𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐀𝐍 || 𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐚 [ I ]

Chapter 36

Muriel had spent the remaining hours of her day in the library.

The first hour had existed of nothing but her staring at the same wall. She had never noticed it before, but there were small cracks in the brownish bricks that, every time a gush of wind entered through the fireplace and made the flames flicker, created shadows that looked like small figures. At first they looked like nothing but vague movements on the wall, but the longer she'd stared the more they began to look like dancing fauns and flying birds.

Or maybe she'd been so caught up in her daydreaming that she'd imagined it all.

It was hard to not think about Narnia. Her head was filled with images of her friends, of the Narnians and their beautiful country. Her head felt full, but also empty. Ready to combust at any given moment or give in to the big void that was screaming for answers.

She wasn't quite sure which was better.

Yet, there was that one thought that stood out amongst the voices in her head, one thing placed onto a pedestal in the quiet space of her mind.

Her decision.

But it didn't feel right. Having debated her choices over and over again, only to come to a decision without any hesitance? It felt wrong.

The answer had appeared so abruptly that Muriel wondered if it hadn't just been her mind giving up on itself. Had it moved on to flipping a coin? Going against all odds and letting her heart decide? If so, why didn't it feel like one had clearly won?

It was no longer making a choice between staying or leaving. Now all she did was doubt that choice.

If anyone was to ask her if she'd made up her mind her answer would be 'yes'. However, there was no certainty she'd be able to say it convincingly.

There were still so many things to consider.

But apparently there was not enough time to do so, for a knock on the door ended her nearly endless train of thought and turned the shadows and moving figures to what they were before, cracks in the wall.

Blinking rapidly, Muriel reentered the world of the conscious. Her eyes burned slightly from their dryness, caused by the lack of blinking. She wetted her lips with her tongue, for those were dry too. A cup of Edith's famous warm drink stood forgotten on the small table before her. Muriel scrunched her nose at the thought of it having cooled down, it would not taste half as good.

A second knock echoed through the library. The Archenland princess was quick on her feet. Ignoring the feeling of her leg being asleep, she so much as hobbled to the door and opened it for whoever was on the other side.

It turned out to be none other than the one she'd been thinking about, Caspian.

He stood there with a flustered look on his face, as if someone had said something to embarrass him moments before. Muriel wanted to ask what had caused the pinkish hue on his cheeks, but became too busy hiding her own when a smile made its way onto his lips when he saw her.

"Your Royal Highness," he greeted.

Her laugh echoed through the hall and room behind her as she returned his greeting with the same teasing tone. "Your Majesty. Such an honour that you decided to join me after all."

Before he could apologise for making her wait, Muriel pulled him inside.

"I'm kidding, come on in." She waved him into the direction of the comfortable recliners and crackling fireplace as she closed the door behind them. "I would have started looking for you, but I completely lost track of time. But I doubt you needed my help anyway. Say, you don't have a map on you, do you? You've been making your way around Anvard quite well."