Thanks to all readviewers!

I've set this one in the Darkness Universe for fun, but it's not binding for that AU.

Prompt: One of the friends of Narnia (or a Narnian, if you like) learns their colours.

They had managed to put together a royal outfit for everyone from among Cair Paravel's old stores, but after the coronation, Mrs. Beaver insisted they should all have a full new wardrobe. For, as she said, "You'll soon be receiving many parties from other countries, dearies, and they'll not be accustomed to children on the throne. You must make an immediate impression."

And that was how the Narnian pentarchs discovered that Meralda Beaver was not only a highly accomplished seamstress, but also adored color. They watched in awe as she bustled energetically about the storeroom, eyes shining, holding up notions and muttering things like "Lovely, but would never do" and "Trees save us, what beading!"

Finally, she planted her paws on her hips and declared, "Well! This fabric is so well-preserved, one would almost think someone had been caring for it."

"I was," said Ailena with some amusement. "The Witch may have claimed to be chatelaine of Cair Paravel, but she never held the keys. This was my home for many years, and I occupied much of my time by keeping it ever in readiness."

"I'm extremely obliged to you for it," Mrs. Beaver said briskly. "Now, then, we'll begin with the high king. Dark hair, dark eyes, and you've a look of sunlight to you. I believe I'll put you in a nice rich red, for that's the color of our flag's lion, and a good strong hue to introduce you to the rest of the world. Though you'll look well in anything dark and sunlit, so for later garments we'll have some ochre and ocean blue also, and perhaps even some spiced orange and navy."

"You're not going to dress us all the same?" Peter asked, a little startled. "Wouldn't that present a more unified image to the foreign nobility?"

"So it would, dearie, so it would, and so I will," replied the seamstress over her shoulder, hurrying across the room to pluck several ruddy bolts from the shelves. "But this dark sunlit red which looks so well on you would look quite poorly on your brother, who is fair and has a look rather of mist and moonlight."

She held the first bolt up near Peter, and then near Edmund, and all five young people exclaimed as the same color that made the older brother look alive made the younger almost seem to disappear.

"Do me, do me!" cried Lucy.

Mrs. Beaver obliged. "You're sunlit also, your majesty, but fairer than your brother, so while his crimson will look nice enough on you..." She nimbly shuffled the bolts and pulled out a paler fabric that shimmered like light on water. "This coral will suit you better, and it shines as bright as your hair." She squinted at the cloth. "In fact, it may even be...my goodness..."

"Watersilk," said Ailena, and a distant, sad look passed over her face. "Woven by the naiads. That bolt was their christening gift to a princess, and only one child's dress was ever cut of it; there's plenty to spare. Once your gown is finished, Lucy, you ought to visit the ford at Beruna and show them their present is treasured anew. They'll be so pleased."

"As I am pleased. To work with watersilk! I never dreamed of such a thing."

"What about us three?" asked Edmund. "I can see Peter's is no good for me, but what is?"

The bolts shuffled again. "It'll be the shaded red, King Edmund, a lovely dusky burgundy. Queen Ailena shall have similar, but a carmine that tilts more toward red than purple. And for Queen Susan..."

"Snow White," Lucy stage-whispered, and followed it up with a giggle.

Susan made a face at her sister, but she was smiling at the same time. "Yes, yes, hair black as ebony, but really, Lu—skin white as snow, lips red as blood? I know I take after Father, but surely I'm not so pale as all that!"

"No indeed, your majesty," said Mrs. Beaver. "But Queen Lucy is half right. The truest blood red is yours, and 'twill be most becoming. Now, all of you, shoo! I have much work to do!"

So it came to pass that when the delegations from other lands arrived, they found the five rulers of Narnia arrayed all in red with green trimmings—five different reds, five different greens, and each pairing perfectly suited to its wearer.