Previously in 'Son of Adam, Daughter of Eve' …

"She is not just A princess" the deep rich voice announced.

The crowd parted to reveal General Romus striding towards her. He stopped in front of Aria with a low bow, then turned to face the crowd again. Tamin had taken his place at her side.

"May I introduce Her Royal Highness, Princess Aria, only daughter of Queen Swan White of Narnia, and …" Romus paused looking around the room.

'NO!… do not say it' Aria thought. 'If you do not say it no one may consider it!'

But it was too late, Romus continued.

"And sole surviving heir to the Throne of Narnia!"

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

At the Centaurs pronouncement many of the attendees at the ball bowed or curtsied to Aria. Some such as the Princesses Peony and Begonia remained stubbornly standing. However some, gazes darting between Aria and the Pevenises seemed unsure of what to do.

Aria closed her eyes. This uncertainty in their gazes was exactly why she had not announced her identity in the first place. She had experienced first hand the chaos when the line of succession is uncertain and she had not wanted to be the cause of uncertainty for the Pevensises rule.

Taking a deep breath, Aria opened her eyes and allowed herself to meet the eyes of the one person, whose reaction she had been most concerned with. Edmund met her gaze with a smile and a raised eyebrow. Aria allowed herself to breath slightly easier. Edmund at least did not seem upset, however she thought she could see a slight reflection of hurt in his eyes. Hurt perhaps that she had not trusted him with her secret.

If only he knew!

Princess Aria of Narnia had more than one secret!

Aria had been so focused on Edmund that she had not noticed his brother drawing near. Aria had not had much interaction with High King Peter, other than to exchange pleasantries with him at meals or when they passed in the hall and so she was not sure what she made of the tall serious young man.

Peter stopped before Aria and she curtsied to him.

"Princess Aria" he said with a courtly bow

"Would you and your friends be so kind to join myself and my siblings and out advisors in private counsel?" he asked.

"I believe there is much we should discuss." He added offering Aria his arm.

Aria nodded and she took his arm. Followed by his brother and sisters, General Romus and Tamin, General Orieus and Tumnus and a few others, they headed into the small council chamber adjoining the throne room.

The door had hardly shut behind her when Aria felt herself engulfed in a hug.

"Oh Aria!" Lucy joyfully proclaimed.

"I knew there was something special about you! Why did you not tell us before?"

"Why indeed?" came a voice from behind them.

It was the High King.

Aria turned to him, indeed she included all of them in her glance as she started to explain, lingering most on Edmund who nodded at her, he had heard her story and she though she saw in his face that he understood why she had hesitated to reveal herself,

"I wanted to" Aria started.

"And please, believe that it was not through mistrust (at least not after I realised that Jadis was dead and it was you who vanquished her). And I beg of you all, please do not think that I had any nefarious purpose in concealing my identity. I just …"

Aria took a deep breath

"I told King Edmund before, but I think I should tell you all … In my time, when my mother Queen Swan White ruled, it was then that the prophesy about your majesties was first foretold. The prophesy stated that two Sons of Adam and two Daughters of Eve would be brought to Narnia from another world to save Narnia from an evil witch and that they would claim the throne of Narnia.

Aria looked around the room, willing them to understand.

"The prophesy was welcomed, but … it caused much consternation. My mother as I said was on the Throne, she had two heirs, myself and my brother. Many debated how these saviours could take the throne when Narnia already had a ruling family.

And then the whispers started … they said that it could be that these saviours would be called to Narnia to take the throne from Swan White and her line.

It was well known, that the children of the founders of our line, King Frank and Queen Helen, being the only humans in Narnia at the time, had married native Narnians; wood and river gods and goddesses and nymphs and dryads. Their descendants had kept with this tradition, believing that it bound Narnia's monarchs more to Narnia, since they, unlike the rest of Narnia's inhabitants had not been born of Narnia but had been brought here from another world.

But now this was used against us.

Some whispered that Narnia had always been meant to be ruled by a Son of Adam and Daughter of Eve.

That the line of Helen and Frank was no longer fully human.

That as such, we were no longer fit to rule.

That the prophesy must mean that our line would produce the witch and that so … we must be ended."

Aria paused looking around at the Pevensies and their advisors who were wide eyed as they listened to her tale.

"The uncertainty tore Narnia apart, making it ripe for the taking when 'Lady Jadis' a self – proclaimed Daughter of Eve from foreign parts arrived.

That uncertainty led to Jadis being able to undermine the court from within. In just five years she was in complete control of Narnia. Many of the humans in Narnia had flown to her banner, convinced that she was the path that led to their saviours.

Many of them still believed it until they too were dead at her hand, my brother included."

Aria wiped her suddenly moist eyes.

"I did not identify myself, because I did not want Narnia subjected to that uncertainty again, although I knew at some stage that I would have to … that it could not remain a secret forever. I do not know what intent Aslan had in bringing me back, but I know that you all rule by the grace of Aslan I hope that you believe that I would never do anything to jeopardise that."

"And yet, here you are"

It was the High King who answered, a look of understanding on his face.

"And as General Romus here said, you are or were Heir to the throne of Narnia. You say that you do not intend to contest our rule princess … but what are your intentions?"

Aria spoke to them all, but it was Edmund's gaze she held as she answered.

"I think it would be best for all if I left. My presence here may cause unrest and confusion. I think, therefore that it would be better if I left Narnia altogether."

AN: That's all for now. How will Edmund react to Arias decision to leave and ... just what is her other secret ... can you guess?