Upon return to his chambers, Emeth washed, dressed and prayed to Tash. The last thing he did was more out of habit than true piety. He had never felt any great desire to worship the multiple gods of Calormen, but saying that to any priest would guarantee you a one way ticket to the loss of an ear. Emeth rather liked his ears, and as he only had two of them, he had great desire to keep them.

The Sun of Archenland was less harsh than that of Calormen, no matter the fact that it was the same one. Emeth stood at the window sill, looking out. He saw the distant shadows of what a servant girl had said were the mountains that signified the border between Archenland and Narnia, ruled by four siblings. Emeth's father had once said that years ago, Rabadash Tisroc (may he live forever) had courted the elder queen, Queen Susan.

There was a knock at the door and a moment later the ambassador was in Emeth's room. The ambassador was not a terribly impressive man, short and somewhat plump. The most powerful thing about him was his massive turban. It seemed that short people felt the need to make up for their lack stature by wearing or building massive things.

"So, my young lord, how fareth you this morning? Has not one of the poets said: 'The beginning of a day influenceth the rest'?"

"It is not my place to doubt it, Lord Ambassador. I am well. If I may inquire as to your health this fine day?"

"I am well as well, my young lord. These northern barbarians have a pleasant castle, I will admit. But, a poet has once said, 'A man's home does not the man make.'" The realization that Emeth despised the constant quoting of poets struck him suddenly. If Princess Aravis had abandoned Calormen, it was easy to assume that she also had disliked it.

"Of course, Lord Ambassador. Shall we be breaking our fast soon?"

"Yes, my young lord, but remember, 'Patience is foremost among the virtues.'"

"Of course, Lord Ambassador."

"Excellent. A poet once said..." Emeth had stopped listening. He had never fully noticed how much unnecessary poetry was quoted. The advice was at best useful, at worst rather comical. Once Emeth had to excuse himself from supper early, and rather rudely, because his father's guest would not stop quoting the most far flung poets with the most ridiculous advice. He'd received a reprimand afterward that stung his ears.

Emeth breakfasted with the ambassador and other members of their party, and joined the ambassador in the throne room for negotiations. The two princes, princess and King Lune were present. What followed were numerous tedious discussions that Emeth grew so bored with, he ceased paying attention. He instead watched the elder prince, Prince Cor.

He was a quiet man, but confident in himself. The gold circlet on his head blended in with his blonde hair, and his pale skin contrasted with his wife's drastically, but he was still darker than anyone not of Calormen in the room. He appeared to be listening intently, but that was no judge of character at all. Emeth himself hoped that he had adopted the same look.

He turned his attention next to Princess Aravis. There was something about her nose that seemed so familiar, only adding to his confusion and interest. Fingering his own nose, he realized why. They had the same nose, distinct to the line of the lords of Calavar. Emeth finally figured out something. He was positive that Princess Aravis was his sister.

Someone had mentioned that Aravis was not quite twenty years of age, so the ages fit. His sister was five or six years older than he, and so was Aravis. They had the same nose, for Tash's sake! The next problem Emeth encountered was: 'How on Earth do I explain this to her?'

A.N. After much waiting the chapter is up. The quotes from the poets are my own, but I read a lot, so someone else's work may have infiltrated my brain. Sorry if I've not given credit where credit is due.

I may also be messing with Lewis's timeline, but as others have said, I don't see how it makes sense for Lucy to remember how they came to Narnia in the fourteenth year of their reign, and completely forget when they left. No offense intended. I may put out another fanfic, but in the Lewis fandom, but I will try to keep posting for this one.

-the Dryad Queen