Caspian paced outside the door, sweat forming above his brow. His hand fiddled with the sword hanging by his side and he looked up at the curtain-covered doorway every time he heard a sound.

Marsonia came out, holding a bloody shirt.

Caspian looked at the shirt and his face turned white. He looked up at his friend.

Marsonia laughed, "your majesty, stop fussing. She's fine."

Caspian inhaled and he heard a laugh from behind him.

Gabriel and Leland came up to him, placing hands on his shoulders.

"Nervous, Caspian?" Gabriel asked, fighting to hide a smile.

"No," the Prince said hastily. "Not at all."

Gabriel laughed and went to the main hall where Edmund and Peter were. The new comers had adapted to the Narnians easily; they were bonded with a common purpose and desire. And in that, they found friendship. But Lukas remained hesitant around the minotaurs.

Leland smiled at the dark haired boy. He saw the emotion in Caspian's eyes he saw in Lily's.

Leland put his arm around Caspian's shoulders, "thank you, my friend."

Caspian's brow furrowed, "for what, Leland?"

"For finding my sister and watching over her when I could not."

Caspian's face reddened but he looked at the curtain hanging over the doorway.

Leland squeezed his shoulder, "she's strong but if it weren't for you, she would've died in those woods…anything was better than the castle.

"Promise me, Caspian, you'll always watch over her. Especially when I cannot."

Caspian looked into Leland's eyes. He had the same eyes as his father, Alvarez. But these were full of life and love for his sister.

Caspian's voice was sure, "I promise nothing will happen to her, my friend."

Leland smiled and exhaled, his voice lightening, "she missed you terribly."

With that, he clapped the prince on the shoulder and went after Gabriel.

Caspian watched his friend walk away, a slight disbelieving smile on his lips as he looked back to the doorway.

Lucy's angelic face appeared, smiling, "I thought I was out of elixir. I saw it almost empty then when I looked back, the bottle was full. Surely it was Aslan."

"Aslan?" Lily asked as she pushed past the heavy curtain.

Caspian's smile faded. There were many noises in the How but all seemed to cease for a moment. Lily was no longer wearing her armor and Telmarine soldier uniform. She was wearing a gown, it must have belonged to Susan. It was deep blue, like the sky at midnight, and was bordered in gold. The color was striking against her creamy skin. Her hair flowed softly down her back and her eyes shone brightly…she wasn't in pain anymore.

Caspian caught himself staring at her.

Susan bumped Lily's elbow and together the girls giggled. He had a feeling they were laughing at him but he couldn't look away.

Lily looked at him and she smiled.

….

"Have you never heard of Aslan?" Lucy asked Lily, her eyes excited.

Lily shook her head, setting down her fork. They were all gathered in the biggest chamber in the center of the How and a great fire pit roared with flames of a warm fire. Everyone sat at a great table that had been built from wood and stone. Every kind of food and drink was served and all were delicious, all made by the Narnians: berries, stews, pies, bread, and wine.

Every animal and human sat at this table: some humans, like Lukas and Marsonia, were nervous to be eating near these creatures but the Narnians showed nothing but hospitality and kindness. Lily was fond of the fauns.

The Narnians had their own difficult time with accepting Caspian as their rightful King but after observing him and his ways, they grew to trust him. Especially since the Narnians trusted and loved the Pevensies; if the Kings and Queens of Old trusted Caspian, then so did the Narnians.

When Lucy asked this question, all around her grew quiet and listened carefully, some skeptically some curiously. Aslan had not been in Narnia for 2,000 years, as long as the Pevensies.

Lucy smiled to the faun next to her, "He is difficult to explain."

But Lucy did explain. She told her story, when she first entered Narnia. She told Lily about Mr. Tumnus, the White Witch, and Aslan. She described him as warm and great and as she talked about him, Lily felt a strange feeling; the same feeling she had when she fell asleep in the forest, looking for Caspian…

Lily was enchanted by the story, hanging on Lucy's every word. She was bright for a child.

"Why can't Aslan come back to defeat Miraz?" Lily asked eagerly. "Surely he must know his people are suffering."

Lucy's expression saddened, "I saw him here, when we first got here. But-"

"That's enough Lucy," Peter said from across the table, his eyes solemn. He looked up to Lily's confused face, "we must find another way to defeat Miraz."

Lily met Lucy's eyes and understood that no one believed her.

"He'll never come back," sneered the dark dwarf, Nikabrik, from down the table. Everyone looked at him and stared, their eyes fearful. But what they were fearful of Lily did not know.

"He's deserted us," the dwarf said.

Lily did not like Nikabrik…he was dark and she often saw him sneaking around the How as if he was doing something he shouldn't.

Lucy whispered to Lily, "don't listen to them. He will come back."

Lily's lips smiled softly, "I hope you are right."

Lily glanced at Caspian across the table. He was talking to a faun and a centaur (the centaurs were able to eat at the table too: though it was all floor seating, and they had a difficult time of it, they still managed). The faun and the centaur were relating their hard times within the forest as they had to live their lives in hiding under Miraz's rule. Caspian listened carefully, all his attention focused on the Narnians. His eyes were narrowed, trying to understand all that he was hearing.

Lily admired him. And as she watched him more, she understood more than ever before that he was no longer the boy she knew. The boy had grown into a man.

Lily smiled to herself and looked down at her plate to take another bite of stewed apple.

But her plate was gone.

She froze and looked around and across the table. Then she saw him, Edmund standing behind the faun across from Lily. Edmund had her plate, his wicked eyes bright with laughter.

Lily's eyes narrowed and she couldn't help but praise him with a nod.

"They told me to watch out for you," she said.

Edmund laughed as did the Narnians around them.

"They didn't tell your brother, though," he said.

Lily's eyes brightened too and she crept out of her seat, Edmund running around the end of the table to meet her. Together they walked close to the ground, nearing Peter and Leland, who were in deep conversation.

Edmund and Lily waited behind them, smiling and struggling to control their laughter.

As soon as Peter and Leland looked to the other way, Edmund reached between them and passed their plates to Lily. They went back to their seats and waited, the Narnians entertained by their tricks.

Edmund sat across from Lily, hiding.

"ED!"

Peter's voice echoed over the many conversations and Lily could hear Leland's laughter. The How was filled with laughter and the twittering noises of the Narnians.

Lily laughed and clapped her hands. Edmund smiled down to his brother, like a fox with a rabbit.

"Thanks for the food, Pete."

Susan shook her head, "even in another world he can't behave."

Lily laughed, wiping tears from her eyes.

Caspian shook his head at her, "still playing childish games?"

Lily nodded, "can't be serious all the time. You taught me that."

Caspian smiled widely.

Some fauns began to play music, their instruments hand made from the forest. They had flutes and pipes and drums and made the happiest music Lily had ever heard.

Lucy pulled Lily's hand, "come dance!"

Lily followed her and she pulled Susan, Eris, Marsonia and Genia up to come with them. They danced around the fire in the middle of the chamber, jumping and twirling. Fauns and smaller animals like the deer and foxes joined them and it was the happiest gathering Lily had ever been to. Nothing like the Telmarine feasts.

Caspian moved to the other end of the table where Leland, Gabriel, Peter and Edmund sat. Lukas was with the fauns, playing a flute.

Leland and Gabriel had serious expressions and Caspian sat across from them.

"There isn't much time," Leland said, his voice low. "I'll tell you all I've learned from Alvarez's papers. It's not the best way to gather information but it's the best I could do. I would've done more…but I had to keep my sister safe."

Peter nodded, "tell me everything."

Caspian stared at Peter, feeling jealous. He did not like when Peter spoke that way, as if he were still King.

Leland met Caspian's eyes and thought for a moment.

"There is much to discuss. But not here."

Peter nodded, understanding, "then we will plan in the morning,"

Peter's eyes glanced up at Caspian.