"Good morning," greeted Liana brightly as she saw Lucy reading a book. The young queen was seated on one of the beds lined up against the wall in the Houses of Healing. "What's my best student doing up at this early hour?"

Lucy looked up and gave a wide smile. "Studying," she answered brightly. "You said you'd pick one of us to assist you in one of your operations next week and I want to be ready."

"I admire your spirit," said Liana as she fiddled with a few vials in the potion cabinet. "I'm very proud of your progress. Lias tells me that your diagnosis is almost always correct." She held up the vial to the light and frowned when she saw its contents. "We're seriously low on pain-reliever potion, I've been diluting this for far too long."

"I could brew another batch," offered Lucy. "I've been practising the recipe and I think I could manage with a little guidance."

"Why don't you give it a try today?" asked Liana. She winked at the younger girl. " I have no doubt you could manage without any guidance."

Lucy smiled brilliantly at the praise. "Thank you so-" she was interrupted by the pattering of little feet and almost immediately the large crystal door swung open and a little girl ran inside. Lucy giggled. "Hello, little one."

The little girl immediately curtsied deeply to the queen and turned to Liana, who was resisting the urge to smile. "Little one, you know you are not allowed in here," she said, trying to sound stern.

Large brown eyes looked up at her in surprise. "But the fawns said that you wouldn't come if I didn't call you myself, Healer."

Liana raised her eyebrows. "Well, what is the trouble?"

"My mistress is very ill and she cannot move," said the girl solemnly.

"Your mistress?" asked Lucy.

"Yes, Lady Ivanna, from the Lone Islands," the girl nodded solemnly. "She says no one but the Healer of the royals may attend to her."

Liana rolled her eyes. "Be that as it may, child, I cannot leave the Houses unless it is an emergency. Your mistress will have to come see me herself."

"She won't," said Lucy. Liana turned to her, eyebrows raised. The younger girl shrugged helplessly. "She's awfully stuck up, Liana. You should see the way she talks to Susan. She's been after Edmund for ages now, I suppose this is her way of getting his attention," she rolled her eyes.

Liana sighed and turned to the little girl. "I will attend to her shortly."

Lucy's eyebrows shot up as the little girl ran out of the room. "You will?"

Liana smiled a little. "Whatever I feel for her cannot prejudice me," she sighed dramatically, making Lucy giggle. "I will go, though I do not want to. I met her last night. She was far from pleasing."

"What did she say?"

"She-" Liana frowned. "Never mind, dear. I'll go see what she wants."

Liana avoided Lucy's questioning eyes and hurriedly knotted her sash around her waist, leaving the Houses of Healing in a hurry. As she walked, she tried to let the cloudy weather distract her; she loved rain. But her mind refused to wander from the subject at hand.

Truthfully, Lady Ivanna hadn't spoken to her at all. She had merely swept in and captured Edmund's attention. That had annoyed Liana more than she would ever admit. She knew Edmund watched her often; only a fool wouldn't know that he was attracted to her, at least physically. After attending to him for weeks, she was sure of it. Mr. Tumnus had assured her only a week ago that the attraction wasn't as shallow as she thought, but she refused to dwell on that part. Of course, she though to to herself as she ascended the stairs of the palace, she didn't intend to act on it; it merely pleased her vanity.

Liana knew she was beautiful. As a child, that was all she had ever heard. Being the only daughter of a wealthy noble meant she enjoyed certain freedoms, and her favorite was the freedom to do as she pleased. She had flirted and laughed and enjoyed herself as much as she could, but after her father's death she soon realized that her suitors' intentions weren't the same as hers. She had taken refuge in the home of a Healer, who was enlisted her as an apprentice. Her brother had joined the army, and for a while they had been content. Coming to Narnia had been her idea; a brief glimpse of King Edmund and Queen Susan while they were on a visit to Archenland had been enough to convince her of their goodness. She needed an escape, and her brother had wanted to start a family.

His life was made, but her escape hadn't worked out as well as she had hoped. In Narnia, rumors of her heritage had spread. She didn't dress as extravagantly as before, and her home was certainly not the same as the quiet, country manor she had grown up in, but Liana knew her good-breeding was easily distinguishable. So the suitors had started coming again. At first, she had been acerbic, and for a while that seemed to accomplish her purpose; they left her alone. However, some were more persistent than others, and she was constantly showered with unwanted attention. Usually, she played along; she would wear a trinket one of the more harmless ones had given her, often as a sign for the others to stay away.

Self-consciously, she fiddled with the bracelet she wore on her wrist. Her loose sleeves hid it very well, but it was too ostentatious for her taste. Nevertheless, it did its job and she had met the Count again last night after Lady Ivanna had made her entrance. For a few days, the bracelet would keep him away.

"Liana?" the voice jolter her out of her reverie and she turned around. The High King stood behind her, a book in his hand and a bemused look on his face.

She blinked. "Your Majesty. I didn't see you," she curtseyed deeply.

Peter smiled a little and closed his book. "I haven't seen you in this part of the castle in a long time."

"Yes," nervously, Liana tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. While her relationship with all the royals was bordering on friendly, she had always had a platonic one with Peter. Perhaps it was because he had so easily accepted her into his kingdom, or perhaps it was because he reminded her of her brother. She wasn't sure. "I was summoned. Lady Ivanna was unwell."

"Ivanna?" Peter frowned. "She seemed fine this morning. She went riding with Edmund."

She bristled. "I see."

Peter noticed, and hid his smile. "Ed didn't take her willingly, though I suppose I shouldn't say that," his eyes twinkled. "Her room is just at the end of the hallway," he pointed it out. "Very hard to miss. I'm surprised you came."

"I was specifically asked for."

Peter's frown deepened. "Let me accompany you," without giving her a chance to refuse, he grasped her elbow and towed her along towards the door. A sharp knock was enough to get the door to open almost immediately. The little girl who had come to fetch Liana peeked out, then hurriedly curtseyed when she saw Peter.

"Who is it, child?" Lady Ivanna's voice flitted out, and the little girl's eyes widened. Liana's eyebrows shot up.

"You asked for a Healer, my lady," said Peter loudly. "Forgive me, but I thought it best that I check on you as well. Are you ill?"

"Oh, High King! Delightful to see you," Lady Ivanna glided towards the door, a wonderfully fake smile on her face. Her eyes flickered to Liana. "And you brought me a Healer as well. How thoughtful."

"You don't seem to be in need of my services," said Liana bluntly. The noblewoman opposite her was fully dressed in pink silk and decked with rubies in her hair. Her cheeks was tainted with rouge and her white hands fiddled with a scarf, almost nervously. Absently, Liana wondered if she had been summoned to cure a set of nerves.

Lady Ivanna's eye twitched, but her smile didn't falter. "Oh, I was slightly under the weather, but I assure you I'm fine now."

"In future, please don't summon Liana from the Houses," said Peter. He kept his tone light, but the hand he kept at Liana's elbow was protective. "She is a dear friend of Susan's, and of course we're very fond of her. We keep her busy enough as it is."

"I understand," Lady Ivanna tilted her head to one side and smiled prettily. "The working class has its obligations."

Peter stiffened next to her, but Liana ignored the jab. "It was no trouble. I don't suppose you've seen King Edmund, have you, my lady?" she made sure her tone matched Peter's, but her eyes were alight with mischief, and perhaps spite. "It is so necessary to run after him when it comes to his check-ups. I don't know how I manage to spend so much time alone with him."

Her words had the strangest effect. Lady Ivanna's face paled and she took a step back, causing the door to open wider. Liana caught a glimpse of the little girl standing near the bed, wringing her hands worriedly. Strangely, she could see a body lying on it, flat on its back. Her eyes widened. "What in the world-"

"Liana?" the voice was sickeningly familiar. Liana felt Peter hold her back as she took an involuntary step forward. Lady Ivanna's face had gone even paler; she clutched at the door for support and began rambling on about something utterly insignificant like a runaway horse. Liana tugged her elbow out of Peter's grasp, leaving him to deal with the distressed woman. She approached the bed blankly and glanced down at Edmund's sweaty face and blood-stained shoulder before going back outside to speak to Peter.

"He needs another surgery."