Author's note: God, i wish i owned Edmund, or Caspian, or Peter, or anything really. But I don't. All of this fantastic world belongs to C.S. Lewis. I hope the story is starting to pick up now, Read/Review, feedback is greatly appreciated!

"Oh," Lucy giggled, "Christina, these are my brothers. King Edmund and King Peter."

"High King Peter," he corrected with a smile.

I just now recalled that I hadn't technically been introduced to them yet. Again, I bowed and said "Your majesties." A dark blush had spread over my cheeks. I was normally an anti social book worm that kept to myself and my small group of friends. Meeting new people always made me nervous.

I was more nervous now than I ever was before. I mean, come on, I was meeting royalty.

My blush got darker as the High king said "Please stand up. You can call me Peter."

His smile was dazzling as I looked into his shining blue eyes. I couldn't help but smile back. "And you can call me Edmund." The younger boy said, flashing me a small smirk. He was definitely one of those people who didn't smile much.

I didn't feel bad. I was exactly the same way.

"Your Majesties," a strangely accented voice stated, slightly cold.

I looked up to see the gorgeous prince from earlier. His face was composed in a serious, business like face, and I could tell he didn't want us girls around. Lucy and Susan caught this too. "Come on, Christina, let's get you something to wear," Susan instructed, though her eyes never left the prince.

"Nice meeting you," I muttered to Peter and Edmund as I was being pulled away.

For the briefest second, the prince glanced at me and our eyes met. His eyes were large and round, and warm and deep. I just wanted to swim in them forever. My cheeks blazed and I looked down as Lucy and Susan rounded a corner and the prince disappeared.

"Susan, Lucy, you really don't have to get me a dress. I'm fine in my school clothes."

Before either of them had a chance to argue with me, I heard a familiar voice calling my name. Only a second later, Mel rounded the corner and flashed a bright smile at me. Then bowed to Lucy and Susan, "Your majesties," she greeted warmly.

After she straightened up she continued speaking.

"I apologize for interrupting, but I was hoping to speak with Christina for a moment."

Both of the queens looked reluctant, but said that I could go. I flashed them both a quick smile before hurrying off with Mel, trying not to look too eager. "Thanks Mel, you saved me from a dress back there," I gasped when we were a considerable distance away.

"That's precisely why I came to fetch you." She smirked mischievously and led me towards another end of the caves.

We finally reached a tiny little cave that had about five mats placed on the floor and a dressing screen on the far side of the room. I quirked an eyebrow at her, but she just smiled and pushed me behind the screen. Much to my horror, there was a beautiful, yet simple green dress waiting for me.

"Mel…" I trailed off.

"Do you like it? I made it myself." He voice was eager and proud.

My fingers traced over the intricate floral designs around the square neckline. "Melanchaetes, how did you find the time to do this?" I demanded. "It wasn't hard. We centaurs are quite skilled in many fields, sewing among them." Now her voice was smug.

I peeked out from behind the screen to look at her.

"I can't wear this…it's-" she interrupted me.

"I spent a good portion of my afternoon on the dress, and if you do not put it on this instant I will put it on for you. Don't make me do it, Christina, because I most certainly will." She was serious, but she grinned playfully and winked at me.

I heaved a frustrated sigh and went back behind the screen, peeling off my school clothes.

Unlacing the back of the dress was simple. Stepping into the dress and pulling it onto my shoulders, also simple. Relacing the back after I had it on? Not so easy. "Mel, can you help me tie this?"

I lifted my hair off my neck and stepped out, turning my back to her.

I felt her fingers brush against my skin a few times, and I couldn't help but jump. I wasn't very good at contact with others. When she finished I let my hair fall down over my back and shoulders, and attempted pulling the somewhat low neckline up, to cover myself up more.

Mel smacked my hand, "Don't you dare, you look great."

She grabbed my hand, the one she had just smacked, and pulled me to another side of the small cave. There, leaning against the wall, was a large, full length mirror. I gasped when I saw myself in the reflection. Hatred for dresses aside, Mel did a nice job, and I looked decent.

The bodice of the dress fit me perfectly, but didn't make it hard to breath. The skirt flowed out from the hips, keeping close to my legs but still allowing me the freedom to move easily. The sleeves stayed on my shoulders, and were somewhat fitted around the upper arm, and then loosened considerably at the elbow, allowing you to see the red fabric inside the dress.

"Mel…it's so…" I couldn't find words. It wasn't the most gorgeous dress in the world, but knowing that she had sewn it herself made it absolutely wonderful.

"You're welcome," she answered, smirking again.

Now's your chance, ask her about going home.

But she just gave me a beautiful dress, asking her would make her feel like I don't want to be here.

You don't want to be here. Just ask.

Fine!

"Hey Mel, I have a question," I began slowly.

"Yes?"

I looked down at the floor, feeling guilty. "Say, theoretically of course, that I wanted to go home. How would I go about doing that?" I wondered quickly, not taking a breath. She didn't respond for a long time, and when I looked up, she was staring at me, her face looked hurt.

"You want to go home?"

"No, I like it here! A lot, but…" I searched for an excuse as to why I couldn't stay here.

"I-I uh, I'm going to be late for school!"

It was a stupid and lame idea, but it was the first thing that came to mind. Even though I knew that my world was basically frozen while I was here. She nodded, looking away. When she looked at me again, she looked almost sympathetic.

"Chris, I'm really sorry I have to tell you this, but you can't go home."

Confusion flooded through me as I raised both my eyebrows and looked at her. What did she mean I couldn't go home? "What?" I finally asked. She sighed, knowing she would have to explain it further if I were to understand.

"Every human that has showed up here, besides the Telmarines, has been brought here by Aslan. Yes, you too. He brought you here for a reason, and he will send you home when you have finished what you were brought here to do."

"What?"

I didn't know Aslan. He couldn't have brought me here. Why would he have brought me here anyways? There's nothing that I could possibly do.

"Even if it is true, which, no offense, I don't think it is, what was his reason for bringing me here? How am I supposed to find out what he wants me to do if I've never met him?"

She opened her mouth to answer, but before a word escaped her mouth someone called my name. I looked up to see Lucy walking into the room. Mel and I both bowed to her, which she instantly told us to stand up. Then she looked at my dress.

Mel saw her doing so and smiled proudly. "I made it for her myself," she announced.

"And Susan has some shoes that I'm sure you'd be more comfortable in!" She glanced warily at my converse. "Thanks Lucy, but I'm more comfortable in these," I tried to tell her. She didn't listen.

Instead, she just took my arm and pulled me through the caves. We came to a cave that was larger than the last one. It had two sleeping mats, a changing screen, and two trunks. Susan was digging through one of the trunks when we came in.

Lucy pushed me into a sitting position on one of the mats as she helped Susan look through the trunk.

Finally, they pulled out a dark brown pair of leather boots. I eyed them suspiciously as Lucy set them in front of me. "They're…nice," I mumbled, not wanting to take my converse off. Lucy sensed this and raised an eyebrow.

"Just put them on. I promise, you'll like them."

I sighed and did as she said, after all, she was a queen. The boots reached just below my knee. Although I hated to admit it, Lucy was right. They were more comfortable then my converse. And I did like them.

I smiled, thanking Susan and Lucy as I stood up, testing how the boots felt.

"Oh, guess what!" Lucy cried.

"What?"

"Tomorrow I'm going to teach you archery! And Edmund's agreed to teach you how to handle a sword!" she said this like a good thing. I didn't see it as a good thing. "That's really nice of you, Lucy. But I think I should focus on finding a way home," I replied.

Her smile didn't even falter.

"Oh, Aslan will send you home when he's ready. Until then, I'll teach you archery!"

"But what good is archery going to do me?"

I had her there. She remained quiet for a second, thinking about an answer for my question. I was about to smile and point out that I had a good point when Susan spoke up. "There is a fight with the Telmarines coming up soon. If the exhibition at Miraz's castle doesn't go well, they'll be coming here. And we'll need all the help we can get."

I glared at her. She had a very good point there.

"It's settled then! Be up at dawn tomorrow for your first lesson with Edmund!"