Merlin heard them again. Voices, murmuring lowly and occasionally a few of them exclaiming "hei, hei" but it was so soft that he could've mistaken the sound other than the smattering of conversations within the Camelot delegation.

"What's wrong, Merlin?" Arthur asked, reigning his horse beside Merlin's own, "We're nearly there. Tired already? You know, maybe I should re- elect you as my manservant as well as court sorcerer. God knows why, but you handled being both well before compared to now just stirring your couldron all day."

Merlin gave the king an affronted look. It has been fifteen years since the dark-haired man has been appointed court sorcerer after a dramatic and emotional reveal (and a lot of yelling between the two after) and although he knew Arthur was just mocking him as per course of their odd camaraderie between king and commoner, Merlin couldn't help but feel slighted. "I don't stir my couldron all day. I read too. And gather ingredients. And cutting them..."

"The cook also does those things and she can heft you over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes."

"Right. And she probably couldn't carry you, with you gaining all that-" the sorcerer suddenly stopped when he heard them again - voices tittering excitedly somewhere in their vicinity. Merlin turned around trying to catch where they came from but all he could see were two squirrels and three birds sitting or perched on the branches of the trees they were passing by and two dogs sitting at the side of the road, staring at them in a curious manner.

"Hullo! Where are we off to then?" Merlin stopped his horse to stare at the dogs who stared back at him, their tails thumping vigorously on the ground, waiting for an answer.

"Arthur!" cutting off Arthur's frustrated complaint with a hiss. "I-I think we're already in Narnia, sire."

...

After a fervent discussion between Arthur, Merlin and the handful of knights, the king finally relented to allow Merlin to ask the dogs to bring word to the King of Narnia that the Camelot delegation are on their way to the castle. It has been a month ago that the High King of Narnia, King Peter, invited Arthur to visit their kingdom whenever the Camelot king queen are able. Of course, Merlin was invited too, but because Guinevere was afflicted with a bout of sickness that required her to stay and rest and be routinely treated with medicine by the court physician, it was only Arthur and Merlin that went. Arthur wanted to stay behind, but Guinevere insisted that he go to strengthen the bonds between Albion and her neighbours especially those who are friends, saying that her health can be managed by her own and by the court physician and since Camelot is now at peace that he should take an opportunity in this respite to go for a short sabbatical. She was to rule in his stead while he was gone with the assistance of the honourable regent, Sir Medraut, and after a multitude or protective and defensive wards Merlin made in and around the area of the castle, Arthur finally relented and took his leave with Merlin and a dozen of his men for a long trip to Narnia, after having sent a messenger to Peter of their impending visit.

The day before the start of the journey, Merlin went up to Arthur in the king's study chambers and told him, "I think I should tell you this... Narnia is sort of... magic."

Arthur blinked.

"Well, not the Kings and Queens. At least, that's what the High King told me... just some other people and they are more rare compared to how many you can find it Camelot."

"I see," Arthur replied, putting his quill down slowly, "So it has less magic than Camelot."

"Umm... Narnia is sort of ... created by a lion..."

"A... lion..."

Merlin nodded. "Uh-huh. And there are talking animals!"

"Right," Arthur said, pushing himself away from his desk to lean against the chair and looking at Merlin with a look that normally doesn't bode well for the sorceror, "Anything else?"

"Umm... there might be giants?"

...

Of course before they left Camelot, Arthur has given himself time and effort to wrap his head around the idea that Narnia was totally unlike Camelot but telling himself that and seeing it in reality was totally different that it has started to give him a headache. Then again it might be because two new dogs has joined their entourage, flitting to and fro beside the horses while chatting with anyone who would listen while a squirrel and two sparrows made themselves comfortable on either of Merlin's shoulder, asking about Camelot and telling a bit on what has happened in Narnia lately. The dogs nattered on like eager children whereas the little critter and birds traveling on Merlin gossiped like women on market day. It was very noisy and disconcerting.

Suddenly he heard hoofs galloping in the distance before he saw two riders coming towards them. Chatty dogs aside, the king knew his knights were already on alert and his own hand was already poised to grab his sword at a moment's notice. Arthur squinted. From afar, one of the riders looked normal enough, riding a white steed while the other was taller, probably riding a tall horse because the man looked a half foot taller than Arthur's tallest knight sitting on a horse. Either that, or the man was most certainly the tallest person he has ever met. Maybe he was one of the giants Merlin was talking about? But his friend insisted that giants can only be found North outside the borders Narnia and if a few foolish ones thought to cross over, they would be held back by the border army. Other than that, an official from Narnia would only meet them when tribute was due to be paid by the giants to the Kingdom of Narnia. As they came closer, Arthur could see that the first rider was wearing colours of muted green while the tall one seemed clothed in the same colour as his horse that the king was hard pressed in making out the horse's head.

"Hail! King of Camelot!" the shorter one called out, raising his hand in a gesture of greeting.

"Hail-" Arthur slowed down his horse, his following words stuck to the throat. The other rider wasn't human! It has long burnished golden locks and flowing beard that reaches close to its navel, the top half of its body bare without clothing and the only adornment on it was a sword on its back held by a strap crossing it's broad chest. There was glint of light reflected from the sun coming from the strap and when they came nearer, Arthur could see that it came from a golden disk with an emblem of a lion's head, similar to the one Arthur has remembered seeing on Peter's and Edmund's own sword belt. Just above the navel of the beast was the same coloured hair as its beard, continuing its way to cover the horse feet that stomped smartly to a halt in front of the still shocked Camelot King. He could hear a few of his men on the verge of fully unsheathing their swords before he motioned at them to stay their hand. His instinct was not in vain for the dogs began scrambling forward to welcome the newcomers, trying to get their attention by yipping, "Drinian! Glenstorm! Visitors from Camelot are here!"

The beast's feet shuffled, trying not to stomp on the excitable dogs flitting between them while the other person sighed. "Yes, we know. Your brothers has told us at Cair Paravel. Please, dogs, calm yourselves. Thank you for your assistance in keeping our guests company but you should be on your way home."

The dogs whined but only after a few mores assurance and a much sterner talking to from the beast, the dogs finally left with no less enthusiasm than when they first met Arthur and his group. Arthur supposes they're on their way to boast to their woodland friends of meeting foreign guests and helping them to find the King. The sparrows and squirrel traveling on Merlin also took their leave and with a last chatter and twitter, they disappeared amidst the trees nearby.

Arthur turned back to the two newcomers and he only felt himself becoming less nervous at meeting the beast after seeing the man shake a companionable look of exasperation with it.

"I hope the dogs have not been too much of a nuisance. They are good and intelligent creatures when it comes to a fight but during times of peace they get distracted easily and their enthusiasm is trying at best," the other, more human-looking one, said ruefully, before bending his head and clasping his hand to his chest in a show of greeting,

"Welcome to Narnia, King Arthur of Camelot, Land of Albion. The High King, his royal brothers and sisters await your arrival at Cair Paravel. My name is General Drinian, Captain of the Dawn Treader and this is General Glenstorm, Marshall of the List."

The beast bowed as well, before saying, "Napu, the Lord of Unity and Alambil, the Lady of Peace, have come together in the high heavens and passed. Alambil stays for a while more. Your Majesty and the great magician Emrys have come at a time of joy, friendship and unity."

At Arthur's and Merlin's confused look, Drinian explained, "General Glenstorm is an excellent stargazer. He reads the stars and turns them into foresight that has oft helped us."

"It is the King's wisdom that has lead us to peace in Narnia," Glenstorm said gruffly, "Stargazing is an ability that can be passed on if one yearns to learn."

"We can't all live to a hundred years like you centaurs," Drinian said laughingly.

Glenstorm gave him a look of suffering patience as if he had this talk with the man before. "Effort, not time, is needed. Perhaps the Magician Emrys would like to try?"

At the mention of his name, Merlin gave a start of surprise before he gave Glenstorm a shy smile. "Oh! I would be honoured to receive your tutelage, General."

Pleased, the ... centaur nodded and with Drinian, the two generals led the Camelot entourage towards Cair Paravel to meet the kings and queens of Narnia.

A/N:I will be taking a few bits and pieces from the CoN movies but this fic will mostly come from the book :)