Samantha's hair was in a simple ponytail, and an elaborate gold tiara sat atop her red hair. She dress was blue, which, unlike most redheads, did not emphasize blue eyes she did not have. She had sort of muddy brown orbs, which matched altogether too much with the muddy brown freckles across her nose.
Sam was cute, in a girly sort of way, pretty if you squinted just right. But beautiful? No. Regal? Fat chance. A good body? Maybe. But no one to look at it.
3 out of 4 siblings stood to greet her. The tallest, a sandy-haired man of maybe 25 by Sam's guess stepped forward. He gripped her hand strongly in a Narnia welcome. "This is out palace, and yours now, too. I'm High King Peter."
Sam smiled at herself and her much shorter title: "I'm Samantha. You have a lovely castle."
Next, a tall woman with dark hair hugged her. "I'm Queen Susan, welcome to Narnia."
Then the smallest, a sweet-looking girl of maybe 18 hugged her.
"I'm Queen Lucy. But you don't have to call any of us King or Queen, or even High King. Just our names, I insist."
Sam smiled. "Then you must call me Sam, it's so much less cumbersome."
All three nodded at her. Then Sam let confusion cloud her face.
"I thought there were four of you."
Susan explained: "Yes, the fourth is Edmund. He's 21, black hair, blue eyes, taller you than you but shorter than me. No one can seem to find him just now, which is unfortunate, since you'll be staying with him."
Sam blanched. "With him?"
Lucy suppressed a giggle, understanding Sam at once. "No, no, we mean in his quarters, not in his room. There's a nice guest room, and you'll be able to furnish it however you like. I'll take you there since-Blast you, Ed, where've you been?"
Sam turned and followed Lucy's gaze to a man who must be Edmund coming over the top of a hill on a brown gelding with white spots. He looked as Susan had described him, but what she's failed to mention was that he was-at least to Sam-quite possibly the most handsome man she'd ever seen.
"Riding, where does it look like I've been?"
All Sam's fantasies came crashing down about her ears-he was mean and sarcastic.
"You're supposed to be here to greet Sam!"
Don't you see, high-and-mighty Reason? She's rather plain. Red hair, freckles, brown eyes...
Oh, yeah? Why are you blushing, then, Edmund Pevensie?
Suddenly Edmund felt a little guilty for walking out on his siblings and Sam. It wasn't, after all, the best way to start off with a person who had easy access to not only his bed, but his knives, too.