A/N: A friend demanded that I write a happy AiN story today rather than another sad one, so you can blame her for this waste of a perfectly good angst prompt.

(I'm kidding, I'm actually pretty happy with how this turned out. I did have SO many more ideas for angst, though. XD)

Prompt: "An appreciative listener is always stimulating." ~ Agatha Christie

It's been a long while since I felt welcome anywhere.

A small smile broke out over Aravis' face as the Queen Lucy— who was near her own age— led her to the room in King Lune's palace, chattering merrily all the way.

"The dining halls are over that way— there will likely be a feast tonight, you know, to celebrate Prince Cor being found, as well as to welcome you to Archenland. You can borrow one of my dresses if you like; your clothes might be a little dirty, no?" This was said with sparkling eyes, and somehow Aravis didn't feel at all offended, though she would have been if Shasta— Cor— had said it.

"Do you visit here often?" Aravis interjected. "You seem to know your way around quite well."

The queen nodded. "I've stayed here quite a few times in the last few years, especially. Archenland and Narnia are very close, you know. I often come with Susan when she comes to visit Corin. The two of them are so close, you'd think they were related somehow…"

Her voice trailed off as she paused in front of a room. "Here's your room. King Lune said it had already been prepared, so there should be everything you need."

Aravis gave her a grateful smile. "Thank you, Your Majesty."

She laughed. "Oh, please, call me Lucy. I think we're going to be pretty good friends, don't you?"

Some of the tension still lingering in Aravis' shoulders melted away at that, and she nodded. "If you insist, Lucy. I think we will be." A warmth filled her at the thought of having a friend— a real friend— in this strange land. Even if the friend was a powerful queen.

"Will you come in?" Aravis asked, motioning to her bedroom. "I would like your opinion on what to wear… it will take some time to get adjusted to these Northern styles."

Lucy nodded willingly. "Of course! I'm always available to help."

Once in the room, Aravis' gaze flitted around curiously. It was a comfortable room, with more finery than she'd have expected. A large wardrobe was in the corner. Delicate curtains blew in the light breeze from the open windows. And a canopy bed with beautifully embroidered covers on it was the centerpiece of the room.

Lucy nodded to a door in the corner of the room. "I think there will be a bath drawn for you in there, if you'd like to take that… but here, let's take a look at the wardrobe. You can always borrow from my closet if you need, like I said earlier. I think we're about the same size."

"That's very kind," Aravis smiled, and peered over the queen's shoulder curiously as she opened the wardrobe. She gasped a moment later. The dresses were all in a similar style to what the queen wore, in shades like a dark forest green, rich gold, and several dark crimson. They were embroidered with beautiful designs of birds and flowers and forests, and some had tiny sparkling jewels sewn into the collars. "These are for me?" she asked, glancing at Lucy. Surely there had been a mistake.

But Lucy nodded. "Yes! Aren't they lovely? And they should all be about your size." She eyed Aravis for a moment, then nodded to herself. "The dinner dresses are on the left…" She motioned to a section of the closet. "Which one strikes your fancy?"

Aravis reached out and fingered the nearest dress, a rich gold with patterns of the sun on the skirt. "Would this one be permissible?"

"Yes, that would look beautiful on you," Lucy breathed, admiration filling her eyes as she pulled the dress down and held it next to Aravis. "You have an eye for clothes."

As she turned the dress around, Aravis spotted a lion's face, hidden in the other embroidery but evident when looking at the dress as a whole. She brushed the pattern lightly with a finger. "Is this supposed to be Aslan?"

"It is!" Light seemed to fill Lucy's face as she lay the dress carefully on the bed. "Have you met Him?"

"I have." Aravis smiled slightly at the memory, the same terrifying awe she'd felt when the Lion spoke to them filling her again. "He's…"

"He's Aslan," Lucy finished with a smile. "I could tell you more about Him, if you like, while you have your bath?"

"I would like that," Aravis agreed. The core of her very being longed to know more about Aslan, for reasons she couldn't understand in the least. He was different, more amazing, than anything she'd ever known before.

And she'd be willing to listen to Lucy talk about Him for hours.