia

Age: 16

Species: Human

Abilities:

"This will be sufficient." Aliari nodded as she completed reading the parchment. "You will be desiring a suite?" She inquired folding the parchment back into its envelope.

"What are the options?" She chuckled.

"We have suites with 4 apartments each with two suits per wing in Lanastin Hall. Single apartments and rooms are also available of course." She gave a wry glance, "The apartments are more expensive, anything beyond a single room requires extra payment." He nodded with a grin.

"We will take a wing," he nodded thoughtfully, "yes a wing will suite our purposes." She raised an eyebrow.

"A wing contains 2 suites, that is 8 apartments, and 2 common areas – 36 rooms." He nodded absently. "and a balcony."

"Excellent – does it include a lawn?" She nodded slowly.

"It costs 65,000 Galleons a year." His mild gaze and lack of reaction to the price was frustrating, "And tuition is 1000 per person, per year." she continued he nodded absently.

"And when is the payment due?"

"At the start of the year."

"Which is?"

"The first of September. You may arrive at any time in the preceding week." He nodded.

"Very good. That is a lot of gold." He commented, finally he was acting as if the gold mattered- "Perhaps a direct transfer ought to be arranged." He mused to himself, that puzzled her but he nodded decisively. "Yes, I will have Kajik contact your accountant and arrange the transfer – is that agreeable?"

"I have never heard of direct transfer." She began slowly, questioningly. He shrugged.

"For a small fee Grigots will transfer money directly between accounts and provide receipts of the transaction."She raised an eyebrow, perhaps it was something they offered only to friends.

"I see, that would be agreeable."

Author's Note: Hi everyone, thanks for the reviews - I am glad you are enjoying the story. I usualy do not write these things but several people have asked about Susan - I hope that this chapter has clarified that she will be arriving. A second thing - this story starts just after Silver Chair. Well Peter finds the alley after Dawn Treader.