The voyage to Caer Peverell lasted many peaceful days.
Unlike the exhilarating flights upon Winter's broad back, where every journey became a race against the wind, the royal flagship crossed the Narrow Sea with calm confidence. Her enchanted sails remained full almost constantly, catching favorable winds that carried the great vessel steadily eastward, while experienced Narnian sailors guided her through the waters with practiced ease.
As the days passed, the fleet continued to grow.
Each morning, more ships appeared on the horizon, joining the royal convoy from different ports and coastal settlements. Merchant vessels from Andalos and Braavos sailed alongside heavily laden cargo ships, while military escorts maintained disciplined formations around the expanding fleet.
From the deck of the flagship, the sight was breathtaking.
Some ships carried the carefully dismantled buildings of Telmar. Massive stone blocks, carved pillars, iron gates, stained-glass windows, statues, and even entire sections of beautifully crafted walls had been packed with astonishing care.
Other vessels transported livestock.
Thousands of horses occupied specially enchanted stables below deck, while separate transports carried the mountain unicorns from Skagos. Their handlers moved among them constantly, ensuring every animal remained calm throughout the voyage. Several larger cargo vessels even carried farming equipment, wagons, seeds, and young fruit trees that would soon be planted around the new capital.
The merchant ships served another purpose.
Their holds contained enough grain, preserved meat, timber, tools, cloth, and iron to sustain the growing kingdom for months if necessary. Braavosi traders had eagerly accepted contracts with Narnia, while merchants from Andalos viewed the migration as one of the greatest commercial opportunities in recent memory.
Surrounding them all were sleek Narnian warships.
Although no enemy fleet had been sighted since leaving Telmar, Harry had insisted upon maintaining proper escorts throughout the journey. Old habits, especially those formed after years of conflict, were difficult to abandon.
The result was unlike anything the world had ever witnessed.
It was the greatest migration in world history.
Yet despite the scale of the undertaking, no one complained.
The passengers understood exactly why they had left Telmar behind.
Every conversation aboard the ships eventually drifted toward the same subject.
Caer Peverell.
Some spoke excitedly about the new capital.
Others wondered what the entire city would look like.
Children competed to invent impossible stories about how large the city must be, while the adults laughed quietly before adding their own exaggerated guesses.
Harry often walked the decks during those peaceful days.
He greeted sailors hauling ropes, spoke with craftsmen checking cargo lashings, visited the cooks preparing meals for hundreds of passengers, and spent long hours simply watching his people.
Families shared meals beneath the open sky.
Children chased one another across the broad upper deck until exhausted parents finally caught them.
Musicians played cheerful tunes during the evenings, while storytellers gathered audiences that sometimes lasted well past midnight.
For the first time in a very long while...
Harry found himself simply enjoying the journey.
One evening, as the setting sun painted the sea in shades of gold and crimson, Lyanna joined him along the starboard railing.
She rested comfortably beside him, one hand unconsciously protecting the child growing within her.
Harry smiled as he gently slipped his hand into hers.
"Comfortable?"
Her eyes wandered across the countless ships surrounding them.
"I still can't quite believe all of this."
Harry followed her gaze.
The sea seemed endless, yet almost every direction contained sails bearing the banners of Narnia.
"I couldn't either," he admitted quietly. "Not when we first arrived beyond the Wall."
Lyanna smiled softly.
"I remember."
"We barely had enough people to build a single village."
"And now..."
She gestured toward the fleet.
Harry laughed quietly.
"And now we have an entire kingdom."
For several moments they simply stood together, enjoying the peaceful silence broken only by the steady rhythm of waves striking the hull.
Sirius eventually appeared, running across the deck with several other children before skidding to a halt beside his parents.
"Father!"
Harry looked down.
"What have you been doing?"
The young prince grinned proudly.
"Captain Edric let me help steer the ship!"
Harry raised an eyebrow.
"For almost a whole minute!"
Lyanna laughed.
"I imagine he took the wheel back rather quickly."
"He did."
Sirius looked only slightly disappointed.
"He said I nearly steered us into another ship."
Harry couldn't help laughing.
"That's probably why captains spend years learning before commanding a flagship."
"I'll learn too."
"I'm sure you will."
The boy nodded enthusiastically before racing off again toward another game already beginning near the stern.
Harry watched him go before quietly saying,
"He grows faster every time I leave."
Lyanna leaned gently against his shoulder.
"Children have a habit of doing that."
The remaining days of the voyage passed much the same way.
Then, on the twelfth morning, just before sunrise, everything changed.
A sailor standing high atop the main mast suddenly cupped his hands around his mouth.
"Land!"
His voice echoed across the sea.
"Land ahead!"
Within seconds bronze bells began ringing throughout the flagship.
The signal was repeated from ship to ship until the sound rolled across the entire fleet.
The previously quiet decks exploded into activity.
Cabin doors opened.
Passengers hurried outside.
Children abandoned their breakfasts.
Even sailors who had witnessed dozens of landfalls smiled as excitement spread throughout the fleet.
Harry stepped onto the quarterdeck with Lyanna beside him. Harry instinctively offered his arm as they walked.
Before they had taken more than a few steps, Sirius came sprinting toward the bow.
"Father!"
Harry caught the excited boy by the shoulder before he reached the stairs.
"Easy."
"But Father, I want to see!"
"You will."
Harry smiled.
"I promise."
"But don't run."
Sirius sighed dramatically, though his feet continued bouncing with barely restrained excitement.
"I've been waiting forever."
Harry rested a hand on his son's shoulder as together they looked toward the eastern horizon.
Slowly...
The morning mist began lifting.
The sea, hidden beneath a blanket of silver fog only moments earlier, gradually revealed the distant coastline.
Then, rising from the shore like something from an artist's dream...
Caer Peverell appeared.
For a long moment, nobody aboard the flagship spoke.
Even the sailors paused in their work.
The magnificent city stretched gracefully along the coastline surrounding the great Bay of Tusk, its buildings glowing softly beneath the first rays of dawn.
Unlike Telmar, which had grown naturally over the years as more settlers arrived, Caer Peverell had been planned from the beginning.
Every street.
Every district.
Every public square.
Every building had been carefully positioned before construction ever began.
The result was breathtaking.
Wide avenues curved naturally toward the harbor, lined with elegant homes built from pale granite that reflected the golden light of sunrise. Beautiful public gardens separated residential districts from bustling commercial quarters, while graceful fountains sparkled wherever sunlight touched their waters.
Sirius's mouth slowly fell open.
"It's..."
He struggled to find the right words.
"...it's enormous."
Harry couldn't help smiling.
"It is."
Lyanna stared just as openly.
"The harbor alone..."
She shook her head in disbelief.
"It's larger than Telmar."
Harry nodded proudly.
"And much safer."
He pointed toward the entrance of the bay.
Towering cliffs rose on either side like giant stone guardians, embracing the harbor within their natural protection. The entrance itself made remarkably narrow, allowing only a few ships to enter abreast before opening into an immense sheltered bay capable of holding hundreds of vessels.
"No enemy fleet could simply sail inside," Harry explained. "They would be forced through that narrow passage while every fortification overlooking the entrance fired upon them."
Lyanna smiled with obvious satisfaction.
"You really did think of everything."
Harry merely smiled.
As the flagship glided deeper into the Bay of Tusk, the city revealed itself in ever greater detail.
From a distance, Caer Peverell had appeared magnificent. Up close, it was nothing short of extraordinary.
The harbor was already alive with activity.
Fishing boats returned from their early morning catch while merchant vessels unloaded cargo beneath the supervision of dockmasters. Sailors shouted to one another as ropes were thrown ashore, cranes lifted enormous crates from cargo holds, and teams of laborers pushed heavily laden wagons toward the city's vast warehouses.
The entire harbor moved with practiced efficiency.
Harry watched the organized bustle with quiet satisfaction.
"The harbor alone could support a kingdom," Lyanna murmured as she watched dozens of ships already anchored within the sheltered bay.
Harry smiled.
"That was always the idea."
He pointed toward the cliffs guarding the harbor entrance.
"The bay is naturally protected on three sides. Even during the strongest storms, ships remain safe here. And if an enemy fleet ever appears..."
His gaze shifted toward several newly completed stone fortresses built into the cliffs.
"They'll have to pass directly beneath those batteries."
Lyanna followed his gaze.
Massive bronze cannons protruded from carefully concealed firing positions carved into the rock itself. Defensive towers overlooked every approach, while signal beacons stood ready to warn the city should danger ever appear on the horizon.
She smiled approvingly.
"I almost pity anyone foolish enough to attack."
Harry chuckled.
"I don't."
As the flagship approached the royal docks, more details of the city became visible.
Broad avenues stretched away from the harbor in graceful lines, connecting one district to another with remarkable precision. Young trees bordered the roads, their branches swaying gently in the cool sea breeze, while flowerbeds added brilliant splashes of color throughout the city.
Although construction continued in several districts, Caer Peverell no longer resembled a city being built.
It looked like a city that had always existed.
Before anyone aboard could speak again, the great bells of Caer Peverell began to ring.
Their deep voices echoed across the harbor.
One bell became two.
Then five.
Within moments, every bell tower throughout the city had joined the celebration.
The sound rolled across the bay like distant thunder.
"The King has returned!"
The cry spread from dockworker to sailor, from merchant to fisherman.
"Long live King Harry!"
"Long live Queen Lyanna!"
"Long live Prince Sirius!"
Thousands of voices answered together.
Men removed their hats.
Women waved enthusiastically from balconies overlooking the harbor.
Children raced toward the waterfront, laughing as they tried to catch a glimpse of the arriving fleet.
Sirius stood frozen beside the railing, his eyes wide with amazement.
"They're cheering for us."
Harry rested a hand upon his son's shoulder.
"They're cheering for all of us."
He looked beyond the cheering crowds toward the hundreds of ships entering the harbor behind them.
"They're celebrating every family that made this journey."
The flagship eased gently against the royal pier.
Thick ropes were thrown ashore and secured around enormous stone bollards, while enchanted gangways slowly unfolded from the ship's sides.
Before the sailors had even finished securing them, Sirius was already halfway down the nearest ramp.
"Sirius!" Harry called.
The boy looked back with a sheepish grin but continued at a slightly more reasonable pace.
Lyanna laughed softly.
"Some things never change."
"I hope they never do," Harry replied.
The moment Sirius reached the dock, a massive figure stepped forward and scooped him into a crushing embrace.
"Prince Sirius!"
Ragnar's booming laugh echoed across the waterfront.
"It has been far too long."
"It's good to see you again!" Sirius replied enthusiastically, wrapping both arms around the giant Skagosi leader's neck.
Harry and Lyanna descended a few moments later.
Ragnar immediately released Sirius and bowed respectfully.
"My Queen."
"Welcome home."
Ragnar stepped back, a proud smile spreading across his weathered face.
"We've been waiting."
Lyanna looked beyond him toward the sprawling city.
"It looks incredible."
"We've worked hard."
"I can see that."
Already the harbor had become a whirlwind of activity.
The migration resumed almost immediately.
Cargo holds were opened.
Huge stone blocks from Telmar were lowered carefully onto wagons.
Teams of craftsmen directed workers with remarkable efficiency, ensuring every numbered crate reached its assigned destination.
Statues wrapped in protective cloth emerged from specially padded compartments.
Heavy timber followed.
Furniture.
Glass.
Ironwork.
Nearby, stable masters guided horses down wide wooden ramps into newly prepared stables.
The mountain unicorns from Skagos followed surprisingly calmly, snorting happily as the cool northern air greeted them.
Several of the great creatures shook their thick coats before trotting eagerly toward spacious pastures prepared outside the city walls.
"It feels almost like home," one handler laughed.
Harry breathed deeply.
The air carried the familiar chill of approaching winter.
Unlike the lands beyond the Wall, however, the cold here possessed a gentleness absent from the frozen north. The breeze remained crisp rather than bitter, carrying the scent of pine forests and saltwater instead of endless snow.
Many of the Narnians smiled the moment they stepped ashore.
"I've missed this weather."
"So have I."
"It finally feels like Narnia again."
Harry couldn't help laughing.
Only his people would celebrate the arrival of colder days.
Together they began walking through the city.
Citizens respectfully bowed as the royal family passed.
Others simply smiled and waved before returning to their work. Builders continued laying stone, merchants opened their shops, and children laughed as they chased one another through the broad streets.
Their first stop took them through the sacred district.
Unlike every other part of the city, this quarter remained remarkably quiet.
No merchants called for customers.
No workshops echoed with hammer blows.
Instead, hundreds of white-barked weirwood trees stretched toward the sky, their crimson leaves dancing softly in the cool breeze.
The grove had grown beautifully.
Sunlight filtered through the scarlet canopy, painting the ground in shifting patterns of red and gold.
Children of the Forest moved silently among the ancient trees, tending saplings, sweeping pathways, and quietly instructing small groups of visitors who had come seeking peace.
An elderly Child approached Harry and bowed.
"The grove flourishes."
Harry smiled warmly.
"I can see that."
"We ask for nothing."
"We simply care for the forest."
"And that is exactly what I hoped you would do."
The elderly Child inclined his head.
"We shall continue."
Lyanna slowly turned in place, taking in the tranquil surroundings.
"It feels... peaceful ."
"It should."
Harry looked around the peaceful grove.
"It may become my favorite place."
Leaving the grove behind, they entered the next district.
Sirius immediately became excited again.
"The school here is massive!"
Several impressive stone buildings surrounded spacious courtyards where children studied beneath the supervision of their teachers. Some practiced reading beneath shaded walkways, while others learned mathematics upon large slate boards set beneath open pavilions.
The cheerful sounds of learning drifted across the district.
Harry watched proudly.
"No child born in Narnia should grow up unable to read."
Nearby stood the public bathhouses.
Steam drifted lazily from their rooftops despite the cool morning air.
Workers ending their shifts laughed together as they entered, while travelers emerged looking considerably cleaner than when they had arrived.
Ragnar chuckled.
"They've become one of the city's greatest attractions."
"Foreign merchants refused to believe they were free."
"Now they complain whenever they're too crowded."
The group laughed together.
From there they reached a broad avenue dominated by an imposing three-story building constructed from pale stone.
Unlike the royal palace, it possessed little decoration beyond the banners of Narnia flying proudly above its entrance.
"This," Ragnar announced proudly, "is the Administrative Hall."
Lyanna studied the building with satisfaction.
Officials entered and departed continuously carrying ledgers, maps, engineering plans, and tax records. Merchants waited patiently for trade licenses while builders consulted architects regarding future expansion.
Justice.
Administration.
Finance.
Everything necessary to govern a kingdom had been gathered beneath one roof.
"No more endless lines outside the palace," Lyanna added hopefully.
Harry laughed.
"I think we'll both appreciate that."
At last, the avenue opened onto a magnificent terrace overlooking the sea.
Standing proudly beyond carefully designed gardens rose the Royal Palace of Caer Peverell.
Even Sirius fell silent.
Unlike the heavily fortified castles of Westeros, this palace had never been intended to withstand a siege.
It had been built to inspire.
Elegant towers rose gracefully toward the sky.
Broad balconies overlooked both the sea and the city below.
Sunlight poured through enormous windows, bathing the white stone in warm golden light.
Gardens surrounded every side of the palace, filled with flowering trees, fountains, and carefully tended paths that invited quiet walks rather than military patrols.
For several long moments, none of them spoke.
Then Lyanna reached for Harry's hand.
"You built this."
Harry gently squeezed her fingers.
Together, with Sirius racing eagerly toward the palace doors ahead of them, they climbed the wide marble steps.
For the first time...
The royal family of Narnia entered their new home.