With Courage [King Caspian X OC]

Chapter 21

Being homeless was no new obstacle for Amber, though her first days back in London were far harder to navigate than she had originally thought they would be. For one, the house key she owned was for a building she wouldn't live in for another nineteen months and held none of her belongings. Secondly, she had to take up work but didn't know how or where to do so, given government records would show her working over two hundred miles away in Wales. She spent the days wandering quiet streets looking for a vacant house that would serve as a temporary home and hiding in underground stations at night while bombs rained from above. In the mornings, she would rise early and sneak into rest centres for breakfast, staying just long enough to be satisfied, but never too long to be approached by volunteers.

Exhaustion weighed heavy on her shoulders. The slow progression of a light grey sky in the morning to a dark grey sky at night only worsened her ache for Narnia with its golden sunlight and clear, smoke-free air. She hadn't known to appreciate how easily existing had been there. In London, her energy was stretched beyond repair with the effort to stay safe that by the time she settled on the station tiles at night, sleep took her before she could begin to unravel the mystery of why she had travelled back to 1941.

Any sense of security one could have ceased to exist in the war. Life could only be nourished through hope and, just like their food and their clothes, it was in short supply.

That is until she spent her third night in the Clapham South station.

"Tea, dear?" She blinked back into the present to see a volunteer hovering above her with a tray strung around her neck, topped with tea facilities. An older woman, likely in her late fifties, with hair of such a delicate blonde it blended wonderfully with the grey at her temples, and warm, wide eyes. As far as Amber was aware, she worked through all the air raids, or at least enough to become friendly with the others who made a home of the station at night like her.

Amber shook her head and retreated further into herself. "No, thank you. I don't have a mug."

"Lucky for you I have a spare." The older woman replied swiftly, offering her one of the two mugs perched on her tray before settling beside her on the floor with more grace than Amber ever could have managed.

"That's kind of you." The warmth that seeped through her hands was nothing short of heavenly.

"No sugar I'm afraid, but I have sweetener or honey if you like?" She offered up two small pots and watched carefully as she took the honey and spooned some into her tea.

"Thank you." The attention made her itch. So far, she had managed to avoid any real notice from those around her, but a hot drink was a luxury she would be a fool to refuse. She took a sip and tried not to melt into the floor with sheer relief.

"Not quite the same, sadly. I always liked my tea extra sweet, this never quite does the job for me."

"I was the same. Three teaspoons every time when I could sneak it in." She couldn't remember the taste of it now. Too much time had passed.

The older woman nudged her shoulder until she looked over at her shyly. "I had five." She said conspiratorially. A small smile broke through Amber's face. A kindred spirit, it seemed. "I hope you don't mind me asking dear," she continued, softening her tone, "but I've noticed you here the past few nights looking more and more – and I do hope you don't take offence to this – haggard as of late. Do you have a place to stay during the day?"

"I, um..." She sighed deeply and closed her eyes tight. "It's complicated."

"Do you have a job?" Amber knew she wasn't being scolded per say, but her tea turned sour with guilt as she swallowed and shook her head no. Busted.