Gingerly, I turn another page in the thick, aged book Liam handed me the second we entered the library. I yawn and rub my eyes. With an open book in hand, Liam sits himself across from me on the window seat and rests his back against the wall.

"Tired?" he guesses.

With much care, I close the ancient book and dust floats in the air. "Yes but everything I just read...it's-it's all so incredible! To think that Susan and her siblings fought in a war against the witch. It's so crazy trying to imagine tiny, delicate Lucy taking part in all those battles! My God, the Pevensies are royalty! I knew there was something about all of them that was different but royalty!"

Liam stares at me and I shrug. "What?"

He remains silent for a few moments then places his book to his side."Can I show you something?" He stands up and disappears behind the bookshelves. I set the book down and quickly follow after him. As I pass by, I touch every spine of the lined up books and find Liam at the end of the maze of bookshelves. He smiles at me as I find the paintings behind him. In 4 glorious and intricate frames, each different from the others, are portraits of the Kings and Queen of Old. I walk to the first one in front of me and look up to see a bearded Peter, surrounded by the golden, imperial design of his frame. My fingers slide down the material and I look at the other frames. Like Peter's, all of them are modeled after their crowns. Lucy's adorned with fine silver flowers; it suits her so well. Edmund's is also silver but gives off a basic feel with simple designs. I reach Susan's and shake my head with laughter. Hers is the most beautiful gold with thick branches and vines with flowers strewn over them.

"If only they could see this," I softly say. "I'm sure they would have loved this."

"Evalynn," Liam says. I turn to him and he gives me a strange look. "Could you stand next to Queen Susan's portrait, please? I just want to see something." I run my fingers through my hair and shuffle to Susan's portrait. Liam's eyes trail from me to the painting numerous times and I tap my foot impatiently.

"Well?"

Liam folds his arms and looks at me. "You look an awful lot like her." I nod and walk away.

"Yes," I murmur solemnly. "I've heard that before. Plenty of times. Many people are surprised when we tell them we're not related. We're just best friends. It's very flattering to be said to look like Susan though. She's very pretty."

"I'm sure," Liam agrees. "I've read about her beauty in the book I gave you."

"Me too-especially the chapter that mention the incident with Rabadash. It's like that back in England, too. Boys are constantly chasing after Susan but they always seem like the wrong type of guys for her..." I break off and turn back to see Susan's painted smile. "She's always been prettier than me..."

"Don't say anything like that," Liam snaps. He lifts my chin so I face him and gives me a reassuring grin. "You're a result of Aslan's work, you're perfectly fine just as you are."

I look away in embarrassment and Liam lets his hand fall. "Thanks you," I blush, looking everywhere but at him. Casually, I look back at the paintings and beside Edmund's portrait hangs an enticing painting I'm sure I've seen before.

Flashback

The eyes of the young girl stare at the canvas in pure concentration. She grips the paintbrush menacingly and blends the assortment of colors together, smearing the results on the thick material. My eyes follow her movements with fascination; I could watch her paint for hours.

"So, what is this one called?" I ask quietly. Lucy keeps her eyes on her work but smiles.

"I'm not quite sure yet...I'll figure it out when it's finished." I nod and sit up on the bench. Susan reads a book beside me, Edmund on her other side with a box of half eaten Turkish Delights on his lap. Lucy hums a tune and we all relax in the shade of their porch.

Out of habit, I shake my right leg up and down and break the silence once more. "May I see it?" Edmund licks the sugar off his fingers and shoves the now empty box to Susan, who gives it to me. I give them both a 'stop-acting-like-brats' look and they give me a 'well, they started it' look.

Lucy stands up, sets her palette on the stool, and turns the tripod to show us her work. A tall, lamppost stands in the middle of a snow covered land. A small girl with her back turned has her hand on the towering lamppost, head a bit to the side examining her surroundings.

"Bloody Hell! That's amazing!" Edmund states with some sugar at the corner of his mouth.

Susan punches him on the shoulder and shouts, "Watch your language in front of Lucy!"

"The name?" I remind Lucy. She taps her chin and gazes into the distance.

"The Beginning," she announces. She picks up the paintbrush and dips the tip in black paint. The three of us watch as Lucy gets down on one knee and holds the edge of the newly-titled painting. In careful cursive, Lucy signs on the bottom right-hand corner 'the Valiant.'

End of Flashback

Sure enough, in the bottom right-hand corner is Lucy's signature. I spot more pictures down the wall but a particular one catches my eye. A striking woman in an elegant dress stands in front of a crowd, sharing a kiss with a handsome man. The wide-eyed crowd watches the couple and 3 figures grin behind the two. I recognize the awe-struck Edmund, the smirking Lucy, and sullen Peter. I scan over the slightly familiar faces on the sides and discover a magnificent, lion painted in the far left corner. He has a bitter-sweet smile engraved onto his face, much like Peter's.

"This is Aslan?" I ask pointing at the corner. "The one who created Narnia?"

Liam nods and walks back towards the entrance of the library, I follow him and make my way to the window seat again. The sun sets in the most wonderful colors and compliments the sea gorgeously. The scenery in Narnia is far more breath-taking than any place back on Earth. "You know, that's the famous Southern Sun Aslan entitled Queen Susan to."

I take a deep breathe and let it out. "I have to apologize to Lilliandil." A shocked Liam looks down at me and I furrow my brow.

"Apologize?"

"Yes, apologize. Susan's my best friend so I automatically took her side and didn't consider the Queen's feelings. Caspian's been so courteous to me and I've been acting like a predatory brat towards his wife. Maybe if I got to know the star..."

"Half-star," Liam corrects. He sighs and rubs the back of his neck. "You see, Evalynn...there are a few, well a lot actually...There's just a lot of Narnians that witnessed the Queen and King's...parting. They are the people that hold something against the new queen without hesitation."

"Are you one of them?"

Sigh. "...Yes. But you're not getting it! Queen Lilliandil has one of the biggest hearts in Narnia. She's actually fairly sweet but-"

"You still want to hate her?"

"In harsher terms, yes. But I try to set it aside because I feel it would disappoint Aslan."

I open the window and set my arms on the window sill. "I never thought of it that way. Ughh, I know when I'm in the wrong but I hate apologizing!"

Liam scoots next to me and eyes me. "Too much pride?"

"Something like that."

We sit there for a while watching the Narnian sun fall behind the waves. Someone knocks on the heavy door and Glenstorm walks in.

"Good Evening. I'm here to take Lady Evalynn to her chamber."

I get up and Liam follows. "Allow me to come with you. You know, so I'm aware of where to go if the king wishes to-"

"No need," the centaur claims. "For his Majesty has made sure to put Sir Liam's and Lady Evalynn's chambers next to each others."

We exchange looks, mine more of shock and Liam's more of interest. "That's great then!" Liam says with a lot of enthusiasm. "Then Glenstorm, if it's alright with you, I'll just walk with Lady Evalynn to our chambers. It's late so you may be excused from any more work the king gives you." Glenstorm looks at Liam and walks out of the library.

"Are you even allowed to excuse him like that?" I ask.

Liam yawns and stretches out his arms in the air above. "Well, of course. I'm his majesties most noble knight slash right-hand man. You're not the only one that's close to royalty, Miss Keynes." My mouth hangs open and he simply smiles. "Come on, it's been a long day."

He takes my hand and leads me down the long, open hallway. He greets everyone we see in the castle and introduces me to each on of them. We go up a flight of stairs and eventually stop in front of 2 doors that are very close to each other.

"Which one is-"

"The room to the left was the one vacant so that one's yours. The one on my right is Trumpkin's- the dwarf. Anyways, sleep well. Perhaps after you apologize tomorrow, we can find you some...more Narnian suiting clothes," he notes as he eyes my uniform.

"Oh," I sleepily say. "That's a good idea. Well...goodnight."

Liam brings my fingers to his lips and he gently lays a kiss on them. I feel my face burn as he lets go of my hand. "Goodnight. I hope you have sweet dreams of Him." Liam smiles and strides to his room.

"Him?"

Never breaking eye contact, Liam smirks and slowly closes his door. I stand in place for a while, trying to process what just happened. Shaking my head, I enter my chamber. If I wasn't so tired, I'd gaze at all the beauty the room offers but I instead flop onto the big bed. Eagerly, I pull the light blue covers over my body and stare at the ceiling. My eyes begin to feel heavy and I imagine myself back in the meadow where I first fell into this magical world. I can practically feel the gentle wind against my skin and the warm sun caress my face.

"Dear one, we have much to talk about."

See? Lynn will make amends and all will be well:) Feel free to review!